Work Text:
Mornings in spring were always lovely. The air was always much more crisp and clear, much warmer than the frigid winter months. The grass at this time would start to grow a lovely green. The flowers would bloom, filling the sidewalks, parks, and even the streets with vibrant pops of color.
The way people acted during the season was very similar to summer. School goers, elementary and college alike, having the promise of spring break hanging over their heads. Which meant the level of hospitality given to strangers on the street elevated.
Everywhere you’d go, one could be greeted on the street by passersby. Children, young adults, grandmothers taking their morning walks. It was a lovely thing to wake up to when taking a run. Especially for Bucky.
Soon, Sam had asked to join him on his runs. Bucky of course accepted, and soon they were running the streets together.
On one of these runs, Sam and Bucky stopped at a park. Resting on a tree for a short break, the two of them watched the park slowly fill with people. As they rested, a little girl walked by them. She smiled and waved at the two of them. Sam returned a gentle smile and waved as well, while Bucky thinned his lips and waved.
To Bucky’s knowledge, it was a smile. The little girl seemed to enjoy herself as she walked by, even the mother seemed genuinely happy. One could imagine the confusion Bucky had when he heard Sam snicker next to him.
Bucky turned his head to the sound. “What?” he questioned.
Sam only shook his head. “Nothing man. You just… have a lovely smile.”
Bucky looks at him with skepticism in his eyes. “Sure. Alright, come on, up you get. Race you home?”
“Oh ho ho, you’re on,” Sam said as he got up from the tree.
“Good.” Was all Bucky said before he sprinted off towards the house. The shocked yelp that came out of Sam made a full smile spread on Bucky’s lips.
Back at the apartment, the race to the bathroom was won over by Bucky, who shut the door in Sam’s face.
“Man, you cheat!” Sam called out to the bathroom door. He rolled his eyes when he heard the showerheads burst with life.
“What was that? I can’t hear you over the shower!” Bucky teased.
“Whatever, man! I hope the water runs cold before you finish!” Sam walks away as Bucky lets out a loud laugh from the other side of the door.
The two of them hung around the kitchen after their showers. Sam making his usual sandwiches, while Bucky wandered around cutting fruits and putting them in a bowl. Sam was on the phone with Sarah, the usual how are yous pouring from the kitchen and the phone.
“Is that Bucky?” He heard Sarah question.
Sam nodded. “Yup, that’s our boy,” Sam said while lifting the phone to show the camera where Bucky was.
Bucky turned his head and gave that same thin-lipped smile to smile. The gesture caused Sarah to laugh. “Oh aha! You weren’t kidding, Sam.”
Sam let out a huff. Bucky frowned. “Oh great, both the Wilsons have an inside joke about me, and I don’t even know what it is.”
“Aw Bucky, I thought you were used to it by now,” Sam said in faux sympathy. Bucky snorted and turned back to his fruit mess.
When the siblings ended their conversation, the two men were left to their own devices once again. Sam suggested a movie to watch for the slow afternoon, Bucky gladly accepted.
The morning after, Bucky ran again with Sam by his side. He greeted everyone with the same smile, Sam was able to withhold himself from laughing this time.
Back at the tree from the day before, the two men huffed and rested. A group of teenagers walked past the two. Some nodded in acknowledgment, other's smiled and waved. Sam and Bucky, again, greeting them with the same smiles.
The chuckle that broke out of Sam startled Bucky. “ Oh, you laughed this time. Come on what’s the inside joke this time?”
Sam shook his head and looked over. “Listen, I didn’t want to say anything-”
“Oh, bullshit!”
“I didn’t! I didn’t want to say anything, but when you greet people on the street you do that white people smile.”
Bucky squinted his eyes and looked at Sam with confusion. “I what?”
“You know when you,” Sam pressed his lips together in a thin line, demonstrating the look. “You know?”
“I don’t look like that.” Bucky denied.
“Oh, but you do.” Sam pressed as he chuckled.
“No, no, I refuse to believe it.”
“We can run home right now, I guarantee you’ll see like three people make that face.” Bucky looked at him with doubt.
“Alright.”
They saw about five people who greeted them with the same thin smile. When the two got back home Bucky sighed and slipped down the wall and sighed. Sam laughed and went to the kitchen to grab both of them a water bottle.
“I told you,” Sam said when he came back.
“Do I really look like that?” Bucky asked.
“...A little,” Sam said. Merciful. Bucky scrunched his face up into a frown. “It’s alright buddy. Think of it this way, now you’re in on the inside joke.”
Bucky nodded solemnly and got up. “Yea, at least there’s that. And the fact I’m taking the first shower.” Hw rushed the last few words as he raced towards the bathroom.
“Damnit, Bucky!”