The Twin Flame: Grumpy x Sunshine

Come In With The Rain

"Talk to the wind, talk to the sky, talk to the man with the reasons why. And let me know what you find..."

Sam stops to look at the new 'Cap is Back' poster, his stomach twisting in a mix of emotions he doesn't bother to separate and identify. At this point, it's just another weight added onto his shoulders, just another drop in the bucket.

The Flag Smashers.

Watching John Walker indoctrinated as the 'new Captain America'.

His best friend gone AWOL.

It was all just piling on.

He could almost feel it when he walked, each step weighed down by the insurmountable grief, by the memories marred by tragedy.

"Seems like a good guy," Joaquin suddenly interrupts from beside Sam. "You met him?"

"No." Sam finally tears his eyes away from the poster. "Thanks for doing this on such short notice, by the way."

"No sweat, I'm just finishing up the checklist. You'll be all good to go once you land in Munich," Joaquin informs him, walking down the metal staircase to the plane.

Sam sighs, sparing the poster another glance. The whole Captain America thing still weighs on him, but then he remembers he's got other, more pressing matters to take care of.

He walks down the metal staircase with his duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He doesn't even need to turn his head to feel the familiar glare burning holes into the side of his head.

Sam stops at the foot of the steps, right into a very aggravated Bucky Barnes.

Bucky wastes no time with greetings or niceties, getting straight to the point of contention. "You shouldn't have given up that shield."

Sam rolls his eyes, continuing his walk down to the plane. "Always good to see you, Buck."

"Cut the shit, Sam. This is wrong," Bucky continues, his tone full of unspoken demands and unbridled irritation.

Sam finally halts his walk, but only to wave Bucky off. "I'm working, alright? All this outrage is just going to have to wait."

Bucky accusingly points at one of the many new Captain America posters plastered all over the base. "You didn't know that was going to happen?"

"Of course I didn't know that was going to happen!" Sam indignantly exclaims. "You think it didn't break my heart to see them march him out there and call him the new Captain America?"

"You know this isn't what Steve wanted."

"And what would you like me to do? Call America and tell them I changed my mind?" Sam rhetorically asks, a humorless chuckle leaving his mouth. "Yeah, because that would go over so well. It's been a great reunion, buddy. Be well."

"You had no right to give up the shield!" Bucky barks, stopping Sam once more.

This time Sam whirls around, his calm expression now straining to maintain composure. "See, this is what you're not gonna do. You're not going to come here in your overextended life and tell me about my rights. It's over, Bucky. It's done."

Bucky's jaw clenches, shaking his head in clear disappointment.

Sam takes another moment to collect himself. With one last exhale, Sam breaks the tense silence, "Besides, I've got bigger things to worry about right now."

"What could be bigger than this?"

Sam hesitates for a moment, wondering if he should really drag Bucky into whatever Joaquin stumbled upon with the Flag Smashers.