Désolé (слэш)

He usually kept it covered. Whether it be with long sleeves, a cuff of some sort, or make up Natasha skillfully showed him how to apply.
He didn’t cover it up because he was ashamed or because he was one of those people who didn’t like others knowing who his soulmate was- no. He covered it up out of respect. Respect for his fallen partner, and respect for himself because he knew looking at those swoopy lines of James B. Barnes on his wrist always made him crumble like his legs were kicked down.
When he crashed into the ice all those years ago he thought he was going to see Bucky again- he thought he was finally going to be with Bucky without people giving them ugly looks and throwing slurs their way.
He thought he was going to be happy again.
(Or: Two part AU where Steve and Bucky are soulmates, Bucky fell, Steve hurts, they meet again like men through time, they reunite, and Bucky wants his tattoo back.)