Chapter Text
He watches them from the kitchen island. Hips colliding in gentle, teasing glides as they giggle over the sizzling pan in front of them.
The food smells divine, but Bucky sticks to a plain bowl of cereal so he can get out of here faster. It's not like Bucky is much of a cook these days anyway, but he may have dished up some toast and eggs for himself if it wasn't for the budding couple always cheerily cooking together.
Bucky's eyes rake over the low hanging pajamas pants, the fitted t-shirt hugging all the right spots. God, if Sam knew. If Sam knew how fucking amazing he looked wearing anything.
"Bucky?" Hannah says distorting his view of Sam's figure.
Hannah is Sam's new girlfriend. She's a nice girl, nothing to complain about. She sure is good-looking. Of course, she's still well out of Sam's league because practically everyone in out of that gorgeous man's league. Even Bucky wouldn't stand a chance.
Regardless, Bucky knows how damn lucky this Hannah is to even be in Sam Wilson's grace, never mind getting the privilege to be his girlfriend. Bucky can only imagine what that's like. To get all his attention and devotion. To get to feel his smooth, soft skin. Firm, ample muscles wrapping around her in God knows how many ways.
"Bucky?" she repeats.
Bucky blinks up at her.
"Sorry, what?"
"I was just asking if you want some eggs, toast, bacon? We made a bunch. Help yourself, cutie," Hannah offers in her usual bubbly tone.
Bucky tries not to flinch at the term of endearment thrown so casually at him. She does this all the time. Bucky really thinks Sam should be mad. He knows he would be pissed if he ever had the chance to date Sam and anyone dared called his Sam a cutie in front of him.
Sam never seems bothered though and Bucky's been trying to ignore it every time it happens. Unfortunately, this Hannah chick loves calling him cutie, honey, all different, little names. Bucky's honestly contemplating talking to Sam about it. Maybe Sam doesn't realize how often it happens and what if it means more? What if Hannah actually thinks he's cute? He'd never touch a girl Sam was with, never. Bucky needs Sam to know that.
Hannah is still staring at him with a perplexed smile on her face.
"I think he's zoning out again," Hannah giggles over her shoulder.
Sam steps away from the stove and snakes an arm around his girlfriend's waist, right in front of Bucky, like they're fucking taunting him.
Bucky blinks again. He needs to stop getting lost in dumb thoughts.
"Uh, no I'm good with cereal - thanks," Bucky answers.
They both showcase big smiles for him like they're pleased he's here, but Bucky wants to be anywhere, but here. Anywhere Sam's lovely girlfriend isn't. Anywhere he can't see Sam's long fingers cradling around her hip.
Bucky stands abruptly from the barstool, he can't take anymore. Sam and Hannah's expressions drop in sync as they watch Bucky take his bowl to the sink.
"Hey man, you didn't finish," Sam points out as Bucky dumps his bowl of half uneaten cereal into the sink.
"Not that hungry," he shrugs. "I'm gonna head out. See you guys later."
"Okay, bye Buck," Hannah gleefully waves him off.
Bucky hides his flinch as he turns and leaves. He doesn't like that Hannah calls him Buck, she doesn't have that right.
Sam and Steve call him Buck, that's it.
They're fucking holding hands and nuzzling their noses together in between turns.
Why the hell did Bucky agree to a game night with Sam and his girlfriend? Fuck, this is miserable. Also, this game is miserable. They're playing Life and Bucky's out of money, somehow with a family of four and constantly landing on every bad square on the board. The loving couple across from him thinks this is pure entertainment and laugh every time steam rolls out of Bucky's ears when he picks up another awful card.
"I can't afford another baby," Bucky grouses as he chucks the card down.
Hannah hides her smirk into the hand she has interwoven with Sam's. Sam leans over to bump his shoulder playfully into hers.
"You gotta get another loan, Buck," Sam chuckles, but he's staring into Hannah's eyes.
The sight makes Bucky's rage only boil more. It's a dumb fucking game that Bucky could actually care less about. The real problem is having to watch Sam give all his precious affection to this lucky woman. What Bucky would give to have Sam smile at him like that, to lean in that close.
"No, I'm done playing," Bucky announces tearing his gaze away.
"You're admitting defeat?" Sam gasps pretending to look shocked all to make Hannah giggle. It works, goddamit.
"Who cares about this stupid, fucking game," Bucky mutters.
"I care!" Sam bellows acting outraged at Bucky's quitting of the board game.
Hannah giggles again, shifting into Sam's chest and making Bucky's gut coil.
"Whatever," Bucky grits shaking his head in aggravation.
He shoves his toy car with his family of four and the cards on his side across the board to emphasize his abandonment of the game.
"You're so cute when you're frustrated," Hannah adores.
Bucky stiffens, eyes flashing up at her nervously. This sounds more serious than simply referring to him as "cutie".
