James lead Steve to his shared apartment that wasn't too far from the diner. He opened the door and said, "Um, just stay in here and I'll just get changed out of this." Steve nodded and James walked to his room. A thought went through the back of James's head, I should dress to impress. He quickly dismissed the thought, why would he want to impress Steve? It's not like they were soulmates or anything, plus Steve seems like the type of guy to wear sweats although he'd probably never let Peggy know that.

James ended up grabbing a pair of sweats and a long sleeved henley and sliding them on, it was much more comfortable than his uniform. He look a deep breath and slipped on his tennis shoes. He was kind of embarrassed about what had happened at the diner, he felt like he should be able to control it but he knew it was okay and it wasn't all his fault. It was an accident and he's been through a lot. He got up and smiled, he was going to be okay.

While James was changing Steve looked around the living room and it was obvious that they used this room often. There were blankets and pillows around the room along with a couple of food items, they must have spent the night in the living room, all five of them. He found a book on the table, it was well read as it was worn. Steve picked it up, The Sun Also Rises by: Ernest Hemingway. Steve had read this book before, when he was younger and had gotten sick. Bucky borrowed it from a library and brought it to him to read, it was one of his favorites. He smiled down at the book.

A voice came from Steve's right, "Clint gave me that book for my twenty-sixth birthday, the first one I knew him for. It's my favorite book, I've read it several times." Steve smirked, "I can tell by how worn it is. I read it when it was still a fairly new book. I was sick and it made me feel so much better about being stuck in bed. I have to say it's one of my favorites." He purposely didn't mention Bucky. James laughed, "You could borrow it if you'd like." Steve grinned widely, "I'd really appreciate it." James smiled, "Just take care of it. Now let's go on this walk."

James lead them down to the street and Steve followed, book tight in his grip. Steve gave a soft smile, "So do you want to talk about what happened? It could help possibly," James chewed on his bottom lip and Steve understood, they could talk about it later, "Or about what Sharon said that caused you to think too much. I know you said she mentioned that they could be dead or that you'll never meet them," James looked down as he walked, focusing on his feet, "I mean it bothered me a lot because I thought about it and I could have already met my soulmate, they could be dead or they could be out there wondering what happened to me, thinking I was dead. Like it hurt me a lot to think that they could have been waiting for me to come home from the war and then they were told I was dead, I mean I wouldn't put it past the government to telling someone's soulmate they were dead when what happens to me happens. Then I thought about what if they were in the war with me and maybe they died."

Steve wants to hug James but he knows he shouldn't, that's why he just said, "Well when I was fighting in the war I saw a lot of death and some of it was right in front of their soulmate's eyes. It's always hard. I lost my soulmate right before my own eyes and know what it must feel to even think about the possibility. The thing that sucks is that you never know for sure. Then there's about 14% of the population that doesn't meet their soulmate. So I know that Sharon saying those things could have been very difficult on you." James was playing with his thumb, fidgeting, "Do you have flashbacks, Steve?"

Steve sighed, "I've had two flashbacks since I woke up in the twenty first century, they were both about the same thing. While I haven't had major flashbacks about the war in the way you did I've had one about my soulmate dying." James took a sharp breath, "I'm sorry," Steve shook his head, "You have no reason to be sorry." James nodded, "They're kind of confusing sometimes, seeing as I don't have my full memory. There's a lot of fast movements, death, pain, and then I'm falling. I can almost feel myself falling from high above the ground."

Steve noticeably stiffened, Steve suffers from that same memory, "That sounds awful, James. I'm sorry you have to live with such memories, do you have flashbacks often?" James was chewing at the left side of his lip, "I mean I have them at least once a month, sometimes they're not that bad, but sometimes they're just so intense and it's awful." Steve wanted to put a reassuring hand on James's shoulder but didn't think it was the best idea, "Can I ask you a question, James?"

James hummed, "Yeah, of course," Steve thought real hard on how to word his question, "Do you ever think about your soulmate? Like what they'd look like or what they'd be like?" James laughed, "Yeah I think most people do, the tattoos kind of start to paint a picture and you just really want to see the completed work. I can't remember my younger years that well, but I do know that at first I never really thought it could be a woman, I saw the dog tags and immediately thought it was a man. Then Natasha pointed out that that was a sexist thought and Clint said that for all I know my soulmate might be transgender. I realized they were right, so then I got really confused about what they'd look like.

I imagined them to be really charismatic though, that's always a constant. Sometimes I imagine just hands painting pictures, covered in paint and calloused. I think about the same hands flipping through a bible or praying. I imagine that they'd have a really amazing laugh though, like one of those laughs that makes you want to laugh right along with them or at the very least break out into a huge grin. I bet they'd also have the greatest smile, one that could light up the dark side of the moon. I hope they like taking long drives listening to music and just enjoying each other's presence. Maybe they'd love movies in our pajamas and eating all the junk food. I wonder about the music they'd like, their favorite films and shows, and what'd they'd order from their favorite restaurant. I wonder about so many things like if they'd like looking up at the night sky, if they believe in magic, or what their favorite holiday is."

