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1
Barnes looked out the window. It was a cold day, but there wasn’t any snow. “I guess no white Christmas this year,” he thought, unconvinced. He didn’t really care for a white Christmas, nor for Christmas at all. It was just another day. Only maybe a lonelier one.
His phone vibrated on the table.
Sam.
Of course.
Who would text him, but Sam?
“hey,” the message said, “I know you’re not speaking to me, for whatever stupid reason, idc”
“however,” the following text said, “I hope you have a good Christmas. try to be less of an idiot, k?”
Bucky stared at the screen for a long time. He felt like crying, but couldn’t really explain why.
Maybe Sam was right. He should try to be less of an idiot.
2
Sam was cleaning off the table. The kids and Sarah had already gone to bed, but he wasn’t tired at all, so he offered himself to tidy up. He put on some jazz classics playlist on Spotify, so that the silence wouldn’t feel as loud. He had put up a happy face during dinner, he had had a good time with his family and friends, but now he could notice the loneliness creeping up.
He was doing the dishes when Ella Fiztgerald started singing a sad Christmas song. The lyrics seemed to be about the desire that Christmas would bring over a better time, about wishing the best for loved ones far away, about the hope of a future where people could be reunited with those they loved. Her voice was melancholic, the music was slow, and Sam looked out the window into the darkness outside, and thought of the friends he had lost and the ones that were scattered around the world, or even the galaxy. He felt the tears rolling down his cheeks and wiped them with his hand.
He picked up his phone. No new messages. He shook his head and sighed softly while cursing, and looked for Bucky’s contact number.
3
Many things can happen over the course of a year, especially in the life of a superhero. You can choose to pick up the shield that has been gathering dust for some time, you can fight an army of supersoldiers, you can become the new Captain America. You can get the idiot you inherited from the old Cap and shake the stupidity off him. You can be just a couple of dudes, you can become real friends, you can fall in love with each other. You can celebrate Christmas with him, and you can give each other silly presents, like just one winter glove for his only hand or an Avongers t-shirt.
You’ll go home together, because now you have a home together, and he’ll open the door for you, cause he’s a gentleman and he’s old as fuck. You’ll play some jazz, because he likes that, and he’ll wrap his arms around you, and you’ll slow dance. And, man, he can dance.
“A year ago, I was so pissed at you.”
“A year ago, I was an idiot.”
“You still are.”
Bucky chuckled softly. “I swear I'm trying hard not to be. In any case, at least you’re not pissed at me anymore.”
Sam rested his head on Bucky’s shoulder. “Yeah,” he whispered, “I am very much the absolute opposite of pissed.”
Bucky’s hugged Sam tighter. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”