PDA means Public Display of Affection
The mall was gigantic – but it was, after all, its very purpose and the reason why they had driven for a bit less than an hour. Without doubt, they would find that toaster Sarah was looking for. (Her old one broke so Sam decided to take it for their own house and while he worked on it to fix it, sent the both of them get a new one for his sister.) Torres was joking about how it was mainstream to go on a date in a mall. Bucky wasn’t quite replying to it. The space was too crowded for his own comfort. Besides, he didn’t see what the “date” part of their errand could be. Back in his time, they went to underground bars to get that feeling of date.
“Look,” said Joaquin, pointing ahead of them, “I’m sure we can find a toaster there.”
It was on the first floor, a few feet away. They naturally increased their speed.
“Come to think of it,” the young man said a few seconds later, “shouldn’t we send a text to Sam to see if he’s coming somewhere with the old one? Like, since we went into the trouble of getting here, why not buy two toasters?”
“Seems fair to me,” Bucky replied distractingly as his focus was on the people surrounding them - an old assassin reflex.
“You want to do it?”
Joaquin could not have not noticed how close Bucky and Sam were. His own texts to Sam weren’t always work related - especially recently - but he still thought of their relationship as cordial. As fan to idol, maybe.
“Yeah, sure, whatever.”
Bucky took out his phone and started typing quickly while they entered the electronic shop Joaquin had spotted. When he was finished, he put his phone back into his pocket. As he lifted his head, he saw his lover weighing a white cardboard box.
“This one seems nice enough, no?”
Bucky read the notice and looked at the three other choices. At least, he thought, they found what they were looking for quite quickly. The toaster Joaquin was wondering about was the smaller one but it was also the metallic one which meant it would probably last longer than the three others. They looked at the characteristics and agreed the less options there were, the better it would be for Sarah who only used it to make breakfast for the kids.
“Yup. This one is perfect. Let’s go.”
Joaquin put the box under his arm and they went to the check-out. There were a few customers before them.
“Sam hasn’t replied to your text, yet?”
Even though he would have sensed the vibrations of an incoming message through his pants, Bucky checked his phone.
“No, not yet.”
Joaquin shrugged.
“Worst case scenario, we’ll keep making our toast in the pan. No big deal.”
“Exactly.”
The line moved on until they were the next customers. Sam didn’t reply before they had paid and left the shop.
“What about we go get ice creams?” offered Joaquin.
He was playing with the box, throwing it in the air and catching it with both hands. As he spoke, he leaned towards Bucky. Bucky had a jump and pulled himself away. Joaquin didn’t seem to notice.
“Or anything else,” he added. “Like bubble waffles. I loved them! But it’s kinda hot today so maybe you prefer ice cream.”
It was hot, indeed, but the mall had air conditioning. Bucky forced himself to come up with a choice – if it was up to him at all, he would leave right at this moment. Such crowd made him really uncomfortable. He felt like being stared at all the time.
“Let’s… get those airy waffles you like.”
Joaquin laughed at his mistake then stopped.
“Oh! There’s the stand! Come on!”
And before Bucky could react, Joaquin had put the box under one arm to grab his hand and run towards the waffles stand. Bucky snapped.
“No, don’t!” he shouted, way louder than he should have.
He pulled his hand away. Joaquin looked at him with wild eyes. One person – on their left – had stopped to watch. No, two. The end of the queue at the stand were also looking at them because they were close to it. Bucky felt his heart beating faster.
“I’m… I’ll meet in the car.”
And he ran away.
Once in Sam’s car – that they had borrowed to leave Delacroix and come to that mall, at mid-distance from New Orleans, Bucky closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. Out. In. He opened his eyes again. Going together was a mistake. Joaquin was too enthusiastic in life, he knew it. Still, was it necessary to make it look like a “real” date? Like what a man and a woman would do on a date? On the brighter side, they were outside Delacroix. Even if anyone had had time to get ideas about them, it was unlikely they were from the coastal town. So it was most probable that it wouldn’t backfire to Sam. Right. A minor accident.
The trunk’s door opened and something got dropped in it. Then it was the driver’s door, on his left. Joaquin took place inside the car, awkwardly, a paper bag between his legs.
“Did I… did I do something wrong?”
Suddenly, Bucky felt awful too. He had left his lover alone, after all.
“No, you didn’t. It’s just… Joaquin, people saw us!”
“So what? I assure you Bucky, nobody there was a Flag Smasher! Or, well, I think they would have attacked us.”
Bucky shook his head.
“I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about, you know, not being discreet about us.”
It took a whole minute for Joaquin to get it.
“Oh. Oh, you mean the PDA.”
“I’m sorry, the what?”
“Sorry, I should have asked if you were comfortable with it. I just assumed, since it doesn't bother you at home.”
“Yeah because the Wilsons are like us so it’s no big deal.”
It took another whole minute for Joaquin to get it.
“Bucky, are you afraid of people seeing we’re dating?”
If any, Bucky’s deep blush was an indication of his feeling on the matter. Joaquin gently put his hand on his.
“Hey mister Barnes,” he said with his overly bright smile, “I’m proud to be dating you. I hope you’re not ashamed of me-”
“I’m not!” Bucky replied vehemently.
“...But the time of hiding is over. I don’t care what people think. I just want to hold your hands if you’re comfortable with it too.”
Bucky looked down at their hands, intertwined with each other.
“I want it to…”
Joaquin smiled again. Then he sat up and opened his bag. He took two cup out of it. The cup hold a waffle wrapped on itself with round holes instead of flat squares, a scoop of ice cream inside of it and chocolate chips on the top. He offered one to his lover.
“So, do you want to try it?”
Bucky gladly accepted it. He was honestly curious about it. Joaquin took a bit on his own and started the engine. They left the parking and headed for the high way.
On the way back, they ate – it was fricking delicious – and talked lightheartedly. Bucky felt a bit of shame regarding his behaviour – yet another thing he hadn’t realised about the 21th century. But Joaquin didn’t seem to mind a little. And eventually, Bucky started to think about going on a proper date and holding Joaquin’s hand. Just like he hold Sarah’s hand when they went to that restaurant. Maybe even, in the shadows of a theatre, kiss that curly hair boy he liked to call his boyfriend.
“By the way, what does PDA means?” he asked suddenly, remembering the odd term.
“It means Public Display of Affection. It’s like, ah, when couples show their love in the streets, you know?”
“Yes, I see. Thanks.”
Well, this PDA sounded like a nice thing to do then.