Steve feels a tug in his chest, he wants so badly to answer all of James's questions. He wants to tell him everything, but he doesn't. Instead he just smiles at James and says, "I hope that you'll one day find out all those answers, James. Those are actually really kind of sweet little things to wonder about your soulmate." James laugh, "I used to think I was never going to meet my soulmate and I was okay with it for awhile, I always felt this cold feeling where the subject came up and I honestly did just assume they could be dead or were so far away that I'd never be able to find them. But now I have this warm feeling where the cold one had been prior, it almost feels like hope. I do care whether or not if I meet them, I really want to meet them."

At this point Steve honestly feels a little guilty, here he is, James's soulmate, walking right next to him. He's listening to everything he's saying about his soulmate and how badly he wants to meet them and he's not telling him the truth. He knows it's in James's best interest, but at this moment it doesn't feel like it. It feels like he's lying to his Bucky, lying to his best friend, soulmate, love of his life. Steve feels sick to his stomach and it must show because James says, "I'm sorry, I'm here talking about my soulmate and my hope to one day see them when you'll never have that privilege to see yours again. I'm so sorry, Steve." Oh boy does he have the wrong idea, Steve is looking right at him soulmate and he's aware of it, Steve has that privilege no matter how much he thought he wouldn't have it when he woke up.

"No, James, it's quite alright. I asked you about your soulmate and I'm completely fine. I was just thinking a little too hard, trying to picture your soulmate. I have come to terms with me and my soulmate." James smiled softly up at Steve, almost like he didn't believe him, it was a look that looked a lot like pity. Steve never wanted James to look at him that way, not when he was small and sick and sure as hell not now. "Really, James, it's all okay. I am far more than okay right now. I'm actually just really concerned about you right now." James sighed, "I'm fine, Steve, just a little tired feeling. Like not physically tired, mentally tired." Steve nodded, "I get what you mean."

They continued walking, talking about small things, James talk about some modern musical, movies, and the internet. Steve listened to him taking in all the things he was saying and asking questions when he was a little confused. Steve talked about his life before Captain America, trying not to mention Bucky where he could and it was really hard for him, Soon it was lunch time and Steve said, how about we go to that Antonia's place you were talking about? I'm paying," James tried to say that he could pay for himself when Steve shook his head and said he could pay the next time they went to grab a bite to eat, James then agreed and so they went to lunch.

They got a table for two and when they sat down a waiter came over, "Hello, my name is Miles I'll be your server today, can I start you off with a drink today?" James smiled, "Yes, can I please have a Diet Coke?" Miles nodded and wrote it down, Then Steve said, "I'll have an Guinness, thank you." Mile wrote it down and said, "I'll be right back with your drinks," James raised an eyebrow, "Drink beer this early?" Steve shrugged, "I can't get drunk and sure as hell not off of one beer so why not?" James laughed, "What do you mean you can't get drunk?" Steve laughed, "The serum made it so I can't get drunk." James nodded, "Ah."

Miles came back with their drinks and said, "Are you ready to order or would you like more time?" James nodded, "I'll have the Cheese Ravioli with meat sauce and Italian cheeses." Steve looked at the menu, "Do you have any good recommendations, Jimmy?" James laughed at the nickname, Clint sometimes called him that, "He'll have the Braised Beef and Tortellini." Miles nodded, "And for sides?" James replied, "We'll both have the Antonia's House Salad." Miles nodded, "I'll bring you your food as soon as possible." Then he was gone.

James and Steve talked aimlessly about anything and everything while they waited for their food. It was just so comfortable and the conversation flowed so well, even when their food came and they fell into a comfortable silence, it just felt oh so right. James was really close with Natasha and Clint and fairly comfortable with Pietro, Wanda, Peggy, and Sharon but it never felt like this. This was something different and James didn't quite understand it but he didn't feel the need to define it.

Over the next few months James and Steve spent a lot of time together and it was always amazing, always felt special even if they were just sitting around watching television together or even if they were having a movie night with the others and playing a game of Jenga while Van Wilder played in the background. James hadn't been this happy since he can remember, of course he's been happy and enjoying his life, but this was a whole new level of happiness that he never knew existed and oh how glad he was it did exist. Steve remember the last time he had been this happy and he was so glad that he got to experience it again. Although they grew closer Steve made sure not even let their tattooed arms coming anywhere close to each other and it was a lot harder than it seemed, he just hoped James didn't notice. Good news was that he didn't, James didn't think anything of it. So they just continued on being happy being in each other's presence.