We Got the Rest of the Summer | SamBucky | T | 1.4k | AO3
Summary: The cookout came to an end, yet Sam and Bucky stayed behind at the pier. It wasn’t unusual for them to do so seeing as they both worked there during the summers. It was where they got to know one another better. Bucky, the swaggering guy from the big city. Sam, the shy son of a preacher. They could not have been more different. But there was something in the way that Bucky’s gaze lingered on Sam a little too long, how Sam could not resist ‘accidentally’ brushing against Bucky, or how they each gravitated towards one another that spoke of a sameness within them. You see, Sam always knew he liked boys, he just didn’t know any other boys who liked boys, too. That was until Bucky Barnes and his family moved to the small community.
A/N: Written for @sambuckylibrary SamBucky Summer Bingo 2024 - Vacation Card Square Fills: Cookout & Meanwhile, On the Boat...
Sam always enjoyed when his community hosted cookouts. It was nice when everyone came together to share in food and laughs. Coming from such a small town where everyone knew everyone else had its drawbacks, but at times when they were celebrating together, it reminded Sam that not everything was bad. He was going to miss those gatherings when he went off to school in the Fall.
“Hey, Wilson,” called Bucky Barnes from up on the dock. “You just gonna stand there lookin’ pretty or can I get a hand with this?”
Bucky and his family had moved to Delacroix two years ago and he was a pain in Sam’s ass. A handsome, charming, cocky pain. Sam glanced around, squinted from the low hanging afternoon sun, and saw the other young man standing near his truck with both hands lifted in a questioning manner. Sam let out a sigh and made his way over.
“Finally,” said Bucky. “Here, help with this.”
He gestured to the ice box sitting in the back of the truck.
“What, you couldn’t lift this yourself, Barnes?” asked Sam, eyes inadvertently shifting to Bucky’s arms.
The other boy gave Sam a knowing smile and said, “See somethin’ you like?”
“Shut up,” Sam retorted, dragging his eyes away.
Bucky let out an amused laugh and said, “Ready, lift on three – one, two, three.”
They lifted the ice box from the tray of the truck and then carried it over to where one of the picnic tables sat. Miss Georgina thanked them, and they each gave her their brightest smiles. Sam walked away, not really knowing where he was going as Bucky fell into step beside him.
“Don’t you have somewhere else to be instead of following me around like a lost puppy?” asked Sam, glancing sideways at Bucky.
“Nope,” Bucky replied as he nudged Sam’s shoulder with his. “I’m right where I wanna be.”
Despite himself, Sam could not help the smile that tugged at his lips. This was how they related to one another. Playful banter and innocent bickering. It was their thing, and even though in his most secret, quiet moments, Sam wished for more, he was happy. Happy that he had gotten to know Bucky at all.
…
The cookout came to an end, yet Sam and Bucky stayed behind at the pier. It wasn’t unusual for them to do so seeing as they both worked there during the summers. It was where they got to know one another better. Bucky, the swaggering guy from the big city. Sam, the shy son of a preacher. They could not have been more different. But there was something in the way that Bucky’s gaze lingered on Sam a little too long, how Sam could not resist ‘accidentally’ brushing against Bucky, or how they each gravitated towards one another that spoke of a sameness within them. You see, Sam always knew he liked boys, he just didn’t know any other boys who liked boys, too. That was until Bucky Barnes and his family moved to the small community.
Bucky Barnes, with his confidence and flirtatious ways. He, who looked at Sam with interest and ignited something within the other boy. He, who never pushed Sam to rush into anything. They had grown close over the years and there was an attraction there. An attraction that neither of them acknowledged to anyone but themselves, even though Sam wanted to.
Sam sat beside Bucky on the boat his family owned, thinking about how when the summer came to its inevitable end, Sam would be leaving everything that he knew behind. The humid air laden with salt. The starry night skies that stretched to the end of the world. The laughter of the people he cared for. The quiet moments on the boat with Bucky. The other boy’s smile and laugh.
“Can’t believe you’re leavin’ me,” Bucky said suddenly, cutting through Sam’s fond but melancholic reverie.
