Sambucky - Figuring out feelings: Book 1, 2 And 3

Chapter 2: The Mission

*Training facility*

Sam hadn't seen Bucky since they had watched Star Wars which had been - 1, 2 , 3, 4? 4 days ago? It had felt like years. Sam couldn't remember much of what happened on the day but he just hoped he hadn't done anything embarrassing. He walked into the facility hoping Bucky would be there already but he wasn't. It was just Rhodey.

'Hey! How have you been?'

Rhodey looked up and raised a hand in greeting.

'Hey man!' He walked over and put a hand on Sam's shoulder. Then paused. Sam sensed something was wrong. He turned to meet his eyes. Rhodey put his head down and sighed.

'Sam...I'm really sorry about this...but....' He took a deep breath. 'We have another mission for you and Bucky.' Sam sighed. Rhodey stepped back from Sam. 'I know it's just after the whole...' he paused, careful with his next words. 'Situation...but we are really stuck for help...'

Sam raised his eyes up from the ground. 'Its fine, man. We'll do what we can to help'

Rhodey sighed in relief and apologised again but Sam's mind was on other things. Bucky was usually so early but he wasn't here now.

'Where's Bucky? Is he here yet?'

Rhodey shot Sam a surprised look. Sam ignored it. People were still adjusting to Sam and Bucky's new friendship.

' Oh ya...he got here an hour ago.' Sam's eyes widened slightly. That was very early.
'He's in the training room. You can go straight in'

Sam was curious as to why Bucky was so early but he just shrugged it off and walked down to the training room...nervous for some weird reason.

When he walked in, to his surprise Bucky was not training but just standing there looking out the window at the blue sky. Bucky had blue eyes. Sam got a flash of a memory but waved it off. It was a nice picture - Bucky framed by the sky...Wait. Why was Sam thinking like this? Sam just ignored the thought but felt confused.

He warned Bucky that he was behind him by clearing his throat... if he wasn't careful Bucky would think he was sneaking up on him and would defend himself. It had happened before and not ended well.

Bucky turned around. For once he didn't look numb...or sad. He looked happy to see Sam.

'Hi. How are you? I haven't seen you in a few days' Bucky shrugged, smiling. 'I'm good...how bout you?' They were having a conversation. A normal conversation. Without drama. Sam felt something unrecognisable inside him. Happiness? No...that was familiar. Something else.

'I'm good...How's the cat?'

Bucky's half smile slightly froze. Damn it. Not again. Then it returned.

'She's okay...mostly sleeping'
'Wait are you minding her?'

Sam didn't see Bucky as the 'minding a cat' type. Bucky sort of blushed. Sam's stomach did a flip. He ignored it.

'Uh...Yeah...She didn't really have anywhere to go...' Sam smiled at the thought of Bucky minding a kitten. 'Sooo...Does it have a name?'

Bucky turned back to the window. 'She' he corrected. 'And no she does not have a name yet...I probably won't be keeping her much longer'

Bucky seemed sad at the thought but his smile quickly came back. Bucky smiling so much was a strange sight and it threw Sam off so he didn't react when Bucky turned, walked past him and patted his arm as he left.

As he watched him walk away he realised, 'Wait! We have a mission you know!'

Bucky half turned and smiled, throwing Sam off again. 'I know, i'll get the details and meet you outside in 10 minutes' Bucky walked straight out. Something had changed between them but Sam couldn't tell what. He decided to do what Bucky said and go outside.