bad ïdea

The Sensation of the Color Beige

Narrator's POV

Sam stopped in one of the parking spaces in the parking lot not too far from the mall. He opened his door and stepped out. "I know I said we're only here for a table, but we can also go and che-" He stopped when he noticed Bucky hadn't even stepped out of the car. He stuck his head back into the car. "Uh, did you want to wait in the car?"

Bucky looked toward the mall, seeing all those people walking. He gripped onto the door handle.

Was he ready to go back out there? He hadn't been out in public since the Avengers fell, and back then he was still seen as a bad person. How would people react to him being out in the open like that?

Sam looked at Bucky, sensing something wasn't right. "Look, we can go back home if y-"

"No." Bucky said. "It's okay." He opened the door, stepping out and taking in a deep breath. He felt a little uneasy. Bucky stuck his gloved hands in his pockets.

"Alright." Sam locked the car, walking over to Bucky who looked very apprehensive. "Hey." He placed a hand on his shoulder.

Bucky turned to him.

"If at any point you feel uncomfortable or you don't want to be here, just let me know." Sam told him. "I can always get a table some other day."

"Hm." Bucky nodded.

Sam took his hand away, walking with Buck toward the mall. "The foodcourt has a really good frozen yogurt stand. I heard they have this thing called dippin' dots. I don't know what it is, but I want one.." He tried some light conversation to relax Bucky as they got closer and closer to the mall.

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"Okay, hold on...so the IKEA should be this way." Sam looked at a mall map. "It says we're here..."

Bucky stood beside him, watching as people walked by. He kept his hands in his pockets, head low, but just enough for him to look up at people.

There were lots of people everywhere, walking toward him, walking away from him. Packed like sardines in a can.

And the voices, there were so many voices in the air. So many sounds.

Look at these shoes. Oh my god, for that price?

They have a sale on sneakers at the Foot Locker.

The sound of someone dropping change.

Did you see what she was wearing?

Did you see the game last night? It was wild.

The buzzing of a drone flying around one of the small stands nearby.

Mom can we get some pretzels?

A baby crying.

George, I think I should get this for Mat. He's always been a huge Marvel fan.

The mall music.

She looks like a bitch.

The clicking of shoes on the tiled floor.

Why is the guy just standing there like that? He looks suspicious.

Bucky quickly looked down at his feet as that stranger walked by. "Sam, I-"