The air conditioner doesn't work.
Steve said it would be fixed by tomorrow. But today he will sweat.
Bucky wipes his flesh arm across his forehead, wiping his hand on his white t-shirt. Gross, he thinks. It almost makes him miss the cold. But then he remembers how it stung, and he tells himself the humidity is much better.
He sighs, tucking a stray peice of brown hair back into his bun.
"Steve?"
Across from him, Steve opens a lazy eye. "Hm?"
"The signal isn't working."
Steve reaches a toe underneath the coffee table and nudges the TV. Static flickers across the screen.
"Don't worry, we'll be leaving soon."
Bucky shifts on the deflated green air mattress. He observes as Steve takes a peice of paper from the dusty ground, and begins to fold it. He looks out the tiny, dark window in the upper right corner of the wall as flies buzz around the nearly empty room. He keeps his eyes closed until Steve's finished.
He squints. "What is it?"
Steve throws it gently and they watch it float to the cheap linoleum. "A paper airplane."
"We used to play with those when we were kids?"
He smiles. "You were the one that taught me how to make them."
"I don't remember."
"Thought so."
-
As soon as Bucky tries to fold the paper, his metal thumb punches a hole through the flap.
Steve laughs. Bucky glares.
"Haven't done this in a while."
"No kidding." Steve reaches over. "Fold it like this." He demonstrates again.
This time he folds too far. Steve sighs and reaches over, showing his fingers where to move. Bucky tries to ignore the feeling of skin against his own.
"There."
Steve retracts his hands, and Bucky immediately wishes he hadn't.
"I...thanks."
His friend smiles warmly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Look," Steve licks his lips slowly."uh, I just wanted to say...I-"
The lightbulb above their heads flickers out. A moment of silence passes, and a low hum begins in the corner before a wave of cool air washes through the room.
Bucky makes out Steve's shape in the darkness, watching as he stumbles into the unit with a muffled 'ow'.
"It's not turning off."
"But...we didn't bring blankets."
"We'll have to share the towel I found in the bathroom."
So they did.
And for the first time since 1940, Bucky felt warm.
