The Souls

The Avengers compound was under reconstruction. And the rebuilding was going much faster than anyone had thought it could be done. Doctor Strange's portals had made it much easier for people to cross over to New York and volunteer their assistance. And their not so human friends gladly offered their superior abilities to fixing their home in New York.

But everything returning to normal, slowly but surely, also meant that everyone's time in Wakanda was coming to an end. And while they had been guests in the Kingdom for only a few days, everyone felt like they were leaving a new home.

Someone especially sad to be leaving, was Thor. But he was just as ready for the next stage of his life. He had had a splendid time these past few days. Wakanda was magnificent, and he was thrilled to be in the amazing castle. But even more that the castle, he was thrilled to be with his brother.

To no ones surprise, he spent as much time as he could with Loki, all but monopolizing every second of his time. It's not like Loki minded very much. But he was Loki, so he at least pretended to be irritated when Thor wouldn't leave him alone. No one was buying it of course. Least of all Thor.

Which is why he didn't feel bad at all for making Loki come along everytime T'Challa invited them on a 'Royals Only' tour of his Palace. Well, T'Challa didn't call it that, but Thor found the term ideal.

Wakanda was beyond beautiful. Absolutely marvellous. Thor's excitement shone through his face as he took it all in. Even Loki lost his cool for a few seconds at a time, letting his face accidentally show how impressed he was.

But he had promised himself that he would never complain about Thor, no matter how overexcited he would get. Not when only days ago, he had been sure that he would never see him again.

So Loki let himself be dragged around the Palace without a complaint. And he didn't say a word when Thor gushed over the weapons that Shuri had made. And he held his tongue when Thor all but squealed as he watched the Dora Milage train, and as T'Challa beamed when he was told about the Valkyries.

And Loki only rolled his eyes when the two bonded over how inconsolable they had been when their respective mothers explained that were not allowed to join the all female fighting forces.

He almost spoke up though, when Thor mentioned what he wished to do now that their time on Midgard was coming to an end. He had simply heard the term 'Asguardians of the galaxy', and blanched at Thor's excited expression.

Thor had of course added quite a few, 'if it's all right with you, brother's as he told him about his wish, and Loki had forced himself to refrain from telling Thor why leaving here with that group of ingrates was a terrible idea.

So instead of shooting down his brother's idea, Loki sighed and resigned himself to his fate.

So now, on their last day in Wakanda, Loki excused himself from Thor's company, simply saying he was going for a stroll, to blow off some stream as he readied himself for what would undeniably be an exhausting adventure.

Now, when Loki said 'blow off steam', Thor wasn't sure if he meant he might have a few drinks, or if he meant he might evaporate a river out of spite. But he hadn't heard any screams of horror yet, so he hoped it was the former.

As Loki went off on his own, Thor himself decided to walk the grounds for the last time, savouring these last hours.

He went up to see Tony, and was happy to see some of the other Avengers up there too. He took the opportunity to inform them of what he meant to do. Where he meant to go. He assured everyone that he would come at a moments notice if he was needed. He promised to visit Midgard as often as he could. He promised that he would get better. He would be with Loki, so he would get better. He promised that this wasn't like last time. He wasn't running away and hiding.

He left the room smiling. Happy. After crushing them all with hugs (he was far gentler with Tony) and promising to keep in touch. Constantly.

He had one more thing to do before he could be completely at peace.

Thor smiled when he looked in the distance and saw the person he had set out looking for.

Valkyrie was on a large hill, just standing there, looking over Wakanda. He obvioulsy wasn't the only person saying goodbye to the place. He was panting quite a bit by the time he reached her, and she didn't even turn to acknowledge his presnse at first. But Thor had lived long enough with Valkyrie to know that she didn't need to greet you to acknowledge your presence. And he knew her enough to know that at that moment, his presence didn't irritate her. In fact, she looked quite happy. The thought had Thor beaming.

The two stood in silence for some time, until Valkyrie took a deep breath of fresh air.

"I hate to leave," she smiled wistfully as she looked over at the Palace, "I really love this place."

"It really is magnificent," Thor nodded.

Valkyrie paused, as if steeling herself to say something else, and Thor waited silently as she took a long breath.

"The general Okoye offered me a place with the Dora Milaje." she looked down as she said it, "said she saw me fighting and thinks I'm a great warrior."

Thor smiled and nodded immediately. She would never say it, or even show it, or suggest it, but to Thor it was obvious how much that invitation meant to her, "She's right, you are."

