Chapter 1: Muffin
"Sam, when are you going to get a boyfriend?" I heard my friend, Natalie ask. I looked at her wide-eyed, but silently suspecting something. I stood in front of the Bucky Barnes memorial at the Captain America Museum in DC.
"What are you planning?" I gave the blonde a suspicious look.
"Well you haven't had a boyfriend in about three years, so I thought I would hook you up," She smiled childishly, hoping it would appease me.
"Run that by me again," I tried to understand the words that came out of her mouth. I noticed that a man in a baseball cap looked over his shoulder, almost as if he was paranoid about our conversation. I subconsciously tucked a loose lock of my hair behind my ear, only for it to fall out again.
"You need a boyfriend, I'm hooking you up with a guy I work with; simple as that," Nat sat down on a bench.
I crossed my arms over my chest, covering my tan oversized sweater. She simply giggled like a middle school girl gossiping over something. It was then I noticed that she was smiling flirtatiously at the man in the ball cap. He simply hunched his shoulders, his jacket collar hiding his face as he turned away. I rolled my eyes at her antics.
"Don't do anything stupid till I get back," I pointed at her, to which she saluted at me mockingly. I walked over to the man in the ball cap, blowing the annoying stray lock out of my face.
"Uh- hi, I'm sorry about my friend over there, she's like that," I said nervously, hopefully not offending the guy, or myself in some weird fashion. Hell I didn't know if the guy even spoke English or not.
He had stubble all across his jaw, and somewhat long hair for a guy, the brunette hair reaching the nape of his neck. His jacket collar was popped up over a dark shirt. His hands were stuffed in his jacket pockets. He looked like he was lost, his eyes, as blue as they were, seemed to be just dull in a haze as he gazed at me. He looked rather handsome, in the roguish, dirty way he presented himself.
His gaze lowered to the dog tags that hung around my neck.
"Are those yours?" He asked. I looked down at the pair of dog tags that rested over my comfy sweater.
"No, they are my brother's," I took hold of them with one hand, as a form of remembrance to my big brother, the dumb ass that he was.
"Sorry," he gave a thin smile, as if it were a form of comfort.
"It's not your fault, he wanted to be his own Captain America. You should have seen him when we were growing up, he carried a trash can lid around like it was his own shield." I snorted at the memories that passed through my head.
"I'm Sam," I held my hand out to him. He stared at it like it was supposed to be my rabbit out of a hat or something. He hesitantly his hand out from his jacket pocket and took it. I smiled at him, pretending that I did not notice his actions as strange.
"Sam," he asked, I understood his confusion.
"It's short for Samantha," I explained, though one would think that it would be obvious to most.
"James," he said shortly.
"Nice to meet you, James," I smiled at the man, he gave a nervous smile back.
"So you hear on vacation?" he asked, shoving his hand back into his pocket.
"Nah, I just wanted to see what this place was like, I don't live very far, just a metro ride away. My dumb friend over there is on her day off, so she dragged me here."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, so do you live around here?" I asked, rubbing my arms together from the cold air circulating around in the museum.
"No."
"Hey Sam! We gotta go!" Nat gestured to her phone, which had the time on it. I checked my own cell phone, seeing the time.
"Well, it was nice meeting you, see ya around James," I waved as I rushed over to my friend. He lamely waved back as he sunk within the crowd. As I rushed through the crowd, in doing so I bumped into a man dressed in military clothing, wearing all black. I noticed that he had an earpiece in his ear. He was seriously intimidating.
"Sorry," I apologized to the man, who merely grunted in response. He seemed like he was a superior as he glared at me.
I caught up with Nat as we finally exited the building and were re-introduced to the city we lived in.
"So did you get that guy's number," Nat asked knowingly, a sly smile spreading across her face.
"No, don't get me wrong I wanted to, he seemed like a nice guy," I defended myself.
"Uh-huh, damn right, that boy was fine."
"Will you stop? God woman I don't know how I grew up with you?"
"I got you out of all the fights you managed to get yourself into, that's how."
"You mean get me into the fights Natalie, god knows you were too much for your own good."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know damn well what it means."
