Chapter Text
He hasn’t tried a dating app in ages.
It’s a whim that has him downloading it, clutching his phone in the dark after a nebulous dream about Riley laughing at him that he should put himself out more.
It’s a nice dream and while he never listened to Riley when he was alive the longing for some romantic connection he has been feeling lately thanks to certain people has him look up dating apps online.
The one he finds that only has you drawing together with the one you connect with and no pictures involved is a great find in his book and he spends the night having fun and drawing with various people without having people only match with him because he’s an Avenger like the last time he tried Tinder.
He draws with multiple people in the coming days to no real connection until he matches with JB.
PirateShip has given the prompt fish to draw together.
PirateShip: Man I meant the alive kind
JB:This is much more delicious ;)
PirateShip: : xD xD
They spend the whole night trying to make even crazier interpretation of the prompts and Sam hasn’t laughed so much in ages. JB has a crazy inventive mind and while so far out left field for some things Sam finds that he loves the crazy way his mind works.
Next day Sam has a mission briefing and holds himself to listen by the pure professionalism he has ingrained by years of service.
The moment they finish up he shoots up out of his chair.
“What’s got you so chipper today?” Bucky asks.
Bucky looks at him with those pretty eyes and Sam deflates for a moment when he realizes the reason for his voyage in the dating world again.
Calm down Wilson stop lusting after your partner man.
“Just glad we’re gonna have a break finally and I won’t have to look at your ugly face for the next three days. “Sam says and while sort of a joke he is glad that after back to back missions and spending all his time around Bucky he can take some time away to sort himself.
Bucky just rolls his eyes and calls him an asshole as they go get coffee before they leave the compound.
Shoulders brushing as they walk Sam can’t wait to get JB to distract him again.
-
JB has given the prompt hat to draw together
PirateShip: My dad use to have one just like this
PirateShip: Lighter blue since I couldn’t find the right shade here but you get it
PirateShip: Loved that hat and wore it till it fell apart
JB: Seems like a man with taste
PirateShip: Yes he was
He doesn’t know when they start talking about all thing that have nothing to do with the drawing and start talking about their families, lives (with details omitted so Sam doesn’t find a terrorist organization tracking him by a damn dating app) but Sam finds himself sharing a lot.
Then JB asks why he downloaded the app in the first place and after a bunch of denial Sam just ends up telling him.
PirateShip: I have a stupid crush on a friend that doesn’t feel the same
PirateShip: Just trying to be an adult and move on
PirateShip: What’s your story?
JB: Seems we have the thought for once and it’s not a prompt
JB: I’m in love with someone that will never love me back
Sam is taken aback by the honesty and actually kind of embarrassed that he even called his thing a crush. Faced with JB’s confession he can actually admit to himself that he loves Bucky too. But that will never happen.
They spend the rest of the night talking, serious and funny things alike. Sam is still a little raw form his own realization but JB’s words keep reminding him that even if things with Bucky might never happen that doesn’t mean he can’t try to look for happiness anyway.
The three day break goes by fast with a lot of texting. By the end he keeps smiling every time he looks at his phone.
That night the same as the first he remembers Riley and decides to just go for it.
JB: You don’t even what to share a picture before the meet
PirateShip: Where’s the fun in that ;)
JB: Hope you don’t run away screaming XD
PirateShip: It’s gonna be fun trust me <3