Neighbours (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Twenty Four

Lia

She had been up all night running around, normally Lia needed her sleep but with her parents visit looming over her she felt physically sick. She had scrubbed every inch of her apartment, even moving the furniture so that she could clean underneath. Everything had to be perfect.

The anxiety of Bucky not being back in time only made things worse. Although, with her apartment finally clean she found herself sitting on the sofa staring at a blank TV screen and hoping for some kind of miracle. She felt completely uneasy, everything feeling like it was crumbling down. The blonde knew that her parents would ask her silly questions about what she wanted from her future, but the truth was she didn't even know. She could go to University and possibly get a degree but in what? She could get a big business job but she knew she'd be miserable and treated like dirt. She loved Marie and Louis, working for them was a dream.

Lia didn't even notice that she was continuously chewing the skin around her fingers and when a knock sounded on the door her stomach flipped.

They're early.

She stood up, her whole body shaking as she felt her stomach flip continuously. She quickly pulled down her t-shirt, unraveling it from the knot she previously had it in and letting it hang over her joggers. Not the state she wanted to see her parents in but it would have to do.

Taking a deep breath she opened the door, coming face to face with a slightly battered super solider. Relief washed over her instantly until she took in his injuries, her eyes filling with worry.

"I promised." Tears welled in her eyes as she practically jumped on him, hugging him tightly. Bucky flinched a little at her grip and she pulled away.

"Shit, I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" Bucky shook his head, smiling at her and brushing a stray strand of her out of her face.

"You never could." Lia's cheeks reddened at his comment, studying his face more and taking in his injuries. It looked as if he had a black eye forming, his lip bust open and bloody on the same side.

The pair stared at each other like nothing else mattered until Lia came to her sense, grabbing Bucky's metal arm and pulling him inside her flat and to a chair in the kitchen. Bucky sat down without saying anything, watching her scatter to get the first aid kit and pull everything out to clean his wounds. He didn't have the heart to tell her that he couldn't get sick or that his wounds couldn't get infected, he was infatuated with the way she carefully tipped the antiseptic onto the pad.

Lia smiled at him softly as she came over to him, holding the antiseptic pad in her hand.

"This may hurt a bit." He nodded, licking his bottom lip before she dabbed the antiseptic on it. Bucky's body tensed a bit from the pain, causing Lia to put her hand in his and squeeze a little to distract him. "What were you saying about me not being able to hurt you?"

Bucky rolled his eyes at her comment, smirking at her a little.

"Doesn't count if I like it." Lia's eyes widened in shock, playfully tapping his thigh as gently as she was able to out of fear she would hurt him again. He raised his hands to rest them both on her waist, keeping her close to him as she cleaned his cuts.

"You're trying to distract me." A smirk played on his lips at the blondes words and he squeezed her hips softly before letting go.

"Of course not Li, just showing you that I appreciate your work."

Lia laughed a little before stepping back to admire Bucky's face. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she tried to figure out if he would need stitches or not and Bucky watched her carefully. Her hair was scrapped into a low bun, stands hanging out from all different angles, her body was covered with a large t-shirt that definitely was nowhere near new but she still looked beautiful. Her blue eyes had a soft glow about them that wasn't there when they first met and he couldn't help but wonder if it was for him. Little freckles were scattered all over her face and even without makeup on she had a pink tint to her cheeks. Bucky knew Lia was gorgeous but he never once look the time to admire her like this, she was breathtaking.

"I finished." Bucky smiled at her, not breaking his gaze away from her.

"Thank you. What time do your parents land?"

"In a few hours, I need a shower though and so do you. No we are not having one together. Back to your own apartment Barnes." The playful tone in her voice reminded him that he was home and safe. That the girl he had grown very fond off was so incredibly nervous it was starting to rub off on him.

Begrudgingly, he stood and made his way to his own apartment. Time to become parent ready.