Chapter Text
“What the hell?!” Sam said when they came upon the still burning remains of a hydra facility. “I thought Switzerland was supposed to be neutral in all this shit!”
Steve was looking around to see if he could find his thought-dead, long lost best friend. “Well it is Hydra, no one knows how far they dug their claws in.” Sighing Sam and took off to the sky to see if he could get a better visual in order to find one wayward Bucky Barnes. He saw something flash out of the corner of his eye and when he turned to get a better look he saw that it was Bucky, standing under a tree on a small hill, calmly smoking a cigarette and watching the building continue to burn.
“Hey Steve I found Bucky, he’s on a small hill east of the back entrance to the facility.” He reported. “Okay, I’m on my way over. Don’t spook him.” Was the response and Sam rolled his eyes. Sam continued to circle the area not wanting to land and spook Bucky or have the man rip off one of his wings again; not after Tony Stark gave such a sweet new pair that even had tiny missiles.
However, Bucky looked up and gave Sam a two finger salute and Sam took that as a sign that it was okay to land, just not too close to the master assassin. When his feet were back on the ground Sam took the time to observe Bucky; he looked rather clean and healthy for running around Europe and leading Sam and Steve on a merry chase. His hair was pulled back into a tight bun and his steely blue eyes; the eyes of a focused sniper were trained on the burning remains. That intense focus was then on Sam who was rooted to the spot as Bucky’s eyes slowly travelled his body from top to bottom and back up to look him in his eye.
“I like your new wings.” Bucky smiled wickedly and Sam felt something warm in the pit of his stomach at that. “Yeah, well thanks to a certain someone I had to get a new pair.” Sam replied but with no heat behind his words. Bucky merely smirked, “well that’s what you get for hanging out with my best friend.” Sam rolled his eyes “really? What are we 8? Steve can have more than one best friend.” Bucky sighed at that and looked up at the sky “well with the way he recklessly throws himself into fights he needs all the best friends he can get to watch out for his stupid punk ass.” Sam laughed at that. “By the way I really am sorry for what I did to your wings and for kicking you off the helicarrier; but I really like these wings more.”
Sam did not get a chance to reply to that before Bucky was unceremoniously tackled into the snow by a 6’2”, 220 pounds, blond haired and blue eyes overgrown puppy. Sam watched as Steve held on for dear life to Bucky who could only take the hug. “Ummm…Steve I think you need to ease up the hug. I can’t tell if Bucky’s turning blue from the cold or because you are cutting off his oxygen.” Steve immediately let go of Bucky who sat up in the snow and smiled warmly at Steve “good to see you too punk.” Steve laughed but before he could respond Bucky gave him a mean right hook across his jaw and he fell back into the snow and Buck was on him. “ARE YOU STUPID OR JUST PLAIN CRAZY?!!!” He asked shaking Steve, Sam was baffled at the sudden change in behaviour. “After I ‘died’, your best plan at stopping the weapons aboard Schmidt’s plane is to crash it into the ocean?!” Steve looked thoroughly chastised and he looked to Sam for help.
“Nope, don’t look at Sam,” Sam looked sharply at Bucky surprised that he knew his name, “I am sure that he agrees with me about your level of stupidity and I am also very sure that your mother is rolling in her grave.” Bucky was glaring at Steve, his arms folded tightly across his chest and even though he was still sitting in the snow he managed to look menacing and bigger than Steve. Steve was staring at his hands “I’m sorry Bucky.” Bucky’s face soften at that and he pulled Steve into a hug. “It’s ok punk. It’s not your fault you were dropped on your head as a baby.” Steve huffed out a laugh and Sam snickered.
“Plus now you got two best friends to keep your dumbass out of trouble.” Sam smiled at that but it suddenly dropped when it started snowing again. “Well I don’t know about you two super soldier serum powered beings but I am a mere human being and the cold is starting to seep in, so let’s get out of here and go somewhere warmer.” Steve and Bucky got up and they started walking to where Sam had parked the truck they drove in.
Bucky surprised Sam by walking up to him, slinging an arm, his metal arm around his shoulder and leaning in close enough that Sam felt his warm breath on his ear that did things to his stomach that he did not want to examine too closely. “I hope you know there is no getting away now. Once Steve Rogers likes you and you become friends with him there is no escaping. You can say it’s like Stockholm syndrome. The same can be said of me as well.” Sam looked at Bucky when he said that and the wicked grin he got in return made him stumble and he would have fell face first into the snow had Bucky still not had his arm around him to keep him upright.
Sam had no idea what he had gotten himself into when he decided to help Steve in tracking down James Buchanan Banes.