The excitement wears off fast, leaving Sam unhappy and utterly confused.
Don't get him wrong - he expected things to be a bit rocky. He's existed in the Inbetween for a while now, just a mortal engaging with the world of those who are not. Like many, he stumbled his way into learning of the supernatural by sheer accident one day. Like few, he's taken to that mostly unshakeable. For years since he's worked at the Gift Basket, a bar for those like him. The bar is a bit of a community hub. It serves the usual (and unusual) drinks of both worlds, but mostly oak known for serving the Gift Basket - a blackout kind of mixture of alcohols that every patron is served once - and only once - the first time they visit the bar after learning that the world is wider than they knew before. It helps them cope.
Point is, he knows how things work pretty damn well from all angles. Knows that sun and moon separating isn't unheard of but extremely unusual. Sam knows Steve Rogers, would call them friends if he he thought someone who has existed as little more than a symbol could have those. Served him drinks a few times. Even to the moon, here and there over the years. The moon is a recluse by choice, as Steve Roger's explains. Not one for company. Not one for travel, either. Sam's a little ashamed of how much those blue eyes stay with him after the very few times he saw him, mostly from a distance. Harmless to crush on a pretty face of.someone beyond your reach, right?
Except then Steven Rogers names him a potential successor without asking and everything happens very fast after that.
The thing is if Steve had asked, Sam would have said no, probably. The Sun is important, but the Sun is also in a partnership with the Moon, and given what little he has heard about Bucky Barnes, Sam's not sure he can meet the man's needs - and that's not even regarding the needs of the world at large. Because Sam wants to help, sure, but he's not sure he can be the kind of symbol Steve Rogers was. Again: he's just a guy.
And then Bucky Barnes chooses him and tips his world upside down.
Sam has two thoughts simultabeously: fuck yes and oh no.
In the end the thrill of being chosen by his future... spouse? Partner? Outweighs Sam's personal feelings on anything else.
It goes to shit from there, and fast.
For being the person who chose Sam, Bucky is distant. Aloof. Sam gets the impression he's not liked nor wanted. So while Steve Rogers travels to England to marry the love of his life, Sam stares down the barrel of immortality shared with a man who doesn't care for his company.
Perhaps he misjudged the choosing. Perhaps Barnes chose because he had to, not because he wanted to. Perhaps Barnes loved the man who left him and is now bereft. So Sam is now caught between sympathy and annoyance, and feels like the situation is fair to neither of them.
He postpones travels. The world won't go to shit without him travelling, his blessings are entirely optional, and he cannot bring warmth and magic when no strength is shared and given between him and his moon. But Bucky is so clearly and obviously unwell that Sam cannot fathom asking to make plans, nor could he justify leaving him behind. Wants to be able to.offer a shared journey, at least. One day, when Bucky can stand the sight of him, perhaps.
It comes as a surprise when one early afternoon, Bucky calls for.him after not showing his face all day. This has not happened before. In fact Sam feels like Bucky might have spoken about three words to him since Sam moved in.
Sam goes to his room, more curious than concerned until he enters the room, and hears those words.
For a moment, he can't move. The room is miserably cold, physically and its very energy, and everything feels gloomy and grey. Bucky looks like he hasn't gotten out of bed at all today, and Sam takes quick strides to his bedside. Sits on the edge of the mattress and touches Bucky's forehead. No fever, but...
"Shit, man, you're cold as ice..."
He's so cold to the touch it scares, Sam, and for a moment he doesn't know what to do about this. How do you deal with someone who is immortal but this kind of sick? Either way, warmth is needed. So Sam takes Buck's ice cold hands in his, gentle, to share warmth.
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Don't get him wrong - he expected things to be a bit rocky. He's existed in the Inbetween for a while now, just a mortal engaging with the world of those who are not. Like many, he stumbled his way into learning of the supernatural by sheer accident one day. Like few, he's taken to that mostly unshakeable. For years since he's worked at the Gift Basket, a bar for those like him. The bar is a bit of a community hub. It serves the usual (and unusual) drinks of both worlds, but mostly oak known for serving the Gift Basket - a blackout kind of mixture of alcohols that every patron is served once - and only once - the first time they visit the bar after learning that the world is wider than they knew before. It helps them cope.
Point is, he knows how things work pretty damn well from all angles. Knows that sun and moon separating isn't unheard of but extremely unusual. Sam knows Steve Rogers, would call them friends if he he thought someone who has existed as little more than a symbol could have those. Served him drinks a few times. Even to the moon, here and there over the years. The moon is a recluse by choice, as Steve Roger's explains. Not one for company. Not one for travel, either. Sam's a little ashamed of how much those blue eyes stay with him after the very few times he saw him, mostly from a distance. Harmless to crush on a pretty face of.someone beyond your reach, right?
Except then Steven Rogers names him a potential successor without asking and everything happens very fast after that.
The thing is if Steve had asked, Sam would have said no, probably. The Sun is important, but the Sun is also in a partnership with the Moon, and given what little he has heard about Bucky Barnes, Sam's not sure he can meet the man's needs - and that's not even regarding the needs of the world at large. Because Sam wants to help, sure, but he's not sure he can be the kind of symbol Steve Rogers was. Again: he's just a guy.
And then Bucky Barnes chooses him and tips his world upside down.
Sam has two thoughts simultabeously: fuck yes and oh no.
In the end the thrill of being chosen by his future... spouse? Partner? Outweighs Sam's personal feelings on anything else.
It goes to shit from there, and fast.
For being the person who chose Sam, Bucky is distant. Aloof. Sam gets the impression he's not liked nor wanted. So while Steve Rogers travels to England to marry the love of his life, Sam stares down the barrel of immortality shared with a man who doesn't care for his company.
Perhaps he misjudged the choosing. Perhaps Barnes chose because he had to, not because he wanted to. Perhaps Barnes loved the man who left him and is now bereft. So Sam is now caught between sympathy and annoyance, and feels like the situation is fair to neither of them.
He postpones travels. The world won't go to shit without him travelling, his blessings are entirely optional, and he cannot bring warmth and magic when no strength is shared and given between him and his moon. But Bucky is so clearly and obviously unwell that Sam cannot fathom asking to make plans, nor could he justify leaving him behind. Wants to be able to.offer a shared journey, at least. One day, when Bucky can stand the sight of him, perhaps.
It comes as a surprise when one early afternoon, Bucky calls for.him after not showing his face all day. This has not happened before. In fact Sam feels like Bucky might have spoken about three words to him since Sam moved in.
Sam goes to his room, more curious than concerned until he enters the room, and hears those words.
For a moment, he can't move. The room is miserably cold, physically and its very energy, and everything feels gloomy and grey. Bucky looks like he hasn't gotten out of bed at all today, and Sam takes quick strides to his bedside. Sits on the edge of the mattress and touches Bucky's forehead. No fever, but...
"Shit, man, you're cold as ice..."
He's so cold to the touch it scares, Sam, and for a moment he doesn't know what to do about this. How do you deal with someone who is immortal but this kind of sick? Either way, warmth is needed. So Sam takes Buck's ice cold hands in his, gentle, to share warmth.
"Can't do what again?"