Ayo returned, making as much noise as possible — even whistling as she walked. When she stopped next to them, food in hand, she looked between them. They weren't even holding hands, but something in her eyes was suspicious. "Am I interrupting something?"

Bucky looked at Kate, who shrugged, then at Ayo. "No."

"I can go-"

"No, it's fine," Kate jumps in. "It's fine."

They stare at each other for a few moments, and then Ayo turns to put the food in the truck. Bucky smiles at Kate. "Well... I'll see you... Friday, then?"

She smiles back. "I can do Friday."

"Great. Awesome. Um, Ayo and I can sort of... hash out the details, I guess."

"Of course."

"Plan the menu."

"Oh, we're eating?"

He stopped shifting. "If that's what you want to do, I mean-"

"Yeah, that sounds good."

"Great." Once again, they looked at each other, both of them smiling a bit. Bucky wasn't sure what to do, after what had just happened. The sound of Ayo starting the truck jolted him into the next step. "I'll see you then." Awkwardly, he held out his hand.

Awkwardly, she took it. "See you then."

And there they were shaking hands while Ayo undoubtedly watched with rolling eyes. Kate squeezed his hand before she let go, and then he was watching her walk away, trying to convince himself that he hadn't been dreaming.

"Well, Sergeant Barnes, do we not have plans to 'hash out?'" Ayo said.

Bucky jumped in the truck. "I think I have a date on Friday."

Ayo laughed. "You better ask again after you just shook her hand."

"I'm a little rusty at this, okay?"

~_~_~_~_~

Kate kept her mouth shut all week — four days, to be exact. Shuri and T'Challa, when he was around, brought up Bucky multiple times, and Kate kept her mouth shut. She didn't need them getting all excited and trying to get involved — at least, not yet.

She's excited. Butterflies in her stomach, a little bit anxious kind of excited. The same way she felt before her first date with Ryan.

It's weird. It's not that she feels like she's cheating on him exactly, but that she's cheating on herself. The part of herself that loved him —still loves him. It's not as if they broke up, like there's some animosity between them. He died. And it left a hole in her heart. She doesn't want to try to fill it with Bucky — that's not fair to either of them.

The past few nights, when she went to bed, she thought of Ryan. Of their first date, the second, the third. Of the time he asked her to be his girlfriend.

~_~_~_~_~

There was a CD playing softly on Ryan's radio — Talking Heads he said. He was always into that new wave stuff. Kate didn't mind it, but she had her preferences.

"Next time, I pick the music," she said.

He chuckled. "So there's a next time?"

"We've been out about five times, Ryan."

"You never know." He glanced at her before looking back to the road. "You don't have any other dates lined up, do you?"

She sighed, listing them on her fingers. "Well, there's the one on Thursday with the Nobel Prize winner, and then I've got one on Saturday with this guy who's in a band, and then Monday I'm getting coffee with this guy who collects cats."

"How many dates have you been on with them?"

"One each."

"So, I'm in the lead?"

"Undoubtedly," she replied.

He smiled, stopped in front of her little house, sandwiched between the others four blocks away from campus, then looked at her. "Cancel your dates, will you?"

"I mean I can try but I've rescheduled these three times already-"

"Kate, will you be my girlfriend?" he asked.

Outside, half-drunk college students were walking down the street. Kate ignored them. "I thought I was."

"No." He shook his head.

"Ouch."

"No, Kate," he sighed. "I can't tell if you're being serious right now or not. Come on."

"I am. I thought I was."

"Well, that's a thing you gotta ask a person."

"So ask me."

"I did. Answer."

She reached across the console and grabbed his hand, putting aside all jokes, and then she pulled him toward her and kissed him on the cheek. "Yes."

He smiled again. "You missed."

She leaned forward and kissed him, the sudden quiet bringing forth the music. "Out of all those kinds of people, you got a face with a view. I'm just an animal looking for a home, and share the same space for a minute or two. And you love me 'til my heart stops. Love me 'til I'm dead. Eyes that light up, eyes look through you. Cover up the blank spots, hit me on the head."

A car alarm went off and they pulled away. Kate smiled. "Call me, let me know when you want to go out again. I'll get my Simon and Garfunkel albums ready."

"Anything but that, please. Don't make me take that kiss back."

"How are you gonna take back a kiss?"

He kissed her again. "Like that."

"Then I am definitely bringing those albums."

"'Feeling groovy?' It's unsettling. It's like they're trying to convince me to feel groovy even though I am absolutely not feeling groovy. It's-It's Truman Show music."

"How can you not be feeling groovy with your hot, new girlfriend?"

He laughed, shaking his head. "Well, when you put it that way."

She smiled again, genuine this time. "Goodnight, Ryan."

"Goodnight."

~_~_~_~_~

She nearly married him. She would have. And maybe they would've had those two kids and a dog, and maybe they would've grown old together. Maybe in another universe where they didn't put their lives in danger for other people.

