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Tall, beared man, black leather jacket, gloves. Grumpy and most of the time, alone. At least, that's how you see him walking into your coffee shop every morning. Always direct, no small talk, ordering the sme thing— black coffee, no sugar. And always sits at the same isolated table at the back of your shop. Always looking at the door. Always on guard of everything. And leaving a few moments later. Only coming back on the next day at the same time.
This rotine has been the same for various months, but today was different. The little bell over your door anouncing his entrance while you assist a customer. You give a quick look over him before giving your current customer the change.
“Morning, the usual?” you ask as he aproches the counter.
"Yes, please” leaning in to rest his elbow, watching as you prepared his order.
You come back, placing the mug down. He leaves the cash, and this time, instead of sitting at the back, he chooses a counter bench stool. He could still have the door opening view but also a view of your work.
You thought that was odd, making the most subtle double check you could. You didn't mention it. Just continued doing your work as he silently drank his coffee, staring blanckly at nothing.
Forty minutes, you already took his dish back, but he stayed. A faint smile on his face when you did so. Smile? He can do that? You thought to yourself. you never saw him smiling at all before. Not to you nor to any other customer who greets him as they pass by.
Why was he sitting here, close and not isolated as he usually does. why he's staying this long. You didn't mind it at all, on the contrary, you liked to know that your shop was comfortable enough that people didn't want to leave. But him? Something was going on.
“Is everything okay?” You took the excuse to clean the counter to talk to him.
“Hum?” he snaps his eyes to your face as if he didn't expect you to talk to him.
“I asked if everything's okay” giving him a grin.
“Uh, yes. well, sorry if im taking space.”— “No, no, it's totally okay. I'm just checking in” You cut him off before he could offer to leave. You resume cleaning the counter. His eyes stayed on you when you headed back to the coffee bar.
He was already leaving when you looked at his way again.
The next morning was even weirder. The start was the same. Coming in, ordering the same thing, and paying. And today, he also chose to sit at the same spot as the previous day, on the counter stool. But oddly enough, he cleared his throat. Turning your attention to him.
“Sorry about yesterday.” He sips and looks at you.
“Oh, dont worry about it. Was nice seeing you here. You can stay as long as you want, Mr?” You just noticed you never asked his name.
“James—you can call me James”.
“James” you repeated smiling.
After a long moment of attending customers, he lingered again. You were already used to his presence.
“Well, since you're the only one here and I don't really have anything to do for now ”— You sigh a bit, his eyes watching your face— “Mind having a chit chat with me? Or do you rather I leave you alone?” You stood in front of him at your side of the counter.
“Oh, um. Yeah. Sure, why not?” He looked around to see if he was really the only one.
“What you do, James?” resting your crossed elbows on the counter.
“Uh, well, I used to be a soldier.” he gaze locked in yours. He could see the curiosity in it.
“Hm, that's interesting.”— The cogs of your mind taking longer to adjust to what he said — “Wait.” Your eyes scanned him, and he understood what was going on in your brain. Head tilting a little and a small smile. He waited for your realization — “You're James! As in the Winter Soldier!” You exclamed. A little louder, and you'd be screaming.
“Yea” a brief chuckle.
“Oh my god. How long it took me to realize. ugh, I'm so stupid” You put your hands in your head.
“No, you're not. I just made sure of that” he smiles more.
You talked more for a few minutes longer before his phone rang. He picked up, standing up.
“Yeah. I'll be right there.” already walking toward the door. “sorry for that. Duty calls. I'll see you tomorrow” he left before you could answer.
The day has passed normally after that. Although you couldn't stop thinking about him. The James Barnes, The Winter Soldier, was coming every day to your shop, and you had no idea.
The following day, he appears again. A soft smile on his face when he sees you. “Morning”.
“Good morning, James” you smile “The usual, yes?” With the mug on your hands, already starting his order.
“Um, actually, no.”— You turned to him mid prep, your confused eyes on him — “Make me your favorite”.
“Oh, any reason for that?” You smiled.
