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'YAY!!! Pirate clothing!!!'

No floofy dress that weighed more than a fucking bowling ball.

Bucky popped back into view as the all the white faded to the blues of the skies and waters. He was utterly distracted by Eve showing off by assembling the ship under our feet in a way that only she could.

Planks fitted together, bending into the gentle curve. Metal twisted into shape to hold the masts up. Rope weaved and knotted. The heavy fabric snaps of the sails falling into place were satisfying.

I, on the other hand, was utterly distracted by Bucky decked out as a pirate. Tucked loose shirt. Pants that could never be tailored that perfectly in reality. Well worn boots. Fitted leather coat. Feathered hat. A sword at his hip. A gun on the other. Accessories everywhere except for an eyepatch.

And I couldn't get over that messy little ponytail. It did absolutely nothing to keep hair from his face, but it looked so good. A little braid tucked behind his ear was adorable.

Bucky grabbed onto the wheel being built right in front of him. A grin practically split his face in half. And by how fast the wheel spun and how fast the ship turned on a dime, he used all of his strength.

I barely managed to stay upright. The railing helped a bunch. Almost flew over it.

'Note to self: on a real old ass ship, remind Bucky to be gentle.'

Breaking one of those was probably a no no.

"You have legs again," Bucky pointed out and confirming that whatever Eve did in place of the missing shorts had nothing to do with legs.

"Yeah. I guess more like three quarters?" I laughed.

My left leg was bent back and unrendered at the knee. A wooden peg was rendered in its place. A tad finicky to balance on, but there wasn't the constant ache of using a fucked up ankle.

Eve also encased my right hand in nanites, and from catching myself on the railing, all the force was spread out on my forearm instead of my hand. But my arm was oddly long. An extra hand too long.

'I... I don't think ships are supposed to do this....'

But I didn't have the heart to say a thing to Bucky's crazy spinning of the wheel. A few hard spins to the right. Or was it left? Counter clockwise? Or whatever the boat terms were. A few hard spins the other way. And repeat. And repeat. And repeat.

"Can this go faster?" Bucky asked. A grin seemingly stuck on his face.

"Sure. Why not."

'Whatever makes him happy.'

Even if all this swaying was about to drop me on my head.

So easy to fall asleep with all this movement. The tiredness already creeping into me. My eyelids blinked a few times before they were too heavy to open. My heartbeat slowed, so ready for sleep.

"Val?" he called out so softly. Almost sounded shy to disturb me.

The effort to open my eyes would have had an easier time moving a mountain. That was until I remembered Bucky was all dressed up. "Hmmm? What up, Cap – erm... Bucky?"

The old ass ship stopped swaying from side to side as he stopped his happy spinning. His fingers danced over the wooden surface. Those bright blue eyes glanced from the wheel to me and back.

"Maybe... maybe we should head up." His toothy grin closed to a calm smile.

"Are you –! It's been less than three minutes! It took longer to create all this. I have the whole Black Pearl crew rendered up for shooting practice and controlling lethal instincts."

"It's fine, Bucky. You're having fun here, and I figured you wouldn't quite like me swinging about on the ropes."

As much as that might be the only way for me to stay awake, I doubt my ribs would like that either.

"But you're exhausted." His lips set in that adorable pout of his.

I hobbled over to him with my fancy carved peg leg. "How about this? I sleep by your feet, and you keep driving... sailing? This old ass ship."

"Galleon!"

"What the heck is moving in your breast pocket?" I asked at the lump shuffling about.

"The squirrel. Or a version of him." His hand waved to the ether. "Said that he's doing better and thought that I'd like this over a parrot on my shoulder. Something about both animals being able to fly somewhat."

He let me peer into the fur lined pocket. The little squirrel was all curled up in a sleeping ball.

'Bucky's going to miss this little guy when we have to set him free.'

A choked off laugh blew over the top of my head.

"...Urgh. Fine, I won't use Val as a doll in her sleep. I'll even put you two together. And why not even throw in a bed? Cozy?"

"Thanks, Eve," I chirped, sitting down on a rendered copy of my bed swaying with the waves that broke against the ship.

My stomach wasn't all too happy with the wonky feeling of being moved without seeing it. But I could reach out now, hold on to Bucky's hand. His real hand. Interact with the real him.

"Sleep," he chided, though his fingers tangled with mine. A smile still on his face.

"Yeah, sleeping soun...."

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Author's Note:

If you enjoyed this part, please consider leaving a vote. They're very much appreciated. ^^

And a big thank you to TinselA/Bunny Carrot (https://www.fanfiction.net/u/7591081/) and the Anonymous Fifth Beta for Beta-ing this chapter.

And that is all I have. Unless something happens and I'm able to slip back into a mindset where I can create for Mosaic, this is all for this story.

Thank you for joining me on this journey!!!

PS - I haven't given up on writing. Got a few new stories posted. One of them is a Bucky Barnes x OC called "ImPossible!" Also started a Chatting Red Panda discord (link should be below). A place for you to chat (I tend to like chatting when I'm writing), to made share theories and pry the answers to things from me.
https://discord.gg/p8GdXYyKSS

(I've put it in the comment. Wattpad isn't behaving.)