The Plane Ride
“You gonna tell me where we’re going yet?”
Bucky glances up from the pages of the novel he has spent the flight devoted to, “no.” And then he looks back down, flipping the page.
Sam lets out a puff of air, annoyed. Bucky had insisted they keep the windows closed for the duration of the flight so that Sam wouldn’t know which direction they were heading. He has even gone on Sam’s phone and deleted the compass function, which Sam had argued was a breach of trust. Perhaps that argument would have been more effective with someone who did not know him so well, because Bucky had only smiled and then kissed him.
Really, all Sam knew for sure was that they had been in the air for a long time now. Stark jets were substantially faster than commercial airplanes, so that meant whatever their destination was, it was a ways from Louisiana. Sam sighs again, which makes Bucky put down his book and check his phone.
“Almost there,” he assures Sam.
Sam pouts.
“Some patience wouldn’t hurt you,” Bucky adds upon seeing the pout.
Sam just grumbles and puts in his earbuds. Lately The Great British Baking Show has claimed the title of mindless tv show he can also really get into, so he queues that up. Bucky naturally had made fun of him for liking the show because he’s Captain America and likes a British show, but Bucky is also an asshole so Sam can shake off his opinions pretty easily.
He is just about finished with the episode when he feels the plane begin its descent. The good thing about baking shows is that Sam doesn’t get quite invested enough in them to not be able to hit pause. This means he pulls out his earbuds and tucks himself into Bucky’s side just to be annoying.
“Now do I get to know?”
Bucky laughs, “wait like ten more minutes, doll. I want it to be a surprise.”
Sam rolls his eyes. Bucky is taking this annoyingly seriously. “Babe, we are almost there. Can you at least tell me if the public will see us?”
Bucky flips a page in his book, but then brings his hand up to caress the top of Sam’s head. His response is more to the novel than Sam. “Of course not.”
“What book is that?” Sam finally asks, a bit annoyed it is getting more of Bucky’s attention than him.
Bucky blushes, “Pride and Prejudice.”
“You read that one when it first came out too?”
Bucky rolls his eyes, “you know full well I’m not that old.”
“Coulda fooled me.”
“Very funny, Samuel. No need to be salty because I won’t tell you our surprise honeymoon destination.”
“Shuri and Peter are a terrible influence on you.”
The pilot comes over the speaker just then and advises them they will be landing soon. Upon hearing the words, Bucky presses a bookmark into the spine of his book and then lovingly places it in his backpack, zipping it up.
“How will I even know if I packed the right clothes?” Sam asks.
“I packed a bag for you. Stop worrying.”
And okay, it is kind of sweet that Bucky is taking this so seriously that he packed a bag for Sam. Also, Sam hasn’t noticed any clothes missing from his closet so that means Bucky went shopping and bought Sam all new clothes for the trip.
They don’t bother talking for the little time that remains of their flight. Instead, Bucky just snuggles Sam, occasionally pressing kisses to his head. Perhaps it is because of that or Stark pilots are truly just that talented, but Sam doesn’t even feel the plane touch down. The rush of noise is a pretty big hint as to what happened, though. When the plane comes to a complete stop, Bucky slings his bag over his shoulder. Sam practically runs to the door in anticipation.
As he makes his way down the steps, he takes in his surroundings. Palm trees and the ocean are immediately visible. Hawaii, then. He had told Bucky once that he had always wanted to go. A lifted Jeep sits waiting for them just a few steps away.
“You remembered.”
Bucky gives him a soft smile that contrasts with his gruff voice, “of course.”
He then lifts all their bags and places them in the back of the Jeep, crossing to the driver’s side and hopping in, “I got us a Jeep because people online said it was best for this island. There are apparently quite a few places you can’t go without one.”
Bucky revs the engine and then they’re off. Sam is pretty sure it is not standard procedure to allow people to just drive off a tarmac, but then again he doesn’t regularly travel in Stark jets either. Indeed, there is a gate that opens for them immediately.
“The house is fully stocked with groceries already,” Bucky tells him, flipping on his turn signal and then merging onto the road. “Pepper did offer us the use of her house that she has out here, but it is on a different island and I knew you wanted to see the volcanoes.”
“Where are we staying?”
“In a house up in coffee country. I thought it would be more private up there.”
Sam nods appreciatively. Resorts aren’t really his thing and privacy is certainly essential to them.”
“It said online that it is just a ten minute drive into Kona,” Bucky offers.
“I’m sure it’s perfect, Buck,” Sam tries to alleviate some of his fears.
And when they arrive in front of the house, Sam knows he was correct in his reassurance. The house is set high enough that they can see the small city and ocean below them. Upon opening the doors, they are greeted with an open area that has sliding doors directly to the porch so they can use the kitchen/living room and porch area as one big indoor/outdoor living space. There’s a pool too, and it bumps right up next to the porch. It’s a good sized pool as well, especially for just the two of them. It’s exactly the right balance of indulgence and yet their usual style.
“This is great!” Sam can’t help but exclaim, “look we got our own pool and everything.”
“You didn’t want something fancier?”
“Buck, it’s perfect. Now come on, it’s our honeymoon,” Sam whines, dragging Bucky to what he hopes is the bedroom.