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❛ ᴇᴠᴇʀɢʀᴇᴇɴ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴏғ
ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴏʟᴅ ᴅᴀʏs ꒱


❝ WHEN ARE WE GONNA
DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THIS. . . UNSPOKEN THING
BETWEEN US? ❞

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𝙱 𝚁 𝙾 𝙾 𝙺 𝙻 𝚈 𝙽, 𝙽 𝚈
𝟷𝟿𝟺𝟸

In a world where soulmates existed, it was always unfortunate when you were one of the unlucky ones who had to find love the traditional way. Rose Daly did not have a soulmate but her best friend, Steve Rogers, did. She tried not to begrudge him too much for it as he had enough difficulties in life without having to worry about romance, but there were still times where she couldn't help but be a little jealous of him.

It wasn't like soulmates were par for the course, either; a study had come out around Valentine's Day (a win for the romantics) that declared only about .1% of the population were 'blessed' with such marks. People always said that Steve was one of the 'lucky' ones as he had the name Nova Danvers emblazoned on his wrist in dark ink. The only drawback to this was that one's soulmate could be anywhere in the world. . . or anytime.

Since she didn't have her love life all figured out like Steve did, Rose was stuck finding romance the regular way: going out with any guy that agreed to. Luckily, she didn't mind this as she was very much a 1940s woman: she loved everything to do with being girly, including dresses, makeup, and dancing. But tonight, she had bigger things to worry about then her date with her long-time boyfriend, Harry Johnson. Her other best friend, James 'Bucky' Barnes, was being shipped overseas tomorrow and this would be the last time she'd get to spend an evening out with him for a while.

A knock sounded on the door, signaling that her date was here. Rose finished applying her red lipstick and set it down on the vanity before she stood to grab her coat. The walls of her family's apartment were thin and she could hear her mother greeting Harry with warm familiarity— she always had preferred him over Bucky.

"Yes ma'am, the one hundred and tenth regiment," Harry was saying proudly. He was dressed in the now-familiar soldier's uniform, complete with cocked cap and all. He stood in the doorway with his arms crossed loosely over his chest as he towered over her much shorter mother. "We ship out in a few weeks' time. They're just filling in the last of the ranks to make the most of the transport— trying to save on fuel for the war effort, you know. . ."

His words trailed off as her arrival caught his attention. He sent a beaming smile in her direction and extended a hand to her. "There's my lovely dame. Ready to go, Rosie?"

She smiled fondly in response and slid her hand into his. "All set. Bye, Mam, Dad, Mamó," she said farewell to each of her family members in turn.

Her grandmother, Molly, had stayed in the kitchen during Harry's arrival but waved a flour-covered hand as she lifted it from the bread that she was kneading. There was only a flicker of response from her father, Charles, which was to be expected— he had never been the same since he'd returned from the First World War. It was Aideen, her mother, who pinned her with a stern look. "Curfew is midnight, Rose, don't be late. Make sure you stay with Harry, especially at the Expo— I don't know why you have to go to those things, they're far too crowded, anything can happen—"

The red-haired woman reached forward to squeeze her mother's arm reassuringly. "Don't worry so much, Mam. Harry'll take good care of me, and I won't be late like last time— promise."

Aideen pursed her lips, clearly not quite trusting her daughter's words. Harry wrapped his arm around his date. "You can trust me to keep her safe, ma'am. I have before, haven't I?"

She let out a reluctant breath and gestured for them to leave. "Oh, go on. You aren't getting any younger just standing in the doorway."

Rose laughed brightly and pulled on her boyfriend's hand to lead him into the narrow, dimly-lit hallway and out onto the street.

★ ★★

"I don't see what the problem is. You're about to be the last eligible man in New York. You know there're three and a half million women here?" Bucky remarked as he and Steve made their way towards the Expo.

Steve shrugged his boney shoulders and avoided his friend's gaze. The fingers of his right hand moved to brush against his left wrist where the name Nova Danvers had been inked into his skin since birth. "I'd settle for just one."

Bucky's expression softened momentarily and he pulled the smaller man into a one-armed hug. "We'll find her yet, don't worry. In the meantime, I took care of it."

The blond man's eyes caught on the two women who stood waiting for them some feet away and he sighed. That was the thing about people who didn't have soulmates: they didn't get the desire to wait for the person who you were supposed to be with for the rest of your life. Steve— in following the traditions of the time— had promised himself that he'd hold out on dating until he met his soulmate. It wasn't like it was hard, after all, since the only one girls had eyes for was Bucky. His best friend was the one that girls wanted to date— or sleep with, even for just a night— while he was always pushed to the side.

