Chapter 3
Bucky sees Steve off at the train station and then makes his way back to their apartment alone. He eats leftovers from the fridge and watches a Mad Max marathon on the television. Steve texts him sporadically throughout the night to avoid talking to Peggy. At one points it gets to be too much and Bucky tells him to man up and go talk to her before shutting off his phone for the night.At eleven he shuts off the television and heads to bed. He has to open the shop in the morning and the more sleep he could get the better. Bucky tries to fall asleep to the cacophony of the cars moving outside the apartment. For some unknown reason his sleep is restless. He tosses and turns hoping to find a comfortable spot on his bed. His body is clearly tired and wants to shut down but his mind seems to be jumping from one thing to another.
When sleep finally does overcome him, Bucky dreams of sparking blue eyes and whispers that feel like satin against his skin. He sees brown hair cascading down slim shoulders and ruby red lips that say his him like a prayer to the heavens. In his sleep he doesn’t register himself whispering her name like a mantra on repeat.
“Maria, Maria, Maria….”
Dream Maria smiles at him and he can’t breathe for a moment. She runs he hand through his hair and Bucky almost purrs at the sensation. She does it again and he leans into the contact. Suddenly her movements take on a more harsh force. The caress becomes more like claws dragging across his scalp. He tells her to stop but Dream Maria doesn’t heed his protest. Now the dragging feels like someone is pummel his head. Bucky tries to push back the dream illusion and is more than shocked to be met with real force. He struggles against the solid body for real now.
His eyes snap open and he finds himself pushing back against Steve’s massive form. The other man hasn’t realised he’s awake and still pawing at his head in an attempt to apparently wake him up. Even in the dark room, the faint light offered by the street lamp is enough to illuminate Steve’s flushed face. Bucky can smell the scent of alcohol on his breath and it becomes clear that’s Steve’s skin is slightly clammy. “I’m up bud.” Bucky says hoping his friend will stop petting his head aggressively.
Steve is still a bit slow on the uptake so he takes some time before he replies. When it finally sinks in that his friend is awake and looking up at him expectantly Steve immediately grabs Bucky’s face bringing it close to his own.
“Bucky!” he half screeches, gifting Bucky with his stale beer breath.
Bucky pushes Steve back hoping he will let go of his face. Luckily he does and Bucky sit up on his bed, blanket pooling around his waist. “What is it man? It’s…” the clock on his shelves flashes its bright red numbers, “It’s three in the morning. What could be so important that you woke me up?” And pulled from the best dream I’ve ever had in my entire life goes unspoken.
Steve doesn’t hesitate in throwing himself down on the bed. Bucky has to shift around to accommodate his hulking size. Even with Steve laying on his side it’s a tight squeeze for both of them. “Bucky,” he implores as if he didn’t already have his friend’s undivided attention. Bucky can’t help but compare their current position to two girls gossiping after a date and the notion brings a chuckle out of him. “What’s the matter bud?”
“I asked her.” Apparently Steve isn’t the only one slow on the uptake because Bucky didn’t have the slightest clue what he was talking about and he wasn’t afraid to voice it. Steve huffs as if what he’s saying is so easy a child could understand. “I asked her out.” he repeats emphasizing the ‘her’ a bit and then it clicks in Bucky’s head.
“No way man! You finally did it! Good for you.”
Steve blushes which causes his already flushed face to turn red like a tomato. “I don’t know what came over me?” he confesses. “She was just sitting there next to me and smiling. And the next thing you know I’m asking her out and she’s saying yes.”
“That’s really great man.” Bucky says smiling down at his friend who has the dopiest smile on his face, “Now can we please go to sleep?”
“Yea… Yes let’s go to sleep.” is the mumbled reply. Bucky slides back down the bed and throws half his blanket over Steve’s prone form. Their backs are to each other and Steve
feels like a hot water bottle. Sleep is quick to consume Bucky so he doesn’t hear Steve whisper, “Now you gotta ask the brunette out.”
At seven Bucky has to scramble out of the bed to get to the alarm that’s blearing out before it wakes Steve. Although he doubts that anything other than the Second Coming could raise the man from his slumber. By the time Bucky is ready to go Steve has moved to occupy the entire bed. He shakes his head at his friend’s antics and leaves a couple pills and glass of water on the bed side table for the inevitable headache Steve is going to have when he wakes up.
