This was born out a convo with @pixia a while ago, so Im posting it here too. Oh, and that "kiss" in Civil War...just no.
Life without Steve Rogers being the heart of the Avengers was proving as difficult as the absence of Tony as the face of the Avengers, and Nat. Nat was the glue that held them in place and always seemed to bring them together.
Sharon Carter had stepped into their fractured world, hoping to help them find a balance, regain their footing as the world would now be focusing on the newly titled Captain America, and if he would live up to the name, or would it still be the Falcon who would answer the call to danger.
Then there was James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, or as she became acquainted with him as the Winter Soldier. She still bore the scar from when she faced him in his negatively enhanced state, finding herself bearing a deep gash from the table her back broke when she was thrown against it. Despite the visible evidence of their prior altercation in Germany, she had since become thoroughly educated on all that Bucky had suffered and been forced to perform in the name of Hydra. It was hard to hold onto a justified mad in the face of the man before her now. The man who looked as if the weight he carried on his shoulders had gone the way of the snap. He now wore a mildly amused smile as Sam tried to explain why Star Wars was superior to any Sci fi franchise out there.
Sam had taken it upon himself to broaden Bucky's pop culture knowledge so they could have conversations about more than Steve and cats. He's really has to get Bucky off YouTube.
As Sam starts in on the merits of Return of the Jedi, Bucky who was half listening, kept glancing over as Sharon tapped on her laptop, occasionally interjecting with her thoughts on Sam's musings. Every now and then she'd look over the top of her computer, seeing Bucky on the verge of saying something.
"Yes James, can I help you?"
Bucky startled, "Um, yeah?"
Demure smile on her lips, "Go ahead. What is it?"
Bucky runs his hand over his now much shorter hair, smoothing his fingers over his chin. "Remember in Germany, we", motioning between he and Sam, "we were in the car, and you and Steve were, were um..."
"What he means to say is K-I-S-S-I-N-G" Sam laughs.
Bucky rolls his eyes. He knows the Steve/Peggy history, so once he discovered who Sharon was, his curiosity grew. So much. He blurts out "What were you thinking? First of all, he's old as dirt!"
Sam coughs "Hypocritical much?"
"Hey!" says Bucky. "Shut up, I look great for my age!"
Sam snorts. "You keep telling yourself that."
Sharon shakes her head, "Hey, remember he was my neighbor and I checked him out on more than one occasion."
Bucky looking horrified, "Eww, no! No, no, no! That's more than I ever needed know! Ever."
Sam, because how can he not ask, "So did you enjoy kissing a senior citizen?"
Sharon smiles knowingly..."I guess it is a bit confusing."
Bucky eyes wide, "Confusing? I'm scarred for life now, and I've seen some things!"
"Look, it was a stressful time. Wasn't sure what was going to happen. I got to kiss my crush. Later I thought about it. Yeah, it's all just too weird. I'm glad it wasn't more that. I didn't want to dishonor the memory of my aunt. I still can't believe he went back." Looking at Bucky, "He fought so hard for you. Countries, Friends. I've tried to make sense of it. But he's Steve. I guess when he's single minded about something.."
Bucky sighs, "Yeah." It's quiet for a moment.
"But seriously, he's old enough to be your grandpa. Grandpa Steve mackin down on the ladies." Sam looks at Sharon expectantly. He fails to see the apple Bucky has surreptitiously thrown at his head.
