Bucky was acting weird.
Well weirder than usual, Everyone already knew that he wasn’t really the talking type; only really talking to Sam and occasionally Torres if he was in the same room as Sam but other than that he was rather silent.
But when he started acting odd around Sam, He Immediately knew something was up.
“We’ve got a mission in a few days,” Sam informed him, sitting in the empty seat next to Bucky who just let out a hum in acknowledgement.
“A unknown group are trying building a weapon based off of Tony’s old tech, not sure what for but Rhodes says he’ll try to find out more information before we head down to help”
Bucky just lets out a ‘mhm’, Tracing the lines on his metal hand with his flesh fingers and that for some reason is what finally pushed him over the edge.
“Alright that’s it, You’ve been acting weird all day” Sam folded his arms, annoyance written over his face. “What up with you, you mad at me again or somethin’?”
He was sure they were finally starting to get along. Hell, Buck had finally started to respond to his texts instead of leaving him on read. constantly. but maybe he was just reading their friendship wrong.
They are just coworkers after all.
Nothing less, Nothing more.
“What?” Bucky’s head immediately shot up, looking at Sam right in the eyes, he had a look of guilt in his eyes that Sam decided to ignore in order to give him a more serious look. “No I’m not mad at you, I could never be mad at you”
“Coulda’ fooled me,” Sam rolled his eyes, Not really in the mood to deal with any of this right now.
“No it’s just-“ Bucky stopped himself mid-sentence with a look of struggle on his face as he tried to find the right words, He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before finally saying.
“I like you, okay.” His metal hand clenched tightly. “A lot”
Oh, Well He certainly wasn’t expecting that.
Did Bucky think Sam disliked him or something? Well to be honest, He didn’t really like him in the beginning after the whole ‘Steering wheel getting pulled out from right in front of him’ incident but he’s over that now- well somewhat over that.
They were friends.
But God did he miss that car.
“I like you too?”
His eyes shot open, Sam could tell that he was most definitely not expecting that type of response.
“A-Are you sure,” He stammered, the tips of his ears were now starting to turn a warm shade of red.
“You’re not just saying that?”
He sounded so uncharacteristically shy that it made Sam feel like he was back in high school trying to ask out a girl he liked.
Sam just snorted and nodded, “Yes Buck, I like you”
Sam felt his heart almost skip a beat with how cute this display was. Bucky’s face was fully red and had this cute awestruck look on his face.
“You good there, cyborg?”
“Yeah I just..wasn’t expecting you to say that”
“What? That I like you?” Sam grinned, “You’re the one who said it first man, don’t start getting all weird on me now”
“I’m not weird” He heard Bucky mumble defensively.
Sam let out a cackle.
————————
True to his word, Bucky stopped being ‘Weird’.
He was more open to Sam, actively going out of his way to actually be the one to start a conversation instead of waiting for Sam to actually say something before deciding whether or not to speak.
Whenever he had the free time he would always be around Sam either chatting away with him or just being around him.
The others most definitely noticed and raised a few eyebrows at seeing Buck being so talkative only to look away once they noticed Bucky’s menacing glare when a few got too close.
Sam felt his stomach rumbling. Right, he had been so busy helping Rhodes find out more information about the unknown group that he had completely skipped out on breakfast and now he was far too exhausted to cook something.
He closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair with a groan as his body finally relaxed after being stuck in a leaning position for that long.
Maybe he should just order takeout once he gets back to his room, Maybe something simple like Pizza? Pasta?
“So there’s this new sushi place that recently opened up,” Bucky casually mentioned as he entered Sam’s office.
Sam could so very clearly see through whatever cool facade he had going on. “was wondering if you wanted to go. With me. Preferably right now. If you’re free?”
Oh how quickly that facade crumbled apart.
This was the supposedly same Bucky that could charm anybody to go on a date with him with just a few words that he had heard so much about?
“I would love to but,” Sam had to fight back a gag at the memory, “Peter Q and Scott tried some sushi from god knows where, it must have been out of date or something because that smell-“
“Okay, so that’s a no on sushi?” Bucky noticeably deflated.
