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"Looks like the storm is taking a turn for the worse." Sam's voice cut through the grey silence of the apartment.
Blue eyes stared out over the darkening sky, perfect pink lips pursed in disappointment. Bucky knew that even despite the super soldier serum that pumped through his veins, it would be a death sentence to even attempt to ride home, it was definitely too dangerous to go outside in the insane weather that battered the city of New York.
Lightning flashed across the dark clouds, followed by the rolling rumble of thunder that made the windows rattle and Bucky clench his hand into a fist.
"Great. Looks like I'm stuck here." Bucky muttered to himself before turning his head to spot Sam move from his comfortable position on the couch and walk into the kitchen.
"What are you doing?" Bucky asked quickly with a light frown.
"Finding candles. You know, in case the power goes out." Sam explained, beefore disappearing from view as he bent down to search the kitchen drawers.
Bucky could hear him rustling through it
"It wouldn't, right?" Bucky asked, eyes wide.
Sam poked his head above the counter and gave Bucky a look. A look that Bucky had become very familiar with, one he had suitably named the 'Barne's You're Acting Stupid' look.
Hearing another rumble of thunder, Bucky glanced back to the window, watching raindrops race each other down the glass.
"Maybe we could call Thor and ask him to chill out." Bucky said, mostly to himself.
"Thor is off world and have you ever tried talking to the guy? Because I haven't. I mean, he's a God that wields lightning." Sam replied before pulling out a few candles and sitting them on the bench.
"I met him at the Tony's funeral, T'Challa introduced us. He didn't say much." Bucky said with a small nonchalant shrug.
"Oh yeah. Can't believe I forgot about that." Sam replied, getting to his feet again and frowning.
Another lightning flash and thunder shook the apartment and Sam looked up to watch the lights flicker.
Bucky swallowed heavily.
"Did I ever tell you that I was deathly afraid of heights?" Bucky asked, facing the wide windows as the twenty seven floors below them seemed even higher now.
"Yes." Sam replied, matter of factly.
"Yet. You continue to choose the highest hotels rooms to stay in." Bucky said, turning and giving Sam a look.
"This is my hotel room. You live in Brooklyn. I didn't pick this room for you." Sam replied with a roll of his eyes.
Sam flopped himself back onto the plush long white couch, studying Bucky's dark shape at the window. Sam's fingers absently played at fraying on the bottom edge of his shirt, lost in thought. But he managed to tear his eyes away just as Bucky turned away from the window.
"You should always plan for me. You should know this by now, Samuel."
A small quirk of Sam's mouth gave Bucky that satisfaction he didn't know he needed.
"Don't call me Samuel. James. " Sam retorted with his smirk still plastered on his face.
Bucky rounded the lone armchair and sat down, his legs stretching out before him in a stretch. The lightning flashed across the room again and Bucky tilted his eyes up to see Sam still looking at him.
"What?" Bucky asked self consciously.
"Just tryna figure you out." Sam replied with a one shoulder shrug.
"Many have tried and failed." Bucky replied, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling.
The rain seemed pick up and the room was just filled with the sounds of it beating against the glass.
"Perhaps but not many know you as much as I do." Sam replied, a hint of mischievousness in his eyes.
"This should be interesting. What do you know about me, Samuel?" Bucky asked, rolling his head over to look at his friend.
"I know you like oat milk in your coffee despite it being disgusting. I also know that you cry at dog movies, even though you pretend you don't. Also I know you hate people talking over you, and I know that you like to sing in the shower." Sam replied, tilting his head to watch Bucky's reaction.
"I do not cry at dog movies."
"I see that's the only thing you had a problem with." Sam laughed out.
Bucky turned his head away to hide the small smile that had crawled it's way onto his face.
"Singing in the shower is something everyone does, so there's nothing to be embarrassed about." Bucky said matter of factly.
"Shall I tell the masses that our favourite ex Hydra assassin loves to sing Taylor Swift's Shake It Off in the shower?"
"You wouldn't." Bucky replied, his eyes wide with mock horror.
