Here’s the thing, I LOVE reading sambucky AUs. I’ve made a list of some of my favorites, and since it’s promotion Monday, I thought I’d share it with y’all.
1. You Got What I Need by @six2vii – Lawyer!Sam & Chef!Bucky
E - 37,635
Summary: Sam and Bucky are both in a bind, professionally. Nat points out a solution that neither men like. To save their careers they play along or rather, stop playing all together.
Note: This was such a lovely read. It has fake dating, with a bit of enemies to lovers. The buildup and slow burn is so well written. Also the writer has many +20k different aus with detailed worlds you might wanna give them a go.
**
2. To The Full Moon And Back by @glittercake – Werewolf!Sam & Human!Bucky
E - 24,697
Summary: After serving his time in Special Ops, Bucky moves to a two-horse town, deep in the mountains. He buys an old log cabin in a large clearing surrounded by acres of tall, thick trees and dark woods- the only place for miles up there.
As he acquaints himself with the locals, he learns about the small town’s weird obsession with wolves and all the supernatural rumors, specifically around the area of his cabin.
Bucky thinks them all a little off-kilter until peculiar occurrences around his new home piques his interest enough to find out more.
And that’s when he learns that apparently werewolves are a very real thing.
Pity that Bucky doesn’t share the town’s caution when it comes to the woods and his cabin.
This ‘werewolf’ devoured his pizza and left the crust, how scary can he really be?
Note: An amazingly written fic all around. it has Sam with long hair, need I say more?
**
3. ghosts that we knew by wilsonsnest – Artist!Sam
T - 46,616
Summary: Sam (reluctantly) agrees to do a commission for Steve's rich but extremely reclusive friend, James Barnes.
Sam just stared at the other man, the feeling of being watched suddenly overcoming him. God, what kind of weirdo didn’t even come to greet their guests? It was one thing to be a rich recluse, but another thing to just completely ignore people wandering around your house.
“Steve, this is really weird.” Sam stressed. “This isn’t weird to you?”
Note: This one is very dear to me, and I don’t find it recommended quite often. I read it twice in a row, and I can’t get enough of it. The atmosphere is chilling at times. And the writing and world building make you feel like you’re right there. Their communication throughout the early chapters is pure gold. It’s adds a hint of mystery to everything and makes you wanna finish the thing immediately (which I did). Also, if you love art, you’re gonna appreciate the great details used to describe the painting process.
**
4. The Boys of Summer by @siancore – Humans AU, with High School flashbacks
E - 84,227
Summary: Sam Wilson returns home to the small town he grew up in to complete his med school residency. He hasn’t been back for an extended amount of time since he left for college. While he only consistently kept in touch with childhood friend, Steve Rogers, he was keen to see the people he had grown up with. With the exception of Bucky Barnes. They had a falling out the summer before Sam left for college.
What happened between them? Can they move past it now that they’re adults?
Note: boy, oh boy, how I love this one. The back and forth between the present and the past just pulls you right in. But, please check the tags very carefully. (It deals quite heavily with homophobia, racism, emotional manipulation from a parent.)
**
5. The Real Thing by Siancore – Student!Sam & SugarDaddy!Bucky
E - 24,745
Summary: Birnin Zana is an exciting city. There’s a lot for a young man like Sam Wilson to do and see, but he is a broke American exchange student in Wakanda. He would love to see the rest of the country and continent, but for that, he needs an additional income. His scholarship covers the basics of his study, but when he isn’t studying, he takes on odd jobs for extra cash; Sam is saving up, you see. His most recent job is the reason why he is standing inside of the art museum nursing a glass of champagne and feeling completely out of place.
Note: Even though it’s missing a chapter (according the chapter count) you’ll be quite happy with where things left off. I just adore it.
**
6. Deception by Siancore – Crime AU
E - 79,992
Summary: That’s when he saw him, standing by the fucking ice sculpture: The most beautiful man he had ever laid eyes on.
Note: Am I gonna recommend everything written by Sian? Yes, yes I am. You might wanna go and check her entire catalog, like right now. This story is full of twists right and left. It sucks you right in. It has angst, it has jealousy, it has everything you need. Go read it.
**
7. Lighthouse by glittercake – Hospital AU
E - 50,767
Summary: This guy’s trouble. Bucky knows that in his bones. It’s not bad trouble, is the problem, it’s good. Sam is so goddamn inherently good and if Bucky even touches that with a ten foot pole—fuck if he even looks at it—it’ll turn to shit.
He can’t afford another move to yet another city because his colleagues started recognizing Brock’s fist prints on his face.
But Sam is a ridiculously bright glowing light, a beacon, and Bucky goes toward it like that idiotic moth to the flame.
Note: EVERYONE MOVE OUT THE WAY. This fic will always have a special place in my heart. I just recently re-read it, and all the emotions were right there, again. There are a few scenes that I revisit every now and then just to feel something. It’s a masterpiece all around. I’ll never tire of recommending it. But please check the tags and the notes very very carefully. (It deals with domestic abuse, NOT BETWEEN SAMBUCKY‼. And it gets quite graphic.)
Also, you might wanna do yourself the favor of reading everything ever written by glittercake. Go ahead, I’m gonna wait.
**
8. Stolen Moments by @jemgirl86
T - 98,822
Summary: “No,” Sam said, chuckling. “I don’t cheat,” he swept his gaze up and down James’ body, “even with guys who look like you. But, I’m bored and a little pissed, so if you wanna sit here and shoot the shit ‘til my man shows back up, I’m game.”
Never one to back down from a challenge - especially a challenge who looked like Sam Wilson - Bucky took another swig from his bottle and replied, “Sure, doll. I’ve got nothing but time.”
Steve has Sam. Bucky wants Sam. Sam wasn’t expecting any of this.
Note: I love this one with all of my heart. Usually love triangles aren’t my thing, but this one is executed beautifully, there isn’t a dull moment in sight. They're messy, and you love to see it.
A TW is in place for gaslighting. The relationship between Sam and Steve isn’t good at all.
**
9. Exactly What You're Looking For by snarkymuch – Soulmate AU
M - 5,898
Summary: When you lose something, it might appear beside your soulmate in the morning.
Sam never found anything from his soulmate until after Bucky Barnes dragged Steve from the Potomac.
