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in the middle of the night (i'm wide awake, i crave your taste)

M | 19.2K | nwa | post tfatws

“Fucking hell, shut up and go back to sleep,” Sam grumbles. “I got you, man. I’m right here.”

It feels like the cargo plane again. Feels like someone actually cares about him, and Bucky’s really not sure what do with the emotions it sparks in his chest. He’s also, maybe, just a little too tired to examine it too closely. Lists sideways again, and can’t help the way his head falls on Sam’s shoulder. Sam tenses, briefly, and Bucky worries he’s fucked up again – but then Sam settles back against the couch, exhaling a little amused huff.

“Sleep, Bucky,” he whispers. Sam’s so warm. It’s almost intimate, even though they’re not touching anywhere except head and shoulder. But Sam’s so warm, and it’s closer than Bucky’s been to another human being in, like, seventy years. It feels safe. Comfortable. Sam is there for him, and he doesn’t care that Bucky’s fucked-up brain woke him up in the middle of the night. Bucky exhales, and all the leftover tension sighs out of him. So, he does the only thing he can do. He relaxes down against Sam’s side, closes his eyes, and lets sleep carry him away.

Five times Sam helped Bucky with his nightmares, and the one time Bucky returned the favor.

LONG-ISH ALTERNATE UNIVERSE Round #2

Crash Standing by phaetonschariot

M | 26.9k | graphic violence

The Winter Soldier project was not the last of its kind. Several months after the collapse of SHIELD, Bucky wants to come in from the cold, and he's bringing the Falcon with him. 

Commentary: Captivity/Breaking Free AU. Sambucky & All Caps in the end if you squint. All in all a very good story, tense and sweet and satisfying. Sam's wings are attached to his body in this one.

Piper's Creek by avintagekiss24

E | 27.3k | no warnings

Sam Wilson is a simple man. He likes to do simple things, like going fishing on a warm summer day. Little does Sam know, this fishing trip will not only lead him to his soulmate, but into a world of ancient folklore.

Commentary: Werewolf AU. Focus is on Sambucky but essentially All Caps. A must read tho, this is amazing! Because werewolves!! 

The Promise Ring by OriginalCeenote

M | 26.6k | no warnings

“It’s my turn with the scanning gun. Give it here.” Sam made grabby hands for it, but Bucky snatched it back with a chiding look.

“Only if I get to register for the Snuggie.”

Sam’s expression flattened. “Barnes. No.”

Commentary: Hospital AU. I wanted to save this one for the Fake Relationship rec list but I loved it too much! Very flirty and funny and angsty! 

Never let go (‘Til we’re gone) by Larstian

M | 30k | ccntw/mcd

“Freezing, or maybe a couple degrees over. Doesn’t matter, because either way, it’s so cold that it feels like being stabbed by a thousand knives all over your body. You can’t breathe, you can’t think, at least about anything other than the pain. And by god, it’ll hurt.” They made eye contact. “So I’m really not looking forward to it, but like I said. You jump, I jump.”

“You’re insane.”

“With all due respect sir, you’re the one hanging off the side of the ship.”

Commentary: Titanic AU. Whelp!! Bring tissues!! Beautiful and emotional, definitely one that’ll haunt you a little afterwards.

ghosts that we knew by wilsonsnest

T/M | 46.6k | no warnings

Sam (reluctantly) agrees to do a commission for Steve's rich but extremely reclusive friend, James Barnes.

Sam just stared at the other man, the feeling of being watched suddenly overcoming him. God, what kind of weirdo didn’t even come to greet their guests? It was one thing to be a rich recluse, but another thing to just completely ignore people wandering around your house.

“Steve, this is really weird.” Sam stressed. “This isn’t weird to you?”

Commentary: Artist AU. Ohhhhh my god. Listen. This was the real art. Amazing!!! The whole set up was just so mysterious and kind of scary at the start but then you just... fall totally in love with them!! 

Lighthouse by glittercake

E | 50.7k | ccntw/non con - dark

This guy’s trouble. Bucky knows that in his bones. It’s not bad trouble, is the problem, it’s good. Sam is so goddamn inherently good and if Bucky even touches that with a ten foot pole—fuck if he even looks at it—it’ll turn to shit.

He can’t afford another move to yet another city because his colleagues started recognizing Brock’s fist prints on his face.

But Sam is a ridiculously bright glowing light, a beacon, and Bucky goes toward it like that idiotic moth to the flame.

Commentary: Doctors AU. Lots of angst and then Lots of happiness! Basically, they navigate their way through trauma and heartbreak and come out whole at the other end.

More Than Love Really, More Than Words by AesthticRose101

E | 50.8k | ccntw

After Sam has moved into his new apartment, he notices that his new neighbour is a little weird and totally out of place. After having a rocky first meeting Sam and his neighbour start to warm up to each other and maybe even fall in love.

Commentary: Neighbors AU. Very cute getting together story and adorable sambucky moments and a bit of angst for flavor.

Deception by Siancore

E | 70.9k | ccntw/ graphic violence - dark

That’s when he saw him, standing by the fucking ice sculpture: The most beautiful man he had ever laid eyes on.