Neighbors | Bucky Barnes

Chapter 1

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."
- Seneca

Adela stumbled up the stairs, arms full with bags of groceries. The building unfortunately had no elevator. That's part of the reason why the rent was so cheap. It sucks, but at the same time it's a blessing in disguise. Thankfully, she had only bought a few bags of food with her measly paycheck.

She gritted her keys in between her teeth while maneuvering the bags in her arms. Her hands unlocked her door with only a slight inconvenience, being used to doing this every trip to the local market.

"Andy! Aw, such a good boy!" Adela's golden retriever stood guard at the door, like her protector. Which in a way, he was. Andy and Del have had a long history together.

Setting the final bags down on the counter, Adela moved about her apartment with ease. Having lived here for a year, the dark haired beauty moved efficiently around the kitchen. Her hands put the bought items away in the cupboards and refrigerator.

When finished, Adela took a deep breath and sighed. Her eyes moved to gazed out the window on the sight below. She looked out at the street, of the people moving about. Each one having their own lives and personalities, their own stories to share. Being that her apartment was not that well endowed in views, she had to admit: the street full of bustling people going about their daily lives was worth it.

Ever since she was a child, Adela had loved to people watch. That was her thing. Noticing the certain ticks people had when they were excited or sad, jubilant or angry. People would give away their thoughts and feelings in their face and in their eyes. Her mother had the same attribute as her -- no. Adela shook her head, her mind could not go there. Not yet, not now.

The raven haired woman sighed again and made her way back to her bedroom. It was only around sunset, but Del put her comfy sweats and old shirt on. She threw her pitch-black hair up into a literal messy bun, never had she been able to achieve the stylish "just-woke-up-like-this" hairdo every other girl in city could do. She tugged her laptop onto her lap and scrubbed a hand over her face. She desperately needed to finish the story she had taken a break on before going to the market.

Del had gone to college to be a journalist. That was her life's passion. In school, she loved to tell stories, making them up as she went along. Her teachers all gave her high merits with her essays. Right now, she was working on an article based on the events of six months ago: the collapse of the American Intelligence agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Ever since the events that transpired, most people regard S.H.I.E.L.D. as a rogue agency. After all it was harboring the world's most (practically) infamous terrorist organization.

Hydra was thought to be defeated in the 40s by Captain America and his band of Howling Commandos. But, it seems they survived after all. Captain America was pulled out of the ice a few years ago, thrusting the world into celebration. Captain America saved us again months ago when he and Black Widow took down Hydra again.

Del's paper was an opinion article on how mistrustful governments of nations now seem thanks to Hydra hiding in S.H.I.E.L.D. She was supposed to turn this paper into her editor tonight, but had thankfully gotten an extension. Getting writer's block was the hardest part of her job. Thankfully, her editor was really sweet and lenient. This was probably due to the fact that Andrei kinda-sorta had a crush on her. It's not like Del takes advantage of the fact that he likes her, though... not all the time anyway...

There is a sudden knock at the door. Adela lifts her head in silence, practically glaring through the door. Andy stood, back straight as a board, and growled at the door.

"Del, it's me! I need to talk to you." Adela took a deep breath and stood up. She unlocked and opened the door to see her landlord looking at her.

"Violetta. What brings you here?" the dark haired girl looked at the elderly woman with curiosity. Violetta, or Vi as she insisted everyone to call her, had become the closest thing she had to a family member in her life. The woman knew of the circumstances regarding Adela's abrupt move from her to the apartment in Bucharest.

"Oh hello there Andy. Dear, I just wanted to let you know that the apartment next to yours is becoming occupied. A young man in moving in next to you." Violetta's bright blue eyes widened. Adela moved to the side so Violetta could come in. "And he is quite the looker, Adela. Not to sore on the eyes at all."

Del shut her eyes, but never the less blushed like her life depended on it.

"Vi, I told you, I don't want any part in dating. I'm perfectly fine right now. Andy is the only man I need in my life." Andy lifted his head in what could pass as an agreement. Vi had recently tried to set her up with her grandson, which as it so happens, was super awkward. Maybe not for him anyway. Vi's grandson was quite the player, even if his grandmother didn't see it.

"Adela. I've told you time and time again, you have got to put yourself out there. Dumnezeule! You will never find a man if you keep going like this. You'll be eighty by the time you do!" Adela walked out of the foyer toward the living room. Violetta followed and took a seat on the couch.

"No, Vi, I won't. I'm only 26 right now. I have a few more years left. Would you like a drink?" She reassured Vi and offered her a glass of water.

"No, draga mea. Mulțumesc." Violetta thanked her for the offer. "I've only come to inform you before he gets here. I know how you feel about suspicious people."

"When does he get her then?" It's not that Adela didn't like people. On the contrary, She loved them. She could just get a tad paranoid sometimes.

"Well, he's moving in today." Vi replied.

Well, that's just great.