Note: this is non-canon post-S02E11, 'Aftershocks'. Fitz and Skye have kept mum about Skye's powers until now.

"Kiss Me Quick"

Bucky stayed near the edge of the group, watching the argument taking place between the Avengers and Phil Coulson. He sidled over to Sam and Rhodey, neither of whom had ever met the director of SHIELD, and accepted a beer from them.

"If we didn't know `em personally, this'd be more entertaining," Rhodey said.

"You okay, Bucky?" Sam asked. He nodded. "I feel like we should step in."

It was something constructive to do. Bucky walked to the front of the group and addressed Coulson personally.

"What is the purpose of this call?" he said. It shut everyone else up.

"Look, I'm sending the last known co-ordinates of one of our agents," Coulson said. "To all of you. I don't know whether she's still there, or whether she was separated from her tracker, but we're still a couple of hours out and undermanned."

"You seem to have been handling everything by yourself just fine," Barton snarked. "So you want us to clean up your messes now?"

Bucky just nodded at the screen after he looked at his phone and saw the message, which had also been sent to him. Coulson nodded back.

"Barton, after the incident at Greenwich, my people and I were there cleaning up," he said. "Where were you, Thor? And Dr. Foster? Selvig? Miss Lewis?"

"We had fought mightily," Thor said. Bucky kept an ear on the conversation as he returned to Rhodey and Sam.

"New SHIELD has been fighting 'mightily'," Coulson said in a tight voice. "And we've somehow learned to clean up after ourselves when it's possible. Not that we make a huge mess to begin with…"

Meanwhile, Bucky was leading his two new friends out of the room.

"They are wasting time," he said.

"You think we should go find the agent ourselves?" Sam said.

"I can't fly, but you can, and I have super senses and seventy years of experience. If we make a head-start…"

"The sooner we find her, the better chance she has," Rhodey said. "Let's go, sergeant."

With Iron Patriot and the Falcon, it only took ten minutes of flying to reach the mystery agent's last known location. Rhodey set Bucky down on the ground and retracted his face plate.

"Should we call Coulson?" he said. Bucky tried, and then shook his head.

"The line is busy," he said.

"What's the betting he's still arguing with the Avengers?" Sam said.

"Message from someone," Bucky said, still looking at his phone. "It says 'Are you Bucky Barnes?'" He replied with 'Yes'.

"JARVIS is scanning the area," Rhodey said, the mask of the armour back in place.

"I'm gonna do a quick look around," Sam said, and he flew off. Bucky's phone began to ring; at least he could do something until they had more details.

"Barnes here," he said.

"Hello, Sergeant Barnes? I'm Dr. Jemma Simmons."

"Are you from SHIELD?"

"I'm on Director Coulson's team. Are you looking for Skye?"

"Skye?"

"Agent Skye."

"She's the one who's missing?"

"Yes, she is," the English woman replied. "Fitz noticed that you were trying to call the director, so we intercepted your number, recognising it from the list that Skye found yesterday."

"Can you tell me what happened?" he asked. "There are three of us here, but we don't know where to start looking."

The doctor sighed. "There is a HYDRA agent, Grant Ward. He was on our team before the fall of SHIELD, a spy all along. He's obsessed with Skye."

"Over this way," Rhodey whispered, leading Bucky west. He gestured for Sam, who flew down to hover above them.

"Does he have something to do with her disappearance?" Bucky said.

"If he does, he won't hurt her," Dr. Simmons said.

"Are they soulmates?"

"She hasn't met her soulmate yet, but they nearly… they were nearly in a relationship."

He put her on speaker and clipped the phone to his belt. "We can all hear you now."

"All of you?"

"James Rhodes at your service, ma'am," Rhodey said. "Sam, get down here!"

"This is Jemma Simmons," Bucky said as Sam dropped to the ground beside them. They stopped in their tracks. "We're looking for an Agent Skye, probably abducted by a man named Ward. Could you send us a picture of her, doc?"

"Absolutely, Sergeant Barnes."

"Cute accent," Sam said, grinning over Bucky's shoulder. "Love a good English woman." There was a nearly inaudible gasp from the phone, then a long pause.

