Chapter Text
Sun just beginning to rise over the otherwise quiet Brooklyn street, Steve Rogers was already awake for the day and preparing to open for business. Owning and operating SHIELD bakery was no easy task, but one that Steve prided himself in nonetheless.
Lucky for him, he was also an early riser, considering he woke up every morning before the sun even hinted at rising to set to work on preparing dough among other things to prepare for the day.
Humming softly to himself as he kneaded at the dough to make fresh bread, he only paused in his actions as a knock sounded from the front door. Pausing in his work, taking note of the bread before placing it in a bowl and setting it aside to rise, he wipes his hands on his apron before heading for the door.
Entering into the main front of the bakery, a grin rose on his face as he noticed Sam waiting at the door, two coffees in hand as Clint was there talking with him. Heading over and unlocking the door, flipping the sign to open as it neared 6 o’clock, he let them in. “One of those for me? Or do you really need two coffees in the morning?”
Earning a slight glare and a humorless chuckle, Sam made his way inside withholding the coffee from him, “Ha ha, very funny. After that remark? Yeah, I do. You’re just lucky I like you. Especially with how far we had to go for these.” After letting Sam get out his teasing, he received the warm beverage with a grateful smile.
Clint downing half his coffee in one go, he flashes Steve a grin as he takes a chair off a nearby table and sets it down, taking a seat. “So, what needs to be done today? Anything big planned, or?”
Taking a sip before taking a glance between the two of them, Steve nodded before waving them off, “No, nothing yet at least. I might need one of you to run down to Wanda’s store and pick up a few things later, but they can wait for now. Besides Hope and Scott’s usual thursday order for their weekly book club at their bookshop. Other than that, most are just pick ups today.”
Leaning back against the display case that he’d just freshly restocked, Steve took another drink of his coffee as he watched Sam and Clint nod. Despite business being unpredictable some days, Steve wouldn’t give up his job for the world. He had friends that supported him and helped in any way they could, and every since his mother had passed… well, it’d been their dream to help those in need.
“That’s fine, there’s a few things I need to do in town anyways, you two gonna be okay if I head out and take care of them this morning?” Glancing at Sam, Steve nodded and gave him a teasing grin. “Honestly? Without you here and your big mouth? We’ll probably get more business when you’re gone.” Earning another laugh and roll of his eyes, Sam clasped Steve on the shoulder and gave an affectionate squeeze before asking what Steve needed while he was out.
Nodding and heading behind the counter to make a list, Clint got up and began to put down the rest of the chairs and wipe down the few tables around the place. Overall the bakery wasn’t huge, but it gave off a sense of home and that’s what Steve had been going for when he opened the place just over two years ago.
Before then he’d joined in the army and that’s where he’d met Sam and his boyfriend, Riley. After serving for two tours, Riley had suffered an accident and earning an honorable discharge, both Sam and Steve had followed Riley back home. They’d all relocated to Brooklyn and have been there ever since.
Finishing up the short list and handing it off to Sam, he gave him a smile, “If you’re stopping by the VA, tell everyone I said hi, and tell them I’ll make a batch of whatever they request.” Earning a laugh as he headed for the door, Sam shot Steve a look. “I’ll be sure to do that, just be prepared to make more than you’re bargaining for.” Nodding to him as Sam left, Steve turned to Clint as he finished putting down the chairs. “You need anything before I head back to work?”
Earning a shrug as Clint thought about it, shaking his head in the end, he headed back to his seat and downed more of his coffee. “Nah, I’ll just wait here until someone comes in, go and make your dough.” With that, Steve laughed and left him alone before heading back to prepare the rest of his pastries for the day.
It was only reaching 5:45, and most would say that Steve was insane for waking up so early, but truly he was just an early riser. Besides, he knew people would drop by on their way to work, and he knew that no matter what, at the end of the day, whatever wasn’t eaten, he’d donate anyways.
--
Bucky took in a deep breath of the chilled morning air. It’d been ages since he’d been back in Brooklyn, but now that he was, he was relishing it. The sun not having even risen completely, the sky was just starting to turn light hues of purple and blue as the sun peeked over the horizon. God, he missed being home.
