Chapter Text
The first time it happens, Bucky doesn’t know what to think.
He awakes with a gasp, his chest heaving as his brain tries to make sense of his surroundings. It takes him a moment to remember he’d gone into cryo on his own volition this time – the floor-to-ceiling windows and sterile white walls first throwing him off, then clueing him in. Blearily, he turns his head, looking for the familiar blue eyes of his best friend. He doesn’t find them. Instead, it is Sam Wilson, the Falcon, who stands next to his pod.
“Good morning Buckinator, I figured you might have been getting bored in that little freezer of yours.”
Bucky groans and reaches up to undo the buckles over his chest. Nothing happens. He blinks and then stares down.
Oh. Right. His arm is gone.
Gritting his teeth, he repeats the motion with his actually existing right arm, and undoes the white straps. “How long was I out for?”
“A few months. Cap refused to let me wake you, insisted you’d want a cure. You know how he is, wouldn’t want to disappoint ya.”
Bucky raises an eyebrow as he staggers out of the cryo pod. “’S that so? And how about you? Tired of disappointing the broads, so you’re moving on to the fellas?”
Sam reaches out to steady him and guides him to a set of white chairs. Bucky tries to shrug him off, but is still sluggish from waking up, so his efforts are unsuccessful. Grumpily, he lets Sam sit him down.
“Trust me, I’m no disappointment. I just don’t like the thought of my friends being frozen.”
Bucky shoots him a hard-to-read look. “Are we friends?”
Sam shrugs and sits down opposite Bucky, his legs comfortably sprawled halfway across the floor into Bucky’s personal space. Bucky nudges his feet to the side with his toe.
“That depends.” Sam grins, and holds up a deck of cards. “Wanna play a game?”
“Oh, come on, that’s the fourth set of three you’ve stolen! No way you’re playing fair.”
“You wound me. I was a boy scout, you know? You were an assassin. I think that lends me more street cred than you. Fives.”
“Go fish, and drown. I’m pretty sure assassin beats boy scout in street cred.”
“Street cred in cheating, that’s for sure. I’m not cheating.”
“I used to play this game with Steve, I know what cheating looks like. Eights.”
“Here you go, one card for James Bourne. Captain America cheats?”
“Of course Captain America cheats. Have you seen him around a Monopoly board? He’s watching everyone to see when they’re looking away so he can snatch more money from the bank. Who’s James Bourne?”
“Jason Bourne, actually. Just a guy who reminds me of you. Are you gonna ask for another card or what?”
“Twos.”
“Go fish.”
“I hate you… Ha! It’s a two! I’ve got a set.”
“That makes five points for the Amazing Falcon, and… two points for Sucky.”
“Sincerely do drown the next time you go out fishing.”
“Really though, you let Steve get away with cheating? Queens.”
“Here are your fucking queens… Gimme a four. You saw pictures of him from before, right? Guy deserved a win once in a while, and it certainly wasn’t gonna be in an alley fight.”
“And another point to the Falcon. And go fish. Bucky Barnes still losing by… oh, four points! Good news, Buckaroo, if you get every single remaining suit, you can still win. Unless you can hand me an ace.“
“I swear, you’re cheating. I don’t know how, but you’re cheating. Here’s your ace, you cheating cheat.”
“Ha! My seventh set! Victory! And, uh, Bucky…”
“What?”
“Next time you might want to cover any reflective surfaces on your person before playing a card game.”
“...”
“Just some friendly advice.”
“You’re cheating through my prosthetic limb? That’s low, Wilson, real low.”
“Aaahh! Security! Freeze this maniac!”
“Yeah, you better run.”