Chapter 4
Steve didn't mean to stay in the park and talk with Bucky, completely ignoring his phone when it vibrated in his pocket. Normally he would have apologized and answered it; there weren't many people who would be calling him, anyways. Instead he found himself laughing at some stupid dog joke that Bucky had told and getting pounced on by all three of his dogs before Bucky could stop them.
Despite the tightness in his chest he knew was caused by a deadly combination of allergies and asthma, Steve was happy. He never made friends this quickly, not even with Sharon and Maria. It felt...nice.
After a few minutes Bucky finally managed to wrangle his dogs, shaking his head at their antics. "Sorry about that, Steve. I swear they're usually more well behaved."
Unable to help himself, Steve raised an eyebrow at him, expression morphing into one of skepticism. "Somehow I doubt that."
Groaning, Bucky fell back dramatically, landing on his back. "How you wound me."
Steve watched with amusement as the dogs immediately piled on top of him. He had to stifle a laugh when Bucky flailed, his metal arm nearly connecting with Steve's head as he struggled to sit up. After several failed attempts, he seemed to give up, laying there so still Steve wondered if he was okay. Once they received no response the dogs seemed to grow bored and flopped down next to Bucky and Steve.
Bucky took his chance to roll over onto his side and shoot a playful grin at Steve. "Amused, Stevie?"
Steve rolled his eyes at the nickname, but didn't comment on it. "Oh, you know. Death by overexcited puppies. You're living the dream."
"For someone so small, you sure are full of sass, aren't you, kid?"
Steve gave him an incredulous look, raising his eyebrows. "Nice observation, grandpa."
Bucky's expression was so shocked Steve had to fight to keep his poker face. "You're a real pain in the ass, aren't you? You look innocent, Stevie, but I know."
Before Steve could respond there were two hands covering his eyes and without having to see her, he knew it was Maria. He reached up and pried her fingers away. "Hey, lesbians."
Maria rolled her eyes so hard it had to hurt, giving him an annoyed look, but Sharon's giggles distracted both of them into glancing at her. She was curled up with one of Bucky's dogs, but her eyes were bright with laughter. Maria sighed heavily, dropping down next to Steve.
Steve turned a serious expression on Bucky. "Sorry, Buck, but I think your dog's got a new owner."
"You're a punk, you know that?"
Steve grinned. "Jerk."
~***~
In the end, Maria ended up dragging Steve, Bucky, and Sharon to her friend's café. Steve felt a pang of guilt as they walked inside, recognizing the interior from the many snapchats Wanda had sent him. She had worked there for nearly five years and yet...Steve had never visited. He knew how much she loved the place, despite the fact that she said her boss was "kinda cold but really nice all the same" and some of the people who came in hit on her.
Maria waved at someone Steve couldn't see, smirk in place. "Hey, Romanov!"
Steve didn't spot the person in question until Maria and Sharon moved ahead and he saw a woman with long red hair sitting in a booth with two dark skinned guys crowding her and a blonde guy sitting across from them, his arms wrapped protectively around a pot of coffee.
Bucky leaned close, his voice barely above a whisper; Steve was surprised he even caught the words. "Is that guy for real?"
Steve shrugged, but he couldn't keep a small smile off his face. Something about Bucky just seemed so...familiar. Sneaking a glance at him, he watched as Bucky pulled his hair into a ponytail, the light glinting off his arm. Steve hadn't meant to stare, but sometimes his artist instincts kicked in and he couldn't help himself. He had never wanted to draw someone so much before, his fingers itching to grab his sketchpad and attempt to do Bucky justice.
Wow, was he gay or what?
C'mon, Rogers. He mentally smacked himself. You just met the guy. Calm down.
Fortunately, Bucky didn't seem to mind the staring. He shot Steve a smile as he leaned against the booth next to the one Maria's friend was seated in, pushing his sleeves up to his elbows.
Steve saw a few drawings on Bucky's flesh arm, but didn't think anything of them. Lots of people had artistic soulmates - hell, whoever his soulmate was had probably gotten tired of Steve's random drawings a long time ago. At least Bucky didn't have words in a language he didn't know on his arms.
Seeming to notice Steve's gaze Bucky held his arm out for Steve to inspect. "They're pretty good, right? I've never been much of an artist myself."
Steve smiled, tilting his head to look at the drawings. "I draw," He said softly, unsure what Bucky would think of it. "I'm an art student, actually."
"Really? Man, that's awesome. I can't draw for shit, but if you ever need someone to play piano I'm your guy."
Steve frowned as he studied the drawings, careful never to touch. The flowers curling carefully around Bucky's wrist, intertwining with a separate drawing of a sunset seemed awfully familiar. Too familiar, in fact.
Hastily rolling his own sleeves up, Steve stared at the exact same drawing on his own wrist.
Whoa, really? Had he just accidentally found his soulmate?
Staring up at Bucky, blue eyes wide, he held his arm out. Bucky frowned, seeming unsure at first. That was, until he saw the drawing, and then he did a double take.
"Holy shit," Bucky breathed, his gaze still locked on Steve's wrist." "Holy fucking shit."
Steve had to agree.
He had just found his soulmate.