"What?" he questions, his eyes darting to Sam.
The two of them only exchange sly smiles before turning back to him.
"It's okay, she's allowed to say that," Sam tells him.
Bucky's eyes widen. That doesn't make any fucking sense. Why would Sam let his woman hit on him?
Bucky tries to let it go, he has to act cool about it. Clearly, Sam's not freaking out so he can't be the only one.
"You guys are weird," Bucky plays off, shaking his head again.
Sam ignores his response and leans close to Hannah's lips. Bucky shoots up from his chair.
Their eyes shoot back to Bucky when the chair makes an unpleasantly loud sound on the hardwood floor below.
"Well, goodnight," Bucky states simply, hoping to distract from how desperately he needs to leave this room.
"Goodnight," they both return.
Bucky is already devising a plan of how to politely decline anymore group activities with Sam and Hannah. He's barely surviving at this point, he really doesn't think he can take anymore.
Unfortunately, Bucky's desire to please Sam and say yes to his every request makes this extremely difficult. That's how he got roped into game nights and third wheeling movie dates in the first place. It's Sam's perfect face and pleading, brown eyes that dig into Bucky until his heart crumbles and he says yes to anything the man asks.
So, he's not sure how he's going to figure out this one.
Luckily, Bucky is gifted some time when he's finally back on a mission with Sam. Finally, Bucky gets a break from Hannah, a break from watching Hannah get to do everything Bucky dreams of with Sam.
They're heading to a possible alien sighting. They've been checking every one reported and, thankfully, this one is far enough away they need the jet to get there.
Bucky might be a little too chipper about this that he's cracking jokes on the Quinjet. Joaquín and Sam are laughing, but they're also looking at him funny because he doesn't normally make jokes. Bucky doesn't care about the side eye, he revels in his girlfriend-free space and cracks on with more jokes.
When Joaquín returns to the cockpit, Bucky instantly notices Sam moving closer to him. Bucky's heart kicks into high gear from Sam's nearing presence. Regardless of Hannah's absence, he constantly has to work on keeping himself in check around this flawless man.
"Hey Buck, I've been meaning to talk to you about something," Sam makes his intentions clear.
"What's up?" Bucky asks casually, fiddling with the earpieces and equipment laid out on the table to busy himself with something.
Sam steps ever closer, their shoulders brushing together. Bucky allows the contact, privately revels in it, but then Sam continues.
"It's about Hannah."
Bucky backs up on instinct, his heart racing into overdrive, his mind scrambling. Bucky knew he should have brought up the "cute" comments sooner. Sure, Sam seemed fine with it, but it's obvious he was simply putting on an act to save face in front of his girlfriend.
Bucky looks back up fearfully and sees Sam's features lacing with confusion.
"It's nothing bad, we just need to talk it through," Sam tries to assure him, but it doesn't calm Bucky in the slightest.
"Look, I don't know why she calls me those things," Bucky spits out.
Sam pauses for a beat before a wave of recognition flickers across his face and his expression softens.
"Oh, I don't care if she calls you cute - that's just Hannah being Hannah," Sam dismisses, but Bucky shakes his head baffled. "I know you panicked, I saw the look on your face the other night."
"I didn't panic," Bucky quickly gets defensive.
He doesn't want Sam to think he panics over women calling him cute. It's not about women or Hannah, it's never been.
Sam shakes his head shortly.
"Alright listen, I just wanna talk because you've been acting different ever since Hannah came into the picture," Sam presents.
Oh fuck, fuck, he knows. Now, Bucky loses it, truly starts panicking, but he uses everything in his power not to show it. He keeps his face void of any reaction and bites the inside of his mouth so hard it might be bleeding.
Sam doesn't seem phased by Bucky's internal turmoil and goes on.
"It took me a while to realize what was going on and I want you to know, it's okay. You can like her, but you can't make a move on her," Sam finishes.
Bucky freezes, his skin coating with a cold layer of reality. Oh.
He stands speechless for a few moments and Sam allows this time for his words to sink in.
"I would never make a move on Hannah," Bucky finally says.
"Alright, good. I just needed to be clear about this. And look, if you ever need to talk to me, I'm here, okay?" Sam lends.
Bucky nods stiffly, still reeling from the discovery that Sam thinks his infatuation is for Hannah.
"Great. Also, if you want, I can set you up with someone or maybe Hannah can. People always say the best way to get over someone is to meet someone new."
Bucky tries not to laugh at the irony of this. He presses his mouth tight to keep the sound in.
"That's good advice," Bucky forces out.
Sam smiles and pats Bucky's shoulder supportively.
Bucky finds himself staring right into Sam's rich, brown eyes until he's fully distracted, entirely lost in them, but Sam doesn't notice.
Sam merely turns back to the table and picks up his earpiece right as Joaquín walks back through the door.