"What about a bad one?" she asked.

Sam's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry, this is why I don't flirt with people, because I'm horrible at it!"

"Did you seriously just find your soulmate?" Rhodey said. "Like this?"

"Apparently so," Sam said. "Sweetheart, we'll bring your Agent Skye right back to you personally."

"Thank you," she said, sounding shy now. "Um… have you found a-anything to suggest where Skye might be?"

"It's been pretty deserted around here," Rhodey said. "But scans show that there was a scuffle nearby. It's the most recent activity. No cameras, unfortunately."

"Near a forest," Sam said. "I'll fly around, see if any of the bushes have been disturbed. When did all this happen?"

"About an hour ago was the last time we heard from Skye. She was cut off mid-transmission. We tracked her last movements to your current location."

"She only had the one tracker?"

"Even with all of Skye's skills, there's too great a risk of HYDRA hacking the signal."

"What does the tracker look like?" Bucky asked as he examined the area on foot.

"It's in her watch. Fitz made it for her; we all have one."

The phone pinged again, and Bucky checked it while the call continued.

"You just sent the picture?" he said, to make sure.

"Yes."

"Mmm-hmm. Pretty girl."

"Yes, she is."

He stopped walking. "What does the watch look like?"

"…Oh no—"

"It might not be hers. Just give me a description."

"Uh… blue band, made of plastic, not leather…"

"Silver clock face with Roman numerals?"

"Y-yes."

"I'll get Rhodey to scan this."

"Oh, Skye…"

"Hang in there, Dr. Simmons. We'll find her. At least we know where she went missing from. Must be a real fighter, judging by the state of the ground."

"She is. Whether it's fighting for her life or for someone else's, she doesn't go down. Not even being shot… anyway—"

"Shot?"

"Simmons, can I have a w-word?"

Bucky frowned at the Scottish accent joining the conversation. He handed the watch to Rhodey.

"No, I'm busy, Fitz. Go away."

"Is it about Skye?"

"Yes, which is why—"

"Let me talk to them."

Sam landed beside Bucky. "No sign of any foliage having been disturbed," he reported.

"Uh, hello?"

"Who is this?" Bucky said.

"Erm, I'm Leo Fitz. One of Skye's friends. Do you have a way of tracking seismic activity? Y'know, earthquakes?"

"We do," Bucky said when Rhodey nodded, and closed his mask again.

"Skye… recently acquired certain… abilities."

"What?" Simmons said.

"She can cause vibrations. She's caused an earthquake before. If she's still alive and conscious, the stress might cause her to… to…"

"Make the ground shake?" Sam said.

"Y-yeah."

"When were you going to tell me this, Fitz?" Simmons said indignantly.

"If it became relevant. An' now it is."

Rhodey tapped Bucky on the shoulder. "Got something about four miles away. Only mild tremors, but it's close."

"In that direction?" He pointed south-west, and Rhodey nodded. It was away from the forest, and there were drag marks in the dirt as far as the road. "Let's go. Dr. Simmons? Uh, Fitz? Thanks for the help. We'll call when we've found her."

He hung up and tucked the phone back into his pocket, then held onto Rhodey. All three men took to the sky, Sam following on their heels. There hadn't been any notification from the Avengers, which was fine. Looked like they could handle this themselves without superhero egos taking up air space.

"The tremors have stopped," Rhodey said. "But I can pinpoint their epicentre. If she's being moved, they won't get far."

"You want me to go in first?" Bucky asked loudly. "Since I'm more compact?"

"And stronger? Be our guest."

Skye screamed behind her gag as something punched straight through the wall beside her. She craned her head, but she was at the wrong angle to see through the hole. She wriggled her feet, stretched far out in front of her.

"Aim further to the left!" someone called. Seconds later, bullets peppered the wall a couple of yards further away. Skye stared as the wall crumbled. A figure walked through the hole, then jogged over to kneel at her side. He tore apart the chain of the cuffs on her legs, and she growled. He looked up at her and finally noticed the gag, which he removed gently. She saw the metal arm, and gulped.

