Narrator's POV

Sam stopped in one of the parking spaces in the parking lot not too far from the mall. He opened his door and stepped out. "I know I said we're only here for a table, but we can also go and che-" He stopped when he noticed Bucky hadn't even stepped out of the car. He stuck his head back into the car. "Uh, did you want to wait in the car?"

Bucky looked toward the mall, seeing all those people walking. He gripped onto the door handle.

Was he ready to go back out there? He hadn't been out in public since the Avengers fell, and back then he was still seen as a bad person. How would people react to him being out in the open like that?

Sam looked at Bucky, sensing something wasn't right. "Look, we can go back home if y-"

"No." Bucky said. "It's okay." He opened the door, stepping out and taking in a deep breath. He felt a little uneasy. Bucky stuck his gloved hands in his pockets.

"Alright." Sam locked the car, walking over to Bucky who looked very apprehensive. "Hey." He placed a hand on his shoulder.

Bucky turned to him.

"If at any point you feel uncomfortable or you don't want to be here, just let me know." Sam told him. "I can always get a table some other day."

"Hm." Bucky nodded.

Sam took his hand away, walking with Buck toward the mall. "The foodcourt has a really good frozen yogurt stand. I heard they have this thing called dippin' dots. I don't know what it is, but I want one.." He tried some light conversation to relax Bucky as they got closer and closer to the mall.

///0///0

"Okay, hold on...so the IKEA should be this way." Sam looked at a mall map. "It says we're here..."

Bucky stood beside him, watching as people walked by. He kept his hands in his pockets, head low, but just enough for him to look up at people.

There were lots of people everywhere, walking toward him, walking away from him. Packed like sardines in a can.

And the voices, there were so many voices in the air. So many sounds.

Look at these shoes. Oh my god, for that price?

They have a sale on sneakers at the Foot Locker.

The sound of someone dropping change.

Did you see what she was wearing?

Did you see the game last night? It was wild.

The buzzing of a drone flying around one of the small stands nearby.

Mom can we get some pretzels?

A baby crying.

George, I think I should get this for Mat. He's always been a huge Marvel fan.

The mall music.

She looks like a bitch.

The clicking of shoes on the tiled floor.

Why is the guy just standing there like that? He looks suspicious.

Bucky quickly looked down at his feet as that stranger walked by. "Sam, I-"

"Excuse me, gentlemen-"

Bucky quickly turned around, swinging his metal arm around which was caught by Sam.

"Ngh!" Sam struggled a little. "Yes, hi sir." He said to the security guard standing in front of them, who was a little spooked by Bucky's suddenly reaction.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" The guard asked.

"Yes actually. We're looking for the IKEA." Sam said.

"Oh, just take this entire strip down, and it'll be straight ahead." The guard said.

"Thank you." Sam thanked him, walking away with Bucky.

The guard watched them as they walked away.

"You okay?" Sam asked.

"Just fine." Bucky said, pulling his arm from Sam's grasp. He stuffed his hands in his pockets.

Sam backed off. "Alright." He said. "The store's just ahead, then we can leave."

///0///0

"Who knew they had such a huge selection of tables?" Sam said, looking at all the tables in the furniture displays.

There were tables of all sizes, colors, and shapes.

"A small one would do, but they have about a dozen small ones." Sam said. "I'm thinking something plain and simple, but the house could also use a modern touch, you know?"

"I don't care. Just pick one." Bucky said, keeping his guard on high. "I want to get out of here as soon as possible."

"Alright, alright." Sam said.

His eyes fell on the perfect four seat wooden table.

"I think this one's..."

Bucky wasn't really listening to Sam, he kept his senses on high alert in case anything or anyone came his way.

"Hey!"

Bucky turned to a man, facing him.

"I've been looking all over for you." The man said, coming closer.

"What? Who are you?" Bucky asked, as the man came closer to him. "Hey back off." He took a defensive stand.

"You're not getting away this time." The man said, running toward him. "I've got you now."

"I said get away!" Bucky swung at the man, knocking him to the ground.

There was a gasp behind Bucky.

Bucky turned around to see a small boy.

"Dad." The boy said, running toward the man on the ground.

"Wha..." Bucky gasped.

"Urgh..." The man groaned, putting a hand to his head.

"Are you okay? Dad?" The boy asked, looking down at his dad.

"Yeah, I'm fine Jim." The man said. He looked at Bucky. "Hey, what's your problem?" He asked.

"I-" Bucky looked up to see people all around staring at him.

Some security guards were rushing toward the situation.

"Sam, I wanna go." Bucky said.

"Why? What's-" Sam noticed the man on the ground in front of them. "What's going on?"

"Sam, now. Let's go." Bucky said, hearing mumbles and whispers around him as glances were shot his way.

"Wait, hold on. Sir, are y-"

"Hey! What's going on?" One of the guards shouted.

"Now Sam! I wanna go now!" Bucky shouted.

"Okay, alright." Sam said. "Just calm down."

///0///0

9:47pm

"Wait, put the what where?" Sam asked, looking at the instruction manual on the ground to his left. He was sitting on the floor in the dining area, trying to put together the table.

It was already dark outside, and the only light shining in the house was the one in the kitchen.

Bucky had locked himself in his room after the events of the today, or so Sam thought.

He was hiding around the corner, watching Sam as he struggled to put the table together. He felt awful after causing all that trouble at the mall.

It's not like he wanted to cause trouble, he just had a hard time letting his guard down after everything he went through with Hydra. Even after all this time, those horrible memories and past events still haunted him.

Sam dug in the tool box next to him looking for pliers. "Why would I even need pliers to put together a table?" He asked aloud. "Hah..." He sighed, putting down the screwdriver he had in hand down. He put his hands on his face and dragged them down. "Fine. I'll just do it in the morn- Ah!" He yelped, seeing Bucky suddenly appear in front of him. "Oh, it's just you." He tried to play it off, reaching for a screwdriver.

"I see you're still trying to figure out how to put the table together." Bucky said, looking at Sam surrounded by wood and equipment.

Two pieces of wood were stuck together.

"It's progress." Sam said, picking up the manual.

Bucky rolled his eyes playfully, taking a seat on the floor across from Sam. He picked up two pieces of wood and a screw and a screwdriver.

"Hey, I'm trying to put a table together he- Wait, what'd you do?" Sam asked, looking at what Bucky had put together.

"I just put these two pieces together." Bucky said.

It looked a lot like the two pieces of wood Sam already had together.

"I think those are the legs." Sam said. "There's gotta be two more." He looked around for them.

"I got one. You get the other." Bucky said.

They worked on the table together, putting pieces together throughout the night. They sat in silence for part of the time, making some PB & J's to snack on in the passing hours, and conversing some small talk.

"And now for the final reveal." Sam said, putting the booklet down and looking at their creation.

It looked nothing like a table. It looked more like an abstract chair than anything.

"Are you sure you bought a table?" Bucky asked.

"I give up." Sam said. "I'm too tired for this."

"We could-"

"Nope. No." Sam plopped on the couch. "Let's not come in tomorrow. Take the day off."

Bucky cracked a small smile. "See you in the morning." He made his way to his room.

"No, you won't." Sam said.