A short snippet for ErinKenobi2893, who asked for more little Bucky and Steve :)

With boiled cabbage and mashed carrots sticking to their ribs, Steve and Bucky lay contentedly within their pillow-fort. The thin padding of the couch cushions provided an exclusive hideout for the young boys, free from the parental supervision seated at the dining room table.

"Ow, Steve! Your pointy elbow's in my face."

"Sorry."

The offending joint was quickly re-situated in a less intrusive position.

"So." Bucky flipped over onto his stomach. His legs, crossed at the ankles, kicked slowly through the air. "Whatcha gonna be when you grow up?"

Arms behind his head, Steve stared up at their cloth ceiling. "I dunno," he shrugged.

"Well, I know what I'm goin' do," Bucky asserted.

"Really?" Steve inquired, intrigued.

"Sure." Bucky nodded. "I'ma be a real ball player, just like Babe Ruth," he asserted, adolescent voice filled with certainty.

"You'd make a swell player," Steve agreed.

"Yeah, I already knowed I'd be good 'cause I can already hit the ball far and I can catch a whole ton better'n ol' Tom Kaye," Bucky explained self-confidently.

"Gee, Buck." Steve peered through the dimness of their little hideaway. "You really beat Tom?"

"'Course I beat 'im." Bucky reached out and ruffled Steve's hair.

Steve scrunched his face and shifted out of Bucky's grasp.

"Wha'd about you?" Bucky pressed, lifting himself up on his forearms to peer down at Steve.

Scratching absently at his nose, Steve considered his answer. "Not sure," he finally answered.

"That's no good!" Bucky protested. "Ya gotta pick somethin'!"

"But what do I pick?" Steve questioned.

"Somethin'. Anythin'," Bucky stated.

"Hold on, I gotta think." Steve tapped his hand against his stomach as he concentrated on coming up with a suitable answer.

"I bet you could be the pres'dint if ya wanted," Bucky commented.

Steve's eyes sparkled. "You really think so?"

"I'd vote for you." Bucky shrugged.

"My middle name is Grant and he was a president," Steve mused.

"Uh-huh," Bucky concurred.

"'Course your middle name's Buchanan and he was a president too," Steve pointed out.

"Aw, I don't wanna be pres'dint," Bucky scoffed. "They're all old and borin'."

"You sayin' I'm boring?" Steve teased.

"Maybe," Bucky returned with a toothy grin.

"I'll show you boring!" Steve launched himself at his friend, fingers scrabbling into all his ticklish spots.