Setting: 1950s AU (Steve was the one who fell off of the train instead of Bucky)

Bucky had basically attached himself to you. You weren't complaining, though; you had done the same thing, only for a different reason.

All your life, you were the person who took care of everyone else, but never yourself. So, naturally, when Bucky came along, you could tell how much he needed someone. He didn't even have to say a word to you; one look into those sad eyes of his and you knew just how broken he was.

The only thing you didn't know was how he became this way, and for months it remained a mystery. You never pressured him to tell you, though you wished you knew. You wanted Bucky to trust you enough to open up to you.

He was quiet, though. Always quiet. You wondered what he used to be like before you met him; you knew he couldn't have lived his whole life this way.

There was a split of a second once where you had seen the man smile--really smile.

It was the Fourth of July, 1951. Everyone was out celebrating; red, white, and blue streaked through the streets of the city. You and Bucky were walking in silence while the world around you was full of noise--of cheers and laughter. However, you knew Bucky enjoyed your company; he needed it, even if he didn't say much.

As the two of you walked past a little bakery, Bucky glanced over at you sideways and stopped, "Can you wait here?"

"Sure," you nodded, giving him a reassuring smile as he turned and entered the bakery.

You waited patiently for your friend to return, unsure of what exactly he was doing. When he finally came back out, he had a single cupcake in his hand.

"Hold this," Bucky handed it over to you and poke a tiny candle in the center of it.

You arched a brow as you watched him turn to a group of strangers passing by, "'Scuse me, any of you happen to have a light?"

The men exchanged glances before one with a cigar hanging out of his mouth reached into his pocket and retrieved a lighter.

Bucky took it and lit the candle quickly, then returned the lighter to the man and gave his thanks.

"What is this for?" You questioned his peculiar actions.

His blue eyes met yours as he took the cupcake out of your hand, "Today's a special day."

"Well, I know that, Buck." You chuckled. "Everyone knows that."

"Not everyone knows that today is my friend's birthday, too," Bucky explained, causing a look of confusion to appear on your face.

"What friend?"

You'd known Bucky for almost a year now and he had never once mentioned having any friends; you were his only friend as far as you knew.

"He isn't around anymore."

You could tell your questions were starting to upset him, and that was the last thing you wanted to do. So, you left it at that and the two of you continued down the street. Bucky blew out the candle quietly and held it for a while longer before tossing it in a trash bin along the sidewalk.

You didn't ask anything else; you just kept quiet and kept him company. You would look over at him every once in a while, just to check on him. One of the times you glanced at him, he was smiling, obviously thinking of a distant memory. You couldn't help but wonder if it was a memory he had with this friend he had lit the candle for.

You couldn't help but wonder if that friend was the reason Bucky was so broken now.