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Bingo Square fill: Seasons - summer has never been more good
Every Summer, Bucky and Sam work at a camp for greasy teenagers that learn how to row and make damper. Sam looked forward to it, Bucky dreaded it most days. This week they captured the flag. The sun was so bright.
Bucky sweated through his yellow mentor uniform. It was exhausting. Sam instructed a few of the kids to go eat their meals whilst he walked over to him and smiled.
“Summer camp is always fun,” he began.
“I mean…” Bucky said slowly “not really.”
Sam laughed “then why are you at this job?”
“Gotta get paid somehow,”
“You’ve been at this job for two and a half years and you don’t like it?” Sam asked and sat down next to him on the bench. The water shone across the sunlight and the sound of laughter came from a distance.
“Er,” Bucky stammered, “look, Sammy, I do. I do enjoy it but it's just for three months.”
“So you’re telling me there’s nothing at all that you enjoy about Summer Camp?”
“Well,” Bucky had this smile on his face and he turned to face Sam “you’re pretty fun to be around. You’re something I look forward to.”
Sam smiled shyly and rubbed the back of his neck. “Really?”
“Yeah,” he said earnestly “there’s just this – vibe about you, Sam.” he gestured to the air and watched the children tumble over the muddy grass. He stood up and put his hands on his hips and stepped forward “Stella! Issac! Stop rolling around in the mud like pigs!”
They watched the two kids scatter off and laugh like there was no tomorrow. He tutted and sat down back on the bench. It was going to be a very long summer.
The two of them began to serve lunch from the metal trays and made sure things were in order. Sam’s family owned the Summer Camp and his sister and nephews would assist in the cooking. They were incredibly fun to be around, especially during water fights. Natasha made sure all the cabins were clean. She would help stack the supply shelves and do first aid for the dumb kids that would go too close to fire or poke themselves with sharp branches. Bucky only got this job to get extra money apart from his waiter job back in Brooklyn but this was worth it.
It was worth it ever since Sam stepped into the room and greeted him from day one.
Sam and Bucky monitored the kids as they rowed the boats on the lake. Sam nudged him playfully and stared out into the water. “It’s a great view, isn’t it?”
Bucky didn’t take his eyes off Sam. “Yeah,” he agreed. “It is.”
The evening sun looked so beautiful against the small lake they had, the clouds streaked across the sky as if it was smudged with a finger across a canvas. Sam and Bucky did a loop around the eating space and picked up the rubbish and tossed it in a bag.
He pulled back his brown hair into a ponytail as he watched Sam work. The sunlight glinted on his skin as a faint smile came across his face.
“I love this job,” Sam stated “it’s so great to see kids grow up and develop life skills.”
Bucky smiled too “I guess. I mean, at first I did this job to get paid…Now, I kind of get it.”
“I get letters from kids like me that just – touch my heart, you know?”
Sam was referring to his queerness. He wasn’t as openly queer in his hometown or confident in the fact that he was gay. He was glad he could inspire young teenagers to find themselves. Bucky was glad too.
He had the luxury back in Brooklyn to live as gay and freely as he wanted, Sam, however did not. There was something about the way presented himself to others that Bucky just adored.
“You know, you make this job easier. For me, at least.” Bucky complimented him.
“How so?” Sam tied up a black bin bag and chucked it away. They slipped off their gloves and began walking to the kitchen to wash their hands.
“You just do,” he shrugged “you’re fun, smart…I struggled to get along with these greasy teenagers until you came along.”
“Really?” Sam dried his hands and there was a fond silence between them. Best part about it, they haven’t stopped smiling. “Good to know.”
Then, Sam hugged him and Bucky’s world spun. This is what it’s like to fall in love and never come out of it. This is what it’s like to feel held, loved…Sam’s arms were firm and his skin was soft. He felt colour rise to his cheeks as he grinned from ear to ear. “We should do that more often, you give great hugs.”
“Damn right I do,’ Sam laughed as he cracked open a beer for them to share.
***
“We have a situation,” Sarah informed the boys as they served the kids their portion of vegetables and meat that night. “You boys would have to share a room tonight.”
“No biggie,” Bucky reassured her “but why is my room not available?”
“The ceiling’s leaking,” she tutted and shook her head.
“I can fix it,” he suggested as Sam washed the dishes in the back. Sarah gave him one of those looks, where her eyebrows are raised and her lips are pursed. It was like being lectured by a mother.
“You don’t need to be a handy-man today,” she told him “we’re getting someone in to fix it. Don’t worry.”
Sam overheard their conversation as he wiped off the grime off a ceramic plate. His heart dropped and his stomach gave into the butterflies. He felt tingly all over. The thought of sharing a room with Bucky was insane. He smiled to himself.
He had always been attracted to Bucky. The way his eyes looked like an ocean in a storm, or the way his laughter sounded like a melody…Not to mention, he always wanted to be there for others. No matter how much of a grumpy cat he could be.
James Bucky Barnes is always there for him, he’s forever thankful for that. He felt high, his adrenaline was pumping and everything about him right now felt good because him and his crush was about to spend a night – together.
Sam’s cabin had one bed, which was a factor Sarah ‘forgot about’. The nighttime air swept through the curtains, Bucky sat on Sam’s bed awkwardly as he heard Sam humming in the shower. His voice was so soft, so kind - he could melt in it forever. Sam’s bed sheets were cool and tender to the touch.
Sam stepped out of the shower and Bucky swore there was an angel in front of him. He was shirtless and had nothing but a towel around his waist. He was going to be the death of him.
Bucky swallowed carefully and tried not to stare so much Sam was beautiful. He wanted to trace his scars and bruises like a cartographer writing out a map. His eyes softened as their gaze met.
“You’re gorgeous,” Bucky whispered.
“Oh,” Sam was taken aback by his words. He smiled sheepishly “thank you.”
He gathered his clothes and Bucky shut his eyes whilst he was changing. “You can look if you want,” he teased.
“I’m a gentleman. I respect privacy.” he smiled. Then, he felt Sam pat him on the back.
“Right,” Sam replied as he slipped into his pyjamas. “You can open your eyes now.”
There was a softness in the air. Sam sat next to him and they were engulfed with a comforting silence. Bucky couldn’t take his eyes off him. What if life was like this for his future? Waking up with Sam, in his soft pyjamas as they curled under the covers and they would go and live their happy little blissful lives.
“Sam, do you know what enamoured means?”
“Yes,” Sam said slowly “why do you ask?”
“I’m enamoured by you.”
Sam smiled and laughed into Bucky’s shoulder. Bucky had thought he said something wrong but then Sam kissed him.
“Finally,” Sam mumbled against his chin, “I thought you didn’t feel the same.”
“Well, I do.”
Sam kissed him until they were breathless and giggly and that was the best season of summer Bucky Barnes had ever experienced.