OOM: Bucky. Christmas, 1940

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve gets home before Bucky does on Christmas Eve, and has just a few minutes to stash the little shopping bag away where Bucky won't find it. He wants Bucky to have a good Christmas this year, even if they have no tree and no cake--but Steve has beans soaking for a good stew, and there's a few potatoes and a little ham to augment it, and there are treats that Santa will bring.

They've had worse Christmases.

Now the question is, how to get these things arranged so that Bucky will actually be surprised Christmas morning?

Steve has never been too good at stealth, nor at inventing ways to get Bucky out of the house or asleep early.

He's checking on the beans when he hears Bucky's step on the landing.

Comments

[nerves_of_ice]

Bucky unwraps the paper cautiously, trying to preserve the snowflakes as best he can, and stares down at the contents.

His family, rendered in exquisite detail by Steve's careful, artistic hand, looks back up at him from the small portrait.

"... this is amazing. Incredible. You --"

He looks up at Steve, nearly speechless.

"-- thank you."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve beams at Bucky. His hands are still stroking the portfolio, taking genuine pleasure in the smoothness of the leather.

"I got stuff to put in a Christmas stocking, too."

[nerves_of_ice]

"You're one up on me there."

Bucky grins back at him.

"Pretty good Christmas, I think."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I think you're right."

He yawns abruptly, big enough to crack his jaw. He covers his mouth. "Sorry. I think I've been awake almost an entire day."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Let's call it a night. It'll still be Christmas in the morning."

He ruffles Steve's hair, and gets to his feet.

"Sleep well, okay?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve combs his hair back into place. "You too, Bucky. Merry Christmas."

He folds the portfolio closed and puts it on his mattress beside his pillow.


(He'll still get up early to decorate the little apartment and leave some treats out, as if Santa Claus came while they were sleeping.)