Sam felt a bit bad for ruining Bucky’s plan now. He had a feeling that he'd been waiting to ask Sam out to a new place all day but he had been so preoccupied with the mission that he hadn’t had the chance to speak with him.
“I could go for some pizza,” He let out a fake tired sigh, folding his arms waiting for buck to take the bait. “Last time I had pizza was back with Sarah and the kids-“
“Let’s get pizza,” Bucky blurted out excitedly, “I think I know a place that you’d like, it’s not new or anything but-“
“Okay, Lead the way” He stood up stretching as his back let out a few loud cracks, “Damn, How long have I been working?”
“About 3 hours?” He said, Holding the door open for Sam.
“And no one decided to tell me to take a break?”
Bucky shrugged, “You’re way stubborn, Probably would have told us ‘I’ll eat in my office’ or ‘I’m busy”
Sam laughed, “Yeah probably”
The pizza was great and Sam was already feeling refreshed, he dreaded the work he’d have to do again tomorrow But that was tomorrow's problem.
He just wanted to relax and not think about anything other than the cool breeze that brushed them as they headed back to the tower.
The brush of something against his hand is what brought Sam back out of his thoughts.
When had Bucky gotten so close to him?
He took a quick glance at Bucky’s face - He had a serious look on his face but still kept walking in silence.
It was probably an accident so Sam shrugged it off until it happened again…and then again and a few more times after that till Sam got the memo that Bucky was most definitely doing this on purpose.
It didn’t change to anything except from the slight brush against the back of his hand.
“What’s up with you?” Sam joked, looking at him with an amused expression.
He let out a frustrated sigh, “I’m still getting used to touching people, I just..don’t want to hurt you”
“Then don’t hurt me,”
Bucky had proven multiple times that he would never hurt Sam again yet still kept his distance when it came to touching, he could handle a simple pat on the back or on the shoulder without his instincts telling him to run or fight back.
Holding hands seemed simple enough but he kept on hesitating.
His brain and instincts was screaming at him; touch him, too close, Stay closed, too much, protect, Can’t breath too close
he couldn’t do it, It was too much too overwhelming and he couldn’t trust himself to do anything
Not yet at least.
“I’m Sorry..” he moved away so that they both had there was a gap between the two, he felt disappointed.
“I’m not mad,” Sam reassured, “Just go at your own pace, try not to rush into this like this especially if you’re not ready”
—————
Things continued as Normal, None of them mentioning what happened a few days ago with Bucky’s issue with touching except Sam began noticing that Bucky had started to touch him a lot more.
A few lingering touches on his arms and shoulders and he had even managed to hold Sam’s hand for a few seconds before letting go.
Something simple and hardly noticeable to others but Sam was proud of him for making progress regardless.
The mission had finally been completed and the group had been stopped.
They had been trying to recreate an AI that would have given access to files about HYDRA and other highly classified files.
What for? They still weren't sure but if all this information had gotten out and a group even stronger than HYDRA was formed using it then-
Sam didn’t even want to think about it.
He was home now and could finally rest his poor back, he knew he was getting old but C'mon he was not ‘Back Problems’ Old.
“You good there, Cap?”
Sam just groaned, taking off his wing pack and rubbing his most likely bruising shoulder. “Yeah, Just really need to lay down”
“You could come to my room since it’s closer and all-“
“Yeah sure” Sam shrugged, wincing at the pain that followed after.
He could see out of the corner of his eye that Rhodey was eyeing them before turning to look at the others who had the same expression on their face as if to say ‘Y’all seeing this?’ except for Hope who looked rather proud of them.
He didn’t have the energy to try to decipher what that look meant nor did he want to especially after hearing peter Q’s comment about ‘needing protection’
So completely blocking that out of his mind, He headed to Bucky’s room and once inside immediately flopped down onto the bed and closed his eyes.
Letting out a few shaky breaths as his body finally relaxed into the soft fabric.
