So many lives were destroyed that night. What had been, was lost.
The world mostly forgot about Captain America, but Peggy could not. She grew old, her body failing whilst her mind remained sharp as a tack. With every year, she got weaker and weaker, and with every year, her search for Steve's body grew more frenzied.
When the dementia started to sink in, it was no surprise that the search for the body, just turned into a search for Steve himself, with a large reward offered.
Nobody honestly thought something would come of it.
70 years had passed since that fateful day.
….
Natalia Romanova brushed through the crowd with ease, pinching whatever coins and food that she could.
Everyone was talking about it.
Was Captain America still alive?
There had been reports of sightings in the area and the theories were all building up. Frozen in ice until global warming woke him up. A clone. Long lost identical son.
The possibilities were endless.
Using the secret password to enter an abandoned looking building, Natasha crept up the stairs until she was near the top of the building. In a dusty old room, a shadowed figure stood near the window, staring out at the people down below.
"James." She cautiously spoke up, knowing that some days were better than others, "The next stage of the plan can go ahead. All we need to do, is find someone willing to play Captain America."
Silence.
"No more forging papers… no more stealing and lying to get where we want."
When the figure continued to remain quiet, almost seeming to ignore her, Natasha sighed. "I know you don't like the idea of having someone impersonate Captain America… but it's not like the rumours are true. It's not like we're going to find the real Captain America."
…..
Steve sighed as he left the hospital.
Almost two years lying in the same bed, unable to get warm and unable to remember anything about his past, and now he was being pushed out to make room for new patients. With only a gold chain and flat object as his key to the past, Steve made his way towards the city.
He had to be strong… he knew that.
Whilst he didn't remember anything about his past, he knew that there had to be someone looking for him. He knew he couldn't be alone in this world, and he knew that he wouldn't be complete until he found them.
And Paris, according to the golden charm on his necklace, was the place to start.
Unfortunately, without a passport there was nothing he could do.
Turned away from yet another ticket stall, the women on the other side rolling his eyes at his pleading, Steve rested against a nearby wall, fingers idly playing with the charm around his neck.
"Hey… Hey!"
Startled by the voice, he turned around, forcing a smile on his face as an old woman shuffled up to him.
"Natalia." She whispered, "You want Natalia!"
"And… where can I find her?"
"At the old town hall, you can't miss it… but you didn't hear it from me."
Steve nodded in understanding, turning away from the panicked looking woman.
"Natalia."
….
"Thank you!" Natasha groaned, resisting the urge to slam her head on the desk, as the so-called actor left the room.
This was going to be much harder than she thought.
That was the last one.
"You can't fake being Captain America." James spoke up to the side of her, having remained silent for the entire audition process, "It should come naturally."
"War makes people jaded, it'll be impossible to find someone not affected by all this."
When James remained silent, Natasha sighed. "There'll be someone… probably right under our noses. Don't forget, when we show Agent Carter the music box, she'll have to believe that we found the Captain."
As they walked down the street, they passed a large blonde man, with Bucky bumping into him as the other man asked for directions.
"I've heard rumours that Agent Carter is on her way out…" Nat continued, pulling Bucky away as he glared at the man, "… by the time anyone finds out he isn't the real Captain America, we'll be long gone, with the money."
…
Steve frowned as he finally made his way up to the old police station, taking in the boarded-up windows and doors, and the grime that covered the walls.
It looked like nobody had lived there for years, let alone was home to this mysterious 'Nat.'
The police had abandoned this place long ago, that much was clear.
Eventually, he managed to pull some boards free and climb inside.
….
Bucky tensed, eyes darting towards the door. "Do you hear that?"
Natasha was also tense, "Da… come on."
…
Slowly, Steve made his way into the main meeting hall, spinning around to try and take in all the details.
"Hello?" He called out, "Is anybody home?"
On a nearby table, sat dozens of antiques covered in dust and cobwebs, clearly remaining untouched for several decades. Taking a deep breath, he blew on a plate, wincing at just how much dust came off of it.
There was something vaguely familiar about all of this.
Slowly, he moved through the abandoned building.
"Hello?"
…..
In another room, Natasha frowned, glancing over at the doorway, "Did you hear that?"
Her friend was already on his feet and heading for the door.
…
Steve was lost in faded memories about dancing when the man appeared out of nowhere and attempted to tackle him to the ground, prompting Steve to panic and race towards the exit.
"Stop! Stop!" cried out a female voice, just as someone grabbed his arm, "Hold on a minute!"
As Steve turned to face the mystery woman, she continued.