Earning a light jab to the ribs, he grunted as he side eyed the red head beside him as she joined him on the sidewalk outside their apartment building. “What’s got you so bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning? Usually you’d be groaning and rolling over if I woke you up this early.”
Rolling his eyes as he gently rubbed over the spot, he shrugged his shoulders as he lead them down the steps and onto the sidewalk, a small grin pulling up on his lips. She wasn’t wrong, usually Bucky wasn’t a morning person, but being back in Brooklyn, back in his hometown, well, it was enough to get him going in the morning. “Just being back feels great Nat, being back home.” He murmured softly, his smile turning shy as he admitted it. He’d been gone for nearly twelve years, and that was too long for his liking.
Feeling Nat join him, resting a hand on his shoulder and offering a soft smile, she nodded before leading them down the street. “Well, then that’s worth being up early then. Now, let’s go check out this place, hopefully we can be up and running by the end of the week.” Looping their arms together, Bucky beamed beside her, excited to finally restart his life, to have true meaning to it.
Heading down the street, the cool air nipping at both of them, they walk in silence as the world continues to sleep around them. After all, it is only reaching 5:30 in the morning, people were just now waking up and getting ready for work, or whatever they had planned for the day.
Taking in the surroundings as they walked, Bucky could only feel the smile growing on his face. There’d been a time where he’d thought they’d never make it back to the city he loved, but heading down the street to the property he and Nat were renting out to open their own coffee shop was enough to get his hopes up for a new beginning.
Glancing to his left, watching as Natasha looked over her phone, finding the address as they traveled the two blocks to where it was located, they stopped in front of the storefront and shared a smile. The green awning newly done and the window freshly painted with their logo of a red store and the name of the coffee shop: Lucky Star, painted in bright, friendly red lettering.
“Well, we still have some work to do before we can officially open, but otherwise Lucky Star’s made it to Brooklyn, Barnes.” Natasha praised, gently nudging him with her shoulder and squeezing her hand. A blush filling his cheeks, he shakes his head and glances down at their feet. “Nah, we both did it.”
“Barnes. Don’t be modest, you did most of the work in finding a place here and organizing moving everything. Hell, you even did most of the work at the old shop, you can be proud. You’ve come a far way,” Natasha murmured gently, reaching out and gently cupping his cheek. “Thank you, Nat. God, I’m getting all nervous now, but the good nervous I guess.” Earning a scoff at that, Natasha pulled out the keys and unlocked the place, leading the two of them inside.
“That just means you’re proud of what you do, no shame in that.” Natasha reassured as she headed towards the back and flipped on the lights, already setting to work unpacking a few boxes and dusting off the counters. Humming his appreciation as the lights turned on, Bucky followed her lead as he set up tables and chairs, working in silence between the two of them.
Letting out a sigh as Bucky moved a box full of creamers, sweeteners, and napkins, he stretched his arms up, feeling them already get sore, especially the left one. He’d only recently gotten used to his new arm, after months and months of extensive physical therapy. After having talked to Natasha, who’d made him talk to his doctors, about wanting a new fresh start and moving back to Brooklyn, they’d all agreed it’d be fine as long as he visited a Dr. Strange while he relocated there. While he’d yet to do that, Natasha had prodded him to make an appointment within the first week of them opening, and it was scheduled early next week.
As much as he was embarrassed, or more ashamed, of the arm and explaining to those what had happened, Natasha had, and has been, by his side the entire time. Hell, he was confident in most every other aspect of his life, but between his arm and the coffee shop opening, he was only growing more nervous by the second.
Leaning against the counter and crossing his arms, he waited until Natasha came back up front to give her a small grin. “How about we take a break and go get breakfast? It can be on me.” Earning a look at that, she shrugged her shoulders before shouldering her coat back on. “When you mean ‘on me’, you mean ‘on me, but with your money’, but fine. I noticed the lights on in the little bakery across the street, we can head over there.” Only getting a sheepish grin in return, she rolled her eyes affectionately before heading for the door, Bucky following behind her.
“Besides, at the very least we can see if they’d like to be business partners. We need more of those and friends anyway.” Natasha added as they headed out across the street, the morning still quiet and the sun only having risen in the slightest. Humming once more and stuffing his hands in his pockets, Bucky took in the sight of the bakery as they headed over to it.
