The Evergreen AU
Sarah wasn't buying it and Bucky agreed with her but somehow, Sam had still managed to convince him to go along with his plan. At the moment, the man was busy inside the cabin. The brunette, on the other hand, was leaning against it, but outside, nodding to Sarah's every words and sometimes shooting a smile to Joaquín who was standing on the dock next to Sarah.
"Sam, it won't work," she said again, patiently. "Please stop trying."
"It will work!" replied Sam.
Suddenly, the whole boat trembled and Bucky almost got startled. After that initial burst, the engine was now purring calmly. Sam stuck his head outside the cabin.
"Aha! Told you so! Now, see ya in two hours. Buck, the mooring."
For one second, Bucky was too distracted to reply. Where were these mooring? Fortunately, Joaquín had located its end on his side. He untied the knot and threw the rope at Bucky. Bucky caught it as the boat was slowly moving away from the dock. He quickly waved at the two persons they were leaving behind. Joaquín waved back enthusiastically while Sarah mimed a kiss. Bucky took care of the rope so it wouldn't be in the way then went inside the cabin. Sam stood very much straight, both of his hands on the wheel. Thank God, it wasn't a port they had to exited via a narrow opening; they were already in the open sea.
"You know, I told you you could call me Buck the day you have a plan. Today I'm even less convinced that you've got one."
Sam eyed him but he couldn't refrain a light grin.
"Just go enjoy the fresh air, Barnes."
"Aye, aye, Captain."
The brunet left the cabine and went to the prow of the boat. The railing was a bit higher here and he gladly leaned onto it, resting his arms on it and looking overboard. The sea was splendid, clear as crystal and the boat split it in two neat waves. Bucky took a deep breath. The iodized smell of the sea was stronger than on the docks. Leaning even more forward, he was able to spot some fishes swimming away from them. They were moving faster than a sailing boat but it wasn't as fast as, let's say, a long drive on a motorcycle in the middle of the city by night. (Next time he was in New York and Joaquín had a day off...)
Overall, it was nice and relaxing. Bucky turned his body a little so he could also see Sam. They smiled at each other a few times over. Eventually, Bucky offered to take the wheel for a moment but his friend refused. For a second, he hesitated to join him again so they could talk more easily but 1) he didn't want to loose that beautiful view and 2) they didn't have to talk. They were already having a good time.
"To think Sarah thought the engine wouldn't even start!" shouted Sam.
He seemed really proud of himself.
"We're not back yet," replied Bucky to temperate his enthusiasm.
Sam shrugged. Bucky looked at the sky to hide his smile born out of admiration for Sam. The sun was high; it was around two in the afternoon. It was really hot but the sea and the speed of the boat made their body feel cool. Yet, as he rose his left hand in front of his eyes to protect them from the sun rays, Bucky remembered not feeling hot didn't mean his skin wasn't getting burned - on everyone's advice he had finally put on only a tee shirt and a short which meant he had a lot of skin to offer. And he was as white as Sarah's porcelaine. He got back into the cabin, where they had stored a bag containing some useful stuff, and retrieved the sun scream.
"Where are we going?" he asked as he rose up.
"I don't know. We'll decide on the way."
He nodded. He went back to his previous position and started meticulously spreading the cream on his arms, shoulders, neck and face. As he closed the tube's lid, the engine farted and stopped. Quickly, the boat's speed decreased until they were almost to an halt. Slowly, Bucky raised his head to meet Sam's eyes. They stared at each other for a whole, meaningful minute. Then Sam casually joined him.
"So, um, yeah. We can stay here for a few minutes before heading home."
Bucky huffed - he had been willing to give him the benefit of doubt but that attitude was straight confirmation.
"We're stuck."
Sam gasped, offended.
"How dare you-"
"Sam."
"Alright, yes, the engine stopped. But it's probably nothing!"
Bucky put two dots of sun scream on Sam's cheeks.
"Then we'll fix that right now."
They passed on the stern of the boat. Sam went down first inside the hull then Bucky followed after he had thrown the sun scream back into the bag.
*
The ex-assassin left the suffocating shadows to get back on the deck and dropped on the railing.
