Inseparable

Where we began

Authors Note:

The flashback taken from the comic Captain America: First Vengeance. The events are mostly canon to have come before the first Captain America film.

I will not be using ideas from comic books in future one-shots but I want these stories to be as close to the MCU as possible with my own twist.

Never forgiving Endgame for ruining characters.

Enjoy!

~ JN

Steve walked through his old town in Manhattan on a cold September morning. It was so different than he remembered. Cars sped by on the roads, loudly honking and people visited the small shops talking amongst themselves. Tall buildings filled what used to be an empty skyline and the old brick buildings were refurbished and new ones had joined them. Even though he tried to go unnoticed, often a young lady would turn her head and blush at the sight of the strong, tall man he'd become. Their language appalled him as back in his day only men swore.
He looked back down at the old crinkled map in his hand and ran his hand through his blonde hair with a frustrated sigh. The streets had all changed but he was close to his destination. Just as he was about to ask for directions he saw a small boy duck into an alleyway and a few minutes later a group of boys followed. Suspecting trouble he went after them. They were beating the boy up and snatched the bags of groceries from his hands. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Steve shouted and suddenly he was back in another alley in 1930.

Hell's Kitchen Manhatten NY, September 1930.

The scrawny 11 year old version of himself approached the bullies his fists held upright. "Not until he pays us and unless you leave you'll be paying too." The bullies retorted, turning towards him. The kid he came to rescue took the opportunity to run down the street and around the corner. This made him smile. Steve could feel the pride he had felt. The pride of saving someone just like his dad. His father had been part of the 107th infantry in the first World War where he died of mustard gas.
He remembered what his mother used to say, "Steve, the only reason we should fight is to save lives. People who hurt others for fun are bullies. Promise me that you will always help others." She had hated it when he came home bloodied and bruised saying that there were other ways to help people. Still Steve couldn't stand it if someone disrespected or harmed anyone else, no matter how big they were.

Steve could feel their punches and watched the frustration grow on their faces as he kept getting up.

"For the last time runt, you eighth avenue punks wanna cross tenth, you gotta pay a toll." One of the bullies said, punching him square in the jaw. "Two bits for two ways."

Steve shakily pulled himself to his feet and stood bracing himself against the wall and rubbed his chin. "Not giving you a red cent," he said with a cough.

They laughed, "Look at this runt! Too dumb to know he's beat!" Another one came after him, "It's alright boys. I can spend all day provin' it to him, if I have to. Not like I got anything else better to do."

Steve braced himself for the punch but it never came. Some strange boy had come out of nowhere and pushed the bully away. "I'll say!" The biggest bully stepped forward with a frown, "Hey, why don't you mind your own business!" The boy cockily grinned, pointing at himself with his thumb, "It IS my business." He then punched the bully in the face hard, knocking him down. "Watching you shake down little kids every day is making me NAUSEOUS."

Another bully snuck up behind the boy with a brick but Steve grabbed a trash can lid and whacked him over the head. The bullies ran off and the boy laughed, "Hah! Bullies always run true to form, and I do mean RUN."

Steve fixed his suspenders begrudgingly, "I woulda worn them down eventually," "Yeah, when they died of old age." the boy retorted.

Steve's anger flared and he held his fists in the boy's face, "Maybe you wanna go a round or two too?" The boy raised his eyebrows in amusement, holding his hands up in surrender. "Whoa there cowboy! Holster those guns! I come in peace."

Steve froze, unsure until the boy added, "Never even occurred to me to stand up to those bums until I saw a shrimp like you do it. You're a real inspiration, you know that?" Lowering his hands Steve held one out "Thanks.. I guess.

The boy shook it with a nod, "Good to know you, kid. James Buchanan Barnes." Steve smiled, "Steve Rogers. Just moved into a place near the orphanage on eighth, and my mom is going to be working there sometimes as a nurse. Nice to meet you, James." The boy smiled back his blue eyes sparkling, "My friends call me Bucky!"

Bucky's face changed, he suddenly looked scared and small as if Steve were looking down at him."Mister, hello? Mister?" Steve frowned in confusion, "Bucky what's wrong?" "Are you alright Mr?"

Steve found himself back in the present, a little boy looking up at him. "I'm fine. What about you?" He noticed a cut on the boy's cheek and knelt, pulling out a handkerchief to gently dab at it. "I am okay now that they're gone but you kind of fazed out." Steve sighed, "What did I do?" "Well the boys ran as soon as you yelled but you just sort of stood there for a while." Relief filled Steve. He'd been afraid he might have harmed them. "Well, I'm glad I was here to stop them." The boy smiled, "Me too!"

 
After working together to pick up the scattered groceries Steve stood up "Now let me walk you home kid. You never know what other low lives may be hanging around." His words echoed Bucky's all those years ago.