#breadsticks

"What, so you just stayed at home all weekend?"

Raynor raised a brow in an almost mocking disbelief as Bucky told her about his somewhat boring weekend. He just nodded. So what if he had just locked himself in his room reading?

"James, you realize your situation will only get worse if you keep living like a social reject."

Raynor set her notepad down, crossing her arms. Bucky scoffed at the name though there was truth to it, rolling his eyes.

"Oh c'mon, I am *not* a social reject, I talk to people."

"Steve and Sam don't count."

"What about-"

"Or Y/N."

Bucky paused at the interruption, blinking. Damn, she got him. Raynor sighed at his silence, shaking her head.

"Why don't we try something new this week? Doesn't have to be anything big. Just something to get you out of the tower."

Bucky raised a brow at her suggestion, already feeling his stomach twist. Raynor had a tendency to make him try and step out of his comfort zone, something he hated.

"Yeah, like what?"

He asked. Raynor shrugged, folding her legs over one another.

"Anything, really. Just try and put yourself out there, and see how you like it."

Buckys eyes flickered to the floor as he thought about it. The urge to refuse just to annoy the woman tempted him- but it could be fun. He could try to hang out with you, the newest Avengers recruit. The two of you had been talking. That was something, right? He was still fighting to get his seemingly natural charm back. With an exasperated sigh, he answered.

"You're killing me here, Doc. But sure. I'll... try."

Raynor smiled warmly, a stark contrast to her usual cold and snarky demeanor.

"Good."

~

Soft but firm thuds fill the hallway in the Avengers Tower as Bucky returns from his appointment, the man already heading towards his room.

As he walked through one of the many living rooms that filled the building, he couldn't help but notice how his footsteps seemed to echo throughout the corridor. It was strange. Steve, Tony, or any of the other Avengers were usually inside, resting on the couch and chatting up a storm.

It was quiet. Something Bucky didn't mind, yet he missed the ambiance it brought. He couldn't help but wonder where the other Avengers went off to. A mission? Or maybe a social outing like Dr. Raynor had recommended to Bucky. He wondered if you had gone as well. Oh well. Nonetheless, he made his way towards his quarters, fully intending to lock himself away for the rest of the day.

"Bucky?"

Someone softly called out behind him. Wait, he knew that voice. He turned around, his eyes landing on your form standing in front of him. You were in just a comfy t shirt and shorts, and you were propped against an end table. A small smile crossed your lips at the sight of him.

"You're back. Finally. Was wondering how long I was gonna be alone."

You chuckled softly, crossing your arms across your chest. Bucky just nodded, his eyes looking you over. He wasn't trying to seem creepy. 70 years of torture and barely any human communication made socializing hard. After a moment he realized he was staring and cleared his throat.

"Where's everyone else?"

He answered gruffly, raising a brow. He mirrored your actions, crossing his arms across his chest as well.

"Out on a mission. Milan I think? Everyone except us."

You shrug.

"I see."

Bucky nodded as took in the new information. He had heard tid bits of Tony and Stebe planning a mission in Milan during a meeting. But Bucky hadn't been mentioned, so why would he pay attention?

"Guess Tony's getting tired of us."

He sighed with a hint of playfulness in his voice, and you grinned.

"If it means getting out of a mission, then I think I'm alright with that."

You reply with a shrug. Bucky nodded in agreement, a small smile crossing his usually stoic face.

Next to the end table you were standing by, a fluffy white cat jumps up and immediately begins to rub against you. Buckys cat, Alpine. You smile at the cats affection, reaching over to pet her.

"Oh yeah, your cats been hanging out with me this whole time, too. Been watching Supernatural with me."

You explain. Alpine purrs as she nuzzles into your touch. She hops off of the end table, trotting over to Bucky and rubbing against his leg.

"She has now?"

Bucky raised a brow. The name certainly rang a bell, but he still had no interest in trying out new shows.

"Yeah, you wanna watch it too? It seems like your type of show."

You ask, slowing your walk to look at him. Bucky paused for a second, glancing almost longingly at the hallway leading to his bedroom. He had been planning on locking himself away. But for some reason hanging out and watching this stupid show with you seemed fun.

"Sure, why not."

He replied with a sigh, following close behind you. The two of you plopped down on the couch, Alpine quickly jumping up to join you both. You unpaused the show, letting it play as you turned to Bucky.

"So where were you? You had me thinking you had left too."

You asked casually, curling up on your side of the couch. Bucky stays on his side, sitting like this entire situation made him tense. He only relaxed when Alpine hopped onto his lap, his flesh hand going to pet her.

"Therapy."

He said casually, his eyes not wanting to meet yours. It wasn't that he hated you- he was nervous and felt awkward. Since he fell off the train, you had been his first real 'friend' outside of Steve or Sam. He watched your eyes light up in curiosity, and you nodded.

"Oh, right, I forgot you have that. How'd that go?"

You ask, to which Bucky shrugged.

"Eh. Same old. Told me I need to go out more. Apparently standing in the corner during social events isn't real socializing."

He explained gruffly. You hummed, clearly not surprised.

"Well… she’s not wrong."

Bucky scoffed, rolling his eyes as his hand continued to idly scratch behind Alpine’s ears.

