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“I’m not sure this is a good idea,” Bucky said for the umpteenth time, his hand on the small of Sam’s back. He liked Bucky’s hand there, it felt comforting.
“We’ll be fine,” Sam said again. Bucky was protective, and endearing, and his concern was sweet, but Sam was also Captain America; he could take care of his nephews alone.
“I’m coming with you,” Bucky decided decisively. “I can make dinner. The boys like boiled potatoes, right?”
“Bucky…”
“I’m joking about the potatoes,” he said quickly, as if Sam didn’t know that already. It was Bucky’s favorite joke, and a one that Steve told before that. And it always got an uproar down in Delacroix, too, because everyone down there loved their food more than anything, and flavorless boiled foods from the depression just wouldn’t do.
“I don’t need your help, Buck. Go home, get some rest. Feed your damned cat.”
“She knows how to feed herself,” Bucky said proudly. Sam remembered him telling him about this cool automatic feeder that he had found, except he didn’t like to use it much because he was prestigious about his cat like no one else Sam knew and liked to make her her own specially made dinner each night.
At least Sam wasn’t the only one that Bucky was all mother-hen on.
“‘Sides, it’s not to help you. Sarah’s been saying that the boys have been asking to see me. It’s not like I’ve never come with you before.”
And, sure, Bucky made a good argument, if Sam didn’t know Bucky the way he did. It didn’t matter that Sam was exhausted from the mission they had just completed and would much rather crash in his bed than anything; he was capable of doing this for his sister, and he would. Not to mention the fact that he wanted to see his nephews.
Man if he didn’t want a hot shower and a long nap, though. Maybe the boys could be convinced to watch a movie.
At one pm? Yeah, probably not.
“I appreciate it, Buck, I really do, but I don’t need—“ suddenly he felt lightheaded, spots appearing in his vision. He could throw up.
“Hey, woah there,” a distant voice said. “Here, let’s sit down.”
Sam didn’t even know if he got that far before his knees gave out and he collapsed onto something hard next to him.
Sam didn’t wake up on the ground. Instead, he woke up feeling very disoriented in Bucky’s arms, bridal style.
“You were saying?” Bucky asked with an unimpressed eyebrow raise. Sam blinked at him.
“What happened?”
Bucky sighed, but then his eyes softened. “You collapsed, probably from how damned exhausted you are after that mission, right as you were telling me how you don’t need my help watching AJ and Cass.”
“I…”
“Am a stubborn dumbass, I know.” Bucky gave him a crooked smile before he frowned. “How’re you feeling? Your head okay?”
“Heads fine,” he muttered. He felt drowsy and off kilter. Sweaty, too. “Why’re you holding me?”
“Would you rather I dump you on the floor?” No, not really. “Look, we’re almost to Sarah’s house. Then you can lay down properly, take a nap, get some rest. I’ll watch the boys.”
“I couldn’t ask you to—“
“—I want to,” Bucky said, cutting him off. Sam sighed.
“Stupid unfair supersoldiers, never getting light headed or dizzy or learning the meaning of tired.”
Bucky laughed. “Trust me, Sammy, I definitely do all those things.”
Yeah, Sam wasn’t convinced.
“You can at least set me down.”
“Nah, I’m alright,” Bucky decided cheerfully. “Wouldn’t want you passing out on me again, now would you?”
“You asshole,” Sam muttered, but figured if Bucky was going to carry him he might as well enjoy it, and cuddled close to Bucky’s chest.
“Uncle Bucky! Uncle Sam!”
“Shhh, Uncle Sam’s taking a nap, okay?”
“But why?”
“Because he had a long day fighting bad guys and needs to rest. C’mon, if you let him sleep for the next hour we can make ice cream from scratch.”
“From scratch?”
“Sure, why not? But we’ve got to let Sammy here rest, deal?”
“Deal Uncle Bucky!”
“Shhh.”
The next time he woke up, he was on the couch in Sarah’s house, his head lying forward so that he could just see into the kitchen.
“And then your Uncle Sam swooped in and saved the day,” Bucky was telling the boys.
“Did he use the shield?”
“And the wings!”
“Sure did, Kiddo.” Just from the way he was talking, Sam could tell he was smirking. “All brave and heroic, that’s your uncle.”
“And you Uncle Bucky!” Cass shouted excitedly, only to be quickly shushed by AJ.
“Shhh! He’s sleeping, remember!”
Sarah had clearly not taught her boys to be quiet whisperers. Bucky made eye contact with Sam through the doorway and smiled gently.
“Why don’t we go and check on Uncle Sam, huh?”
“Ooh, yes, please Uncle Bucky! And after you can lift us with your arm!”
“Whatever you want, Kiddo,” Bucky said, smiling brightly. “Now let’s go check on Sammy.”
“How’re you so good with the boys?” Sam asked Bucky that night as they got ready for bed. Bucky was all scowly and broody with everyone else, and then he was with the boys and it was like he became a completely different person.
Or maybe just a lighter version of the same person.
Either way, it was adorable. Bucky was just so good with them, and getting them to listen, and engaging with them. The boys seemed to really like him, too.
Sam couldn’t deny that it was attractive.
Bucky shrugged. “I had three younger sisters growing up. Someone had to show them the ropes.”
The expression on his face was light, nostalgic. Sam nudged him slightly. “The boys really like you.”
“Yeah, well, they’re good kids.” Bucky shrugged again. “Besides, they’ve got this uncle I’m trying to impress,” he said, his voice becoming flirty.
“Oh yeah? I’d love to hear about that one.”
“C’mere. I’ll tell you all about it,” Bucky smiled, pulling Sam in for a kiss.