Chapter 1: Late night & early morning

I grin as I see my apartment complex. 'Almost home,' I drag my feet towards the main doors and stuff my hands in my pocket, in search of my keys. I furrow my brows, getting more frustrated by the second as I couldn't find my key. I checked my other pockets. Not there. A sprout of panic blooms in my chest. 'Wonderful, I lost my keys and now I-' I blink as someone easily passes by me and swiftly opens the front door with their key. I look up, only to see an expectant look from the brunet.

My neighbor. I smile softly at him and take the door he was holding for me, "Thanks. You're saving a life," I say. He offers a nod and walks off, going faster than I ever could towards the stairs. The elevator broke a month ago and was getting fixed this weekend. Thank goodness for that. I pull my bag on my back up and tug the almost as heavy bag in my hand. I had to do a lot of research at home and decided to take all my folders and paperwork with me...

Absolutely idiotic if you ask me, but I did it nonetheless.

I grumble once again, hating the stairs. I blink when I see my neighbor again. He's just staring at the stair case, as if in thought. I tilt my head, "You alright there?" There's another silence before he turns around and nods at me. He examines me for a brief second before his eyes land on my big bag I was carrying by hand. I give him a small blush, "Yeah. I'm doing a bit of heavy lifting tonight," I joke.

I slowly make my way up the stairs, until I feel the bag becoming loose and lighter. I let out a small surprised sound and look to my left. He looks at the bag he just took from me and looks at me, as if asking a silent permission to help me. I giggle, "If it's not too much trouble." He nods and we both walk silently to our floor.

I didn't know much about this man. He's mysterious to say the least. He wasn't much of a talker, he seemed to talk if only necessary. Hence the reason I just know his name, James Barnes. Or Bucky, he told me to call him. The name seemed familiar, but I simply concluded it was probably a protagonist from one of my younger cousin's comics. We soon reach my door, which was situated a little away from his. "Thanks Bucky, it would've taken me ages without you," I smile at him. His mouth twitches and he places my bag on the ground, leaning on the wall. He stays standing there for a while before he nods. I nod as well, "I'll see you around, good night!" And with that, I pull myself inside my apartment. I tug my bag inside and then close my door. I look at the clock by the kitchen… 2:04. I scowl and drop everything I was carrying and head straight to my bedroom.

I'll leave the rest of my worries for tomorrow...

x

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep-

"HOLY- SHUT UP." I slam my hand on my nightstand and completely miss my alarm and instead slam my hand into something pointier than I would've liked. I pull up and hiss, holding my hand. I snap my head to my counter and see the small statue my sister gave me a year ago. Smiling at me innocently, as if it didn't hurt me. I glare at it. It might've been my fault, but still.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEPBEEPBEEP-

"OH MY GOD." Now I slam the alarm, causing it to stop. I breathe in and out for a while, trying to calm myself down. I was already 110% done with this day. I let out a small whimper of misery as I suddenly feel cold air as the covers fell off me. Mornings are so hateful. Why do they exist?

I retreat my hand, let out a sigh and look at my alarm... 6:02. I blink. S-six? Why is there a six, isn't it supposed to be- I let out another whimper. I thought I set my alarm for 8am, and here I am, too awake and too tired. I stare at the wall for a second. I suppose it's time for a shower then.

After a nice performance in the shower, I trudge myself into the living room. My hair was still slightly wet, but I wore comfortable shorts with a sweater and long socks. I see the bag Bucky helped me carry from yesterday night and walk softly there. I pull out the white binder and head to my sofa, plumping myself down. I open the white binder and scan its contents. They were designs from my company. Some software's, to maximize the utility of the system.

I hummed, leaning back. I had to get coding soon if I wanted to really be in depth with this program. I sigh again.

x

Stepping out of door, I walk slowly towards the stairs and then downstairs, my shorts now replaced with leggings and with proper shoes. My hair has been long dry and was put in a lazy ponytail. I stifle a yawn as I walk towards my mailbox and open it with a key. I see a few letters, and a few adverts.

I hum, flipping through the adverts. Nothing interesting.

I then look at my letters. Two for my bills, one from work and two others that are more personal related. I hear something squeak open and I look around me. Bucky was opening his mailbox as well. I stifle another yawn before waving towards him. "Morning Bucky," I say. "Morning." He responds stiffly, looking at his mail. He eyes furrows slightly at the sight of a few of them. He hums and closes his locker and looks for a while more at his letters.

I slowly close mine, rubbing my eyes right after. "Mamie Smith," he suddenly says. I blink and turn to look at him. He's still looking at his letter, but he then looks around and looks at me, "Crazy Blues, good taste in music." It takes me a second to understand what he's saying.

Until.

My head goes fully red. That's what I was singing in the shower! Oh lord, he heard- does that mean he could hear it all the others times? I stare at him, slightly wide eyes, red all over and mouth gaping. Somehow, other thoughts fill my head.

I like his voice. I was to hear him more.

My face gets redder. "Th-thanks!" I somehow can't help the goofy smile on my lips and I am somehow filled with renewed energy and I make my way away from him and up the stairs. His voice is nice. And he started the conversation for once. For some reason, pride swells in me and a warm feeling settled in my stomach.

Hey hey! Hope you liked the first chapter!
I don't expect this story to be very long (maybe 10 chapters) so stick around! And I'm thinking of keeping the chapters around this long.

So yes, this is a Bucky x OC, in which Bucky came back to Steve after the whole Captain America: Winter Soldier thing. Instead of walking off, he went back to Steve and asked him for help. Maybe I'll do a flashback chapter of all of this?

Oh and the reason why this is under the Avengers section and not Captain America section is because Anna (the OC) will be meeting the crew... that's why.

24 - May - 2018

Tsuki