The summer sun in Wakanda gave Bucky a new appreciation for the cooling powers of sweat. He couldn't help but squint beneath the blinding brightness of the solar rays. Heat stunned his pores. A loose pair of shorts was the only item of clothing he could bring himself to wear, and the waistband was already collecting an edge of sweat. In spite of it all, Bucky didn't hope for snow.

He pumped water into a three-gallon bucket, carried it to the trough for the goats, then went to fill it again. Four trips later, it still wasn't full thanks to the goats' thirst. For once, Sam wasn't picking on Spidey, apparently too dehydrated to bother the tiny auburn-furred goat. Brooklyn and Widow were the last two to show up for lunch, happy to wait until the others were done to fill their bellies.

When he was sure there was enough feed and water for each of his hooved friends, Bucky took refuge on a tree-shaded patch of grass, resting against the trunk and enjoying the slight wisps of breezes that came his way. Beyond the bleating and eating sounds the goats were making, there wasn't much to hear but random bird calls and an occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.

Bucky let his eyes fall shut, trusting the safety of his surroundings. Without visual input, his mind focused on each prickling sensation of his skin. The tangled mass of hot and wet resolved into patches and pores. His lips were dry, so he licked along the strips of skin then sucked his bottom lip between his teeth. The soft scrape sparked a trove of memories, many he had thought of a lot over the last couple of weeks.

Steve loved his mouth. Bucky could drive him wild with nothing more than his tongue peeking out of the corner of his mouth. Bucky knew how much it revved Steve up and used to use it to his advantage, staring at him from across a crowded room while biting his lips or applying an extra layer of lip balm just to watch Steve's eyes go wide when they got ready in the morning. Bucky knew his mouth was talented, remembered how he made Steve moan and cry out with it, but that wasn't what Bucky missed the most.

He missed kissing Steve. Rushed, sloppy smooches with too much teeth. Reverent explorations of every peak and hollow of Steve's slim body. Delighted investigations of his serum-enhanced core and limbs when they managed to stay awake after a mission with the Howling Commandos. Sweet, soul-revitalizing meetings of lips that took Bucky's breath away and affirmed again and again just how much he loved Steve and how deeply he was loved in return.

It had been a lifetime since he had put his lips on Steve. Bucky craved it with an intensity that could not be sated by memories or imagination. Seeing Steve on a screen and talking to him regularly took the desires to a new level, until they invaded every third thought and got him half hard in the middle of chores.

It was bad enough before he told Steve everything he remembered. Steve's reaction made everything good and right and real. It also made Bucky completely, unbearably horny. He could remember every word of their conversation that night, his mind unwilling to let go of any happy memories now.

That night, short stubble covered the lower half of Steve's face. Bucky would have laughed at the way Steve couldn't go more than thirty seconds without scratching the new growth if it wasn't for how excited he was by the promise of bearded Steve. "You actually did it," Bucky said, a bit breathless.

Steve's shoulders scrunched, his eyes a little downcast as he answered. "You said I'd look nice. It's like having a Brillo pad on my face. It's too much, isn't it?"

"I love it." Bucky gulped down the flame of wild need he felt at this rugged version of Steve. "Let it grow out, Stevie."

"All right, Buck."

Not for the first time, Bucky thought he recognized the same hunger he felt in Steve's expression. This time, though, Bucky couldn't think of a reason to wait or resist the urge to tell Steve all that he remembered, all that he still wanted. "Stevie, I- I know what we used to be."

Steve's face scrunched at that, worried and pained. "What do you mean, Buck? You're my best friend, same as always."

Bucky nodded. "Yeah, but there was more. We were in love."

Steve's mouth opened, his lips quivering around all the things he could say. Bucky saw his uncertainty and waited for the words to come. "Yeah, pal. We were. I'll always love you. You know that, right? But you don't have to- We don't have to- I mean, you've been through a lot. I don't need- You don't have to-"

Steve was completely fumbling this, which meant he wanted it as much as Bucky did. Bucky let out a sigh of relief and a huff of laughter, holding his hand up to stop Steve's stuttering. "Stevie, I'm still in love with you. Did you really think that was gonna change just cause you went and made yourself a popsicle for seventy years?"

Steve chuckled, shaking his head. "You stupid jerk." When his laughs faded, Steve's eyes brightened with sincerity. "I love you, Buck. God, I love you. Why are we doing this over a computer? I need you. Now."

