People like to think that the worst part about being in a relationship with Captain America might be the constant worry when he is out on missions.
Bucky will like to disagree, because it’s actually the idiocrasy.
Now, Bucky isn’t worried (no, doubting Sam’s capabilities isn’t even a thought in his head). Bucky’s annoyed -- partly because he isn’t a part of the mission Sam’s set on, and partly because of the empty promises he was fed with two days ago
(“I promise I’ll text you all the details”
“Yes, man, I’ll give you updates. I promise.”
“You need to calm down, Bucky, I promise I will call you whenever there’s a development”)
All Captain Americas do is lie.
His leg subconsciously bumps as he sits in front of the TV - news channel on, and his phone in his hand - he’s waiting on Torres’ text, because apparently, Sam refuses to even check his phone. Torres is the only one who’s keeping Bucky updated with everything.
The couch dips slightly, Sarah settles beside him - taking the remote from his lap and starting to skip through the channels. Bucky looks at her and then decides to not protest, she’s just going to tell him to chill out.
(As if. Bucky is chilled out)
“Any updates?”
“Torres won’t reply,” Bucky lets out on instinct, and then regrets it when he looks up and sees Sarah’s raised eyebrow and crossed arms. He sighs, placing his phone on his lap. “Look--”
“So this is how super soldiers take breaks, huh?” Sarah comments, a smile playing on her lips.
Bucky rolls his eyes. “I just want to know how the mission’s going.”
“He’ll be fine, Bucky. Don’t need to worry too much”
“Yeah, well, I’m not worried about him,” Bucky defends. “I just-- worry about the mission”
“Oh boy,” Sarah sighs, “You don’t even know the mission. It’s fine to admit that you’re worried. I worry about him, you, all the time whenever y’all are out Captain America-ing”
Bucky looks down at his phone, biting on the inside of his bottom lip. He isn’t worried, he’s just--
(worried)
It’s the first time Sam’s gone on a mission without him ever since he became Captain America. And it’s the first time Bucky had lost the argument of “I’ll go with you, Sam” and “No, you won’t”
(only because Sam played dirty and tagged AJ and Cass in it.)
For the first time in what feels like a century - maybe quite literally - Bucky has gotten a break. And he wants to have fun with it, but not when Sam’s out on the field alone.
Well, maybe Bucky’s fun is Missions with Sam now.
“Come on, get up now, you gotta pick up AJ and Cass from school,” Sarah pats Bucky’s thigh, before standing up
Then, just as he’s going out, she yells a “And leave your phone here! I don’t want no accident because you were too busy texting the Falcon kid!”
Joaquin Torres, 00:02 AM
i wasn’t the one who told you that we lost track of the assassins
Joaquin Torres, 00:03 AM
or that Sam miiight have broken ribs
To Joaquin Torres, 00:03 AM
What?
To Joaquin Torres, 00:03 AM
Give me your location
Joaquin Torres, 00:04 AM
h ha april fools
Joaquin Torres, 00:04 AM
okay seriously you dont need to come over here. he’s fine. but theyre calling off the mission so sams going to be back home in the morning
Joaquin Torres, 00:05 AM
and he will yell at me if you come over here and he gets to know that you know because I told you
Joaquin Torres, 00:06 AM
dont worry
Joaquin Torres, 00:14 AM
breaking news !! he doesnt have broken ribs !! hes all patched up and good !!
To Sam, 00:15 AM
I will break those ribs myself if you don’t call me as soon as you can
Bucky Barnes is good at a lot of things, a few of which most people don’t even know - or expect from a guy like him. Some of those unexpected things are Being Dramatic and Holding a Grudge.
And Sam is the one who has to deal with all of it.
Okay, he’ll admit, the mission took longer than expected - a week longer than expected.
And okay, he’ll also accept that it was “rude of him” (Sarah’s words) to not text Bucky and “get him worried” (Sam knows Bucky isn’t going to admit that Bucky was worried, though)
But Sam has a valid reason - he wanted Bucky to enjoy his break instead of getting involved in missions, which was the reason he had gone alone in the first place.
Also, that was two days ago, and yet, there Bucky sits on their bed - head thrown back and eyes closed as he listens to his record player play - still refusing to make contact (of any kind) with Sam
A hug when Sam came home was all the affection he’s gotten from the other man in the past 2 days, and Sam’s given up on apologising by now. He knows Bucky will come around in a few hours
He just likes the theatrics.
