My less-than-likely Roommate problems
Chapter 2: The Mischievous Stranger
Three weeks have come and gone in a blur. My co-workers could sense something was up, and I shrugged off my friends a little more than usual. I couldn't help it. My days were full of wondering what Bucky was doing, keeping him safe (from what, he still would not say), and my nights were packed with attempting to crack into that mysterious shell of his.
I had to keep quiet about this new squatter I had somehow acquired and it tore me up inside a little. I hated lying to my friends explaining why they couldn't come over. It felt cruel. However the last thing I needed was this armed, dangerous, incredibly buff (ah there I go again) man being found in my apartment.
I was worried about my own safety, a little. Who knows who or what is hunting him? I could be in serious, serious trouble. However that seemed to be the last thing on my mind when I turned the key and entered the small little hall that led into the living room. It was the handsome man with the dark eyes and the bionic arm that stood in the kitchen, bent over digging in the fridge, that washed all the concern away and replaced it with this flip-floppy feeling in my stomach.
"You're out of milk." His gravelly voice snapped me out of my admiring that firm backside and I realized with a blush he had turned his head and his eyes were watching me ogle his caboose. I had learned, very easily, to notice the subtle change in his eyes, or the way his jaw flexed when he found something amusing. He definitely was laughing at me right now. He straightened and stepped towards me.
"Milk? I just bought a whole gallon yesterday." I managed to get out through the lump in my throat. I didn't back away, but knew my nervous tension was so palpable he could probably see it in the air around me. He stepped even closer, leaning his head down, just a bit, and shrugged.
"I like milk." Bucky spoke very softly, but still with that authority that could basically make me do whatever he wanted, no questions asked. I loathed that my body was so very traitorous. With a small twitch of his lip he straightened and turned, grabbing the glass of tea he had poured himself and walked into the living room. I almost physically squeaked with both indignation and disappointment. He was TEASING me!? That's just…That's just cruel!
I groaned, accidentally, and managed to make it sound irritated at the milk situation as I grabbed a soda from the fridge and went into the living room, plopping my ass in the chair and tossing my keys on the coffee table. "I'll get some tomorrow after work. Remind me in the morning before I leave." I muttered as he turned on the television. He had somehow snuck out long enough to rent a bunch of dvds about the time between World War II and today. Very boring documentaries about what has changed.
"What's this one about?" I asked, as he hit play. Bucky shrugged, lounged back on the couch, and took a sip of his drink. "The progression of technology through the years." He muttered. I rolled my eyes.
"You are way too curious about all of today's great inventions." I muttered. He turned to me with a slight crease in his brows.
"I slept a lot. Every time I woke up everything was new." He muttered, looking puzzled. There was a shadow in his face that told me he tried to remember something, but he couldn't. I waited for him to continue, to tell me what he means, but he just turned back to the television and the look on his face told me that I was only getting that precious gem of knowledge. He occasionally told me a few things, and I could see in his face that he didn't know why he told me, or that he slipped up. I never got any more after the first sentence, though. I learned after a while not to pry. Bucky's idea of changing the subject is to just shut down completely.
I shrugged and got up. Walking to the bathroom I stretched my neck back. "I'm going to take a shower." I only got a grunt in return. Men will be men no matter how dark and mysterious and buff they were. While I was in the shower, washing my hair, I heard a noise. There could be only one of two explanations. My cat had managed to sneak into the bathroom, or Bucky was peeping. I shrugged that thought off. He didn't seem like the type to sneak around and peep. He seemed like the type that if he wanted to see a woman naked, he would. No sneaking, no hiding. He'd just waltz in and stand there.
After convincing myself it was my cat I finished showering and turned the water off. As I pulled the curtain I stood, in shock, at the sight before me. Standing in my bathroom was this tall, black haired man. He had green eyes, sparkling with amusement. I was so stunned I could only blink.
"Pardon my intrusion, but I find I am in need of a place to hide. Lend me your services, mortal." He said with a smooth accent that was almost English. After a moment I snarled "Does this look like a villain motel!?" I snapped, pulling out a towel and wrapping it around myself, blushing. "I do not run a charity for misunderstood evil-doers!" I growled at him, stepping forward. The tall man grinned deviously and stepped aside as I threw the door open.
"BUCKY!" I yelled down the hall. Not even a heart beat passed and Bucky's metal arm was around the slender intruder's throat, pressing him into a wall. I took a second to wonder when Bucky stopped being an intruder.
The more muscular man narrowed his eyes at the tall, thinner one. "Who are you and how did you get in here?" I demanded. The other man chuckled, remarkably, despite the bionic hand closed around his slender throat.
"I am Loki, of Asgard and Jotunheim, and I have powers beyond your wildest dreams, mortal." He grinned, before disappearing in a gilded wave, appearing behind me and whispering in my ear. "Such heart for such a little human. You remind me of someone I once knew."
I was frozen in surprise, but Bucky didn't seem fazed by the magic trick and wheeled around, punching Loki in the face. "I merely require someplace to conceal myself for a while. Surely you, of all people, would understand that?" He looked at Bucky for the first time, who seemed to consider the words a moment.
