The maroon words on Steve's right arm were the only ones that Bucky had seen before besides Bucky's own (I'm not what you expected, am I, Captain?) – they were one of the marks that honestly confused and thrilled Steve the most, because who would call Steve captain? And more than one future soulmate will! – and he wasn't sure what to expect.

But it didn't take long for the pale blue words near his collarbone to come into view, and Bucky raised an eyebrow at Steve – encouraging but awkward, because he automatically assumed that– given Steve's maroon words – his friend would be part of a triad, which while rare wasn't unheard of.

Steve nearly stopped then and there. If he did, maybe he could get away with keeping his secret for a little while longer. If he unbuttoned anymore buttons on his shirt though, Bucky was going to start figuring out that there was far more in Steve's future then he'd been led to believe.

Bucky saw his hesitation and his expression changed to something that Steve couldn't quite decipher as he encouraged in a strange tone, "Keep going, Stevie."

So he did. The tan words appeared next, under Steve's belly button, and again Steve almost stopped. If he didn't take his shirt off – didn't reveal his back – that meant even more words stayed hidden. But Bucky had the strangest expression on his face and something was happening inside his friend's head, but he didn't know what. Bucky was just studying him, rising slowly into a sitting position as he squinted at the words that he could see on Steve. So the smaller boy slipped the shirt off of his shoulders, still watching Bucky, practically quivering with terror.

Bucky tilted his head to look at Steve's back, instantly finding the dark green words scrawled between his shoulder blades.

Bucky looked Steve in the eye then, and it was only at that moment that Steve realized that they were both trembling.

Oh, no! Please don't leave, Buck!

Then Bucky asked quietly, so very quietly, "There are more, aren't there?"

Steve gawked, for a split second – how did he know? – before he obediently rolled up his pant legs to reveal a bright set of words on the inside of each leg – red on the left and pink on the right.

Steve thought he saw the strangest thing on Bucky's face – the possible beginnings of a smile – as he asked, "Is that all of them?" Steve nodded solemnly – and Bucky laughed! Actually laughed! "Punk, why didn't you tell me?"

"Why would I?" Steve asked, feeling a little worried for his friend.

"Because!" Bucky started fumbling with the buttons on his shirt; he was in such a hurry to get it off. Then he rolled up his pant legs.

And Steve could only stare. Because they were all there. A perfect mirror image of the placement of his words – down to the same colors – on Bucky's body!

Red words on his right leg, pink words on his left, green words near his waist on his back. Pale blue near his belly button and tan near his shoulder blade. And the same as always – the only words he'd known about before two minutes ago – Steve's navy words on the crease of his right elbow, maroon words on his left.

"I thought it was just me," Steve whispered, awestruck.

"I thought so too!"

Steve didn't think his smile could get any wider – and he certainly didn't think this could get any more perfect.

But at the same time he was thrilled to think that one day, when they were surrounded by their other soulmates, it would.

1941

Over the years, Edwin Jarvis had developed a habit of stepping into stores and looking at ties whenever he thought about it. It was a bit of a desperate move for a man who had seven – mostly well-hidden – soulmarks, but nonetheless he still did it every so often. It was one of the few ways he could think of to… tempt fate a little, perhaps.

And the person behind the light blue writing on his shoulder didn't seem as scary as some of the people behind his other words – like the ridiculously long, cutting slew of pink words that wrapped around his left leg like a second sock or the green words spoken by someone who was apparently an agent with something called the SSR.

No, in the face of words like that, "You've got good tastes. I think this is the most beautiful tie in the store" seemed like an entirely safe place to start.

All the same, he couldn't stay. He had other things to do before he had to report back to the general, and the tie shopping was a rather silly endeavor; he would meet his soulmates when it was time and not a moment before. He fingered the expensive silk tie one more time and moved to turn and leave the shop.

But before he could do any such thing, a feminine, accented voice said from behind him, "You've got good tastes. I think this is the most beautiful tie in the store."

He whipped around to find a doe-eyed brunette saleswoman watching him attentively, and it was only because he'd oftentimes rehearsed the response that he wanted to give that he was able to say without stammering – and meaning every word – "And I think that you are quite possibly the most beautiful woman in the world."

She blinked at him, eyes growing even wider as she murmured, "I'm Anna."

"I'm Edwin Jarvis."

Anna beamed. Edwin smiled right back, bought the tie… and later in the day, he met Anna for dinner. He started smiling the moment he saw her outside the bistro, but the closer she came – wearing a knee-length, short-sleeved, boat neck dress – the wider his smile became. He could see no less than five soulmarks on her body.

Seeing his happy expression as he surveyed her marks – all in handwriting and colors identical to his own – Anna relaxed enough to hug him and he whispered in her ear, "By any chance do you have two more marks?"

The question made her so happy that she kissed him on the cheek.