On his walk to the shop Bucky contemplates the events of the night before. He is ecstatic that his friend has finally asked Peggy out. Since they first met Steve hasn’t been able to shut up about the woman. Bucky has met her a few times and he can see why Steve likes her. Peggy’s got a fire to her that’s for sure.
By the time Bucky reaches the shop Bruce is already down. The lights are on and the heat is turned up to make the place toasty.
“Morning Bruce.”
“Morning Bucky. Where’s Steve?”
“Sleeping. He had a wild night last night.” Bucky says while shrugging off his coat and scarf in the back room. He hears Bruce snort out front and has to smile at that. When he walks back out Bruce has opened up the shutters and started up a fire in the fire place.
“What’s got the boy scout all tired out?” Bruce asks as he makes his way back to the counter.
Bucky grabs a hand towel and begins to wipe the down the counter as he talks. “He went drinking last night with a couple buddies from his art course and the other classes, and got hammered. And then he asked Peggy out.”
“What? He finally did it.” Bruce exclaims. “That’s what I said when he woke me last night.” Bucky replied.
“Well good for him. They will make a great couple.” Bucky nods in agreement.
“So does this mean you’ll finally ask out that brunette who comes to the shop?” Bucky stops wiping abruptly and his eyes widen comically. “Why would I do that?”
“Because you told Steve you would ask her out when he asked Peggy and you just said he asked Peggy out last night.”
“Damn it.” Bucky says under his breath, “Wait how do you know that?”
Bruce shrugs, “Steve told me.”
“Does he tell you everything?” Bucky asked in disbelief, “When does he even get the time?”
“When he come up to give me my pastry.” Bruce gives as means of explanation, “He usually sits and chats while I finish up my tea and snack. Most of the time it’s what’s been going on in the shop or in his life.”
“I thought you weren’t that kind of doctor.”
Bruce’s face shows that he clearly isn’t impressed with Bucky’s comment. “Very funny.” he deadpanned, “But he told me that you said you would ask her out if he asked Peggy and he did last night.”
“I wasn’t being serious!” Bucky tried to explain.
“Steve thinks you were. He really likes to gossip.” Bruce replies and Bucky grumbles something unintelligent under his breath. “I don’t mean to pry or anything but why don’t you give it a shot?”
Out of all their friends Bucky knows Bruce is the least intrusive. He probably gets the most gossip because he everyone’s confidant but the guy hates getting in the middle of things. It messes with his Zen he claims, so for Bruce to be telling Bucky this, means a lot.
“What if she says no?” he whispers and he knows Bruce will hear him none the less.
“And why would she do that?” Bucky lifts his metal arm in answer and Bruce actually laughs at him. “That’s a pretty poor excuse Buck. You may not realize it but you hand her coffee with your metal hand every time and she doesn’t as much as bat an eye lash.”
“But….”
“No but’s.” Bruce interrupts before Bucky can come up with another retort. “Take a chance.”
There’s so much optimism in Bruce’s voice that Bucky can’t help but feel some of it infect him. Maybe he should take a chance on Maria. He can’t keep hiding behind excuses for the rest of his life. His mother would never forgive him if he didn’t give her any grandchildren and with the dry spell he’s been in recently, she would be over joyed just to hear that he was in a relationship right now.
Bruce is giving him his most encouraging face and Bucky feels his trepidation being chipped away. He’s just glad that Steve isn’t here to add this. He thinks if Steve were here looking at him with his big blue puppy dog eyes along with Bruce’s disarming smile, that his resolve would have stood no chance.
“Okay.” And Bruce’s smile could give Steve’s some competition at the agreement.
A thought suddenly hits Bucky and he decides that he should run with it. “Bruce,” he says as he round the counter and heads towards the door, “Don’t open the shop till I get back.” He doesn’t hear Bruce’s shout of protest at his back because he’s out of the door in the cold running down the street to the closest convenience store.
By the time he makes it back to the coffee shop he’s freezing but feels more alive than he’s ever felt. Bruce looks at him as if he’s gone crazy but Bucky’s can find it in himself to care. He’s panting heavily and stand as close to the fire as he possibly can without getting himself burnt. Bruce drapes his coat over him and Bucky is grateful that Bruce isn’t mad at him for running out.