"You've been spying on us?" I asked, knowing full well the answer. I tightened the towel around my body, suddenly painfully aware of my wet nudity in front of these two…startlingly beautiful and powerful men. Fucking hormones REALLY!? NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THIS!
"Spying is a harsh word, girl. I prefer to think of it as investigative research." Loki quipped, looking rather excited at me. I know he noticed the subtle shift in my modesty, and oh was he enjoying it.
"You know, muscles, she's kind of cute." He grinned. "No wonder you keep her alive." The other man looked back at me questioningly. I almost felt incredibly pissed off and rejected until he spoke.
"Do you want me to kill him? It'd be noisy and make a mess. It'd also probably draw attention and you'd have to explain it to your neighbors, as well as the police." Bucky obviously had already examined the situation, and all possible outcomes. He merely wanted to know my opinion.
I thought about all the damage that these two obviously dangerous men would probably do with a fight, as well as imagined explaining how the building got a car-sized hole in it, as well as all of the blood, and the buff man hiding under my bed. All possible outcomes of the sure-fire battle gave me a headache. I pressed a hand to my face and groaned.
"No, don't kill him." I finally said, frustrated at this unbelievable situation I've found myself in. I think I should take down the sign on the roof saying 'super-villains eat free' or whatever was drawing them to me like moths to a flame. I looked at Loki, as Bucky released his grip. "You better not make me regret this, or I'll let Bucky rip you limb from limb." I glared. Loki snickered at me.
"Oh darling, trust me. I promise you won't regret it." Why did I feel I was going to? With a sigh I ran a hand through my still damp hair and shook my head softly. As if by some foreboding sign, my towel took that moment to fall to the floor with a flourish. I froze, staring up as both Bucky and Loki took in my stark naked form. Loki's eyes danced with a mischievous sparkle and he grinned. Bucky, however, had a deer in the headlights (aha) look to his face, and I'm quite certain he was blushing. It was only when Loki let out a wolf-whistle that I punched them both, shoving them out of the bathroom and running to my room. I was quite impressed with my punches, as it seemed to hurt both the tall mythological god, and the ruggedly buff human. (I assume he's human, he's never said otherwise) and while both of my fists felt as though I slammed them into the cheeks of marble statues, I felt embarrassed but vindicated.
I could hear Loki's bemused voice through my bedroom door. "Oh come on muscles, don't try and pretend you weren't impressed by those." I couldn't hear Bucky's response, but I think he threatened Loki, because the other man laughed in return.
Oh dear god what is happening to my life? I grabbed some clothes and realized, I don't have a place for Loki to sleep. "Crap." I muttered, digging through my closet for something. I produced a sleeping bag and a blanket and pillow. I stalked out and threw them at the taller man. "You sleep on the floor." I growled out.
"Awe, I was hoping we could share the bed, darling." He joked with a smooth, flirtatious voice. I blushed and resisted punching him again. No sense getting myself killed. "I cannot believe this is happening." I groaned, marching back into the bedroom.
When I got up the next morning I dressed and readied myself for work. I was relieved to see that my bedroom door was still locked, and pushed the thought to the side that Loki's magic probably could out-wit a door. Suddenly a smell caught my nose. Are they….cooking?
My stomach growled as if saying 'GO FIND OUT, DAMNIT' so I hesitantly unlocked my door. Popping my head into the hall I heard the shower running. Well that means one is accounted for. As I padded through the apartment I got to the kitchen to see a delicious breakfast meal set out on my tiny table, three plates ready, and an extra chair added. My mouth was drooling at the sight. I looked around but neither men were in the kitchen.
"Oh, you're finally up are you?" Loki appeared before me with a grin as I jumped back with a squeak. "I arranged our morning meal, hope you don't mind." He said, still much too in my personal bubble. I backed up and admired the food again.
"I didn't know you could cook." I muttered, sitting down. Loki chuckled. "Magical, isn't it?" He winked at me and I suddenly felt unsure of the trustworthiness of the food. I eyed it with suspicion and Loki feigned a hurt expression.
Bucky took that moment to appear, without a shirt or his mask, his hair moist and a towel around his shoulders. His dark pants hung precariously low on his hips, exposing a delightful hip line. It's too early in the morning for this kind of torture, I mused. He reached down and plucked a piece of bacon off of a plate and ate it without question.
We ate our meal together. Loki would crack a joke, Bucky's jaw would twitch if he found it funny, I'd kick Loki under the table if I didn't find it funny. It was the most hilariously normal meal one could have with two immensely powerful beings. Aside from the orange juice magically refilling when we finished our glasses, Loki's odd outfit, and Bucky's metal arm, you'd think this was just an average trio. After we ate I finished getting ready for work.
Looking pointedly at Loki I raised a finger to him. "Under no circumstances are you to bring attention to this apartment, myself, or Bucky. You are not to cause any problems and no evil plots while I am out." I glared. Loki made an expression of shock. "I would NEVER!" He said, throwing a hand over his heart as though my words wounded him. I simply rolled my eyes and as I closed the door to my apartment, locking it, took a deep breath.