“I just... want to try something different today”. returning your smile.
“All right then, be right back” turning to start his drink.
A few minutes later, you place his drink in front of him. A tall cup, and a straw.
“Here it is. An iced heazelnut macchiato. It's sweet, creammy, and delicious” grinning at him.
He now sits at his new usual place. Near you.
You shot your eyes at him a few times while assisting your customers. You saw his first try of the drink. The liquid going up the transparent straw and disappearing behind his lips.
His head did a movement when he first swallowed it.
“So? I need feedback” smiling.
“It's actually pretty good” he mildly chuckled.
“Well, im glad you liked it”.
This was the new rotine of the next days now. He cames, orders a different drink every time , and sits next to you. You don't really know why the sudden change of his behavior but you were enjoying your new company.
You talked about yourself. He never truly opened up to you. Noting that he still has some trust issues, but he seems lighter. He smiles more. When he does, his eyebrows raising ever so lightly every time. You liked that.
One day, you asked if you could see his metal arm.
“Just the hand then” You looked at his eyes, really excited about the thought.
He looks back at you. Soft eyes. A slight curve on his lips. Thinking about it.
“Okay, okay, just the hand” he eventually gives up, taking the glove off.
You saw the soft yellow beam of sunlight hitting the metal. His fingers flexing to show the movement of it.
“Wow, that's insane. Can I touch it?” Your hands coming closer to his.
He doesn't say anything but just reach for your hands. The cold touch feels weird. You played with his fingers. Inspected everything.
All he did was watch you the whole time. Eyes never leaving your face. Seeing your reaction to every movement he did.
“That's pretty cool.” you finally said, letting go of his hand.
For a few minutes, he stays quiet. Eyes glued to yours. Feels like he didn't even think much before the next words leave his mouth.
“May I take you out on a date?” his words took you by surprise. And apparently, himself too.— “Oh um, sorry, I didn't ” — “No, no, it's fine…I'd love to go out on a date with you, James.” Sending a bright smile.
He looked relieved by your response. “Great. Hm.. There's an amusement park in town, would you like to go there?”.
“Yes, I'd love to”.
At night. A cold breeze hits your skin. Echos of screamings around the place from the rollercoasters and drop towers.
Flashes of colored lights on his face.
You meet him near the carousel, cotton candy already in hand, and a big smile.
James plans on riding the rollercoaster.
The apex drop makes both of you scream. Hands up high. Messing your hair.
The next ride was bumper cars. You like this one. Hitting his car whenever you could and vice versa. Laughing out loud when he hits your car from behind.
Pacing through the place, talking about everything and nothing. He makes you laugh quite easily.
He suddenly stops.
“oh look.”— you follow his gaze— “A target game” He reaches the place. He talks to the woman in charge of it.
“What are the rules?” You walk to his side, watching him talking to her.
“Well, you have to knock down all those five moving stars” — she points — “ In under two minutes to win a prize” she smirks.
“Hm. I can do that in less than twenty seconds” he mumbles to you.
“I dare you” you snap back.
“What? You dont believe me?” He gives his ticket to the woman “Ma’am, give me that gun”.
You stepped away to see him fully in action. He prepares himself, aiming the gun with his left eye. The two minutes clock starts. He hit the five stars in ten seconds.
Your jaw drops, and he chuckles when he looks at you. The woman is also speechless when he carefully drops the gun.
“give me the teddy bear, please” a smug on his face.
“There you go” handing you the plushie.
“That. Was. Awesome.” you said dramatically, holding the plushie close to your body. A light brown fur, thin curved line as a smile, big eyes, and cute baby pink nose. “I love it”.
He smiles, his eyes softly looking at you.
“Okay. Let's go. I still want a last ride” he holds your hand, almost instinctively, dragging you to be by his side.
You hold it back. “What last ride?”.
“The ferris wheel”.
“Is that an excuse for a romantic place to kiss me?” You face him, smirk on your face.
He faces you back “Yes. Yes, it is”.