Sam glanced sideways at Bucky and said, “So it’s just you, uh? Not leaving my family and friends, too? Everything revolves around you, does it?”
He was aiming for joking and teasing, but he could see the somberness encompassing Bucky’s expression.
Bucky shrugged and said, “Nah, but I am gonna miss you somethin’ terrible.”
Bucky let his head fall and looked down at his own hands. Sam glanced down as well, then, without much thought, he reached over and laced his fingers with Bucky’s.
“I’m gonna miss you, too,” said Sam softly.
A beat of silence stretched between them for a moment before Bucky spoke once more.
“You – you know I like you, right?”
“Yeah, course,” Sam replied. “I like you, too.”
“No, Sam, I mean I really, really like you,” said Bucky in a whisper. “I’ve never liked anyone as much as I like you.”
Sam felt his pulse quicken and his tummy do a little flip. They had danced around one another, but never really admitted their feelings. Sam knew Bucky liked boys, Sam just never thought Bucky liked him.
“You like me, like me? Like, in that way?” he asked, feeling like one of his most secret fantasises was playing out in that moment.
“Yeah,” said Bucky with a little nervous laugh. “Thought it was kinda obvious this whole time.”
He lifted his head to look at Sam then, his eyes bright under the lighting at the docks.
Sam smiled at him, gave his hand a squeeze, and said, “I’m sorry I wasn’t paying too much attention. My Mama says I’ve got my head in the clouds most of the time.”
“She’s right,” said Bucky as he squeezed Sam’s hand back. “But ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.”
Bucky looked at Sam then, with a mixture of reverence and hope. Sam smiled at him and then dipped his head, somewhat coyly.
“I really like you, too, Buck,” he said, just above a whisper.
Bucky smiled widely then, causing Sam’s breath to hitch. He really was terribly handsome up close.
“Gosh, you’re so pretty, Sam,” Bucky said sincerely. “I come from a city o’ eight million people and I ain’t never seen anyone as pretty as you.”
“Stop,” said Sam shyly, as he smiled and dipped his head.
“It’s true,” said Bucky, nudging him with his shoulder. “You’re beautiful, Sammy.”
“Why didn’t you tell me all o’ this sooner?” asked Sam with a playfulness to his tone, even though his face was burning and his tummy was now somersaulting.
“Thought we had more time,” said Bucky, something plaintive around the edge of his tone.
Sam looked at him again and said, “We got the rest of the night. We got the rest of the summer.”
Bucky smiled then and said, “Yeah, we do. So, what d’ya wanna do?”
That hopeful look returned to his eyes. Sam almost forgot how to speak.
“I – I’d really like it if you’d, y’know, if you’d –”
Bucky smiled and said, “Spit it out, Wilson. We don’t got forever.”
“Hush,” said Sam as he swatted playfully at Bucky’s arm. “I was sayin’, I’d really like it if you –”
“What?” Bucky whispered as his gaze fell to Sam’s lips.
“If you’d kiss me,” said Sam so quietly that Bucky nearly missed it.
“You want me to kiss you, pretty boy?” asked Bucky as he leaned in closer, all of that swagger making Sam’s head spin.
“Yeah,” Sam breathed out. “If you want to.”
“I do,” said Bucky as he inched closer. “More than anything.”
The pair smiled at one another before Bucky closed the distance and his lips met Sam’s. The kiss was soft and chaste and had both of their heads swimming. Bucky’s tongue teased the seam of Sam’s lips before Sam granted him entrance and they deepened the kiss. They sat there, on the boat, under the Louisiana night sky, and poured everything into the kiss. All of their hopes and fears for the future. All of their youthful exuberance for the present time.
After a moment, they draw apart breathlessly and smiled at one another.
“That was – wow,” said Bucky.
“Yeah, it was,” said Sam.
“I could do that with you forever,” Bucky admitted, his voice earnest and true.
“Yeah, me too.”
“But we don’t got forever,” said Bucky, somewhat sadly, as he lowered his head.
Sam reached over, placed his hand to Bucky’s chin, and tilted upwards, before saying, “I guess the rest of summer will do.”
