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Look, Bucky’s not an idiot. He knows very well that he likes likes Sam. He went on a morning run with him for fuck’s sake. And sometimes, when he sees cute shit that Sam would like, he has to actually resist the urge to buy it for him and remind himself that they’re just fuck-buddies and Sam’s not his boyfriend. But really, he’s not sure what’s happening now would be less awkward if they were actual boyfriends. Because right now, Sam and Bucky are sitting in Bruce’s waiting room, waiting on the result of their STD tests. And they’re not talking.
Bucky’s always been pretty comfortable with silence, more often than not he likes it more than making conversation. But Sam’s always chatting away and right now, Sam is dead silent. The condom broke and everything went to hell. Bucky knows Sam, he knows he gets super freaked out about safety and all that so he didn’t think that saying they should get tested would result in Sam giving him the cold shoulder.
The door opens and Bruce pops his head out. “You can come in”
Sam gets up and Bucky is really thinking about running away and never picking up his test result. But he doesn’t get a choice because Sam is barely up that he’s already grabbing Bucky’s arm and lifting him up, forcing him to come with him.
Bruce’s office is terribly bland, they sit down on the small chairs in front of the desk, feeling absolutely out of place.
“You know you can do this separately if you want to?” Bruce seems even more uncomfortable than his two friends. Bucky and him have never been close but I guess it’s still weird when you show up in front of an acquaintance’s door asking to test you and another friend cause you had a little accident and if he could just please keep everything a secret.
“Nah we’re good” Sam grumbles and Bucky sighs, at least the fucker can still speak.
“Are you sure?” Bruce is now looking directly at Bucky, raising an eyebrow in question.
“Well, Bucky…” Now Sam’s looking at him too and even though Bucky missed it, he doesn’t really like it when Sam’s not looking at him with fondness buried behind all the sarcasm. This Sam feels cold and angry, and Bucky really doesn’t like it. “I mean, you’re the one who wanted us both to get tested so let’s do it together up until the end right? Or maybe you want to also invite whoever the fuck you were sleeping with? Nat maybe? Or is it Steve I can never tell with you two?”
“Oh my god, what on earth are you talking about?” Bucky has never been more confused in his life.
“I mean why else would you want to get tested?” Sam looks hurt now and Bucky’s chest feels like it’s been caved in. Did Sam.. Did Sam think he cheated on him? Well, they weren’t really together, with the whole let’s never talk about what we’re doing but still. If there’s one thing to know about him though, it’s that he has very poor control of himself.
“You thought I cheated on you?” He exclaims and both Sam and Bruce look taken aback by his outburst. Actually, Bruce looks like he would prefer to be anywhere but here.
“You didn’t ?” Sam looks hopeful and he has to stop himself from reaching for Bucky’s hand.
“Look I know we never said we were exclusive or whatever” Bucky starts, biting on his lips “But.. I mean… I…” He sighs, running his hands through his hair “Look it’s been awhile since I’ve been attracted to anyone but you, I actually didn’t sleep with anyone else since we started” He gestures between the two of them “Whatever this is”
Bucky’s trying to act casual about the whole thing but his eyes keep darting to the side. Bruce clears his throat awkwardly, and even though he wishes he would be anywhere but here, he feels like they wouldn’t get very far without a little push. And, somehow, he feels like he owes Bucky. Yes, he barely knows the guy but it’s only thanks to Bucky that Thor got drunk enough to confess its feelings to Bruce and they’ve been living on cloud 9 ever since.
“Are you sleeping with other people Sam?” Bruce asks, adjusting his glasses on his nose.
“Yeah are you?” Bucky’s voice is soft and scared. “I mean we never agreed on anything and just because I didn’t doesn’t mean you can’t you know” He starts babbling and Bruce is fairly certain this is the most he’s ever seen him speak. The dude is usually like a wall, nobody can get a word out of him except Nat and Steve (and Sam but it’s usually to fight about something).
Sam’s smiling softly at Bucky “No I… I mean, me neither.. It’s just been you” He shrugs and Bruce, calm and collected Bruce, resists the urge to roll his eyes because he can’t believe they’re this blind. They’re both visibly flustered, Bucky's cheek reddened by a deep blush, and looking away from each other.
“Well great, so both your tests came back clean so if you wanted to become exclusive and stop with the condoms” and start with the communication he doesn’t say but it’s right there on the tip of his tongue “you could, if you wanted”
Bruce is now back to third-wheeling this extremely awkward medical appointment while they stare at each other. He doesn’t think he can be even more clear than he already is.
“I mean it would be an amazing opportunity to mess with Steve” Sam says, tentatively and Bucky cheeks redden even more. Steve? Do they have to involve their friends in every step of their relationship?
“Yeah, can’t say no to that can I?” Bucky shrugs but you can tell he’s giddy, which is weird because Bruce is fairly certain he never saw Bucky have a positive emotion ever. They lean toward each other, lips meeting in a surprisingly tender kiss. Bucky’s hands come to rest on Sam’s face, stroking his cheeks softly and Bruce hears Sam sighs dreamily.
“Ok great! Now that this is settled you can go be boyfriends somewhere else” Bruce says, just to remind them that they are not alone in this room and he’d like to get to his other patients at one point.
“Thanks Bruce for… er…” Sam flounders and Bucky laughs
“Babe I don’t think you thank someone for awkward conversations” Sam visibly preens with the term of endearment, his eyes sparkling with delight. They both get up and turn to look at Bruce. “Oh by the way could you…” Bucky starts, biting his lower lip anxiously “just, not tell anyone about this yet? They’re gonna be massive pains in the ass if they find out and I guess we just” he looks at Sam fondly and Bruce wonders how they never realized they were in love with each other all along.
“We just need to enjoy it by ourselves a little” Sam ends.
“I feel like you mainly need to talk honestly with each other, it would have saved some freaking out for both of you.”
Sam chuckles and then looks at Bucky. “Wait, if you weren’t seeing each other why did you want to get tested?”
“I wanted to make sure you didn’t get pregnant” Bucky deadpans “And also you’re kind of a health freak, you went completely paranoid last week when you ate a yogurt one day after its end date so I felt like it would reassure you”
He’s swaying from one foot to another, growing more and more embarrassed as Sam’s smile grows. “Oh my god you like me!” He teases, grabbing Bucky’s prosthetic hand and intertwining their fingers together.
“Of course I like you, I just agreed to be your boyfriend!”
“Hey, I didn’t ask you to be my boyfriend!”
“Well you should have. Jesus, it's barely been 5 minutes and I already regret it…” Bucky grumbles.
“No no no ! You can’t take it back, you're my boyfriend, you just made it official!”
“Well technically” Bruce interrupts “I asked you if you wanted to be each other’s boyfriend so I made it official. And if you don’t leave my office I’m gonna tell Thor and we all know he’s the biggest gossip to have walked this earth.”