"Oh I would and, I'll add a little video as proof. I have so much proof." Sam said, grinning.
"You monster."
"Oh yeah. I'm a real threat." Sam said before chuckling.
Bucky joined in before realising that he had been leaning slightly forward. Towards Sam. He cleared his throat and slowly slid back to his feet, moving away and into the kitchen.
"Its okay. I'll keep that secret to myself. You know as black mail to get you to do anything I want." Sam offered, rubbing a hand across his tired face as thunder shook the apartment again.
"Yeah well at least I don't get my sister to tuck me in at night." Bucky teased.
"That was one time! God. You never forget anything."
"Nope. You want a drink?" Bucky asked quickly as he bent down to open the mini fridge.
"Yeah sure." Sam called out.
Bucky pulled out two small bottles of whiskey before propping them up on the bench. He heard a shuffle of movement and looked up to see Sam shift on the couch and pull his phone out of his pocket.
Lightning flashed across the room again and it drew Bucky's attention before the sound of soft jazz filled the room.
"This is the shit you like, right?" Sam asked, as he put the phone down on the coffee table.
"It's not shit. It's before your time but yes." Bucky replied, his eyes on Sam as his partner got up slowly.
Sam took one of the mini bottles from Bucky's outstretched hand, opening it and swaying his body side to side slightly. Bucky hid his smile and shook his head.
"It's not terrible." Sam replied before taking a swig of the whiskey.
"Because you're not dancing to it right. No one just sways to jazz and if they do, they're terrible people." Bucky replied with an roll of his eyes.
"Alright, old man. Show me how it's done." Sam offered, mostly sarcastic.
"Sure thing, cupcake ."
Bucky placed the mini bottle of whiskey back on the bench before moving around it and reaching put for Sam.
"Whoa! Not with me!" Sam exclaimed trying to back up and escape.
"I need a partner, you ass." Bucky said with a sigh as he lunged for Sam's hand and pulled him closer.
Sam gave in, quickly.
Bucky resumed a position he hadn't been in for about eighty years and the thought of that seemed to darken in his mind. Eighty years since he'd danced with someone. Was he really that lonely?
Sam let Bucky guide him into the right position before following his stepping pattern. Thankfully, Sam was a quick learner and soon they began to dance across the room. Bucky's hands felt solid on Sam's waist, and the heat from his palm seared deep into Sam's body.
They barely looked at each other, avoiding awkward eye contact until Sam raised his head slightly and their eyes met.
Sam could see something peculiar swirling in Bucky's eyes, maybe a past memory or something else entirely. Bucky had never even realised that Sam's eyes, were the warmest brown he'd ever seen, and he even noticed little golden flakes sprinkled in here and there. He could could get lost in those eyes if he wanted to.
Their eyes remained locked, a gentle smile working it's way onto Bucky's face and it was met with a nervous chuckle from Sam. This felt different. Good, but different.
Suddenly, it felt like they weren't in the apartment anymore but somewhere, eighty years ago right before Bucky went off to war and fought the Nazi's. Sam could imagine Bucky in his old uniform, that beautiful lopsided smirk on his face as he guided his partner around the floor. Sam could feel Bucky stiffen slightly, like Bucky knew what Sam was thinking.
Sam's grip on Bucky tightened slightly as they danced, and Bucky led him into a gentle spin. Sam felt comfortable like this, like he wished he could have seen Bucky in his prime, wished he could've been that partner he whisked around the floor so confidently. It felt all very old fashioned when Bucky pulled him back into his arms, to finish in a dip as the song closed.
They seemed to stay like that for a few minutes until Bucky's eyes widened in realisation and he straightened quickly. Bucky's hands disappeared from Sam's waist and it suddenly felt cold to Sam.
"See. Told you I could dance." Bucky replied, clearing his throat quickly and moving away.
Sam licked his bottom lip between his teeth, unable to even think about what had just happened. He gave Bucky a curt nod in reply, still unable to speak.
