Bucky didn't like smoke. It was always engrained on him, his clothes, his hair, his hands -- it reminded him of family, and he hated that.

To make matters worse, this kid he liked -- a scrawny boy named Steve -- was asthmatic.

////

"Gross, I don't want you hangin' off me if you're gonna smell like a chimney sweep," Steve complained as he pushed Bucky's arm off of his shoulders.

Grinning, Bucky leaned back against the wall as Steve hunched over his sketchbook, curled up on the bench. He coughed into the crook of his arm and scowled a little.

"Seriously," he grunted and wiped his hair from his eyes. Bucky looked at his cigarette, paused, shook his head and crushed it on the pavement.

"Okay, Stevie," he relented. "Sorry, I'm trying to go cold turkey." He frowned. "'S hard though."

"I know." Steve looked up and offered a lop-sided grin. "Here -- " He fished around his pocket and Bucky mildly raised an eyebrow.

"Whatcha offerin' me, huh?" He leaned over. Steve triumphantly pulled out a wrapped lollipop and handed it to him.

"You got candy? Since when?"

Steve shrugged as he handed it over. "'S still good," he argued and Bucky smirked.

"I ain't complaining." He accepted it gratefully. Steve smiled and casually doodled the sight.

Well, Bucky liked it better than smokes any day. Especially if it let him spend more time with Steve.

He smiled and closed his eyes as the pair sat on a chilly October's day and had a little time to themselves.

////

This was supposed to be set in the 40s ish, but I guess it doesn't have to be. I liked this one. Any favourites out of the bunch, folks? I liked 'her husband' and 'grass clippings', personally. :)