Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Steve…” 

Steve whirled around, looking at Bucky who was staring at his back with almost shock. “Are those angel wings?!” 

Steve shook his head to Bucky’s question. “No, I’m not sure what they are. They look like wings… maybe falcon ones based on how they’re shaped but… why do they look like the plates of a tank!?” Steve asked as he twisted to look back at the mirror. “Ain’t seen nothing like them.” Steve huffed as he sat down on the stool. “Even if I did find who they belonged to, who would want to be dragged to my level?” Steve rested his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands, huffing another sigh. 

Bucky crouched next to him, a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Hey, whoever that mark belongs to would be lucky to have you as theirs. Lucky I tell you. They’re going to think you’re the best thing since sliced bread.” Bucky watched as Steve gave a small smile, which was likely all he was going to get out of the man. “Come on, I got us a couple dates for the show tonight. No dancing, promise.” 

Even after the VITA ray chamber, the wings had stayed grayed out and lifeless. Steve wasn’t sure who his soulmate was, but he hoped that he understood, and soon. But as the war continued on, and Steve met so many people over the years, without a single spark or flash of want, time had already passed for him, or it would just never be. And when Steve had to make the choice to put the Valkyrie in the water, he thought about what he had accomplished, and even though he had never found his soulmate, at least he had defeated Hydra. 

“I’m so sorry Soulmate. I wish I could have given you everything… I hope you’re happy, no matter what happens in your life. That you find someone who makes you as happy as I could have. Know that no matter what, I would have loved you with my whole being.” Steve whispered as he pushed the Valkyrie into the water.

Sam was twenty three when they first saw his strand of stars that spanned across his chest, a series of small stars growing larger until they met in the middle where the largest star sat. This was rather late for a soulmate mark to show up, but maybe it was because his stars blended so well against his skin. They were dark, about the same colour as his skin, and could only be seen when he was in the right lighting. But these marks didn’t spark with his best friend Riley, like everyone thought they would. Riley’s mark, at sixteen, flourished and coloured to match Sara’s and they had a whirlwind romance and courtship before getting married as soon as it was legal for them to do so. Sara’s dress was designed so that she could display the shooting star that arched across her chest, while Riley had photos holding his dress shirt out of the way on his side, where a Blue Jay sat in vibrant colour against his skin. 

While Sam was disappointed it wasn’t him, he was happy for his sister and his best friend. They made the best couple, and Sam stood for Riley at their wedding. They joined the air force together, volunteered for the EXO trials, and mastered the stealth wings quickly, being sent on multiple missions together until one wound up being too many. Sam wasn’t able to save Riley from being shot out of the sky and had to go him and tell his sister about it, hold her while they watched that shooting star go starkly white, and be there while they told the kids that Riley wasn’t going to come home.

Sam took his leave after Riley’s death, honorably, and properly discharged. He moved to DC, working with the local veterans, and spent the next few years doing what made him happy, helping people. He would go back to Louisiana to spend time with Sara and his nephews. 

Every morning while he was in DC, he ran his route, around the Reflecting Pool, a familiar path that he ran. Today was different though… There was a blonde, built like a linebacker, and running like the hounds of hell were chasing him. Sam was sweating, but didn’t really register it as the blonde said “On your left.”

Four more times the man ran past him, repeating the same words. “On your left.” 

“Uh-huh. On my left. Got it.” Sam said, pretty sure this man was just running in short loops to catch up with him, just to troll him. But he was fast, and barely breaking a sweat every time Sam saw him. The sun was finally up, and Sam had gotten to the reflecting pool when he heard the now familiar sounds of pounding feet behind him, approaching fast. 

“Don’t say it. Don’t you say it.” Sam called over his shoulder, glancing over at the blonde as he ran by him.

“On your left.” The blonde blew by him, and Sam picked up the pace, trying to catch up to him. It was then that Sam realized who this blonde was. Steve. Fucking. Rogers. 

“COME ON!” Sam shouted as he jogged to a stop, leaning forward, bracing his hands against his knees, panting hard. He managed to stagger his way over to a tree, crashing to the ground as he tried to regain his breath, sweat soaking his sweater. Running was a good work out, but trying to race the original super soldier? That was madness. 

He was enjoying the slight breeze that blew through the area, and heard Steve approaching. “Need a medic?”

Sam gave a chuckle as the man came around the tree and stood there, hands on his hips, grin on his face. “I need a new set of lungs. Dude, you just ran like thirteen miles in thirty minutes.” 

“Guess I got a late start.” Steve wasn’t even winded, his breathing just a little heavier then normal. 

“Really?” Sam scoffed good naturedly. “You should be ashamed of yourself. You should take another lap.” Sam paused, glanced away before looking back up at Steve. “Did you just take it? I assume you just took it.”  

“What unit you with?” Steve asked, gesturing to Sam’s sweater.

“58th pararescue. But now I’m working down at the VA.” He extended his hand up to Steve for a hand up, not really thinking about it. “Sam Wilson.” 

“Steve Rogers.” He said as his hand clasped Sam’s. 

“Yeah, I kinda put that-” Sam started to say before there was a sharp burn pain across his chest. Letting Steve’s hand go, he yanks his sweater off, the stars now a nice silvery set, and Sam looked up at Steve, whose shirt was also off, and he was twisting to look at his back. Sam’s eyes caught sight of the mechanical wings on Steve’s back, and realized that they were his. 

“Sam… I…” Steve stuttered before he surged forward and pulled Sam into a hug. Sam hugged him back, and for once, everything felt… right. 

I thought I had subjected my Soulmate to never getting to meet me. That I would make them the saddest statistic… But my Soulmate was in the future… waiting for me. Steve’s thoughts were clear and comforting. 

“I know Steve… I worried I wouldn’t find mine either…” Sam replied before he realized he was breathing easier. “Oh… that’s nice.” 

“Yeah…” Steve was about to say more, both of them barely a breath apart, foreheads against each other, when his phone went off. Pulling it out of his pocket he was tempted to toss it into the reflecting pool when he saw that it was a text from Natasha. If it had been anyone else, the phone would have gone into the water. 

“Sam, I’m so sorry, but duty calls…” Steve said mournfully. 

“That’s alright. When you get back, you better put in for Soulmate leave.” 

“I will, most definitely. Here, give me your number, the moment I’m back, I’ll call.” He promised and Sam nodded. 

“I’ll see you when you get back.” Sam replied as they pulled their shirts back on. 

Steve was stripping out of his uniform with a bluetooth piece in his ear as he called Sam. 

“Hey Sam, we just got back, can I take you for dinner?” He asked once Sam responded. 

“How about you just come by? I’ve made gumbo, and I think you’ll like it.” 

Steve considered before he gave a small chuckle. “You do know that I eat more than normal people right?”

“Oh I figured that out already. Last four days I’ve been eating almost my weight in food and burning off all that excess energy with exercise.” Sam replied. 

“Alright Sam, I’m on my way. Is there room for my bike at your place?”

“Bicycle or motorcycle?”

“Motorcycle.” 

“Yes. I’ll move my car. See you soon Steve, I’ll text you my address.”