Bucky picked up the mini bottle of whiskey he had abandoned and opened it. Downing it all in one gulp, Bucky placed the empty bottle on the bench and braced his hands on the marble, arching his back to stretch out his shoulders.
"You good?" Sam asked, worry in his tone.
Bucky turned his head to look out the window, watching the rain for a moment.
"Just wish the rain would ease off." Bucky replied, before his shoulders rolled forward to pop back into place.
"Damn Buck. Didn't know you hated my company that much." Sam teased before sitting back down in the couch with his hands folded on his knees
It felt easier to joke around with him, the dance had been too emotional for Sam to comprehend. Like there was this big kept secret and Sam was waiting for the group to yell surprise.
"It's not that- I just- it feels weird." Bucky replied, with a shake of his head.
The next jazz song ended and Sam leaned forward to turn off the music.
"Weird?"
Bucky didn't know how to explain it but he knew Sam wanted an elaboration. They had been partners for just over a year and Bucky was used to Sam, how could he not be? He was used to his antics, terrible jokes and honourable personality. There was a time where Bucky would've glowered at Sam until the man had shut up, but now, Bucky had discovered that he loved hearing Sam talk about things he was passionate about.
Loved hearing about his day that usually ended shitty, ot about his Nephews and sister, Sarah.
"Listening and dancing to forties music without Steve." Bucky half lied.
"Oh." Sam said, causing Bucky to turn around to face him.
Sam looked a little downcast as he looked out the window, watching the storm. Bucky leaned in the bench, unable to find words.
There was a silence.
"I know I can't ever be hi-"
"Don't, Sam. Don't do that." Bucky interrupted with a shake of his head.
"Do what?"
"Don't compare yourself to Steve. Not with me. You're two very different people but that's what I like. My friendship with Steve was school yard tried and tested." Bucky said.
"And our friendship?" Sam asked, tilting his head.
"Hydra tested. Steve tested. Thanos tested. Flagsmasher tested. Loki tested. We've been through a lot together." Bucky replied with a slight chuckle after he counted them on his hand.
"You went to war with Steve." Sam pointed out.
"True but I also fell off a damn train. So, don't believe anything Steve told you about nineteen forties Bucky." Bucky replied with a roll of his eyes.
A smile crept across Sam's lips.
"He told me once that you were a ladies man."
Bucky sighed and laughed to himself as he remembered the forties before he'd been shipped off to war.
"Once." Bucky replied, as he moved to sit down on the armchair.
"So what happened?" Sam teased.
Bucky gave him a look.
"Listen here, Samuel. Only I'm allowed to joke about my terrible time in Hydra." Bucky said, giving Sam just one finger.
"Alrighty, Sugar bear. Whatever you say." Sam replied grinning.
Bucky's eyebrows shot up at the nickname.
"Sugar bear?" Bucky asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Isnt that an old fashioned nickname? Cause you're so old." Sam replied before letting out a warm laugh.
It was calming, soothing Bucky's thoughts like honey on toast.
"Sure was, cupcake." Bucky replied, daring Sam to keep going with his eyes.
"Oh god. Never call me that again." Sam laughed out and Bucky joined in.
It lasted for a little while until there was a huge crack of thunder and the lights fizzled out. The apartment was silent, only the sound of their breathing and the rain against the glass filled up the silence.
"Told you we would need candles." Sam said quickly.
"Alright. So you were right once."
Bucky heard shuffling before hearing a lighter flick and a glow emitted from the candles that began to light up the room. Sam was leaning over them as he lit them up.
Sam tilted his head up to look at Bucky briefly.
"I'm always right."
Bucky rolled his eyes.
"Jesus. This storm feels like its been going on forever. You might actually have to stay the night." Sam said, moving around the bench.
"Probably. I promise I won't kill you in your sleep." Bucky teased.
"Well, now I'm worried you will." Sam replied as he opened a cupboard door near the front door and pulled out a pile of blankets.
"Na. I turned out liking you a lot more than I originally planned." Bucky replied lightly, as he pushed up from the armchair to help Sam.
