One day at a time.
After taking a hot shower in the guest room Kenya didn’t realize how late it was. The entire house was silent as well as the lights were off, everyone had a rough day and tomorrow would be as busy too. Before putting herself to sleep, she went back to the kitchen for a glass of water. While lost in her thoughts slow steps were directed towards her, and when turning around Bucky’s silhouette became clear at the other side of the counter.
“Thought I was the only one awake.” She said, careful to not raise her tone.
“It’s hard to get comfortable in the couch.” He answered with a raspy tone. “Besides all the shit going through my mind, y’know.” It almost felt like a deja-vú from those Wakandan nights, yet she was the one who couldn't sleep at all. Sometimes still is.
“It’s going to be okay. Sooner or later Sam will come to his senses and accept that he's the one and only for the job.” Everyone tried to keep themselves occupied while fixing the boat, but pretending was one thing and the world being in danger thanks to the Flag Smashers was another. “I’m even more sure now that the case is here.” She recalled, remembering what brought Bucky to Delacroix from Wakanda. It didn’t need too much thought to find out what could it be.
“True. He can say no to me but not to what’s inside.” Kenya nodded and drank the last sip of her water. “Well, if you don’t mind Imma…” He pointed towards the living room.
“Oh! Of course, you must me exhausted. But are you sure you’re fine sleeping there? I mean, the bed on the guest house is king-sized.”
“Are you inviting me over?” He asked in a quirky tone. She rolled her eyes and smiled sarcastically at him.
“I’m being a decent human. Plus, how can our super strong soldier work tomorrow if he isn’t at his 100%?”
“You don’t need me anyways. Why would you when the smartest woman is the one in charge?” The flirty look he once again gave to her didn’t fail to warm her chest.
“Right.” She mumbled skeptically, and before going back to her room he raised a finger and out an inquisitive expression on his face.
“Well, if you're up to there's something you can help me with… Would you just lay down with me for a while? Hearing your voice as I try to rest would be just fine.” The fact that the man rejected her invitation to a king-sized bed just to replace it with a tiny couch didn’t make any sense. At least not until they laid facing each other with less than a 5cm distance. Yeah, it was a smart move. Kenya looked through his eyes and he to hers, as if trying to figure out what was going on inside their brains, yet at the same time having an exact idea of the thoughts they were having.
“Did you know that when we time traveled, I was stuck in 1943? For a second I thought I'd never come back.” The sudden confess made the man frown.
“1943…” He murmured, as if trying to remember anything from said year. “Were you there on purpose?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” She hesitated. “Steve had told me about that day in the Stark Expo and how he successfully enlisted that same day. So, when I unintentionally activated the time travel device, my mind sort of… took me there I guess?” Kenya had to stop and compose herself, since Bucky slowly laid his arm on her waist while she explained and made her a little nervous.
“Are you trying to say that you saw me? Past me?”
“It’s another-timeline-you. And the two young girls you brought.”
“Oh, no.” She silently giggled when noticing his embarrassment.
“I talked to you, while waiting for Tony or Steve to come pick me up. I think you can call it a small date if you will. I don’t know, honestly. That man was a heartthrob.” While rambling her hands started stroking Bucky’s hair. “I was talking to you but not with you.” He understood what she meant. It was odd, for Kenya to now be the only person besides Steve who saw the drastic change in him. Yet she met him at his worse, and still loved him no matter what. She met a part of him that now doesn’t exists, practically a total stranger. Feeling a bit uneasy, he hid his face on the crook of the girl’s neck, as she still moved her hand in his head as a comforting way. “For a moment I thought: Maybe if I get stuck in here, I can make my life with you. Of course, I would have done everything in my hands to keep you safe from Zola and Hydra, as well as fixing one thing or too as well. All these tragedies would’ve never happened to that Bucky, and he’d live a long and happy life. But I couldn’t help to think that was not the person I fell in love with. My heart belonged to the man I was fighting with my life to bring back; the one who had fought his demons like no one else and inspired me to be the best version of myself; the main reason why I had faith on being happy.” Kenya’s eyes watered when hearing Bucky’s soft sniffs. He held her waist tighter. She cleared her throat and laughed bitterly. “Maybe seeing me could lead him to my future self, at least sooner than us did.”