With that our conversation ended, Natalie got a call from her boss that she needed to produce an interview with the Black Widow for the Washington Post. I went home, fed my three legged dog, Aussie. Shortly after I curled up in my grey reading chair and began sketching the man in the ball cap. I found a familiarity about him, one that would not leave me head. But for the life of me, I could not figure out.
Three days later.
Nat and I visited the Captain America Museum once more, Nat wanted to get a sturdy background for another column she had to do. We spent about three hours in the museum, I spent it wandering around, somehow finding myself at the Bucky Barnes Memorial. After Nat collected her information from the local historian, we left the museum and went to our favorite coffee shop.
We entered the coffee shop next to the metro station, sitting at the bar in the window. I ordered my usual; a bagel and cream cheese with a small black coffee. Nat ordered her enormous caramel latte where half of it was whipped cream. She was practically guzzling it as soon as she received it from Frankie, the barista.
"Is that the reason why you never sleep?" I gave her a look.
"It helps me focus," she said between sips.
"You sure? I thought it had to do with why you bounce off the walls?"
"Hilarious. So the guy for next week; he is super cute, he always dresses nice, he has a degree in the arts. I'm surprised that he doesn't have a girlfriend already." I shook my head.
"You are never gonna stop are you?"
"Not until you get married."
I groaned.
"What you wanna be alone for the rest of your life? Come on Sam, it's been three years since you had a decent relationship."
"I dot have time for a relationship, Natalie," I took a bite out of my bagel.
"Not true, and don't you deny it. Sketchbooks and reading is not a way to spend your free time when you can go outside and live it."
"Your jerk."
"Punk."
Out of the corner of my eye I spotted the man I ran into the museum, the one that was dressed in black. Across the street in a similar type of shop, he was sitting at the window bar stool, food in front of him but he made no attempt to eat it, he just kept staring at the two of us. It was unnerving. Natalie seemed to notice my expression.
"Sam what's wrong?" she asked, her light heartedness changing.
"That guy across the street looks suspicious, like he's watching us." I explained. Nat looked at the man across the street.
"Maybe he likes you." She said slyly.
"Or he's a stalker." I reply flatly. I turned to look back at the man across the street, finding him peeking over his newspaper. I noticed that he wasn't looking at us, but at a guy sitting on a bench with is hands in his jacket pockets. I instantly recognized the guy, James.
I got up from my seat and went up to the counter.
"Hey Frankie! Can I get a blueberry muffin to go?" the blonde haired barista smiled and pulled out a muffin, placing it in the coffee shop's signature bag. I paid for the item and the blonde handed me the bag.
"You don't eat muffins," Natalie stated as I approached the door.
"I know, I'll be right back," I pushed the bar of the door, opening the door. I walked out on the crosswalk weaving between the crowds of businessmen. I walked up to the bench where James sat, alone. He seemed to know I was approaching, lifting his head to look at me.
"Hey, fancy seeing you here," I gave him a smile. He merely blinked, giving a thin line while nodding his head.
"Yeah," he replied shortly.
"Mind if I join you?" I asked. He made no response. I sat down beside him, clutching the muffin. I heard his stomach grumble, causing me to smile.
"You hungry?" I asked. James lowered his head.
"Here, it's a muffin." I offered him. He hesitantly took the bag, but did not make any attempt to eat it.
"Thanks," he gave a nod.
"You alright?" I ask.
"I'm fine," he said rather unconvincingly.
"Uh huh, right, you're about as bad a liar as my brother," I chuckled. He looked at me wide eyed. It took me a moment to see he wasn't looking at me, but at the man in the military garb, almost like he knew him. To me it didn't look like it was someone he wanted to know. I looked at the man in the black before turning back to James.
"You know him?" I asked, albeit worried about the answer. His eyes practically answered for me; he was afraid of him. It was then I made my decision.
"Come on," I stood up, offering him my hand. He looked at me like I had two heads. I rolled my eyes and grabbed his free hand, careful of not letting him drop the muffin I paid for.
"What are you doing?" He asked as we crossed the street.
"Helping you." I said, looking over my shoulder to see the man in black was no longer sitting in the window. My pace instinctively quickened.
"Hey I paid for the meal you never finished. Who's this?" Nat asked as she walked out of the coffee shop.
"Nat this is James. James this is my friend, Natalie," I quickly introduced them, occupied with trying to find the guy in black.
