Neighbours (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Nine

Lia

Her plan didn't work. She did think of Bucky, every night. She especially thought of him when she needed to get off. She had been trying to avoid him but there was only so much avoiding of someone you can do.

"Li, can you grab some more carrot cake from out the back?" Lia nodded to Marie's response, hoping her nod would be enough and scurried into the back.

Lia decided in the moment that she was getting the cake that she needed to find a Bucky lookalike and that would solve all her issues.

"Lia." She jumped, almost dropping the cake which made Marie laugh.

"Christ, don't sneak up on me like that!" Lia held the cake in one hand and clutched her chest dramatically, she knew it wouldn't actually do her any harm but it did scare her.

"Sorry." Marie spoke in between laughing, obviously finding her own joke amusing. "There's someone here asking for you."

Who would be asking for her? Maybe Willow had come by early, she was meeting her for dinner after her shift.

"Jones." Oh shit. Definitely not Willow. "Can I have a coffee?"

Lia nodded, completely dumbfounded. She was enjoying avoiding him, it got rid of the embarrassment that was her. She could barely think about what he had heard, the thought made her cringe and spill milk on the desktop.

"Shit." Bucky sniggered behind her slightly and she rolled her eyes, deciding not to mention it. It would be better if she avoided any form of conversation with him that was unnecessary.

"$2.75 please." Bucky handed over his cash, watching how Lia avoided any form of eye contact with him.

"Were you okay the other night? I thought I heard you shouting for me." The blush that crept onto her cheeks was of pure embarrassment. This could not get much worse. Lia was completely frozen, like everything had stood still around her. Apart from the fact that it hadn't and she was just stood like an idiot. "Lia?"

"Uh, yeah sorry. Bad dream." She smiled at him weakly, never wanting to disappear more in a moment before. This was next level embarrassing.

"I know how you feel." The pair locked eyes, Lia feeling extremely bad that she had lied to him when it obviously hurt him.

"Bucky, if you ever need me just come and knock." She reached her hand across, attempting to hold one of his gloved hands. She just wanted to comfort him but she had reached for the metal hand and he snatched it away before she could hold onto it.

He didn't say anything, just grabbed his coffee and left.

Well done Lia.

She hated herself even more now. How could she be so stupid? She's fucked it with her neighbour of all the people in the world.

-

"Sorry, he heard you do what?"

"Aw Will honestly, I just wanted to not exist in that moment."

Lia had explained the whole situation, literally everything. She couldn't explain it but she felt so comfortable with Willow, it was nice to have someone on her side for once.

"Well I'm sure he enjoyed it." Willow winked at Lia, causing Lia to roll her eyes.

"I mean I did too but I didn't intend for him to hear." Lia groaned, placing her head on the table while Willow snorted she was laughing so hard.

"Maybe it'll get you laid." Lia rolled her eyes, lofting her head up and finding herself laughing with Willow.

"You'd hope so. Maybe soon. Anyways, I'm hungry." Willow nodded, both girls ordering their food.

They mindlessly chatted while they ate, filling the small restaurant with laughter every now and then. Most of the people around them seemed quite dull, not really speaking much to the people that they were with. It was as if the pair had been friends all their lives, never having any awkward silences that people would expect from two woman who had only knew each other a mere few weeks.

The pair left the restaurant after eating, hugging and saying goodbye. Lia felt anxiety creeping up on her as she walked back to her flat, the images of what had happened previously playing on her mind. Maybe this time Bucky wouldn't be around to help her. Maybe this time they'd get what they wanted. A chill very quickly ran down her spine as she sped up, practically running to her flat. The snap of a branch behind her made her turn her head, still running as fast she could manage. Until she ran directly into someone's chest.

Her breathing had never been so quick, anxiety attack mixed with the breathlessness from running was almost too much for her. Her arms hit the man's chest, she didn't even look at who it was. Lia had never been so panicked, tears fell down her cheeks as the man grabbed her wrists. The hands were gloved, seeming familiar to her.

"Lia." She looked up to see Bucky's familiar blue eyes staring at her, instantly feeling relief swell over her body. "It's okay."

Lia collapsed into his chest, crying as his hands supported her from underneath her arms. He held her broken frame, moving his left arm round to clutch her waist instead. Her legs were like jelly, feeling as if she didn't even have them anymore. His right hand stroked her hair comfortingly, Lia's hands clutching at his jacket.

Bucky held onto her until her sobs had slowed down. He didn't ask any questions when she managed to support herself again, only letting her tightly clutch onto his jacket as they walked towards her flat. At that moment Lia couldn't think of anything, her brain had drawn a blank.

Bucky's hadn't. The way she was clutching onto his metal arm worried him but he said nothing, only helped her to her flat and stayed with her all night.