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[He'd mostly been joking, or at least attempting to, clearly tone is something that still needs work.

Either way he nods at the follow-up, making a half-toast towards Steve with what's left of the bagel in his hand.] Which is better than we used to do, with just plans. And usually only half of one of those.

You don't think we're going to make up where we're going to eat? [ Steve raises a challenging eyebrow at him. ] Because I don't have a place in mind? Just not the Met cafeteria. It's way too overpriced.

[He shakes his head, looking grim for a moment] Definitely not the cafeteria. But there's pretty much any other kind of food you could want within a block, block and a half of the place, depending which direction you go.

You been itching for anything in particular?

[ He thinks about it for a moment while chewing on his last bite of bagel. ]

Soup dumplings. Dim sum. Something different from pizza and our usual Chinese order.

Oh man actual dim sum sounds like a good idea, there's a place... [He squints ceilingward for a moment, rotating the neighborhood in his mind] a little further out than the other good lunch places, but by 'a little further' [there's finger quotes and everything] I just mean two, two and a half blocks instead of up to a block.

[There's another little flicker of a smile] Not like the walk is going to kill us.

Two whole blocks? We'll have to get a cab for that. [ He is absolutely making fun of modern people who just don't seem to walk anywhere anymore. Steve rolls his eyes a little while he gets his phone to look the place up. ]

The weather should be good too. It'll be a nice walk.

Obviously we'll have to get a cab back after, because if we're doing dim sum right we'll be too damn full even to walk to the station.

[An exaggeration to make a point, sure, but only a slight one. Besides, Bucky's been to the place fairly frequently, not enough to be a regular -in his opinion- but still often enough that most of the staff knows him on sight]

What? You're not going to carry me back? [ Steve grins because he knows he's being a little shit. ] What kinda friend are you?

[ They'll make their slow way back. Steve's almost forgotten about his hangover with the plans they're making. ] This place looks really good.

[He just snorts at that first question, which is really all the response it deserves in the long run, but he nods at the follow-up.] It is, I've been there a few times, you can do orders or just wait for them to bring the cart around, which is usually what I end up doing, gives me time to enjoy stuff one at a time.

[Which the first couple times had been about figuring out what he actually liked, though that had turned out to be 'basically everything']

The cart's better for conversation too. [ Steve likes the pauses in between visits. They can catch up though considering how they're still in each other's pocket there's not much to catch up on. ] And they keep some of the best stuff on there. Though, sometimes it's worth asking the staff for recommendations.

[ He also likes talking to people. It's nice. ] I bet there's something on the menu no one picks but is really good.

And this is why it's a good idea to bring you along, wouldn't have thought of asking about the underdog of the menu. [Though mostly that's because he doesn't think that way in general. He's asked for recommendations from the chef before, in other, smaller places where the chef is right there to talk to, but hasn't thought to at family restaurants.]

C'mon Buck, you gotta ask the staff what they like. [ Steve nudges him with his foot under the table. ] If they're a good staff they'll tell you and it won't be one of the whatever special of the month is.

[ Or maybe Steve's just so cute and charming they always give him the best suggestions. ]

[He nudges back, giving something that he'd intended as a scoff but that comes out far too amused] I'm familiar with the concept, I'm just not that much of a talker.

[The hard part about that is that he knows he was once, but that has been one of the hardest things to get back.]

You are with the right person. [ Meaning him mostly, but Steve figures Bucky will find more people to talk to in the future. Eventually. Once he gets comfortable going out more. ]

It also means the words you do say are more important. You're not just talking, you know?

[He tilts his head in a little shrug] Some people make it easier than others.

[Steve, Sam, Sarah, a handful of others, but not many even now] And that's a real optimistic way of looking at it, but it's better than the alternative, so I'll take it.

I practically read your mind. I'm cheating. [ Steve grins back even as he shrugs like it's no big deal how close they are. Because it's really not. It's just how they are. ]

I'm an optimistic guy. And from an outsider's perspective you are getting better Buck. [ The progress is slow but it's there. Steve sees it. ]

Pretty sure you've also got a biased opinion on that one, but I can let it slide. [There's humor in the statement that he knows Steve will pick up on, even if someone else wouldn't, and it's partly because he knows Steve's right, bias or no.]

I am allowed to be biased! [ Steve glares playfully. ] You are my best friend and brought me breakfast when I was hung over. You are so awesome. The best friend a guy could ask for.

[He lifts both hands in mock-surrender] Didn't say you weren't allowed, and didn't say it was a bad thing.

[As far as he's concerned those biases aren't a bad thing, not necessarily, not when it means that Steve -and likewise Sam, Sarah and a handful of others- will see the good things -like that progress, incremental as it is- where others, including Bucky himself, wouldn't.]

That's what I thought. [ Steve points a 'threatening' finger at him. ] I'm going to annoy you for the rest of our lives, bud, so you'd better just accept that now.

[ Even if the worst comes back Steve's going to stick around. He's stubborn and cares. It's a powerful combination. And annoying too sometimes. ]

That is the most toothless threat I've ever received.

[A small, much more genuine smile follows all the same, and he doesn't go to the trouble of hiding this one] But thanks.

[It's a struggle to keep the amusement out of his tone, keep it something aiming for resigned and matter-of-fact] Someone's got to do it, right? Might as well be you.

Toothless? Ha. I will bite if backed into a corner.

[ It's rare Steve fights dirty but he has done it a time or two. And yes, he's bitten a few people. No one judge him. ]

Face it, you wouldn't know what to do without me.

Oh now that is a totally different threat that I know you have no problem following through on.

[So he hasn't seen actual biting in play before, not from Steve, but he knows better than to question that certainty in his tone.]

I would so, but it would definitely take me longer to make decisions.

[ Steve laughs and shoves his chair back from the table. He starts to clean up the containers of cream cheese and put them away in the fridge one by one. ]

They might be better decisions without me jumping right into things without thinking.

[Bucky snorts softly, amused even still, as he rolls to his feet as well, collecting plates and mugs.] Yeah, maybe. But it's never going to be that clear cut.

[Steve's mug is set on the counter beside him, Bucky knows better than to empty the last few sips of coffee, and his own mug and the plates are set in the sink, just given a quick rinse. It's habit to do the day's dishes after dinner, which means he'll take care of them later.]