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The creaking of his bedroom door startled Sam awake. He leaned up on his elbow, "what?" he murmured.
Bucky moved across the room like a shadow and he wasn't prepared for the super soldier to climb in bed with him. "'M sorry," Bucky muttered into Sam's shoulder, as the man wrapped him up, metal arm heavy across his hip, flesh and blood warm against him.
"What?" Sam sputtered, his arms auto-piloting without his permission, he thought he would push Bucky away, instead he mimicked the hold.
"I shouldn't have said it," Bucky's voice was tight, hoarse. It was a stark difference from the smiling, show-off during the day. He'd walked out of that warehouse and a week later had walked onto the dock. Showing off then showing up. Sam had thought, it's because Zemo was back where he belonged. Behind bars. Then, it's just that magic, bayou air. As the smiles grew and the tension in Bucky's shoulder dropped.
"What?" Sam asked in confusion, again, beginning to feel like a parrot.
Bucky squeezed and Sam refused to groan under the sudden pressure, "I'll always have your back, Sam, I promise."
"Where is this coming from, Buck?" Sam tightened his own hold, the other man was practically trembling and Sam had to wonder when the last time Bucky had been held that wasn't violent. His chest tightened, it was probably Steve.
Bucky shuddered, taking a deep breath before releasing it, "I keep thinking how it could have been you." He didn't need to elaborate, Sam knew who.
"I'm still a little confused," Sam said after a moment of silence, "what shouldn't you have said?"
"You're welcome," Bucky breathed. Sam had to think for a moment but then things slid into place. For him it had been an off hand comment, for Bucky, who seemed to materialize guilt from thin air. Well. "You'd never - I would never - I'll always have your back," he swore.
Sam tightened his hold, "I know, Buck. Me too," he impulsively tilted his head and pressed his lips briefly to Bucky's hair. They didn't say anything else and Sam was surprised as Bucky's breaths evened out and he fell asleep. The metal arm was heavy across his hip but Sam didn't mind. When he woke up the space next to him was empty and cool to the touch but a tingling remained in his hip, proof he hadn't dreamed the short but sincere exchange.