Title: three meetings
Disclaimer: not my characters
Warnings: mentions of animal abuse, bullying, violence
Pairings: pre-Bucky/Steve
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 280
Point of view: third
Prompt: Captain America, Steve + Bucky, first meeting
James Barnes and Steve Rogers met on a cold winter day, when Steve was about to get pummeled into the ground by a bunch of boys who'd been tormenting a three-legged dog and Jimmy (not Bucky, not for two more months) shoved his way to the middle of the confrontation and stared down the ringleader.
After the boys dispersed, Steve glared at Jimmy and said, "I had 'em on the ropes."
Jimmy laughed, kneeling down to offer his hand for the dog to sniff. "Sure you did."
It set the tone for the rest of their lives.
.
Winter Soldier met Captain America on a dark winter night, when Captain America was separated from his team and Winter Soldier had orders to make a quick, clean kill.
It should've been quick, a distance kill. But part of Winter Soldier wanted to see Captain America's eyes, so he snuck in close, ready for Captain America's preternatural reflexes and strength.
Captain America spun to meet him and his eyes widened, his mouth opened, and he gasped, "Bucky?"
Winter Soldier recoiled, his body and mind both seizing, and then he ran into the night. Captain America tried following, but he got turned around in the brewing blizzard, and nearly froze again.
Iron Man found Captain America. A starving dog found Winter Soldier, and then Winter Soldier kept running.
.
Bucky Barnes met Steve Rogers on a bright spring day two years after the Battle of Manhattan. Bucky had seventy years' worth of blood on his hands, and Steve had a blizzard's worth of regret, but they looked at each other, in the middle of the sidewalk, and Steve said, "Hey, Bucky."
Bucky smiled and said, "Hey, Steve."