"Please tell me the good guys sent you," she said hoarsely after he ripped apart her hand restraints.

He met her eyes, his own widening. Before she could ask what had him spooked, he cupped the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss. Damn it, did every guy think he had a right to kiss her without her say-so? Well, he'd made one fatal error: he'd freed her hands first. She shoved at his shoulders as hard as she could. He fell onto his ass, but damn, it'd been like trying to push a car. Her best bet was to run for it. She'd been tied up for too long, though, `cause as soon as she jumped to her feet she nearly had to sit down again.

"Whoa, steady there, miss," a guy said, catching hold of her arm. She'd probably fall over if she pushed him away. Wait. She recognised that armour. Feeling a little safer, she turned her glare on the guy who had to be the Winter Soldier.

"Do you kiss every girl you rescue without her permission?" she asked. He shook his head, grinning up at her from the floor.

"Just my soulmate, doll," he said. She gasped. "You're a regular spitfire. I'm a lucky fella."

"You… soulmate…"

"First Sam, now you?" Iron Patriot said. "If I find my soulmate today, I'll pay for all three weddings."

"Let's get you outta here," her soulmate said, jumping to his feet. "Hi. James Barnes. Call me Bucky." He shook her hand, and she tried to catch up with what was going on.

"Skye," she said.

"We took the shortcut in. Wanna take it out, or would you prefer to go through the front door?"

"Skye?"

She groaned. "Ward. Tell me you have a gun? He took mine."

"He's the guy who kidnapped you?" Bucky said.

"Yeah. He can't accept that I don't want him anymore. And hey, I've got a soulmate."

"Lemme deal with him," Bucky said, scowling.

"I can take care of myself! He screwed us over; that makes it personal for me. Now gimme a gun."

He handed one over. "I'm coming with you."

"I'll head back to Sam and keep him outta trouble," Iron Patriot said. It really was him, wasn't it? "Hello, Skye. I'm Rhodey."

"Nice to meet you."

"Get going," Bucky said. "Come on, Skye."

"See you topside," Rhodey said. Then he went back the way they'd come, and Skye led Bucky to the door just as it was opening.

"Skye," Ward said, and he halted in place when he noticed Bucky. "What's going on? Is that… that's the Asset. Skye, step away from him."

"How about no, Ward? Seems shooting you four times didn't keep you down."

"Skye, I'm serious, he's dangerous—"

"And my soulmate."

"…Your what?"

"You heard her," Bucky said. His hand was on her lower back, warming the material and making Skye hyper-aware of how close they were. She cleared her throat as her cheeks heated up.

"Bucky is my soulmate," she said. "We're leaving, and you're not gonna stop us. I'm better than you, so I'm not gonna shoot to kill this time. But you pull another stunt like this again, or hurt any of my friends? You're dead."

Ward stayed where he was as Skye and Bucky walked past him and up the stairs. It wasn't long until they were out in the light and Skye was being introduced to Sam Wilson.

"How d'you feel about flying?" he asked.

"Will it get me back to my team faster?"

"Yes, it will."

"Then let's go, my good man."

They met the plane in the sky. Sam placed Skye in the middle of the ramp and Bucky jumped down to land next to her. All four walked up, Sam's wings retracting into his backpack, and the hatch closed behind them. Coulson was waiting with the rest of the crew, minus the pilot.

"Skye!" Even that one word was familiar. Rhodey noticed Sam's eyes widen as Skye and another girl embraced. "Oh, I'm so glad you're alright."

"Hi, Jemma. I heard you and Fitz helped them find me?"

"Director Coulson was busy with the, uh… He was busy."

"Glad to have you back, Skye," Coulson said, squeezing her shoulder. He looked over towards the three men. "Thanks for bringing her back. I owe you."

"On the contrary," Rhodey said. "They owe you."

"Yeah." Skye said, scratching her arm. "Uh, Bucky… Sergeant Barnes is my soulmate."

Coulson's mouth opened and closed a few times, and then he smiled.

"You'll be safe then," he said. "Thank God."

"No one's gonna mess with the Winter Soldier's soulmate?"

"That's only part of it."

