Shatter: A Marvel Fanfiction

Steve

My morning runs help me focus. The events of the past couple days have been very stressful. Catching up to this twenty first century stuff is hard enough, but other things have happened. Bucky is alive. My best friend. I thought he was long dead, but he's not. He's here, but one big problem remains. He doesn't remember me. I'm not sure what HYDRA did to him, but it wiped him clean of his memories and turned him into a super soldier with a metal arm.

Even with his memory of me gone and his new personality, I couldn't do it. I wouldn't fight him. I'm sure Bucky is still in there. I don't know how in the world I can bring him back, but I know I need to. I can't turn my back on him like that.

"On your left," I hear someone say. I realize it's my running partner Sam, and he's passing me. When did I slow down? I probably stopped going my normal speed when I got into thinking so much about Bucky. I pick up my pace, and in no time at all, I pass Sam again.

"On your left." I smile smugly as I pass.

"Oh come on!" Sam shouts. "Give me this one!"

I'm too far away to respond. I laugh to myself and finish off my run. I notice Sam heaving as he sits under the cool shade of a tree.

"Should have given me that at least. Few days out of the hospital and you're doing that already. Not fair, man," Sam says gasping. He made the mistake of wearing a grey shirt, and now it is stained with sweat.

I laugh again. "Hey, the running keeps us in shape. Wouldn't want Captain America and Falcon to get lazy, do we?"

Sam rolls his eyes. "We just finished off a battle with HYDRA. Don't we get a little rest?" He coughs.

"Better to be prepared." I sit down in the grass. "You're right, though. These past few days were nuts."

"Yeah. How are you doing with uh- what's his name? Bucky?"

"Well, he vanished. No leads on where he went. Just going to lay low and wait until I can find any clues. I don't want to start anything."

After a few more minutes, we-mostly Sam- musters up the strength to get up. He decides to head to his place. I walk to my apartment alone. I shower and change into some jeans, a t shirt, and my leather jacket. I then walk to the fridge. I'm hungry.

Before I start to make lunch, I get a thought. I wonder how Natasha is doing. We haven't talked for a couple days since we spoke at Fury's grave. I don't know why, but I'm tempted to call her and ask if she wants to meet for lunch. I wonder if she's busy or not.

I pull out my phone and calmly scroll and find her number. Without thinking, I press the call button. I feel slightly nervous. It's weird. I'm never this nervous with her.

After a long wait of rings it goes to her voicemail.

"Hey it's Natasha. Can't be at the phone. Leave a message," the phone says.

After the beep I start to speak. "Hey, Nat. It's just Steve. Um I was wondering if you were busy or if you wanted to get lunch. I figured we could catch up. Just let me know soon." I hang up and sit on the couch hoping to hear back soon. I am hungry.