sam disappears for a day on "errands" that are possibly things bucky and sarah should know about but don't

Sam goes to visit someone and hides what he's doing from both Bucky and Sarah in a way that is perfectly normal and not at all concerning.
november 2024

Notes:

For Canon_Is_Relative, KatieTaylor, scullystwin42.

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

Text messages between Wanda Maximoff and Sam Wilson

A Thursday 1:15 PM
Sam: hey - are you able to talk for a bit?

Unknown: Yes. Can I call in about half an hour?

Sam: yeah, that works for me
Thursday 3:05 PM
Sam: thanks again, that was really helpful

Unknown: Of course.

Unknown: For what it's worth, I would have preferred to talk in person, too.

Unknown: I just don't think that I'm the safest person to be around right now.

Sam: yeah, well. I like to live dangerously

Unknown: Yes, I've noticed that.

Sam: ouch, you don't have to be so judgmental about it

Unknown: Someone has to be. What is it with you and brainwashed Russian assassins who could kill you in their sleep?

Sam: okay, first, bucky's not russian, he's an annoying brooklynite who was brainwashed by russians

Sam: and second, they were reformed assassins

Unknown: Well, that changes everything.

Sam: totally different

Unknown: Of course.

Sam: seriously, I'm not busy tomorrow, why don't I just fly up? we can go grab coffee or lunch, it'll be fun

Unknown: Very funny.

Unknown: I don't know, Sam. I just really don't want to hurt you by accident.

Sam: if you were going to hurt me, I think it would've happened already

Unknown: If you're sure you're okay with risking it, yes.

Sam: I'll plan to be there around 11

Unknown: That sounds good.

Text messages between Sarah Wilson and Bucky Barnes

Sarah Wilson Friday 8:21 PM
Sarah: can you ask sam when he's planning to be back? his phone has been off all day

Bucky: I'm not with him

Bucky: did he say he would be flying up here??

Sarah: no, I guess I just assumed when I saw the wings gone this morning - usually he'll tell me where he's going if it's not just up to New York

Sarah: that's strange, I wonder where he went

Bucky: I have no idea

Bucky: if he stops in I'll tell him
Friday 9:20 PM
Bucky: wanda maximoff just followed me

Bucky: should I follow her back?

Bucky: I didn't get to know her as well as natasha, and sam usually kind of avoids talking about her

Sarah: yes

Bucky: that was quick and very unambiguous

Sarah: he hasn't said much about her to me, either, but I do know that they're not on bad terms

Sarah: I think she's the one who suggested that astrophysicist you've been doing the background check on

Bucky: okay, thanks

Text messages between Sarah Wilson and Sam Wilson

Sarah Friday 9:25 PM
Sarah: when was the last time you talked to wanda?

Sam: why?

Sarah: she just followed bucky and he messaged me to double check that there wasn't tension between you before following her back

Sam: there's not

Sarah: that's what I told him

Sarah: and where are you, anyway? your phone's been off all day and the wings are gone, I assumed you'd run up to new york but bucky said he hadn't seen you

Sam: yeah, I had to fly up toward dc

Sam: I'll be back in an hour or two

Sarah: no rush, just wondering

Text messages between "A" and Sam Wilson

A Friday 11:02 PM
Sam: why did you need to do that

Unknown: You spent half the day talking about him. Now I'm curious.

Unknown: Thank you for risking it, though. It was nice to see you.

Sam: if I was going to be afraid of you, it probably would've happened seven years ago

Unknown: I forgot about that.

Sam: lucky you

Sam: please avoid fevers in the future

Unknown: Thanks for the tip.

Notes:

the first part of this inspired by a truly excellent comment thread about sam having a very specific type. in semi-related news, black widow was excellent, if you haven't seen it yet 10/10 recommend.
so that's some stuff explained. ("ana maximoff" is an alias of wanda's in the comics - figuring sam wouldn't want her identifiably in his phone.) afaik, we don't know where she is exactly, but if she could fly there from new jersey, so can he. my personal feeling is that it would make a lot of sense for them to have a pretty significant bond after two years on the run together, esp with the other two gone. wanda's been briefly mentioned in a way that implies that they're on good terms/in some communication a few times, and sam's been a little weird and vague/shifty at a few other points because he was hiding how much they were talking/that he was actually seeing her. does knowing who it is change the equation around sam concealing it at all?
i post a new fic to this series every morning est (and occasionally more often) - if you want to be alerted when I do, you can subscribe to the series +here. please let me know if there's anything you'd like to see in a future fic or just what you're enjoying the most - I've got a bunch of ideas, and I love being able to focus in on what y'all like the most. 💕 if you're okay with being gifted fics, please tell me via +tumblr ask or a comment bc i like to do that sometimes, but no pressure!
as always, thank you so much for reading, kudos/comments are always appreciated, and i hope you all have the best day available to you! 💕
tomorrow: bucky discovers that sam's been lying to him about something fairly significant and is less than pleased
Bucky: I don't understand why you couldn't have just fucking told me
Sam: I did
Bucky: when I asked who you'd been on the phone with and you got shifty about it
Bucky: you didn't exactly volunteer the information

