Neighbours (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Twenty Five

Lia

Bucky slipped his gloves over his hands, Lia running about throwing everything in her bag. They had to leave in five minutes to meet her parents at the restaurant, them sending a car to ensure Lia wasn't late. She knew she would be anyways.

"Li, calm down." Bucky made his way over to her, stopping her in her tracks as he rubbed her bare arms. Lia took in a deep breath, staring into James' eyes and instantly finding comfort. "We'll be okay."

Would they? Her parents ruined a lot for her and they weren't particularly happy about her life in New York. But Lia was. New York was her home.

"They're a lot Buck, I don't want to put you through this."

"You aren't going alone darling." He grasped her hand in his, grabbing her bag off the bed and her jacket.

Bucky's leather jacket covered his body, his metal hand covered over by the gloves. She wanted him to feel comfortable but she knew that her parents would make comments about the gloves, she chose not to say anything. Bucky's comfort was more important to her than her parents opinions. Lia took in a deep breath before leaving after Bucky, a car horn honking impatiently outside. She hadn't even heard it the first time.

"Super soldier hearing." Bucky smiled at her and she smiled back softly. It almost seemed impossible that she could forget his abilities but she did. To her, he was just Bucky.

Lia's whole body felt shakey as she walked down the stairs, Bucky was practically pulling her to the car. She wanted to run indoors, to hide away from it all. She didn't want to be criticised for everything. She didn't want Bucky being verbally attacked for everything. Fuck, she didn't want herself to endure that either. Nobody deserved to endure it.

They got in the taxi without saying a word, Bucky's grip tightening on Lia's hand. His thumb rubbed circles onto the back of her hand, trying his best to calm her down as much as he was possibly able to. Lia had warned him last night about how her parents drivers liked to listen in on conversations and it made her far too nervous to even consider speaking.

The car pulled to a stop and Lia's stomach flipped, bile rising up in her throat. Bucky's hand never left hers as they climbed out the car, a small thank you escaping Lia's lips.

"We can go home, we don't have to do this." Lia stood staring at the building, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"I have to, Buck." She didn't want to. She hated how much control her parents still had over her but she knew this was the right thing to do.

Give them more chances, they're your blood.

"We'll do it together." She turned to smile at him, him placing a light kiss on her forehead.

He had a few small cuts on his face but he pulled them off, giving him the perfect rugged look. Bucky wanted to cover them with make-up but Lia insisted he leave them alone, they were starting to heal anyways.

They walked in hand in hand, Lia's small heels clunking against the expensive floor. Bucky's boots squeaked lightly and Lia stifled a laugh, watching Bucky smile back at her. It was the calmest he had seen her all day.

"Ophelia!" Her stomach churned, she still hadn't made them aware she had changed her name to the nickname they hated oh so much. Her mothers british accent reminded her of home a little, but then again her parents house was never home.

"Hi mom." Bucky's eyebrows raised but he said nothing as the tall brunette woman tore Lia away from him. He chose not to say anything about the name, knowing Lia would tell him about it when she was comfortable. Bucky was no stranger to feeling uncomfortable with the name or future you had been given.

She embraced her tightly before stepping away to stare down Lia, eyeing her outfit very carefully. The woman made a face that Bucky wanted to slap away but he had more respect than that. Instead, he swallowed his true thoughts and stepped forward to offer his hand to the woman.

"James Barnes m'am." Lia's mother stared him down, eyeing the cuts on his face before looking at his gloved hand. Bucky had been intimidated a lot since the 40's but somehow this woman felt scarier than anything he had faced. Not in the same way, but rather he felt like he wasn't enough. He should be used to the feeling.

"Louise Jones." He almost scoffed, he should've known she'd have that kind of name. The woman he now knew as Louise put her hand in his, shaking it very carefully. "It's a bit rude to wear gloves indoors, isn't it?"

Lia's face flashed a look of horror but Bucky only smiled in response. His eyes were gleaming with anger but he hid it well.

"Yes of course, my apologies." Bucky removed the glove from his normal hand first, before turning to his metal one. Everything inside him screamed not to but his arm didn't bother Lia, why should it bother him?

Louise made a strange noise upon viewing his hand and Bucky instantly fought the urge to put it in his pocket, away from prying eyes. Instead, Lia made her way around to his left side and linked her fingers with it. The feeling was a lot better on this one compared to the loss he felt from the hydra arm. Shuri added heat sensors so he could feel when something was touching him, reacting to it appropriately. Lia's hand felt clammy against the metal but he just squeezed her hand, saying nothing but also saying everything.

They had each others back for this.