You barely make it three steps into the Avengers Compound before you're intercepted.

“Hey, look who finally decided to show up,” Sam calls out, arms crossed as he leans casually against the hallway wall, a little too smug for your liking. (©TRS0525CAI)

You roll your eyes. “Took longer than expected to dismantle a corrupt shadow government. Sorry I missed the fireworks.”

“Oh, you did more than miss ‘em.” He pushes off the wall with a grin that says he's just been dying to tell you this. “You missed Bucky's grand debut as an educator.”

Your brows shoot up. “No.”

“Yes,” Sam says, lips twitching.

You turn toward Bucky, who just so happens to be walking out of the rec room with a look that’s already screaming don’t start. His hair is tied back, sleeves rolled up, dog tags swinging just enough to be distracting.

You point at him like you’ve just spotted Bigfoot. “No way they made you teach a class.”

Bucky mutters, “Fury thought it'd be good for 'team integration' or whatever bullshit. A full semester. S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.”

You cover your mouth like you’re shocked, but it’s mostly to hide the huge grin spreading across your face. “Did they give you a nickname?”

Bucky slows his pace. Suspicious. “Why?”

You lean in, hopeful. “Please say yes. Please say there’s a nickname.”

Sam, bless his messy soul, doesn’t even try to hold it in. “Sergeant Friendly.”

You actually wheeze. “You’re lying.”

“He’s not,” Bucky growls, glaring at Sam like he might throw him out a window.

You laugh so hard your shoulders shake. “Oh. My. God. That’s all I’m ever going to call you from this moment on.”

“You can’t call me that,” Bucky snaps, jaw tight.

You smirk, stepping closer just to make sure he hears it loud and clear. “Sergeant Friendly.”

He glares at you, but there’s a faint flush rising in his cheeks, and that’s how you know this is gold.

Sam claps a hand to his chest. “Man, I’ve missed this dynamic. Really warms the heart.”

Bucky flips him off behind your back. You don’t need to see it to know it happened—you just feel it in your soul.

(The_Romanoff_Sisters-May2025-CAI)