You looked at the words inked on your wrist, and, not for the first time, wondered what the fuck they meant.

Please excuse him, he's an 100-year-old dork and he has no taste in plums.

You didn't even want to know. This indication of the first words your soulmate would speak to you had driven you half-mad trying to discover what they meant, and had received much teasing over the years.

You pulled your sleeve over the wrist as a self-conscious habit, shaking your head absentmindedly and attempting to pull yourself away from the soulmate subject.

I'll find them, I'm sure.

- - -

You were at a plum vendor, buying some for the weekend. You couldn't help but over hear two loud voices behind you as you attempted to pick out the best fruit.

"... no, Steve, they're too small."

"You're so damn picky."

"You're too fucking chicken to swear in public."

"Bucky-"

"-to swear full stop."

You snorted a little, and kept listening.

"Honestly, I'm so much better than you," the swearing one, Bucky, teased.

"Prove it." Steve, the 'chicken' one says, deadpan.

"How did you take down Captain America?" Bucky asked.

"What, I don't-"

You turned around with a wide grin. "I shot him in ze legs, cos his shield's ze size of a dinner plate and he's an idiot."

The brown haired one gapes at you, the blond one looks offended.

"It's a vine," you shrugged.

"It's so ... uncultured."

"Please excuse him, he's an 100-year-old dork and he has no taste in plums," the brown-haired man said. Now you gape at him.

"We're soulmates!" you exclaimed in unison.

"Y/N," you said, holding out a hand.

"Bucky," he shook it firmly. His hand felt strange and cold; you looked down and saw it was metal.

"I'm sorry," he winced, hiding it. You smiled.

"No, I like it. It's ... kinda cool."

Bucky grinned at your, a touch of familiarity in those warm eyes already. "May I take you out to dinner tonight?"

You blushed. "Of course."

Pulling your phone from your bag, you quickly input his number. "I'll text you!"

Bucky's smiled spread even wider as he and Steve walked away. "Looking forward to it!"

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