The Fluffy Adventures of Yelena and Bucky

Part 12

   Yelena checked the time on her phone, and saw a new notification, but shoved it in her bag and stood to meet Bucky. He looked much more put together than he had a few days ago, thankfully. 

   She smiled, trying be cheerful for him before even thinking it over. "How was it? Shrink wasn't too annoying today?"

   Bucky quirked an eyebrow at her, probably wondering how she knew that his therapist pissed him off. 

   "I just guessed. I've had experience with therapists. Well, one therapist, heh."

   "It was fine... It was hard. But proactive." Bucky opened the door for her quietly, and followed her outside.

   The streets were busy and flooded with civilians and commuters. Yelena wondered if it was this busy when he was a kid. Smells of cigarette smoke, freshly baked breads, and car exhaust filled the air. Interesting combination, Yelena thought to herself. 

   She preferred crisp, cold air that made your lungs feel frozen and made you want to cuddle up under a blanket. The air in Russia was that way, and she loved it. It felt softer and more complicated here. 

   "Bucky, are you alright?"

   His cold mask broke, and a smile spread on his face. "Yeah. Do you want coffee?"

   Yelena tucked her hair back. "Maybe a mocha,"

   "Good choice."

   He gestured at the nearest coffee shop, and they strolled inside. The business inside was slow and calm, servers sitting at a table in the corner waiting for customers. "Oh, hey!" One guy's eyes lit up as he spotted the two newcomers. 

   Bucky waved. "Hey. Can we grab a mocha?"

   "You don't want anything, Bucky?" Yelena asked him. He shook his head. 

   "Coming right up!" The man flashed them both a bright smile that was at odds with the dreary city skyline outside. "You can sit or stand anywhere! I'll be right back with- Yeah, I'll just go."

   Bucky sank into the nearest chair and rested his chin on one fist thoughtfully, propped up by his elbow on the table next to him. Yelena sat next to him, holding her bag on her lap so she had something to fiddle with while they waited. 

   "What'd you do today, Yelena?" Bucky asked, looking at her with surprisingly peaceful eyes. 

   She leaned on the chair back, legs out in front of her. "I woke up, I spent the day at the gym, I went exploring around the city. Hey, they have some pretty interesting shops over down on that road," she pointed out the window, and he grinned. 

   "The shops down there are pretty odd. Lots of miscellaneous antiques."

   "I like it, though. It's special," 

   "Yeah. It's even nastolgic for me, sometimes."

   "Do you go there a lo-"

   "Here you are, ma'am!" The server placed a hot coffee cup on the table between them, a twinkle in his eyes. "Enjoy!"

   "Thanks," Yelena paid him for the coffee, then tilted her head, motioning for him to scram. 

   "Have a good day -"

   "Okay, you can go now." Bucky interrupted him, crossing his arms calmly while giving him a death stare. 

   "A - alright! Alright."

   "Let's get outta this place," Bucky muttered as they got up to leave. "And," he added, "I do go there quite a bit. When I want to remember,"

   Yelena took a sip of her mocha as she followed him back out onto the busy city street. Light raindrops started to shower over the multitude of skyscrapers and people. The drops of water felt refreshing on Yelena's face, reminding her how good the world really was, regardless of the  humans in it.