Author's Note: Thanks to NewMoonFlicker for these words! Feel free to give me more ;)
I took the stars from my eyes, and then I made a map
And knew that somehow I could find my way back
Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too
So I stayed in the darkness with you
- "Cosmic Love" by Florence + The Machine
91. Flame
The white wolf inches closer to the flame—drawn to its warmth, frightened by the possibility of pain—while the fire burns on, steadily melting the snow and beckoning him into its circle of safety.
92. Ricochet
"Who the hell is Bucky?" he says, and "You're my mission," he cries, his words like bullets; but the bullets merely ricochet off armor made of determination and hope and love.
93. Bounce
"Your name is James Buchanan Barnes," he says, and "You're my friend," he cries, his words like arrows; and the arrows do not bounce off his body made of steel, but become embedded forever in a heart made of flesh.
94. Built
This friendship is built with the bricks of shared memories and the mortar of the daily choice to hold them together; together they form a wall strong enough to withstand the fiercest assault of time and loss, of hell and Hydra, of fear and grief; when all else fails, this wall shall remain.
95. Told
It's years before Bucky realizes he's never told Steve they're best friends; he thought it was obvious until Steve stops short and gapes at him when he uses that phrase—but then they share a look and a grin, and they never doubt that truth again.
96. Stay
The first time Steve realizes they're best friends is when he's stuck in bed with his third sinus infection in as many months, and he tells Bucky he doesn't have to stay...but Bucky does anyway.
97. Fading
The worst part of having his memory erased, Bucky decides, is that he can tell his memories are fading; he knows he's steadily losing the people most important to him, but he can't remember why the scrawny kid with the bruised knuckles and the bright blue eyes was in so many of his memories that he's the last one to go.
98. Conquer
Bucky knows he could never conquer his demons on his own, not with the blood on his hands and the screams in his head; it's a good thing the man who has his back is strong enough to fight for them both.
99. Rise
Every time someone knocks him down, Steve gets back up again—because, even when he's not there, he can see Bucky holding his hand out, telling him to rise up and try one more time.
100. Soulmates
No matter how many years pass, no matter the struggles and triumphs, no matter how many battles they fight or changes they face, one simple fact will always remain: Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes are soulmates.