Steve still remembered that day months later, remembered that he had worn the string on his finger until it had come off of its own volition, and had been so tempted to tie it back on that he had to tell himself it was silly to even try. Months later he remembered that day as he rode in a plane flown by Howard Stark with Peggy Carter across from him the bombs exploding around them illuminating her look of trepidation. Bucky's unit had been captured, but there was no way he could be… gone. They still had that link, still had that bond, and Steve believed with all his heart that Mr. Jiang had been right, that he would see his friend no matter what, that the link would never be broken.
After everything, after every bullet that soared past him, after every man that he freed from their cage, after everything and everyone telling him that there was no chance that Bucky could be alive, Steve touched his left hand as if it was some kind of prayer. He searched the compound, and when he finally came across him strapped down to a table reciting his name and serial number, Steve felt like he might cry like he did so many months ago. Bucky was in bad shape, Hydra had done a number on him, but he was alive, god he was alive.
Later that night after the horror of battle and the Red Skull, when they had escaped the danger of the compound and found themselves walking back to their own territory, Steve did not want to take his eyes or his hands off of Bucky for even a single moment. Buck was too stubborn to be carried by the medical crew, anytime anyone came to close he tensed up or pushed the person away, and it gave Steve time to recount what Mr. Jiang had said to him to help sooth him and get him to relax, to tell him that they would always be connected, and to solidify his mantra that they would never go where the other could not follow. They would always have each other even if they did not have anyone else. Bucky smiled and agreed when he became more lucid a few miles later, mentioned he had always liked Mr. Jiang, and as they murmured quietly to each other as they walked, it was like they had never been apart. Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers were back to being two punk kids from Brooklyn too stubborn to back down, and unwilling to turn a blind eye to bullies.