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It was nearly ninety degrees Fahrenheit outside in Pangea's new trendy beachside resort by the tropical lagoon.
Steve was in his swim shorts and sunglasses, oiled up with sunscreen and sitting in the shade of a big stars and stripes parasol, ready to ready his book.
Bucky had said he was going snorkeling with Natasha and Sam, and Steve hadn't seen him all morning.
Steve checked his phone under a beach towel to see the time. The Avengers versus X-Men tug of war contest was starting in just under thirty minutes, and he didn't plan on missing out. He'd have plenty of time to read a bit more then do his stretches before the contest began.
He settled back to read his book, feet crossed at the ankles and out in the sunshine while the rest of him was safely in the shade.
Natasha and Tony strolled by, Natasha in a black swimsuit and a red sarong, sipping a fancy coconut cocktail drink from a straw. Tony was wearing his Iron Man suit with beach shorts over the top .
Steve lifted up the tinted frames from his glasses to give a pointed look at Tony's outfit.
"Ha, ha," Tony said through his suit's speaker, "nobody wears glasses like those anymore, grandpa."
"Well, I am nearly one hundred," Steve said deadpan.
Natasha caught Steve's eye and hid her smirk in her flamboyant coconut drink.
"Nat," Steve said, "I thought you guys went snorkeling?"
"We did," she replied. "Bucky's making his way back now. He wants to do a dramatic entrance."
"Oh?" Steve flipped his tinted frames back down and looked out at the sunlit beach and the sparkling water beyond. "Where? I can't see him."
"Give him a moment," Nat said.
"Here he comes," Tony announced, "twelve o' clock."
Steve watched with interest, seeing the tip of a snorkel appear on the horizon in the water. Then the familiar dark head of hair that was Bucky's head, as he broke the surface and flipped his wet hair back.
"Oh, I see," Steve said, eyes glued to his gorgeous boyfriend as he walked out of the water. He had on an interesting get up: tiny white swim trunks, a matching white utility belt and thigh holsters for knives, and a shoulder harness with glinting gold detail that caught the sun and complimented his metal arm.
Bucky strutted up the sand toward them and Steve, being the supportive boyfriend he was, whistled appreciatively.
"Alright, Honey Rider," Tony quipped as Bucky approached them. "How's Dr. No?"
"Who the hell is Dr. No?" Bucky said.
"You can't be wearing that if you haven't seen James Bond!" Tony threw his metal hands up. "And what's the point of a shoulder harness with nothing to put on it?"
Bucky raised his eyebrow with a smirk. "Tony, if you can't work out what it's for, I'm not gonna be the one to tell you."
Steve chuckled quietly. He knew very well what a harness was for.
"C'mon, Tony," Natasha said, taking his arm. "Let's give the boys some peace. We can go set up the tug of war contest."
They strolled away, and Bucky looked down at Steve and waggled his eyebrows. "I wouldn't mind a tug of war contest. And you know the sort I mean."
"I'm sure I can guess," Steve quipped, moving his legs to give Bucky space to sit down on the lounger. "I hope you had sunscreen on, Bucky. It's really hot today."
"Yes, Steve, I did," Bucky replied dryly, unclipping his knives and tossing them onto the sand.
"What did you need knives for anyway?" Steve asked.
"You can never be too prepared, babe." Bucky made to lean down against Steve, still dripping wet from the water.
"Hold on," Steve said, grabbing a spare towel and thrusting it at Bucky. "Can you dry off first?"
"Thought you liked me all wet," Bucky teased, though he took the towel and started patting his hair and shoulders dry.
"I sure do," Steve replied, "but not when sand is involved."
Bucky laughed quietly. "You should come out snorkeling next time, it's so incredible down there."
"I will." Steve pushed his glasses up to sit on his head, so he could see Bucky better. He'd definitely caught the sun a little. "You gonna come do the contest with us?"
"Yeah, of course," Bucky said, and began unstrapping one of his thigh holsters. "Let me take these off first, or I'll get some serious tan lines."
Steve reached out, gently putting his hand over Bucky's. "You know," he said slyly, "I don't know if I've ever told you but..."
Bucky raised his eyebrows with interest. "But?"
"I think tan lines are kinda sexy." Steve smiled at him. "There's just something about tan lines on skin, you know? Like I can't wait to rub my hands all over them when we get back to our hotel room."
"Oh?" Bucky smiled back. "Well, in that case..." He re-buckled the strap, leaving it on. "You ready to put the X-Men in their place?"
"Born ready, babe."
They got up, walking along the beach together. Steve put his arm around Bucky, and Bucky put his arm around Steve (the right one, because the metal one got too hot).
And if Steve reached down and gave his boyfriend's ass a quick squeeze who could blame him.