A/N: Just saw Winter Soldier tonight—BLOWN AWAY. Fantastic movie, one of the best in the Marvel Universe…and I love Cap's straightforward heroism as always. Gentlemanly, brave, self-sacrificing. YES.

And I love a good angsty friendship. So here you go!

P.S. Not mine, and also this was written in under 10 minutes :-) When inspiration strikes...

Enjoy, read, review, etc. ;)

They say he was found on a beach.

It's not hard for the rest of the world to believe that Captain America pulled himself out of the depths alone, against all odds.

But he is Captain America, the man behind the mask—behind the shield—and he knows that he couldn't have done it alone, just like he knows that he does nothing alone.

A soldier is no greater than his loyalty to his comrades. He believes that, even when the rest of the world doesn't.

He believes a lot that the rest of the world doesn't. That the world has forgotten, perhaps, but then, he's had longer to remember.

And he remembers Bucky before his eyes were full of demons and his hand was made of steel. He knew Bucky as well as Bucky knew him…Steve, the schoolyard runt who even the kindest could only ever have called "plucky."

He carries that Steve with him. He won't let himself forget that Steve, just as he won't let himself forget Bucky as he really is.

Of course, the rest of the world doesn't believe him.

Not the man you think, they say.

Not who you remember.

But I knew him, he thinks, and suddenly he knows with certainty why he is alive.