"Oh I remember you, you're the cutie from the museum," Nat went into her flirtatious mode.
"Not the time, Nat," I eyed her. She took it under consideration for a millisecond before she ignored me. James just stood there awkwardly shy. Nat checked her designer wrist watch.
"Come on, we'll miss the metro," Nat said before walking up to the metro escalator. I motioned for James to follow me, which he obliged. Nat stood a step in front of us, and I stood beside James. Taking a quick glance behind my shoulder, I saw the military man in black, now standing with three other me at the top of the escalator.
"Are those guys after you?" I whispered to James. His head snapped up, looking at me alarmed.
I'll take that as a yes.
We reached the end of the escalator and quickly paid for his metro pass and quickly blended in with a large crowd.
"This way," I grabbed his hand and weaved through the crowd, careful not to look to conspicuous. Nat trailed behind us keeping an eye on the men in black. The metro was boarding and thankfully it was the one that would lead to my apartment. I rushed to the nearest door and the three of us entered just as the doors closed, cutting us off from the military men.
The metro jolted to life, slowly but surely gaining its speed. Through the window we saw as the men in black glared daggers at us, as if saying 'This isn't over'. Their demeanor sent shivers up my spine.
"Wow, that was a close one," Nat sat down in an empty orange seat. James and I took the two empty seats across from her, me sitting next to the window.
"Why were those guys after you?" She asked James, heading straight for her reporter mode, which was sometimes a little too much for some people to handle.
"I don't wanna talk about it." He looked at the floor, almost ashamed. I noticed Nat was going to ask another question but I stopped her from doing so.
"Okay, so where you from?" She leaned back in her seat.
"Brooklyn, I think," the last part almost went unnoticed, almost.
"So you're from New York, what's it like?" Nat asked.
"It's a city," he said unsure.
"Well duh, it's New York City, it's kinda the concept."
"What did you mean by 'you think', you don't remember or something?" I asked. James made no effort to respond, though it basically answered my question for me.
"You don't remember do you?" A thin line spread across my lips.
He nodded slowly, pursing his lips. I felt a pang in my chest.
"Ouch," Nat said aloud hissing through her teeth. I gave her a flat look. The metro was slowing down, reaching its next stop. Nat got to her feet.
"This is us," she said grabbing a pole for support. I got up, as did James.
I looked at him, his eyes were downcast, lost as they were when in the museum. I saw a familiarity about him but could not for the life of me put my finger on it. I looped my arm his, stirring him from his train of thought.
"You'll figure it out, don't worry," I gave a thin smile, hoping to cheer him up. He blinked, showing no emotion what so ever.
"Come on you two," Nat said in her child-like demeanor. I stuck my tongue out at her and led James out of the metro.
"So was that a train?" He asked abruptly.
"The metro? Kinda, it's a subway," I explained.
"What's that?"
"An underground train, I think." We walked up to the exit escalator, James, still holding the muffin bag I gave him. I held onto his arm, which was abnormally cold, and felt like it was built out of stone. Literally, it was rock hard.
The three of us walked a couple blocks, the sun beginning to sink below the city skyline. We reached my apartment, which was where Nat parted with us. I waved as she walked further down the street to her own home.
"Do you need a place to lay low?" I turned my attention back to James. He looked at me, almost like a begging dog with its big sad eyes. He gave a nod, remaining ever silent. I gave him a fond smile before I unlocked the door to my apartment building.
"Mrs. Jensen, I'm home!" I hollered to my landlady who lived in the small townhouse apartment.
"Bout time you showed up! I thought you was dead! Oh my, who is this fine fellow?" The elderly woman held a hand to her chest surprised to see James standing next to me.
"This is James, he's a friend who will be staying with me for a bit," I explained shortly as I began climbing the steps to my flat. James was not far behind.
"Well he can stay as long as he likes, just as long as you two don't make too much noise!"
"Wilma! He's not that kind of friend!"
"What-ever you say dear."
I groaned, viciously grabbing the railing as I continued to my flat. James following confusedly behind me. I unlocked my door and was tackled by my three-legged Australian shepherd; Aussie. The Blue Merle licked my face repeatedly, excited that I was home.
