His Soulmate | Bucky Barnes ✔

Chapty Forty One

I went outside. It took a few days, but I managed it. It started with a short walk around the perimeter of the building, then a quick stroll to the park near the bar. I eventually managed to get to the bar, with Bucky and Sam flanking me in case anything happened, but I sat with Noah and Jake and had a lemonade. I was on sick leave, but had reassurance from my manager that even if I chose to quit, there would always be a space behind the bar for me.

It was one day in the following weeks that I was pulled over on my way through the ground floor of the Tower. I had a bag full of cookies, which I intended to save for mine and Bucky's movie night tonight. He'd chosen Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which was a personal favourite of mine and Peters growing up, and I knew snacks would be necessary for viewing.

"Miss Parker!" I jumped at the lady shouting at me, and clutched onto my shopping bag a little tighter. I relaxed as I recognised her as one of the security guards, who I used to pass on my way to and from work.

"Hi Rain." I smiled weakly. My voice was no longer a whisper but it was a little quieter than everyone else's. "Everything okay?"

"Got two kids who want to talk to Steve Rogers, but I need to sort through some security footage, bosses request. Can you talk to them?"

I glanced at the pair sat on the sofas nearby. There was a large cardboard box next to them, brimming with what looked like books and an old frame. I felt the usual bubble of nerves, but the innocent looks on their faces pushed my worries away. "Sure, I've got it sorted."

I approached the seating area, a small smile on my face. The older boy looked around seventeen, with curling brown hair hanging low over his face. The girl looked a lot younger - definitely under 10, but she sat with a purpose like she knew what she was doing.

The boy looked up as I hovered near them. "I'm Amelie Parker, I was told you wanted to speak to Steve Rogers?"

"Yeah," the boy stood up, brushing his hands along his jeans before offering one to me. "I'm Tom, and this is my sister Jules. We've got some stuff we think belongs to him."

I was a little surprised, but smiled nonetheless. "Come with me, there'll be a spare conference room down here somewhere."

We found an empty room, and sat around a circular table. Tom placed the box carefully on the table before sliding into his seat on the other side of his sister.

"Why do you think these are Steve's?" I gestured to the box, peering over the edge before looking back at the pair.

"They belonged to our Gran. She knew him before, and during, the war. When her brother died she tried to find Steve Rogers - the three of them were friends and she thought he might like them. But then... well, everyone thought he died."

"He didn't die." Jules added, her wide eyes flicking between me and her brother.

"No, he didn't." I mused, watching as her smile lit up her face. Something about her looked a little familiar, but before I could place it, Tom carried on.

"She moved into a nursing home last week, and told us to take these to her Steve. I know it's probably a long shot of you giving them to him, but I thought it was worth a try."

Their tale sunk in as I watched their faces. They looked so hopeful, as if they wanted to be able to return to their gran with the news her childhood friend receiving her box of belongings.

"I'll take them upstairs. Is there anything else I could do?"

The pair shot looks at each other, before Jules nodded. "Yes."

My brows furrowed in confusion, but Tom was quick to explain. "We've done all the school trips to the Smithsonian - everyone has to do them."

"Okay," I couldn't tell where they were going, but he left a pause as if expecting me to chime in with the answers.