At some point he stumbles across an artist on some website. They've got a bunch of- honestly, not that great- art examples, and a little blurb at the bottom about how much a commission would cost. It's cheap by today's standards, and Bucky is reminded of Steve on the street corner selling portraits by the penny.

He messages the artist about drawing Captain America. The artist responds pretty positively- they'd love to, no problem, but which of his outfits does Bucky want and what should he be doing?

That's a lot of questions. He doesn't care which of Steve's uniforms it is- though he thinks about what he's seen online for a second, and clarifies, please make it an official uniform. He can't be so casual about what Steve's doing, though, because artists tend to default to Captain America fighting. He sees that often enough in the day and it stresses him the hell out. What he finds relaxing is-

normal stuff. Cooking, cleaning with Steve. jogging in central park. But all of that is special because Steve does it special, has all these odd little habits that nobody else would get right. He doesn't want to specify to the artist that Steve keeps all the spices above the stove, that he'll keep one hand on the frying pan and use the other to reach up and feel around for the right glass jar and risk dropping it all in the pan.

He needs something that an artist who doesn't know steve can't fuck up.

Like grocery shopping. He loves getting to go grocery shopping with Steve these days, because they don't have to worry about it anymore. Don't have to do the math on if they can afford it, don't have to stress about if they've got enough to eat before the next paycheck. They can fill a cart with name-brand stuff and eat it in one sitting and doesn't mean a thing.

So that's what he settles on. Can you draw Captain America in the grocery store, shopping for bread?

the artist types out a response, deletes it, types it out, deletes it again. that little typing bubble pops up three times before the artist goes, you got it!

Bucky sends the money. When he gets the art a few days later, he's satisfied. He got to support an artist, and now he's got this nice reminder of how far he and Steve have come. He decides to do it again. Goes out, finds some artists, commissions them for the same thing. Every artist has their own spin on it, and besides, it's kind of fun to have a collection. Why not?

bucky: and?

howard: no, thats all. chip off the ol' block you are

tony: papa i have built a flying car do you love me now

all of this to say they end up reuniting in DC in like 1998 when steve is in his 70s and Winter Soldier is on a mission to kill someone important. they run into eachother by accident and bucky immediately has his programming break because it's steve.