You and James had just left your shared apartment, hopping onto his bike and heading over to Sam’s place. He’d been working on his boat for a while now, and today you both decided to lend a hand. With your arms wrapped around your best friend, the wind in your hair, and the road stretching ahead, you had a good feeling—today was going to be a fun one.

It didn’t take long to reach Sam’s place. James parked the bike and helped you off before the two of you made your way around back, toward the dock. The sounds of laughter and splashing water reached you first. Sam’s sister, Sarah, was nearby, keeping an eye on her kids as they ran around the yard.

“Hey,” Sarah greeted, giving both you and Bucky a quick hug as you approached.

“Hey,” you replied warmly. “Is Sam already on the boat?”

She nodded with a light eye roll. “Yep. He’s being his usual impatient self.”

You and James both laughed at that.

“Yeah, we’ve come to learn that about him,” James said with a smirk.

Sarah grinned. “Well, I’m sure he could use your help. Go on down there.”

You thanked her and headed toward the boat. As soon as Sam spotted you, he called out with a familiar teasing tone.

“There you two are! What took so long—were you making out or something?”

You rolled your eyes while James gave an unimpressed look.

“Shut up, Sam,” James muttered with an eye roll, earning a loud laugh from Sam. He always pushed just enough to get under Bucky’s skin—but in a brotherly way. Despite the fact that you and James had been living together for a while and claimed to be just best friends, Sam clearly thought there was more going on.

Before anyone could fire back with another quip, a pipe on the boat hissed loudly and burst, sending steam everywhere. Sam rushed over, grabbing a wrench and fumbling with it, trying to tighten the valve, but with little success.

James stepped onto the boat and gently took the wrench from him.

“Here. Let me do it,” he said calmly, twisting it the opposite way. Within seconds, the steam stopped. Problem solved.

You couldn’t help but smile, watching the whole exchange unfold.

Sam raised an eyebrow, then glanced down at James’s vibranium arm, then back up at him.

“Wait—why didn’t you just use the metal arm?”

You bit your lip to keep from laughing, already knowing James’s response was going to be good.

James blinked at him for a second, then shrugged. “I don’t always think of it right away. I’m right-handed.”

You couldn’t hold it in anymore—you snickered, covering your mouth to stifle the laugh as Sam just shook his head, clearly both amused and baffled.