Bucky grew up never finding a thing either, but after he finally gets free from Hydra, he starts finding things beside him the morning.
This is the story of them coming together.
Note: this one is pure joy. It’s not precisely au (quite canon compliant actually) but I had to put it here. It’s hilarious at times, and fluffy at others. And the alternate ending is just a delight.
**
10. i wanna savour, save it for later by caramelle – Food truck AU (is that a thing? Should be a thing)
Not Rated - 6,419
Summary: "It's his damn ratings, man," Sam says. "It's weird 'cause when you read the reviews, he seems to like our food and all. Nothing but praise for days. And then you get to the rating, and it's always the same. Three goddamn stars."
Bucky tips his beer bottle from side to side, lips pursing slightly. "I see. And that's… a bad thing?"
"We are not a three-star joint," Sam says flatly.
Or, the one where food truck owner Sam gets caught up in his quest to unmask an anonymous food blogger. Falling for one of his regulars was never on the menu.
Note: fun fact: I read this one mere minutes before an exam and finished it right after said exam. I remember nothing from that day except for this lovely fic. It’s just sweet, ok? And I love food, so there’s that.
**
11. Good Enough by junipermoss – Paramedic!Sam & DogWalker!Bucky
Not rated - 18,871
Summary: Bucky Barnes is an anxious dog walker who takes his job very seriously. Sam Wilson is a paramedic who takes his job seriously-ish. When Sam responds to an emergency call, their paths cross.
It gets worse from there.
In a good way.
Probably.
Note: THE FEELS
**
12. Who doesn't know their own coffee order? by tinyarmedtrex – Coffee Shop AU
T - 3.313
Summary: Is that what you get?” The man asked, his gaze dropping to Sam. Sam was suddenly tongue tied. The man had the most intense eyes that Sam had ever seen, it felt like he was staring at Sam’s soul but in a...good way? Sam wasn’t sure.
“No- no.” Sam shook his head. “I get cold press coffee with hazelnut.”
Sam had a feeling that the customer didn’t know what cold press was but he nodded. “I’ll take that. Large.”
Sam punched the order into the ancient computer. “Great. Anything else?” He gestured to the bakery case, the customer’s eyes following.
“How are the apple fritters?”
“Honestly pretty terrible.” Sam said, smiling slightly. “But the chocolate muffins are amazing.”
The man smiled at Sam and his heart skipped a beat. “I’ll take one of those then.”
“Good choice. What’s your name for the order?”
“Um- put Bucky I guess.”
Note: one of the very earliest AUs I’ve ever read, and it’s so so sweat.
**
I’m sure I missed a lot of aus so please, don’t hesitate to add some of your favorites (or even your own!)
it’s fic yeah friday over at @fuckyeahsambucky so i wanna do a lil something something for the fandom :) check out my #fic rec tag for more!
enjoy the more than 50 fics listed here :) be careful of the tags!
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart by Lunar_Pull
Today is the day that Steve received an invitation to the love of his life’s wedding.
Philopatry by Areiton
"I want to be safe," he says. "But I'm not."
"Then why come here? Why put me at risk?"
Something flickers in his eyes, little boy lost and utterly cold, and it makes Sam want to give the dude a hug and also pull his sidearm.
"I have no reason to hurt you," Winter says. "I don't want to hurt you," Bucky adds, earnestly.
farmhouse by Tazmaster
"You know, I think I'd want a farmhouse."
"A what?" Sam turns to look at him, slightly annoyed. This was the first thing Bucky has said in the past hour and a half they've been cramped in this god forsaken car. He had a knack for impulsively voicing his dumb thoughts at the worst times, but whenever you wanted to know what was actually going on in that head of his, he'd never say.
They were staking out the front gate of a large mansion, very much not a farmhouse. It was mind numbingly boring, being stuck in a beetle with absolutely nothing else to do than stare at the gaudy gates of some rich asshole.
"A farmhouse," Bucky repeats nonchalantly, "If we ever get out of this business, or you know, live long enough to retire maybe--- I want a farmhouse. With a lot of animals."
---
Bucky keeps talking about a farmhouse and it drives Sam crazy, that is until he finally asks why.
Employee Discount by bopeep for queenmab_scherzo
Sam Wilson doesn't love working in a store that makes him wear vanity-sized polos and breathe in clouds of men's cologne like the worst kind of GQ aromatherapy, but the view from his cash register across the mall to the Hot Topic and the sullen Dark Prince of Wallet Chains he loves to hate may just beat the minimum wage blues.
In warm water, swimming down by targaryen_melodrama
“Why are you hiding?””Tired.”Bucky raises an eyebrow. “So you decided to swim.”“So I decided to be alone.”Bucky’s quiet for a moment. “I can go, if you want.”It’s the last thing Sam wants.
I figured out what the slashes mean by Teaismycoffee
Sam, Steve and Bucky are all living together in a safe house. Bucky and Sam discover fan fiction written about them. Steve doesn't approve. Sam and Bucky are really into secretly reading fan fiction together, or maybe it isn't the fan fiction part they are really into.
Chicken Soup for the Soul by bioloyg
“S’not my bed time,” Sam says as he buries his face in Bucky’s upper arm.
Bucky laughs. “Tough. You’re sick.”
Sam lets out a loan groan and says, “But my bed is cold. I was so warm, why’d you move me?”
“Because your neck would’ve hated you if I didn’t.” He tries not to be so amused by how fussy Sam is when he’s both sick and half-asleep. It’s cute.
~
A fic wherein Bucky takes care of a sick Sam.
two nights in L.A. by CapnWinghead
Bucky kindly volunteered Sam to be a groomsman for Scott’s upcoming wedding. Of course, that meant Sam and Bucky had to go to the bachelor party.
at the end of the war (what's mine is yours) by notcaycepollard
They don't talk about it: that's how it works.
I'd Like That by honestlydarkprincess
Sam has been up for over 24 hours and has been dreaming about his Coffee Caramel Fudge non-dairy ice cream since about the 18-hour mark. When he gets to the store, there's only one carton of it left and, unfortunately for the guy innocently holding said carton, Sam's not leaving without it.
Or, the one where Sam is sleep deprived, yells at a cute guy, and gets both ice cream and a phone number out of it.
