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Bucky was bounding around the rental like a puppy that hasn’t had its walk yet. Even though Steve has definitely taken him out to breakfast just two hours ago. So, Bucky must be planning something.
“You seem awfully energetic today.” Bucky just told him to put on some shoes and finally get going, Steve.
He was pulling Steve along with a huge grin on his face and Steve couldn’t help but be infected by his energy. Half-running down the boardwalk.
“Slow down a bit, will you?”
Bucky threw his head back and whined, “I’m the fat guy here. I should be telling you to slow down.”
“Doesn’t really count when you’re a supersoldier that can deadlift a car.” They continued walking a bit slower and Steve caught up to bump his shoulder into Bucky.
“Where are we going anyway?” Bucky grinned and then stopped walking without any warning.
“Right here.” Steve caught himself before stumbling over Bucky’s feet.
There was a small dock going off the main walkway. A sign saying ‘Jet Ski Rental’ in blue letters.
“You want to ride a Jet Ski?”
“Is American dream come true.” Bucky said with a heavy Russian accent.
“I don’t think that’s a thing.”
“Are you the Russian spy, or am I?” Steve rolled his eyes, but he let himself be pulled towards the ticket booth.
“Uhm, did you check the sizing on their website?”
“This is America, Stevie. They’ve got everything in extra-large.”
“I think you might need one or two sizes bigger than XL.”
The clerk actually does have Bucky try on multiple life vests before they even pay anything. The first vest she gives Bucky to try on he can’t even get his arms through and the seams creak when he tries to make the material stretch a bit.
The one he tries next actually fits over his shoulders, but there is no way to buckle the plastic clasps over his chest. The clerk huffs annoyed at having to dig through all their biggest sizes, but she finally pulls one out that’s more straps than life vest.
“If this doesn’t fit, we can’t rent to you.” Bucky laughs, but the clerk just hands him the vest and he nervously looks to Steve.
It looks ridiculous with the straps all the way let out, but when Bucky puts it on Steve holds his breath. The high-vis orange bows out over his belly. When Bucky snakes the buckle around his back to get it fastened Steve can see, even before it’s all the way around, that it won’t close. There’s a good two inches of space between the two pieces of the buckle. Bucky tries to suck his belly in, but it’s no use.
"You had a big breakfast." Steve tries to reassure him, but Bucky is already stomping away. Back to the boardwalk then down the next dock.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m gonna steal a Jet Ski.”
“No!” Steve once again felt like the owner of an untrained puppy.