Thor looked at her from the corner of his eye. Her face was positivley glowing in the sunlight. It was moments like these that made Thor equal parts extremely proud of his friend, and extremely ashamed of himself. Moments like these, when Valkyrie spoke of the Dora Milaje, did he remember that she too had been a part of such an elite group of fighters. And she had lost them all. And yet here she was, one of the strongest people Thor knew. Both in body and in mind. And here he was... Like this.

Thor cleared his throat. He had been seeking her out for a reason, after all.

"Valkyrie," he said.

"Mh?"

"I never told you how much I admire you."

Valkyrie turned and frowned, "What?"

"Well I mean, I've always admired you. Even before I knew you. It was my dream to be as strong as a Valkyrie one day. To be able to know one." he snorted, "Now, granted, you weren't exactly what I expected when we met, but the fact that you were still alive and kicking, after all you had lost... I admired that strength."

"Thor-"

"Even moreso when you helped me fight Hela. And then when Thanos attacked us, you didn't hesitate to take all the Asguardians you could to safety. And then you took care of them. You helped them. Ruled them. While their King sat in his chambers, trying to drink himself to death. And even then, it was you who made sure that that didn't happen," Thor sighed heavily, rubbing a hand over his face, "And I never once thanked you. Or told you how happy I am that you're my friend. And that you stayed my friend for all those years."

"Thor-" Valkrie tried again, but Thor didn't stop, knowing he would never find the courage to say this again.

"It brings me great shame to even think about what I was. I mean, it was only a few days ago, I haven't quite put myself together yet. Banner says it might take some time. But I will get better, Valkyrie, I swear it. I will return to how I was. Perhaps even better. I will make you proud. You won't regret making sure I stayed alive all those years, I swear it."

Silence followed Thor's words, and Valkyrie looked at him for a long time, and then turned her head back towards the castle.

"Well if you're gonna get all heartfelt and emotional, I suppose I should return the favour," she sighed dramatically. Thor turned to her with raised eyebrows, surprised that she hadn't just given him a friendly punch on the shoulder and be done with it.

"I probably should have said this earlier," she said, clearing her throat, "before we were all brought back to arms and all. But as you know, I am not one with the words. And also talking about things in general makes me sick, but here it is anyway."

Thor frowned, wondering what this was about, and Valkyrie took a deep breath as if steeling herself for battle.

"I am so incredibley proud of you, Thor Odinson."

Thor's eyebrows rose past his sunglasses, "You... what?"

"And you saying that you admire my so called strength just makes me feel bad becasue that's the farthest thing from the truth."

Thor opened his mouth to protest, but was stopped by a hand, "no let me finish. Look, you lost everything in the span of a few days. Everything. And when you were called to fight, you answered immediately."

"After five years of wallowing in drink and feeling sorry for myself." he clarified.

"Yes well I did that for fifteen hundred years, in case you forgot."

Thor blinked, nodding, "Yes I... I did forget about that, actually."

She chuckled lightly, "You never even saw the worst of it. And I'm glad you didn't, because then I'm sure you wouldn't be going on about my 'strength'. But all you need to know is that I was... a broken mess for a thousand years. And then you showed up and pulled me out of it. Gave me something to do. Something to fight for. Something to live for." Valkyrie finally steeled herself and turned to Thor's wide eyes, "You saved my life Odinson. Whether you're aware of it or not. So I won't have you stand here and put yourself down for spending some time in grief."

She turned her head away from him again, sighing deeply, and quite proud of herself for having let all of that out. A small smile grew on Thor's face as he kept watching her.

"Well then, I guess we can call it even."

Valkyrie nodded curtly, effectively ending the conversation. Or at least hoping that Thor would take the hint and be done with all this talking already.

He, of course, ignored her.

"You know, I think you're one of the best friends I've ever had, Valkyrie."

"Well then you must have terrible friends." she muttered

Thor let out a booming laugh, knowing that she didn't mean it. She had now met all of his friends, and he knew that she didnt think they were terrible at all. He was almost sure that she even liked a few of them, but he wasn't about to bring that up just yet.

The two returned to their silence. Standing on a hill and looking over Wakanda and it's beauty. The Palace. The city. The people. It was just marvellous. Only minutes later, Thor sighed softly.

"Reminds me of Asgard. You know... before."

Valkyrie nodded, "Yeah. Before."

