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Ok, truth is, Sam did not expect Bucky to show up to his family business, to his hometown, uninvited. Did it surprise him? Not as much as it should’ve. Did it make him wonder how he knew where to go? Most definitely. But, that wasn’t really on Sam’s mind, because Bucky’s hand ghosted over Sam’s hip, tapping it lightly. Sam quickly got out of Bucky’s way, hearing a bit of laughter from Sarah. Which was not helping.
As Bucky stepped back, the pipe fixed, they stand there for a moment of silence before Sam said “Why didn’t you use the metal arm?”
Bucky hesitated, staring at the arm. “Well, I don’t think of it immediately, I’m right handed.” Sam chuckled softly, a small smile growing on his face. He leaned against the boat, and waited for either of them to speak. “So, this is the boat, huh?” Bucky asked, facing Sam.
Sam nodded. “This is it.”
“It’s nice,” Bucky paused, “Want any help?” Ok, who was this new Bucky Barnes who was kind and helpful? He apparently had been an earlier model, as the one Sam knows is the one who makes a big deal outta nothing. Sam just nodded, gesturing for Bucky to follow him.
“I’m Bucky.” Sam turned around real fast, an eyebrow raised comically high. “Ah, Sarah.” Of course she would play a long. Of course she would. Bucky, being who he is, is probably trying to flirt with Sarah to piss Sam off. It would work better if Bucky was actually good at flirting, but Sam was still a bit aggravated. Sam’s irritated mood would never go far, but judging by the snickering from behind him, Bucky knew that, too.
~~~~~~~
They work on the boat the entire day, firing small insults back at each other all throughout it. But, there was a question that stayed in the back of Sam’s mind. “How’d you know where I lived?” Sam questioned, and he watched as Bucky paused. “You told me.” Bucky replied simply, but that wasn’t a good enough answer. “No, I told you Delacroix.”
“And about the boat, your sisters business. I listen, you know.” Bucky retorted, and it dawned on him, that yeah, he did. In 2014. Before he could stop it, Sam’s face split into a smile. “How’d you remember that?”
“I listen.” Bucky repeated, a smile of his own spreading onto his lips. Sam rolled his eyes. “Whatever, Buck.”
Bucky’s smile didn’t leave his lips. He has some questions of his own. “Is that my shirt?” Bucky inquired, pointing at Sam’s shirt. Sam opened his mouth to respond, but he had no defence. Yes, Bucky packed his bags, but, there was no defence on why it was on Sam’s side of the closet.
“I… yes.” Sam admitted. A wider smile grew on Bucky’s face, an amused look in his eyes. A sense of deja vu washed over Bucky. Maybe he was remembering a time in Bucharest, the time they were miles away, yet, Sam came back. Only for an hour or so, but he came back. And now Bucky was back, and he wasn’t leaving.
“What? Do you want it back? Like, right now?” Sam taunted, and Bucky rolled his eyes.
“God you’re stupid.”
“It’s a genuine question.” Sam retorted, a grin spread across his face by now. “I’m keeping the shirt.” Sam added, his tone final. Bucky shook his head.
“It’s mine.”
“Oh and like you didn’t steal my clothes. Uh huh, I would call this even.” Sam said, stubborn as ever. Bucky did have to admit, Sam looked far better in the shirt than he did, so maybe Bucky could let it slide.
~~~~~~~
“I can take the couch.” Bucky insisted. Sam rolled his eyes. “I realize you can, but you’re not. You’re a guest.” Sam retorted, causing the taller man to roll his eyes. This was an unwinnable fight for Bucky. He was taking a proper bed, or Sam would never hear the end of it from Sarah. “Just let me take the couch.” Bucky said, his tone somewhere between desperate and laughing. The younger man huffed, but eventually, allowed.
“Listen if Sarah asks, say I had nothing to do with this.” Sam warned, and Bucky grinned. “Fair enough.” Sam shook his head, leaving to go grab some blankets that may or not be from his room, because why would he care where the blankets came from, and why would Bucky? Why is it so weird that it came from Sam’s room? Because it’s not, obviously.
~~~~~~~~~
“Your boy takin’ the couch?” Sarah asked as she passed in the hall. Sam rolled his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It was his idea.” Sam said defensively. Sarah smirked, and noticed what room her brother was about to turn into.
“You have two blankets in that room. I know. I cleaned it. I organized it. You were about to give them to him, weren’t ya?” Sarah questioned, and Sam couldn’t roll his eyes any more than he already was. “I was gonna give him one, because we already have one downstairs. And, calm down with the ‘your boy’ comments, alright? It’s getting ridiculous.”
Sarah snickered, shaking her head in what seemed like disbelief. “Fine, fine.” Sarah paused, her face softening, “You look happy. Happier.” Sam couldn’t help but smile. “I know.”
“Boy, you are whipped.” Sarah muttered. Sam rolled his eyes, for at least the 10th time today. God, Sarah was gonna be the death of him.
~~~~~~~
“Here.” Sam said simply, tossing Bucky the blanket he deemed fit. The older man smiled gratefully. The sun had perfectly set now, some twinkling stars hung in the sky in place of colourful hues. In place of the bright sun, the steel coloured moonlight glows in the sky.
“Thanks. But I don’t-”
“I know you do. You run cold.”