But then that wouldn't be the same Kate, the same Ryan. She's here now, about to go on a date with Bucky Barnes, and the part of her that would've been is gone. It has been for a while, but she wouldn't let it go.

So, while she gets dressed for this date — street clothes, no lab coat, and a Wakandan sun covering — she sheds some of her old skin as well.

If her room wasn't off the lab, she may have made it that afternoon without attracting attention. But Shuri, while focused on something for T'Challa, notices her going towards the door. "Where are you going?"

Kate stops, choosing her words very carefully. "Out..."

"To where?"

"Nunya."

Shuri's eyes narrow, and then she's using her Kimoyo beads. "I'm calling T'Challa right now-"

Shoot. Kate rushes over, tries to stop her. "Now, there's no need for that-"

"He is already on his way," Shuri argues, dodging Kate's grasp.

"You're gonna make me late."

"For what?"

"Nothing-"

The door opens, and T'Challa steps into the lab. "What's going on here? Shuri said it was urgent."

Kate fakes a smile. "Nothing is going on-"

"She's going somewhere and won't tell me where," Shuri says. "And she looks very suspicious."

T'Challa looks between the two of them for a moment before his eyes finally stop on Kate. "Well, you have to tell me."

Kate pushes towards the door. "I don't have to do anything but leave right now, so if you could just-"

T'Challa catches the covering she's wearing, revealing the street clothes beneath. "I've never seen you wear that before."

Kate yanks the cloth back. "So now you're paying attention to my clothes?"

"It's not a lab coat."

"Will you two just leave me alone?" Kate demands, turning to go. She runs into Ayo.

"Dr. Carson, there you are," she says. "Are you coming? The food is going to go bad."

"What food?" Shuri says.

"Nothing!" Kate replies, beginning to panic. "Yes, I'm coming, let's go."

T'Challa blocks the door. "Ayo, as your king, I am ordering you to tell me where you're taking her."

"Ayo, don't you dare."

Ayo shakes her head. "Sorry, Dr. Carson, I do not answer to you. She's going to see Sergeant Barnes. Now, come on. We'll be late, and he'll have a panic attack."

"Going to see Sergeant Barnes?" Shuri says.

"All dressed up?" T'Challa adds.

"And with food?"

T'Challa gasps. "Oh, my Bast are you going on a date?"

Kate pushes Ayo out the door, hurrying down the hallway. "Come on, Ayo, come on."

Behind her, she hears Shuri shout, "SHUT UP I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR AGES!"

~_~_~_~_~

Bucky tries to stop pacing, to breathe. They're late — not by much, but they're late. His eyes keep going to the skyline, looking for the truck. He asked to leave work early for this, and then he told him they're coming back to look at the rhinos. What's he gonna say, that he got stood up?

Or worse, she does show up and he completely screws it up. He hasn't been on a date since the 40s.

His heart stops and restarts as he sees the truck driving towards him. It's not long before Kate spots him and starts waving excitedly, quelling his nerves a bit. He waves back.

Ayo parks the truck and starts getting food out of the back. Kate goes to help, but Ayo nudges her away, so she walks over to Bucky. "Hi."

"Hi," he says. She's dressed casually, but her hair is down. The absence of a lab coat is also a bit jarring. "You look... great."

She smiles. "Thanks. So do you."

He's also wearing street clothes, his hair up again. He clears his throat, gestures to the blanket on the grass. "Would you like to sit?"

"Sure," she says, but they both just stand there.

Ayo walks over with two baskets. "This is painful, so I'm leaving. I'll be back in a few hours."

"Thanks," Kate says. Bucky only nods at her. They stand there still until the truck is gone, then Kate picks up a basket. "So what's on the menu?"

Bucky grabs the other and they sit. "Sandwiches, fruit, I think there's lemonade and cake in here, too. I was thinking picnic food."

"Sounds great."

They lapse into silence, unpacking the baskets. Bucky hands Kate a sandwich, she passes him some fruit. But neither of them start eating. He feels like he's staring at her, not that he's meaning to, but he doesn't know what to say or if he should stop making eye contact now or what. He was never this awkward on dates.

"So, when was the last time you went on a picnic?" Kate asks.

Bucky shrugs. "The 40s, probably. I don't really remember. What about you?"

"I was nine, I think. Dad took me on a picnic to the park, but that was something Mom really liked to do and it just wasn't the same without her. So we didn't go anymore."

"I'm sorry, this was a bad idea-"

"No, no, it's okay." She smiles reassuringly. "I miss going on picnics. This is nice. Kind of like when we were staying down here, just... nicer."

Bucky chuckles a bit. "I feel like we were better at talking then."

"Well, we weren't on a first date."

"True."

"I guess we're both out of practice."

"Yeah, I think my last first date was a double date with Steve, right before they shipped me off. And then Steve bailed." Bucky laughs.

"What, to go become Captain America?"

"Yep."

"I think that's a pretty good excuse."

"Yeah, I guess it was." He laughs again, remembering.

