Unexpected reunion
Sam is working on the ship, when he hears a strangled voice saying his name, he looks in that direction to discover Barnes.
"Bucky?" He knows perfectly well that it's him, it's just that he is... Different. It's been a while since I've seen him in person, but he doesn't look like he did in the photos. The man runs to him and, to Sam's surprise, hugs him.
"What's going on, man? You look like shit, are you okay?"
Bucky hugs him tighter and nods, Sam notices that he is crying and moves away a little, to look at him, but keeps him stingy.
"Buck, what's going on?"
"I've only missed you" .
"I'm here," Sam says, wiping away tears.
Bucky nods and buries his head in Sam's chest who, worriedly, hugs him stronger, while saying soothing words.
After a few minutes, he manages to move them inside the boat and sit them on the small two-seater sofa there. Bucky lies on Sam's chest, his head buried in his neck, while Sam strokes his back gently. It's impossible to say how long it takes until Bucky finally calms down.
"I'm sorry," he says, doing the last thing he wants to do and moving away from Sam0's body. "It's been a while"
Sam nods
"Since you joined the Thunderbolts"
"When was that?"
Sam looks at him strangely, but answers
"Almost 4 months ago," he tries not to put any emotion in his voice, but he doesn't quite succeed. Bucky looks at him in horror.
"Haven't we seen each other all this time?" He's practically screaming and Sam is very confused, he doesn't understand anything about the situation, but he knows that his friend is not well
"Hey, you have to tell me what's going on. Whatever it is, we'll fix it or try to, at least, but I can't help you if I don't know what's going on."
"It's nothing, just... You have only missed me so much, so, so much."
Sam knows there's something else, but he doesn't push so when Bucky changes the subject, he follows him, hoping that at some point the man will feel confident enough to open up to him. The more they talk, the more relaxed and happy Bucky seems to feel, even laughing at times as if he hadn't arrived at Sam's family boat practically shattered.
"Can I kiss you?" Bucky asks at a time when they're both laughing. Sam freezes and Bucky realizes "I'm sorry, I didn't want to bother you, I just... I really want to do it, but maybe it's too soon. I don't want to say it has to happen later, I'd like it to happen, but—he shrugs as if that explains everything.
"Too soon? You don't know how long I've waited for this."
Bucky smiles and leans towards Sam, but before his lips come together a noise is heard on deck, causing Sam to Separate.
"What was that?" He asks
Then hurried footsteps are heard and Bucky stands in front of him as if he wants to cover him with his body to protect him. The door slams open and Sam can't believe it, because the one he sees there, prepared for the fight, is none other than Bucky Barnes.