Ready, Set, Date! by bioloyg
Bucky wants to sleep, Natasha wants to find him a date for Steve's wedding (so he'll leave her alone), and Sam is the best thing about this whole speed dating disaster. But, Sam's not in the speed date rotations - he's at a different table weathering through dates just like Bucky is.
~
"Three dates in, Bucky decides he has made one of the worst decisions in all of his life by coming here. His first date had been an attractive enough man by the name of Greg. He introduces himself as “The Big G,” to which Sam laughs at in the middle of introducing himself to his own date. Greg likes to talk about cars a lot, which is fine. Bucky also likes cars. The only problem is that Greg’s love for cars borders on… erotic."
We'll rise up free and easy by Sarsaparilla, woofgender
Steve and Natasha are away on a mission when Sam receives intel about the Winter Soldier’s location. When he follows the lead, Sam finds something unexpected—but despite his initial impression, it’s certainly not all bad. (Post-CATWS, not AOU- or CACW-compliant.)
__________
"'Jesus Christ,' Sam said, 'Are you planning on fighting an entire army?'
Barnes looked up from examining the sights of a sniper rifle. '...no,' he said, a little guiltily, and adjusted one of the--five? Six? guns he’d already strapped to himself."
love is in the air (i smell coffee) by Flora_K, hermionesmydawg
Sam Wilson - graduate student, part-time barista, part-time salesman, and full-time father - doesn't have time to sleep, much less date. At least, that's what he tells himself.
Up at Night by bioloyg for lunaaltare
With Halloween nearing, Sam is feeling more in the mood for a scary movie than usual. He'd never watch one on his own though, so he invites his roommate to pick one out and join in on movie night.
or
Prompt fill for Samtember
~
"It’s quiet for a while after that. Like always, the two of them start on opposite sides of the queen sized bed with at least a foot of space between them. And, like always, they drift closer to one another as time passes, though whether it’s habitual or instinctual Sam would never dare delve into."
flowers in darkness, the moon above the sea by 27dis
Sam enjoyed his job, really.
But, not when a certain person came in.
A quick detour and a sudden arrival by iwillnotbecaged for heuradys
He found Wilson shivering in the snow, left for dead. Sloppy.
You couldn’t trust the elements to do your job for you. They were rarely so obliging.
A mission gone awry, unexpected help, and close quarters makes for an interesting couple of days.
Don't lock the door on me by TuskFM
Sam’s desperately trying to sleep when he gets a visit from the Winter Soldier at three a.m., bleeding and asking for help. Sam’s not the kind of guy who let someone bleed out on his front door, even if the said someone threw him off an helicarrier and stole his wheel.
and i run, further than before by hermionesmydawg
"What do they call you?" Bucky carefully pulls out an equal amount of caramel and cheese kernels of popcorn and pops them into his mouth. "Birdman?"
"No."
"Captain Canary?"
"Hell no."
"The Winged Avenger?"
"Falcon, dammit, and I am not an Avenger," Sam snaps, and now he's kinda pissed because yes, it's a bird name. He didn't sign up for this kind of ridicule from an amnesiac assassin.
***
Basically, the 5 times Sam actually found Bucky and the 1 time he tried to hide from him. Don't tell Steve.
Exquisite Flavor by enchantedlightningwrites for honestlyfrance
W&M's Grand Corner's growing to be one of the popular restaurants in New York, where Sam Wilson works as a chef for his sister. A wedding's in a few weeks and he has no idea on what to do about it. Notorious for his picky taste and blunt reviews, Bucky 'Winter Wolf' Barnes pays a visit. Little did he know, food could really win one's heart and lands on his stomach.
He's a Beta, You Hear That? by 27dis
Reasons why Sam didn’t realize Bucky was courting him this entire time:
1. He is a beta
2. He is oblivious
3. He thought Bucky is way out of his league
4. He is a beta for fuck’s sake
See? It’s hardly his fault for not noticing it. Why was Bucky flirting with him anyw—
Oh. Oh.
Or;
Bucky swore flirting with someone was never this hard before.
stay where we belong by glittercake
He doesn't know what the hell he's doing when he turns around and shouts, "Yo! You know what—" and Barnes turns on his heel in a flash, "It's getting late, man. Looks like rain."
Sam motions to the grey sky above, and Barnes follows his eyes beyond the hanging Willow branches. "Yeah? What are you saying?"
He's got that terribly smug look on his face, the one Sam can't stand but kind of misses when it's not irritating him. But mostly, he can't stand it, "Nothing! Forget about it!"
Arms Spread Out Wide, Turn Falling Into Flight by irisesandlilies
It was easy, nothing has ever been easy for Bucky. Except this, and that terrifies him.
Years in the making by glittercake
Bucky and Sam meet as two young soldiers, but the time is never quite right to make it anything more. Until it eventually is.
or
Sam refuses to let himself fall in love while he's deployed. Bucky pines endlessly for years about the prettiest bird he’s ever seen. Sam’s no better.
If At First You Don't Succeed by SonnyD
Bucky finally gains the courage to tell Sam about his feelings. He comes up with a list of methods to woo him that were bound to succeed. He didn't account for each and every one of them failing in unexpected ways. The five times that Bucky attempts to woo Sam and the one time that Sam returns the favour.
if i could take us back, if i could just do that... by safelikespringtime
Bucky laughed, cheeks flushing red, “I’m glad you didn't. Don't know what I’d do without my wingman.”
Sam groaned, poking Bucky’s side, “That was awful.”
Bucky laughed.
“You couldn’t survive without me. We both know it.”
How right he was.
***
Sam dies. Bucky mourns.
Strawberries and Cigarettes always taste like you by winterscaptsam
There’s a sweet agonizing simplicity in leaving behind your safe haven, like the thrill of adrenaline, reaching the top of Everest, allowed to admire its beautiful icy view but with the everlasting fear of not making it back down. Maybe that's why it was a natural instinct for Bucky to reach out for the closest thing that felt like home, slowly then all at once falling for the sweet warmth of mahogany eyes, what soon became his safe haven.
Baked With Love by Siancore
Bucky Barnes’ family owns a bakery in a small town. High school has long been over, and Bucky is dying to move to the city to pursue a musical career with his band. And his future looks promising, if he can just persuade his father to let him leave his job behind at their struggling family bakery.
