Yeah. Not as well as some other things— [ the war swallowed everything, and as much as he wished his years of the winter soldier could perhaps have been dulled into a haze or an oblivion, like waking up out of a dream— he still remembered. ] But it's still there. I was a little shit, honestly. Always keeping busy. Good in class but couldn't resist cracking jokes and getting on teachers' nerves, and was always getting into trouble. Steve was the one who kept us honest.

[ is anybody surprised?

while bucky reminisces, settled into this cozy nest with yelena, he tries not to think too much about the warmth of her legs tangled with his, or how close she's wriggled in his bed. now that they've actually crossed the hurdle of agreeing to some kind of date, some of those strangling nerves have finally subsided, ebbing enough that he's not tripping over himself quite so badly around her. and like she said: somehow, this part is easy. just talking to each other. there's a bit of puckish warmth in his voice as he adds: ]

Unless you get the idea of me as a total delinquent, though, I was also very charming. Moms loved me.