Winter's Fall Part one

Bucky had been in hiding for months, and he was getting sick and tired of it. "I just wish I can go somewhere where no one knows who I am." He muttered out loud as he looked at the gem he kept for a good luck charm that he just found in the Fall's leaves as he kicked them around.

Bucky then saw himself being photographed by someone saying "Nice arm dude." Bucky looked around as he saw himself in a some sort of Halloween party? There were people playing games of all sorts at some tables, people selling items, artists, people who were and weren't dressed up all under one roof. He looked at his arm... only that it wasn't artificial it was fully armoured to look like his prosthetic arm. He tried his best not to cry.

Today I wanted to dress up so I wore vintage inspired outfit of Bucky Barnes' classic outfit. The blue jacket with red shorts, panty hose, heeled boots as my hair was down to one side all curled into one ringlet like ponytail. I saw a man dressed up as the Winter Soldier looking at his arm looking a bit upset from my table for our troops in the Army. I knew the signs as I felt compelled to help him out.

"I need a break," I said to my friend, "can you take over until I get back?"

"Sure Melly." said my friend.

I went up to him, "Ah hello you look lost."

"Where am I?" The man asked.

"You're in Halifax Nova Scotia, the event is called Hal-con it's a convention celebrating comics, games and multi media's." I explained.

"I thought this looked like one interesting party."

"In a sense it is. You look like you came here last minute?"

"Ah yeah."

"You have a name soldier?"

He caught himself from saying his nickname, "James."

"Most people call me Melly." I said giving him my hand for shaking as he did.

"I'm not used to being photographed."

"Camera shy?"

"I wasn't always but I have been for a long time." he replied nervously.

"I love the camera," You say with a chuckle, "although I normally wear standard issue combats."

"You serve?"

"Afghanistan and Iraq. I always volunteer to go to these events, it's the only time I feel at home."

"Like a quick escape?"

"Um Yeah." I admitted, "I'm sorry you're the best looking Winter Soldier I've ever seen, you almost look like the actor."

"Ah thanks," He said looking a tad pink in the cheeks, "Speaking of Bucky why are you wearing a outfit that looks like his old uniform?"

"Well how about I discuss it over a cup of coffee or something?"

"Sure lead the way." He said, as he followed me to the little cosplay cafe in the con. I decided to treat him as I got him a coffee as I got a tea.

"Keep this between us ok?" I asked.

"Why?"

"Some of it is technically classified and it's kinda personal too."

"You can trust me." He said, "And thanks for the coffee, how can I repay you."

"A favour for a favour." I replied, after I had a sip of tea, "So why I like Bucky? Right?"

"Right."

"We've both seen humanity at it's worst... I was a prisoner of war in my last term in Afghanistan we were ambushed I called for help as they somehow the enemy had the upper hand... Next I know they're trying to brainwash me to become one of their suicide soldiers... The old fashioned way, torture forcing me to watch videos, you name it, I escaped before they were going to harm me next."

"Harm as in- Oh..." I saw him clenching his fists then relax, "How'd you get out?"

"I had to kill my way out though, not proud of it but I had no choice."

"You're much stronger than he is."

"Just reading his story helped me cope with the PTSD. What I could turned into, there was hope that I could return not exactly the same but stronger and more determined. It still happened anyhow thought. There's always someone with a story much worst than yours and somehow you want to help in return as if it was part of your own salvation."

"If you were talking to him what would you say?"

"I don't know maybe everything I told you I guess. Like how I feel what he went through saved my life and opened my mind up to keep it open to possibilities around me. I got promoted as I had came up with multiple scenarios to save my team."

"What if he wanted to see your scars?"

"That have to be after a few weeks of dating," I giggled, "I'm sorry that's if that sounds ridiculous but there's no chance that will happen here. But honestly I'm still going through treatments to get them settled down..."

"A bit of a dreamer?"

"Meh yeah, it's kinda stupid but it was the only way I could get out of my PTSD attacks was to use my nerdy imagination to save my ass, and getting decent sleep."

"You said earlier that some of the details were classified right?"

"From one soldier to another... All I'm going to say is we thought they were gone, but it came back to bite us in the ass and stab us where it hurts the worst."

He looked shocked, "I understand, I won't tell anyone here."

"Hey here." I spoke as I gave him a graphic novel I made, "It's loosely based on some of my adventures with a historical twist. I liked the idea of being both a soldier and a archaeologist rolled into one."

He looked at it, "Commander Relic Raider: Heritage Collection volume 1. Looks cool."

"It starts at her origins up to a discovery that you won't see coming."

He looked at the cover, "She looks like you."

"That was the point, sure I'm a just a regular soldier here-."

"From what you just told me you're more than regular."

"Believe me I have a hard time believing that, but it is true. Being Canada's Pin-up girl isn't easy."

"Pin up girl, that doesn't sound bad."

"Well I posed for a Charity calendar they put me on February and in July with all the models I was dressed up like Captain Canuck in shorts. Everyone wanted to wear it but me."

"The same shorts you're currently wearing?" He teased.

I laughed, "Oddly enough yes, yes sir."

"I should get a calendar then."

"There's some photos of my shoot in the graphic novel, I hope I can get this running... My contract is due."

"Contract?"

"I signed up for a certain amount of years... I technically retire in the next spring."

"Going to miss it?"

"I don't know, I always like having backup plans. I don't like ideas backfiring in my face, besides this comic took me a long time to work on all by myself. It's a huge risk, even for me."

"Well I should get going."

"Yeah me too. It was nice to meet you James."

"Thanks for everything, Melly."

"You're welcome." I said with a smile as we shake hands then went our separate ways.