It is no secret that Bucky used to love baking with his father, but things change. He just can’t fathom wasting his life away watching rising dough and hot ovens. With his mind made up to leave, Bucky convinces his father to advertise for a replacement. While interviewing candidates to fill the position he has vacated, Bucky meets Sam Wilson: An easy-going guy who is as eager about baking as Bucky is about leaving. They bond over baking and become close. Love looks like it is ready to bloom between them if Bucky, in his haste to escape, does not ruin it.
Beneath this Crown by winterscaptsam
Sam traces his fingers from James’ hairline, down to his jaw, resting the pad of his thumb on James lips. He will let himself relish in this feeling. Not even the sculptors, painters or poets could carve their words and materials to accurately describe this.
“Do you think the history books will remember us?” Sam had once asked. And James’ words were made of the purest of golds, “my love, we will be legends for the children yet to come.”
Or
Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes' love story, one a prince and the other a knight.
make my body come alive (i've got a right to hurt inside) by notcaycepollard
The body is weak. The body is hungry and soft and human. He looks at himself in the mirror, the bones of his shoulders, his cheeks hollowed out from hunger, and he thinks, gentle, you didn’t deserve this.
safe like spring time by quidhitch
“I already told you it looks good. What more is there?”
“I don’t know, man, you’re gonna live here. I just wish I knew a little bit more about how that’s sitting with you.”
Sam knows Bucky feels fine. What Sam’s probably actually after is how he feels about the fact neither of them have anywhere else to go, not with Natasha dead and Steve wrinkly. Therapists. Even the good ones, always so circular.
“I like the terrace,” Bucky offers, mostly to appease him.
Airy Laundry by AmarieMelody
Sam watches what happens when Bucky buys a clothesline.
lucky by CapnWinghead
In retrospect, it took Bucky an embarrassingly long time to realize that everyone and Scott's mom thought he and Sam were dating.
not an end, but (the start of all things) by notcaycepollard
They keep driving, for lack of anything better to do. A mission, Sam had said, and maybe that's true; maybe wherever they're headed is the way out, the way up.
So You Run On Gasoline by 343EnderSpark, ABitNotGoodieBag, OriginalCeenote
Bucky may have bitten off more than he could chew with this job, he thinks, as he ambles along the sidewalk to the cafe after leaving campus. He is running off the fumes of exhaustion and hasn’t had more than 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep in the past week. Between his students and his thesis, he knows that it’s foolish to try so hard to hang on to his barista gig, but DC isn’t a cheap place to live and Bucky can’t live with other people.
Bucky is just trying his best, despite being a human disaster.
we could jump the state lines (we only get the one life) by notcaycepollard
It starts in Paris.
“You can’t steal things just because you like them,” Sam tells Bucky, feeling innately that this is a losing battle, and Bucky cocks his head to the side, considers Sam very thoughtfully.
“Really,” he says. “I’m stealing you, aren’t I?”
we were a fire with no smoke by notcaycepollard
Sam can’t help but roll his eyes. Take the boys out of New York but they’re still Brooklyn Catholics, that’s clear enough. Bucky catches the gesture, smirks hard enough Sam can see his eye teeth. It should be dangerous but he’s beautiful, pale and charming and recklessly easy.
“You wanna come in?” Sam asks, ignoring the noise Steve makes, and Bucky’s smile gets wider.
“Yeah,” he says. Steps up close to Sam. “I do.”
Peace Begins with a Smile by Siancore
Bucky just likes the way Sam smiles.
They're Good Drones, Brent by chase_acow
When Redwing becomes infected with an alien A.I., Sam has to balance the needs of the team with his own curiosity about his new partner. Redwing isn’t the only one acting strange, he also needs to get to the bottom of Bucky’s weirdness. It takes a training exercise gone wrong that Redwing and Sam might not survive for their secrets to be exposed.
Wet Asphalt (This Is What Love Is) by ObviouslyOtter
Soft words in the dark tell us all we need to know about love. Better when they come from the person you need to hear it from most. It's crueler when you don't realize it till afterward.
Or
Sam and Bucky go out shopping for candles.
i'm gone by bi_marvel
After infiltrating a Hydra base, Sam and Bucky are sent to a safe house, and there's only one bed. Oh, golly, I wonder what will happen!
Covert Coffee & Flirtation Special by glittercake
The reporter says "—for Captain America to—"
And Bucky rolls his eyes. "Oh, here we go."
Sam looks at him then tips his head sideways, got a weird grin on his face. "Not a fan?"
"Not that. Just… the guy seems too good to be true, right? Wings and a shield? Come on."
"Uh, is that why your eyes are like glued to the screen whenever he's on?" Kate says. "Is that why you call him Captain Tight Ass?"
"He's a goddamn show-off, and you know it. Tight ass or not."
Just then Sam snorts, real loud, grabs his coffee and suffers a horribly controlled laugh on his way out the door.
The Starting Line by birdlight
A Series
Lone and Level Sands by quantum_consciousness
The almost-smile disappears off Sam’s face and he takes a step deeper into the water, and he starts unbuttoning his shirt as he wades further. One look over his shoulder and he chucks the shirt to shore, and Sam dives into the water. The ache in Bucky’s chest deepens as Sam swims. He supposes, Sam has lost a lot more, he supposes, sometimes Sam feels as lonely as he used to.
in which love doesn’t ruin us by joesnick
“Idiot,” Bucky said, so natural and deliberate that she couldn’t hear well but it was there. Relief and happiness under a small light. “Don’t do that to me again.”
“Hey, I’m here,” Sam said, before getting closer and pressing his forehead against Bucky’s. “I’m here.” They ran out of words. They didn’t need them, not at that moment. Their steadying breaths and their tenderness, saved only for each other and fed by each other, was all they needed.
Ride of Shared Melodies by enchantedlightningwrites for honestlyfrance
Two strangers, Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson meet in an unexpected encounter in the airplane. Over the course of the ride, they discover their mutual love for music and connect.
Let's Fly Away by Unclesteeb
"If I could fly, I could go anywhere. I could do anything.”
Sam’s mom gives his shoulder a gentle pat. “You can in your own way.”
“How?”
“Sammy, all you have to do to be as free as a bird is to just do the right thing.”
Sam furrows his brow. “What does that mean?”
