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Sam lets the door shut behind him. It’s nearing midnight now. He’s not usually out this late, but for once, he decided to go out and catch up with some high school friends that invited him out. Sam said yes, because he’s bored without Steve home, and everyone else seems to be busy as well.
Sam walks into the kitchen and flicks on the light. He looks up, and he startles as soon as he sees that there’s a man sitting on his kitchen counter. Sam instantly reaches for a knife, ready to protect himself.
“Who the hell are you?” Sam demands, pointing the knife at the man. Then he stops, because holy shit , that’s Bucky Barnes. It’s the man that he and Steve have been searching together for over a year now. Here he is, casually sitting on his kitchen counter. “Bucky Barnes.”
Bucky doesn’t say anything and he hardly makes any noise at all, which concerns Sam.
Sam slowly sets the knife down, and slowly pulls his phone out of his jean pocket. That seems to get Bucky’s attention, causing him to jump off the kitchen counter. Sam doesn’t move. “Relax,” Sam says, letting out a breath. “I’m just calling someone. Someone I think you’re looking for.”
Bucky doesn’t move, or say anything, so Sam takes this as a sign to continue.
Sam calls Steve, keeping his eyes locked on Bucky. He already knows he can defend himself pretty well, but this is Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier , and Sam can confidently say that he’ll stand even the slightest chance against The Winter Soldier. Sam doesn’t want to take a single chance.
“Sam? Why are you calling so late? Is everything okay?” Steve asks when he answers the phone.
“I think you should come home,” Sam says, not even bothering to greet Steve.
“I can’t just… Sam, what are you talking about?” Steve asks. “I can’t just leave. I’m in Russia!”
“Steve,” Sam hisses. “This is more important than whatever mission Fury sent you on.”
“Well I’m not leaving until you tell me what it is I’m leaving for exactly,” Steve argues, and Sam can’t help but roll his eyes, because of course Steve would want to argue with him.
“You’re really fucking annoying. You know that?” Sam snaps.
“I’ve been told once or twice,”
Sam huffs. “Listen to me, Steve. I’m not saying anything other than I think you should come home. There’s someone here who you might want to see,”
“What do you mean there’s someone I-” Steve stops talking mid-sentence, and Sam knows that he’s figured it out. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. I have to get a hold of Natasha.”
“Yeah, you should do that,” Sam breathes.
“Sam, are you okay?” Steve asks worriedly. “If it’s who I think it is.”
“I’m fine,” Sam tells him. “He hasn’t even done anything, or said anything. We’re just staring at each other, but I’d really appreciate it if you got here as fast as you can.”
“Yeah, of course. I should be home in the next day or so, I promise. Sam? Be careful, I love you,”
“I love you too. You be careful to. Keep me updated, please,” Sam says, before hanging up the phone. He slowly sets his phone down on the kitchen counter. “Well-” He begins, looking over at Bucky. “Uh, looks like it’s just going to be just you and me for a bit, so make yourself comfortable.” He blinks when he sees the curious look on Bucky’s face. “Is there something on your mind?”
“You and Steve…?”
“Ah, so he speaks after all,” Sam says calmly, wanting to keep the peace. He leans against the counter and crosses his arms against his chest. “Me and Steve. What about it?”
“You said…” Bucky begins. “You said you loved him?”
“I did,” Sam confirms, and he nods. “That’s something that you say to your boyfriend.”
“ Boyfriend ?” Bucky asks, and he looks up at Sam.
“Oh, shit,” Sam says, suddenly understanding why Bucky is so confused. “Yeah, welcome to the twenty-first century. “Gay people have rights now. I imagine it was different back in the forties.”
Bucky blinks, and he goes back to being silent.
Sam thinks it’s going to be a long couple of days before Steve gets home.
Sam eventually gets Bucky settled in the guest bedroom because it’s late, and Sam’s tired, and he’s going to deal with Bucky Barnes in the morning. He’s still not completely sure how Bucky managed to get into the house, but he’s also not going to question the skills of The Winter Soldier.
In the morning, Sam wakes up around nine, and starts making breakfast. He usually does, but now there’s a guest in the house. He wants Bucky to feel at home and welcomed at their house. He doesn’t want Bucky to feel like he has to make a run for it, like Steve warned him through multiple text messages.
Sam’s just setting the table up when Bucky finally emerges into the kitchen. “Good morning,” he says, and he’s not surprised when Bucky doesn’t say anything in return. “I made breakfast. Eat up.”
Bucky hesitates, before walking over to the table, sniffing.
“I mean, you don’t have to eat if you don’t want to. I just thought you might be hungry,” Sam continues, mentally kicking himself for being so awkward. It’s just… this isn’t how he thought they’d find Bucky. Well, Bucky found him. But still, Sam’s not totally sure how to act around this man he doesn’t know, and he really hates that Fury sent Steve out on a mission. Now, of all the times.
