Just Kids | Peter Parker

1 | End Of The Line

Y/N

_

"You're about to be the last eligible man in New York," I teased, my arms wrapping around my friend's shoulders.

The medals pinned onto the fabric of my uniform pressed against my chest, as I pulled Steve in for a hug. Bucky was watching a few paces ahead of us, a smirk creased on his lips. The three of us were about to head into the doors of STARK EXPO, yet Rogers was lagging behind. It was explainable, since he was the lankiest of our group.

"You know there's three and a half million women here?" I continued, letting go of the boy and retreating back towards Buck.

Steve sighed, tugging at the zipper of his jacket, "well, I'd settle for just one."

"Good thing I took care of that," Bucky smirked.

"You always do," I scoffed, "what is it with you and women?"

"I wouldn't expect you to understand, you're like what? fifteen?"

"Old enough to be in the army."

"Yeah right," James grinned, "you're always going to be three years younger than me."

Before I could shoot back, Bucky grabbed my hand and pulled me off through the doors. Just as soon as we walked in, the sounds of people calling his name turned all three of our heads. Three girls were loitering in front of a giant marble statue, waving excitedly as we approached.

"What'd you tell her about me?" Steve mumbled, giving me a side glance.

"Only the good stuff."

There was a blonde, a brunette, and a redhead. The brunette obviously made her move on Barnes, and Rogers obviously had his eyes on the blonde, but I wasn't disappointed. Clearing my throat, I nodded my head politely at the girl with the red hair, and held out my hand.

"I'm [y/n]," I smiled, letting her shake it, "I'm an officer in the army."

"Are you friends with Buck?" She blushed, her eyes fluttering over to the tall boy next to me.

Of course. I couldn't expect her to care about me in that way, especially in this time. And naturally, she took a liking to James. Everyone did. I just didn't understand what everyone else saw; Bucky was my best friend, and only my best friend.

"Yeah," I sighed, "we're old buddies."

As the music from the dance floor started to get louder, the six of us dwindled over to the center of the expo to dance. Somehow, the redhead managed to sneak her way into Bucky's arms, and now he was juggling two girls beside him. Yet someone was missing.

"Where's Steve?" I whispered to James, "wasn't he just here?"

Naturally, the boy was too focused on the women to realize I was talking to him. Rolling my eyes, I broke away from the remaining four, and made a beeline to the only possible place Steve would go: United States Armed Services Recruitment. As I slipped through the crowd, I ignored the catcalls and whistles random men would throw at me. I caught sight of Rogers standing in front of an army photo, a little too short to fit into the head-frame.

"Come on," I laughed, running up to him and tapping his shoulder, "you're kind of missing the point of a triple date."

He flinched when I grabbed him, but his eyes softened, "I was just... looking."

"We're going dancing, you should come."

"You go ahead," he frowned, "I'll catch up with you guys."

I opened my mouth to respond, but the feeling of someone's arms wrapping around my waist caught me off guard. Squeezing me against thier chest, I was lifted into the air, my legs kicking.

"Bug off, bucky," I groaned, elbowing him in the stomach.

The man let out a hearty laugh as he dropped me back down, but I turned my focus back to Steve.

"Are you really going to do this again?" I sighed.

Steve had tried applying for the army more times than I could count on my fingers. It broke my heart to see him try so hard, especially since James and I were both in the service.

"Fine," I said, biting my lip and pulling him in for a hug, "maybe this time you'll get in."

"That's the plan."

"Don't get caught, Rogers," I winked, turning around and pushing Bucky towards the exit.

As we were about to leave, I heard Steve call out our names again. Turning around ,I brushed a stray piece of hair out of my face and smiled.

"Don't win the war till I get there," he said.

Pressing my fingers up to my forehead, I saluted him, before watching him disappear into the line of soldiers waiting to sign up. I felt Bucky grab my hand again, but I pulled away.

"I'm worried for him," I mumbled, "aren't you?"

"You know Steve," the boy said, "he could do it all day."

"That's why I'm worried."

"I wouldn't be, let's go dance."

"Fine."

Walking back into the expo's crowd, my thoughts were drowned out by the sounds of the people around us. Neither of us knew that day what would happen in that recruitment center. Neither of us knew Steve would become a national hero in a matter of months.

And neither of us knew what would happen that day on the train.

_

One Year Later

"[y/n]! Grab my hand!"

The wind was pushing the hair into my face, my bruises stinging in the cold air. At this point, I didn't know how I ended up here, but it wasn't good. My palms clung desperately to the rails of the train, but with every second, they started to slip.

"Hang on!" Steve yelled, reaching out his arm towards me. He was too far away. They both were.

"[y/n]!" Bucky screamed, "just don't let go."

The two of them had tears in thier eyes, something I had never seen before. With my life on the line, I realized just how much I meant to them, and that broke me even more.

"I can't reach you," I whimpered, "I can't."

"You have to try!"

The right side of the rail buckled off, and I fell down a bit farther. There wasn't much time.

"It's been a hell of a run, guys," I muttered, a tear falling down the side of my cheek, "this is the end."

Bucky slumped onto his knees. He knew it too. All three of us did, no matter how much we wanted to ignore it.

"Please," Steve mumbled, "you can't give up."

I stared at him, probably for the last time. I was only sixteen, and this was the end of it all. The end of the line.

"Goodbye," I muttered, "win the war for me, okay?"

And before I could hear what they had to say, the last part of the rail broke, and I went tumbling towards the ground. The last thing I saw was Steve and Bucky, thier arms outstretched in desperation.

But it was too late.