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Steve walked through the bustling streets of New York. His body still ached from the recent fights, and the fact he hasn't properly slept in days.
He barely remembers what happened during the fight with Bucky on the Helicarrier, but he remembers those eyes.
The cold, piercing eyes that stared through him. Like they were searching deep into his soul, checking every crevice. The way his fist wanted to come down against his face, but it couldn't. Something was holding him back.
Which now leads to today. He wore a ball cap with a simple hoodie and jeans. It wasn't the best disguise, but he had to make do with what he had. Sam had told him about a recent mention of 'The Winter Soldier' being spotted down town. From what the pictures looked like, it looked pretty authentic. He didn't think much of it, but something itched at him to check anyways.
He let a breath out into the crisp air, staring ahead of him. He hadn't been using his phone to track where it was he had to go, too fearful he'd be tracked by Hydra, so he used what he knew best. His brain. It's what he used back in his kid days, when Steve dragged Bucky to store to store, as they talked on and on about their futures.
Steve smiled at the memory, he loved simple memories like that. He enjoyed the small ones. Him and Bucky pushing their cushions together, hugging eachother under the blankets to warm themselves. Seeing films together and commenting on how cool it was or if it was boring. Bucky usually just agreed with Steve, though, Steve thinks it was just because Bucky loved seeing how excited he'd get about them.
As he's lost in thought, a person far into the crowd catches his eye. It makes him lose his track of thoughts, almost tripping over himself. The person behind him says something that he misses, but he doesn't care. He isn't listening.
There's a man up further in the crowd, wearing a classic dark hat, their hair slicked down in the back. He couldn't see much, but for some reason, his heart strung forward.
Before he can even think and decide if it's Bucky, his feet are taking quicker steps. He can identify more and more of the figure. He can slightly see the side of the man's face, seeing the stubble scattered on his chin and up his cheeks, almost forming a beard.
Steve's feet are moving faster. Something deep in his heart is chasing after the man. It's like a string is attached to him. Tied to Buckys. Every road leading to him.
He finally catches up to the mystery man, grabbing ahold of his wrist, and stopping him in his tracks. "Bucky." He gasps out, pulling him towards him.
The man turned around and..
It's not Bucky.
It's a whole different man, definitely not Bucky. How could Steve be so stupid? It clearly wasn't Bucky, how could he possibly think it was him?
As these thoughts are scrambling through his brain, the man roughly pulls his wrist away, blinking at him in confusion.
"The hells wrong with you, man?!" He barks at him, taking a few steps back. Hes clearly threatened.
Steve just frowns, muttering a quick apology, saying he looked like someone he knew, before sprinting past him. He can feel the man's eyes staring into the back of his head, drilling deep circles into his brain.
Steve stared at his sneakers with each step of the way, listening to the way they slap against the concrete. He bites his inner cheek, almost breaking skin. His palms are sweaty, and he's drowning in embarrassment. He could bet his face was a bright red.
He's not embarrassed because of the interaction, he's embarrassed because he thought someone who doesn't even *look like* Bucky, was him. Was he forgetting what he even looked like? He shook his head. No. He couldn't have.
He knows he'll find Bucky, even if he doesn't want to be found. They both know Steve would go to the ends of the earth for him.