“We need a vacation..” He heard Bucky hum in response, “Maybe a week at Sarah’s, if she’s willing to put up with us for that long or maybe I don’t know, a trip To Paris ”
“Sounds..” Bucky let out a sigh, it wasn’t a tired sigh more like a ‘Oh nevermind’ Sigh which obviously meant that something was wrong. “Sounds great Sam”
Peaking his eyes open he glances at him, noticing how tense and awkward he looked standing by the door and actively trying to avoid looking at him.
“Something on your mind, Robocop?”
Buck stammered for a moment, trying to think of the right words to say to fully express how he was feeling but the words weren't coming out right and was leaving Sam in a state of confusion while he tried to grasp the general idea of what Bucky was trying to say.
“Damn it, Look let me just..” He took a deep breath before marching over to where Sam was sprawled out on his bed, Cupping his face in his hands and finally kissing him.
Sam was in a state of shock, surely he had fallen asleep and this was just some kind of weird dream he was having but the hands on his face felt too solid to be fake.
Though he had to admit…Bucky’s was one hell of a kisser.
He eventually found himself melting into this kiss, his eyes fluttering shut as he placed his hand against the cold metal on his face.
Sam broke away from the kiss with a gasp, panting as Bucky trailing kisses down the side of his neck before moving back up to suck what would soon be a hickey onto the base of his jaw.
“Guess the stories were right,” He attempted to joke letting out a gasp at the feeling of teeth pressing into his neck, not biting down just yet but as a reminder that he could, “Y-You’re a pretty good kisser”
This continued for a few minutes with Bucky just placing kisses all over Sam’s face and the few occasional nips on his neck, The room filled with sharp gasps and panting.
“Wait wait,” Sam reluctantly placed a hand on Bucky’s shoulder to stop him, Bucky immediately tensed up and Sam could immediately feel the fear radiating off of him. “We should talk about this”
Bucky cautiously pulled away and began immediately apologising, “Shit, I’m sorry Sam. I was trying to take things slow and not overwhelm you but with you being close to me I just got carried away- I’m such a crappy boyfriend I’m sorry-“
Boyfriend?! Hold on a damn second.
“B-boyfriend?” Sam stammered out looking up at Bucky wide eyed.
“Did I say it wrong?” Bucky somehow managed to look more panicked than he did before.
“Yes- Well No but that’s beside the point” Sam shook his head and sat up so they were face to face. “Why did you kiss me?-“
Sam paused for a moment, Did..Bucky like him? That would explain the times he caught Bucky staring at him and the reason for his closeness these last few days and during the mission even after Rhodey suggested that they all split up to try to cover more ground.
Not that he minded, He just saw it as Buck finally being comfortable around him after all this time.
Bucky liked him.
Bucky had confessed his feelings to him days ago but Sam just thought it was him wanting confirmation that they were friends and didn’t hate each other anymore.
Bucky likes him.
Bucky likes him and he was an idiot.
“Oh my gosh, I’m such an idiot,” Sam covered his face, “You confessed and I didn’t even realise it, We went on literal a date and I didn’t even know”
The room was silent and Sam couldn’t bring himself to look up at Bucky. He could only imagine the heartbroken look in his eyes after realising that he was pouring his feelings out to a guy who hadn’t even noticed.
But instead he heard him snort then laugh, an actual one
“don’t laugh man” Sam just groaned as his face grew hot in embarrassment, “If I had known I would have suggested somewhere better than a damn pizza place”
“It was some good pizza though,” Bucky laughed,
“Not the point” Sam angrily flopped back onto bed and folded up arms as he glared up at the ceiling, “Once my back is better, I swear I’ll take you on a proper date.”
Bucky snorted once again, Laying down next to him as he listened to Sam listed off a bunch of places where they could have their next ‘Proper’ date and when they should go.
He could listen to him talk forever, not that he would ever admit that to him or else he would never stop talking.
“I love you” Bucky fought back the blush that was started to appear, “Since I wasn’t clear last time, I just wanted to say that I love you, Sam”
“Yeah kinda figured, considering you were making a whole meal out of my neck back there-“
“Nevermind I take it back, I can’t stand you”
Sam cackled, “I love you too, Buck”