For the first time in forever, Bucky and Steve weren’t running into battle.
They weren’t standing on a battlefield, bruised and bloodied, waiting for the next fight. For once, they were just two men on vacation, trying to remember what it was like to live.
It had taken a lot of convincing to get Fury to agree to let them off the hook for even a week. Steve had practically begged, insisting that they deserved a break. Not just for their bodies to heal, but for their minds and their hearts.
They had been fighting for over seventy years.
Sure, they had been frozen for a large portion of those years, but once they were thawed, neither of them had ever really had a chance to stop.
Even after Thanos was gone, even after Tony’s sacrifice, even after everything settled, there was always something—another mission, another crisis, another call to arms.
But Steve refused to let this moment slip away. He had been planning this for months, carefully choosing the perfect destination.
Somewhere warm, somewhere peaceful.
Somewhere, they could just exist without being Captain America and the Winter Soldier.
So, he dragged Bucky to the airport—no quinjet, no S.H.I.E.L.D., just two people boarding a flight like everyone else.
Bucky was anxious, of course.
He always was.
He had spent decades being hunted, manipulated, and controlled.
Even now, when he was free, when he had Steve at his side, he still had trouble letting his guard down.
Steve could see it in the way his shoulders tensed, and how his gloved metal fingers tapped against the book he was reading during their flight.
Steve didn’t press him, though. He just rested a hand over Bucky’s flesh one, grounding him, letting him know everyone would be okay without them for a few days.
The three-hour flight was uneventful, and when they finally landed in Nassau, the humid island air wrapped around them like a welcome embrace.
They retrieved their bags, picked up a rental car, and made their way to the small, family-run hotel Steve had found.
He had avoided the big resorts, not wanting to draw any attention. Here, tucked away from the crowds, they could just be themselves.
The hotel was small, nestled between palm trees with a view of the clear, blue ocean.
The room was simple but comfortable, and Steve turned to Bucky with a grin as soon as they dropped their bags on the ground.
“First order of business—food. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”
Bucky huffed out a small laugh. “You’re always starving.”
“Super soldier metabolism,” Steve shot back with a smile. “Besides, I want to go for a walk. Take a look around.”
Bucky hummed, glancing out the window. “Yeah. Okay.”
They walked side by side down the quiet streets, the sun beginning to set and painting the sky in brilliant hues of orange and pink.
The salty breeze rustled Bucky’s hair, and for the first time since they landed, Steve saw him start to relax.
They passed by locals and tourists alike, some laughing, some taking photos, others simply enjoying the evening air.
It was so different from what they were used to—no weapons, no enemies lurking in the shadows, no threats hanging over their heads.
Just life going on around them.
Steve brushed his fingers against Bucky’s as they walked. It was a small gesture but meaningful.
Bucky didn’t pull away.
Instead, he hooked his pinky around Steve’s, just enough for them to feel connected.
They walked for a couple of minutes in the town as they looked for somewhere to get something to eat.
Finally, they came across a little restaurant with a wooden deck overlooking the ocean.
It wasn’t fancy, but the aroma of food floating in the wind drew them in.
String lights hung above them, flickering gently in the breeze. The scent of grilled seafood filled the air, mingling with the rich spices of the island cuisine.
They sat at a table near the railing, listening to the waves crash against the shore as they ordered.
A beer for each of them, something simple to eat. When the drinks arrived, Steve lifted his bottle in a quiet toast.
“To finally getting a break,” he murmured.
Bucky clinked his bottle against Steve’s with a chuckle.
They drank, savoring the crisp, cold liquid against the warmth of the night.
It had been so long since they had been able to sit together like this, just talking, just being.
No war, no looming battle, just a quiet night.
Steve found himself watching Bucky, memorizing the way his hair blew in the wind, the way his lips curled slightly when he wasn’t thinking about it.
He had missed this—missed them.
As the night wore on, they both felt the pleasant buzz of alcohol settling in. It wouldn’t last long, not with their enhanced metabolism, but they allowed themselves to feel it while it lasted.
By the time they left the restaurant, the streets were quieter, the night cooler.
They walked slowly back to the hotel, shoulders brushing, feeling lighter than they had in years.
Steve let out a soft sigh. “I wish we could do this all the time.”
Bucky glanced at him. “You thinking about retirement already?”
Steve chuckled. “Maybe. But I know you’re not quite there yet.”
Bucky was silent for a long moment before finally saying, “I don’t know if I ever will be.”
His voice was quiet. “I still feel like I need to… make up for things.”
Steve nodded.
He had expected that.
Bucky had spent so long trying to atone, to prove that he was more than what HYDRA had made him.
Steve understood, even if he wished Bucky could just let himself be happy.
They reached the hotel, stepping inside their dimly lit room.
Bucky kicked off his boots and sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair.
Steve stood in front of him, watching him for a moment before stepping between his legs and resting his hands on Bucky’s shoulders.
Bucky wrapped his arms around Steve.
“We deserve this break, you know,” the blonde murmured.
Bucky looked up at him, something unreadable in his expression. Then, slowly, he nodded. “Yeah.”
Steve smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of Bucky’s head before pulling him into bed.
They lay together, tangled in one another in the quiet, the waves lulling them into a peaceful sleep.
For the first time in a long time, they were just Steve and Bucky.