“Well,” Sam's mom starts. “The right thing is doing nice things for people. It's treating everyone how you would want to be treated. It's going out of your way to help people and love them, even if they're not nice to you at first or at all. People deserve love, and I know you have plenty to give.” She leans down to give his cheek a kiss. “All you have to do to find your wings and fly free is to just do what you feel is right. You have a beautiful heart, Sam. I know you'll use it the right way. Then you'll fly.”
Been one of those days (can I lean on you?) by hazel_eyed_bi
Sam and Bucky wrap up an exhausting, weeks-long mission, only to go back to their mutual pining while forced to share a bed at a crappy motel. Also, Nat knows what's up.
Find your love and fight for it by winterscaptsam
Sam learns to love again, quiet and composed. Love letters stay in between walls and stolen kisses don’t leave his apartment. It's not that it's a secret, loving Bucky the way he does, lord knows he’d scream it from the rooftops, travel all the way to space to let any living life form know it as well. But that’s the problem, he just doesn’t know how and it aches him to his core to keep Bucky like a secret, like this love is something to be ashamed of.
Or
Sam decides it's about time to come out.
Kings of Everything by glittercake
Twenty-five years after the events at a popular New York Bistro, Timothy DumDum Dugan tells the true story of infamous mobster Jimmy Buchanan and the man he gave it all up for.
arson we commit by winterscaptsam
Bucky seeks adventure, reaches out for an adrenaline rush whenever he can get it and he reckons this fellow will be the one to give it to him. All sweet smiled and dolled up figure showing off his attributes. Like he’s daring anyone to take the rush.
So, Bucky goes and gets what he wants.
“What’s your damage, doll?”
Or
Bucky is the hitman and Sam is the target.
The Boys of Summer by Siancore for avintagekiss24
Sam Wilson returns home to the small town he grew up in to complete his med school residency. He hasn’t been back for an extended amount of time since he left for college. While he only consistently kept in touch with childhood friend, Steve Rogers, he was keen to see the people he had grown up with. With the exception of Bucky Barnes. They had a falling out the summer before Sam left for college.
What happened between them? Can they move past it now that they’re adults?
Sam's Plan by OhHelloFandoms123
“I have a plan,” Sam said smugly, hands on his hips. “I have a three-step plan for you to marry me.” At first, he thought he was joking. Then, he saw Sam’s genuine smile.
Bucky groaned, “there is no way in HELL that I’m marrying YOU, Wilson.”
Wreck In the West by OhHelloFandoms123 for honestlyfrance
There’s just something about leaning on his chest as the sun goes down and the smell of tea whilst into the air feels so amazing. And he was a wreck because of it, it tore him apart and put himself back together because it was so blissful, he almost couldn’t breathe at first.
OR
Gay cowboy proposal.
Belonging Season by OhHelloFandoms123
Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes have lived their most happy, married life for 70 years. Death won’t stop them today for living an eternity.
neverending; by glittercake
Sam passes away after a long and happy life with Bucky, but Bucky never ages and life keeps introducing him to Sam's reincarnates for the next 156 years.
Lighthouse by glittercake
This guy’s trouble. Bucky knows that in his bones. It’s not bad trouble, is the problem, it’s good. Sam is so goddamn inherently good and if Bucky even touches that with a ten foot pole—fuck if he even looks at it—it’ll turn to shit.
He can’t afford another move to yet another city because his colleagues started recognizing Brock’s fist prints on his face.
But Sam is a ridiculously bright glowing light, a beacon, and Bucky goes toward it like that idiotic moth to the flame.
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Do you have any good angsty with happy ending fic recs? ;3
Hi there! Not my favorite genre/trope because I don't like to be sad but I think I have a few that fit the bill!
For all of these, please heed the tags. Dead Dove Do Not Eat and all that. Some are super intense and some are much milder. Please read descriptions and tags carefully on AO3!
Leverage by KellyScams @thebestpersonherelovesbucky
Rating: Mature // Warnings: None apply but I'm going to put a tw for technically non-physical torture
This is the only fic I've read that's incorporated Valentina and I don't know if I can read anyone else's Valentina at this point. She's so in character and well written. Basic gist is Bucky being used as leverage against Sam with POV from the both of them throughout. I love Bucky's characterization and Sam's intensity. All around great fic.
(The author has a whole whump series that I need to go back through and read, so there's more if you also fall in love with this fic!)
Longing by @elwenyere
Rating: Mature // Warnings: None apply
This fic, y'all. It's so soft. It's Bucky POV but pretty focused on Sam, which is rare to find. Sam gets trapped in a kind of memory loop and Bucky has to get him out. I love all the memories we see from Sam. I love Bucky's reaction to them. The snark between the two of them is perfection. Such a solid fic. Definitely one of the tamer ones on this list as well.
The Kitchen Incident by chase_acows @ cowsalot on here (it's not linking for some reason :/)
Rating: Teen // Warnings: None apply
So silly. Your honor, they're stupid. I love the friendship between Steve and Bucky in this fic and I love the way the reader gets to see this relationship between Bucky and Sam bloom on the page (Bucky wears Sam's USAF sweatshirt 🥺😍) The snark is strong with this one and the feelings are so earnest once they come bursting out. Good communication (when they decide to communicate)
Except it Abide in the Vine by spitandvinegar
Rating: Mature // Warnings: Creator chooses not to warn (tw: for body horror) Locked to non-users
I reread this fic, like, once every six months. I love it so much. It's so beautiful and quiet and soft, while being loud and rough and hard too. It's a multiverse-esque story (published several years (??? i'm ancient) before the current multiverse of madness mcu shennigans) where Bucky and Sam lose Steve, pick up an extra Bucky and then have to reunite various Steves, Sams, and Buckys (and a Natasha) with their respective partner across a multitude of universes, settings, and time periods. It's not strictly Sam/Bucky because there are a million relationships happening, but I love it and the core of the story is Sam/Bucky working together and keeping each other held up. All the characterization is so good, all the new Sams, Buckys, Steves are so good.
double back by flowermasters
Rating: E // Warnings: None apply
A time loop fic where Sam gets stuck in 1943. So good, so tense. I'm such a sucker for time loop stories and this one is very well executed. There's so much tension in it as far as the time loop goes that you feel like you're suffocating with Sam sometimes. The characterization is so good. The 'learning to interact with someone you know but who doesn't know you yet' is so good.
