1 | Almost Happy ▷ Sam Wilson | ✓

25 - NOSTALGIA FACTOR

NOTHING MUCH CHANGED AFTER THAT. It would be easy to say that the two fell madly in love not long after and fell into a whirlwind of romance that resulted in a happily ever after just two days after their professed mutual like in the back of a dark restaurant, but that was simply not the case.

In reality, not much changed, though it couldn't be said that Sam didn't sit closer to Nicky whenever he swung by the loft with or without Steve, and it couldn't be said that Nicky didn't smile a lot more whenever Sam was even mentioned, which was truly saying a lot, and it definitely couldn't be said that Steve didn't owe Rhett fifty dollars after receiving a text from Sam later that night.

Small changes. But it was the little things that counted, and those little things would stack up over time, but, for now, they remained small.

Sam was lounging around the loft, waiting for Nicky to return, only for Steve to enter the room, immediately grinning at the sight of him, the older man scoffing and turning away, trying to hide on the couch.

"I find it funny that we're the only ones here, you know, since we don't live here," Steve said conversationally, plopping down onto one of the couches and stretching his unfairly large body, "Don't you think, Sam?"

"Don't you have an apple pie to choke on?" the older man asked, his eyes closed as he faced the ceiling.

Steve laughed, and, even with his eyes closed, Sam could see the grin on his face, the same one he had used when they formally met after running alongside each other back in D.C.. It was a smile that Sam had grown to both love and be wary of, but that didn't stop him from going along with whatever plan Steve had; the man had yet to have a plan that he just couldn't agree to.

"How's Rhett?" Sam drawled, trying to gain the upper hand in the conversation, looking over and giving the man a sly smile.

To his surprise, Steve didn't blush and stammer, nor did he give his own grin in response. Instead, he was serious, though not somber. "He's good. Great, really, he's been a lot happier since Hyde was put away."

Christian Hyde was a man who, for all intents and purposes, had been hunting Rhett throughout the decades, given the same serum that he had been given, though much more adept at controlling its effects, unlike Rhett, who had gotten trapped in the 21st century, thus his meeting Nicky. But the man had been apprehended during Christmas just passed, and life had been much more calm.

"I'm still not so right on how Nicky got himself tangled up with a guy who grew up during the same time as you," Sam said, "And I'm happy for him, honestly. You two seem really happy."

"We are," Steve said, glad to not have to acknowledge the first half of Sam's statement, as it wasn't his story to tell, "At least, I hope we are."

Sam sat up at that, sobering instantly. "Hey, did something happen?"

Steve shook his head quickly, eyes widening. "No, we're still good, don't worry. I just—I hope he's not getting bored of me."

Sam couldn't help but snort. "Man, are you seriously worried about that? Rhett loves you, anyone can see that, he gets these heart eyes whenever he sees you, it's disgustingly cute."

Steve laughed softly, staring at his hands. "You think so?"

Sam nodded. "Definitely. I mean, it's not that hard, Steve, have you looked in a mirror? Though, I mean, you're putting Rhett in a really dangerous position."

The blond jerked, raising his head and staring at Sam with clear worry and panic. "What do you mean, I thought we were safe, Tony said Ross wasn't looking for us or anything."