Different as Night and Day (Winterfalcon)

Something New

Bucky's POV

I ran a hand through my newly cut hair. After taking a moment to make myself look presentable, I walked toward the elevator.

My brain was still spinning. I need to go see Bruce about my arm. Maybe I could try to talk to Steve and find out when I would have to go to that stupid court mandated therapy.

Suddenly, I knocked into somebody.

"Hey! Watch where you're going! Oh Buck-" Sam's chocolate brown eyes scanned my cleaned up face and new hair.

I cut it how the only way I knew. I looked closer to the 40's James Buchanan Barnes I used to be. Maybe the mind and soul were different but I at least looked closer to who I hoped to be. Someone I used to be.
Sam looked confused. I stared at him for a minute before snapping out of my daze.

I muttered quickly. "Sorry I was just going to get some breakfast."

He nodded and ducked his head down, moving quickly past me. What was that about?

Sam's POV
It shouldn't be possible.

I'd seen the pictures. Steve had shown them to everyone one day when we found an old file of Captain America stuff. James Buchanan Barnes, the infamous and charming lady killer. If Steve wasn't pining about him falling he was bragging about his friend.

When I ran into Bucky in the hallway...

My first though was as such;
HOW THE FUCK DID HE GET HOTTER?! IT SHOULDN'T BE PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE?!?!

Like   w h a t

As soon as I saw the new haircut my brain went back to how he looked like 40's Bucky. Ready to be killin all the ladies.

I became a blushing mess in less than .2 seconds. I ducked my head and got out of there as soon as possible.

I know left him looking confused. Probably thinking I was not okay or maybe thinking I didn't like it (far from the truth) but it was worth sparing me the embarrassment.

Bucky's POV
I walked into the kitchen. Wanda and Vision were cleaning up, apparently they had just finished making breakfast. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Tony and Bruce exiting, hands preoccupied with plates as they went back to the labs.

Natasha was sitting at the counter. She had a cup of coffee and a short stack of pancakes.

My stomach growled, hungry.
I should eat something.

Part of me said no. To just get some coffee or get nothing at all. If I grabbed something maybe they would be mad for no reason-

But the sane part of me stopped the spiral. I was safe. This was the Avengers not HYDRA with their random anger and punishments.

After years of enduring HYDRA's twisted rules, I could barely stomach regular food. Being used to tubes and IV lines made it hard to adjust. So far, I'd managed, sooo maybe I could have my first taste of pancakes since the 40's.

I made my way to the counter. Natasha greeted me with a nod. I sat on the bar stool. Before I could even open my mouth to ask Wanda set a slightly steaming plate of fluffy pancakes in front of me. 

I stared at them, half in wonder yet half in almost fear. The last pancakes I'd had...were made by my mom-

I caught myself. Laughing at my brain, nice try for a spiral but not today Satan.

I grabbed a fork, using it to cut off a small piece.
Tremors shook my hands, nothing new but I tried to calm them, wouldn't want everyone to think I was afraid of pancakes.

Raising it to my mouth I slowly took a bite. I waited for something anything-
...
The experience was normal. For pancakes. For someone normal it would be.

But for me? Memories flooded my mind. I closed my mind letting it all come back. Things I didn't even know were there suddenly came back in an almost gentle and homely feeling. Feeling something foreign, I assumed maybe it was joy. No syrup because I couldn't afford it back then either. The soft and fluffy breakfast food had just the right consistency and flavor. Hints of vanilla, just like mom's homemade recipe. Almost the same, a little more sugar than hers though.

I opened my eyes to eagerly take another bite.
Wanda looked at my with a mix of happiness and confusion. I felt something odd in the back of my mind. Like something was shifting through my memories. It reminded me of HYDRA, how they used to take them. Wanda was still staring at me, her eyes had a slight difference in them, a darker shade of scarlet...

I wanted to follow that thought. but my hand and stomach clearly disagreed. I shook it off, shoving another bite of the fluffy goodness into my mouth.
I probably looked weird. Or disgusting. But at the moment I didn't care. Chasing the high of more lost memories I kept eating till the plate was empty.
When I finished I put it in the sink. I didn't know what I'd do next. Wanda and Vision had gone gods know where. I still hadn't seen Steve, and I probably should go see Tony and Bruce about my arm...
Nah. Not yet.

After pondering what to do I finally decided to go find Sam. Maybe he wouldn't mind if I joined him in whatever he was gonna today.