Yelena checked the time on her phone, and saw a new notification, but shoved it in her bag and stood to meet Bucky. He looked much more put together than he had a few days ago, thankfully. 

   She smiled, trying be cheerful for him before even thinking it over. "How was it? Shrink wasn't too annoying today?"

   Bucky quirked an eyebrow at her, probably wondering how she knew that his therapist pissed him off. 

   "I just guessed. I've had experience with therapists. Well, one therapist, heh."

   "It was fine... It was hard. But proactive." Bucky opened the door for her quietly, and followed her outside.

   The streets were busy and flooded with civilians and commuters. Yelena wondered if it was this busy when he was a kid. Smells of cigarette smoke, freshly baked breads, and car exhaust filled the air. Interesting combination, Yelena thought to herself. 

   She preferred crisp, cold air that made your lungs feel frozen and made you want to cuddle up under a blanket. The air in Russia was that way, and she loved it. It felt softer and more complicated here. 

   "Bucky, are you alright?"

   His cold mask broke, and a smile spread on his face. "Yeah. Do you want coffee?"

   Yelena tucked her hair back. "Maybe a mocha,"

   "Good choice."

   He gestured at the nearest coffee shop, and they strolled inside. The business inside was slow and calm, servers sitting at a table in the corner waiting for customers. "Oh, hey!" One guy's eyes lit up as he spotted the two newcomers. 

   Bucky waved. "Hey. Can we grab a mocha?"

   "You don't want anything, Bucky?" Yelena asked him. He shook his head. 

   "Coming right up!" The man flashed them both a bright smile that was at odds with the dreary city skyline outside. "You can sit or stand anywhere! I'll be right back with- Yeah, I'll just go."

   Bucky sank into the nearest chair and rested his chin on one fist thoughtfully, propped up by his elbow on the table next to him. Yelena sat next to him, holding her bag on her lap so she had something to fiddle with while they waited. 

   "What'd you do today, Yelena?" Bucky asked, looking at her with surprisingly peaceful eyes. 

   She leaned on the chair back, legs out in front of her. "I woke up, I spent the day at the gym, I went exploring around the city. Hey, they have some pretty interesting shops over down on that road," she pointed out the window, and he grinned. 

   "The shops down there are pretty odd. Lots of miscellaneous antiques."

   "I like it, though. It's special," 

   "Yeah. It's even nastolgic for me, sometimes."

   "Do you go there a lo-"

   "Here you are, ma'am!" The server placed a hot coffee cup on the table between them, a twinkle in his eyes. "Enjoy!"

   "Thanks," Yelena paid him for the coffee, then tilted her head, motioning for him to scram. 

   "Have a good day -"

   "Okay, you can go now." Bucky interrupted him, crossing his arms calmly while giving him a death stare. 

   "A - alright! Alright."

   "Let's get outta this place," Bucky muttered as they got up to leave. "And," he added, "I do go there quite a bit. When I want to remember,"

   Yelena took a sip of her mocha as she followed him back out onto the busy city street. Light raindrops started to shower over the multitude of skyscrapers and people. The drops of water felt refreshing on Yelena's face, reminding her how good the world really was, regardless of the  humans in it.

   "You like rain?"

   "Yeah," she smiled. Bucky would be fine, she knew. Someday. "What about you?"

   "I do, I helps me feel... free. Reminds me of nature."

   "Same."

   She bumped her elbow on his arm. "Hey."

   They stopped to look at each other. His eyes looked so green today, flecked with blue. Where was the Winter Soldier while Bucky lived his life? 

   "Buck - "

   "Yo! Bucky!"

   Bucky's eyes widened in recongnition as he turned towrd the new voice. An African-American looking man with almost no hair on his head rushed up to them, water spraying out from where he stepped. 

   Apparently not in the mood for friends, either, Bucky sighed lightly.

   "Hey, man!" He said to Bucky cheerfully. "Who's she?"