Bucky could still picture the dark lust in Steve's eyes when he had said that. The image made him shiver despite the dry, battering heat of the afternoon. They had Skyped once since that night, a rushed conversation before Steve hopped on a plane. Two weeks later and all Steve had time to send was a half a dozen emails, none of which were more than a paragraph in case they were intercepted. He was safe, that was all Bucky needed, but there was a growing list of things he wanted, and at the very top was kissing Steve.

When things calmed down enough for Steve to Skype, the first thing Bucky noticed was the beard. Given the near constant barrage of sexual thoughts he'd been enduring, Bucky was only a little surprised by the amount of wicked fantasies that immediately entered his head.

All of Steve's hair was dark, almost brunette. His scruff was neat and trimmed but full enough for Bucky to run his nails through it. The hair on Steve's head was longer too. It was combed back, but a lock of it fell from where it had been to tickle Steve's jaw. Now, Bucky would be able to run his fingers through Steve's hair and actually hold on. All he could think of was pulling a fistful of it. That was definitely going on the running list of things Bucky wanted.

"Can you hear me, Buck?"

"Huh? Yeah." Bucky coughed though his throat was clear. "Yeah, what was that?"

"Do they have plums in Wakanda? I keep meaning to ask you."

Bucky laughed. Here he busy was imagining all the ways he could get the disgraced Captain America naked while Steve innocently asked about the availability of his favorite fruit. "Of course they have plums. They have everything. That's one of the reasons why I love this place."

"Good," Steve said, looking genuinely satisfied. "You deserve all the plums you can eat."

Bucky smiled at his favorite dork, bit his lip when he eyes roamed over Steve's beard again. All the sudden, he imagined eating a plum, the sweet juice running down his chin and Steve licking it off before Bucky could wipe it away. Bucky's breath hitched as he blinked away the seductive thought. "When can you visit? I want to see you in person."

Steve's mouth twisted like it always did when he couldn't give Bucky what he wanted. "Soon. I promise. Soon as I can."

"When though?" Bucky said, barely keeping a whine out of his voice. "Two days? Two months? I miss you. It's painful seeing you and not being able to touch you. I can't stop thinking about getting my hands on you, getting your hands on me. I need you, Stevie."

"I need you too, Buck. Just a little while longer, I promise. Until then, why don't we use being able to see each other to our advantage?"

Bucky frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know about you, but I've been going out of my mind wanting to be with you again. It's been so long. Thought maybe we could take the edge off." Steve shrugged, watching for Bucky's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

Bucky grinned when it clicked. "You want to watch me touch myself, Stevie?"

Steve moaned, low and desperate. "Don't be a tease, Buck. It's been too long. Let me see you."

Bucky didn't have it in him to tease. He was starved for release. Several lonely handjobs had left him frustrated as of late. Bucky knew that this wouldn't truly scratch the itch either, but it would be better. He'd get to see Steve and hear his voice, watch as Steve chased his own release.

Bucky knew how to wait, how to stay calm and relaxed until it was time to take another breath. This wouldn't be enough to fill his lungs, not even close to having Steve in his arms, but it would do for now, ease the burning in his chest. Bucky pushed the computer away to give himself room to undress. Even with one arm, he managed to strip in mere seconds. He knelt in front of the screen, fisting his cock with Steve's eyes on him.

But the excitement turned bitter when it occurred to Bucky that Steve hadn't seen him, not like this, not after what Hydra had done to him. He was comfortable in his body, especially now that the metal arm was gone along with the pain it caused his shoulder and back. But even without that symbol of the Winter Soldier, his body had been changed drastically by Zola's experiments. This was the body he had used to beat Steve bloody, to shoot him. This was the body that tried to kill Steve.

Bucky's skin crawled. How had he ever managed to feel comfortable in this monstrosity? How could he think-

Steve's voice broke through the spiral of thoughts. "You're gorgeous, Buck. Can't wait to get my mouth on every inch of you."

Bucky's head fell back at the compliment. He sucked in a breath and ran through a quick mental checklist, ridding himself of the negativity as best he could. He was ok. Steve loved him. All was well.

"Bucky?" There was an anxious edge in the lusty tone of Steve's voice. "Is something wrong?"

