1
“ Jesus Buck, you really need to get laid,” was the first thing that Steve said toBucky when he walked into the bakery’s kitchen. In Steve’s defense, he was kneading his dough very aggressively.
“Shut up.”
“Okay, but if I shut up then I can’t tell you that Nat just called to say our favorite moron is in the hospital Getting stitches again so he can’t come in. So you might need to help out with the lunch rush in a bit.”
Bucky pursed his lips as he looked up at his business partner. “What was it this time, lost dog? Did someone look at a bird the wrong way?”
“I didn’t ask and she didn’t offer the information. I’ll pop back if we need you, just wanted to warn you that it’s a possibility.”
“You’ve got Pietro right? That kid’s got super speed, so maybe I’ll be safe to keep hiding back here.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. A bunch of guys from the VA come in for lunch and coffee when their meeting lets out at noon.”
Bucky looks down at his frilly pink apron that Clint got him as a joke because it perfectly matched the pink streak Natasha put into his hair. Taking the apron off wouldn't have made things any better. Under it he was wearing a well-loved Hello Kitty muscle tank. He might have been built like one of those vets, but he sure as shit wasn’t like them.
He made sure to prep as much as he could as quickly as possible in anticipation of being called out to work the front.
As expected, around 11:30 Steve poked his head into the kitchen to ask for help, which Bucky begrudgingly provided.
Like Steve told him, at twelve on the dot a group of men came in. They got in line talking amongst themselves while Bucky braced himself for their inevitable bad reaction to him.
The worst part was, one of the men was beautiful. His smile as he talked to his friends was blinding. If Bucky could find a way to get that smile directed at him, he would die a happy man.
Eventually it was time for the group of vets to order. A few of them gave him odd looks, but no one said anything. He took their orders and passed them off to Steve or Pietro as he waited for the beautiful man to make his way to the front.
Finally the beautiful man walked up to the counter to place his order. When he got to where Bucky was waiting, his eyes roamed over his body. He quirked an eyebrow before speaking.
“So you like cats?” the beautiful man asked, clearly trying to tease him.
“Nah, I’m actually a dog person. It’s laundry day.”
“Then why do you have a tattoo of cat paw prints?”
Bucky feigned shock as he looked down at the mentioned tattoo, then looked at the man with panic in his eyes. “What do you mean these are cat paw prints? I told the artist I wanted dog paw prints!”
The man burst into laughter, making the butterflies return to Bucky’s stomach. He hoped that he would see the man again just so that he could try and make him laugh again.
“I like you. I’m Sam, by the way. Sam Wilson,” the man, Sam, stretched his hand across the counter. “I’ve never seen you here before. Are you new?”
Bucky reached out and clasped his hand around sams, doing his best to ignore the tingling he felt. “Bucky Barnes, antisocial baker-slash-owner here. I only come out front when absolutely necessary.”
Sam chuckled at the self deprecating joke. “Well hopefully it will be necessary next Saturday.”
“With Clint’s track record, it might be. Now, how about you place an order instead of holding up my line,” Bucky smirked.
“Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna be?”
“That’s how it’s gonna be.”
He quickly placed his order and Bucky went back to working his way through the line. By the time it died down enough for him to go back to the kitchen, the group of vets had left.
Trying not to be disappointed, he told Steve he was headed back to the kitchen and to yell if he was needed. When he got back there, he learned against the wall, let out a deep sigh, and rubbed his hands over his face.
He was so fucked.
2
It was three weeks before Bucky found himself being forced to deal with customers again. This time it wasn’t Clint’s stupidity, but Pietro taking care of his sister who had the flu. And just Bbucky's luck, it was a Saturday.
Bucky has been hoping and praying that the next time he was forced to work the counter that it would be any day other than Saturday. But it seemed like the universe was always out to get him. His only saving grace was that Clint would be manning the register.
He tried not to stare at the clock, but he couldn’t help himself. As the minutes ticked closer to noon his anxiety got worse. It was only a matter of time before Sam and the rest of his friends from the VA came in.
Just like the last time, they arrived at twelve on the dot. The moment he caught sight of Sam, butterflies began fluttering in his stomach. He thanked his lucky stars that Pietro had called out the night before. If not, there might have been another Hello Kitty shirt incident. (Steve and Natasha make a point to get him one whenever they see one.)
He made his way through the cups that were passed his way, fearing the one that would have Sam’s name on it. It had to be the best damn coffee he ever made.
“You better not mess up my coffee,” a familiar voice teased the moment he got his hands on Sam’s cup.
Bucky looked up and quirked an eyebrow. “You do realize I own this place right? I know how to make a cup of coffee. Especially something as simple as your cappuccino.”
“I’ve only ever seen you here once and you were at the register. Just because you’re a damn good baker doesn’t mean you can make a decent cup of coffee Cat-Man.”
“Cat-Man?”
“Yeah, like Batman but not as cool. Because, you know, bats are cooler than the cats you clearly love.”
Bucky chuckled and got to steaming the milk for the cappuccino. “Whatever you say man.”
