Bucky's Roommate

Chapter 11

The party went well in the night and, still, no one complained about the noise. It was as though the entire park was in its own little bubble where it was you, the music, and the mischief. Bucky and Adel danced to countless songs and the soldier couldn't help but be amazed at the different styles the other knew, the college student easily moving from one to another seamlessly.

"Ask me." Adel had said when the latest song died down and they were both breathing heavily from the rapid movements. "There's a question you've been wanting to ask me, I can tell. So... Ask me."

"What if I don't want to?"

The man looked up at him with big brown eyes and he smirked, something wicked hidden in it. "You will. Everyone always asks eventually."

Bucky studied him for a moment, tilting his head. "How do you know what I want to ask?"

Adel's smirked died down into a smile and he looked over at his family as they sat and laughed and cleaned the park. "The question's always the same every time."

"If I didn't know what you guys were talking about, I'd be very confused." Michael felt the need to point out as he dashed over to one of the little babies at the table to keep her from making a bigger mess with her food.

Bucky laughed before looking back at Adel, whose focus was still only on him. What a thrilling thing. "You know," He took a step towards the man until there was barely any space between them. "I could always just figure out the answer."

"Please do."

As Bucky left, Adel watched him go, a sigh falling from his lips. "What a beautiful creature."

"He's different from the others." Michael said as he came back as people began filtering out of the park. He stood next to the shorter man, only taller than him by two inches. "You don't have anything to be afraid of."

Adel glanced at him, the color in his eyes flickering with the moonlight. "I'm not afraid of anything."

The priest shook his head and kept his eyes forward. "You're afraid of everything... And that's what makes you dangerous, Matthias. It's not a bad thing but... Trust me when I say that you don't have to be afraid of Bucky. He's one of the good ones." He sighed, stretching his arms over his head. "I'm going with Claudia but we're going to be having dinner tomorrow with the extended family. Also, I heard your dad might be coming home tomorrow- Uncle Immanuel. His flight got delayed and, well... You two have always been close. He's going to need you."

"Alright." Adel nodded. "Tell Lux I said good night." As his cousin walked off, it was just him left in the park and he took the moment to look up at the stars, feeling more vulnerable than he ever had before. "El diablo sabe más por viejo que por diablo. Por favor, cuida de ella." For a moment, it was as though the stars winked at him but he didn't pay them anymore mind as he made his way back to his mother's house where everyone was waiting.

"Matty!"

Before Adel was even fully inside the house, he was tackled in a hug by his sister, who quickly released him. "Lily..."

His sister, Dalila, played with the hem of her blue sweater, her brown eyes glittering with unshed tears even as her cheeks had dried tracks on them. "I- I'm sorry, I didn't know what I was thinking-"

"Dalila." The use of her real name made her pause long enough for him to grab her hands in a gentle grip. "Breathe. It's alright, Nena. Just breathe. Tia Miranda is safe in Heaven; we all know this. Death will always be sad but the memories of life will forever be treasures in our hearts."

"How do we know she's in Heaven?" Dalila asked in a small voice. When his lips only quirked up in a small smile, she nodded. "Right, of course." She cleared her throat, straightening up. "How's your cat? What was her name again? Madonna?"

Adel nodded with a sigh, turning to make sure the door was locked behind him. "Yeah. Speaking of..." He gave a short whistle, the tone fluctuating up and down, the end tapering off with a bit of a high note.

"Are you calling her over here?"

"Nah. Just making sure she's with my Summer Soldier." He tilted his head, grinning when he received an identical whistle back, except his original whistle was answered with lower tones.

"Yours?" Dalila raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her face even as her eyes carried surprise in them.

Adel shrugged. "Mine."

She was quiet for a short moment before her voice came out laced with bewilderment. "You haven't claimed everyone in while. Is he really that special?"

He sighed, sitting down heavily on the couch as his hands tapped a rhythmless beat on the arm of the chair. He crossed his legs and looked up at Dalila, his eyes hooded and dangerous without his glasses adding cover. "James Barnes is under my protection. He's mine."

"What about the Avengers that are after him?" She sat on the loveseat across from him, crossing her arms as she gently tapped her boot on the ground. "Last you told me, Black Widow and Hawkeye were closing in on your apartment."

"They've narrowed it down to three buildings. My informant is keeping me informed when they plan on making a move."

"What's your informant's name?"

"Nena, you really think I'm going to tell you just like that?" Adel smirked cheekily at her before standing. "Don't mention anything about this to Bucky. As far as he knows, I'm just a college student."

Unbeknownst to the two siblings, the Winter Soldier- or Summer as Adel had taken to calling him- was leaning against the wall of the hallway just out of sight from them. He made his way back to the room he was currently staying in at his roommate's mother's house before the college student was even aware he had left it. Then again, what did he really know about Adel?

"Cariño?" Adel had a look of concern on his face when he stepped into the guest room. "You're still awake?"

"How are you able to do that?" Summer tilted his head. "How are you able to distinguish between myself and Barnes? We're the same person."

"Oh, I don't know about that." Adel sat on the bed the two were sharing, gently patting down the wrinkles on the dark red comforter. "You two are so different but so... Perfect. Perfect creatures."

Summer couldn't help but wrinkle his nose. "We are not perfect."

"No todo lo que brilla es oro." The twenty-six-year-old wagged a finger at him playfully but he still crawled up the bed until they both were sitting against the headboard, their thighs touching. "You and James are so... So different and wonderful. You both have been through so much pain and yet you're still here. You're a little broken and- and maybe I'm an idiot but... I kind of like it."

The soldier remained fixed on him for a moment, his steel-grey eyes staring into soft brown ones. "And you won't tell me who you are?"

"I've been telling you a hundred times, Cariño." Adel laughed, leaning his head on the man's shoulder and playing with his metal hand. "It's not my fault you don't pay attention."

"It doesn't make sense, what I've seen."

"I think it makes perfect sense. What's that one quote? Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. Don't start doubting yourself now, Summer Soldier. I'd hate for you to be boring."

"We wouldn't want that." Summer whispered before capturing the man in a searing kiss.

-

translation(s):

"El diablo sabe más por viejo que por diablo. Por favor, cuida de ella." - "The devil knows more due to being old than by being the devil. Please take care of her."

Nena - little girl

Cariño - honey

"No todo lo que brilla es oro." - "Not all that glitters is gold."

//

(video: lovelytheband - broken (Lyrics) | "i like that you're broken, broken like me"