Chapter Text
“You know, I just think we deserve a celebration.” Bucky said as he led Sam to the New York dive bar.
“What the hell do you mean we? Man, I am Captain America.” Sam joked.
“Alright, alright. Great job, Captain. It’s not like there was an awesome super soldier with a really cool metal arm or anything, but it’s whatever.” Bucky shrugged.
“Haha, yeah that’s real cute. I see you trying to take credit and all that but I won’t be having it.” They sat down on the wooden stools at the old bar. “So, what will the super soldier be having to drink?”
“Ugh, is there really any point in me drinking anything? I won’t get drunk. I mean what, am I supposed to do it for the taste?” Bucky winced.
“What?! Come on, there’s no way you’ll get drunk? No matter how much you drink?” Sam asked in disbelief.
“Well… I guess there was one time, I really wanted to see if I could actually get drunk. I drank a whole bottle of whiskey in five minutes and I was tipsy for like an hour. But I also had to go to the bathroom twelve times after that.” Sam’s jaw dropped.
“Alright. I know what we’re having then.” Sam called the bartender over. “I’ll have a scotch, and a bottle of your strongest tequila for the lovely blue-eyed gentleman over here.” The bartender gave him a strange look before obliging and handing Bucky a bottle of Don Fulano Fuerte and a glass. “Look, if a bottle of whiskey can get you tipsy, I think tequila will definitely do the trick. Now drink up.” Sam laughed.
“Alright alright. This isn’t going to do much though, I’m just gonna have to go to the bathroom a lot, I’m telling you.” He said as he poured his glass full of straight tequila. Sam couldn’t help but laugh again. His eyes fell on the old sign above the bar, “Est. 1923”.
“Hmm, 1923. Did you know this place before?” Sam asked.
“Yeah, I did. Steve and I used to come here when we were teenagers, but they kept kicking us out because we were too young to drink.”
Sam sipped his glass thoughtfully. It was weird the way fate brought him and Bucky together. Friends of Steve, separated by centuries, and united by chance. They began as enemies, really. It was hard for Sam to forget the day that Bucky - or the Winter Soldier to be more accurate - ripped one of his wings off and threw him off a helicarrier. Then the Winter Soldier knocked him out in Berlin. Enemies, acquaintances, allies and now friends.
Sam finished the last of his scotch before lightly banging the glass on the bar in victory as Bucky poured himself another.
“Barman, another! Keep ‘em coming.” Sam said.
“Jesus, don’t try to keep up with me. We both know that you and I don’t have the same liver.” Bucky laughed.
“Hey, I may not have any super serum but I am still Captain America. That’s gotta mean something right?”
“God, do you not get tired of boasting that title?”
“Trust me, every time I say it out loud I don’t feel like I’m talking about me.” Sam shook his head. Bucky gulped down the rest of his second cup of tequila.
“Look, I don’t care what anyone thinks. From now on, you’ll always be my Captain America.” Bucky punched Sam’s arm.
Sam couldn’t help but laugh out loud and roll his eyes.
“Oh my god, you’ve only had two cups! No way you’re tipsy already.”
“Nah, man. Straight from the heart.” Bucky patted his chest sarcastically.
“Stop messing with me man. You’re making me regret coming out tonight.” Sam said as he waved the barman over with another scotch.
“You know what, fuck this cup. I don’t think we’re getting serious enough.” Bucky took the bottle of tequila in his hand and started drinking it like water. Sam’s eyes widened as Bucky emptied three quarters of the bottle right in front of him like it was nothing.
“Shut up. That’s gotta taste awful.”
“Mm. I’ve gotten used to it at this point.” Sam felt a wave of competitiveness as he dusted off his third glass.
“You know what man, you’re being selfish with all that expensive tequila, gimme some of that.” He snatched the glass from Bucky’s hand and poured himself a shot in his glass and downed it as quickly as he could.
“Whatever, now you’re splitting the bottle with me.” Bucky said. He could start to feel himself get dizzy and warm already, there was only a fifth of the bottle left. He decided it was best to just chug the rest of it and get it over with.
Half an hour later, and four more scotches for Sam, Bucky was listening to Sam ramble on, slurring his words and losing control of his balance on the barstool. Bucky wasn’t completely sober either, he noticed himself laughing a little too loud at Sam’s jokes and his face definitely felt hot.
“And that little asshole Joaquin, I invited him into my own home, MY safeplace, and he just took my ps5 controller. And when I asked him about it, he just said he was borrowing it and would give it back. Bitch! You took it from my house when I wasn't looking! I swear man, that fucking kid. And don’t even get me started on that punk spiderman.” He attempted to point at Bucky but that led him to almost slip off his seat, forcing Bucky to catch drunk Sam.
“Alright, I think that’s enough for you. Time to get out of here.” Bucky said as he wrapped an arm around Sam, who was almost too drunk to stand. It was no issue for him though, he could’ve easily carried five drunk Sams.
“Whatchu mean? The night has only just begun!” Sam shouted as they stumbled onto the street. “Damn you’re strong, you’re not even flinching man! I should’a taken that damn serum.”
“Ha, yeah then I wouldn’t be dealing with a drunk idiot.”
“Yeeeeeah, who am I kidding? Being drunk is awesome man!”
“Maybe for you!” Bucky laughed back as they turned the block.
“Buckyyyyy. Are we there yet?”
“Just hold on! At the end of the street.”
They finally made it to Bucky’s tiny apartment, where he guided Sam to his bed and put a blanket over him.
“Buckyyy I gotta tell you something.” Sam said as he held Bucky from getting up.
“What, man! I gotta go to the bathroom, you just made me drink a whole bottle of tequila.” He forced Sam’s hand off his shirt and backed away to the bathroom.
“Nooooo.” Sam whined, still very drunk. “It’s important.”
“Yeah? Then tell me in the morning.” He said as he closed the bathroom door.
“You’re a real special guy.” Bucky heard Sam mumble from across the door. He stopped and smiled, feeling a light heat rushing to his cheeks.
‘It’s the tequila,’ he thought to himself, ‘it’s making me mushy.’
When he got back out he settled himself on the floor in the living room with a thin blanket. From decades of only sleeping when he was frozen, he just couldn’t get used to something as soft as a bed again. If anything, the cold floor made him fall asleep faster. Right when he was about to catch some sleep, he heard the door of the room open and Sam stumbled out.
“Why you sleeping on the floor, man?” He asked groggily.
“Hydra. They never gave me a bed. I’m more comfortable like this.” Bucky answered.
“Not even on the couch?” Bucky could only shrug in response. Sam rubbed his eyes for a minute before waving him over. “Come on. Get in.” He ordered simply.
“What? But you’re already sleeping in there.”
“Bucky, there’s room for two people in this bed, don’t make it weird.”
They settled themselves in the double bed, each with an individual cover and facing away from each other. Waking up was a bit weird, but Bucky couldn’t deny it. It was the best he’d slept in 80 years.