“Thank you,” Bucky says, and he looks up at Sam. “Just like how ‘Ma used to make it.”
Sam’s heart instantly melts at Bucky mentioning his past, because it means Bucky Barnes is still in there, and he knows Steve will be happy to hear that. “You’re welcome,” he says, before pulling out a chair and sitting across from Bucky.
Bucky doesn’t say much, still, during the morning. Sam can tell that he’s curious, and Sam’s curious too, but he doesn’t want to just start pestering Bucky with so many questions. Steve would never forgive him if he scared off Bucky the first time he seeks them out on his own.
Sam walks by Bucky with his plant waterer. He’s sunny out, and his plants need watering, and Sam needs to do it while he remembers. Bucky looks curious as he watches Sam past him as he sits on the couch.
“What’s that for?”
Sam quickly stops, and he looks over at Bucky. “I need to water my plants. Wanna come with?”
Bucky looks like he wants to say yes, but instead he shakes his head. “No thank you,”
Sam shrugs his shoulders, because he’s not going to do Bucky something he doesn’t want to do. “Well, okay. Suit yourself, man. I’ll be outside if you need me. Just shout if you need anything,” he says, and then he makes his way outside. Once he’s outside, he pulls out his phone and puts Marvin Gaye on.
Sam starts relaxing once he starts watering his plants.
It only takes a couple minutes before Bucky walks up to the window. There’s an apple in his hand that he’s snagged from the fruit bowl in the kitchen. Bucky stands there for a couple minutes before he finally opens the door. His nose crinkles as soon as he hears the music playing softly in the background.
“What is that?”
Sam raises his eyebrows as he looks up at Bucky. “What’s what?”
“ That ,” Bucky repeats. “That music playing? I’ve never heard of it before.”
Sam groans, and he gently wipes his forehead. “You too? God, it was a pain in the ass having to educate Steve on today’s music, and now you’re telling me I have to do it again with you?”
“Steve likes this?” Bucky asks, and then he walks over to where Sam’s phone is resting on the little table. He leans over and sees Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye playing. “Marvin Gaye?”
Sam huffs, and stands up straight. “Don’t judge my music taste, Barnes. What do you listen to?”
“Not this,” Bucky says, and he looks over at Sam. “You’ve corrupted, Steve.”
“Corrupted? I’ve helped educate that man on brilliant music. He listens to all kinds of music now, and not that boring classical music he used to listen to,” Sam argues.
“Classic music is not boring,” Bucky argues back.
Sam walks over and snatches his phone, immediately going to his messages to text Steve.
Sam :
Barnes doesn’t like Marvin Gaye. We’re going to have a problem
Steve :
not this again, sam
Sam huffs at Steve’s response. “I can’t believe I’m going to have to deal with two Steve’s,”
“I’m not like Steve. He’s a stupid punk who likes to get himself stuck in sticky situations!” Bucky argues.
Sam raises his eyebrows as he looks over at Bucky. “Oh really? Says the one who got himself captured by Hydra and got himself brainwashed?” He knows he’s pushing it by mentioning Hydra, but Bucky’s also being playful in this moment, so Sam doesn’t think Bucky would actually get mad at him for bringing up Hydra.
Bucky scowls. “It’s not like I asked to fall off moving train,”
“Hm,” Sam says, before turning up the music on his phone as another Marvin Gaye song starts playing, and he walks back over to continue watering his plants. He can’t help but smirk when he glances over and sees Bucky slowly bobbing his head along to the music.
~
Steve doesn’t get home until later that night, when it's nearing midnight.
Sam is quietly cleaning up in the kitchen when Steve walks in. Sam instantly walks over and wraps his arms around Steve, greeting him with a soft kiss. “Steve, you’re home,”
“I’m sorry it took so long. I tried to get here as fast as I could,” Steve whispers, kissing Sam once more
“Shh,” Sam whispers. “You’ll have to be quiet. He fell asleep about an hour ago watching Jurassic Park.”
Steve chuckles. “You haven’t been overwhelming him with your pop culture, have you?”
“Of course not. He wanted to learn all about twenty-first century pop culture,” Sam argues lightly, before grinning at Steve. “Come on.” He grabs Steve’s hand, and leads the way to the living room, where they find Bucky sitting up. There’s a blanket wrapped around him, but he’s no longer asleep.
Steve sucks in a deep breath as he takes in seeing Bucky for the first time in months. He hasn’t seen Bucky since they fought on the helicarrier. Steve’s been looking for him ever since, and he certainly didn't think that Bucky would find them first.
“Hey punk,” Bucky greets, slowly standing from his spot on the couch.
Sam watches as Steve makes his way over to Bucky, pulling him into a hug. He can’t help but smile as he watches the two reunite with each other. This isn’t how he thought their reunion would go, but he can’t complain, knowing how relieved Steve must be to know Bucky is safe.