Chapter Text
Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes hated military balls. He only came because Steve had insisted and he knew Natasha would be there so he wouldn’t have to bother with trying to socialize with people he’d probably never see again, or at most only see once a year.
“Bucky! She’s the most wonderful person I have ever met in my life.” Steve swooned dramatically eyeing Major Peggy Carter across the room.
He nodded knowing Steve was off on a cloud somewhere. He had to admit she was the most interesting person they’ve met so far this evening. Earlier, he and Steve approached her when the host of this ball, Tony Stark, singled her out as a guest of honor for being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for assisting unarmed civilians and treating the critically wounded in the middle of an attack on a U.S. Embassy last year. She’d even managed to get on Natasha’s good side right away and they both seemed to be having a great time poking fun at Tony Stark’s attempt and an inspiring speech.
“Did you meet her good friend Sam yet?” Steve asked.
Bucky nodded. He had. Earlier that evening Natasha had snuck away with Peggy and Sam had approached him to make small talk.
“Now there’s trouble if I ever saw it.” Sam grinned as Natasha and Peggy walked away arm in arm to go grab drinks.
Bucky had no idea who the man was and wasn’t in the mood for small talk. “Those women have saved a whole lot of lives. I don’t think they’d appreciate being called trouble.”
Sam frowned. “Yeah, Peggy’s one of my best friends, I know that. I was just… you know, nevermind. Let’s try that again, my name is Sam. Sam Wilson.” Sam held his hand out to shake his.
Bucky glanced to Sam’s hand and and reached out to shake it.
“And you are…?” Sam prompted.
“Right, sorry, James Barnes.” Bucky said.
“Wait, you’re…”
Here we go. This is why he hated military balls most of all.
“THE James Barnes who got the Medal of Honor because you defied your superior officers despite being injured and rescued 19 Afghan Allies in a firefight?”
Bucky glanced to his feet. “I was just doing what I swore to do,” he said. “But if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not talk about that.”
“Sure, sorry, it’s just an honor to meet you.”
If anyone really knew how he felt about that day, about the military in general, they’d think twice about saying it was an honor to meet him. He needed to get away, get out of here. “Thank you Sam, but with all due respect I don’t need any praise.”
“I wasn’t…”
“Enjoy the rest of your night, please excuse me.” Bucky said quickly as he spotted Natasha across the room.
“And?” Steve said as he waved his hand in front of Bucky’s face breaking his memory of his encounter with Sam. He glanced behind Steve’s shoulder towards Sam who was already glaring in his direction mumbling something to his friend Riley standing next to him. He’d just as soon forget the whole thing ever happened cursing himself for letting Natasha sneak away leaving him vulnerable.
“It was brief. Not much to tell.” Bucky said.
Steve beamed, “Peggy says he and their friend Riley were a part the rescue operation she was awarded for.”
He was? Bucky risked a quick glance back over Steve’s shoulder but Sam and Riley were nowhere to be seen.
“I’m sure they were very courageous,” said Bucky, “But I don’t see the point in trying to get to know everyone here Steve. The chances of us seeing them again are very unlikely.”
“Speak for yourself,” Steve winked, “I’ve got a date.”
“Well look at you, what do you even need me for now?”
“Shut up, Jerk.”
“Punk.” Bucky grinned.
----
Sam was fuming. What an egotistical, stuck up, hateful, asshole. Who the hell says With all due respect I don't need any praise to someone trying to pay a simple compliment for doing something awesome? And he acted like he couldn't get away fast enough. Who the hell gets away with an attitude like that?
"Whoa dude, if looks could kill..." Riley said following his glare across the room to where Bucky and Steve stood talking.
"You'll never guess who that is." Sam said scrunching his nose as his annoyance grew stronger.
"Who?" Riley asked.
"James Barnes."
"Seriously?" Riley's eyes went wide glancing back to observe the man again. "Wow, he's kinda hot."
"Maybe, if he weren't such an asshole. Couldn't even be bothered to spare a full sentence when I told him it was an honor to meet him. Acted like I insulted him or something." Sam ranted.
"Maybe he's having a bad night." Riley offered shrugging his shoulders.
"No, you didn't see it. Dude just walked away like he couldn't be bothered to even talk. Who does that?"
"Poor you, not being the object of everyone's attention." Riley teased poking his shoulder.
Sam laughed at that. "You're an asshole. You know that's not what I mean."
Riley rolled his eyes, "Whatever man, let's go grab a drink and make bets on who will embarrass themselves first."
"You really are an evil asshole," Sam laughs, "which is why you are my very best friend."
As they walked towards the bar Sam couldn't help but overhear Barnes' complaining to his friend about not bothering to get to know anyone here. Why even bother showing up if he hated the whole thing so much. Attendance wasn't required. Why make everyone else miserable?
---
Bucky was starting to get antsy. Steve was being his outgoing self making up for his own lack of participation but he wondered if he could quietly excuse himself early to go up to his suite. Unfortunately, a voice interrupted his thoughts before he could plan his escape.
"I read they gave you an experimental metal arm developed by actual rocket scientists and NASA engineers." A shorter man with a very bald, very round head pushed his ridiculous glasses up his nose. He stood before him ogling his left hand before holding his own hand out. "Oh, forgive me, I'm Specialist Jasper Sitwell, Sir, it's an honor to meet you."