Series this work belongs to:

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KatieTaylor Sat 10 Jul 2021 04:37PM UTC

WANDA! More thoughts later. I'm actually supposed to be streaming right now. But went BRB to read this. LMAO
(ty for the gift!!!)

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sat 10 Jul 2021 07:14PM UTC
  
  💕💕💕
  
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NicoAndTheNineGalaxies Sat 10 Jul 2021 04:39PM UTC

okay i got through like half of this series last night but i fell asleep at like 2am and finished the rest this morning and omg. i signed up for bucky and sam being dumb and pining over text and i got angst and mystery and an absolutely incredible friendship between bucky and a REPORTER of all people and i just. this is such an amazing series and i have no idea how i didn't start reading it sooner

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 04:31AM UTC
  
  thank you so, so much - i'm really glad you're enjoying it so much! 💕💕💕
  
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talyag Sat 10 Jul 2021 04:46PM UTC

oooh Wanda chatting with Sam. I can get behind that. I like Wanda :)
Black Widow was pretty awesome!

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 04:31AM UTC
  
  💕💕
  
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sunfl0wers Sat 10 Jul 2021 04:48PM UTC

Aaaahhh yesss A was Wanda!!!! I LOVE THAT!

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 04:31AM UTC
  
  💕💕
  
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scullystwin42 Sat 10 Jul 2021 04:58PM UTC

Omg a gift for me!! AND IT’S WANDA?!
Could I be more wrong in my guesses 🤣🤣🤣
Also I love the fact that she follows them on Twitter and Bucky is like ummmm? And Darcy shout out!
Angry!Bucky, I’m excited for that. (Which I think makes me weird)

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 04:33AM UTC
  
  i don't think any comment guessed wanda, so you're in good company 😂💕 and ohhh god i hope you enjoy angry bucky, that conversation got heated and also much longer than non-interview chapters typically are 😅
  
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Katzekaze Sat 10 Jul 2021 05:07PM UTC

Oh, this makes so much sense. I actually was pretty convinced Sam wasn't that much on good terms with Wanda, call me dense, or you're just that good at misleading people. No way Bucky won't be angry though, and that's something that can get ugly real quick. Hurting the reformed brainwashed assassin's feeling is not the brightest plan Sam. Just hope the series doesn't suddenly end in a dark murder, we do need more of TCA, and what's a sidekick with no one to sidekick for right?

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 04:37AM UTC
  
  nah, i've been intentionally alluding to wanda either just in passing or in ways that people probably wouldn't pick up on unless they were looking for it - sam's actively trying to make their relationship seem a lot less close than it is for Reasons.
  
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Account Deleted Sat 10 Jul 2021 05:37PM UTC

........I'm pretty sure she's in self-exile in Sokovia
but love the idea that they're still in touch
references: https://screenrant.com/wandavision-ending-scarlet-witch-cabin-mountains-location-where/