“That man is fucking lucky.” He added, as he slowly turned his head to gift her one of his loving smiles. “Tell me he didn’t say a catchphrase.”
“The night is young.” She quoted, making both laugh silently. “He had a point.”
“He sure did.”
A thirty second silence was all it took.
“If the proposal still stands, can we go to the guest room?”
The man was sure tired, because by the hour Kenya usually wakes up, he was in his third sleep. He’d been travelling and fighting for weeks now without proper rest, so naturally the minute Bucky wrapped his arms around her hit him like a triple dose of a sleeping pill. The girl barely breathed trying to not make any sound. Sarah had already come to wake her but when seeing the situation, she somehow signaled to stay there and not worry about being late. Soon after that she heard the vehicle leaving the property and they were left with the silent forest surrounding them. When it was a reasonable hour, Kenya started softly peppering kisses on Bucky’s temple and cheeks.
“5 more minutes.” He muttered in a hoarse tone.
“We have to help finishing the boat.” She said back, once again stroking his hair. The man moved and rested on his back, smiling at the view of her.
“Did you drug me? That was easily the best sleep I’ve ever had. And that’s saying a lot because… you know.” Kenya giggled at his good humor. “Imagine sleeping this well every night.”
“You know it can be like that if you want to.” Finally, she left him speechless. “Now, let’s go help. People from town organized a surprise party for Sarah this night, so there’s a lot to do.”
*
After finishing up some details about the boat, Bucky convinced Sam to go and practice with the shield. Kenya let those two alone to talk things out, it seems that working together has reunited them more than her and Bucky. Plus, while Sarah went for AJ and Cass who were being taken care of by an old friend, with the help of some of the people she prepared the party next to the now fixed boat. As the sun went down, they hung lights, so it seemed homier. Families brought their kids, food and someone even volunteered to be a DJ. The sun was almost gone when Bucky found Kenya thinking while staring at the sea and the sun hiding in it.
“He’s doing it.” He referred to Sam, while hugging her from behind. The small touches were so new yet felt natural. It seems like they took slow and fast steps at the same time. They were at their own pace.
“He is.” She side smiled at him. Once again, a comfortable silence surrounded them. Enjoying every second of being on each other’s embrace as the night dived in.
“Caterina.” He almost whispered. She turned around and found him staring at her lips. The last time they kissed it was supposed to be acting; they hadn’t had a real one yet.
“James.” She said back, goosebumps running all over Bucky’s spine. Her words had so much power over him, it almost made him weak to his knees.
“Let’s live the life we fought for. Together.”
“Let's do it.” She answered and closed the distance between them while smiling.
In comparison to last time, the kiss started slow and steady. At first, they seemed like a teen couple because they couldn’t help to giggle in the process. It was just a matter of time before they got serious, letting all the emotions from those years flow into a passionate kiss. Bucky’s hands cupped the girl’s cheeks as if he was holding the most delicate flower, while her hands steadied themselves on the back of his waist as she pulled them at the same time. He gasped as a reaction and Kenya used the opportunity to deepen the kiss.
“Guys, food’s ready!” They heard Sarah, who was far enough to not look at them but close enough to be heard. After separating, he dazedly smiled at her and breathed in before speaking.
“That was… Well, I-” Before he kept stammering, Kenya subtly pecked his lips to shut him up.
“Let’s go.” She stated, holding and intertwining their hands to walk with everyone else at the party.
These two days had felt like a fever dream. Suddenly, all the unmatching pieces of what used to be an unworkablefuture together suddenly fit. There wasn’t such thing as impossible when the deal is about the person you love the most in this world. Kenya was that to Bucky as he was to her. No words or clarification were needed now in their relationship. What mattered was the size of the smile they had when dancing together with the moon lightening them up. The only thing needed to know about their future was if they were going to be together, and now they surely found out. So, from now on, they'd only take one day at a time. Well, after saving the world and the country from a young anarchist girl, of course.