No. Bucky refused to lose this moment to the past. He pulled up and down the length of his cock again, bringing attention and blood flow back to the present. "You're still wearing a bunch of clothes, punk. That's what's wrong."

Steve's brow eased, opening back up to bliss. His shirt came off first, exposing the deep curves of his hips, the tight mold of his abs, and the swell of his pecs. He slipped off his place on the bed, leaving Bucky to view a white wall, high wooden headboard, and the bottom edge of a framed art poster. Bucky swallowed, eager for Steve's bare body to reappear while another part of his brain cursed the hotel room and demanded to know why Steve wasn't in Wakanda with him.

Bucky's longing turned completely carnal when Steve came back on screen. Had Stevie's dick gotten wider since Bucky had last seen it? Nah, but it was even more impressive than he'd remembered. How would he get any chores done with that thick, veined giant on his mind?

Steve dragged his thumb over the tip, spreading the slick of his precum to ease the way for his hand. Bucky licked his lips, yearning to refresh the smell and taste of Steve's musk in his mind. Taking Steve down his throat had been impossible after the serum, but Bucky thought his enhanced body would be able to handle it now. Just like that, he could practically feel Steve filling his mouth.

Steve's looked dizzy as his gaze roved over Bucky's body, hardly pausing on any one spot. Bucky preened, spreading his legs wider to offer a full view and tilting his head to show Steve the collarbone where he used to plant hickies that no one would see. Steve rolled his palm over the top of his length before bringing it to his mouth and licking it the skin. When Steve's hand went back down, his fist blurred as he stroked himself.

"Not gonna last, Buck. Need you."

Bucky nodded. No words could capture the passion burning its way through his veins and making his heart pound at the expectation for more, so he didn't try to speak. He slipped his fingers from his cock to cradle his sack, tugging and rolling with just enough pressure to drive himself crazy. He watched Steve's frenzied movements, wishing he was on his knees in front of Steve, ready to swallow his release.

Steve's knees bobbed at the edges of the screen, shaking with the pressure of his impending orgasm. His moans went straight to Bucky's cock, making it hard enough to smear precum on his stomach. A groan tore from Bucky's throat. He wanted Steve to tumble into pleasure first, but the impulse to move his hand back to his shaft was testing his resolve.

Bucky locked eyes with the man he loved, licked his lips slow and wet in Steve's favorite way. "Come for me, Stevie."

Steve's eyelids slammed shut and his head hit the wall behind him. His knees went still as his cock twitched, releasing spurts of cum that arched in the air before falling to his fingers and thighs and pooling on the sheets. A wrecked mumble of loving words reached Bucky's ears but he couldn't decipher them. His hand was back on his dick, hard and fast.

He watched, jealous and throbbing, as Steve lifted cum-coated fingers to his mouth to taste himself. The obscene slurp broke Bucky. He tried to keep his eyes on Steve but the feeling was too much. He let the gratification surge through him, vibrating from head to toe as his orgasm erupted across the floor of his hut.

A calm, buzzing sensitivity coated Bucky's skin inside and out, warm in Steve's embrace despite the distance. He followed Steve's example and laid down, using the discarded fabric of his clothes to wipe away the mess left behind.

For the first time since they started talking this way, Bucky thought Steve looked truly at peace. No lines of worry clouded his face. No distressing scenarios were playing behind his perfect blue eyes. Bucky's chest ached to wrap around Steve, to keep him safe and content always.

Neither of them said anything, letting their bodies float gently back down from their delectable peaks. Bucky's eyes were heavy, willing him to let sleep take over. Steve's blinks lasted longer each time, his breaths raising his chest a little higher with each inhale. Bucky smiled at the idea of them sleeping together like this.

The twitch of numbers shifting in the bottom corner of the screen caught Bucky's languid notice. He didn't know where Steve was. It was possible the date did not match up yet, but he wanted Steve to know he remembered that too.

"Happy birthday, Stevie."

Steve blinked, glancing at the corner of his own screen before smiling sweet and easy at Bucky. "Thank you, Buck. Best present ever."

Bucky didn't know if Steve meant the sex or the fact that he had remembered the significance of July 4th or something else, but the ignorance didn't blunt his joy. "I love you, Stevie."

"I love you too, Buck."

Bucky fell asleep to the soft grumble of Steve's snores.