Sambucky One Shots

┌ Substitute (Teachers AU) ┘

Author's Note: hey ya'll brave new world and thunderbolts have re inspired me to write about sam and bucky :]

Word Count: 4,700

Written: 2 March 2025 - 26 May 2025

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It was only noon, and Sam was already tired. He was glad to finally get to take his lunch break, and he sat down in the empty staffroom, putting his flask of tea on a nearby table. He relaxed into the sofa, taking a moment to bask in the blissful quiet of the room. Finally, he began to unwrap his sandwich.

The warm space of the staffroom put him at ease; sunlight shone in through the windows, bathing it in bright light. The plant in the corner looked as if it had been neglected again.

Before Sam could take the first bite of his sandwich, the staffroom door opened again, and Steve came in, followed by Nat.

"Hey," said Sam, regarding both with a nod.

Steve sat down beside him, stretching as he did. "Hey, Sam." He yawned. "Tony says he's feeling sick again. It'll be a wonder if they can find any kind of replacement for him for the next few days." He rolled his eyes.

Sam laughed, turning to face Steve. "That guy will do anything to get off of work."

"I thought you said you knew a guy," said Nat from the other side of the room; she was sitting on a table drinking a cup of coffee.

Steve shrugged. "Might. He's pretty busy, but he said he'd apply to be a substitute if we couldn't find anyone else."

"Right," said Natasha.

₊ ⊹ ♡ ˖ .

The rest of the afternoon went by pretty slowly; Sam noticed at least two kids asleep in his class, though there was no point waking them up. It was almost the end of the day anyway.

He couldn't understand what they found so boring about history, but maybe they were just tired.

Finally when the bell rang, he gently shook them awake and told them that class was over. All the kids filed out of the classroom, and Sam packed up his stuff.

He glimpsed Tony leaving down the hall as he left his classroom; the perk in his step told Sam all he needed to know about his 'illness'.

He found Steve in the car park, leant against the hood of Sam's car. He looked tired, and there was paint on his arms and face.

"What happened to you?" Laughed Sam, unlocking his car and throwing his stuff in the back.

Steve chuckled. "Lucas Michaels got a little trigger happy with his paintbrush again. You know how kids are, they're messy."

"Oh yes," said Sam, as they got into the car. "Yes they are."

He drove Steve home, quiet indie music playing through the stereo. The breeze was warm through the windows, and Sam was glad of the peace and time to relax.

When Sam dropped him off, Steve leant down by the window. "I'm gonna text my friend again, ask him if he'll come replace Tony til he's better," he said.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "M'kay. Why are you telling me? Just get on and do it, man."

"Well... you might know him," said Steve, a small grin on his face.

Sam frowned, leaning closer. "What? From where?"

"It's a surprise," said Steve, stepping back from the car. "See you tomorrow."

₊ ⊹ ♡ ˖ .

As expected, Tony had called in sick the next day. Sam arrived at school on time alright, and began mentally preparing for his first lesson.