The Copper's Daughter
Session One: In Color
A/U: I don't own Captain America: The First Avenger if I did I would be rolling in the dough. Cowboy Bebop inspired me to use names of songs for the Chapters I write. In Color is a song from Jamey Johnson.
Synopsis: There was a third unnamed person to the dynamic duo of Captain America and Bucky Barnes. She was a police officers daughter who liked wearing trousers and getting in fights just as much or even more than Steve himself. This is a story of youth at it's prime, young love, and friendship that runs deeper than the holler.
In Color
A pictures worth a thousand words
But you cant see what those shades of gray keep covered
You should've seen it in color
Jamey Johnson
September 1, 2014
Brooklyn, New York City
Bucky glanced up at the nursing homes name Silver Ridge Care Center. He pulled his ball cap further down to obscure his facial features. He came here for answers because of a name that kept on echoing in his mind. Zelda Louise Ferguson or Zee for short. He had no idea who she was or why she was so important to his past. Yet, the name brought a sliver of happiness to him. So, he decided to investigate this name by going to a library before coming to this nursing home. Which, put him in immense unease and paranoia. Bucky didn't want anyone to recognize him. He wanted to be as anonymous as possible to the occupants of this building. Bucky entered walking up to the receptionist desk. There was a young man with black hair and brown eyes wearing red scrubs looking at a computer screen. The young man didn't even glance his way.
"What can I do for you, sir," The receptionist inquired glancing his way.
"I'm here to see a Zelda Louise Ferguson/Hayes," He said averting eye contact with the receptionist. Bucky saw the young man light up a bit with a small smirk.
"She's in room 15 take the hall to the left and her room is on the left. She's a sweet lady you must be one of her grandkids," The young man commented smiling up at Bucky. Bucky nodded so the guy would let him be. He quickly found Zelda's room with no problem knocking on her door.
"Come in," a soft frail voice answered from the other side. He gently opened the door with his flesh hand entering the darkened room. He crept up to the bed where the old woman lay. She had short gray curly hair, old tired amber eye, wrinkles that showed the time she spent in this world. Her eyes lit up seeing Bucky get closer.
"My what a handsome young man!" She exclaimed putting on a show by waving at herself. "If only I was 70 years younger. I would arrest you and throw away the keys!" Her little act causing a small smirk to blossom.
"Young man would you be willing to open the curtain? I would, but these days; it's hard to get around," She said her eyes down casting looking at her wrinkled folded hands.
"I would like a good look at you." He complied with her request opening the curtains and taking a seat. He saw a calculating look in her amber eyes.
"Could you take your hat off, please?" The old woman asked slowly sitting up. He hesitated with her request. The thoughts of what if a nurse came in and recognized his face from the news. He looked back at Zelda seeing impatience passing her features. He tentatively took his hat off eyeing blurry black and white pictures.
"You must be one of Billy Barnes grandkids," She stated. "You're a spitting image of Bucky. Your great uncle." He lifted a blurry black and white picture of three teens. The girl he was taking a shot in the dark sitting on the hood of a Ford Model B was Zelda wearing trousers, a button up white shirt, a thick winter jacket, a police cap and leather boots.
"It was frowned upon seeing a proper young woman wearing trousers in those days," Bucky thought to himself. "Wait where did that thought come from?"
"That picture was taken on February 19, 1933 during the Great Depression. It was a few days before my fifteenth birthday. It was cold that day and Bucky had a boxing match," There was a pregnant pause as if searching for the rest of the story. "My father volunteered to take all three of us because the match was in Queens..." There was another long pause. Bucky continued analyzing the picture. Zelda was smiling ear to ear resting her hands on the shoulders of two grinning innocent boys wearing similar outfits to Zelda's. Bucky had to double instantly recognizing himself and Steve. He hurriedly put the picture back in it's place and grabbing at his head. He grimaced feeling a strong pain over whelming him. Zelda sat up quickly putting an old wrinkled hand on his leg trying to comfort him.
"He was the only one who owned a car and Steve for once wasn't sick. We were happy that Steve was healthy enough to see a boxing match and excited to take a ride," Bucky finished removing his hands from his head staring intensely at Zelda. Her old amber eyes went wide in shock. She sat back slowly making sure she didn't hurt herself. Bucky felt the pain fade away as quickly as it came.
"B-b-Bucky…." Zelda stuttered feeling shocked and awed that he looked so young after 70 years.
"I…. don't know," He answered blue meeting amber. Bucky felt confused, anger, bitter, and strangely happy. He couldn't place all the feelings he felt at once.
"You….need answers?" She questioned in a quiet voice looking down at her old wrinkled hands.
"….yes,"
"Where do you want me to start, dear?" She inquired looking at him with confusion.
"At the beginning," He answered hearing his unused hoarse voice.