Bucky hasn’t worked at the university long, and in the time that he has been here, he’s managed to keep mostly to himself—apart from the occasional visit from Peggy or Sharon, his students are the only people with who he has regular conversations. And yes, he knows that that’s kind of sad, alright? He just… doesn’t do well with new people.
And well- there is Sam Wilson, who is kind, and funny, and friendly to a fault and who will not leave Bucky alone… not that he really wants him to. It’s kind of refreshing the way that Sam refuses to be intimidated or deterred by Bucky’s surliness.