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sat 10 Jul 2021 07:00PM UTC
  
  ooh, yes - i've seen that speculation, too, though i couldn't remember where bc it was so long ago, so ty for the link! 💕 i am deeply sorry in advance for what will probably be a very long answer, i have thought way too much about this because i am a dork 😅😅
  i'm not sure we've gotten anything official stating where wanda is, and i'm personally not convinced by the idea that she's in sokovia. i'm sure she could have gotten back to europe if she'd really wanted to, but she'd have either had to teleport there (which seems unlikely), disguise herself and get fake documents, stow away, or fly - all possible, but a lot of effort. it also doesn't quite tally with what we learn in tfatws - zemo says that sokovia no longer exists because it was cannibalized by its neighbors, and i'm not sure that what sounds to me like it's disputed territory is a better place to hide from the rest of the world compared to the middle of nowhere in the northern us or canada. that said, i do think it's plausible, so i kept it vague outside of the general implication that it's close to new york than louisiana.
  it's never stated exactly how fast sam can fly with his new wings, but he's clearly still at home watching news about the vote when joaquin calls to say that the flag smashers are in new york, and while we don't know quite how long it takes for him to get there, it's already dark out when he gets the call, so he probably traveled from louisiana to new york (which is ~1300 miles/2100 km) in a couple hours at the absolute most, and i'm guessing it was much less.
  i've got him flying in planes sometimes bc i think luggage would be a pain and also bc it's funny 😂 but if it was just him flying at a comparable speed, even getting to where sovokia was would be ~3 hours each way from new york and ~4 hours each way from louisiana - which is definitely a bit of a trek, but I've spent more time traveling roundtrip to go somewhere for a day on many occasions, and if he'd gotten to wanda by 11am and was home at about 10pm, that's enough time to spend a decent amount of time with her even if he'd had to fly all the way to europe to do it.
  /i clearly think way too much about this, i'm so sorry 😂
  
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2. 1. Account Deleted Sun 11 Jul 2021 06:24AM UTC
    
    no no don't apologize
    I'm really happy that you're willing to share your train of thoughts
    I'm a big fan of this series, and I look forward to more!
    I really like you gave Bucky a BFF, someone who's good but mysterious enough (at least to the readers and Sam)
    can't get enough of the conversation between Sam and Becca where Sam's always like who the fuck is this lady and get suspicious and overprotective and everything
    I LOVE IT SO GIVE ME MORE PLEASE DEAR ARTHOR.
    
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nineteensixtynine Sat 10 Jul 2021 05:59PM UTC

okay but i can totally see sam being super secretive and protective over reconnecting with wanda because he simultaneously feels responsible for her and also doesn't want to risk bucky or sarah possibly getting hurt by wanda even if it's subconscious. we already know that sam is used to being on his own/having to solve problems on his own and that he also is apparently addicted to seeing things through/coming through for the people he cares about regardless of the consequences so all this makes so much sense. he obviously trusts bucky and sarah more than anyone else in the world, but i love that when it comes to protecting the people he love's all of that goes out the window and he feels like he has to do it alone until ~the coast is clear~ as always i'm a stan for sam having Issues ❤️

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 04:44AM UTC
  
  yup - sarah's explicitly told him that wanda's a friend of his that she doesn't really want to meet, and there's definitely a subconscious worry about bucky not being able to shake off any of the mind manipulation the way other people might be able to because, you know - the brainwashing stuff. and yes re: sam "i have to do this alone" - it's not a great approach sometimes, but it's the approach he's got. 🙃 bucky was on a plane with him to fucking germany and sam still fully intended to look into the warehouse on his own - i can't imagine he was expecting bucky to jump from 200 feet in the air without a parachute.
  
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Wickedstar Sat 10 Jul 2021 06:07PM UTC

❤❤❤❤
It's Wanda! But I didn't even think of her bc I think she's in Europe somewhere in the "real" world, but I love it.

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sat 10 Jul 2021 07:08PM UTC
  
  😂😂 i said this in a super long comment above too that really says a lot about how much of a dork i am 😅 but i'm personally not totally convinced she flew to europe, disguised herself with a fake passport, or stowed away in a plane/ship - i feel like somewhere in the northern us or canada would be more likely. i did build in enough time for sam to get to europe, though - judging from episode 5, he gets from louisiana to new york (~1300 miles/2100 km) in ~an hour, and europe (inc where sokovia used to be) is ~3 hours from new york and ~4 hours from louisiana (each way) if he was going at a comparable speed. i have him sometimes flying in an airplane bc i think luggage would be a pain and also bc it's entertaining to me 😂 but judging by what we see of his speed in tfatws, he could definitely do a day trip to europe if he wanted to.
  
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2. 1. Wickedstar Sat 10 Jul 2021 08:59PM UTC
    
    I like the idea that she's some where in the wilderness of northeast north America and I love that she's who sam reached out to first. I feel like people (including currently the mcu itself) have forgotten that Sam and Wanda would be close or at least have some sort of bond.
    ❤❤
    
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  2. 1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 04:48AM UTC
      
      yes - it drives me crazy. like, y'all, you don't think that being the two surviving members (functionally, anyway) of a four person team that was literally in hiding for two years is relevant?? i mean not to belabor the point but like... seriously?
      