   Bucky's unamused face surfaced, his eyelids lowering a tad bit as he looked at him. "Hey, Sam. What are you doing here?"

   "That's confidential," Sam winked.

   "Mmmh. Right."

   Yelena watched carefeully, interested in their dynamic. Bucky acted different with Sam than with her. 

   "How are you, man? Been a quick second, hasn't it?"

   Bucky smiled jokingly. "Times flies when you're having fun alone, right?"

   "That's not what I meant. Anyway, how are you doing?" Sam persisted, giving Bucky a light punch. 

    "Eh. So-so. And you?"

   "Great, I'm doin' great. A little bit stressed, though. Got a lot on my plate right now."

   Bucky nodded. "I know. The news anchors love you."

   "So, who's the girl?" Sam raised his eyebrows. "You two, uh-"

   "We're not dating." Bucky and Yelena told him in unison. Yelena slapped a hand over her mouth, while Bucky blushed. Sam made a disbelieving face at them. 

   "Well, it's certainly interesting that that is the very first thing that came to mind, isn't it?"   

   Bucky exchanged a glance with Yelena. She had no idea what to imply anymore, so she just shook her head. He nodded, looking at the ground. 

   Did he JUST DO THAT?

   Sam paused, watching them interact.

   Bucky scowled at Sam, looking like he'd hit him, but Sam ignored that look and kept talking anyway. "I was thinking that maybe, maybe 'cuz of this you'd stop flirting with my sister - "

   Yelena choked on her mocha, the coffee filling her windpipe. She shoved her cup at Sam, who fumbled with it, and bent over, hands clutching her chest. Coughs racked her body as she tried to get it all out. The brown drink mixed with rainwater at her feet as she kept coughing.

   She felt hands reach over her shoulders and hold her hair back so she didn't get mocha on it, and a flash of black leather.

   Yelena's lungs burned, and the hands were gentle. They were Bucky's. Taking a deep breath, she straightened up and took deep breaths. The cool metal of Bucky's fingers brushed her skin as he let go of her hair.  

   "Oh my gosh-" Sam started, but Bucky spoke over him. "Are you okay, Yelena?"

   "Uh-" she let out one more cough. "Y-yes, no thanks to Mister Black Falcon."

   Sam's cheeks flushed as Bucky coldly scowled at him. "Look, I'm really sorry! I did't mean to surprise you like that."

   "I know, but you are still annoying." Yelena replied curtly. 

   Sam sighed. "Well, I'm sorry, again, but I should probably go now. My meeting is in a few minutes. Yo, I'll see you next time! Bye, Buck!"

   "Don't call me that!" Bucky shouted into the rain as Sam dashed across the street. 

   "Um." 

   "What is it?"

   "He took my mocha,"

   Bucky crossed his arms. "I'm sure one of us will find a way to get back at him, don't worry."

   "And I'm very much looking forward to that... You flirt with his sister?"

   "Sometimes." Bucky said, tucking his hair back. "He hates it."

   She chuckled dryly, feigning humour. "What's her name?"

   "Sarah."

   "And you like her?"

   Bucky looked out into the busy, rainy street. The streetlamps clicked on as the sun set. More cars came, more people came. "I don't know."

   "What do you mean, you don't know?"

    He glanced at her. "I just don't know."

   "Really?"

   "Why are you asking so many questions?"

   Yelena quieted, shoving her hand in her pockets. "I-I'm not sure, either."

   She was sure, but she couldn't say it him yet. If she even started to share her feelings, he'd see everything too soon, reading her mind. And maybe all he'd ever see her as was a helpless little girl in nead of an older brother to fight for her.

   That would make her feel... even more helpless.

   "Are you really okay, Yelena?"

   She hooked her hand into the crook of his elbow. "Let's go home, Bucky. We're both tired."

   Yelena still didn't know what was going on with him today, but that would have to wait. He'd done enough talking today, with therapy and all. 

   "Sure," he told her, giving her hand a gentle squeese as they started walking.

   Maybe, maybe, maybe. 

   She hated that word.