Bucky took the blankets from his hands, their fingers brushing as Sam kept putting more blankets on top of the pile. Sam closed the door and guided Bucky back to the couch.
"You can take the bed." Sam said as he began to lay the blankets down to create a makeshift bed.
"What? No! That's your bed. You take it." Bucky said quickly with a frown.
"You're my guest. You take the bed." Sam replied, giving Bucky a look.
"Sam-"
"Bucky. Seriously." Sam said firmly.
"Why don't we just share it. What? We can't be two men that sleep in the same bed?" Bucky asked, shrugging his shoulders.
Sam slowly stopped unfolding the blankets and turned his head to look at Bucky.
"Share the bed?" He asked, sounding different.
"Yeah." Bucky said, before looking down.
He knew how it sounded but he also knew that it would never be anything more than just two guys sharing a bed. Despite everything Bucky had begun to realise he craved.
"Fine. But no touching." Sam pointed out, jutting a finger into Bucky's chest lightly.
"Aw damn. There goes the possibility of cuddling then." Bucky joked as he plopped the blankets down on the couch.
Sam's eyes widened, lip pulled between his teeth. God, Bucky wish Sam would stop doing that.
"I mean- we can still-uh cuddle if you want." Sam said slowly.
Bucky watched Sam stutter in amusement.
"I was joking but glad to know the offer is on the table." Bucky replied, giving Sam a lopsided smirk.
"Bite me." Sam breathed out in annoyance.
"Maybe later."
Sam sputtered before looking at Bucky in shock.
"Lighten up Sam! You're acting like we haven't slept in the same room before." Bucky said with a shake of his head.
Thunder boomed around them.
"Room and bed are two very different things, Bucky." Sam whispered out.
"Fine. I'll sleep on the couch."
"No! No! It's fine. Bucky. It's fine." Sam said, as he gestured to the door near the windows.
"I'm not tired right now so you can go ahead, I guess." He added.
"I'm not tired either. I barely sleep anymore." Bucky replied, nonchantly.
Sam frowned.
"What do you mean? How many hours are you getting a night?"
"Four, tops." Bucky answered with a shrug.
"Bucky! That's not enough sleep, that can drive you mad!"
"Uh insanity kinda runs rampant in me already, it practically gallops."
Sam let out an exasperated breath before lifting his hands and placing them both on Bucky's shoulders.
"Bedroom. Now." Sam ordered as he began to push Bucky towards the door.
"Jesus Sam. If you want to bed me, at least take me to dinner first."
"Don't make me hurt you." Sam threatened as he guided.
"Yeah I might like that." Bucky figured.
Sam sighed as Bucky turned the doorknob and pushed open the door. Sam didn't wait to push Bucky into the room.
The room was blindingly white. White bedsheets, white bed frame, with matching decor. Bucky raised his eyebrows as Sam let go of him.
"Which side?" Sam asked, moving towards the bed.
Bucky studied him, unsure if this was a good idea. Not with everything he'd been sorting through lately.
"Right side." Bucky replied, and Sam nodded.
"Good. I like the left side."
Bucky already knew that. Knew that from waking up earlier than Sam on missions and noting he only seemed to sleep on the left side of the bed.
"Let me just go blow out those candles." Sam said before brushing past Bucky again.
Bucky swallowed and begin to untie his boots, kicking them off and feeling the soft carpet underneath his feet.
"Here." Sam's voice surprised Bucky.
Bucky half turned to find Sam holding out some clothes.
"I think these will fit you, if you want something a little more comfortable to wear that isn't skinny jeans." Sam offered, pairing it with a look down at the jeans Bucky was wearing.
"Thanks." Bucky replied, his voice cracking at the thoughtfulness.
Bucky took the clothes into the bathroom that Sam pointed at, and closed the door. He changed into the much more comfortable clothing and folded his own, leaving it on the bench for when he woke up.
He emerged from the bathroom in grey sweatpants and a black singlet just as Sam was pulling back the blankets. He looked over to look at Bucky before resuming.