"You're Dr. Simmons?" Sam asked the woman with shorter hair. She bobbed her head.

"You must be Mr. Wilson," she said, her accent clear and quaint. The smile on Sam's face showed all his teeth.

"Call me Sam," he said, before hauling her into a kiss. She squeaked, but soon melted.

"They're soulmates as well," Rhodey explained to Coulson, who actually face-palmed.

"Okay, so, do you know who your soulmate is, Colonel Rhodes?" he asked.

"Not yet."

"The day is still young. Please, search the bus. Start with May; she's in the cockpit. I have to make a call. Describe how useless a certain superhero group is when it comes to rescuing a single SHIELD agent."

Rhodey grinned as he followed Coulson's flippant advice, and made his way to the front of the plane. (Who called a plane a 'bus'? Someone with a fondness for understatement, clearly.) He knocked at the door, and entered without waiting for an invite. A gorgeous Asian woman looked up at him, arching an eyebrow.

"You'd better have a damn good reason for being in here," she said.

Rhodey blinked. Sat in the co-pilot's seat. Then burst out laughing until he had to lean against the dashboard. Wait until the other guys heard about this.

"Damn, girl, your boss is omniscient," he said.

"…What. The hell?"

"Looks like I'm paying for three weddings after all," he mused, sitting back. He looked at his soulmate – she was seriously supposed to be older than him? – and grinned at her look of complete disbelief. "Agent Skye's soulmate is Bucky Barnes, Dr. Simmons's soulmate is Sam Wilson, and I'm yours. What's your name, sweetheart? Is it May?"

"Melinda May," she said, staring at him. "Agent… I'm Agent May."

"Colonel James Rhodes, but you can call me Rhodey. Can I call you Melinda? Pretty name." He looked her up and down. "Even prettier woman."

"Uh…" She looked flustered.

"Got an autopilot setting?"

"Y-yes." Melinda coughed. "Yes, there's autopilot."

"Good. `Cause if we've got the time, I'd like to get to know you, and much as I appreciate your profile, I like your front even more."

She exhaled, and put the plane on autopilot. Then she turned to face him properly.

"Ask away," she said.

"Ladies first," he insisted. "Anything you wanna know."

Slowly, she smirked, and he wondered what he'd gotten himself into.

He was gonna enjoy finding out.

Skye and Bucky were sitting on opposite ends of her bed. It was the most private place for them to talk, and talk they did. For over an hour, about their respective experiences, how they both felt the need to earn their soulmate after all the damage they'd caused.

"I guess we're kind of equal," Skye said, smiling from where her chin rested on her bent knees. Bucky shook his head.

"I have far more red in my ledger," he said.

"You've also had a much worse life. It's gotta all balance out by now. Soulmates are made to complement each other, and Fate also dictates when we'll meet. Now we have."

"Now we have," he echoed, holding out his flesh-and-blood hand, and she caught it, held on tight.

"Not gonna run out on me, are you?" she said. "My only real family is SHIELD. If I make you part of it, you won't leave, will you?"

"Not if I can help it, doll."

"Good." She entwined their fingers. "Like card games? I've got a pack somewhere."

"Strip poker?"

She narrowed her eyes. "No."

"Worth a shot."

"Bucky… what happens after this?" she asked. "You have to go back to your friends."

"So does Sam," he said. "It's either that or we stay here. Or you go with us."

"I can't leave Coulson. I can't… I can't leave any of them."

"Then I'll get my stuff and come back here. Looks like you need more people, and I know enough about HYDRA. I'll be a real asset this time, not just the assassin kind."

"Hmm." She smiled, tilting her head, her gaze straying down his body. "I can see why people would give you jobs with 'ass' in the name. It's a damn fine one."

Bucky's jaw dropped.

Couldn't go past that as a last line. Three word reaction to Skye blatantly ogling his rear end, or at least trying to.

Bucky/Skye was requested by kogouma and magickgirl786. Rhodey/anyone was also requested by kogouma. All three ships in this chapter have been represented in ozhawk's superbly renamed 'Soulmate Shorts AKA The Crackship Armada'.

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