Never Safe

Chapter Fifty-Seven

You looked at the clock on the wall. It was just after twelve. You and Bucky were side by side sat on the bed, but he had both his arms around you as you leaned into him. You turned your head up to face him. He smiled lightly at you. 

"I'm hungry" you muttered. 

"Yeah? What would you like?"

"I don't know."  

"Should we go see what we can find in the kitchen?"  

"Can we... go out? To eat?"  

"You wanna leave the compound?" 

"McDonald's?"

"I could get Steve to pick some up and bring it here?"

"Um... I don't- I don't wanna see anyone. I'm not ready to speak to anyone yet."  

"So you want to go out?"      

Bucky didn't seem too keen about the idea. Your eyes disappointedly fell to your lap "We don't have to."

"We can go out" Bucky decided. He wanted to do whatever he could to cheer you up. "Do you wanna freshen up first?" You'd been in your clothes for about a week now.   

"Can I just get a hoodie?"

"Mhm. I think I have one in my car. You need anything  else before we go?"  

"M-m."

"Come on then." Bucky slid off the bed and took your hand as you stood up next to him. You started walking. "All we gotta do is figure out how to sneak out without running into anyone... fancy crawling through the vents?"

You couldn't help smiling at his poor attempt at a joke. Luckily, you did manage to get outside to his car without seeing any of the others. You climbed into the passenger seat while Bucky grabbed his hoodie from the backseat. He got in the drivers side and handed it to you. You pulled it on, keeping the hood up to hide your greasy hair.

"You're gonna need, like, a five hour long shower when you get home" Bucky chuckled. You sank down in your chair, embarrassed but hiding your smile because you knew he was right.

There wasn't much conversation on the way to lunch. You had gotten even quieter when Bucky drove through busier streets. The more people you saw, the more anxious you became about getting out the car.

Bucky clearly noticed. When you got to McDonald's, he went straight to the Drive-Thru. "We're gonna pick it up, then eat in the car park. Sound good?"   

"Then... can I get two milkshakes? So I can have one on the drive home?"  

"I'll get five. Whoever finishes theirs first gets a third."

"Good plan."

***

"Ready to head home?" 

"I need to do something first. Will you take me shopping?"  

"What do you need to buy?"   

"I wanna get a couple of gifts."

"For what? The only birthday I can think of that's coming up is yours." 

"Just as an apology-"

"And what the hell do you think you have to apologise for?"   

"Um" you cleared your throat, stalling as you knew Bucky wasn't going to like your answer. "For being a problem for the past few days. And having to deal with me for the past few months."