"Well Specialist, it's--"
"I currently work closely with Colonel Fury, you know him well I hear?" But the man did not spare a breath to be answered, "and he has given me the duty to re-catagorize, digitally encrypt and archive older case files. Not that I've seen any of your case files or would talk about them here, of course. I just read in the Times about the experimental engineering behind the arm you were given. A true technological breakthrough!"
Bucky's pulse was racing, who let this man in? More importantly, how did he get within ten feet of Fury and still be in one piece? "Specialist Sitwell," he said finally able to take no more, trying his best not to snap at him, "I am sure you know Colonel Fury well, but I do not know you, and you are out of line." He did not wait for any further apology, turned on his heel and bee-lined towards Steve. Tonight was testing his patience in the worst possible ways.
As he approached Steve, Peggy's outburst of laughter pulled their attention across the room. She and Natasha were doing their best to hold in more laughter as they made their way back towards them.
"I can't believe he tried that line, on the guest of honor no less!" Natasha rolled her eyes.
"It wasn't the worst I've ever heard. I think he just wanted to dance, poor guy." Peggy gave a pitying look.
"What, don't you like music?" Bucky asked nodding to the dance floor.
"I do, actually." Peggy said looking directly at Steve.
"So what are you waiting for?" Bucky asked.
"The right partner." she raised her eyebrows with a knowing smile towards Steve.
Natasha stepped up to Bucky's side resting her hand on his shoulder. "I need a drink. And you look like you need to unwind."
"Subtle," Bucky said.
Natasha shrugged shoving his shoulder pushing him in the direction of the open bar. They both ordered a beer and went to stand along a wall a little out of the way of traffic but with a good view of the room. Peggy was doing more of the leading while she and Steve danced, but he looked like he would be just as happy sparring with her or following her around a grocery store.
"She's a keeper." Natasha said after a few minutes of easy silence.
Bucky quirked an eyebrow at her. Natasha never got attached to people this fast.
"Ok, I admit," she said, "she introduced me to the one and only Pepper Potts. What can I say? I am easily won over."
Bucky shook his head, "Well, you're not alone it seems. Steve adores her already. You know how he gets."
"Yeah," Natasha said with and exaggerated sigh, "It's disgusting."
Bucky laughed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "It really is."
"Speaking of... a little birdie told me her friend Sam Wilson is disgustingly adorable as well. Very single and very into a few good men," she waggeled her eyebrows and winked suggestively.
"Nat," he groaned, "just once it would be just awesome if you would stop trying to hook me up with the first single guy you hear about at a parties. I'm not desperate, I can get my own dates just fine."
Only about ten feet away Sam was leaning against a column waiting for Riley to get back from the bathroom. He hadn't even noticed Barnes was there before but as soon as he heard his name mentioned he peered his head around the column to see what lovely person was singing his praises only to find she was talking to Barnes of all people. He would've let it go and turned back around to ignore him, but the absolute disgust Barnes expressed at even possibly being introduced to him set him on edge, like he'd planned to be introduced in the first place or was desperate himself. The nerve!
"Jesus I'm gone for 5 minutes and you look like you're about to knock someone out again. Was Sitwell tormenting you this time?" Riley asked taking his beer from Sam's grasp.
Sam huffed a laugh, "No, thank god. But not much better. Come on, I need some air," he said walking to the back door that lead to the gardens.
I'm not desperate, I can get my own dates. He mocked Barnes tone as he relayed the story to Riley.
Riley just laughed and told him to be glad he didn't waste his energy on flirting with a horrible person and that they'd be out of here tomorrow anyway.
Sam couldn't help but stew though. He'd never had a problem making friends or people at least liking him. He didn't know what he'd done to personally offend Barnes and it agitated him to think someone didn't like him for no good reason.
"Don't let it bug you man, some people are just determined to be bitter about the world and everyone in it. His loss."
"Damn right," Sam said taking pull from his beer.
"Looks like the party's dying down." Riley said glancing back inside.
"Yeah, I think I'll go say my goodbyes and head upstairs. You coming?" he asked.
"Yeah in a bit," Riley answered, "but I promised Sitwell he could interview me for The Post."
"Good luck with that," Sam said scrunching his nose with a grimace.
"He's not so bad once you learn how to handle him." Riley said.
Sam's grimace grew more exaggerated and Riley laughed clapping his shoulder as they made their way back inside.
Sam said his goodbyes to the appropriate people but decided not to bother Peggy who looked like she was in a world all her own dancing the night away. He was glad she was having a great time and that Captain Steve Rogers seemed every bit as wonderful as his reputation was said to be. Shame about his friend Barnes being a miserable bastard.
So of course as twisted fate would have it, as soon as the elevator doors started to shut a voice shouted, "hold the door!" and a hand stuffed into the gap causing the sensors to fling them open again. It was none other than Barnes. He stood there hesitating like a deer in headlights for a moment before Sam couldn't take it anymore.
"On or off? Some of us need sleep." he spat.
Barnes nodded stepping onto the elevator leaning in front of him to select his floor. Top floor of course. The bastard smelled really good too. Of course he did. The ride was that awkward kind of silence that makes you want to scream and it didn't help that out of the corner of his eye he was pretty sure he saw Barnes keep looking at him.
Sam clenched his jaw and summoned all his strength not to ask him what the hell his problem was, so he closed his eyes and amused himself with a thought about how Riley must be miserably suffering through one of Sitwell's long-winded soliloquies right this minute. The elevator dinged signaling his floor and he stepped off in a hurry avoiding even looking at Barnes as he exited. Good freaking riddance.