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1. I Am Bruised, I Am Brave, I Am Who I'm Meant to Be by OriginalCeenote for This_Catnik

   Fandoms: Captain America - All Media Types, Captain America (Chris Evans Movies), Captain America (Anthony Mackie Movies)  

   • Mature
   • No Archive Warnings Apply
   • M/M
   • Work in Progress

   30 Dec 2025

   Tags

   • No Archive Warnings Apply
   • Steve Rogers/Sam Wilson
   • James "Bucky" Barnes & Steve Rogers
   • Steve Rogers & Natasha Romanov
   • Natasha Romanov & Sam Wilson
   • Sam Wilson
   • Steve Rogers
   • James "Bucky" Barnes
   • Natasha Romanov (Marvel)
   • Tony Stark
   • Clint Barton
   • Maria Hill
   • Post-Captain America and the Winter Soldier
   • pre-tfatws
   • Moderately Canon Compliant
   • What Makes Steve Rogers Happy?
   • Sam Wilson is a Ray of Sunshine
   • Natasha Romanov Is a Good Bro
   • Natasha's A+ Matchmaking Skills
   • Mutual Pining
   • The hunt for Bucky Barnes
   • but this is NOT A BUCKY RECOVERY FIC!!!
   • don't come up in my house expecting Bucky to be woobified
   • samsteve fluff
   • Flirting
   • Getting Together
   • Hurt/Comfort
   • Endgame never happened and no one is dead
   • Marvel Trumps Hate 2025 auction prize
   • friendly gambling
   • Road Trips
   • Angst
   • Sam Wilson Gets Insecure Too
   • they're both idiots your honor

   Summary

   Steve Rogers has been the model soldier ever since he came out of the ice, still taking orders and shoving down all of his old hurts and bitter memories. In the wake of HYDRA's infiltration of SHIELD being exposed and the fall of Project: Insight, Sam and Steve are left to pick up the pieces. Sam shows Steve how to trust again, and they explore the answers to one of his earliest questions: "What makes you happy?"

   As they grow closer and as Steve begins to heal, though, Sam realizes that happiness may be short-lived as they receive word through SHIELD's network that the Winter Soldier is still at large, and all of the progress that he and Steve have made could go up in smoke.

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   29,262

   Chapters:

   5/6

   Collections:

   1

   Comments:

   25

   Kudos:

   26

   Bookmarks:

   10

   Hits:

   380