Thanks to @questinwitchface @bastianfruit and @ineffable-snowman for tagging me. Thanks to @jemgirl86 for doing fun things to help cleanse and reclaim the tag!
Rules: Share your top 5 favorite SamBucky fics that you've written, and then tag 5 people.
Destination Wedding M, 31,155 words
Opposites reluctantly attract when Sam and Bucky keep running into one other at Steve's destination wedding. (Lots of bickering and bantering in this one, which was super fun to write.)
The man was dressed all in black, like he was going to a freaking funeral. Kinda fitting actually. Sam could relate. As if sensing Sam’s perusal, he glanced up, giving a brief nod and a tight smile, Sam hit with the most gorgeous pair of eyes he’d ever seen. Blue shimmered with gray, lending the stranger an ethereal quality that more than made up for his decidedly grungy appearance. Hair shaggy and unkempt, escaping the man bun he’d thrown it in, scruff lining a jaw that was probably too chiseled for Sam’s peace of mind…
He stiffened at the thought, wondering where it had even come from. He was not the sort to go checking out rando’s at airports, especially one that looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, opting out of the shower to save time because he was running late.
Sam was never late. This dude looked like he’d never made it on time for anything.
2. That Picture T, 8,168 words
Captain America and the Winter Soldier on the outs? Working on opposite teams? No longer in each other's lives? What's going on?! Can this relationship be saved?! (This fic was written after the first Bucky Thunderbolts* pic came out and sent us all into a tailspin. It's actually one of my less popular SamBucky fics, so I'm a little protective of it. I don't think I did a good job promoting it or selling what it was really about, but if you make it to the third chapter, it's worth it. I love Sarah in this one, too.)
Not only was Bucky Barnes out of work, he was also out of options, out of friends, and out of chances. His pardon hanging by threads he was damn near ready to sever himself just to be done with the whole fucking thing. Let them lock him in the raft, never to see the light of day again.
Without Sam Wilson there was no sunshine anyway.
3. The Wilson Home for Reformed Assassins T, 2195 words
Bucky Barnes has some explaining to do after Sam Wilson finds a feisty blonde former assassin in the kitchen, eating all the food and looking for a place to stay. (This was my first attempt at writing Yelena. It was fun giving her and Bucky a sibling vibe and writing her meeting all the Wilsons.)
"Sam! What's going on in my kitchen right now?" Sarah watched as Yelena speared a cinnamon roll with a wicked looking knife and proceeded to eat it.
"Cool knife," Cass said, his eyes widening with a mixture of adoration and fascination.
"I can show you how to throw the-"
"Sam," Sarah interrupted Yelena, a dangerous edge to her voice.
"Sarah, I can explain," Sam said, keeping his voice level, alarmed by how much his sister reminded him of his mother in that moment. Darlene Wilson had been the sweetest woman on the planet, until you got her riled. Sarah was definitely edging riled. "It's Bucky's fault!"
4. The Only Thing I'd Change T, 13,772 words
Sam overhears Bucky say something curious and obsesses over it. Bucky notices Sam acting differently and spirals about it. And Sarah just wants them both to use their words. (An established relationship fic where both Sam and Bucky do too much overthinking and not enough communicating, but they love each other so damn much you know it's gonna work out in the end. I think this is probably one of my better written works and definitely one of the fics I spent the most time working on, tweaking, and obsessing over. At times, I felt like this fic was gonna break me, but it ended up being quite healing instead.)
"Can you move your seat up?" He’d asked another lifetime ago, sullen and lost, broken beyond repair without even a smidgeon of hope. And through the mess of pain and disillusionment came one brisk, certain reply.
Bucky had fallen a little in love that very moment. The only person who could love an obstinate asshole was another obstinate asshole. And on some vague level, Bucky had recognized even then that he’d found his obstinate asshole.
5. An Affair to Remember M, 40,365 words
Sam is a college running back destined for NFL stardom. Bucky is a depressed mess just trying to make it through the day. A wrong number leads to an unexpected connection and a secret relationship that can only be temporary...right? (This one will always be special to me. It was my first real chaptered work on AO3, and the first fic I wrote that garnered passionate responses. It's angsty and heart-breaking at times, but also has a lot of humor and heart and an array of guest character interactions I'm really proud of. Reader response and engagement really meant so much to me with this one.)
Sam’s eyes shone with joy. “You showed up for me, Buck. Maybe that’s what changed everything. Like flipping a switch and now nothing will ever be the same since I’ve seen you in this light.”
“I never wanna be the man who doesn’t show up for you, Sam Wilson.”
“Now you’re just trying to charm me. Steve warned me about that, ya know? His rascal of a friend Bucky. The charmer with the million-dollar smile and a shitload of pretty words. Then I met you and there was zero smile and about 10 words and a grunt or two. I thought he was full of shit, but here we are.”
“Here we are. Maybe I’m an acquired taste.”
“Maybe. Had a shot of you last night, now here I am back for more.”
I have had so much fun with the Friends Don't series! It would be hard to pick a favorite there because it runs the gamut of being fun, fluffy, serious, and angsty. But Friends Don't Get Lipsy When They Get Tipsy gets a special shoutout because it both makes my heart ache and cracks me up every time I do a reread.
No Pressure Tagging: I'm late to the party, so I think everyone is probably already covered. But I'll add @abarbaricyalp @thatmexisaurusrex @firstelevens since I haven't seen anything in the tag from them yet. If anyone wants to do it, consider yourself tagged--or send me an ask and I'll sneak your name in. 🥰