“Hey,” Sam flops on the bed, then turns and leans up on his elbow to give Bucky a smile.
“Hey, Samuel,” Bucky replies bluntly, not really budging
Sam rolls his eyes, sits up - mimicking Bucky’s position - and turns his head to stare at Bucky. “So, how long am I grounded for?”
Bucky sighs, making Sam chuckle. “Come on, at least give me a date, man,” he continues, coming closer and nuzzling his nose in the side of Bucky’s neck - Bucky lets him.
“Aren’t you tired, Sam?”
“Never tired for you”
Bucky hums.
“I missed you,” Sam mutters, pressing a kiss on Bucky’s cold skin. And even though Bucky kept his posture still, Sam can feel Bucky shiver at feather soft touch of lips.
“Sure you did”
His tone is passive-aggressive and as if on cue, the light music in the room stills to silence.
Sam leans back away, shaking his head slightly.
(Man, he’s got himself a difficult one)
(Sam loves it)
Then, Sam pulls out his phone and gets off the bed. Bucky watches him.
“Where are you going?”
Music fills the room again. Sam places his phone on the bedside table - speakers turned all the way up - and turns to Bucky, holding a hand out.
“Nowhere”
I should've stayed at home
'Cause right now I see all these people that love me
But I still feel alone
Can't help but check my phone
Bucky stares at Sam’s stretched out hand, then up at Sam’s expectant expression. He knows what Sam’s asking.
He has told Sam about the 1940s. He has told Sam about him and Steve in the 1940s. About the way he missed the slow dances in the back allies - them quietly practicing their dance moves with each other - Bucky teaching Steve, Steve learning slowly.
And Sam had listened to it all. He listened to it, saw Bucky’s smile, and smiled with him. He wasn’t jealous or anything - Bucky had wondered if he would be, but Sam had just listened to Bucky talk.
Sam knew from the start that Steve was - and will always be - important to Bucky. Steve was important to Sam, too, but it wasn’t the same. And Sam had accepted it
(There wasn’t anything to accept, really. Sam had understood it)
Steve was a big part of Bucky’s life. He still is a part of Bucky’s heart, and Sam knows he can’t replace that, and he doesn’t even try to. Because Sam is Sam
Sam’s his own person. He’s different.
(Bucky loves it)
Bucky lets Sam pull him up, watches as Sam grabs a hairbrush and uses it as a mic to sing along with the lyrics
Shortly after then, they had realized that slow dancing wasn’t their thing. Their thing, however, is having silent concerts and dancing around to random songs Sam picks up. Just goofing in their room
Embarrassing, if an outsider sees them, really
“I could've made you mine. But no, it wasn't meant to be. And see I wasn't made for you,” Sam grins, walking over to Bucky, “And you weren't made for me. Though it seemed so easy”
Bucky rolls his eyes at the dramatics of it all, and wants to laugh at the irony of the song.
And there he is, Sam thinks, got him.
Sam goes around, lip syncing with enthusiasm. “And that's because I wanna be your favorite boy. I wanna be the one that makes your day,” he nudges Bucky’s shoulder with his own, determined to get a reaction. “The one you think about when you lie awake.”
Bucky huffs. Sam holds the back of the hairbrush in front of him, arm extended. “Come on, you know this song”
I can't wait to be your number one
I'll be your biggest fan and you'll be mine
But I still wanna break your heart and make you cry
Bucky gives in, just to get Sam off his back
(Because he can’t deny the smile Sam gives him)
“But won’t you wait”
“That’s the spirit!”
“You know it's too late. I'm on my own shit now”
Bucky steps in closer, making Sam fold his elbow. The hairbrush between them.
Together, “Let me tell you how it feels to be fucking great”
It’s difficult for Bucky to hold in his laugh when their eyes meet. They’re singing - yelling - into a hairbrush, grinning like teenagers, and they’re sure they’ll wake up the house if they don’t stop.
But they don’t want to.
So they sing, arms flapping around during the chorus, bodies shimmying together and legs bouncing around their bed. Sam stepping in Bucky’s space and Bucky grabbing his waist, laughing as they move, laughing when Bucky tips forward and kisses Sam.
His arms wrap around the other man’s, pulling him in until their bodies are flush together. Sam cupping the nape of Bucky’s neck.