He thought that maybe if he didn't have a soulmate, he'd be bothered by this; eventually, third wheeling Bucky (and even Rose) would get tedious enough that he'd try to look for a romantic partner. But he had Nova Danvers, whoever, wherever, she was. He'd set his heart on her long ago, before he'd even really known what romance was. There was just one problem: the emotional bond that came attached to the mark— the one that allowed soulmates to take care of each other before they met— was as good as dead.

Steve tried not to worry about the implications of this. After all, soulmate research was hardly well developed and there was still much to learn about the bonds. Even the study that had come out earlier this year was a pioneer article; it had barely been published without being the laughingstock of the science field. Instead, he did his best to occupy his mind with the present: becoming a man that his soulmate could be proud of. That certainly did not include going out with an unknown girl that his best friend had picked out for him.

This time, though, it looked like he wouldn't have a choice— but as usual, both women made a beeline for Bucky. As Connie and Bonnie greeted him enthusiastically, the brunet looked around the square. "Rose here yet?"

"You know being on time isn't her strong suit," Steve reminded him.

Just as he said this, however, the familiar head of long, curly red hair that belonged to Rose Daly made an appearance as she pushed past some of the more slowly-moving pedestrians. Bucky's face lit up in a smile at the sight of the third member of their group and he lifted his free hand— the other was being occupied by Connie or Bonnie, he couldn't remember which— to wave her over. His bright expression faltered as the (rather unwelcome) sight of Harry's dark hair followed immediately after. He dropped his hand by his side (which was immediately taken up by Bonnie or Connie— the other one) and a slightly bitter look appeared on his face.

Steve couldn't get close enough to elbow Bucky so Rose wouldn't see (his best friend had something against Harry, but Steve liked him— he was one of the few who hadn't judged him based on his size), but thankfully Bucky caught himself and arranged his features into a more pleasant expression before she could notice. The couple came to a breathless stop before them.

"Sorry we're late," the redhead apologized, though she was too excited to sound very remorseful. "We had to stop and get some roasted chestnuts."

As easily annoyed with Harry as Bucky could get, it always seemed that Rose could do no wrong. He waved off her apology. "It's alright— we just got here, too."

"No, we've been wait—" Connie or Bonnie began to protest, huffing slightly with irritation.

She was cut off as the announcer spoke loudly over her words: "welcome to Modern Marvels Pavilion and the world of tomorrow! A greater world. A better world!"

As the group walked towards the exhibit, the two girls pulled Bucky to the front while Steve joined Rose and Harry. He took note of the other man's uniform. "Did you get your orders as well?"

The brunet nodded, puffing up his chest a little as he did so. "Yep. We ship out in a few weeks, not tomorrow like ol' Buck. That gives me a little more time to spend with my girl, so I can't complain." He squeezed Rose's shoulders happily and she smiled up at him in response.

Her gaze dropped back to the blond man and became sympathetic. "Did you get another 4f?"

Steve's shoulders slumped. "Yeah," he admitted, before resolve entered his tone: "I won't let that stop me from trying, though. I'll find a way one of these days."

Rose frowned. While she knew that Steve wanted more than anything to help defend their country, a part of her was (selfishly) relieved that only one of her best friends would be putting themselves at risk. Steve was already too reckless by half; a uniform and a gun would only make his self-sacrificing instincts worse. Besides, even with her naïve outlook on war, she knew it was dangerous enough that it could take the lives of both men that she cared about. She didn't know how she'd react if, once it was all over, the country could celebrate but she would mourn.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts of the heavy topic, she reached out to place a hand on the blond's shoulder. "Well, it wouldn't be so bad being stuck here with me, would it?"

He shook his head. "Better than being stuck here alone, I guess."

"Gee, thanks," the redhead teased him.

Harry nudged him lightly. "Way to make a lady feel important, huh?"

★ ★★

Steve stepped up to the mirror and onto the plate in front of it. Unlike the guy before him, he couldn't even see over the collar of the uniform. He couldn't help but deflate a little as his fingers brushed against the name that was tattooed across his wrist. Even if he did manage to find Nova Danvers, would she even waste the time of day on him? Or would she be like all the other girls and run after Bucky?

No, he told himself— as he had a hundred times previously— soulmates are different.

A hand clamping down on his shoulder startled him, but it was only his best friend. "You're kind of missing the point of a 'triple date.' Come on, we're taking the girls dancing."

"You go ahead," Steve told him.

"You're really gonna do this now?"

The blond shrugged. "It's a fair. I'm gonna try my luck"

"As who? 'Steve from Ohio?' They'll catch you. Or worse, they'll actually take you."

He gave his friend a disappointed look at his lack of faith. "You don't think I can do it."

"This isn't some back alley, Steve. It's a war."

"I know it's a war."

Bucky all but talked across him: "why are you so keen to fight? There're lots of other important jobs—"

"What do you want me to do? Collect scrap metal—"

"Yes!"