Bruce doesn’t ask where he went or what’s in the bag that he’s clutching to his chest like a life line. They open up the shop together and don’t speak about the topic of relationships again.
Bucky doesn’t know if Maria will come to the coffee shop on a Sunday but he hopes she does. Every time the door opens he hopes it’s her but his luck never pans out. Just when he’s about to give up all hope of seeing her, Maria enter the shop. She makes her way directly to the counter and Bucky has to fight to keep the stupid grin on his face from getting any bigger. She stops to take a look at the display case and raises an eye brow at its empty state.
“Nothing in the case today?” she asks.
“Nah,” Bucky replies, “Chef had a wild night last night and didn’t come in. Latte to go?”
Maria surprises him, “I’ll take it here.” With a quick nod Bucky turns to make her drink and tries to ignore the way his hands shake slightly. He hands it to her and discreetly watches Maria make her way over to the fire place. She sets the cup down and produces a book he didn’t notice her holding. He hopes his staring isn’t obvious. Maria looks up once but Bucky quickly diverts his attention to cleaning the already spotless counter. He sees Bruce trying not to grin out of the corner of his eye.
Finally after what felt like an eternity Maria picks up the cup of coffee. However a customer comes up to the counter and Bucky does not see her do this nor see her facial expression as she takes her first sip of coffee. He doesn’t get to see her take another sip of coffee just to make sure she wasn’t imagining the difference in taste. Bucky was brewing a fresh batch to house espresso when Maria quirks her eye brows together and stare back at the counter. He doesn’t notice her trying to catch his eye because a new batch of customers just entered the shop and were making their way to the counter.
Eventually, Maria gives up trying to get Bucky to notice her. She goes back to her book and quietly sips her almond milk coffee in her corner. She doesn’t see Bruce looking at her with a warm smile on his face.
When the place has finally settled down Bucky tries stealthily locate Maria in the seas of patron scattered throughout the shop. He doesn’t spot the brunette and he feels an ache in his chest. He doesn’t bother looking around, instead content to grumpily wipe the counter down. When a person comes up to the counter Bucky wishes Steve were here to take over the counter. When he doesn’t look up for a whole minute the person clears their throat and Bucky has to resist the urge to rear up and snap at them.
The person clears their throat and again and Bucky snaps. He whips his head up, biting retort on the tip of his tongue ready to come out snapping. However, it dies right there on sight because Maria is standing there in front of the counter with the coffee mug in her hand and the book secured under her arm. Neither ones speaks. Both just staring at each other, Bucky with wide eyes and an open mouth ready to argue, Maria with a sheepish look on her face.
Bucky is the first to restore his ability to talk. “Something wrong with the coffee.” He points to the mug in Maria hand. She makes a face as though she forgot she was even holding it. “No,” she answers with a shake of her head, “No it was prefect actually.” Bucky smiles sheepishly and ducks his head so he doesn’t have to meet her gaze.
“Since when did you guys start serving almond milk?”
“We don’t.” Maria turns around to look at Bruce who answered, “Too much of a risk for people with a nut allergy.” That’s all he offers before he goes back to chatting with a few of the regulars. She turns to look at Bucky with a questioning gaze.
“You always ask for almond milk. So I got you some.” Bucky run a nervous hand through the long tresses at the back of his head. Maria doesn’t say anything and Bucky feels his cheeks heat up in embarrassment. He goes to say something to salvage the situation but Maria beat him to it. “You bought it with your own money?”
“Yea.” is all he replies.
“That’s,” she starts only to stop and wrong for a moment - he doesn’t like the look of a frown on her face. “That was really nice.” she finishes. There’s a light pink color going across the bridge of her nose all the way up to her high cheek bones and Bucky has to resist the urge to jump up and fist pump the air. Maria continues to look at him and he realizes she’s waiting on a response.“It was nothing.” he says. Silence in quick to step in and fill the space left by both of them. Maria lingers for a minute as if waiting for Bucky to continue. He just stands there staring at her hoping that time would just freeze and leave them in this moment indefinitely. After what seems like forever Maria thrusts the mug at Bucky breaking the spell. He takes the mug allowing his fingers to brush hers in the exchange.
