Citrine/Quartz

( an adaption of the chat 'the abominable wade' into a oneshot. part 1/? )

•••

BUCKY GLARED at Steve from the various layers of clothes he was tightly bundled in. Instead of opting for everyone's more practical yet warm dress style, Bucky decided to take every precaution there was to keep him from feeling even the slightest chill.

Steve sighed heavily as he placed down the snow globe he was examining. He turned to Bucky, face sympathetic and worn with fatigue. "Will you stop looking at me like that?"

Bucky said nothing. It was not that he was upset with Steve, or even Tony for preparing the lavish trip. It was the cold, and the unsettling memories it dug up.

"Do you know what all this cold reminds me of?" Bucky asked a few moments later. Despite being inside the gift shop that was thoroughly heated, just glancing at icy tundra outside sent a chill down his spine.

Steve's eyes skittered nervously to the windows as he swallowed. "Ice-cream? Shaved ice?" He clicked his hands together. "Loki?"

Bucky smiled slightly. Steve's voice was soft and his expression playful as he tried to move Bucky's attention away from his past. But it wore off fast, and Bucky was left feeling glum again.

"The Cryostasis Chamber," Bucky answered him, pulling his thick coat closer to him and covering his mouth with his fluffy scarf.

Steve's smile dropped, and his eyes studied everything in the shop but Bucky. "Hmmm. Sounds weird. Don't know what that is."

"Sure you do. Not T'Challa's nice one. Hydra one." Bucky's voice grew an octave and took on a whiny lilt. "You know, where I was brainwashed. Frozen like peas." He looked at his arm. "And the day that led me to get this wasn't particularly sunny."

The gift shop had grown quiet. Other customers had stilled in their tracks, while some pretended to shop as the
ey listened in. Steve uncomfortably cleared his throat and they looked away quickly, after which he headed for the exit, beckoning Bucky to follow him as he did.

Annoyed with the lack of response, Bucky trailed after him like a kicked puppy.

"Steve!" he whispered, or at least tried to. "Buy me hot chocolate with marshmellows and I'll calm down."

The cafe was next to the gift shop. Wood from floor to ceiling, the inside of it had a few booth tables with colorful cushions lining them, and a plethora of books shelved onto a wall on one side. Bucky's favorite parts of it were the large shaggy rugs lining the floor and the crackling fireplace paired with a few beanbags in front.

"I'm really sorry, Buck. I'll try my best to make this trip a good experience," Steve said as he held the door to the cafe open. "Do you want sprinkles too?"

"Yes, sprinkles too." Bucky looked offended as he raised an eyebrow at his best friend. "Is that even question?"

There was a long line to the till, and Bucky mentally cursed as he saw it. Steve stiffened up, then glanced at Bucky and let out a sigh before marching up to the line.

Bucky plopped down onto a pink beanbag and held up his hands to the crackling fire. "Why did you even bring me along, Steve?"

Steve looked back at Bucky, the sides of his mouth dropping. "We've discussed this, Buck. You know why."

A memory of snooping in Y/N's room, followed by Thor's and then Natasha's played through Bucky's mind, as did the catastrophic events that followed due to his boredom. "How was I supposed to know Natasha keeps a bomb in her cupboard? I'm not all knowing, Steve."

"Please stop saying my name like that. You're making it weird." Steve stuck his hands into his pockets and focused his attention on the line in front of him. "Why did you snoop in their rooms in the first place?"

"Because you left me alone at the compound and I was bored. Steve."

Steve chuckled. "Is that so? And you wonder why I didn't leave you alone this time?"

A pout graced Bucky's face as he stretched on the bean bag, much like a cat. "Whatever. Is my hot chocolate done, Steve?"

"There's a long line James."

Bucky gasped. "Don't say my name in vain, Steve."

Steve looked over his shoulder, a huge grin on his face. "Do you want a muffin too, James?"

Two gloved thumbs shot up at Steve as Bucky nodded happily. "Yes, please and thank you, Steve."

When Clint entered the cafe Bucky had taken to reading one of the books on the shelves. Steve was still waiting in line, with no progress made.

Clint plopped down onto a bean bag opposite Bucky. The scowl on his face was so deadly that Bucky was almost certain a plant would wither up and die if the archer looked at it.

"Everything is cold. I got sick soon as I stepped on the stupid snow. I can barely breathe. Banner says I have a high fever." Clint sneezed suddenly, brandishing a tissue seemingly out of nowhere as he did. "I'm dying. I feel miserable. I hate this. I hate this place."

Clint was bundled up almost as much as Bucky was. His nose was red, and he sniffed loudly every time he inhaled.

Bucky peered at him from over his book, face expressionless. "Imagine how I feel."

Clint's scowl deepened even more. Bucky wasn't sure how that was even possible. "You stole my electric blanket, refused to give me your hot water bottle afterwards by throwing Sam's gloves at me and you ate the soup Nat made for me." Clint's face seemed to shrivel up into a deeper scowl, as if he ate a raw lemon. "Plus you won't let anyone use the sauna or hot tub. For someone so miserable you're pretty snug and pampered."

Bucky closed the book and sat up straight, suddenly feeling attacked. "I am suffering. I need extra care. Your flu is nothing. Play some sudoku or somethin' to calm down."

Clint leaned forward. "If I find you outside, there is no escape," he sneered, tone ominous and low.

Frightened, Bucky's head whipped towards Steve. "He's threatening me!"

"I didn't hear anything," Steve called back. "And don't act like I didn't hear what you told him." Steve turned around to Clint and offered him a soft smile. "You want something too? Cocoa? Have you had lunch yet?"

Clint smiled sweetly at Steve. "Coffee. Black. No sugar. I like it bitter."

"Like his soul," Bucky mumbled. He didn't need to look at Steve to know that the patronizing frown was on his face or that his blue eyes were disappointed. "What? He started this."

"I don't know what I've done to deserve this," Clint fake sobbed. He coughed harshly. "I understand he's not doing well, but so am I. A little love would be appreciated."

"Apologize to Clint," Steve commanded, only one spot up in the line.

"No."

"Bucky."

Bucky rolled his eyes and glanced at Clint who looked at him innocently, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "I'm sorry. That you're a snotty, bacteria infected, jerk."

Clint coughed. "Sleep with one eye open." Cough. "I'll rub all my snot covered tissues on you." Cough.

"Steve he's threatening me!"

"I didn't hear any threats, only coughing," Steve sighed. "You know what, Buck? You can get your own hot chocolate."

Bucky frowned and hugged his coat closer to him. "But you're already in line..."

"Can I get a muffin too?" Clint asked Steve with a voice dipped in honey.

"Of course! I hope you feel better soon, Clint," Steve said, oblivious to the situation.

Clint leaned closer to Bucky, plucked the book off his lap, and whispered, "I'll steal Steve from you."