Bucky's Roommate

Chapter 12

"Mr. Beckett called." Bucky spoke up as he and Adel sat in the living room early in the morning. They were kicked out of the kitchen by the other adults of the household when they realized that two couldn't cook at all. "Said that someone broke into his office and went through his files."

Adel hummed, turning over on the couch he was stretched across until he was on his stomach. "And he called you?"

"Well, he said it was our file that was out of place." He threw his legs up over the loveseat's arm and snickered when Madonna jumped up to latch onto the legs of his sweatpants. "It's obviously Black Widow and Hawkeye. They're pretty sloppy if Beckett noticed."

"I wouldn't say that." The college student mumbled, close to dozing off again as he cuddled with one of the throw pillows. "Mr. Beckett hasn't always been a landlord."

Bucky froze for a moment before looking over at his best friend. Something in the back of his mind homed in on the way the other was stretched across the couch, his red sweater riding up a bit on his back to reveal a sliver of warm, tanned, freckled skin. He forced himself to focus on the conversation, instead leaning forward to grab Madonna so the kitten could cuddle at his chest. "What was he before?" 

Adel waved a hand lazily in the air, letting it drop off the side of the couch. "Something with the mafia or some shit."

His thoughts came to a screeching halt as he processed the words coming from the half-asleep college student. "The mafia?"

"Or something."

"Or something!" Bucky couldn't help but wheeze. Soon, both of the men were laughing, tears at the corner of their eyes, and Claudia and Michael peeked into the living room to see what was going on. They couldn't even explain why it was so funny to them, only that it was.

"Do you think he'd answer me if I called?" Adel wondered, struggling to sit up after his fit of laughter.

The soldier shook his head, wiping his eyes. "Absolutely not. I've never seen someone avoid someone they were responsible for as much as our own fucking landlord."

"He loves me, I swear."

"I'm sure he does. C'mon, let's go see if breakfast's ready."

Adel shook his head, burrowing his face in the pillow. "You can go ahead, I'm good."

Bucky furrowed his eyebrows and walked over to his best friend, poking his side. "We need to eat."

"I can't even taste anything."

"Doesn't mean you don't need to eat. Don't make me get Summer to pick you up."

Adel groaned but sat up, his curly hair flopping over his face. He pawed at the couch before finding his glasses, slipping them on, before hauling himself up. "What do you think they're going to try and give me?"

"Bland oatmeal."

"That's so insulting."

"You won't even be able to taste it."

"It's the principle of the matter."

Bucky rolled his eyes and walked to the kitchen. He thought Adel would stay behind and he was surprised when he heard his best friend let out a curse before sliding off the couch to follow him. He greeted Adel's mother with a smile before sitting at the dining table with Dalila and Michael, Adel settling at the chair on his left.

"Shit." Adel muttered when he saw what his mother managed to put together. "I wish I could eat Eggs Benedict."

Mama, who walked in a bit after the duo, ran her hand through his hair with a sympathetic smile before depositing something in front of him on the table. "Try this."

The college student stared dubiously at the small glass bottled filled with a red substance in front of him. The label that had previously been on it was ripped off, and if Adel hadn't seen his grandmother give it to him, he would have thought he was about to be poisoned. He uncorked the bottle and sniffed it, wrinkling his nose at the burning sensation he received. He couldn't place what it could've been though.

Bucky blinked in surprise, having been able to catch a whiff of what was in the bottle. He looked over at Mama, his eyebrows raised high. "Is that-"

Mama nodded, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Try it," She repeated again to Adel, ignoring the man's wide-eyed stare. "Maybe you will be able to taste it."

The college student shrugged before taking a swig from the bottle, letting the substance settle on his tongue. He lifted up the bottle, letting it catch the light. "What is i- WHY!" He scrambled over to the sink, pushing Bucky out of his way, and turned on the faucet. "Why isn't this helping?!"

The whole table was howling with laughter, watching Adel experience the burn of hot sauce for the first time. Michael and Dalila were leaning on each other, pointing at the brunet like he was a circus spectacle, while Mama and Claudia were patting Adel on the back while giggling.

Bucky, nearly crying from laughter, got up to get his best friend a glass of milk, sliding it towards him. "Try this." When Adel only stared at it dubiously, the soldier realized he repeated Mama's earlier words and rolled his eyes. "This will actually help. Scout's honor."

"You were never a scout." Adel accused, expression grave even as he reached for the cup. It took three glasses, but he finally was able to settle back down at the dining table. "What was that?"

"Carolina Reaper." Mama shrugged as she put a plate of food down in front of everyone.

"Isn't that the hottest pepper in the world?" Bucky asked, somewhat in awe despite himself.

The elderly lady simply smiled before helping Claudia with the rest of the food, leaving the soldier in silent fear of the woman for some reason.

Breakfast was an interesting time as everyone told small snippets of what they were doing with their lives as they ate. The Eggs Benedict were delicious, and Adel didn't complain for once when he was relegated to eating the bread crusts. Instead, the college student seemed content with watching his family converse, a small smile on his face as he leaned on the table, and he didn't bother adding his own story.

"Uncle Immanuel's flight lands in an hour." Michael informed the group after about fifteen minutes as he looked at his phone. "Are we picking him up?"

Claudia shook her head, standing up to collect the dishes. "He left his car at the airport. Let us pray that he gets here safely."

Adel rolled his eyes when Michael gave him the side eye. "Yeah, yeah, so it will be and all that shit. Stop looking at me like that, it's freaking me out." He turned to Bucky, who was insisting to Claudia that he could clean his dish and getting smacked with a dish towel for his troubles. "Let's go see what we have to wear for dinner."

"Is it fancy?" Bucky wondered as he followed his friend out of the dining room and back to their shared room.

"No but it's the whole extended brood." Adel said gravely, a dead look in his eyes. "They're so fucking annoying."

"Maybe it'll be... Different?"

He shook his head. "No, it'll be even worse than usual. With Tia Miranda gone," His voice slightly wavered on her name. "They're going to want to know everything that's going on with everyone's lives. They're going to want to know why I'm not married- which they know why- or at least dating. Then, they're going to interrogate you until they know every tiny detail about you."

"There isn't much I remember." Bucky shrugged, feeling relieved with the fact. "So, I'm safe."

"Lucky you." Adel deadpanned as he dumped the contents of his duffle bag on the bed. "The whole world knows about me."

"Maybe I'll learn more about you." He grinned, looking down at his friend.

The college student sighed, his eyes flickering for a moment, as he unfolded a shirt. "Hopefully only the good parts."

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no translations

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(video: Legend - Apashe and Slumberjack (feat. Wasiu)