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“I don’t trust them,” said Sam, as he threw his hands up. “I don’t trust them at all.”
“I’m not askin’ you to trust them,” said Bucky, as he inched closer to Sam under the Louisiana sun. “I’m asking you to trust me.”
“I do, Bucky. More than anything. I just — this is dangerous, okay.”
“I know that,” said Bucky in reply. “I know how dangerous it can be, Sam. I also know it will be a lot more dangerous for a lot more people if I don’t go and work for the New Avengers.”
“That’s such a stupid fucking name,” said Sam, as he folded his arms over his chest and dipped his head; Bucky let out a little huff of a laugh. “They’re not any kind of Avengers, least of all ‘New’.”
Bucky nodded his head and stepped closer.
“Sam, hey. Look at me,” said Bucky as he placed a hand to his partner’s upper arm and stroked it soothingly; Sam glanced up. “I gotta do this. It’s gotta be me. With my past, I’m the man for the job.”
“What about your future?” asked Sam, his eyes wet and red-rimmed. “What about our future?”
“I’m securing it, Sammy. If the intel is true, and this group is planning to attack Wakanda while the nation’s unstable, I can’t just sit back and let that happen. I have to do everything thing I can to stop them.”
“And if they find out you’re undercover? If they hurt you? What then? Who’s gona look out for you? Not the fucking CIA.”
“Honey, sometimes hurt is part of the job.”
“Yeah, okay. Okay.”
Bucky took a deep breath, knowing where Sam was coming from. Knowing the stakes.
“I don’t want you to go,” said Sam as he fell into Bucky’s embrace. “But I know you have to. I just don’t want you to leave me.”
Bucky held Sam tightly and pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
“I don’t wanna leave you,” Bucky whispered. “But keeping the world safe means I’m keeping you and Sarah and the boys safe, too. There’s nothin’ I wouldn’t do to protect my family, even if I have to be away from you for a little while.”
Sam clung to Bucky with more fervor.
“Lord, why are you such a good guy?” asked Sam as he nuzzled his face against Bucky’s neck.
“You bring a lot of that goodness outta me, Sweetheart.”
“Doubtful,” Sam said softly. “It’s just who you are.”
Bucky rubbed circles against Sam’s back and kissed his head once more. They stayed that way holding one another in silence for a while longer before Bucky spoke again.
“Sam, I gotta get goin’.”
“I know,” Sam replied as he pulled away slightly to look into Bucky’s eyes.
Bucky stroked the side of Sam’s face and said, “How’d I get so lucky finding a gorgeous guy like you?”
“I think I technically found you that one time,” said Sam jokingly in order to lighten the mood.
“Yeah, only ‘cause I let you,” Bucky replied with a smile which Sam mirrored.
He let go of Sam and then reached for the collar of his shirt, retrieving his dog tags.
“Hold on to these for me?” he asked.
“Buck.”
“Just until I get back,” Bucky added.
“Okay,” said Sam quietly, as he let his head dip forward.
Bucky placed the tags over Sam’s head carefully, before cupping his chin and placing a kiss to Sam’s lips.
“Just ‘til I get back, Baby,” said Bucky, as he hugged Sam once more. “I promise I’ll be back.”