"I should probably warn you about my arm." Bucky started as he moved to the other side of the bed.
He watched Sam's muscles flex as he worked at pulling the mountains of pillows off the bed.
"What about it?"
"It's heavy and can be a bit of a nuisance, so I move around a lot because it's uncomfortable." Bucky replied with a left shoulder shrug.
"It's fine. Promise it won't choke me in my sleep?" Sam asked lightly.
Bucky smiled slightly.
"Only if you want it to." Bucky replied.
Sam climbed into the bed and padded the spot next to him.
"Come on honey, don't keep a man waiting." Sam teased.
"Sure thing, cupcake."
Sam let out a heavy breath that closely resembled a snort as Bucky pulled back the blankets and slid in-between them. The comforter weighed heavily on top of him but it felt nice.
He made sure to stick to his side of the bed, and slid down until he could rest his head back on the pillow. The ceiling matched the rest of the room, the white paint that occasionally lit up because of the lightning that flashed outside.
It was silent, and Bucky focused Sam's breathing, listening to it to calm his raging mind. Half of him was poised and ready to run, the other half wanted to move closer to Sam.
It might have been a few years since he'd experienced it, but Bucky knew what affection felt like. Knew that he felt it for Sam.
Known it the moment Sam had pulled Bucky out of the dark and into the beautiful colours of a Delacroix sunrise. Maybe it was more than that, and maybe Bucky knew that too.
"I can hear you thinking from here."
If Sam knew what Bucky was thinking, he wouldn't be laying next to him in bed.
"Sorry." Bucky replied quickly.
He heard the blankets move and mattress dip, and turned his head to watch Sam turn on his side to look at him. Their eyes meeting.
"Did you want to talk about it?" Sam asked, a crease in his eyebrows showed Bucky that he worried.
"It's nothing. Just overthinking like usual." Bucky replied, letting his eyes wander across Sam's face.
"What are you overthinking about?"
Bucky didn't answer, just turned his head again to focus on the ceiling.
"Okay. You don't have to tell me. Just remember that I'm here if you need me." Sam offered.
I always need you.
That thought made Bucky's eyes widen and he knew he needed to say something.
"I'm always going to need you, Sam." Bucky heard himself say.
Heard the small intake of breath from Sam that closely mirrored his own. Bucky turned his head to meet Sam's eyes again, watching them widen slightly.
The blankets moved and Bucky looked down to see Sam's hand slide across the blankets to reach for his vibranium hand. Bucky let him take it, wishing with everything he had that he could feel it. Feel the rough calloused fingers entwine with his, and feel the heat that would no doubt be emitting from Sam's palm.
For the first time in a long time, Bucky wished he had his left arm back.
He watched Sam hold his hand before looking back up to study his face.
"Sa-" Bucky had begun to say before closing his mouth.
"This is okay, right?" Sam asked, his tone soft.
Bucky could only nod in reply.
They stayed like that for a little while, holding hands until Sam's eyes began to close and his breathing started to even out. Bucky watched him fall asleep, finding it incredibly adorable how his mouth opened slightly to let little snores escape.
Fuck. Bucky was in deep.
They were partners, two guys with a mutual friend but now it felt like more than that and Bucky began to panic. His vision blurred, breathing quickened and his stomach lurched.
Oh god. He was so into Sam that he was going to throw up.
He pulled his hand from Sam's quickly, jolting the man awake as he tumbled out of the bed and stumbled into the bathroom, and slamming the door close.
He slid across the bathroom tiles as he knelt in front of the toilet and pulled open the lid. Bucky's stomach lurched but nothing came up. Maybe he couldn't even throw up.
"Buck? Are you okay?" Sam's voice asked worriedly through the door.
Bucky closed his eyes and let his forehead hit his vibranium arm in defeat. The doorknob jiggled and Bucky lifted his head slightly to rest his chin on the rare metal.
"Don't come in." Bucky said, before the doorknob jiggled again.
"Come on, bud. Open the door."
"I'm fine, just go back to sleep." Bucky ordered, closing his eyes.
