The Misfortunate//b.barnes

o.1

"When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew"

-William Shakespeare

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  "Welcome to your new home," I heard Tony say. I saw the elevator doors open as a giant living room connected to a kitchen with a small hallway appeared in front of me. "Again, Tony, I can't thank you enough," I said, as we walked into the giant apartment. I dropped my bags and wrapped my arms around the man beside me. "I love you so much, you are such an amazing man," I said, letting my arms fall to my side and picking my bags back up. "Yeah, whatever, just remember to keep it clean," He said, patting my back and looking over at me. "See you later, kid" He walked back into the elevator and the doors swiftly closed. 

  "Welcome, I'm Friday, the AI assistant for the Avengers building," I heard a small feminine voice come from nowhere in particular. "Hi, Friday," I said, smiling up at the ceiling. I walked into the hallway and knocked on the first door that came into sight, remembering something about Tony saying I'm sharing a floor with other Avengers. 

  "Coming!" I heard a familiar deep voice come from behind the door. I was soon greeted by Steve with a tight white shirt and a dopey grin. "Elizabeth!" He yelled slightly, pulling me into a tight hug. "I missed ya, you goof," I said, pulling back and hitting his chest lightly.  "who else lives on this floor?" I asked, looking down the hall to see an array of doors lined on either side of the walls. "Wanda, Vision, Bucky, Natasha, and. . . You!" He said, counting them off on his fingers and pointing at me with a growing smile on his face once he got to me. 

  "So, since this floor is full, where's my room," I asked, glancing down the hall once more. "That room right there," He said, pointing down the hall. "Awe, I'm the farthest room from you?" I asked, looking at the door. "Yeah, sorry," He said. "Want help unpacking? Bucky is in his room and has been needing to get out, he can help too," he added. "If you guys don't mind," I said, setting my bag down by the door.

  "Hey, Buck" Steve yelled at what I had assumed was Bucky's door. Steve lightly knocked his fist against the door as Bucky was opening it. I hadn't spoken to him much at all, but he was cute. "Yeah?" He asked, eyes soon landing on me and his tired aura soon turned into a somewhat happy one. "Oh, hey Eli," He said, smiling and sending me a small smile. "You want to help me unpack?" I asked, biting my lip out of bad habit. "Oh, um-" Bucky started, looking up at Steve. Steve sent him a small nod I don't think I was supposed to see. "Yeah, sure, why not?" He finally finished, sending me another small smile. 

  "Thank you!" I said, returning a grateful smile and turning to face both him and Steve. "The boxes are downstairs, there aren't many so it'll only take a couple trips at most," I said, thanking them again as I tried to start small conversation whilst getting into the elevator. I heard a ding and the lobby appeared in front of us as we stepped out of the elevator. "Wow, you weren't kidding when you said you didn't have a lot," Steve said, letting out a chuckle. I let out a small laugh and went to grab a couple boxes. I stacked two on top of each other and set them down in front of the elevator door. 

  "So- um, how do I put this?" Bucky said, trying to talk to me but struggling. I smiled to myself at his cuteness and he looked up at me. "Before you say anything, I'm not trying to be rude or anything, I quite like the way you dress but if I may ask, why do you dress like that?" Bucky rambled out. I smiled at him and felt my teeth sink into my front lip, biting back a smile. "Sorry that was a stupid ques-"   he started. "I like the fifties," I said, interrupting him. He looked up at me with his big blue eyes and I sent him a smile. "Yeah, I guess I do too," He said, letting out the smallest laugh ever.