What the light gives by ElleBishop @blogland-total-landscaping
Rating: E // Warnings: Creator chooses not warn (heed the tags)
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. This STORY. It's so real and intense and in character. It made my chest feel like I'd scooped everything out of it until I hit rib bone. It's so good. It's about Bucky and Sam's self-destructive habits and it's so good. It's a travesty this masterpiece doesn't have more kudos because it's astounding.
Access Granted by @suaine
Rating: Teen // Warnings: None apply
This is not a traditional angsty fic but damn if my heart didn't hurt for this little robot throughout. The fic follows Sam and Bucky as they get to know each other from the time Sam boots up the new vibranium suit and wings through several weeks (months?) after. The catch? It's told entirely from Redwing's perspective. And told very well. It's a mix of Redwing trying to access files/code new missions/other techy stuff and a really pretty prose that never forgets it's a robot relaying the information. It's so cute and wonderful and so tender. I love this robot so much and this robot loves Sam and Bucky even more
And I'm just gonna leave my own fics here Inhale My Soul (coming back from the blip), Quiet Birds Circling in Flight (Sam and Bucky consider Steve’s cenotaph) and Tying Me to You (red string of fate from CA: TWS to the first episode of TFATWS) Both rated T, no archive warnings apply to either
Wow I just realized you never specified Sam/Bucky. I can probably dig out some stucky too (or pynch if you're from the other side of my blog!)
hellooo!! i've been wanting to do a sambucky fic rec, so i thought i'd do one for @fuckyeahsambucky ‘s fic yeah friday! here are some sambucky fics i love <3 do read the warnings on each fic!
one-shots
when i'm in a room with you (that missing piece is found) | @omg-just-peachy
sam x bucky
Three times Bucky falls asleep on Sam, and one time Sam asks why.
double dare | @omg-just-peachy
sam x bucky
Bucky follows his therapist’s advice to cultivate friendship, Sam makes him work for it, and by the time he’s sure they’re friends, Bucky has an entirely new problem on his hands.
press conference | @sammy-souffle
sam x bucky
Sam watches from a distance a journalist from Denver, Summer, puts her hand on Bucky’s arm and laughs at something he says. Her hand trails further up and squeezes his bicep which Bucky doesn’t seem to mind at all. If anything, he laughs along with her and leans in closer to her to say something. Sam closes his eyes briefly and swallows back his anger.
accidentally | @sammy-souffle
sam x bucky
x | @sammy-souffle
sam x bucky
request: during the time when sam is tracking bucky in romania, after sam and bucky get caught up in a fight against some hydra agents who were also tracking bucky
sam gets hurt and bucky feels guilty so he carries him inside to patch him up, they talk some stuff out, its all very intimate and both start to fall for each other a little
acquiring alpine | @sammy-souffle
sam x bucky
prompt: alpine being cute
x | @sammy-souffle (18+)
sam x bartender!bucky (modern au)
regrets | @sammy-souffle
sam x bucky
x | @jeffersonshattricks
sam x bucky
Bucky being completely oblivious that him and Sam have been dating for like 6 months and Bucky finally understands why Sam has been kissing him, sleeping in the bed with him, and being an all around sap with him.
reckless idiots tend to fall | @jeffersonshattricks
sam x bucky
Bucky and Sam are arguing cause Sam did something reckless on a mission and Bucky freaks out but oblivious Sam genuinely has no idea why. And then Bucky accidentally yells ‘because I love you’
tell me a secret | @jeffersonshattricks
sam x bucky
Every time Sam gets drunk he finds Bucky and asks him for a secret. Bucky always gives him one.
fucking ridiculous | @jeffersonshattricks
sam x bucky
Sam is pining and a bitter grumpy grump, Bucky is mostly oblivious but also pining. misunderstandings happen, feelings get hurt, people get hurt (like physically), and then confessions happen and all is well. yay! also the other avengers are just their nerdy selves for the most part!
come to the ocean, even when you're broken | @liminalmess
sam x bucky
“Bucky, hey, man, fancy meeting you here!” he said with an exaggerated enthusiasm that he probably knew would get under Bucky’s skin, clapping him on the shoulder as he sat down.
“I thought we were taking separate vacations,” Bucky grumbled back.
Or, in which Sam and Bucky go an accidentally not separate vacation to the Bahamas.
feelings | @yaksomins
sam x bucky (modern au)
sam crossed his arms and inspected the lobby. they were indeed the only people there, not including the few staff members seated at a table near a magenta-tinted arcade area with their noses buried in their phones.
"i think i can help with that," a voice said from behind sam.
sam turned and found himself face to face with the clerk they'd bought their tickets from earlier, the scruffy-looking man that seemed a little out of place amongst the younger staff. sam gave him a quick scan, his eyes catching the name plastered to his chest via a paper name tag, scribbled by hand using a marker.
"and what exactly can you do for us...bucky?" sam frowned. what kind of name was ‘bucky’?
"i can be your extra," he said, removing a hairband from his wrist and swiftly tying up his hair into a tidy bun. with more of him now visible, sam could get a better view of his face, all hard lines and soft eyes. "and it's a nickname," bucky added, smirking and moving past a puzzled sam towards the game room. "c'mon, let's suit up."
x | @yaksomins
sam x bucky
prompt: leaving each other notes
x | @yaksomins
sam x bucky
bucky takes sam for a ride on his motorcycle
i'll make this feel like home | @buckywilsonbarnes
sam x bucky
sambucky domestic fluff
x | @transjoaquintorres
sam x bucky
sam loves bucky's handwriting
just let me adore you | dharmainitiative (AO3)
sam x bucky
“Alright, what gives?” Sam demands. “Why do you turn down every single person I try to set you up with?”
He expects Bucky to avoid the question, come up with all sorts of excuses. What he doesn’t expect is for Bucky to start laughing.
“C’mon, Sam. Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.”
