Wonka's Sweets Shoppe | Tuesday

[shapethecentury]

The rest of the Halloween candy had arrived. Oh boy, had it ever. The entire shop was decked in orange and black and practically bursting at the seams in a way that made Bucky feel half surprised candy wasn't just going spilling out into the street with customers coming in or going out through the door.

At least when he managed to focus more on the matters at hand than what was keeping his brain occupied, anyway. Everything was changing, and he kept on thinking about home even when he was here. kept on thinking about what the future held – for him, personally. The things he knew about, and the things he didn't.

The radio seemed to be stuck on a channel that had decided to dedicate Tuesdays to swing music. It felt fitting.

(open!)

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[imafuturist]

"Busy day?" Tony asked, slipping in on a hunt for candy.

[shapethecentury]

"Surprisingly, it seems like Halloween and candy go well together," Bucky quipped as he straightened himself up behind the counter. "Who knew?"

He was from around the time trick or treating became a major thing, so... He knew.

[imafuturist]

"At least you're not selling eggs and toilet paper," Tony replied brightly.

[shapethecentury]

"Oh, don't tempt whichever higher power sees to random crap being sent here by accident," Bucky replied a little dryly, shaking his head. "Though with this island's whims it'd probably be entire chickens and God knows what."

Not that that was going to be his problem soon. At least for a while.

[imafuturist]

DAMN IT, BARNES.

"I think it'll happen no matter what we do," Tony said philosophically. "We can only go with the flow. And punch sharks."

[shapethecentury]

"I'd rather just make it past Halloween without sharks, thanks."

Metaphorical or otherwise.

[imafuturist]

"Well, there goes my plan to dress as a shark," Tony replied sadly. He was going to be Left Shark in a super timely joke.

[shapethecentury]

That would've gone way over Bucky's head, because he was even less timely than that reference.

"Sorry to break your heart like this, pal," Bucky replied, though not without a wry smile of a sort. He gestured at the orangey displays all around them. "Care for some candy as consolation?"

[imafuturist]

"I would never turn down candy," Tony assured him. "Also, you don't have any other stock."

[shapethecentury]

"Well, I think we might actually have some Valentine's day cards somewhere in the back," Bucky mused. Also, he realized something. "Actually, I should probably leave someone a note about that."

[imafuturist]

"I think you've got time before the holiday rolls around," Tony said with a laugh. "Its not like Christmas which will be out the moment Halloween is over."

[shapethecentury]

So guess Steve hadn't ratted him out yet.

"Yeah, but I might not be here when February rolls around."

[imafuturist]

Steve 'Let Me Just Repress All My Emotions Until I Explode' Rogers was keeping something to himself? DON'T BE SILLY.

"You going somewhere?" Tony asked, keeping his tone light.

[shapethecentury]

"Army needs me," Bucky replied just as lightly.

Evenly.

[imafuturist]

"Any idea when?" Because Tony could come up with plans! He was good at plans!

[shapethecentury]

"Soon," Bucky said.

That was about as specific as he wanted to get with it. For one, he hadn't yet decided if he wanted any big goodbyes. He intended to come back, anyway, right?

[imafuturist]

Yes. Yes, he did.

"We will have to have a beer then," Tony said with a smile. He could pretend everything was a-okay with the best of them. "Come by for Halloween. There's going to be a party."

[shapethecentury]

There were going to be a lot of awkward conversations once he came back.

But this was now. "Oh yeah?" he asked, cracking a smile. Possibly relieved to try and move to a different subject. "Steve gonna dress up as a ghost and everything?"

[imafuturist]

"That is the intention," Tony replied, smiling back at him. "I'm sure we could bully him into that costume."

[shapethecentury]

Bucky's smile was crooked. "Gonna need a pretty big sheet, though."

Not like the Steve at home.

[imafuturist]

"I don't know, it might be even better if the sheet only reaches his knees," Tony suggested.

It would just be adorable.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve wasn't stalking Bucky in case he decided to flit away without saying anything! Don't be a crazy person!

He was just there. A lot. For reasons he would come up with if anyone asked him about it.

[shapethecentury]

Right.

"Steve! Please buy some pumpkin candy before all the shelves collapse and flatten me into a pancake." As good a greeting as any. He could pretend he didn't know why Steve was hanging around as well as the next guy. "And not one of the nice ones Ma makes, either."

[shapethecentury]

Bucky had to huff out a little laugh at that. "True. Fair. Could be the wrong kind of scary, though."

[heroic_jawline]

"Oh, she makes the best pancakes," Steve sighed, coming further into the shop. "Which stuff is the pumpkin? I'm going with all of it."