Thor sighed softly, "It will be great again." He said, "Asgard will return to its splendour. I'm sure of it."

"That I don't doubt." Nodded Valkyrie.

It's then that Thor realised it was time to talk about that other thing. The most important thing.

"But I won't be the one to do it." he said.

Valkyrie turned to him with a frown, "What?"

"I'm no leader, Valkyrie. Not as good as you, everyone knows it."

Thor paused, and then flicked narrowed eyes towards her. "You see, this is where you say 'oh no Thor, you're magnificent, you've done nothing wrong ever'."

"Well I'm your adviser, your Majesty. I can't lie to you."

"Adviser," He scoffed, "you've been running the kingdom for years. Doing a much better job than I ever could."

He paused again, waiting for her to disagree, but she just gave him a tight lipped smile.

He sighed, "You're very mean to me, you know that?"

Valkyrie finally laughed out loud, "Well someone's got to be."

"Well now Loki has returned, and he is plenty mean to me."

"Well then I guess I should stop then," she sighed with a smile, "And in the spirit of being nice, I'll tell you that I have every faith that you will do an excellent job once you return. So when can we expect you back on that Throne?"

Thor gave a long sigh at that, "Well… about that…"

Valkyrie frowned and whipped her head to him, "Thor, your people need a king."

"No," he shook his head, turning to her fully, "No, they already have one."

Some seconds passed, and she waited for him to stop looking at her like that.

"That's funny." She said, but Thor just kept smiling.

"You're being serious?"

Thor nodded his head, and turned back to look at the palace, "It's time for me to be who I am, Valkyrie. Instead of who I'm supposed to be. But you, you're a leader. That's who you are."

Valkyrie kept looking at him, and then let out little smile. "You know I'd make a whole lot of changes."

"Oh I'm counting on it." Thor told her, "Your Majesty."

Valkyrie's smile widened despite herself, and she held out her hand for a shake. Naturally, Thor just scoffed, and instead engulfed her in a suffocating hug. Valkyrie gave a long suffering sigh, before reluctantly returning the over enthusiastic embrace.

:::

On the other side of the palace, Sam Wilson sat on a lone bench overlooking the lake. There was so much magic in this place, he was sure that if he stared long enough, he would spot a mermaid. He hadn't had much luck yet, but he wasn't losing hope. He thought he saw a face somewhere in the distance, but before he could look closer he felt someone stop behind the bench.

He turned to yell at them for interrupting his mermaid spotting, but his face broke into a grin when he saw who it was.

"Well look who's up and about!" Sam's grin was near painful as Steve sat sheepishly next to him.

"Shut up," he muttered with no real malice.

"What can I say, I'm feeling proud! You actually got out of bed before sunset," he clapped him on the shoulder as he laughed.

"Shut up," Steve said again, his ears turning red even as he grinned, "Honestly I don't see why everyone has to pay so much attention to what time we get out of bed. No one ever heard of sleeping in?"

"Sleeping in, huh? That's what you old folks call it, huh?"

"Sam!" Steve hissed as his face reddened, "I swear to god, I've heard enough of that from Tony! Please not you too."

Sam was appalled, "Are you kidding? I have to live with sad, pining, Bucky-yearning Steve for years, and when it finally happens I ain't even allowed to make jokes?" he scoffed, shaking his head, "I swear, nothings fair in this world."

"I think this world is plenty fair." Steve shrugged with a little smile.

Sam whipped his head to him with wide eyes, "I don't fucking believe this..." he shook his head, "You get laid one time and all of a sudden you forgive all the other crap life has thrown at you?"

"Sam!" he hissed.

"Well how can you expect me to not make any jokes when you go on about 'life is fair'."

"You're impossible you know that?" he glared, "And besides we haven't actually..." Steve stopped and cleared his throat, "You know what? No, I am not talking about this. No." he glared at the lake and ignored Sam's growing grin in his peripheral vision.

"Did you just say-"

"No."

"Steve. C'mon."

"We're gonna change the subject, right now, okay."

"You two really haven't-"

"Shut up, Sam."

"Tell me the truth, Cap. You a virgin?"

"Sam!"

"Okay!" Sam flung his hands up, the insufferable grin not leaving his face, "I'm shutting up, I'm shutting up."

"Yeah, you'd better."

