Bucky huffs as he takes his gun apart, fresh from the shooting range. He smells of gunpowder and his favourite cologne.
He’s done all of his favourite things today. Exercised, had lunch with Sam, caught a matinee, and now the shooting range. The typical roster for his first day after a rough mission.
But it’s been less and less relaxing. Steve and Sam come to lunch less. They used to stay for the range and a market, then go to a bar. Now, they have partners and Sam has a kid on the way.
As much as he feels like progress has been made, he also knows he’s prone to self-isolation. It’s not so much that he doesn’t like people, but he doesn’t like new ones. Was that really the same?
Maybe it’s the holidays coming up. Christmas is making everyone else busy, but he hardly uses the one room of his apartment. It’s lonely.
If he self-isolates, he can’t be lonely. It’s on his terms and he can just keep up that he is grumpy and doesn’t like strangers.
These days, he has to admit that he doesn’t always know that this is how he wants to spend the rest of his days.
He’s startled from his thoughts when he receives a call.
“Sam, I’m sorta busy,” he grunts.
“Well, Cass needs to be picked up. I have him visiting so his Ma gets a break, but my car has a flat. Sounds like he got in a scuffle at the kid program.”
Must be on his last legs if he’s calling Bucky.
“Okay… what do I need? They gonna just lemme pick him up?” He takes his hair and picks up his gloves so he doesn’t attract attention.
“I’ll tell them you’re coming. Thanks man.”
Bucky hangs up and sighs. It’s not what he planned on for the rest of the day, but he likes Sam’s nephews.
He puts everything away and grabs his keys as he walks from his apartment to the after school program. There’s a flood of parents in and out for pickups, and Bucky feels very out of place.
“Uncle Bucky!” Cass calls as he hops up from the bench. He’s waiting in the office, which makes sense if he’s in trouble.
“Hey, kid. What did you do?” He tries to inflect some kind of scolding but only sounds like he used to when he found Steve after a scrap.
“Just what Uncle Sam always said. Saw a kid getting pushed around and I stopped it. Then the bigger kid tried to push me and I punched him.” Cass shrugs.
“You hit someone? Cass, i know you’re defending someone, but you shouldn’t hit.” He feels a little hypocritical saying that to anyone.
“But they’re so mean to him! They called him poor, and they pushed him. They made fun of his clothes, and they made fun of his mama for being alone. But our mama is alone, and it’s not her fault!” He emphatically defends his actions.
It’s so reminiscent of Steve.
“Alright, buddy. I’m not your parent, so I can’t really give you trouble. But Sam might have somethin’ to say when we get home, alright?” Especially if he also had a rough day.
Before he can start checking Cass out of the program, a woman rushes in like a walking catastrophe.
He watches her trip, then adjust her oversized coat. Her hair is in tangles, and she has too many bags in her hands.
“Can I help, Ma’am?” The secretary asks.
“My son— I got a call about my son. He’s probably upset— his name is Logan. Where is he?” She looks around the office, flustered.
“Logan had a tantrum when we tried to ask him what happened. He is alone in a detention room.”
“No, he’ll be so upset to be alone. He’s going through a lot and he just needs to have a friend.” She is near tears as she rapidly signs the sign out sheet and watches the secretary move to retrieve her son.
Bucky feels his heart strings pull. A little boy was bullied and then locked away?
“See, Uncle Buck?” Cass whispers and tugs his sleeve. “They call him names ‘cause he’s autistic. And they bully him and say he’s homeless ‘cause his daddy left.”
Luckily, she’s distracted by her little boy and doesn’t hear the gossip. Is it true?
Bucky sees the tiny boy run to his mom and hug her, and takes note of his clothes. They’re both overly bundled.
Logan’s cheeks are red, and he hiccups as his mom picks him up. Even with her arms full of bags, she makes her son feel loved.
“Oh, before we go, I have to take Logan off the gift exchange. We just can’t afford it right now.” She tries to say it under her voice, but Bucky can hear anyway.
The secretary tsks and shakes her head, typing into the computer.
“And please take his father off the contact list. We have a protection order.” She says that even quieter, and he feels intrusive.
They move to depart, but the little boy spots Cass and gets animated.
“Cass! Thank you!” He chants it a few times and smiles like crazy when Cass hugs him. Children make friends so fast.
“Uhm,” she nervously starts. “Thank you to your son for helping Logan today. He… he has a hard time, and I’m grateful someone stood up for him today.”
“Oh, uh, yeah.” Bucky scratches the back of his neck. “He’s my friends nephew. But he’s a good kid.”
“Oh. Well, maybe pass that along to your friend or whoever. I… I really need a friend for Logan. He’s having a bit of a time.” She looks at how well Cass and Logan are getting along.
Bucky doesn’t know what to say to that. He’s not a parent, but she seems overwhelmed.
“We… maybe we should take them skating? If you have time. I do. Would be good for Cass to have more friends in the city.”
She seems astounded by the offer.
“Yes, Mama! Skate!” Logan excitedly requests.
She cringes that he has overheard. Bucky suddenly realizes such an event could be expensive, and she doesnt sound financially prepared for that cost.
“On me.” He finds himself equally astounded at the suggestion.
The boys burst into excitement. Probably not the message to send when they’ve both been in trouble, but it certainly doesn’t sound like they were the problem.
“Yes. We would love to go.” She breathlessly accepts.
Bucky smiles. If he can help her and her kid, maybe he can feel a little more in holiday spirits.
