Amends (Sambucky)

Chapter Two

"Romania, you've been there, right?"

"Yes," Bucky tried his best not to grit his teeth.

"That gives us an advantage then," Sam grinned, "This will be quick."

"No, Sam, you've been to America, that doesn't mean you know every inch. I know nothing about the Hoia-Baciu Forest."

"No, he's got a point. You knowing Romanian will make the mission much smoother," Sharon agreed, taking a seat next to Sam, "It should be easy; we're just looking for Rafflesia flower. It's one of the rarest, most endangered plants out there."

Bucky ground his teeth together and leaned back across from the two, hating how no one agreed with him. Truth be told, he never really liked Sharon. Sam either. He didn't like Sharon because he believed she did everything in her own interest; she did too much for them to not have.

D.C.- She helped Steve carry out his mission to take down Hydra. Not because she's against crooked things, but because her job was to protect Steve, and she couldn't risk ruining her reputation.

Germany- She gave them their stuff, not because she wanted to help Steve save Bucky, but because she had a major crush on Steve.

Most recently, Madripoor- She helped Sam, Bucky, and Zemo escape after they blew up the last lab with the super soldier serum. Again, she didn't do it out of kindness for Sam and Bucky, but curiosity at Zemo walking free.

So forgive Bucky if he was a little skeptical of her actions, because there always seems to be something else in it for her. Now Sam isn't too different in Bucky's mind either, only Bucky can't find his motive.

Why did he completely make himself an outlaw for a person he so blatantly disliked?

And even if it were for Steve, then why was he still bothering Bucky when Steve left?

And why had he been avoiding being Captain America even with the suit?

He despised Bucky for years, so why then, did he suddenly try to keep contact after the blip? Steve praised him as a great man and role model, then Sam threw the shield away like it was nothing. The list goes on. For a bit, Sam and Bucky were practically friends. Hell, Sam still considers them that much, but Bucky can't stand any action he makes now. Stuff that he didn't notice, or didn't care about before. He pulled out his phone and glanced over the text he sent last night after their small quarrel.

Can we talk?

Still no response. He turned his attention back to the two seats before him.

"You're telling me that this mighty powerbroker, will meet with us if we just grab a plant?" Sam eyed Sharon incredulously, "Screw the damn plant, let's just grab a fake. All we need is a meeting with them."

"He'll know if it's a fake, and he will kill you. Word on the street is that he took the serum himself," Sharon explained, "It's risky and stupid, especially considering we can grab the plant with ease. Most believe it can only be found in the Amazon forest; that's false. It's in the Hoia Forest; we should be out of there by nightfall the absolute latest."

"I'm hearing a lot of talk about this powerbroker, but no action. What exactly does he do?" Bucky questioned.

"Mostly stealing and smuggling goods. If he weren't so rich and keen on killing those in his way, he might just be another criminal. Don't let that fool you though, it'll be difficult."

"Yeah, well, if we can't take him down, we shouldn't be doing this at all," Bucky stated, remembering the last time they failed...because of a kid.

"Oh yeah, where's your Captain America getup?" Sharon pressed, making Sam respond nonchalantly.

"Don't need it. Plus, it would be weird to see Captain America running around a Romanian forest, wouldn't it?"

~~~~~~

"No, cause I did the exact same thing!" Sam exclaimed, "I just thought- Captain America came to me for help? Hell yeah I'll come out of retirement! Now I'm so glad I did."

"I don't regret my decision, but I wouldn't say I was glad I did it," Sharon admitted, the two having been talking non-stop for the past four hours as they trudged through the forest. The sun had seemed to begin to calm down, not beaming down as much as it had before.

"Really?" Sam questioned, his curiosity eating at him. It had been awhile since he'd kind of let his guard down, but they were in the middle of the forest with no other signs of life so far. Plus, these were two people he felt comfortable with, two people he enjoyed being around.

"I would think-,"

"This would go much faster if you both looked," Bucky grumbled, slapping away every branch and leaf in his way.

"We are just as much as you, so have you seen anything yet?" Sam ducked under a tree branch while stepping over its root, "That's what I thought. You know, Buck, it wouldn't kill you to loosen up a bit."

"No, but it might kill you," Bucky snapped, biting his lip to keep him from saying more- a habit.

"Maybe," Sam hummed, trying to steal a glance of Bucky, who was so far in front of them, "Maybe not."

"Yeah, lighten up, old guy. Looking is no fun with a sour attitude," Sharon agreed.

"Sharon," Bucky stopped, growing impatient, "We've been looking for hours, and I haven't seen the damn plant. Quite honestly, I don't even trust that we're looking for something that even exists. Tell me again, what exactly is in this for you?"

"Bucky!"

"No, Sam, it's fine," she stalked up to meet Bucky's glare, "I didn't do this out of the kindness of my heart; I did this because my life is a lot easier without the powerbroker on my ass. I have been living in exile for the past seven years, avoiding getting in his way. Now you two assholes, just shot one of his most prized employers, making me a target as well. The least you can do, is help me find the damn plant without the attitude."

Bucky's glare didn't stop as she pushed past him, maybe it even got worse. Sam followed behind her, "What the hell, man? She's helping us."

"Is she? We barely know her. All we know, is that she'd willingly kiss her uncle."

"You can trust her, Bucky," Sam tried to reason.

"Because you say so? You trust everyone, Sam! You trust her, you trust me, and one day, it will get you killed," Bucky spoke his mind, "You always trust people with your life too blindly."

"Don't think for one second that I trust either of you with my life! She's batshit crazy, and you avoid me unless you feel absolutely necessary! Neither of you would blink if I died today, so of course I don't goddamned trust you!" Sam grew angry, "But I respect you, and I expect the same in return! We're all here risking our lives to make this a better place, and we'd do it a lot faster if you'd just stop!"

Sam stalked off angrily, knowing that what he said wouldn't even cross Bucky's mind the next time he grew mad at Sharon. And it wouldn't. Bucky could honestly care less if Sam thought he should trust someone, or that they earned his respect. He sure as hell didn't trust Sam; he only stayed because he can read Sam like an open book.

So why was he lying?