Steve didn't believe him at all. By that look on his face he wasn't gonna hear the end of this for a long time. But as irritating as Sam could get once conversation was stuck on something humiliating, Steve had to admit he couldn't be happier. His best friend had been gone for five years. He hadn't had to listen to his chatter in years, and god how he had missed it. And It was nice being able to have a conversation with his friend that didn't revolve around some kind of battle strategy.

Even if he was dead set on embarrasing Steve as much as possible.

"So where is your little love bug, Cap'n?"

"Sam I swear to god-"

"What?" he shrugged dramatically, "I'm not taking about that. I'm just asking about the whereabouts of my very dear friend Bucky. I haven't seen him in ages, remember? He only got out of bed at sunset, not getting laid, apparently."

Steve all but growled at his friend as Sam just smiled sweetly. He finally sighed, deciding to ignore Sam's obvious teasing.

"Actually Bucky's with Parker and Drax on cleanup for a few hours. Crew needed some help with heavy lifting."

"Oh you're gonna be away from him for a few hours? How ever will you cope?"

Steve groaned, but couldnt help letting out a smile, "I am perfectly capable of spending a few hours away from Bucky."

Sam just raised an eyebrow, and Steve let out a laugh, "Alright fine, I'm going over there after this."

Sam threw his head back laughing, "God, I love being right."

Steve just shook his head at his friend, trying to hide the blush on his face.

"So let me not keep you from your beloved, Cap. What's up?"

Steve's smile softened up a bit, and then he sighed.

"I was just up to see Tony. Nat, Thor, Bruce and Clint were also up there and it turned into a bit of a meeting."

"Yeah?"

"Well Tony's gonna be recovering for a while. And then he's gonna go back to his cottage with his family as soon as Shuri lets him."

Sam smiled at that, "I'm happy for him."

"Me too." nodded Steve, "We all are. Clint too. He's gonna go back to the farm. Natasha and Bruce are gonna stay at the compound. The part that's not demolished anyway."

"They are?" Sam raised an eyebrow.

Steve nodded, "Yeah Nat offered to watch over construction and rebuilding and stuff. And Banner wants to help out there to. 'Put some good use to his Hulkiness' he says."

Sam narrowed his eyes at Steve. He had thought he was only oblivious to his own love life. But apparently he couldn't see when other people were pathetically pining for each other too.

Sam happened to know very well that Nat was pretty confident in the construction team. And a lot of the hard heavy lifting had already been done with the help of the heroes, so Bruce didn't really need to be there either. Sam wondered how long it would take those two to fess up and say something. With Bruce thinking he was unlovable now that he and Hulk were joined, and with Nat thinking that she'd ruined her chances with him after the incident with Ultron, it might be a while.

Steve didn't seem to have a clue about any of this of course, and Sam decided that if he was oblivious to some things, Sam would just leave him be. For now.

"I'm glad they'll be there," Steve continued, "There should always be at least a couple of Avengers in New York."

Sam raised an eyebrow, "Just a couple? Sounds like you won't be one of them."

Steve looked back at the lake. Right. That. He had almost forgotten why he'd been seeking Sam out in the first place.

He remembered what he had told the Avengers up in Tony's hospital room. And they had taken it surprisingly well. Hell, they were even supportive. Especially Tony, telling him that maybe this would finally remove the stick up his butt. Which Steve assumed was Tony's way of saying 'That's great Steve, I'm happy for you."

He also remembered talking about this with Bucky. They'd talked about this at great length that morning.

Not for the first time that day, Steve forgot that he was in the middle of a conversation as his mind drifted. It didn't drift too far. Just a few hours back, actually, to that morning in Bucky's hut. In Bucky's bed. On Bucky's pillow...

*earlier that day*

He woke up smiling. Just as he had the day before, And the day before that. He guessed that that was his life now. Go to bed smiling. Spend the day smiling. Wake up smiling. And all becasue of him. Him with the hair that was tickling his cheek, and the metal arm around his waist and the toes that kept tugging the covers away.

Moving slowly so as not to wake him, Steve opened his eyes, smile widening as he did. He looked as peaceful as ever lying there asleep. God, Steve could stare at his face all day long. In fact, he did do that. Quite a lot. He was allowed to do that now without it being weird, becasue now it wasn't just ogling and pining. Now they were together. Now he could actually tell him he loved him out loud. And he did do that. Quite a lot.

No doubt, Bucky would eventually grow tired of hearing Steve tell him he loves him over and over again, but Steve honestly didn't see himself stopping at all in the near future. In his defense, he had kept his mouth shut about loving Bucky since 1934. He had a lot of catching up to do. In the 'I love you' department, and also in the staring department. Also in a whole lot of other departments...

