Chapter Text
“I'm going back to school!” Gen sing-songed as she stepped into Steve and Sam's apartment.
It had been a week since the offer, a week since she had reacquainted herself with Steve and gotten to know her soulmate. In that week she had started coming to their shared apartment in Avengers Tower almost every day.
She had gone back to DC for one day to turn in her work on the artifacts and to make sure they returned safely. Sam had come with her, citing that he needed to water his plants. Unbeknownst to him she had turned in her resignation.
“That's great!” Sam said, his smile was wide and encouraging as he stepped out from behind the kitchen counter to come scoop her up in a hug.
She was excited, she had enjoyed school when she was little but when her family had moved she had to stop going and get a job to help her family. She had been working ever since and she was happy to get back to something she truly enjoyed. For a split second she wondered if she should tell him about the terms of her schooling, but decided against it.
She still wasn’t moving out of her place in DC, she was just getting her own little apartment in the tower. She wasn’t ready to move in with her boys, she adored them, but after years of being alone she needed her space. She was still somewhat old fashioned, she wasn’t just going to move in with the first man who asked. Even if he happened to be her soulmate.
“Where's Steve?” When she realized the apartment was empty aside from Sam she felt a pang of worry hit her, Steve tended to get into trouble when he was alone.
“I think Natasha set him up on a date.” Was the man's response which was followed by a shrug.
He actually wasn’t sure, it may have been a date or it may have been a Bucky lead. Steve had stammered out his excuse as he bolted out of the apartment earlier which in Sam’s opinion meant it could go either way. He simply told Genevieve that it was a date so she wouldn’t worry, she had an older sister like protectiveness over Steve.
“Huh.” Genevieve couldn't keep her smirk away, the idea of Steve on a date was an awfully funny image. The serum had enhanced everything but his social skills, so he was still the same awkward little Steve that she had raised under her wing all those years ago.
“Let's celebrate!” Sam shouted gleefully as he made his way to the pantry. When he came out he had a glass of champagne and an award winning smile on his face. His smile made her melt and often made her think about how all good things were worth the wait, Sam had been worth every minute of waiting.
“I'm not a champagne fan.” She said teasingly, her face wrinkling up at the thought of it.
“We have beer?” He offered, a sheepish smile on his face.
“Perfect.”
After cracking open both of them a beer he went back to making dinner. Sam was in fact, a fantastic cook. Tonight was garlic butter chicken with lemon and asparagus. He had been showcasing his cooking all week. Maybe, just maybe, it was his way of trying to make her fall in love with him.
It was working.
Two hours later the two were each on their fourth beer and had gotten snuggly on the couch while JARVIS put a movie on for them. Genevieve had told Sam the tale of when she took Steve and Bucky to see Steamboat Willie and how after that she had missed very few Disney movies. After she listed the movies she hadn't seen, Sam had insisted she needed to see them all.
“This movie is so cute!” She squealed. They had just finished watching Wreck It Ralph and had moved onto Brave, Genevieve telling Sam to remind her to call Clint Merida at some point.
However, she found the premise of Brave to be odd. Her family had been very traditional and in such traditions they were never to disrespect their mother. While the movie was about familial love she still found it confusing. Children back in her day, traditional or not, would have never disrespected their parents that like.
She had noticed it in the more recent years; people were softer with their children. They no longer beat the hell out of their kids, something she had always hated, despite on occasion threatening it. Children weren’t taught discipline or respect anymore, the show Dr. Phil proved that.
She often felt out of place in this world, despite having grown with it and adjusted to it. Some things had changed so much and others stayed the same. She wasn’t sure she would ever understand this world, more so, she was afraid she wouldn’t ever understand her soulmate.
She nuzzled deeper into his side as she began to worry more and more. Her face scrunched up as she fretted.
Sam was so much younger than her, his values and his ideals were that of a modern man. Sure they were destined for each other, but what could he possibly see in a woman who was practically old enough to be his great grandmother? She was old enough to be his grandma by the time he was born.
