Bucky's Roommate

Chapter 3

"I'm telling you, Nat," Clint Barton gestured across the street. "I saw the Winter Soldier right over there!"

Natasha Romanov frowned, "Why would he be out here in New York?"

The archer shrugged, "Grocery shopping, maybe? He was carrying some bags and he was with some dude."

The redhead appeared mildly alarmed, "Someone else was with him?"

Clint nodded, "Yeah, he looked around twenty years old. Brown hair, glasses, big sweater. I don't think he's dangerous, though."

"Why do you think that?"

"I don't know, he was wearing a fanny pack and kept giving a dumb grin at a piece of paper."

Natasha gave him a deadpanned look, "You do the same thing and you work for SHIELD."

Clint tilted his head, "Point. I don't recognize him from SHIELD, though. I think he's just a person Barnes may have latched onto. Should we tell Rogers?"

"Not yet," The woman shook her head. "Let's look into this guy a little more, maybe even try and talk to him."

"Alright but you're going to be the one to explain to Rogers why we didn't tell him when he finds out. Barnes and the guy were heading in the direction of some apartment complexes I noticed before. Let's check those out."

The pair crossed the street when the light changed, following the path Barnes and the man seemed to take. They went around the bakery, spotting an apartment that seemed to be tucked away out of sight.

"I think this is the place," Clint said as they entered the office. There was a man with graying hair reading a magazine that seemed to be bent in odd places. "Hello, sir, we need some help looking for someone."

Mr. Beckett looked up, a frown on his face as he recognized the two people. "What."

Natasha smiled politely, moving forward, "We're looking for one of our friends. He's about this tall," She held her hand up just above her head at the average height for men. "He has brown hair, glasses. Wears this fanny pack we tease him about all the time."

The landlord's frown seemed to deepen, "We don't have anyone like that living here. We have some class. Your friend isn't here. Go away."

Clint and Natasha looked at each other, shrugging, "Alright. Thank you anyways, sir."

Mr. Beckett grumbled, watching the two leave his office. When they were out of sight, he picked up his phone, dialing a number, "Adelson."

"Mr. Beckett! What a surprise! How can I help you?"

"Two people came in asking about you. Said they were your friends."

"Avengers?"

Mr. Beckett wasn't even surprised that the twenty six year-old knew who was looking for him. "Yeah, I knew it was bullshit 'cause you don't have any friends."

"... I'd be offended if that wasn't true. Hey, Bucky's my friend! Bucky, you're my friend, right?" There was a distinct pause, "He says no but I can tell he's lying. What did you tell them?"

"Said we don't have anyone as dumb-looking as you living here."

"Ouch, Mr. Beckett," Adel laughed and the landlord knew he was giving his big happy grin. "Do you think they believed you?"

Mr. Beckett tilted his head, tapping a finger on his magazine, "Doubt it. They'll find a way in, I'm sure. I think they're looking for your roommate. You don't get out enough to warrant the Avengers attention."