"Don’t start."

"I’m not starting anything,"

You laughed softly, nudging his knee with your foot.

"I’m just saying...maybe you should try it. Going out, I mean."

He didn’t answer right away. The TV droned on in the background, some gravelly voiced hunter talking about demons or ghosts or whatever the hell this show was about. Bucky barely registered it. His attention shifted to you instead, your relaxed posture, the way you looked at him like this was easy. Like talking to him was easy. It made something in his chest flutter.

"Yeah, well,"

He muttered.

"Not exactly my thing."

You tilted your head, studying him for a moment like you were trying to piece something together. Then, suddenly, your expression brightened.

"Hey, wait."

Bucky frowned slightly. That tone never meant anything simple.

"What?"

You sat up straighter, reaching over to the coffee table and grabbing your phone, tapping at the screen.

"I’ve got a gift card."

"...Okay?"

Bucky raised a brow.

"To Olive Garden."

He stared at you like you had grown 2 heads.

"...What the hell’s an Olive Garden?"

That earned a full laugh from you, bright and cheery.

"You’re kidding."

"Do I look like I’m kidding?"

You shook your head, still smiling as you stood up from the couch, energy buzzing through you.

"Okay, wow. We are fixing that immediately."

Bucky’s brows furrowed as he watched you move around, already grabbing a hoodie and slipping your shoes on like this was a done deal.

"Fixing what?"

"Your life, Barnes,"

You replied playfully.

"Step one: unlimited breadsticks."

He froze, processing what he had just heard.

"...Unlimited what?"

You glanced back at him, not missing a beat.

"Breadsticks. They're to die for."

Bucky shifted slightly, his jaw tightening just a bit. There was confusion there, but something else too.

"I just mean… how many breadsticks does a place need to have?"

He huffed, trying to hide how he was internally flinching. Bread was something hard to come by when he was growing up, and the idea of a place being able to hand out so much bread didn't sit right with him. You blinked at his words.

"...Bucky."

"What?"

"They just keep bringing them. That's what unlimited means."

There was a beat of silence. Bucky’s expression didn’t change at first, still guarded, still unsure, but something flickered behind his eyes. You saw it. That brief, almost unnoticeable shift.

"...They what?"

"They don’t run out,"

You explained, softer now.

"You can have as many as you want."

Another pause, this one longer. His gaze dropped to Alpine as his hand stilled in her fur, his thoughts clearly somewhere else now. Somewhere far away from the Tower, from the couch, from you.

"You mean..."

He said slowly.

"They just… give you more? For free?"

"The first batch you have to pay for. But the rest, yeah."

Bucky let out a quiet breath through his nose, something almost like disbelief.

"Huh."

You watched him carefully, your excitement dimming just a little as realization settled in. You knew pieces of his past, enough to understand why he seemed so surprised by this. Why something as small as bread was something much more important. Your voice softened, understanding.

"We don’t have to go if you don’t want to."

His head lifted immediately.

"No."

He replied quickly. He cleared his throat, shifting slightly as Alpine adjusted in his lap.

"I mean—"

He tried again.

"I'll go."

You raised a brow, a small smile tugging at your lips.

"Yeah?"

Bucky stood, gently moving Alpine off his lap before grabbing his jacket from the back of the couch.

"Yeah."

He nodded, more confident this time.

"Doctor’s orders, right?"

There was a hint of something there, dry sarcasm. Or his underlying nerves. You grinned, grabbing your keys.

"That’s the spirit."

~

The moment the basket hit the table, Bucky stared at it like it might disappear.

Steam curled up from the breadsticks, the smell warm and rich, something almost too inviting. His eyes flicked from the basket to you, then back again.

"...and they’re just gonna bring more?"

You smiled, already reaching for one and placing it on his plate.

"Just wait."

For a second he hesitated. His hand then reached out, fingers wrapping around one of the breadsticks like it was a delicacy. And to him, it sort of was. Finally, he took a bite. The second the warm bread hit his tastebuds he almost felt time slow down. It was stupid, all it was was a simple breadstick. But to him, it was more. Something special, something that reminded him of his place in the world before HYDRA.

Bucky swallowed, his expression unreadable at first, but then his shoulders dropped, just slightly. The tension eased in a way you hadn’t seen before.

"...These are good."

He said finally. You huffed a quiet laugh.

"Damn right. I love these things. Glad they have the Bucky stamp of approval."

Another breadstick disappeared from the basket. Then another.

"This is amazing."

Bucky commented, feeling his initial anxiety fade as the breadsticks disappeared. You watched him with a chuckle, still working on the Parmesan Chicken you had ordered prior.

"Glad you think so, Buck."

And when the server came by, asking if you two wanted more, Bucky didn’t even hesitate this time. He glanced down at the now nearly empty basket.

"We'd love that."

He leaned back in his chair a little after that, something softer settling into his features as he glanced across the table at you.

"...This counts, right?"

You tilted your head in slight confusion.

"What does?"

"This,"

He gestured vaguely between you, the table, the restaurant.

"Going out. Not being a ‘social reject.’"

He explained, the faintest hint of a smirk on his face now. You smiled back, resting your chin in your hand.

"Yeah, Buck."

A pause. Then, teasing,

"Gold star for you."