Chapter 82-Best friend contest
By: MysticFantasy
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A/N: Remaining chapters may contain some spoilers to Marvel movies following Captain America Winter Soldier, Age of Ultron and Civil War.
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"The scare cam was great but we may want to take it up a notch next time." Tony said.
"Just don't go as crazy as Sam and Bucky did when they were competing to be Steve's best friend." Natasha said.
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Sam looked across the kitchen and spotted the former Winter Soldier typing a text message on a new phone that had been provided to him. The young man knew that Bucky was most likely sending a message to Steve.
After the situation with the Accords, it had taken nearly a year for things to start getting back to normal and for all of the Avengers to start the path of healing and forgivness.
Tony and Steve had manage to get things with Accords settled and, with the help of Wakanda's top scientists and doctor's, Bucky's brainwashing had been cured.
While he retained his memories and training from being the Winter Soldier, he was once again Sergeant James Barnes, childhood friend of Steve Rogers.
It had taken a while for everyone to get use to Bucky being around so much but now they were comfortable with him living in the tower with them and were comfortable being friends with him.
Tony had taken the longest to become comfortable and accepting of having Bucky around.
The sergeant had stayed away from Tony as much as possible when things had started getting settled but Tony had surpisingly been the one to approach the soldier.
After over five hours of talking things out, Tony and Bucky had at least managed to come to terms with a few things and tried to move forward.
Tony had seen that Bucky was feeling just as guilty to having taken the life of someone who had once been a close friend, even if his mind had been altered by Hydra.
The two were still a little tense around each other but it was slowly getting easier with each passing day.
With the original and new Avengers now living in the tower and compound, things were starting to get better a day at a time.
And most of their recent entertainment came from Sam and Bucky trying to gain the title of Steve's best friend.
Everyone found it amusing how Bucky, Steve's first and longest best friend, and Sam, Steve's current best friend, were trying to beat each other in what quickly became known as 'The Best Friend Contest'.
Clint had once made a comment about it being more like the two trying to become Steve's boyfriend.
The comment quickly earned the archer a surprise wrestling match in the living room.
Currently, Sam was trying to think of something that he could do that Bucky wouldn't be able to top. He hated to admit it but the brunette soldier was giving him a run for his money.
It also didn't help that Bucky had known Steve the longest out of everyone on the team and had been through more with the super soldier.
The two soldiers grew up together and had countless stories and memories while there were only about three and half years of those that Sam had with Steve.
So far the two seemed to be in a tie in their little competition and were told repeatedly by Steve that their little contest was silly and unnessessary as he considered both of them his best friend's.
But Sam and Bucky had the completitive nature in them to want to claim the title of 'first/official' best friend.
Sam felt that he had a little bit of an upper hand since he knew some new things that Steve was interested in.
One thing he had learned was that the blond captain was very fond of a steak house not too far from the tower.
With it being near the lunch hour, Sam decided to order in a big lunch and get Steve's favorite meal.
Surely Bucky wouldn't know Steve's latest favorites. He should only remember things from their time in the twenties and thirties.
With the large order made and soon to be delivered, Sam felt his confidence rise.
"What are you smiling about?" Bucky asked curiously.
"Nothing." Sam replied.
Bucky obviously didn't believe the younger man but decided to stay quiet.
It was natural for the two to be curious about what the other was planning, especially when they were competing to be Steve's number one best friend.
Nearly half an hour passed when a delivery person arrived in the common area carrying several bags.
"I have an order for..."
"That's me, my man." Sam said with a smile as he walked over.
"You're Bucky Barnes?" the man asked as he looked at the recipt.
"Uh...No."
"Sorry pal. This order is for a Bucky Barnes."
Sam looked over to Bucky who climbed up from the couch he was lounging on and walked over to pay for the food.
Once the delivery man had been paid and the food placed on the table, Sam spoke to Bucky.
"This isn't from Steve's favorite steak house, is it?"
"If it is?" Bucky questioned.
"Man, that was my idea." Sam declared.
"Obviously not if I got my order first." Bucky replied. "And Steve is already on his way here."
Sam was about to reply when the second elevator dinged and another delivery person arrived.
"One of you guys Sam Wilson?" he asked.
Needless to say, Steve had a very big lunch that afternoon. Having his favorite meal served to him twice at the same time was enough to keep him filled until dinner time.
The few following days proved to be both entertaining and frustrating to Steve.
Bucky and Sam each had made plans that they believed Steve would enjoy yet they always seemed to conflict with one another.
At the same time Bucky had planned a trip to a historical museum Sam had planned a parkour event. After that Sam had planned a day to visit an Army base for Steve to teach him new techniques but Bucky had managed to talk Steve into visiting an old bar they had gone to back in the forties before heading to into battle.
With Steve being Steve, he had somehow manage to agree to their plans. This went on for nearly a month before Steve decided to leave the 'contest' to his two friends to decide.
On top of his regular responsibilities as Captain America, the contest was wearing him out.
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"To this day, the contest is still going." Clint mused with a smirk. "Best entertainment I've seen in a while."
"Jealous that you don't have someone fighting for your attention?" Steve challenged with a smirk of his own.