How on earth am I going to get through today as if there aren't these two waiting at home for me?
"YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND!" My coworker squealed, snapping me from my daydreaming. I shot up like a rocket. "WHAT?" I said, a little too loudly and she snickered. "I was thinking of all the reasons you could possibly have been so day dreamy and out of it these last few weeks and that's the only answer I can come to.
"No! I don't have a boyfriend." I grumbled, sitting back down and looking around. The attention I had grabbed from my outburst had worn off and the rest of my office got back to work. She leaned over her desk, pointing at me. "Don't lie. If it's not a boyfriend it's definitely a guy. I know these things."
I could feel my face heating up. "I…I don't know what you're on about." I stuttered and tried to get back to work. "There's no guy."
"Is he cute?" She asked, grinning. I imagined Bucky. "Cute…doesn't describe him. Describes the other one, I guess." I said without thinking. She squealed again so loud I felt my ears may start bleeding. "TWO!? GIRL I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A PLAYER!" She was bouncing now. "TELL ME EVERYTHING!"
"I can't tell you anything. There's nothing to tell. There are two guys that just kind of popped into my life." I mentally chuckled, as Loki literally had popped into my life. "They've both got some serious baggage though, and I'm not getting involved in it." I shrugged. Her eyes glinted as she processed all of the possible connections there could be.
"Like kids? A super crazy mother?" She gasped loudly. "ARE THEY MARRIED? TO EACHOTHER?" I felt my face blanch. Oh god, she was one of those people. You know the kind.
"NO!" I growled. "It's just personal stuff and I'm not going to talk about their dirty laundry." I sighed. She was already gone, far away. Already imagining, no doubt, a secret love triangle between two mysterious men and a young woman. The added twist being that the two mysterious men were supposed to love eachother. I mentally banged my head on my desk and counted the hours down before I could go home. Ironically, this coworker made my home-life suddenly feel normal.
I picked up two more gallons of milk on my way home. As I climbed the stairs, exhausted, I pulled out my keys and went to unlock the front door. My cat rubbed against my leg affectionately on the landing and I sighed. "You're not supposed to be outside." As I opened the door, my cat darted into the apartment and I heard her hiss. After shutting the door I turned around to see my cat, pressed against the wall, her fur raised, hissing. "What's gotten into you?" I asked, setting the milk on the table. My cat rubbed against my inner leg, purring, and I jumped. "What?" I looked from the hissing cat, to the one peering up between my legs. They looked identical except one had mischievous green eyes. I gasped and kicked the cat away, and glared as it morphed into a laughing humanoid creature. "PERVERT!" I threw my keys hard at Loki, who caught them effortlessly.
"Oh it was just a joke, lighten up." He said, still laughing. Bucky popped his head out of the kitchen to see what the rukus was about, raised an eyebrow, and went back to washing the dishes. Loki stepped up against me, snaking an arm around my waist and tilting his head down to grin at me. "I've missed you, darling. Welcome home." He said in a sultry voice, reveling in the giant blush that creeped across my face. Wow his body was thin but I could feel the tightly corded muscles through our clothing. I shoved him away, refusing to look in his eyes and flipped him off.
Grabbing the milk I stalked into the kitchen and threw the fridge door open. I shoved the milk inside and turned back around in time to slip on some water that had dripped onto the floor. I squeaked as I started falling only to feel two large arms wrap around me. One was cool, one pulsed with warmth. I looked up to see Bucky's eyes watching me carefully, with an eyebrow upturned. I could feel his chest pressed against my own and felt my legs start to shake. He leaned down, into my ear, I could feel his stubble slide across my cheek and his breath on my earlobe as he parted his lips and said "be careful."
These two may be the death of me.
As I straightened and blushed even harder, I saw his jawline flex as a small smile upturned the corners of his mouth. I was almost in shock at the fact that he actually smiled until I realized he was still teasing me.
I swatted at him half-heartedly before walking out into the living room. Loki was sprawled out on the sofa and as I walked passed he snaked an arm around my hips again, pulling me down against his body. "We're getting ready to watch this box show us something called a 'movie'. Watch it with us." He demanded, and held me with an iron grip that was almost still gentle, not giving me any room to argue about our sitting arrangement. He, strangely, didn't move to grope me or tease me. Just lounged there with me draped across him as though this were a normal proceeding. Bucky finished the dishes and came out to sit on the floor, beside us, his back leaning against the sofa casually.
I felt literally trapped between a rock and a hard place.
"Fine." I grumbled, making sure to jab my elbow into the lanky Asgardian's ribs, just hard enough for him to chuckle at me as Bucky hit the play button. "What are we watching?"
"I heard Midgard people saying this was a good thing to watch, so I got it." As if that answered my question.
I just shifted into a more comfortable position (Loki still had an arm firmly around my waist) and gave in. "Whatever." I looked down at Bucky, who leaned his head back to gaze at me upside down. He shrugged and turned back towards the television.
How did my life end up like this? Two ridiculously hot, sensual, roommates with mysterious and secret abilities that seem to love teasing me. 'This is so crazy. Even if I did tell anyone,' I decided, 'who would believe me?'