Certainty (A Bucky Barnes Fanfic)

━◦○◦5.3: Fixing the Boat◦○◦━

episode 5 - Truth

It was a long itinerary.

Shamara crossed her legs, looking down at the clouds passing below them.

Sam and Torres had flown back to New York before she and Bucky had gotten back to Riga. Bucky had called the military base to ask if they could join anyone headed to Cali. It was a small cargo plane but had a few seats. Their flight had left at midnight, and Shamara hadn't slept much. Neither had Bucky. Their fellow passengers had slept soundly since takeoff. Shamara supposed that was a necessary skill to be in the airforce. She shifted yet again, staring up at the plane's ceiling.

"You good?" Bucky asked without opening his eyes.

"Tense. Wish I knew why," Shamara fidgeted, flexing her hands on her legs.

"Hmm. Maybe it's because the past few days have been such a mess, and now, we can't sleep."

"You don't sass me, James Barnes."

"Yes, ma'am."

Shamara rolled her eyes. She shifted closer, pulling her legs onto her seat, then leaning her head on his shoulder. Bucky slid his arm around her.

"How are you so comfortable when you are all muscley?" She prodded his chest.

Bucky's lips twitched, "Talent."

"Shut up."

"I think the same about you," Bucky rubbed her back. "You are very . . . soft."

"And hot," Shamara realized the double-meaning too late. "I mean -."

Bucky snorted, biting his lip to keep from laughing. His shoulders shook with the effort to stay quiet and not wake the other passengers. Shamara punched his shoulder. Her face heated almost unbearably.

"You are not wrong," Bucky shook his head, his blue eyes lit with amusement.

" . . . Bucky," she gave him a look.

"You said it. Not me."

"You know what I meant."

"Yes," he winked and rubbed her arm. "But . . . the other interpretation is more fun."

Shamara stared resolutely at the wall to keep herself from giving away how flustered her inner thoughts were. Her heartbeat thundered through her chest. She tried to ignore how close he was or how strong his muscles were, his arm around her.

"You keep this up, and I am going find another seat," Shamara crossed her arms.

"Empty threat," Bucky kissed her head. "You'd miss me."

"No."

"You are no fun."

"Just because I am not letting you tease me?" Shamara shifted to face him again.

"Well, yes."

"Would you rather I tease you back?"

"I am a better sport than you."

Shamara glowered at him, "You are so annoying."

"Took you long enough to realize," Bucky shrugged.

"I realized. I just haven't been as victim to it as Sam."

"Sam's not here, so you get to be annoyed instead," he patted the top of her head.

"So honored."

Bucky didn't bother responding, playing with her hair, "You can lay your head in my lap if you want. You might sleep better."

" . . . will you be able to sleep?" Shamara lifted her eyebrows, hoping she didn't look as caught off guard as she felt.