"How did you even get in…. here." Her eyes widened as her voice trailed off, eyes darting between something behind Steve and Steve himself.
"Sorry." Steve gently muttered, removing the woman's hand from his arm, "I- " He frowned when the woman rushed to stop the man who'd tried to attack him, whispering something in his ear.
….
"Do you see what I see?" Natasha whispered into James's ear, glancing between the man and the portrait of Captain America, "Look."
"Mn."
James nodded, as the blonde man spoke up again.
"Are you Natalia?" He asked Natasha.
"Perhaps… it all depends on whose looking for her."
The blonde man beamed, not seeming to notice the warning tone in her voice, "My name is Steven. I'm looking for travelling papers. Apparently you're the one to see, even if I can't say who said that and- " He stopped, frowning as the strange man circled him, "- Is he okay?"
"He's fine." The woman made a sharp motion, as the man moved back to her side, "We were just noticing that you look remarkably like…" She trailed off, before shrugging, "… Well, it's not important. You mentioned something about travel papers."
It was no good alerting this newcomer to their plans. His reactions must be entirely genuine.
"Yes… I was hoping to go to Paris?"
What a stroke of good luck.
Where Peggy Carter just happened to have chosen to retire to.
Perfect.
"Paris… interesting. So, Steven, is there a last name to go with that?"
The man, Steven, winced. "I-I don't even remember. I've been... ill for a while, and the nurse said I probably got amnesia during my accident."
"So, you remember nothing before the… accident?"
Steven shrugged, "Sorry, but no. Is that going to be a problem?"
Flashing him her most winning smile, Natasha shook her head, "Of course not. I was just curious. Why Paris by the way?"
She didn't miss how Steven's hand flew to his chest, almost clutching at something under his shirt. "No reason… can you help me or…."
Natasha produced tickets with a flourish, "As luck would have it, we're going to Paris as well." Before Steven could take one, James spoke up.
"We only have three tickets. And one of them is for the Captain."
Natasha winced, forcing a smile onto her face… So much for keeping the new boy out of the loop. Thinking quickly, she sighed and nodded in agreement, "Unfortunately, that is true. We're going to reunite Agent Peggy Carter with the love of her life, her last dying wish."
Then she paused, scanning Steven from head to toe. "You know… you look a lot like him. Those eyes… those muscles."
"But, Captain America died over- "
"- We don't know that he died!" Natasha interrupted, "All we know, is that he went missing. You've heard stories of the serum, the same as everyone I bet."
"Actually, I- "
"- What if he was just lost. What if he lost his memory, forgot who he really was!"
She let the words sink in, pushing down a smirk as Steven's eyes widened in realisation.
"Are you trying to tell me, that you think I'm Captain America?"
Natasha held her hands up, "All I'm trying to say, is that we have seen thousands and thousands of men, up and down the country, and not one of them looks as much like the Captain, as you!"
Johnny Storm got close, but there was no way he'd be able to pass as Captain America.
"Just look at the portrait." She pointed up at the painting in question, cutting off any protests that Steven might have had.
"Not to be offensive…" Steven sighed, "… but I think you're both a little bit crazy."
"How?" Natasha frowned, "It's not like you remember anything of your past. Who are you to say you're not Captain America? You don't know what happened to you, and nobody knows what happened to him." She then pointed at his chest, where he had clutched at before, "You want to go to Paris, and it just so happens that the old love of Captain America's life now lives in Paris!"
Silence.
"Have you ever considered the possibility?"
Steven slowly shook his head, unable to tear his eyes away from the portrait, "That I might be… Captain America?" He thought to himself for a moment, before shaking his head, "T-there's no way I can be him! He was a hero, a national treasure, I'm just… Steven."
"Sorry then, but we can't help you." Natasha shrugged, "The third ticket is for Captain America and Captain America only." Grabbing James's arm, she pulled him away, ignoring how he stared at her in confusion.
"Wait for it." She quietly instructed, "Three… two… one."
"Miss Natalia! Miss Natalia, wait!"
Natasha couldn't stop the victorious smirk on her face, as she and James turned around. "Yes Steven?"
"If I don't remember who I am… then whose to say that I'm not Captain America." Steven bit his lower lip, "And if I'm not, then Miss Carter will know right away, and it'll all be just an honest mistake."
"But if you are Captain America, then you finally know who you are." Natasha shrugged, "Either way, it gets you to Paris."
"Right!"
"Then may we present, the honourable and noble, Captain America!"
In the corner of the room, a red light blinked.