ROAD TRIP

Chapter 6

After two days of sleeping in the abandoned convenient store, Bucky was happy to see Sam in a good mood after he emotionally opened up to the ex-assassin. Plus, he was on a sugar high from the amount of sour patch kids he's had in the last 5 hours. Training with Hydra, Bucky's diet consisted of just meats and greens. The only thing sweet he's ever eaten are plums, so when he saw the variety of candies, mini cakes, and soda he went a little overboard.

"So you're like what? 100," Sam asked while sipping a Mountain Dew. He learned that was his favorite soda, and at this point Bucky's was Dr. Pepper. He was asking him a million questions, and Bucky didn't mind answering them. Even when some of them included his days spent under Hydra's control, those were hard to answer but he feels comfortable around Sam now. He's like the brother he's always wanted, poking jokes at him but at the same time caring about his feelings. Steve used to be in that category back in the forties, but nowadays Bucky has felt this odd feeling when he was around him. The feeling is familiar, and he's not exactly sure how to move further with it.

"Yup, I'm 100 years old in a 29 year old body" Bucky replied and took a bite of the pastry he was having, it was yellow and had cream filling in it. He and Sam have been eating nothing but the junk food, and his stomach wasn't used to all the carbs. Sam on the other hand was enjoying stuffing his face with what he read as 'Doritos'.

"Oh yeah? So I have a question,"

Of course he does...

Sam was like a little kid, asking 'why?' after everything Bucky tells him whatever he wants to know. It gets annoying after a while, but the last thing he wants is to upset Sam.

"Shoot,"

"Did it hurt?"

"Did what hurt? Getting my arm on, yes it did. It hurt like a bitch, no anesthesia-

"When you fell from heaven," Sam was grinning like an idiot, poking Bucky's side.

Bucky couldn't help the small laugh that escaped his lips, and Sam smiled at his success in getting his new friend to crack a smile.

"I'm pretty sure I fell from hell, but thanks,"

"Aw c'mon, with that face I don't think so,"

"You mean the face that killed half the human race," Bucky isn't used to people complimenting him, even though during his days as a young boy girls would always be flirting with him. Now, things are different. The Bucky he is now doesn't deserve compliments, even though they still make him a bit flustered. When Steve compliments him, he has this look in his deep blue eyes that Bucky still can't fucking understand.

"Don't think like that man, the past is called the past for a reason. You're better now, got a new arm that isn't a killing machine, and now you can start thinking about what makes you happy. Then, maybe find someone and maybe he'll help you recover even further," Bucky nodded at Sam's wise words, which come very often since he works with ex-military people who need help, and he was very thankful for the advice.

What Sam noticed is Bucky didn't correct him when he said 'he' and smirked knowing he was uncovering the one secret James Buchanan Barnes didn't even know he had.

"You could be a model too, those steel blue eyes belong on a magazine cover,"

"For what magazine?"

"Men's health. 100 secrets on keeping your body fit with a metal arm!" Bucky was now laughing hysterically clutching his stomach. Sam was laughing as well, thinking this wasn't so bad.

"Just the two of us, we can make it if we try...just the two of us!" Sam was singing and Bucky laughed a bit at how his nose scrunched up when he sang.

Sam was happy seeing Bucky smiling and laughing, something he knows he hasn't done in years. He's glad to see his new friend in a good mood, even if they are stranded.

"C'mon, let's keep walking. I'm starting to lose my muscle eating these things," Bucky said crumpling the wrappers and throwing them in the trash.

"Twinkies are very addicting,"

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"So, do you know anything from this century besides the food?" They've been walking for about 5 hours now, stopping every 5 minutes to catch their breath and munch on the snacks Bucky had packed for them in the duffle bag that contained his now dirty clothes.

"I know how to use the internet, I can text, and I even know what emoji's are. This one's my favorite," Bucky made a frown face with his mouth open and Sam laughed. Who knew Bucky was funny?

"Wow, Steve's not going to like that. He's still trying to figure out how to use Google," Bucky chuckled at the thought of Steve getting frustrated on how to use such a simple search engine.

"I'll teach him anything he wants," Bucky would try to do anything to make sure Steve knows he's here to stay, and that he doesn't want to feel like a burden to him so if he can help him in any way he will.

"Anything?" Sam asked wiggling his eyebrows.

Bucky's face was now a deep red, and Sam laughed and clutched his arm when Bucky hit him.

"Ow,"

"Don't be such a perv Wilson," Bucky said and when they stopped to have some warm water, he spotted a shiny object up ahead.

'Hey, you said anything. Plus Steve is kind of a prude so-

"It's a car!" Bucky interrupted Sam and jogged up to it, and when Sam caught up he was grinning like they had won the lottery.

Bucky saw that the doors were open. Strange. Anyway, he looked around and saw a wallet. There was no ID, except $300 dollars and a few breath mints. He threw the container at Sam, who glared at him.

"Do you know how to hot wire a car?"

Bucky looked to Sam who was eating the mints, and gave him a 'really?' look and rolled his eyes while connecting the wires.

The car started and he grinned.

"Would you look at that, the Winter Soldier came in handy for once,"

"The Falcon didn't do shit though," Bucky said with so much sass that shocked Sam.

"Whatever tin man, just drive,"