“Sam,” Bucky finally says, slow and deliberate. “I’m not interested in anyone you’ve tried to set me up with because I’ve been gone on you for ages.”
watch your words | dancer_in_the_rain (AO3)
sam x bucky
sam insults bucky and then loses his shit when someone agrees with him
love, punch | @clintbartonswife
sam x bucky
Bucky can get protective, but Sam reminds him he doesn’t need to be defended - a confession is made
exchange rate | @joycesully
sam x bucky
Bucky's older memories are coming back, sometimes at the cost of more recent ones. What he cannot forget is tearing the wings off Sam Wilson. Too bad Bucky just let Steve talk him into staying with him and Sam. Consumed by guilt, the only thing Bucky knows to do by way of apology is to let Sam hurt him back. Fortunately, Sam has better ideas.
stubborn wounds | @constantwriter85
sam x bucky
When Bucky’s badly injured after trying to protect his partner, Sam realizes that he needs Bucky more than he’d care to admit.
nurturing | the_buzz (AO3)
sam x bucky (pre-slash)
Bucky isn't the only one who feels alone after coming back from the Blip.
keep the ashes from my heart (and walk away) | @coffeeinallcaps
sam x bucky
In which Sam starts dating someone who is not Bucky, and Bucky pines, gets seriously injured, and proves himself wrong.
you're blowin' my mind (with the things you say to me) | @jemgirl86
sam x bucky
After getting an earful from Bucky at the cookout, Sarah suggests Sam and Bucky have a chat... and they do.
(sometimes) all i think about is you | @softhauntedwinds
sam x bucky
Bucky discovers Sam Wilson's pre-blip media content and things escalate.
when the wheels come off (i'll be your spare) | @returnsandreturns
sam x bucky
“What, the government doesn’t pay you enough to buy some art?” Bucky asks, a minute after Sam lets him into his apartment, gesturing at the blank walls. “It still looks like you just moved in.”
“Uhm, I’ve been busy being a national treasure,” Sam says. “The government doesn’t pay you enough to buy a shirt that fits?”
Bucky glances down at his long sleeve t-shirt for a second before he looks back up with a grin.
“I’m just a part-timer,” he says, shrugging.
forever and a day | @returnsandreturns
sam x bucky
When he sets the needle, Ella Fitzgerald croons and he glances over to see Sam sitting up, looking interested as she sings it’s very clear. . .our love is here to stay.
Bucky can flirt and he can really tell that he’s still got it by the way Sam’s mouth drops open for a moment when he saunters up and offers a hand, smiling with all the potential of where this could lead and asking, “Care for a dance, doll?”
Sam stares up at him before he sighs and mutters, “Fuck, that’s really working for me somehow,” and lets Bucky pull him onto his feet and into his arm.
world's greatest uncle | @novembermurray
sam x bucky
Rhodes arrives in Delacroix to bring Sam up to speed on their newest mission and deliver the bad news: Bucky Barnes has gone AWOL. He's in for a few surprising discoveries.
panic | alienspronkles (AO3)
sam x bucky
When Sam and Bucky go to Sarah's place for a get together, Bucky's anxiety starts kicking in. And he's trying to hide it from everyone there.
series
sam and bucky first date 2: electric boogaloo | ObsessiveExplosion (AO3)
sam x bucky
Sam is gearing up to ask Bucky on their first date, but he is interrupted by a bullet wound to the shoulder.
sam and bucky go to a fourth of july party | ObsessiveExplosion (AO3)
sam x bucky
Sam and Bucky, recently engaged, make an appearance at the annual Delacroix Fourth of July Block Party, and Sam ends up partying a little too hard.
the gang navigates and airport | ObsessiveExplosion (AO3)
sam x bucky
Sam and Bucky have to navigate an unexpected layover on their way home from a mission, made more difficult by the fact that Bucky has just taken a sleeping pill designed for Super Soldiers.
he followed me home one day | AshaCrone (AO3)
sam x bucky (au)
He was supposed to be starting fresh.
Sam Wilson was moving from New York to Washington and picked the worst possible Friday to finish his move. But he does what he does best- stops to help.
And asks a passing stranger for a little muscle to get some trapped people out of a car. Feeds the stranger a protein bar.
Now a lost cyborg has followed him home. And he isn't quite sure what to do about it.
[ID: A teal banner with a small photo of Sam and Bucky standing next to each other on the right with blue Lora text that reads “Enchant Presents: FYSambucky Fic Friday Recs” /finish ID]
happy TFATWS and fic Friday, @fuckyeahsambucky! today, I will present recs with The Falcon Captain America and the Winter Soldier in mind. u kno me, I’m not very much into writing stuff that are super canon. however, I like reading stuff that takes place in it, especially if they wow me. so, here goes! this is pre-canon, post-canon, and canon divergence, so yeh.
this is also for the anon who told me my taste is flawless, sksksksk.
