Rule# 1: nothing illegal

Sorry, doc, Bucky thinks as he yanks the latch off the window.

Rule# 2: nobody gets hurt

Woops. Cracked ribs. Shattered knee cap. Broken nose. He'll heal.

Rule# 3: make amends

"I am James Buchanan Barnes," Bucky hisses in the moonlight of Walker's home. "I'm here to take back what was stolen."

He arrives at Sam's flat bruised but not defeated. The shield rests proudly in his arms. "Buck..." Sam breathes out. The moon reflects off the shield, shining on Sam's face. His dark eyes are tired but fierce.

"It's yours," Bucky says. He hands it off lamely. He shuffles his feet, stares at his gloved hands. He watches his boyfriend set the shield down.

"This'll cost you your freedom." It rings like a battle cry; loud and clear.

He swallows, loud in the quiet. "I know," he whispers. He lets Sam pull him into his arms, kiss his jaw. It'll be a long time before it'll ever be like this again. Bucky knows that. He's known since he planned to steal - take back - the shield. But he did it for Sam. Sam deserves this. Steve deserves his legacy to be carried on. "But it's what you deserve."

"God, I love you, Barnes," Sam says. Bucky's heart flutters even after three months of the same words.

"That's why I did this," Bucky mumbles against Sam's chest. "Because I love you. Until the end of time."

They spend the remainder of the night in bed, moving in perfect sync in the quiet of Sam's bedroom. Sam's teeth graze over Bucky's collarbone and Bucky tugs on Sam's lips.
Their peace is interrupted when the strike team raids their home, taking Bucky with them.

"You are more than that shield!" Bucky yells at Sam. They shove him against the side of the slick black van that is going to take him to prison for a very long time. "I love you, Wilson!"

Hopeless and fucking terrified, Sam fights through the swarm of agents. He will see Bucky. "I love you too!" But he'll never know if Bucky heard him. The door locks shut and in an instant Sam's world is gone.

***
Part 2?