When they had children how would they raise them? What would they tell them? Would they tell their kids how old she was? After all this time could she even have kids?
“Hey, stop worrying.” Sam said softly, gently stroking her hair out of her face.
Genevieve looked up at him and frowned. “Who said I was worrying?”
He chuckled gently, slipped his hands through her hair to gently massage her scalp. “It was all over your face, baby.”
“Are we going steady?” She blurted, afterwards scolding herself as she realized just how old the phrase made her sound. If she was going to be with Sam she’d need to learn the new lingo.
Sam quirked an eyebrow at her. “We’re soulmates, don’t you think we’re kind of past that?”
“Oh, so just because we’re soulmates we aren’t going to date?” She asked. Genevieve sat up and pouted at him, pretending to be offended.
He simply groaned in response, pulling her back to him. “You’re twisting my words, woman.”
She let out a blissful sigh as she relaxed into his chest, she had the best soulmate in the world. Without even trying be had squished her fears and calmed her down.
Their movie marathon continued, though now she was caught up fantasizing about their future together.
After moving on to Big Hero 6 Sam heard light snoring, with a gentle smile he looked down to see Genevieve had fallen asleep curled into his chest. He sighed happily, this was the life and he wouldn't change it for anything. He briefly considered taking the couch and moving her into his room so she could sleep comfortably but before he could carry his plan out he found himself being lulled to sleep by her soft snores.
The two had woken up stiff, but well rested. Both would say it was the best they had ever slept despite the soreness in their muscles.
Sam was currently making himself and Steve toast before their morning run. Genevieve was sitting at the counter drinking coffee with some type of overly sweet creamer that Sam liked.
Steve had come in late last night, neither of them had heard him come in but they knew it had to be after eleven. So, it was assumed his date had gone well even though none of them had spoken of it.
“Aw man, this avocado isn’t ripe.” Sam whines as he squeezed the green lump in his hand.
Without thinking Genevieve held her hand out for the avocado. Sam sent her a questioning look but gently placed it into her hand. After a moment of focus she nodded sleepily and handed it back to him.
“It should be good now.” She mumbled before taking a large gulp of her coffee. Screw everyone who said anyone could be a morning person, she was 103 and she still wasn’t a morning person.
Sam squeezed it again, surprised when it seemed softer. After cutting it open and realizing that it was indeed ripe now he paused making toast to share a look with Steve, both men stopping what they were doing to stare at her.
Genevieve had been staring into her cup of coffee when she felt two pairs of eyes on her. Curiously, she looked up. “What? Is there something on my face?”
“How did you do that?” Sam asked slowly. He didn’t want to startle or upset her since it was clear she had done it almost unconsciously.
After a moment of confusion it hit her. She has barely used her abilities since she’d lost control in Fury’s office a few years prior. When she did use them she used them for selfish reasons, like aging a peach that wasn’t quite ripe or a cheese that could be better.
“Oh.” She said silently, looking back down into her coffee with a perplexed expression.
“Gen.” Steve murmured gently as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
She shrugged. “After my car accident I realized I had stopped aging. But, a few years later I realized I could age everything but myself.” To prove her point she reached out and touched the tip of her finger to the spoon sitting by Steve’s bowl of oatmeal.
The metal rusted over causing both men to take deep breaths.
“Yeah.” Was all she said in reply.
Both men just stared at her, pity in their eyes.
“Stop looking at me like that. Just make your damn hipster toast and go on your run.” She grumbled before getting up from her spot at the breakfast bar and disappearing into Sam’s room.
A minute later they heard the shower start, both men released the breath they hadn’t realized they’d been holding.
“Did you know she could do that?” Sam asked Steve, worry etching his features.
The super soldier shook his head, “No, but we can’t let anyone else know. Imagine what they’d do to her.”
“I bet they already do. She went to SHIELD after they found you.” Her soulmate mumbled, shaking his head.
Steve closed his eyes. “That means Hydra already knows.”