different with every shore by JoBones - I’ve read this story when I was supposed to charge my brain cells and it was worth it! Sam being perplexed by Bucky’s feelings for him is written as genuine and their banter was top-notch. this fic feels like an entire episode that I would watch a lot, ngl. great story along with narration. Semi Post-Canon. ✨
You’re Welcome by @siancore - first off, the banter here matches the vibes of my favorite couple of guys. it was witty, cute, and I love the scenarios especially the near kiss they could have shared with the tension close to exploding between them. to not spoil much, I very much admire the tone in this tale. also Sian deserves love for writing this much words after reblogging a certain gif-set and I am (still) in awe. Post-Canon. ✨
Friendversary by SamBucky_Fanzi - listen, you will laugh at this story. based on a certain vid and Sam and Bucky are so sick of others thinking they’re together even tho they’re so clueless that everybody and their mother can see they have something going on and won’t admit. I think y’all will enjoy how their efforts turned out, lmaooo. I know I did. Canon Divergence. ✨
Mission to Monte Carlo by @yavannie - this is a great fic with the right amount of humor and mission stuff. for those into this trope, this fic will deliver that along with dialogue that’s spot-on, the guys in well-dressed suits, and tie pulling. the side characters here are also a wonderful addition. Post-Canon. ✨
What I’ve Been Living For by @pianistwriter80 - color me impressed because this is a detailed take on the finale and the words make me heart eyes. the well-timed confession, the banter, and the lovely kiss shared between these two is stellar. Post-Canon. ✨
diving blind by yukla - also a very beautiful 5 + 1 things tale, where the tea is scalding amidst the fluff. it also has Sam Wilson feels, which I’m always up for. it flows very well and this is a wonderful tale. it’s got the Love is Requited They Just Don’t Know It vibes I’m always all about, yeet. Post-Canon. ✨
War Stories by Siancore - y’all really think I’m not gonna rec Sian again? guess what, here I am anyway! here’s a take that adds context to the burgeoning relationship between Sam and Bucky in canon. it’s got heart, love, banter, and characterization that pulls you in. the chemistry’s all over the place whenever these two are together. highly recommended, make no mistake about that. Pre-Canon or Canon Divergence, depends on how u look at it. ✨
this is it, love; it's you and me, love by @glittercake - ahhhh, yes, this sends me lots of feels. both are so dumb yet so in love with each other and I am here for the dialouge. the tension and chemistry is electric. that confession’s pretty sweet and so them, and the moment they shared in this tale is *chef’s kiss*! Post-Canon. ✨
Things Were Lookin’ Grim, But They’re Lookin’ Good Again by @jemgirl86 - if you’re me and wanted a longer apology from Bucko, this is for you! like I cannot, I cannot even, when I read this, I was so satisfied when Sam let his feelings out, when Bucky apologized and admitted how he did so wrong with receipts. plus, it fills the acts of service criteria, which I’m here for. still am glad to read this tale and this is a must-read, imo. - Canon Divergence. ✨
aranyhíd by @honestlyfrance - actually, I requested this fic and my bestie did this justice! this tale explores some Sam Wilson feels along with Bucky being a simp for him. cute banter and moments shared in the lingering traces of the evening. it also features beautiful depiction of the sunset in Delacroix and I knew the word would fit it well! highly rec. - Post-Canon. ✨
Excerpt: Some people liked to party with all of the lights on, Sam Wilson mused, as he walked through the crowded ballroom. Elaborate chandeliers hung from the ceiling lighting the entire room. Sam never really understood the appeal of chamber music, champagne, and canapes at these formal events. He was only there because Stark was a colleague and was hosting. This was not Sam’s idea of fun at all. He walked over to a very detailed ice sculpture and examined it. There were people going thirsty in the world, but hey, at least these rich people had a nice sculpture to walk past and ignore.
Bucky Barnes always found these events to be a bore. They were always the same: A room full of rich people in expensive clothing stroking each other’s dicks and patting one another on the back for their ‘generosity’. It was a farce; they were trying to convince themselves that these little annual shindigs where they handed over a small portion of their wealth made up for the irreparable damage their multinational companies did.
Sure, Bucky was well-off himself, but he didn’t grow up that way, so he had a disdain for them. Maybe he was a pessimist at heart; maybe he just hated people in general. Either way, he didn’t know if he could spend another minute in their company, even if it was for work. That’s when he saw him, standing by the fucking ice sculpture: The most beautiful man he had ever laid eyes on.
Lol, so, since this event is happening again again, and since Bucky Quest has ended and I have a new fic series I’m writing called Golden is the Sun, I thought I’d make a post about more more fanfics I rec as well as talk a bit about my own. So, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO -
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, SOME FICS I REC:
1) Good Dividends by fabrega (GA, 1,930) - “ ‘I brought a cake,' Bucky says.
Sam looks at the cake. In the middle of the cake's white frosting, carefully piped-out icing letters spell out:
SORRY ABOUT WHEN
I TRIED TO MURDER YOU
THAT ONE TIME”
This such a fun, sweet getting together fic that’s funny and cute. It also has a wonderful podfic version read by greedy_dancer.
2) Kelly, the Well-Meaning and Very Confused Barista by chaya (T, 6,299) - “An outside observer confuses the 'barbershop quartet' as one woman with a really bad habit for cheating. Complete fluff.”
Okay, so I know, it’s not ~ strictly SamBucky ~ BUT! But, this is an adorable peak into a girl creating crazy conspiracy theories from afar then learning it was all a poly relationship in the end and it’s very adorable and a very awesome older fic with a fantastic podfic version read by blackglass.
3) make it with you - a sambucky au by dei (N/A) - “2 years later, journalist bucky barnes and captain america sam wilson started to hear the wedding bells being rang by the public. with sam at the height of his reign as cap, will the two finally tie the knot, or will problems get ahead of them?”
I already talked about the first fic in this series fanboy - a sambucky AU, but the sequel deserves a shout out of its own because it is so good. I love where the author takes the characters, how the proposal works, everything. Can’t recommend this enough!
4) The Truth Beneath Our Ribs by ElisabethMonroe (M, 6,742) - “5 times Bucky wears Sam's things +1 time Sam wears something of Bucky's”
I don’t always go for the 5+1 stories, but this one is fluffy, sweet, and wonderful. There’s also something so endearing and intimate about sharing clothes. The declarations of love in the end are wonderful too.
5) we were a fire with no smoke by notcaycepollard (E, 15,295) - “Sam can’t help but roll his eyes. Take the boys out of New York but they’re still Brooklyn Catholics, that’s clear enough. Bucky catches the gesture, smirks hard enough Sam can see his eye teeth. It should be dangerous but he’s beautiful, pale and charming and recklessly easy.
'You wanna come in?' Sam asks, ignoring the noise Steve makes, and Bucky’s smile gets wider.
‘Yeah,’ he says. Steps up close to Sam. ‘I do.’ ”
What can I say, you can’t go wrong with a fic by notcaycepollard. If you’re looking for an AU that aligns with some of the regular canon, this one is fun. Did I mention there’s vampires? How she plays with the concept is interesting. There’s also a fantastic podfic version read by Tipsy_Kitty!
Those are some of my fav fics, but let me also promote myself a bit at the end. I’ve written one complete fic and have one ongoing fic at the moment! They are:
1) Bucky Quest Saga! (Completed)
It’s a fascinating tale that starts at the end of Captain America: the Winter Soldier and continues past The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, telling the story in between what happens in both the films and the series between Sam and Bucky. I try my best to keep canon compliant throughout the parts that are within canon, and try to see a fun branching timeline that could be possible in the MCU in another reality once I start writing past the canon. Definitely check it out if you think that’s your thing! 😊
2) Golden is the Sun! (Ongoing)
I’ve unofficially dubbed this fic “Two Giant Messes Laughing at Each Other and Getting Perplexed by Each Other Until They Fall in Love” 😂 It’s a Fantasy/Medieval/Royalty/Arranged Marriage AU that’s very fun. If you like complete messes, Sam with wings and avian telepathy, and Bucky having the ability to transform into a wolf, this fic will be right up your alley! 😊
