A/N: I've taken some creative license with timelines and flow so it doesn't really match the movie but I hope you enjoy nonetheless. It's just a little love story for my favorite super soldier.
Bucky stood in line at the coffee shop three blocks from Stark Tower. He placed his order and took a seat at a counter lining the windows. He sipped the hot coffee and watched the people rushing about their lives on the sidewalk. He'd been living at Stark Tower with the Avengers for several months now. It was awkward at first to say the least. They all had history with him and most of it wasn't good but the last month or so had been positive. Better than his last seventy years anyway.
Bucky raised the cup to his lips to take another drink and his eye was drawn to a woman wearing a red hat walking passed the window. He nearly spit the hot beverage on the glass in front of him. The woman was the spitting image of a woman he was dating when he left for the war seventy some years ago. He watched as the woman continued down the sidewalk and blended in with all the other people. His mind wandered back to 1942 and a beautiful brunette.
He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and attempted to compose himself. He tossed his cup and headed back toward Stark Tower where the day proceeded much like every other. The woman in the red hat burned in the front of his brain.
Later that day Bucky sat down with Steve and Sam for dinner.
"Hey Steve. You remember that girl, Dorothy?"
"Brunette?"
Bucky nodded.
"Yeah I remember her. Weren't you seeing her before you shipped out?"
"I was. We exchanged letters until just after I was captured in '43. I did some research while I was in Wakanda and found that after the war she got married and had a couple kids and moved on with her life."
"What made you think of her?" Sam asked.
"I saw her today." Bucky said.
"What do you mean you saw her today?" Steve questioned.
"I saw a woman walk by the coffee shop who, I swear, was identical to Dorothy. It just made me think of her. Brought up some old memories."
Steve put his hand on Bucky's shoulder and squeezed. Sam offered,
"You want to come down to the VA with me tomorrow and meet with the group? Talk it out."
Bucky contemplated a moment. He'd been hesitant and resistant to the idea of sharing all that with a group of people. Who could relate to a 100-year-old enhanced soldier who was brainwashed and cryo frozen on and off for seventy plus years? But maybe it couldn't hurt.
"Actually, Sam, I think I will."
Sam smiled in response. They finished their meal and went their separate ways for the evening.
