tulip
La Parisienne – you eyed the menu up and down of the french-style cafe Bucky had led you into only moments prior. It was quaint, yet somehow dripped with decadence.
“What’ll it be, ma’am?”
The waiter stood before the both of you, pen and paper in his hands as he waited for you to make a decision.
“I’ll have a sweet iced matcha with oat milk and a shot of vanilla.”
You replied and Bucky looked over to you, his blue eyes laced with confusion.
“You don’t want anything to eat, doll?”
He questioned and you shook your head no.
“I don’t normally eat breakfast, just the Matcha is enough.”
You responded to him and he nodded his head.
“I’ll have a coffee – black – and I'd like two orders of salmon on brioche.”
The waiter made note of Bucky’s requests, scribbling it onto the piece of paper in his hands and he disappeared without another word.
“Why don’t you eat breakfast, y/n?”
Suddenly, Bucky’s light demeanor had changed and concern littered his face.
“I’m not sure, honestly. I’m just never really hungry until the afternoon.”
You responded, fiddling with your hands.
“Listen, doll – it’s okay if you don’t eat when you’re not hungry, but when you’re around me, I want you to try to eat, okay? I need to know you’re being taken care of.”
At his words, blush filled your cheeks, a simple nod of your head was all you could manage as the waiter returned with your drinks.
“A matcha for the lady and a black coffee for the gentlemen.”
He said cheerily as he sat the drinks in front of you. You reached for yours, taking a sip and humming in content as the first of its green juices collided with your tastebuds. Bucky whispered his thank you’s to the waiter before he disappeared again and the blue eyes you’d grown so fond of were on you once again.
“As I was saying, doll – you need breakfast, even if it’s just a protein shake. You shouldn’t be working ten hour days with nothing to eat.”
You giggled at him.
“James Barnes – if I didn’t know any better I’d say you cared about me.”
His face contorted into a smile; a toothy grin as he sipped the blackness of his coffee.
“Isn’t that obvious, love? I don’t break bread with just anyone.”
As almost a twist of fate, both plates were set down in front of Bucky.
“Here we go, guys. Can I get you anything else?”
The waiter questioned.
“No, thank you.”
You and Bucky spoke synchronously.
“What did you mean?”
You questioned Bucky, watching as he moved the second plate in front of you.
“Eat up, doll.”
You let a grin dance across your features as you looked down to the plate; smoked salmon, ricotta cheese, cucumber, and a toasted slice of brioche bread lined it in a strikingly beautiful way. You began eating, stopping only when you were finished with everything but the bread. Bucky took notice of it but didn’t ask any questions before taking it from your plate and putting it in his mouth. You ogled at him and giggled – one piece of bread sticking out of the side of his mouth as he worked hard, chewing and moving the pieces to get them out of the way, making room for more.
“What?”
He asked, bread still halfway hanging out of his mouth. You only giggled in response. He swallowed, bringing his coffee cup to his lips, cleansing his palette before speaking.
“You weren’t going to eat that, right?”
You only giggled in response.
“No, Buck. I wasn’t going to eat that. I’m allergic to bread.”
His eyebrows moved up and his eyes followed their lead, almost popping out of his head in response to this new revelation.
“I have to let you order for yourself, noted.”
“No harm, no foul – I quite liked what you ordered for me.”
You threw him a wink before you both got up and made your way over to the counter where Bucky paid for your food and led you out the door of the entrance with his hand on the small of your back. Before getting into the black suv you arrived in, you turned to him in need of answers to your previous question.
“Buck, what did you mean?”
“When, doll?”
He replied.
“When you said you don’t break bread with just anyone – what did you mean?”
You questioned, curiosity looming over you.
“Well, I meant that you’re special to have gotten my attention. But, I also meant that my job doesn’t really allow me to break bread with just anyone. I have to protect myself.”
You nodded, taking every facial expression that littered him as he spoke. His lips were drawn into a flat line; he wasn’t joking and his demeanor was no longer light.
“What is it that you do?”
You questioned, wondering what could be so dangerous.
“Let me take you to dinner tonight and I’ll tell you.”
Uneasy and unsure of what his news would be, you nodded in response forcing a smile.
What had you gotten yourself into with this enigma of a man?