He finished making the drink, not even bothering to attempt latte art, and handed it over to Sam. Instead of walking away from the counter, Sam stayed put. He stared into Bucky’s soul as he lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip. He lowered the cup and looked blankly at Bucky for a moment. It wasn’t long enough to be awkward, but long enough to make him think he messed it up somehow.
“Not bad for someone who never works the counter.”
Buvky let out a sigh of relief and Sam smirked.
“I’ll see you around Cat-Man.”
3
When Sam got to the lobby of the VA, everyone immediately went silent.
“Don’t let me interrupt your conversation. Please carry on. Unless you were talking about me.”
The silence he received in response told him everything he needed to know.
“Do I wanna know?” he asked Riley, the only member of the group who was likely to tell him what was going on.
Riley looked to the floor and scratched the back of his neck before looking up at Sam. “We, um, we were just talking about maybe going to a different coffee shop today.”
“Yeah, sure. I mean we picked the place because it’s the closest to here, but if you found somewhere better I’d be willing to take a trip.”
The group looked at him with varying levels of confusion. While internally Sam was matching their reaction, he wouldn’t let it show. He just looked at them with a blank expression until one of them decided to clue him in.
After a minute of nothing, it was Torres who spoke up.
“But what about that guy you like?”
Sam crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?”
“Well, the first time the guy with the long hair was there a few weeks ago we heard you flirting with him. And then he was there again last week and you were flirting with him again. We all thought that maybe since you seem to have a bit of a crush on him that you wouldn’t want to switch coffee shops in case you could see him again.”
“It’s just a little harmless flirting. At least on my part. Either the guy is really shy and bad at flirting or he’s not into me. And I’m fine with either.”
“He likes you,” Riley said immediately. Everyone else in the group nodded in agreement.
Sam rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t matter anyway. He’s not out in the front enough to figure it out for sure anyway.”
“He’s out today,” Riley teased, head down, looking at his phone. Then he looked up. “Rhodes is in town and he’s already there. He said there was a brunette in a pusheen shirt at the register. Sounds like your boy.”
“He’s not my boy.” Sam paused. “So we are going to his shop?”
“Yeah man,” Riley patted his back, “we are going to his shop.”
4
Since Bucky gave himself the worst work schedule, he had Wednesday off that week. One the down side, that meant he couldn’t see any of his friends who worked normal hours. On the plus side, he hated most other people and used the time in the middle of the week to adventure to his local craft store.
He was working on knitting a sweater for Alpine. He knew his cat would hate every second it was on her, but it was going to make the cutest little Christmas card a few months down the line. The scratches he will inevitably receive will be worth it.
Bucky had already picked up the sage green yarn he was going to use, and was ambling through isles for other craft ideas when he saw him. Sam, the beautiful man from the bakery. But he wasn’t in the bakery. He was standing in front of the glitter glue.
Caught between saying hi or running for the hills, Bucky was saved from having to make a choice be Sam turning towards him. Bucky couldn’t help but wonder why Sam's face lit up as he saw him.
“Hey Cat-man. What brings you here?” He asked, his beautiful smile still gracing his beautiful face.
“Um,” Bucky stalled, debating whether or not he should tell the truth. “I needed to pick up some yarn. I’m knitting a sweater for my cat.”
“Seriously?” Sam asked.
“Seriously.”
“And yet you seem to dislike your nickname,” Sam teased. “Clearly it’s accurate.”
“Ha Ha, you are so very funny.”
“I know I am.”
“Whatever. Why are you looking at glitter glue?”
“My buddy Riley is running a marathon and we are making him signs. I figured pink glitter would be appropriate.”
Bucky chuckled. “Just keep in mind the glitter will get everywhere.”
“Why am I not shocked you know that?”
“Because you can sense that I have great taste in glitter.” Bucky looked at his watch and realized it was almost time to feed Alpine. “As much as I’d hate for this conversation to end, I have to run. See you soon?”
“I’ll be back on Saturday.”
“I make no promises I’ll leave my kitchen.”
1
“Hey Buck, can you come give us a hand up front?” Steve shouted through the kitchen door.
“Yeah, give me a second.”
Bucky finished up what he was doing and headed out to the front of the shop.
Since it was a Tuesday, he figured it would be uneventful, but he was very wrong. When he got up to the register, he was greeted by the familiar smile of Sam.
“Well look who it is,” Sam said cheerfully. “How’s that sweater for you cat coming?”
Bucky rolled his eyes. “It’s going great. She’s going to look adorable in it. But I highly doubt you are here to talk about my cat, so what do you want?”
“So rude. I would like a cappuccino, please and thank you.”
“Sure thing.”
Bucky filled out the cup before telling Sam his total. Before he walked away from the counter, Bucky had an idea.
“Hey Sam, what are you up to on Thursday?”
“I have a meeting at ten, but my day is pretty open after that. Why?” He asked, lips quirking you in a knowing smile.
“I was wondering if you wanted to grab lunch with me?”
“I’d like that, Cat-man.”