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    2. 1. nineteensixtynine Sun 11 Jul 2021 05:03AM UTC
        
        literally after watching black widow last night i was like “this is such a perfect setup for a black widow sequel that focuses on them being on the run” like you cannot tell me that sam and wanda don’t consider each other family after all the loss they’ve both had over the years. after losing her parents, pietro, vision, natasha, and steve? there’s no way she wouldn’t lean on sam and vice versa.
        
        Last Edited Sun 11 Jul 2021 05:04AM UTC
        
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dearxoxo Sat 10 Jul 2021 06:19PM UTC

O--kay. Not sure how I feel yet about Sam not talking to Bucky about Wanda but he has some explaining to do and Im here waiting for that hand on my hip, eyebrow raised, and tapping one foot. Also, ive been googling who it could be hahaha I didnt know Wanda had an alias starting with A so that was a fun trivia (I almost considered Agatha cos who knows it couldve been agatha all along hahaha)

Last Edited Sat 10 Jul 2021 06:22PM UTC

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 04:49AM UTC
  
  omg 😂😂 it's agatha all along 😂
  reallllly curious to see what you think of sam's reasons 💕💕
  
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KatieTaylor Sat 10 Jul 2021 06:37PM UTC

Okay, I love that Sam and Wanda kept talking. I never really think about his relationship with any of the others just because we didn't really get a good look at their time on the run and so I just don't think about them being that close. (Not that I don't think they WERE. Just that I don't think about it. I always was like 'they just check in with each other from time to time') But I love this.
It doesn't make anything better or worse now that the mystery is solved. I just hate mysteries because I feel dumb when I can't figure them out. LOL My memory isn't all that great. :P That's a me issue tho :P (also, I was a teeny scared it was Sharon. and as fun as it would be to bring her up in this 'verse, I don't want it to be as a friend. But I think we're on the same page. LOL)
I totally get Bucky being hurt/upset that Sam didn't tell him. I'm sure it won't last long. After all, Sam would 100% do the same for Bucky if he'd been in hiding right now. And it sounds like he's never actually lied about it (at least in the preview, it seems like as soon as Bucky actually asked straight up, he told him.)
love love love! as always :D

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1. KatieTaylor Sat 10 Jul 2021 06:40PM UTC
  
  (also, I don't know why I thought she was just at a cabin on a lake in Montana. Like, I literally just went 'oh, that must be Montana' for some random reason in the end scene of WV LOL)
  
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2. 1. abhorsenbranwen Sat 10 Jul 2021 07:14PM UTC
    
    i mean my brain jumped to canada so that's fair 😂 i think we really don't know where she is (though i'm skeptical of the europe theory), but sam flies fast enough with the new wings that i just kind of hedged my bets and said "closer to new york than louisiana" 😂😂 he could get to europe quick enough for it to be a long day trip for sure (which is insane) - i just have him take planes sometimes bc luggage and bc it's funny 😂
    
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  2. 1. KatieTaylor Sat 10 Jul 2021 07:22PM UTC
      
      Well, and really, who wants to be in the air that long and not be in a tube. That's a lot of bugs in teeth. On the plus side... no customs. LMAO
      
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    2. 1. abhorsenbranwen Sat 10 Jul 2021 07:24PM UTC
        
        😂😂 seriously, at least tony had a mask!
        
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Summer_wish09 Sat 10 Jul 2021 06:55PM UTC

I had a feeling Wanda was going to make an appearance in this series but not like this. Y'know? (Not that I'm complaining, it was unexpected in a good way)
I understand Bucky"s anger cuz Sam is being shifty but we all know it isn't going to last long once he explains himself and then it'll end in a sweet way (something I am looking forward to very much)

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 04:52AM UTC
  
  💕💕 yeahhh, tomorrow's fic has some charged emotions in it but they'll be back to giving the neighbors something to gossip about in no time 😂
  
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thewatch Sat 10 Jul 2021 07:27PM UTC

I love the reveal for who A is, much more interesting than an old Steve. I often think how close Steve, Nat, Sam and Wanda would have become after those 2 years. With everything that happened in WandaVision now as well I would love for her and Sam to reconnect. She did protect Bucky in that Airport fight too.
It's also nice that Sam isn't perfect and it's not always Bucky having to work on their communication. Very interested to see where this goes. Love Wanda.