The door opened and Bucky opened one eye to watch Sam enter the bathroom with his hands on his hips.
"The one thing you don't do is go back to sleep while your friend is sick." Sam pointed out before he grabbed a neatly folded wash cloth and ran it under the sink tap.
"I'm fine. I don't think I can actually throw up. I just felt dizzy and wrong for a moment." Bucky replied, as Sam knelt down to his level.
He pressed the cloth to Bucky's temple and Bucky closed his eyes again. He liked being this close to Sam, always felt the most comfortable when in some way they were touching.
"Okay. Let's get you back in bed." Sam said softly, as his hand wound around Bucky's right shoulder to help pull him up.
Bucky let Sam take him, before stopping at the bed to look at it.
"Maybe I should take the couch, just in case." Bucky offered.
"Absolutely not. You're closer to the bathroom if you just sleep here." Sam replied, as he helped Bucky slide back into the sheets.
"God. You're so pushy."
"You love it."
Yeah. Maybe he did. Maybe Bucky liked being cared for. God forbid, he hadn't been cared for in about eighty years.
Sam retook his position on his side of the bed, watching Bucky stare at the ceiling.
"I feel like there's uncomfortable air around us. You can tell me if I'm pushing it. You know that, right?" Sam asked with a slight frown.
"You're not pushing it, Sam. Quite the opposite if anything." Bucky replied lightly.
Sam shifted a little bit closer.
"You make everything seem a whole lot easier to deal with." Bucky added, before looking towards the bathroom.
"Hey. Look at me?" Sam asked, and Bucky couldn't help but do as he asked.
"What's going on? Are you okay?" Sam asked, his eyes searching Bucky's.
Bucky wanted to tell him, wanted to pull him in close and tell him everything. But he'd already lost one best friend, he didn't want to lose another.
"Buck. Tell me. Please. Let me help."
"It's nothing like that, Sam." Bucky practically whispered.
He was going to do it, even if he didn't want to. If anyone could pull anything from him, it would be Sam. Hydra didn't have to have water blasters or electricity to torture him, all they would have needed was to have Sam so close but so far away.
"Sam. There's things I-" Bucky faltered.
Sam's eyes looked so inviting, so full of trust and friendship.
"There's things I feel for you, things I cannot even explain. I- I get nervous around you. I can't concentrate, I lose my train of thought and honestl-" Bucky sighed, looking away from Sam.
He faced the ceiling again, he didn't want to see the rejection in Sam's eyes, didn't want to see the disgust or the disappointment.
"Sometimes it feels like I ache for you."
There was a silence and the lurching feeling in Bucky's stomach wasn't helping.
"For me?" Sam asked.
It hadn't been the words Bucky was expecting. He wanted Sam to tell him that he was disgusting, that it would never be like that. But Sam's soft tone made Bucky turn his head to look at him quickly.
"I'm sorry." Bucky quickly said.
"For what?" Sam asked, his eyes searching Bucky's again.
"For everything. For being stuck here with you when you want to escape. For tryi-"
"Who says I want to escape?" Sam interrupted Bucky.
Bucky's eyebrows shot up, his mouth opening slightly in surprise.
Sam shifted closer until he pulled his hand out from under the covers and lifted it up to trail the tip of his finger down across Bucky's cheekbone.
"Maybe I feel the same way."
Bucky couldn't hear that, it felt too much like some kind of sick cosmic joke. He sat up quickly, jostling the blankets down to his waist and he heard Sam sigh softly.
"Bucky." Sam tried to get Bucky's attention.
Bucky was focused on his hands, trying to piece together something he could say without hurting their friendship.
"Bucky." Sam tried again.
Bucky then felt fingers quickly grip his chin tightly, yanking his head to turn towards Sam. The air between them closed quickly as Sam moved forward and lay a small chaste kiss on Bucky's lips.
Stiff and unsure, Bucky let him pull back. His eyes watching Sam closely. There was no disgust, not hatred in his eyes. Just something he'd never seen directed at him in a while.
