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It was a clear, warm evening. The muggy air had thinned with the setting of the sun, leaving the air thick instead with the singing of crickets. Sam let the trashcan lid slam shut and wiped his palms on his jeans, looking out over the grove of his sister’s front yard. He was just about to head back inside when he paused, frowning. There was a dark shape lying in the grass beneath the trees. Glancing back at the house, he headed toward it; he had a hunch about what – or rather, who – it was. Sure enough, as he approached, he found Bucky lying in the grass staring at the sky.
“What are you doing?” Sam said.
Bucky just pointed wordlessly upward. Sam looked up to see a small patch of stars shining between the tree branches.
“Never took you for a stargazer.”
“I’m from New York, I don’t get to see them often,” Bucky said.
“Well, you’re not gonna see much of them right here, either,” said Sam. He gently nudged Bucky’s leg with his toe. “Come on, let me show you a better spot.”
He held out a hand and Bucky took it, letting Sam help him up. Sam gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder and led the way, away from the house and the lights of town. They were both silent as they walked along the well-trodden path, eventually emerging from the trees to the base of a grassy hill. As they climbed, Sam turned back to Bucky.
“I’ve come up here loads of times, when I need some quiet,” he said. “Brought a few girls up here too.”
Don’t know why I told him that.
They reached the top of the hill. Over the tops of the trees, you could just see the rooftops of town, and beyond that the water. Sam sat down and patted the grass next to him.
“Have a seat.”
Bucky sat down next to him and looked up.
“Wow.”
“Right?”
“You’re right, this is much better.”
Sam grinned.
“This spot’s always been a sure-fire way to impress a city slicker.”
Bucky turned to look at him, an eyebrow raised.
“You trying to impress me?”
Sam honestly didn’t know how to respond to that.
“You gonna stargaze, or what?”
Not waiting for an answer, he lay down in the grass and stared at the sky. It really was a perfect night, not a cloud in the sky. There was a soft rustle of grass next to him as Bucky lay down too. Sam glanced over at him, then back up at the stars.
“Thanks for bringing me up here,” Bucky said quietly. “This really is an amazing spot.”
Sam turned to look at him again. The pale light of the moon cast a soft glow on Bucky’s face. The reflection of the stars sparkled in his eyes, and his lips were slightly parted in awe.
“Yeah. It’s beautiful.”
Sam’s voice came out a little hoarse and his heart suddenly raced.
Fuck.
What the hell was the matter with him? Since when did Bucky Barnes get him anywhere close to flustered?
Get a grip, Wilson.
Sam glanced at the stars, then back down at Bucky.
“What if I was trying to impress you, what would you say?” he said.
Jesus, you call that getting a grip?
Bucky didn’t answer right away, and Sam briefly considered making a break for it.
“I’d say you succeeded,” Bucky said at last, turning his gaze from the sky to look at him.
They were lying much closer than he’d realized. Sam swallowed hard.
You are Captain America, Samuel, be cool.
“I know your flight’s in a couple days,” he said.
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t you stay a little while longer?”
Bucky smiled, and Sam couldn’t help but smile back.
“I’d like that.”