Bucky kisses him to tell him that he did miss him, to tell him that he made Bucky worried sick about him.
(As if Sam doesn’t already know. Bucky just likes to add his own flare into it)
You're gonna wanna be my best friend, baby
You're gonna wanna be my best friend (best friend)
The lyrics of the chorus makes Sam laugh again. He pulls back, his hand taking Bucky’s as they start to move again, doing their own silly dance moves. No one’s there to watch, no one’s judging. It’s just the song, the room, and them.
It’s fun.
(It’s the most fun Bucky’s had in years)
(Maybe his fun is whenever he’s with Sam)
“Hey, uncle Bucky?”
The song comes to an end when AJ knocks on the door. He looks a bit distressed, books and pen in his hand.
“Don’t tell your mom, we’ll lower the volume next time,” Sam points at him, Bucky and he going still.
“It’s not that, don’t worry. Interesting song though,” AJ replies. “I need to talk to Uncle Bucky”
Bucky frowns, exchanging a look with Sam. “Yeah, what’s up? Everything alright?”
AJ takes a breath. “I need you to tell me everything you remember about yourself in the 1940s and Steve Rogers and The Howlies”
Bucky and Sam blink in unison. “What?”
“We started the chapter about Steve Rogers last week in class and I have an assignment about you and him and the 1940s tomorrow”
“And you just remembered about it?” Sam raises an eyebrow
“A few minutes back, yes,” AJ says, looking at Bucky expectantly. “Please”
Bucky gives AJ a soft smile. He sits down on his bed and pats the space beside him, “Come on”
“Thanks!” AJ almost jumps on.
Bucky knows he’s there in the High School history books, but he never really thinks much about it - he hasn’t ever really read anything from them, except for the tabs at the museum.
AJ opens the book to a marked page, Sam takes a seat beside Bucky.
“Bucky Barnes and The Howlies” The heading reads in bold. Below it are four paragraphs, and an old picture of Bucky besides Steve - holding a gun while he looks at him. The rest of the Howlies are behind them.
Bucky could feel Sam looking at the picture and smiling to himself.
“Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers were childhood best friends. They were inseparable, on their school’s playground and the battle-field.” Sam reads from over Bucky’s shoulder. Then releases a small laugh, “Oh they were tight alright”
Bucky gives him a stare.
“Yeah that information is not needed,” AJ says flatly, reading through the page and knocking his glasses up his nose, before turning to Bucky. “Tell me about your records. And then the rest of the Howlies and their records”
AJ’s questions are basic, and the answers come easy to Bucky’s tongue, though the memories seem a bit blurred out in his head.
Sam leans back against the bed and watches the exchange for about half an hour. The way Bucky mingles with AJ, the way Bucky smiles everytime AJ asks a new question, and the way Bucky’s nose scrunches up when he’s thinking, makes Sam feel warm.
After his 4th yawn, Sam decides to give up and get some sleep. He can catch up on the night’s missed cuddles in the morning - he isn’t planning on going on his run, anyway.
Because if he does, he knows Bucky’ll force himself to get up and go with him, so Sam decides to take a break instead.
Sam doesn’t see the downside of missing a few morning runs for Bucky.
Talking with AJ brings out 2 or 3 memories Bucky had seemed to forget. He tells AJ about some of them, and AJ looks open to listen. Then there are some which he keeps to himself.
(Like the memories of Steve holding him and telling him that he’s alright, that they’re alright. The smiles of the Howlies and roars of laughter during bonfires. Bucky sneaking out of his trench at mid night to go into the forest and look at the twinkling stars)
Actually, Bucky tells the teenager about the last one.
Sam shuffles behind AJ and Bucky, and settles on his side of the bed. He presses a kiss on Bucky’s head and pats AJ’s shoulder.
“Keep the volume down”
The contact brings a subconscious smile on Bucky’s face, he nods, and watches Sam turn his back on them.
“I bet the stars looked real clear back then,” AJ picks up on Bucky’s earlier tangent, messily scribbling something in his notebook.
“Yeah, kinda,” Bucky replies.
(Peace. Those nights, Bucky used to have a little peace between the war.)
(It was a feeling quite similar to right now.)
A snore breaks into the room. AJ quickly shoots his head up to stare at a sleeping Sam, and then at Bucky.
Both of them aren’t able to hold in their snorts and laughter.