Final Lap - Sambucky AU

32

The next day was practice.

Sam got down to the track and got ready. He was in his racing suit when Steve car rolled back into his paddock.

Steve jumped out and smiled as his team principal praised him. Sam ignored him until he came over.

"Sam! How's everything?"' Steve asked. Sam looked at him and just sighed with a chuckle. "Exhausting... why?"

"Just curious. I thought I'd ask since Bucky seems out of it." Steve said as the Mercedes car pulled back into its pits.

Sam already knew this. "Yeah I know. When he wants to chat, we will talk, but I'm not going to force him." He pulled his helmet down and started his car.

Steve moved out of the way letting Sam pull out of the paddock and go do some practice laps.

Bucky sat in his paddock doing reflexes practice. Natasha sat at a table watching him. She knew he was tired and stressed, but he was getting better at hiding it.

"You okay ?" She asked. He just nodded and kept doing reaction practice. She walked over and turned off his practice. He looked at her silently.

"You know damn well your reaction times are fine. What's wrong?" She said as she pulled a stool up next to him. Bucky sighed and looked at her.

"Just tired of dad. And he's gonna be here all season." He said as he looked at her. She nodded and patted his back.

"Want me to book you a separate room from everyone?" She asked.

"No. I don't trust him around mom and Becca alone. So, I'm staying there." He said as he saw a car pulling back into the pits.

Bucky noticed it was Ferrari. He smiled softly and sighed as he grabbed his helmet. Natasha rubbed his back. "It'll be over soon."

"I know." He said as he pulled his helmet on and walked out to his car. He waved to Sam as he jumped into the car.

Sam waved back. He went over to the observation deck to watch Bucky race.

Bucky pulled onto the track and then basically blasted off. He turned the corners and raced the track with finesse.

Sam watched with a smirk. "Damn..." he said with pride. As he said that Steve came up behind him.

"It's crazy how you turned him into a beast." Steve said. Sam turned and looked at Steve.

"I didn't turn him into anything. He did that himself." Sam said. Sam always knew Bucky was the best racer he had ever seen, he didn't turn Bucky into anything, he just reignited something.

"Yeah. Okay..." Steve said as he watched Bucky race by. He going on average 250 MPH. Steve frowned as he did.

"I wouldn't get close to him, Sam." Steve said as he looked at Sam.

"And why is that?"

"He is difficult and dangerous." Steve said as Bucky crossed the line and qualified for P1. He victory circles before he pulled off the track. Sam smirked at Buckys tricks.

"Sorry Steve..." Sam looked at Steve. "I like difficult, and... I like dangerous." He winked at Steve and went back down to the pits.

Steve sighed and chuckled. "Fine then... it's your funeral."

Sam walked down over to the pits and leaned against the door as Bucky pulled up. Bucky lifted his visor up, which revealed some happy eyes.

Sam smiled softly at that. Bucky got up and out of his car and took his helmet off. His hair stuck up. Sam chuckled.

"So there is something that is not perfect." Bucky looked at him slightly confused.

Sam flicked his forehead gently and pointed up. "Helmet hair." Bucky chuckled slightly and rolled his eyes.

"And?" Bucky Said. Sam suddenly realized Bucky was a bit taller than him. He blushed slightly but Bucky couldn't even tell.

"And? Fix it." Sam said with a chuckle as he walked into the Mercedes Pits. "Hey Natasha." He said as he sat on a counter. She waved with a smile

Bucky walked in and placed his helmet next to Sam. "How'd I do, Natasha?" He said as he watched his lap.

"You did 4.3 seconds better than this morning." She said as she handed him a sheet of paper showing him his progress.

"Looks good." He said as he read the paper. Sam watched Bucky. He was in awe with how this man could switch when he was working.
It was a talent he found impressive.

He got up and stretched. "Well, I'll leave you alone, good job out there." Sam said.

"You don't have to go. Trust me, I'm paying attention to you, you just haven't said anything." Bucky said looking at him. Sam wasn't surprised by this.

"Well, I have to go, but I will say this. How are you?" Sam said. Bucky stared at his papers for a second longer and then looked at him.

"I'll survive." He said. Natasha looked at Bucky and sighed. Sam glanced at Natasha, and she motioned to her phone.

"Alright. Well... I'll see you tomorrow at the track." Sam said with a little wave and then walked out.

Bucky then turned to Natasha who was typing on her phone. He walked over to her and snatched her phone from her. "Hey!" She yelled.

"Don't tell him about the fight I got into with my dad." He said seriously. She frowned. "And why should I do that?"

"He will be more concerned about that than the race tomorrow. I don't need him worrying about me. Instead, he needs to focus on being ready." Bucky said as he turned her phone off and handed it to her.

"He's always ready..." she said.

"Hmmm you never know. You still see me getting ready despite having the most points this season so far. Right?" He said as he sat next to her.

"Yes. I do."

"Then he needs to have a clear mind for racing before worrying about something he shouldn't be." Natasha sighed and turned her phone off and put it in her pocket.

"Fine."