Ages passed as Steve just kept gazing at the face in front of him, letting his fingers dance softly across Bucky's back. He still couldn't quite believe this. Couldn't believe that he was just waking up with Bucky and touching him and loving him and not having to hide it. Sure, it wasn't their first time sharing a bed. But the times they had hadn't exactly been under romantic circumstances.

Their severe lack of money back in 30's Brooklyn meant they had no choice but to share one. But back then Steve had had to lay there holding his breath hoping he wouldn't give away his little 'crush' while he was asleep. Back then it was all platonic. Just two friendly guys bein' dudes sharing a bed because they couldn't afford another.

And the only times they had been just a little closer were those winter nights when Steve went through his all too common bouts of pneumonia, and Bucky's warmth was the only thing keeping him alive. And Steve couldn't even properly enjoy those times because he had been too busy trying not to die.

And he couldn't forget those awful nights when Bucky would all but hyperventilate in his sleep because of nightmares. Shuri and her team may have been able to obliterate Hydra's control over his brain, but the memories were somethng that would never leave him. And once in a while, when Steve was able to spend a night in Wakanda while on the run, he would see first hand the damage they had done to his Bucky's mind. And in those times, not even his tightly repressed feelings could stop him from abandoning the extra cot in Bucky's hut to hold him in his own bed. Hold him until he clawed his way out of whatever nightmare he was being forced to live through again.

So yeah, before this, the times Steve and Bucky shared a bed were not under favourable circumstances.

This was not one of those times. This closeness to Bucky was not out of necessity. They could afford as many beds as they wanted. There were no nightmares to chase away. There was no impending doom. No Pneumonia or Nazi's or Aliens. It was just Steve laying next to Bucky, savouring the weight of his arm on his waist and the feel of Bucky's back under his fingertips, and the tickle of his hair on his cheek. Just because.

Steve's heart was about to burst, and it was all he could do not to scream in joy.

"Are you done creeping on me yet?"

Steve's eyes widened and his smile turned to a grin as Bucky spoke, barley moving his mouth.

"Well good morning to you too."

"I'm pretty sure watching people sleep is frowned upon in society, Rogers. People might think you're some kind of weirdo."

Steve let out a low chuckle, "Well it's not my fault you're just so darn cute, Barnes."

Bucky still kept his eyes shut, but Steve didn't the miss the pink tinge that appeared on his cheeks, "No really. I might just have to kick you out of my bed for being a creeper."

Steve scoffed, "Kick me out? You couldn't get rid of me if you tried."

"I'm pretty sure I could try," Bucky said, the corner if his mouth twitching.

"Well then go ahead. Banish me."

When his eyes finally flickered open, Steve felt himself melt into the pillow. Bucky let out a long sigh as he looked at Steve, and then shrugged.

"Nah. You're pretty cute too. Maybe I'll keep you a little longer."

"Well that's real kind of you."

"Yeah," Bucky smiled lazily, his hand moving up to stroke Steve's cheek, "I'm a fucking saint."

"What you are is a jerk," Steve scoffed, although not protesting the fact that his face was being pulled closer.

"Yeah whatever punk, you love me."

Steve's eyes closed as he whispered against Bucky's lips, "Yeah I do..."

:::

"Yo!"

Steve blinked rapidly, snapping out of his sudden daydream as a hand waved in front of his face.

"Sorry what?" he cleared his throat, and Sam just shook his head as he chuckled. He didn't even have to ask what had caused him to zone out for so long.

"Jesus Christ, look at you. All smitten and not even trying to hide it."

Steve just grinned, "You want me to go back to hiding it?"

"God no!" Sam laughed, "believe it or not, that was even more exhausting than you not being able to finish a conversation without dreaming about your boyfriend."

Steve brushed a hand over his face, "I have been a bit annoying, huh."

"Extremely," Sam grinned, "And it's awesome."

Steve scoffed but Sam shook his head, "Nah, I mean it Rogers. You've both been insufferable, and we all love it. You've smiled more in the past two days than since I first met you. I mean, director Fury saw you laughing and asked me if something was wrong."

"What?" Steve shook his head, wide eyes, "Am I seriously known as the guy who never smiles?"

"You're known as Captain America. Leader of the Avengers. Man with no fear. Mister Serious." Sam shrugged, "And now, with Bucky, you're just Steve."

