remains • b. barnes

5

"I'm not gonna come in if it's gonna make things worse for you," Bucky said. "I get why you wouldn't want me in here."

"I don't want to wait for Sam to get here," I said tiredly. "He must've had a reason for not coming."

"He would've come if I hadn't left first. Sorry."

"Really. Just come in. It's fine," I muttered. He sent me an apologetic look as he passed by me.

He glanced around at my apartment. "Nothing out of place? Missing?"

"Right," I confirmed.

"And you didn't leave your door unlocked?"

"As far as I know, I didn't. I always turn the handle once I'm outside and double check."

"Yeah, there's no way you just left your fuckin' door open. You leave a key outside anywhere?"

"No."

"Does anyone else have a key?"

"Just the rental company."

"Police follow up there? 'Cause somebody either picked that lock or had a key."

I took a deep breath. "Okay, confession, but don't tell the rental company: I actually changed the locks when I moved in, so the keys they think would work on my apartment actually wouldn't. So I know they weren't wrong when they said no one was here today."

"Nothing wrong with that," he said.

"It's against their rules."

"It's a stupid rule." He focused on me again, and something about me must've betrayed my nervousness, because he took a step back. "I want you to feel safe."

I trained my eyes down at my floor, and he went back to work. "Neighbors didn't see anything, then?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"Fuck," he said under his breath. He was scanning my living room intently. I felt exposed. "Can I check the other rooms? I'll still call Sam if—"

"No, it's okay. You can," I said. I just wanted it to be over. I took him around my apartment, wringing my hands the whole time, especially when he looked around my bedroom. I was just glad it was clean.

"It's weirder that there's no sign of anyone," Bucky muttered.

"Maybe they saw how hard I worked on decorating and decided not to rob me."

"I don't think whoever opened that door was here to rob you, Grace."

I swallowed. "What do you...um...?"

"I don't know," he said seriously. "They either left in such a hurry that they couldn't even close the door, or they left it open on purpose as a message."

I took a step closer to him on accident. The longer he was here, the harder it was to remember I'd decided I couldn't trust him. Then, he took a step toward me too, and I could've sworn his was an accident as well.

"I don't think you should stay here tonight," he said.

"Where am I supposed to sleep, then?" I asked miserably.

He sighed. "Look, I know Sam's living all the way in the city, but I can take you to his place."

I wasn't in the mood to go all the way to Sam's. "If someone wants to kill me, they're gonna do it wherever."

"I know. That's why I wanted you to be with Sam. As a preventative measure. Or in case someone tries."

"So maybe I could sleep here if you stayed here tonight?"