Love that Lasts Forever

mirror

A/N: words: 2062. so like christmas chapters in march? its a slay dont even worry. anyway, enjoy!

"Shopping with you is by far the worst thing I've ever endured." Sam muttered to Bucky, hobbling beside him as they walk through a local variety store. They had designated today as the Christmas shopping day, not even a week after they told Sarah they had gotten engaged. The days were simple, as if they were living the lives of normal people.

"Yet you still do it." Bucky whispered in a sing-song voice. Sam rolled his eyes, tilting his head down the next aisle.

"This one." Sam told him. It seemed to be the kid's aisle, filled with Star Wars toys, Harry Potter, even some avengers towards the end of the aisle. Sam grabbed a few Star Wars related things, clicking his tongue as he scanned the aisle. It was almost laughable, watching Captain America look so critically at kids toys.

"Two aisles over, there'll be things for Sarah."

"I'll follow your lead." Bucky told him. Sam smiled, his steps slower with the tension in his torso. Bucky watched him with worry etched over his face. As they turned the corners, two young girls, about 14, stood in front of the candles section. One turned, eyes finding Sam and Bucky, and gestured to the other. The second girl turned with a raised brow, but her eyes went wide in a few seconds.

"Hi. Oh my god, sorry, we're staring, it's just- wow, okay-"

"Um, we were big fans before, but after everything happened, with the two of you..."

"We're guessing it wasn't they way y'all wanted to go public-"

"But, that was just... it meant a lot, to see that. So, uh, thank you." It only clued it now that the two of them were holding hands. Sam and Bucky smiled at each other, then the two girls.

"Uh, I... we're really happy to hear that. It hasn't been too glamorous, but we're happy that we had that much of a positive impact on the two of you." Bucky was the one to speak first, Sam a bit awestruck at the words the two girls had told them.

Sam cleared his throat, glancing at Bucky once again. "Um, yeah, what he said." Sam breathed out, stumbling over his words. "That means a lot to us, truly. That, wow, that was a nice change of pace, thank you."

"Thank you." One of them said, and she looked almost surprised by herself. "Uh, sorry."

"It's okay." Bucky said, a laugh seeping into his voice. The two girls smiled, walking in the other direction with a small wave. Sam exhaled as they turned a corner, turning back to look at Bucky a third time.

People could do nothing but be themselves and that would be enough. Someone's day could become a bit brighter from the simplicity of someone else's life. From the way someone else loves, looks. And the correlation had never been drawn up in Sam's mind. It's easy for people to find themselves in others people. To find a mirror and see themselves on the other side. That's why Sam needed to hold up the shield. He wasn't a prop in those people's eyes, he was someone to look at and see past the blood, the hypocrisy, only seeing the missing piece. The piece of the mosaic that the media never found. Because they never could. But, the people who yearned for that piece, yearned to see that piece on someone else other than themselves, they found it.

"You okay?" Bucky asked, tracking the tear that fell from Sam's eye.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm definitely okay." Sam told him, squeezing Bucky's hand. They smiled at each other, turning to where they had originally planned to go. Not a bad start to the day.

~~~~~~~~~

They ended up buying Harry Potter costumes, and a few Star Wars Lego sets. They bought Sarah a few things for the kitchen, new pots and pans, some new utensils, and some towels. And, as per Sam's request, something for Yelena and Joaquin. A small locket for Yelena, and some antique looking rings. And for Joaquin, they bought him some holder Star Wars novels because of some offhanded comment Sam vaguely remembered. Surprisingly, Sam was at a lost of what to get Bucky for Christmas. He was a difficult person to buy for, being 106 and all.