Sam's eyes dropped to Bucky's lips again and this time it was Bucky who closed the chasm between them. He tilted his head slightly to press a kiss to Sam's mouth, feeling it open slightly with invitation.
A hand moved across the bed, and Bucky was scooting closer to Sam. A soft noise escaped Bucky's throat as he parted from Sam's lips, only to be pulled back in haste.
Lips pressed hard, teeth began to clash and Sam was the first to slip his tongue into Bucky's mouth. Eager to taste, to have it all and Bucky let him. Let him have all of Bucky, and extra of he wanted that too. Bucky let Sam guide them, knowing if he was in control, there would be no stopping.
Sam's hands found Bucky's chest, pulling at the black singlet and pressing his palms against Bucky hard ribs. With a groan he collapsed back onto the mattress, and looked up at Sam in confusion and with swollen lips.
"Do you believe me now?" Sam asked, moving to hover over Bucky, taking the submissive super soldier in with his gaze.
"Yes." Bucky breathed out a reply, pairing it with a nod.
"I've wanted you for a long time, Buck." Sam said softly, as Sam's hands idly played on top of Bucky's chest.
"How long?"
Blankets were quickly pushed back as Sam's right hand slid slowly down Bucky's right leg, pulling at his knee until it was flush with Sam's upper thigh.
"A long time." Sam answered before leaning down again and capturing Bucky's mouth with his own.
Bucky moaned, his right hand moving to Sam's back, nails digging in slightly as he gripped Sam to him. His vibranium hand laid motionless until his head fell to the side as Sam peppered kisses down his jawbone and neck.
He saw Sam's fingers entwine with the rare metal and had never seen a more beautiful sight.
"Tell me again." Sam said between kisses.
"Tell you what?" Bucky managed to rasp out.
"Tell me you ache for me." Sam breathed out, the warm air hitting Bucky's sensitive throat and making him shiver.
"I ache for you, Sam." Bucky complied.
"Again."
"I ache for you."
Sam caught Bucky's swollen lips and kissed him hard, moving his left arm from Bucky's waist to bury in Bucky's hair. Still, Bucky kept his thigh flush against Sam's, liked the feeling of Sam nestled between his legs and knew that Sam liked it too.
"Fuck. Bucky." Sam moaned.
Words that untied Bucky from any remaining questions he still had, now he let it all go and let himself be intoxicated by everything that Sam was.
"I knew it." Bucky murmured as Sam broke for air.
"Knew what?" He panted.
"I knew that if I kissed you, I wouldn't be able to stop." Bucky replied, his blue eyes open and full of emotion.
"You can be so fucking cheesy at times." Sam chuckled with a slight grin.
"I was born in the aught ten's, baby." Bucky replied, with a wink.
Sam lent down to press a gentle kiss to Bucky's lips again.
"Is it okay if we don't go any further than this?" Sam asked, his eyes searching Bucky's.
Bucky's heart began to sink.
"I just don't want to rush into this. I want to do this right, the whole going on dates thing and spending time together." Sam explained.
Bucky's eyes softened.
"You want to date me, Wilson?" Bucky asked, his right hand lifting up to pull at Sam's bottom lip.
Sam nodded slowly.
"I want to date you too."
A slow smile crept up on Sam's face and Bucky couldn't help but flush at the loving look Sam was giving him.
"I want to cuddle you and fall asleep with you in my arms. Is that okay?" Sam asked, as he gently slid back to his side of the bed.
He still pressed in close to Bucky, hands still touching.
"Yeah my love, that's okay with me." Bucky replied as his heart thumped steadily against his ribcage.
They turned on their sides, Sam slid his arm under Bucky's so he could spoon him, pressing his forehead to the center of Bucky's shoulder blades.
"I like that nickname." Sam mumbled sleepily.
"My love?" Bucky clarified.
Sam made a satisfactory noise and Bucky smiled.
"Okay. That can be your nickname." Bucky confirmed, closing his eyes and feeling Sam shift just a little bit closer.
Maybe Thor could just keep the storm going for a few more days. Maybe.