"—in my little red wagon while the men are laying down their lives?"

"Why not?" Bucky demanded. "If anything, someone has to stay behind and look after Rose, and I sure as hell don't want Harry doing that."

Steve gave his friend an unimpressed look. "Rose is a grown woman and has her family to look out for her. Besides, the only thing worse than being a babysitter is sitting in a factory. Bucky, come on! There are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them. That's the thing you don't get, Bucky. It's not about me."

The brunet clearly didn't believe his words, too familiar with his best friend's instinctive desire to protect. "Right. 'Cause you've got nothing to prove."

There was a moment of tense silence that passed between the pair until it was broken by either Connie or Bonnie, who had gotten impatient with waiting for them: "hey Sarge, are we goin' dancing?"

Bucky turned around with his arms spread wide as he smirked at the girls. "Yes, we are." He turned back to Steve. "Don't do anything stupid until I get back."

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you."

"You're a punk."

"Jerk. Be careful," Steve told him as he released his friend from a hug. "Don't win the war 'til I get there!"

Bucky saluted to him as he returned to the girls, and Steve could only imagine the grilling the brunet would get from Rose about letting him try to register for the hundredth time.

★ ★★

The train station was quite crowded when Rose arrived the next morning and she worried that she wouldn't be able to find Bucky in time. Luckily, he was easy to spot due to his height and she made her way over to him, calling his name loudly in the process, "Bucky!"

He recognized his friend's voice right away and turned to her with his usual bright smile, which grew brighter at the fact that she was alone, with no Harry in sight. He opened his arms to greet her with a hug. "Hey, doll. I didn't expect to see you before I left!"

The redhead couldn't help but feel a bashful flush whenever he called her doll, though she guessed that many other girls felt the same way. She grinned up at him as she pulled away. "I couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye."

Rose produced a dried rose from her purse. It had come from the bouquet that Bucky had given her for her most recent birthday; every year, she preserved one from the bunch and had a vase filled with twenty roses in her room as a reminder of their. . . friendship. She placed the rose in her hands in one of his unused boutonnieres, patting his chest after it was secured. Bucky looked down at the flower with amusement. "A rose from Rose. How clever."

"You thought of it first," she reminded him, and the unintentional flirty-ness of her tone didn't escape either of their notice.

The brunet looped an arm around her waist to pull her flush against him. The sounds around them that came from the busy platform faded away as her eyes met his, and her heart picked up speed at how the corners of his lips lifted as he studied her face. "Doll, when are we gonna do something about this. . . unspoken thing between us?"

She decided to play dumb, even though she knew exactly what he was talking about. "What. . . unspoken thing?"

"This Tale-of-Two-Cities-Charles-Lucie-Sydney-love-triangle-nice-guys-finish-first-but-maybe-someone-better-is-right-in-front-of-you-but-its-historical-literature-so-it-can't-have-a-happy-ending sort of thing?"

She smiled wistfully at him and took a step back. "Buck, there is no unspoken thing between us. I'm with Harry, remember? Besides, it would make Steve feel bad if we left him out to do romantic things."

Despite her words, Bucky remained undeterred as he grinned mischievously at her. "Well, that's the thing. You kinda have to deny it, otherwise it wouldn't be unspoken. Then you'd be a liar, and you definitely aren't one, doll."

Rose shook her head with exasperation at his stubbornness. The train blew a warning whistle and the gathered soldiers began to make their way on board. She reached out to squeeze his hand. "You better go if you don't wanna miss your ride. I'll see you when I see you, I guess."

He pointed at her with playful sternness. "Alright, I'll let you go this time. But when the war's over and I get back, I expect you to be madly in love with me."

She chuckled at his response even as a light pink flush filled her cheeks. She swatted him gently on the arm and chided, "go!"

A/n: alright, welcome back to the once-again-revamped version of this book. As they say, third time's the charm. 

I do think that my problem before was two things: first, starting way to early in the story in order to establish the Steve-Rose-Bucky character relationships. (I always think that the story needs to start at the very beginning, i.e. early life.) Second, I didn't have enough writing experience. Now that I've got more completed books under my belt, this should work out better.

And yes, I am borrowing the soulmate concept that I used in Reminiscence, my Edmund Pevensie book. I love it so much so I wanted to write it again. However, in this series soulmates aren't very common (as is stated above), so it won't be a big part of the plot until the next book (if I get there, lol), because I'm planning my own MCU extended universe. I know I'm, like, 10 years too late, but whatever. I'm usually late on trends anyway. Hopefully there's still some people around who're interested in reading Marvel 

In the words of Graystillplays (if anyone watches him on Youtube): more angsty soulmate fics, dammit!