The blue awning and the SHIELD written in neat, white script across the window showcasing the different goods the bakery offered inside. Looking past the showcase, the inside of the bakery was decorated with wooden tables and chairs and soft light provided from lights suspended from the ceiling. How quaint, Bucky thought to himself as a gust of wind hit his face, causing it to scrunch up from the cold.
Taking in the interior decorating further, Natasha was already stepping up and talking to the man at the counter, discussing something about the owner having stepped out for a quick moment. Not really paying attention to either of them until his name was called, he turned to them and saw that Natasha was introducing them. A quirk of her lips telling he was caught not paying attention, she turned back to the man dressed in a purple t-shirt and a pair of purple sunglasses perched on his head.
“Well, that’s James, and I’m Natasha.” She introduced, a grin forming the guy’s face.
“Well, nice to meet you both, I’m Clint, but yeah, as I was saying, Steve had to step out for a moment, but he should be back later, anyways, something I can help you both with?” Leaning against the counter as he talked, Bucky could notice the hearing aids in Clint’s ears.
Despite them being small and unobtrusive, Bucky would recognize a pair of hearing aids from anywhere, however if you were to ask him, he wouldn’t be able to tell you from where. Glancing back at Natasha, watching her roll her eyes before nodding for him to go ahead and pick something, a small smile formed on his lips as he browsed the pastries in front of them. Settling on a bagel and cream cheese, he waited as Natasha ordered herself some banana bread and continued to talk with Clint as she payed and waited for him to toast Bucky’s bagel.
Letting them talk and going to take a seat, he pulled out his phone as he waited, a thoughtful frown settling upon his face as he continued to think about the nagging thoughts in the back of his mind. Trapped in his own head, he left Natasha to strike up negotiations and business deals considering that’s what her speciality was in their business duo.
Feeling a headache coming on as he came up with nothing, he was pulled out of his thoughts as Natasha nudged his foot with her own and helped up their breakfast in two paper sacks. “Wanna head back over and try to work for a couple hours before we both give in and explore this afternoon?” Natasha asked, already knowing the latter would be inevitable.
“Yeah, we better get some work done today,” Bucky answered as he rose to his feet, glancing back at Clint as they headed for the door. “See you around man, tell Steve we’re sorry to have missed him, but we’ll probably be back more often than not!”
Catching a chuckle and nod, Clint waved to them as he promised he would and wished them a good day, watching them as they left and headed back across the street. Letting out an exhausted sigh and downing the rest of his coffee, he shook his head tiredly. “God, another pair of early risers? Steve’s gonna be happy to hear that. They’re just as insane as he is.”
--
Steve hummed under his breath as he headed back to the shop, running his hand through his hair as he did, making it more disheveled and adding more flour to it than it already had. Having had to step out and go check on his neighbor, Peggy, one of his oldest friends and make sure she was alright after Sharon had told him she was in the hospital for falling. After having arrived at the hospital and fussed for at least twenty minutes, they insisted he headed back to the bakery, but be sure to stop by after work with a tray of blueberry muffins, and who was he to deny his best customers?
Entering into the bakery, finding Clint dozing off behind the counter, he rolled his eyes with a chuckle as he snuck up behind him and cleared his throat behind him.
“Clint? When you said you’d watch the shop, I didn’t think falling asleep counted as keeping an eye out.” Steve chuckled, amused as he watch Clint nearly fall off the stool he was sitting on.
Grumbling as he steadied himself, he shot Steve a look before stretching and filling him in on what he’d missed while he was gone. “We got some new neighbors, Natasha and James, they bought the vacant property across the street? Turning into a cafe from what they told me, asked if they could do business with you, I told’em I’d pass the message along.” Clint muttered as he adjusted his hearing aids, watching Steve as he cocked an eyebrow at him.
Shrugging in response, Clint rose from his seat and headed towards the back to take a nap before the morning rush hit in another twenty minutes, leaving Steve to himself.
Letting Clint go, Steve glanced out and across the street, a soft smile growing on his face as he thought about meeting them and working with the two of them. Steve didn’t seem the harm in that, however, the one thing that stuck out to him most during of what Clint told him was James.
The name held a heavy toll on Steve’s heart, because the last time he’d met anyone named James, was one James Buchanan Barnes, and he was the one that got away.