“Thanks again. Have a good day.” She backs away and turns to make her way to the door. “Yea, you too,” Bucky manages to her retreating form. Across the room Bruce is trying his hardest not to bang his head against the serving tray in his hands. He signals Bucky and points frantically to Maria, an urgency in his eyes.
That’s the push that Bucky needs to act. “Maria!” he calls out vaulting over the counter to run up to her. She stops midway in her move to open the door. Her hands drops back down to the side while she turns half way to watch Bucky approach. When he’s standing directly in front of her Bucky feels some of the courage from earlier ebbed away. A million different scenarios of her rejecting him flitter across his mind but he pushed them down. He has to do this.
“Willyougoonadatewithme?”
Maria cocks her head to the side in obvious confusion at the garble of words that just exited Bucky’s mouth. To the side of them both Bruce actually face palms and a couple of the older patrons laugh quietly to the young couple by the door.
“Will you go on a date with me?” Bucky says slower making sure she can’t mistake his intention. Maria seems a bit taken aback and Bucky braces himself for the rejection line but instead a smile breaks out across her face. Bucky feels his heart rate climb back down from the drum beat it was previously playing out in his chest.
“Uh sure… I’d like that.” She then pulls Bucky’s flesh hand towards her and produces a pen from out of nowhere. She scribbles her number down and flashes him a bug grim before leaving the shop. Bucky is still stuck standing there looking at his hand where the seven digits are neatly stamped across his palm.
Bucky doesn’t really remember much about the day after that. Bruce closes the shop up early and sends Bucky on his way packing. On his walk home Bucky is light on his, some might say – if they want a mouth full of teeth- that he was skipping. When he finally enters the apartment, it’s to Steve lounging on the sofa with the TV on the cooking channel. He scrambles to change the station but Bucky doesn’t even seem to care. He drops in coat in the floor, oblivious to Steve’s scowl. The rest of his winter gear joins in coat on the floor
“What are you doing back so early?” Suspicion is laced in his tone and his eyes are narrowed as he watches Bucky flounce around the apartment. He doesn’t seem to be aware of Steve’s confusion over his new attitude. Two glasses are pulled out of the cupboard along with the bottle of whiskey that they won off Stark when he lost a bet to them. Steve raises an eye brow at Bucky’s action. They promised that the whiskey was only to be brought out for special occasions.
He drops all three articles on the coffee table unceremoniously. All this time Steve hadn’t left his position on the couch. Although he did turn off the TV. Bucky drags the arm chair across the floor and places on the other side of the coffee table directly in front the television. He fills the two glasses and hands one to Steve without a word leaving his lips. Steve hesitates but Bucky pushes the glass closer to his face – a universal gesture to just take it. Steve accepts the glass but doesn’t drink anything but neither does Bucky.
“Is this some kind of retribution for last night ‘cuz I’m real sorry about that.” Bucky shakes his head dismissing Steve’s attempt at apology. “So why bring out the good scotch?”
“Okay but you have to promise not to over react.”
Steve shook his head, “I make no such promises.”
“Fine,” Bucky said, “I asked Maria out.” Steve jumped off the sofa. Luckily his drink has survived its abrupt trip upwards, “Maria? Is this the brunette from the coffee shop?” When Steve saw Bucky nod he whooped and jumped in the air. However, he instantly regretted his actions when his head began to pound. He groaned and sat down slowly. He gave Bucky the stink eyes when he heard him laughing.
At a much slower pace Steve leaned across the table and clinked his glass against Bucky’s. “That’s great bud… that’s really great.” Both men did exchange anymore words as they downed the scotch. Steve hissed as it went down, he was always more of a beer man. Bucky felt the alcohol settle low in his belly warming him up and making him feel relaxed. He was tempted to take another drink but thought better. If he was going to call Maria later he shouldn’t be drunk. That wouldn’t exactly leave a good impression.
Speaking of calling Maria Bucky looks down at his hand and almost has a heart attack.
“Shit, shit, shit!” he shouts as he notices the numbers beginning to fade. Luckily Steve grabs his hand and manages to decipher the numbers from the smudges. He says something about his artistic eye making it easier for him to distinguish the smudges. The number promptly goes in his phone.
After he’s texted Maria confirming a time and place for their date Bucky slumps down on the sofa next to Steve. He raises his empty glass and Steve mimics clinking the glasses together.
“To life finally going our way.”