His POV.
Bucky got a little psyched when he suspiciously didn’t run into Quinn for weeks. The first week was fine, she clearly let him know she’d not be around for a few days. In the second one he got suspicious and did as before she moved in; put his ear on the door hoping to hear movement, and he did. From then on, he could hear her go out and get in, the days he wasn’t working or out of course. It wasn’t until the third week that he acknowledged his worries, starting to casually go out by the times she usually arrived, yet failed. Until one day, when coming out from lunch at the sushi place, she saw her crossing the street. Trying to be casual and quick, Bucky decided to buy a newspaper as he left her pass by. There was no way she could avoid him this time. Why was he so eager, though? There was a rash of emotion going through his chest he barely recognized, which grew as he entered the building and walked to the stairs. Hell, he was running, even. Next, he stopped dead on his track after finding her sitting with a cat on her lap, uncontrollably sobbing.
“Quinn?” He carefully asked, keeping distance. She lifted her eyes and his heart ached when recognizing pain in them.
“It’s not Marie.” She sniffed. “I knew cats didn’t live that long but still thought it could be her. She must be her daughter.” After explaining, she kept crying.
“And who’s Marie?”
“Mrs. Holly’s cat.” Quinn’s crying was as if she’s a kid; red cheeks, her sniffs fast, and runny nose mixed with tears. Not a pleasing image, yet somehow cute to his eyes. “She was my only friend. We were both treated poorly by those old witches. She understood me and knew my pain and… I know now she’s dead. This cat must be at least ten years old, so she’s been dead for a long time.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.” Bucky really was. He sat next to her; the girl’s heart was evidently broken. Going into the bag he from the restaurant, he handed her a napkin. “Here.”
“Thanks.” She whispered, while cleaning her stuffed nose. Next, she handled it back and kept petting the cat, which wasn’t Marie.
“You’ve been busy.” He panned, when noticing she was a lot calmer.
“Me?” She played dumb. “I’ve been alright, you’re the one who disappeared three days straight.”
“You counted the days?”
“You knew I was busy?”
“Let’s keep it there.”
“Sure, good.”
Bucky didn’t have the right to ask about her crying anyways. He assumed she was going through stuff, and sadly imagined clearly what kind of sort because of the small hints Quinn gave. At least she wasn’t avoiding him, mostly. Being in a hard place mentally keeps you very busy and sensitive at all times, he knew well. Hence, he had no right on asking her to address the situation after the girl trusted in telling why she’s sad. And that’s a big deal coming from someone with trust issues. Once again, he knew very well. There they sat in silence, a comfortable one.
*
Now that Sam had the Captain America work label it was really hard to catch him off duty, even more so when the few times Bucky saw him were for work. Today was one of those weird days he had free, which usually spends with her sister but for some mystical reason decided to be with Bucky. Though their friendship was somehow new, it wasn’t that hard to be with each other. The man showed up unannounced to his apartment and it came with consequences.
“How can you live like this? Haven’t I introduced you to the wanders of owning a TV? Music, series, movies…” Bucky couldn’t even ask why he was here. “What about this pile of books? Shelfs are not that expensive, man.”
“Jeez…” Two minutes later, the duo was on their way to the closest furniture shop. Sam wasn’t so heartless, he instantly decided taking him to an antique one which could be more of his taste. He aced.
“So,” He started, as they walked through the store’s hallway. “You finally got a neighbor. Do you know them?”
“I do, it’s next door.” He made it seem obvious. It was, though. How on earth a former assassin could not know important information about the people surrounding him? “She’s a Doctor.” After answering, Sam stopped.
“That’s all?”
“What do you want me to tell?” Bucky got easily defensive, somehow this topic wasn’t easy for him to talk about. When realizing it, he forced himself to be open. “We talk sometimes, more like fight and bicker at each other. Though one time I helped her, and she did so too. It’s not the regular-girl-next-door situation matter. She’s angry… and sad.”
“She’s been through stuff.” He nodded, knowing what it meant.
“Uh-huh.” They kept walking, which meant bucky could breathe again. Wrong.
“So… you care about her.”
“Sam.” He warned.
“What? Did you forget I was a trauma counselor? You’re easy to read. I also know that you guys are alike, and I sense you know it too.”
And that’s how Bucky finally opened his feelings while shopping for furniture. He told Sam about Quinn’s personality and then a bit of the theories he had about whatever she went through, as well as some attitudes she had he didn’t understand. Not leaving behind the fact that she helped him tremendously with his panic attack, and those small moments of understanding they had with each other. Blurting out all those things aloud made him realize in fact, he did care for her.
“Do something, Buck.” His friend advised.
“Like what? Chasing her around like a puppy?”
“Relax, dude. I’m not asking you to take her hand in marriage or win her over. All I’m saying is, those kinds of people who can understand and relate to you not being weird about it are hard to find, make use of it. If you say having her on your life helps, then do so. Don’t kill yourself with expectations.” Bucky maintained silence all the way back his apartment. Sam was right, he had to accept things as they were and that was dealing with him caring for Quinn Parker. Do something about it, take initiative.
It was obvious that none of them needed another man to help and carry the furniture upstairs, yet they still did. It was their bonding time. Unfortunately, while bickering at each other on whether the shelf should be in this or that wall, they forgot the apartment key inside. There they stood, the former Falcon and the Winter Soldier holding the TV in front of a closed door, nagging at each other. Then the light bulb turned on.
“Quinn.”
“What does your neighbor have to do with the fact that you have the memory of a sieve?” Bucky rolled his eyes.
“No, she has a spare key and don’t-!... Give me that look.” He warned at Sam’s smirk. Apparently, it was the perfect timing, because after knocking at her door she showed up in normal clothes. “Hey, Quinn. This is Sam.” When pointing at him, they did weird small steps so the man could introduce himself.
“Sam Wilson.”
“Quinn Parker.” She shook his hand. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, let me tell you.” The man answered sarcastically, giving a side eyed look to Bucky. “Your neighbor here, isn’t our strongest fighter if you know what I mean.”
“I can imagine.” She agreed, following his intention of making him mad. “What did his old mind do this time?
“Ah, the usual.” He gestured with his free hand. “Forgot the key inside.”
“He forgot the key inside…” She repeated while nodding. “Typical Barnes.”
“Typical Barnes indeed.” The named one pinched the bridge of his nose, in complete disbelief of the situation. “Could you help us?”
“Of course.” While the girl went for the keys Sam smirked at Bucky, whose veins threatened to explode. Then she came back and opened it for them, giving a small look at how the place was taking its form. “The shelf would look better in that.”
“Damn right it should!” Sam cheered. “Ms. Parker, it’s nice having you.”
“You can call me Quinn.” She smiled, knowing it’d annoy Bucky. And it did.