His POV.
What did Bucky know about the old woman who used to live in his next-door apartment? Funnily enough, just the fact that there used to be an old woman living in there. Ever since he moved no one has even visited the place to take her belongings out, and it was weird. Why would the apartment be empty, when thousands of people coming back from being dusted were searching for a place to live in? Maybe it was dumb of him to think so much about that small thing, but ever since the Flag Smasher’s issue went down, his free time became unlimited. It became an involuntary habit; each time he arrived or left his apartment, he went close to the door to try and hear if anyone was finally there. Sam at first thought he went crazy about it, but when thinking what it meant to a guy like him to have so much time in hands, he understood.
“All I know is she was as old as the building, passed away months before everyone came back.” Bucky frowned at the middle-aged woman.
“What about her family? Mrs. Holly mentioned she had a granddaughter.” He asked, while accommodating the bags in his arms.
“No one except from the people that came for her body showed. My husband and I assume the apartment were left to her, the granddaughter. But regarding the Thanos situation and everything that came after, there’s nothing predictable about the whereabouts of that girl.” The woman shrugged and thanked him once again for helping with her groceries, even though he did it with the purpose of getting information. That’s how low he fell.
As the days went by, he moved on with his manic routine of practically guarding the flat next door and got less worried about it. So, the day he least expected it, people started walking around his floor. He took his keys and closed the door behind, casually looking on the multiple men taking out furniture and boxes from the oh so mysterious apartment, not being lucky enough to see the owner.
“Hey.” He stopped one of the guys. “Hi, I live here. Is someone moving in soon?”
“I can’t give you that information. But to be honest, I don’t know. We’re from a deposit storage.” Bucky nodded at him and walked downstairs. It was a bit suspicious to practically make a privacy contract with a simple storage company. He took his phone to investigate about it; his distraction making him bump into a smaller body who happened to be a girl with now spilled coffee all over her clothes.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t-“ The girl interrupted.
“Of course you didn’t see me, douchebag. People like you are not capable of looking below their noses. Now could you please get out of my way to try and clean my favorite coat?” Taken aback by the girl’s angriness, he just nodded and walked out the building.
“And I thought I had a mood.” He said, after laughing by himself.
He forgot about the matter and had dinner at his favorite sushi restaurant. Taking his time, he made small talk with the waitress whom he made acquaintance after the failed they had one time, Leah. Since they had another kind of trust, he naturally commented about the situation at his apartment floor. Her being a girl and reading situations better than him, suggested something that made him see through small letters.
“Wait, have you seen her before in the building?” When realizing he hasn’t, the dots started to connect. “Assuming not, she appeared the same minute you found the storage guys moving things out.”
“Crap, she’s the granddaughter.”
“And your neighbor. Cheers for that.” She sarcastically clinked their beers.
*
After that incident, there was no doubt about their theory. Throughout the next week more and more people came in and out from the apartment, probably painting and fixing things. It was a Friday evening when a female voice was heard, and him being nosy, came closer to the door. His new neighbor was bossing around, something related to being careful with her so over-priced and exclusive bed. Opening the door, he found the same irritated expression he met a few days ago. Even while using a matching set of sweats there was a fancy and expensive aura surrounding her. Bucky took a second to admire her, she was a head smaller than him and had straight long copper hair and freckles all over her face, since she wasn't wearing any make up. She was a beautiful woman, yet her attitude made her less attractive. Knowing his presence would annoy her, he decided to speak.
“You must be my new neighbor.” He charmingly smiled.
“You gotta be kidding me. Are you sure you just didn’t rent this after bumping into me? Or is life being funny at me once again.” It was comical seeing how she talked to herself on the last sentence, being as irritated as he imagined she would be.
“FYI, the world doesn’t spin around you, princess.” The girl rolled her eyes at him, and before responding one of the workers interrupted.
“Miss Quinn, what do we do about the smaller bedroom?”
“No one goes near it. If it’s locked there’s a reason.” She coldly answered, before turning back to Bucky. “Thanks for the warming welcome.” She mockingly thanked.
“Be my guest, Quinn of Brooklyn.” He cynically bowed and entered his apartment. This might be fun.