Lost in the Past

Chapter One

Steve's POV

I woke up today like I would any other day. Sunlight streaming through my windows, the warm scent of pastries coming from down the street, and most importantly: I woke up alone.

I ignored the thought and sat to watch TV with my morning coffee. Today was one of the days that I'd feel my solitude the most harshly. Couples everywhere were celebrating Valentine's Day, and all the chocolates and roses only reminded me who I'd lost.

There wasn't anything interesting on TV really. At least, not until I came upon a news report. There had been a murder, and someone called "The Winter Soldier" was suspected.

My brows furrowed as a picture of the culprit came up. He looked strangely familiar. With wavy brown hair and steely blue eyes. He wore a mask that covered half his face, dark eyeshadow, and a black combat suit.

With so little of him to see, how could I think I knew him? I looked closer at his face and slowly trailed my eyes over the rest of him.

That was definitely familiar. A blush rose to my cheeks as I studied the man's thick, muscled thighs. They looked exactly like Bucky's...

Now that I think about it, so did his eyes. They had the exact look that Bucky would give me when he found me fighting in a back alley. Well, more getting beat up than fighting.

But still, it couldn't be him. I saw him fall; he had to be dead. My heart still ached at the thought, but it must be true.

The news report switched from one picture to another, and with each one I felt the glimmer of hope in my chest expand. Although I didn't want to, I really thought that it was him.

With that thought, I knew what I had to do.

I finished my coffee quickly and hopped into the shower. Then I hurriedly combed my hair and threw on my best incognito look: casual clothes, a hat, and some shades. I grabbed a bagel on my way out the door, along with my stealth shield.

I was off to find The Winter Soldier.