Kate pours herself some lemonade, then offers some to Bucky, who kicks himself for not pouring it for her. He takes a glass, though.

"I guess my last first was technically in 2005," she says.

He pauses. Does he ask? He feels like he should ask — and he no longer owes her a question. They're on an even playing field now. "Technically?"

She laughs. "You're gonna laugh."

His stomach drops. "Don't tell me it was Steve?"

She pretends to gag. "Ew, no, he's like my brother. I guess it wasn't really a date, anyway.
Over a year ago now, Tony was having this party, and everybody came, and I ended up having a conversation with this guy that was, like, a 'Can I buy you a drink?' kind of thing. It lasted about ten minutes at best before I called the whole thing off."

Bucky grabs a piece of fruit, studies it for a moment. "Anybody I know?"

"Is that really a question you want answered?"

He looks up at her, her brown eyes dancing with light, a smile creeping onto her face. Stupidly, he says, "I'll owe you one."

She breaks out into a laugh. "Okay, okay, fine. It was... Sam."

"I'm sorry?"

"I know, I know, it was weird." She laughs. "It was the most awkward I've ever felt in my life, and not in a good way. This is much better."

Bucky shakes his head. "Well, I'd hate to be him."

"Why?"

"Because he's not on a date with you right now."

"Smooth," Kate replies. "I think you're getting the hang of this again."

He laughs. "I hope so. I've been anxious all day thinking I was gonna screw this whole thing up."

"You're doing good so far. Solid B."

"Not an A?"

"That depends on what else you have planned."

He grins. "Do you want to go now or when we're done eating?"

A smile grows on her face. "Go where?"

He stands, then holds out a hand to help her up. He keeps ahold of her hand as he leads her to where he works. The pens come into view quickly, the rhinos already being fed their afternoon meal. Kate's eyes light up. "Oh, my gosh, they're even cooler up close."

Bucky waves to some of his coworkers, who nod at him, some with knowing smiles. He steers Kate toward the pen with the baby rhinos. "Allow me to introduce you to Steve."

~_~_~_~_~

Ayo looks sideways at Kate about a hundred times on the ride back to the citadel, eyes asking a silent question. Kate ignores this, unable to keep a smile off her face.

She met Steve — even got to pet him — and some of the people Bucky works with, who teased him mercilessly. They returned to the picnic blanket to eat their food, and then lay there cloud gazing until Ayo arrived to pick them up.

She looks at Kate once more, then finally asks, "So, did he kiss you?"

Kate turns beet red. "No! No, we didn't kiss."

"Maybe on the second date."

Kate nudges her. "Will you stop? It's bad enough I'm going to have to deal with Shuri and T'Challa when I get back." Ayo just laughs.

And sure enough, Shuri and T'Challa are waiting for them in the garage.

"How did it go?" T'Challa asks.

"Did he kiss you?" Shuri adds.

Ayo laughs. "I already asked. No."

"What was he waiting for? You've been making out with your eyes in the lab for months."

Kate grabs the basket out of the truck, then Ayo takes it from her and walks off, trying to exit the conversation as quickly as possible. Kate turns to Shuri and T'Challa. "We had a picnic, we went to see the rhinos, we cloud gazed. It was great. We'll probably go on a second date. He did not kiss me, but we did hold hands. Is that enough information for you two to leave me be?"

"No," Shuri says, while T'Challa immediately nudges her.

"Leave her be," he says. She looks at him with shock and betrayal, while Kate gives him a grateful look and returns to the lab, ready to get some work in before dinner.

~_~_~_~_~

Kate has been just about the only thing on Bucky's mind since their date — so nothing new, really, just less anxiety about whether she likes him back. The teasing he endured during their date only has gotten worse at work since, though he doesn't quite mind it. It somehow confirms that, yes, he really did go a date with Kate Carson, and yes, it did go well. He's been trying to plan when he'll go see her again — how early is too early? And what should they do for their second date?

The question rattles around his brain all day of moving feed and helping take care of Steve. They don't have too many options.

They could go back to the market? Or do something at the citadel? Would another picnic be lame? He wants to do something nice.

On the way back to his hut, he brings some water for his flowers, which are growing nicely. In the distance, however, he spots someone standing by the entrance to his hut. Upon closer inspection, it looks like a Dora Milaje. Not Ayo, not Yama... He immediately comes to the conclusion that something is wrong. Somebody found out he's here, they're coming for him.

Her expression doesn't change as he gets closer, and when he puts down the water bucket and looks up again, he finally recognizes her. "Okoye."

She nods at him. "Sergeant Barnes." Then, she gestures to his hut. Cautiously, Bucky moves the curtain and steps inside.

T'Challa is there, looking at his pictures. He turns with a smile. "There you are! I had to rearrange my entire schedule for this, you know."

"... Hey?" Bucky says.

T'Challa gestures for him to sit. "Sit down, sit down."

"Okay."

T'Challa sits across from him, barely containing a smile. "Listen, Barnes, I have a proposition for you."

Bucky's brows furrow. "About?"