The smile on Bucky’s face was still there, more sentimental than grateful. Maybe it was because he remembered all the days he would complain to Sam that their apartment was too cold, and that they should move. Sam would always shake his head, telling him that when he wasn’t an international fugitive, they could go house hunting. Or maybe he remembered all the times he’d call Sam warm when he woke up from a nightmare. Or when they got the first snowfall. Or when their AC was broken, so everything was far colder than normal. Or when they sat on the couch, binging movies, and Bucky would stick his feet underneath Sam’s legs.
Maybe it was all of those. Because those are all the memories Sam could think of, as Bucky smiled at him like that.
“Well, goodnight Sam.”
Sam smiled, warm as always, it made Bucky melt under his gaze. “Night, Bucky.”
~~~~~~~
This had been the routine for the entirety of Bucky’s stay. Boat, argue, eat, boat, argue, eat, argue. You get the idea. Which is thrown off completely when Sam and Bucky are mid argument, and AJ comes up to Bucky, a shy look on his face, and a far more eager Cass behind him. “We wanted to know about the arm.” Cass said, quieter than Bucky had thought he would be.
“Boys, he’s not-”
Bucky shot Sam a what are you doing, I got this look, and Sam backed off. Bucky knelt down to the boys’ level, and started showing them the arm. “Can you feel things on the arm?” AJ asked, much quieter than Cass.
“Kind of. I can, but it feels different from my other arm.”
“Can you take it off?” The way Cass said it made Bucky think that he had been wondering it ever since he saw it.
“Yeah, the people who made it, the Wakandans, actually have a way of dismantling it. But I can just take it off normally.” Bucky paused before adding, “Wanna see?”
The boys nodded their heads, eyes wide. Bucky smiled at them warmly and stood up, backing away from them by a foot and a bit. The arm clicked out with a whir and a hiss.
Bucky watched as their faces lit up with awe, and he couldn’t help but smile a bit wider. “Doyou take it off a lot?” AJ asked next, and it almost sounded as if they rehearsed who would ask what and when.
“Sometimes, mainly when I’m sleeping. Kinda uncomfortable with a piece of metal digging into your side.” The boys giggled, and Bucky thought he might cry. They were actually interested in his arm, they weren’t scared away by it. They wanted to know how it worked. They saw it as a cool part of him. Not a vessel of violence.
Bucky stood a bit farther and put the arm back in its place. The arm swung quickly, and they looked like they had seen a miracle. Bucky grinned at them and knelt down again.
“Woah.”
“Yeah, woah.”
Bucky chuckled. “I guess it is pretty cool.” He was too wrapped up in the moment to see Sam leaning against a railing, watching the exchange. His lips were formed in a small smile, his eyes looked like cartoon hearts should have replaced his pupils.
Oh no he’s good with kids.
“He’s good with kids.” Sarah had appeared beside him out of absolutely nowhere, elbowing his side lightly. Sam couldn’t pry his eyes off of Bucky and his nephews, the way Bucky looked so gentle, so natural with kids.
“I know.” Sam breathed out, his stomachs doing flips. God, he had fallen hard. He had a million reasons to fall for Bucky, and this was just one more. He heard Sarah’s breathy laugh from beside him. “What?”
“Oh honey.” Sarah tutted, causing Sam to roll his eyes. “You are so gone for that man. Look at you, fallin’ for another white boy.” Sam looked down sheepishly, a shy smile spreading over his lips despite himself.
“How strong is the arm?” Sam heard AJ ask, and watched as a smile spread over Bucky’s lips.
“It’s pretty strong. I keep trying’ to lift your uncle Sam up with one hand, but he won’t let me.”
“I can hear you.” Sam shouted, and Bucky whipped his head around, unveiling the grin in full view. Sam couldn’t stop himself, he grinned back. If only they could stay like this forever. Stay in Delacroix, and never leave. Never ever leave. The shield could be an accessory on the wall, and everything could be simple. He deserved the dream world Bucky promised. It was the least he could get.
~~~~~~~
“The boys really like the arm.” Bucky hadn’t brought it up since it happened, which was an hour ago. When the two curious kids ran off for lunch, Bucky just smiled at Sam. And that was that. Until now, of course, as they were doing touch ups.
“The boys really like you.” Sam pointed out, a teasing yet warm smile on his face. Bucky smiled shyly, nodding his head. “Yeah, yeah, I guess.” Bucky mumbled.
Sam paused what he was doing and made his way over to Bucky, who was sitting across from him on the boat. “You should come around here more often.” Sam suggested, his face genuine. Bucky smiled a bit wider. “I mean…” Sam couldn’t say it. He too stubborn to say it. He couldn’t admit to Bucky he missed him. Technically, he already had, but this was different.
“I mean, it’s nice having you around.” Sam finished, and Bucky smiled wider than he had in a long time. A blush crept onto his cheeks, and he felt his heart stutter. He bowed his head, not making eye contact with Sam.
“Uh, thanks. Maybe I will. And, uh, maybe we could put a pause on the separate vacations?”
Sam chuckled, nodding his head. “And it looks like we will be seein’ each other again.”
“Yeah, considering the condition of this boat.” Bucky joked, and Sam laughed softly. They were finally back to normal. Everything was looking finally okay.