"Just Steve, huh." he said quietly.

Sam nodded, "I mean, don't get me wrong, we love Captain America. He saves the world. He wields Mjolnir! And 'just Steve' does all that too. Except he smiles a lot more."

Steve smiled quietly, his eyes drifting to the package on the floor next to him, Sam's words reminding him of why he had sought him out in the first place.

He sighed softly, "Just Steve." he muttered.

The two sat in relative silence for some moments, before Sam snapped his fingers, "Hey, you didn't tell me what Thor's gonna be doing. For some reason I can't see him going back to New Asgard to rule. He seems like more of a hands on kinda guy rather than a politician."

"Yeah, he's actually not going back." Steve told him about Thor's decision to join the Gaurdians and leave Valkyrie to rule his Kingdom. As she had been doing for the past five years.

"And what about you Cap? What's on your agenda now that the world isn't ending for once?"

"Well me..." he took a long breath, " I'm gonna try going after that life Tony keeps telling me to get."

Sam turned his head completley, knowing that behind that small smile of his, Steve's head was full of Bucky.

"Well Tony's right about that." he grinned at him "So you two have any plans then?"

Steve leaned back and sighed loudly, the smile on his face growing, "Not at all. I mean... who the hell knows. We could stay here. We could move to Bali or Alaska or Jamaica. Hell, maybe even back to Brooklyn," he let out a laugh, "Who the hell knows. Who the hell cares? All I know is that I'm gonna be with him. At last. And... and I'm gonna do it as 'just Steve'."

Sam raised his eyebrows in surprise, "What?"

Steve nodded, "Bucky and I talked about this. A lot. Being Captain America is the greatest thing I've ever done. I'm grateful to have been a part of this. To have been an Avenger. Bucky is too. But he's tired of fighting, Sam. Frankly, I am too. It's all we've been doing for so long and... and it's time to stop. It's time for me to stop."

Sam listened with a smile as Steve spoke.

"We're gonna live our lives as normal people now." he continued, "Of course we'll help if we're ever needed, but other than that... we're just gonna live our lives. Maybe have a cottage like Tony and Pepper. Get a couple puppies, I don't know." he smiled into the distance as he pictured it.

And Sam's grin was near painful as he listened to his friend. Sounding happier than he had ever heard him.

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear that Steve," he clapped him on the shoulder, "God knows, no one deserves this more than you two."

Steve smiled at his friend, "Thank you, Sam. Truly."

Sam nodded, leaning back on the bench, "Only thing bumming me out is the fact that I'm gonna have to live in a world without Captain America," he sighed, "I kinda liked that guy."

"Yeah... about that..." Sam raised an eyebrow at Steve's drawn out speech.

"What?"

Steve took a breath, turning to the package at his side. Sam's eyes widened when he turned back around, and on his arm, was his mighty Shield. His eyes grew even wider when Steve stretched out his arm, holding it out to Sam.

"Try it on."

Sam blinked, and seconds passed before he held out his arm, and Steve handed him the Shield. Sam slid his arm through the strap, and his back straightened, as if merely holding it caused him to grow taller.

He looked back up at Steve, who smiled softly, "How does it feel?"

Sam blinked back at the shield, any mirth long gone from his eyes, "Like it's someone elses," he said.

Steve shook his head at him, "It isn't." he said simply.

Sam's eyes washed over the shield, noting how the strap fit around his arm like he'd been holding it forever. How it was so light he barely had to hold it up. He looked back at Steve and his small smile. His 'just Steve' smile. And he knew that he meant it.

Sam suddeny found himself fighting very hard to hold back tears that had sprung up out of nowhere. He managed a small smile at Steve, and nodded.

"Thank you." he all but whispered, "I'll do my best."

Steve's smile stretched a bit further, "That's why it's yours."

Sam's eyes went back to the shield. His shield now.

He looked back up at Steve, "You don't think you'll miss it?"

Steve thought about it. And he thought about Bucky. Thought about how long he had been without him. About all those times he had watched him die. Watched him slip away from him. All that time while Steve was in the ice. While Bucky was with Hydra. While he was in Wakanda. While he was in the soul stone.

All those times, he had had to live without Bucky. And now, at long last, he didn't have to do that anymore. Bucky was finally his. For good. And Steve wouldn't give that up for the world.

He smiled softly and looked back at Sam.

"No." he sighed, "No, I don't think I will."