"It's no use, we're stuck!"
Sam's grunt preceded his head on top of the stairs.
"We're not stuck-"
"Wilson," he cut him as exasperated as his friend, "we've been at it for twenty minutes, now!"
Sam cleaned his hands on his shirt.
"Yeah, which is nothing! Come on, I think I found where the problem is!"
But Bucky was shaking his head before he was finished.
"Do what you want, but I'm not going back in there. I'm calling Torres," he added while taking out his phone.
Sam grunted again.
"Fine. But I'm sure I'll fix the engine before he can reply to you."
Bucky wasn't listening anymore. Sam disappeared and a few seconds later, the brunet could hear him cuss and the metal cling. He quickly localized Joaquín's contact number. He had hesitated to send him a text but if he was going to be stuck here for a while, he might as well be listening to a familiar (and cherished) voice. He pressed the call button, hoping to have enough coverage. Joaquín answered the fifth time.
"Hey! Everything's OK?"
He was joyful as ever but he was lightly scowling which betrayed his anxiety. Bucky chose to ignore it.
"Yeah, we've stopped for a bit. Enjoy the view, you know."
"Can you show me?"
"Yes of course."
Bucky turned his phone so the camera was catching what was in front of him. He accompanied it with a large gesture to show Joaquín both of the sides of the boat. The young man was delighted. Bucky felt something aching near his heart. He missed Joaquín's presence, even more as they were closer than if he had been upstate. Suddenly, Sam swore so loudly even the lieutenant heard.
"Sam, let's call the coast guards, please. It's their job after all."
Sam didn't reply right away. Instead, he looked away. They sat face to face in the cabin because now that they weren't moving anymore, the heat was unbearable. They had already drunk all the beers they had brought with them.
"Hey, we did sail all the way here. It proves you were right; the engine is not dead yet. It just needs some... improvements."
"Stop it, Buck. We both know it's my fault."
He recoiled on himself and Bucky sighed. The sea was bubbling against the hull, the boat was calmly dancing and in the distance, they could hear some seagulls.
"Hey," said Sam finally, lifting his head, "let's take a dip."
"What?"
Sam stared at him, determined.
"Yeah. It will cool us a bit."
Bucky had to process the information for a few seconds. Then he lifted his left arm.
"I'm not taking a dip in the ocean."
Sam rolled his eyes.
"Just pop it off and come."
"And swim with only one arm? No, thank you."
But Sam was already on his feet and pulling him up.
"Come on! Let's have fun! Just once!"
"But I don't trust myself with just one arm!"
They argued for a few minutes until they came to a deal: Bucky would call the coast guards and they'd go swimming for as long as it would take them to arrive. Once the call was made, Sam stripped of all his clothes to the exception of his boxer. And for a hot minute, Bucky forgot to do the same. But Sam gently nudged him and he came back to reality.
"You seem really impatient to see me naked, Wilson," he said in his more flirtatious voice to hide his own embarrassment.
He took off his shoes, his short and his shirt. Sam shouted and jumped right into the water in a huge canon ball.
"Oh God, it feels so good!"
"Shouldn't we attach ourselves to the boat or something?" Bucky asked, as much out of concern about the boat leaving them behind than looking for excuses to not go into the waters. Sam mulled over it for a short instant.
"Threw me the mooring. I'll attach it to my ankle."
Bucky did and watched Sam tie the rope around his left foot.
"Now, come on, Buck! If you keep standing there with nothing on your back, you'll come home redder than Redwing!"
Well, screw Redwing anyway, Bucky thought. He looked down at his vibranium arm. Obviously, he could go swimming with it. But even if he hadn't tried again with this new (lighter) arm, the memories of the Winter Soldier struggling to not drown because of the weight scared him off. Eventually, he sighed and pressed the right plates to deactivate the arm. Sam had approached the boat and had grabbed the railing with his hand, reaching to his friend with the other.
"Come on, I got you."
Bucky sat on the railing, his legs outside the boat. His right hand grasped the rim, not far away from Sam's. The Wilson sibling didn't push him any further but his mere presence was comforting. Bucky took a deep breath and let his body fell into the cool, salted water.