Invisible String

this is me trying

"You're a flashback in a film reel, on a one screen in my town.

Steve was getting used to the fact that time and place meant absolutely nothing in this strange dream realm if this was a dream.

Natasha's grip on his hand was firm and warm. She was racing ahead and Steve was practically running to keep up.

"Come on old man. Steve you can't just let yourself go once you give the shield up. Promise me."

Steve chuckled.

"Why not? Thor still looks good."

Natasha gave him her signature look over her shoulder with her raised brow and enigmatic smile.

"Thought you were into brunettes? Thor huh?"

Steve blushed slightly and he shoved her.

"Shut up. Where are you taking us?"

Nat turned the corner and right in front of them an old cinema suddenly appeared.

It was like the one that had been in Brooklyn that he and Bucky would sneak into at halftime through the B movie. It only had one screen and he and Bucky would squeeze into the back row their feet sticking to the floor sandwiched between couples holding hands.

Steve's mouth fell open. The giant posters advertising the newly released movies were all pictures of him...and Bucky. He glanced up at the title "Now playing: Steve Roger's future."

He frowned.

"Nat what is this?"

"Let's go in."

They stepped inside and Steve was assaulted by the smell of hot buttered popcorn.

The confectionary girl handed them their tickets, which were free apparently, and 2 bags of popcorn from her cart which Nat seemed pretty ecstatic about.

There was no one else around and when Nat pulled him into the already dark theatre they were the only ones in here. Nat pulled him into the central row front and centre.

She sank down in her seat and put her feet up on the seat in front.

Steve gave her a disapproving look as she ate her popcorn.

"Hey, feet off the seats."

Nat grinned at him and shook her head.

"Don't ever change Steve. But there's no one else in here and I'm dead so no. My feet are staying put and I'm not sorry about it." She said matter of factly.

Steve smiled at her and began to eat his own popcorn. He was going to miss Nat most of all.

"The B movie should be coming any-oh here we go."

The curtains parted and the screen was exposed. The sound crackled warmly and the movie began but there was no introduction.

Steve frowned in confusion as he saw the scene opening up. A funeral. Tony's funeral.

"But Nat...this hasn't happened yet."

Nat held her hand out

"Hi Steve nice to meet you. I'm the ghost of your possible futures to come."

Steve shook her hand numbly. His head physically hurt from everything that had happened and was currently still happening. He watched himself embracing Bucky. He looked sad and broken. He was leaving him. Forever.

Steve's chest ached. Only yesterday he'd thought about it. But after tonight everything had changed. No. He couldn't leave Bucky.

He left and he watched himself dance with Peggy. A gold wedding band on both their fingers. He smiled. In another life. In another time. If Bucky hadn't come back into his life. If he hadn't made him feel something that no one ever had.