Chapter Text
It was almost midnight when Sam went back to his apartment. He had an incredibly long day chasing down a lead that he hoped would sent them to the right path to find Bucky. After a meat with a gang leader it ended up being a dead end. He unlocked his door and went into his apartment kicking off his boots and locking the door behind him.
He went to the kitchen and opened the fridge and scanned the inside of it with disappointment. He needed to get some groceries pronto, he grabbed a beer and went to his living room. He didn’t turn on the lights and sunk in his armchair.
He started drifting off to sleep when he realized that there was actually a person standing in the corner of the living room hidden in the shadows. “Ten minutes” the figure said, Sam went to get the lights on. He was startled when he realized that Bucky was in his living room. “What?” Sam asked perplexed, “It took you ten minutes to realize I’m in your house” Bucky retorted back starting to look pissed off. “Sorry I was out all day looking for your stupid ass all around town, i met some people today that I really really wanted to kill off or call the police on their asses but I couldn’t do that because there was a 1 percent chance they had a clue about where you are, now please don’t kill me” Bucky just stared at him. “Now are you going to sit down or are you going to stay in the corner and stare me to death?” Sam asked and somewhere deep down he couldn’t believe what was coming out of him mouth because in his apartment there was a superassasin and he basically didn’t stand a chance if he decided to kill him.
“Don’t order me around” Sam now was taking in Bucky’s state he wore the same black cargo pants and boots that he wore the day he had last saw him he was wearing a black t-shirt and a jacket over it, probably to hide his arm, he stared at his features Bucky looked thinner a lot thinner he had a beard and bloodshot eyes. “I’m sorry I had a really long day, would you like to sit down something to eat maybe don’t expect a twelve course meal but I could cook some pasta for the both of us, and explain to me why are you so obsessed over the fact that it took me ten minutes to realize you’re here?” Sam was just rumbling his ass of hoping that Bucky won’t leave and that he’d somehow find a way to bring Steve over.
“I … I remember…” Bucky said and slumped down to the ground, Sam walked over to him “I am not going to hurt you, listen my floor is really not the best surface to sit onto come with me to the kitchen” Sam said and offered a hand to help him up, it took Sam a bit to realizes but from that particular corner you could see every exit. Bucky looked hesitant but took Sam’s hand and stood up “I remember “ Bucky said again. “You got to help me out a bit here” Sam said trying to get some more information out of him, “You fighting beside Steve” Bucky said looking a bit more hurt.
Sam started feeling weird “Yeah I did fought beside him, and I’m helping him find you but apparently mission accomplished” Bucky started moving more into the corner as if somehow he could become one with the wall. “Please don’t tell him that I’m here, and make him stop searching” Sam was starting to get confused Steve was incredibly hellbent on finding Bucky why wouldn’t he spare the guy some heart ache. “And you need to be more careful you’re fighting beside him, you need to have his back at all times” Bucky said. “I’m doing my best believe me but I’m just human no extra abilities no nothing there’s so much I can do” Sam felt the need to apologize.
“Now come with me to the kitchen we’re having dinner” Sam hurried off to the kitchen and with Bucky beside him. “I can’t keep him safe not right now, you need to do that for me” Bucky murmured and Sam dropped off the pot that he had pulled out. “I’m trying to do that” he said while picking up the pot from the floor and filling it up with water to boil. “Trying is not good enough” when Sam looked towards Bucky he was leaning to the counter. “It’s not good enough, promise me that you’ll keep him safe cause right now I can’t” Sam noticed that he kept his gaze fixed at the kitchen counter.
“Listen to me I can call Steve right now and make him come over here” Sam said while cutting up tomatoes to make a sauce for the pasta. “No, don’t tell him anything”, then came a loud crack and Sam turned back to Bucky’s direction realizing that he’d cracked his counter with the metal arm. “I am so sorry please I am sorry” Bucky stared back at Sam scared. “I am not going to hurt you man, even if you break my entire kitchen but please don’t do it” Sam said and walked over to the window to chop off some basil. “Why not tell him though he’s been going crazy searching for you” Sam said looking at him.
“Because I am not who he remembers, I am everything he hates in the world, I’ve done everything he hates, and Hydra is looking for me and I’ll put him in danger again” Bucky said with glassy eyes.
“No you’re not, believe me you’re not, and he’s a fuckin supersoldier, why not let him decide? And now shut up cause if you make me burn the sauce I will end you” Sam smirked at him trying to lighten the mood.
“Do you have anywhere to stay tonight?” Sam asked while getting two plates and setting them on the counter. “I … yeah…” Sam assumed from the hesitation that the place Bucky was referring to was probably an abandoned building. “I am going to assume that you don’t so you can stay here on the couch for the night” Bucky nodded feeling thankful for the kindness Sam was showing him not considering his past. “Tomorrow morning we’ll call Steve ok?” Bucky nodded back not realizing exactly how Sam convinced him.