"I missed you too," I laughed as he wagged his non-existent tail. James stood there with a blank expression, though it did not go unnoticed by Aussie. He trotted over to the man, scratching at his leg for James to pet him. The man in the ball cape looked down at me for an explanation.
"He wants you to pet him," I supported myself on my elbows.
James still stood there, making no attempt to move. Aussie whimpered, tilting his head in question. I sighed and got to my feet, not before getting a good solid look at the man under the hat. It was then something in my head clicked together. All those stories my uncle would tell me and my brother, how this man was supposed to be dead. Instead he had no idea who he was.
The color drained from my face.
"Bucky Barnes?" I said aloud.
James' eyes became wide as saucers, backing up a step. Aussie simply stood up still wondering why the man would not let him. I saw his nervousness, he looked scared.
He was scared.
I took a steady breath and stood up on my feet, patting my leg twice, a signal for Aussie to back off.
"I'm not gonna hurt you, I swear. Just come inside before Mrs. Jensen actually thinks something is wrong. Believe me, she'll call the police if you give her the wrong look," I begged him to enter. He paused, unsure of his decision. He hesitantly stepped into the dark apartment flat that I rented.
I flipped on the light switch as I followed him, allowing him to take in the place which I called home. The kitchen was the first place he looked at, no emotions or expression forming on his face. I threw my keys in the bowl that stood beside the door on a shelf, exhausted on what I now had to explain.
Bucky Barnes was in my apartment.
James Buchanan Barnes was in my apartment. If my uncle or brother were alive, they would hound him for information on Captain Rogers. Thank god I was the normal one of the family.
I maneuvered past the man in my small kitchen, reaching for Aussie's dog bowl. The Blue Merle started bouncing about, excited he was getting a meal. I opened a drawer, which held the enormous dog food bag. Taking the scoop within it, I withdrew two cup-fuls of the brown kibbles that Aussie cherished. Once the bowl was full I set it back down, allowing the three legged dog to hound over it as he ate.
I stood up straight once more, stretching my aching muscles from a long museum trip that pretty much ended up with me having a museum piece in my living room, staring at my flat screen TV strangely.
"That's a TV." I said walking over to the linen closet in the hall. I pulled out some bed-sheets, setting it in my grey reading chair before shutting the sliding door. I gently picked up the fabrics, which were surprisingly heavy for being made of light fabrics.
"You can take your hat off you know," I held the sheets in my arms as I gestured to the man's hat.
He took it off, as if ordered, releasing his hair, which did not look like the pictures in the forties. It was shaggy and long, strands of brown hung over his eyes, making him look even more depressed than he already did.
"You can take a shower if you want, it's down the hall on your left," I said walking to the guest bedroom, which was in the opposite direction of where I was talking about. I heard no footsteps, no movement that would presume that the historical artifact in my living room went anywhere.
I struggled to make the bed, wrestling with the sheets as they did not want to be used. Once one layer was done, I went to battle with the other. No matter how much I tried to make it look even, it would not look right at all. I simply gave up after that.
"Alright, guest bedroom is all yours. There are some of my brother's clothes in the armoire if you need them-"
I walked out of the guest bedroom to find that Bucky had sat down on the couch, and had placed the muffin on the table. Aussie had hopped on the couch, laying his head on Bucky's pant leg. I smiled at the sight, it reminded so much of when my brother first met Aussie after he came home.
"Well since you aren't taking a shower; or eating a perfectly good blueberry muffin; is there anything you wanna do?" I curled in my grey reading chair, my legs dangling off one of the arms. All I got was silence.
"Listen, I can't help you if you don't talk to me, okay? I can't read your mind." I sighed opening the bag setting the blueberry muffin beside it. I heard James stomach growl, yet he made no attempt to eat. I gnawed on my bottom lip as I sunk back into my grey chair. As I rubbed my eyes, I noticed that he cautiously picked up the blueberry muffin, and took a bite out if it to see if he like it. With a sigh of relief I let my head hang backwards, allowing me to get a full view of my ceiling.
"Don't forget to take the wrapper off okay, that part you're not supposed to eat," I said, not taking my eyes off my white ceiling. I heard him peel off the wrapper and he continued to eat the muffin. I closed my eyes relieved that he was eating something. That was the last thing I remembered before I fell asleep.