Dedicated to: kitterxox21 CharlieTrenka IAWLTRusher WrongAdviser

James Barnes was mindlessly walking to the Smithsonian. He liked visiting the exhibit; it reminded him of the life he used to have before The Winter Solider happened. The streets of New York were busy. He swiftly passed everyone without being noticed or bumping into anyone. His legs never stopped moving until he felt a burning sensation on his right hand. Instead of standing in the middle of the streets, he moved into a little alleyway to see what it was.

When he looked down at his hand, there was a countdown. It turned from red to black as it continued to go down. His mind wondered to memories, trying to figure out if HYDRA had put it there or if he had done anything. Nothing came to mind apart from when it happened to Steve in the 40's. It was a countdown on Steve's right hand as well and it counted down right until the second he met Peggy. Soulmates. That's what it was. Obviously, Steve and Peggy's relationship didn't last, but they both knew what it was.

'What have I done to deserve a soulmate?' He thought to himself. He didn't think about it anymore and continued his journey to the Smithsonian. Once he got there, he was stopped at security going through the detector.

"I'm sorry sir, you may have something harmful on you" James gave him a look and rolled up his sleeve and leaned in close to the man.

"If you don't let me in, I'll find your family and kill them. I'm not afraid of you or your stupid detectors. I've been through hell and back, just let me through" he whispered and threatened. The guard just nodded as James rolled down his sleeve and continued into the exhibit. He looked back down at his hand and saw the countdown at 01:28:03. 1 hour, 28 minutes and 3 seconds till he met his soulmate, if he remembered correctly about it.

The first place he went to was his own exhibit. He liked reading it and remembering things he did. It was nice, calming in fact. James could stand there for days just reading it over and over as well as the other exhibits. He walked over to statues with the Howling Commandoes uniforms on. Seeing his uniform reminded him of what he and the Commandoes did. 'All good things' people say, 'James was the brave soldier to give his life' they say, 'they can never be replaced'. It's all true, but hurtful for James seeing as he couldn't continue with his life after that mission.

***

(Y/N) (Y/L/N) was aimlessly walking through the Smithsonian. She looked at all the uniforms of the Howling Commandoes, Steve Rogers before and after the serum, Bucky Barnes and his life. Her only dream was to meet all those men who served in the Commandoes but knew she couldn't because all but Steve were dead.

While she was watching a video about Peggy and her life, she felt a burning sensation on her right hand. It was a countdown which read 00:59:09. After seeing it, she remembered her friend, Sophie, saying about a countdown on her hand and meeting her soulmate when it got to 00:00:00. Then she realised she was going to meet her soulmate at the Smithsonian. She planned on staying for at least 2 hours, 3 at the most and only got there 15 minutes ago.

When the video finished, she stayed in the main room of the exhibit, looking at things over and over again like it was the first time. She kept looking at her hand, watching the digits go down, watching time passing by and just waited. There was only a few minutes left, but she hadn't realised. She was engulfed in reading about a certain Sergeant Barnes of the 107th to notice her countdown had finished.

***

James took one final look at his hand to realise his time was almost up to meet his soulmate. In a hurry of finding her, or him, he sped off towards his exhibit in hope of finding who ever it was there. Being as enthusiastic as James was, it wasn't difficult to accidentally bump into someone, which was exactly what he did.

"I'm so sorry ma'am. I wasn't looking where I was going, I just straight up ran into you. It's my fault entirely..." He rambled until he saw the exact same countdown as he had, same hand, same colour, same...time. Was this his soulmate?

"I guess you've seen it then?" (Y/N) perked up.

"Yeah, erm, sorry for staring" James looked away shyly.

"It's okay. You know, they say that no one mets their soulmate at the same time as anyone else. It's special for those two people, then a second after someone else mets theirs?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'm (Y/N)" she politely place out her hand.

"James, but you can call me Bucky" Bucky shook her hand.

"Bucky, as in 'James Buchanan Barnes' Bucky?"

"Yes, you're going to hate me now because of what I've done" Bucky frowned.

"No I don't hate you, it wasn't your fault. Come on, let's look at the exhibit, together" (Y/N) stuck out her hand and Bucky grabbed it. The two started walking around together, hand in hand, and that was the start of a beautiful friendship.

Then relationship,

Then marriage,

Then family.

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I hope you liked the second instalment of the Soulmate Series! Up next, Chris Beck!

-MrsEvanStan 💕