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 05:08AM UTC
  
  she did! i think how much wanda brought to that fight can be really overlooked, and i think she's a big part of why steve and bucky got away - i'm sure that she was being genuine when she told vision that she was sorry, but i also always felt like she was trying to distract him and take his focus off steve and bucky - i'm not sure i buy that that would've been enough to keep her down, but if she stayed down, vision stayed on the ground, too. (... it's possible i'm reading too much into that scene. 😂)
  
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WowThatMe Sat 10 Jul 2021 07:49PM UTC

Wanda!!!!! Omg I didn't think of her even though I was intrigued since she has been posting on insta and twitter. I'm so glad Sama nd her remained friends as we all know that girl needs as many as she can get, I'm still in mourn for wandavision.
Omg Bucky angry dammnnnn

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1. abhorsenbranwen Sun 11 Jul 2021 05:09AM UTC
  
  mood. poor wanda.
  💕💕
  
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brynnereece Sat 10 Jul 2021 09:40PM UTC

ahhhh as soon as you commented back that it was an alias from the comics, i immediately knew it was wanda! i’m glad that you wrote about her and sam keeping in contact because that would make a lot of sense and i was kinda sad that they never really eluded to that in the tv show. like i feel like sam would try and get in touch with her after the whole “make a city your own reality” thing.
yikes about the next fic tho! i hope that they just communicate about it all and see it from each other’s view point so nothing too crazy happens!

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1. abhorsenbranwen Tue 13 Jul 2021 03:35AM UTC
  
  💕💕 yessss i was hoping it wasn't that sneaky 😂
  
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Canon_Is_Relative Sat 10 Jul 2021 09:42PM UTC

Yesssssssss *\o/*
Thank you for this gift fic and the callback to that truly enjoyable comment thread 😆 I’m happy it’s Wanda, looking forward to maybe seeing more of her too. You put so much thought into all these moving pieces, it’s very enjoyable.

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1. abhorsenbranwen Tue 13 Jul 2021 03:36AM UTC
  
  it's probably clear at this point 😂 but you will definitely see more of wanda! 💕💕
  
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blint_carton Sat 10 Jul 2021 10:43PM UTC

sam. honey. i love you. but oh my fucking god you god damn blubbering idiot i am going to kill you
reconnecting with wanda? cool! fantastic! she needs the company!
keeping it a secret? understandable! she's on the fucking run, again !
not even talking to sarah or buck about it? youre a fucking hypocritical idiot. god. jesus christ.

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1. abhorsenbranwen Tue 13 Jul 2021 03:37AM UTC
  
  sam is deeply paranoid about some things 😂
  
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erytherion Sun 11 Jul 2021 08:04PM UTC

WANDA IS MY FAV!!!
I seriously didn't think she'd count and I definitely didn't think of Ana and even while reading this I was going "Is Barton controlling her social media accounts so she seems less crazy while off-grid? He'd think he was still dangerous himself too and is technically an Agent, but Sam's not on good terms still because Nat and that 5-year gap where he went Dark. Hmm..."
And it took reading the end note to realise I was def over-thinking that once it hit Wanda ahaha
Also, I can see where Sam is coming from if Wanda explicitly stated she didn't want Bucky knowing about her yet, because she might not trust him like she trusts Sam (even if just because he's newer to social media and might let something slip).
However, he could have given Bucky something, like "Heads up, I'm talking to an acquaintance about potentially joining the team, but they aren't comfortable with anyone else knowing until they decide so I can't tell you who yet " and then there would be less hurt feelings and less not-nice surprises.

Last Edited Sun 11 Jul 2021 08:06PM UTC

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1. abhorsenbranwen Tue 13 Jul 2021 03:47AM UTC
  
  yeah - i think that there's definitely a needle to thread there, and some of sam's issues around stuff that happened around the sokovia accords definitely impacted how he threaded it in a way that wasn't ideal.
  
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thisismycoping Sun 11 Jul 2021 08:43PM UTC

I didn’t expect that!!

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1. abhorsenbranwen Tue 13 Jul 2021 03:48AM UTC
  
  💕💕
  
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cynthiagay Mon 12 Jul 2021 04:32AM UTC

WANDA MAXIMOFF, LOVE OF MY LIFE, IS HERE!!!! I LOVE HER SM!!!!! (also, black widow was amazing and sam definitely has a thing for dangerous assassins)

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1. abhorsenbranwen Tue 13 Jul 2021 03:49AM UTC
  
  he really does 😂😂 also yess, i love wanda so much 💕
  
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