Summary: Sam wants to cheer Bucky up after hearing Steve he's having a bad day.
Note: Also, just a teesy tiny bit of angst in this chapter. It's almost invisible.
"But why do you hafta go, Papa Steve? You just got back." Sam said, kicking his feet against the island.
Steve placed a plate of pancakes in front of Sam, watching the little boy pout. He didn't want to go either. He was never comfortable talking with the media and after the DC debacle, even less so.
"Sorry kiddo. I can't put it off, but I promise we'll play together when I get back. I want you to be good for JARVIS and Bruce is downstairs if you need anything."
Sam huffed and stuffed his mouth full of pancakes. It wasn't fair. Uncle Tony was somewhere doing business-y stuff. Also, Steve wouldn't let them be alone in a room after the flying incident. Hawk and Auntie Nat were out on doing cool spy missions too. He wanted to watch some bird docu-docume- tv shows with them because that was fun. He sulked and stuff his mouth with pancake. Steve bent down and pressed a kiss to Sam's forehead. He was going to be late if he didn't leave now.
"Don't pout. I always keep my promises. Finish your breakfast and try to find something quiet to do. I think Bucky isn't having a good day."
"Okay Papa."
Sam spared a glance to the hallway, knowing the metal armed man was in his room. He was a little scary sometimes, but Sam didn't think he was so bad. Humming, he drenched his pancakes in honey. Mr. Bucky probably just needed a friend and some of Papa's pancakes. As he heard the elevator leave, he got an idea.
Mr. Bucky should be up and even if he wasn't, the smell of Papa's pancakes surely woke him. He finished his stack off and used the stepping stool to get to the floor from his bar stool.
"JARVIS, is Mr. Bucky awake?" Sam asked as he carried his plate to the dishwasher.
"Mr. Barnes is awake, young sir. I believe he is in an amicable mood at the moment."
He didn't know what that meant, but he assumed it meant good. Sam smiled at hearing that and pushed a nearby stool towards the stove. He made the decision to cook Bucky breakfast. Before he could turn on the stove, a metallic cover encased the handles. Sam pouted and looked up at the ceiling.
"JARVIS! No fair!"
"I can't allow you to do use the oven without adult supervision nearby. It is dangerous."
Sam huffed and folded his arms. "But, how am I supposed to make pancakes and all the other breakfast things?"
A panel on the ceiling opened up and an slim robotic arm slid out. It grabbed a box of cereal off the top of the fridge and placed it on the island top. Sam rolled the stool to the island and spared a glance at the ceiling. It was workable, he guessed. A bowl of cereal wouldn't keep Bucky full though. He saw how much Papa Steve could eat in one sitting. He had a feeling Bucky could eat just as much.
"JARVIS? Could you help me make breakfast instead?"
"As long as the stove is not involved, young sir."
Bucky let out a deep breath through his nose as he stared out the window. He thought that the pacing would help. Instead, he was more anxious and on edge than before. He flexed his arm and stared as the metal plates interlocked. He would kill to shoot something. He paced to the other side of the room and stared out the window. He couldn't even do that.
Rogers would get upset and he didn't like seeing him that way. He meant well, but he could suffocating. Not to mention, the kid was hanging around. Even he knew that Steve was really overprotective when it came to his dependent. This was not good. He was the Winter Soil-Bucky and he wanted to punch something. He stared at his fingers, frowning as they trembled with pent up energy.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to compose himself. Rogers needed to come back soon so he could go to the gym. Maybe he would want to spar since a gun was out the question.
"Mr. Barnes, you have a visitor approaching." JARVIS said, his voice making Bucky jump into a fighting stance.
He didn't get to question who it was when the banging on the door started. Who in the hell was that? An intruder? No. The house would have told him if it was a dangerous person. Still, computers could be comprised and-
"Mr. Bucky! Are you awake? JARVIS said you were in here. Mr. Bucky!"
Oh great. It was just the kid. The kid that kept calling his name and banging on the door like it was a damn drum. He grit his teeth as the sound grated on his nerves. He stomped out the bedroom and found himself pulling the front door open forcefully.
"What do you want, kid?" he snapped, glaring at his uninvited guest.
Sam shrunk under his gaze and gave Bucky a wary smile. He didn't miss how the kid partially hid behind the serving cart he must have brought along. He must have had help from one of Stark's robots since the cart was half his height and no doubt heavy.
"I-I...uh...I made you breakfast. You d-don't have to eat it but Papa Steve made some really yummy pancakes. I wanted to make you some but Jarvis wouldn't let me get to the oven and-"
Bucky held up his hand to stop the rambling before it got any worse. It was enough to give him a headache. One of his hands rubbed at his temple just to stave it off. He looked at the serving cart and indeed it was laden with food. There was cereal and milk, yogurt, a fruit bowl, juices, and a bowl full of pancake batter. Seeing all the food reminded him that he didn't eat yet. He stared at him again and the kid still smiled at him even if he was nervous. It was a nice gesture and completely selfless. He wanted to tell the kid to get lost, but he found himself taking a bite of a pear and pushing the cart towards the kitchen.
"Thanks, kid." Bucky grumbled, finishing the fruit if in record time.
"My name is Sam."
"Right. Do you want to…" Bucky trailed off, knowing Sam wouldn't leave him alone.
He couldn't tell him to buzz off either. He did bring him food, which usually was Rogers's doing. What would Rogers do to make a kid feel comfortable?
"Do you want to help me make these pancakes?"he asked, surprising himself at the words coming out his mouth.
Sam visibly brightened and grabbed onto the handle of the serving cart to help push. Not that he needed the help except Sam looked less nervous. Bucky let him babble about how good he was making the pancakes into different shapes and flavors. The irritating itch that had been bothering him since he woke dimmed with the exuberance the kid gave off. He followed Sam to the kitchen and decided to let the kid help him. After bringing him a whole tray of food for breakfast, it was the least he could.
"Alright kid-"
"Sam! My name is Sam or call me Sammy."
Bucky rubbed his temples once again. "Right. Sam. How about I do the cooking and you can tell me how to make pancakes?"
"What? You don't know how to make pancakes?!"
Really. There was no need for such a wide eyed incredulous look. Pancakes recipes weren't high on the list of things for a sniper to remember. A frown worked its way onto his face and he clenched his metal hand into a fist. There were a lot of things that he didn't remember. A tiny hand touching his arm started him out his thoughts and he looked at Sam. The kid rolled himself to his side on a bar stool with a worried look. Bucky didn't know what to say, but he didn't need to. Sam gave his arm a squeeze and tugged him towards the stove.
"It's okay. I can teach you! Papa Steve taught me and JARVIS can help us find different ways to make them on the Internet."
How could a kid be so disarming? It had to be that earnest way he looked out for others. Or, it was the way four year olds saw the world. A semblance of a smile worked their way onto his lips as he turned on the stove. Maybe the next time Rogers had to step out, he wouldn't mind taking care of Sam.
