His Soulmate | Bucky Barnes ✔

Chapter Twenty Six

The party was in full swing by the time we got downstairs. People were flooding the floor, and laughter tinkled through the air as I passed through the crowds to find Bruce.

He was talking with Tony, their debate about a breakthrough in a molecular-something growing louder as they raised their voices to be heard over the others. Bruce lifted his glass as he saw me approach, and wrapped his other arm around my shoulder. "Happy birthday Bruce." I kissed his cheek, pulling back to pull a face at Tony. "What are you wearing?"

"My birthday suit." I groaned. Though Tony always wore suits around the tower, this bright green one really was the most outlandish suit I'd seen him wear.

Bruce shook his head, "I've already tried to talk him out of it."

"You love it really." Tony winked at him, then spun around to show it off to me. I realised a little too late that the green was to match the hulk, the matching buttons standing out against his white shirt.

"I don't." Bruce grumbled, but the smile on his face gave away his moaning.

"Amelie!" I turned to see Hope striding over, her concerned smile making me worry a little. "You're with Bucky right?"

"Yeah, what's happened? What's he done?"

Hope rolled her eyes, but her smile brightened a little as she turned back to face a group not too far from us. "Bucky, Scott and Sam are getting a little competitive. I thought you might want to watch."

"What do you mean, competitive?"

Hope just gave me a smile, leading me towards the men. Sam and a man who I assumed was Scott were stacking empty wine glasses on Bucky who was stood completely still. "Three more then you've beaten Sam."

"Which means I've already beaten Scott right?"

Scott pulled a face, "Sam poked me! That wasn't my fault."

"Excuses TicTac. You have no proof."

Bucky's eyes met mine, and a smile lit up his face. He had his arms outstretched, with glasses balancing precariously along them, with two stacked on one another on top of his head. "Why is this happening?" I asked.

"Parker!" Sam spun around. "You can help, here." He shoved an empty glass towards me, before spinning back to balance one on the back of Bucky's hand.

"What does the winner get?" I whispered to Hope, but she shrugged, rolling her eyes. "No idea. But Bucky will win, that's for sure."

"How can you tell?"

"1 more to go!" Scott yelled.

"His balance is better than Sam's. I'm guessing he's had more training in being still, Sam was shaking by this point." Hope explained, as Scott balanced the final glass on top of the others on Bucky's arm.

"Dammit." Sam rolled his eyes, but before he could take them off, Bucky shot me a grin.

"Keep going."

"What?"

"I wanna set the record. Come on." And with that, Scott and Sam continued to stack the glasses higher until there were twenty three in total balanced along Bucky's body. Steve has joined in, being the only one to properly reach above Bucky's head to add a third then fourth glass to the pile.

A small memory of my own birthday party flashed through my mind. Bucky had been quiet, trailing behind me like a puppy without an owner for the entire evening. But here he was, two months later, with confidence and mischief clear in his smile as he teased and challenged the friends he'd hardly spoken to. I felt a surge of love towards him as his chuckle pulled me back to reality.