The Roommate

Meeting

"You okay, pet?" Wanda saw you staring at your phone in her lounge. You had been staying with her for a few days now and just received a text message from your ex. "Hey," she shook your shoulder and snapped you out of it.

"Hey," a tear that was stuck in your eye finally came out, "sorry. I just got a message from..." you couldn't say his name, it hurt to think about him. You'd been hurting all week, crying yourself to sleep on Wanda's couch every night.

"What does it say?" She asked but you didn't respond. You just gave her your phone for her to read. After she finished she sighed angrily, "he wants his key back...and your name off the lease," her words were poison to your ears. That familiar feeling of a dry mouth and shivering came back. "Breathe. Breathe. You don't have to do what he says, alright? You are your own person," Wanda was always supportive and positive about other people. You nodded and appreciated your friend.

"I'm sure I'll be out of your hair soon. Nat said she was going to come pick me up so I can meet my potential new roommates," you told the now smirking woman, "what?"

"It's nothing. I know Steve and James and they're great guys," she shrugged, dropping the topic.

*

"Holy shit this is a good building," you complimented the complex.

"Yeah and it's within your price range," Nat knocked on the white door. A very muscular shirtless blond man answered the door. His grey sweats left little to the imagination. You had to control your breathing.
"Hey," Nat held your hand as you two entered, knowing you'd stray behind, "this is Steve, where's Bucky?" She asked.

"Shower, a pleasure to meet you. Natasha has been talking you up all week,"

"Oh no," you nervously chuckled.

"Oh shut up. I just explained that your piece of trash boyfriend kicked an angel out of his life and now you're needing a place to stay," Nat spoke casually.

"Cool so we're all caught up," you commented. Steve stood there silently, not really knowing how to comfort a stranger.

"Let me put a shirt on and we'll have the tour. Hopefully Bucky is decent," he scratched the back of his neck. The apartment was really nice, it was decorated with some old treasures here and there but all in all a spacious place. Your room was the same size as Steve's, who was next door to you and Bucky lived down the hall because apparently he was a sleep talker.

"It all looks very clean. The last time I house shared with guys they didn't even have a rubbish bin in the kitchen," you admitted.

"Wasn't that-" Nat began.

"Yep," you cut her off from saying his name. You didn't want to start thinking about him after being happy for half an hour.

"So what do you think?" Steve gestured to the entire apartment.

"It's great. The location is perfect the place is clean and quiet. That's all I really wanted."

"See? Told ya they lived like seniors," Nat teased Steve.

"You know what Romanoff?" Steve began but was cut off by Bucky entering the living room.

"Hey Nat, hey...you," Bucky recognised you from somewhere but he couldn't place it. You remembered him too but it seemed so foggy. You didn't want to sound rude so you just went along, being okay with him forgetting you.

"Hi," you introduced yourself and said you were the new roommate, "that's right. That must be how I know you, Nat couldn't shut up about how cute you were,"

"Okay calm down," you muttered as you shook his hand. Nat audibly laughed while the men smirked.

"Yeah that's one thing about Bucky. Girls are always falling at his stinky feet," Steve smiled.

"What can I say? Man buns are the style now," Bucky shrugged.

"If you touch my girl here, you're dead. Got it?" Nat wrapped an arm around you.

"Yes ma'am," Bucky saluted.

"Okay, it's decided!" Steve clapped, "I'll go copy a key for you. Buck, you help out with our new roomies packing. I'll join you later," Steve pulled you in for a side hug, almost winding you with his strength because he was built like a wall.

*

"I actually need to get some stuff from my old place and drop off my key," you nervously spoke up, remembering your text from this morning.

"Yeah, Maximoff told me," Nat sighed, "do you want me hold him back while you kick his gut?"

"That's so kind of you to ask but I should be okay alone. Wait for Steve and then bring him up. Bucky do you mind helping me with the TV. You can probably lift it on your own," you added at the end.

"My pleasure dollface,"

"Bucky!" Nat gave him a warning.
Your palms were already sweating by the time you got to your old place. Bucky could tell by your ragged breathing and shaking body that you were about to run off or freeze so he took your amazingly sweaty hands in his.

"It's going to be okay. You were with this guy for a long time, he'll play nice," the brunet assured you. It helped for a fraction of a second. When you saw his face again you wanted to melt. The face you saw everyday looked so worn, so evil. You didn't know him.

"Hi...hi," the now stranger awkwardly greeted the bubbly bucky.

"Hi man, I'm Bucky. Here to help with some packing,"

"What? I already gave you all of your clothes," he was talking directly to you. You wanted to slap him so bad.

"Oh, did you forget about my laptop, my TV, my other TV, my books, my bookcases, my cabinets, my wardrobe, my internet and my bed?" You finally stood up to him and he's absolutely gobsmacked. He didn't realise you paid for most of his things. "You can keep the couch,"

"Whatever. I gotta meet Diana anyway," he used her name to piss you off on purpose. Bucky came up and wrapped an arm around you.

"We'll be awhile, pal. If there's one thing I know about this one it's that she likes to take her time," Bucky's fingers traipsed down your arm, giving you goosebumps and making you grin like crazy. The murderous look on that's douchebaggery face was priceless.

"Leave the keys under the mat," he slammed the front door.

"Ha," Bucky let out a chuckle and spotted the gaming console. "what about the xbox? We don't have one of those,"

"It was a gift to him so..." you shrugged, "make sure to get all the games too," you added.