Her POV.
Although Quinn used a lot of her spare time to treat herself with hair, nails, and shopping sprees, there was another hobby she enjoyed, studying. Growing up no one wanted to be friends with a snarky, tiny, and parentless girl. The ones who did though, she made it clear when pushing them away that she preferred to be alone. That little kid found comfort on reading books because loneliness was a thing she's already used to. Now, on her free weekend, Quinn used her time attending a virtual seminar about a new technique used on Trauma surgeries. She was on her element when suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted forcing her to turn off the mic and camera. When opening the door there was irritation written all over her face.
“What.” A good-humored Bucky showed up.
“Hey, Parker. Are you busy?” He seemed different and ... nervous? Which for some reason made her mood go away.
“I’m on a conference, but I guess I can watch the rest of it in the recording.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Everything okay?”
“Oh, don’t worry if you can’t, I just-“
“Barnes, really. I’ve already lost track of the meeting by opening the door.” Quinn insisted, curious to why he was that anxious.
“I finished my bookshelf and wanted to know your opinion about it.”
“Ok…” She suspiciously answered. “Let me take my keys.” After doing so she closed the door behind her.
“Nice glasses.” He complimented; Quinn forgot she was wearing them. “Didn’t thought of you as a nerd.”
“A nerd?” She offendedly asked, as he opened his apartment door. “I’m not.”
“Spending your free day on a seminar? Reading science books?” He accused. “Come in.”
“Well, I’m a surgeon. We always study.” She excused while entering the place.
“Whatever you say… nerd.” He whispered, making her roll the eyes. “Now, here it is.” Bucky’s place was surely different from last time. Apart from the new shelf, there were furniture all over the living room.
“It’s… nice, honestly. Old-ish, but it suits you.” The man smiled. Coming from her, it was totally a compliment.
“Alright, uhm…” Back to his jumpy self, he scratched the back of his neck. “So, I ordered delivery from Leah’s… but she sent me too much food. Do you mind if I share it with you?”
“Hm.” That’s when Quinn’s alarm started to sound in her insides. Something about the story sound fishy. But all her worries went away when remembering she skipped breakfast by being too busy with investigation and the seminar. So, no matter what Bucky’s intentions were, today she let them aside for the sake of her stomach. “Alright.” Even Bucky looked surprised by her positive answer, probably expecting a very different response. To be honest, Quinn stopped taking it seriously after deciding to follow her hungriness, so she didn’t realize Bucky’s crisis when trying to set a table on the small kitchen island.
“Chopsticks?” He asked, lifting them from the plastic bag. Quinn nodded and came closer to him.
“Do you have anything to drink?” The question seemed to trigger something inside him. “… Ignore me.”
“No! It’s not that, I uhm…” He nervously scratched his elbow. Did Quinn notice before that the man was wearing nothing but a T-shirt leaving his whole torso at disposure? “I only have beer.”
“Beer at lunch it is.” She answered, avoiding eye contact, or should she say… body contact.
“So, what was that conference about anyway?”
“Uh, I’m glad you asked. There’s a new theory of how pre operation time can be reduced but not compromising the patient’s security, it’s…” When realizing he wouldn’t understand, she stopped herself. “Wait, you don’t have to do that.”
“Do what?” He intriguingly asked.
“Small talk. It’s weird.” Quinn noted. The man let out a loud sigh and gave her a questioning look.
“Okay.”
“Thanks. Small talk is for dates.” A small silence was formed in the room.
“Small talk is for dates.” He repeated. “This is not a date.”
“Of course not.” She emphasized.
“Then what is it?” By making that question, he finally took her off guard.
“Uhm… a meal?” She feigned obviousness. “A casual meal on a friendly way.”
“So you’re saying we’re friends now.”
“I guess.”
“’Don’t know much about that concept these days.” Bucky honestly answered.
“I bet you don’t. We’ll figure it out.”
They spent the rest of the meal in silence. Bucky seemed lost in his thoughts, which made it easy for Quinn to pay attention on the details of his face. He wasn’t hard on the eyes. Also, there were marks not only from aging, but from working hard. She knew those pretty well. Now, it seemed unrealistic to be staring at him in flesh when all she did as a young girl was admiring a scratched picture. Well, another version of him. Suddenly, his usual serious expression became unbelievably, more severe.
“What’s going on?” He quietly stood up and gave her a warning look.
“Stay here. Something’s happening.”
“Where?”
“At your place.”
Quinn’s heart started pounding as he went out as silent as possible. When closing the door behind him she walked near the balcony of the living room, since it had a view to her place. Being careful on not being seen, she noticed the windows of her locked room open. The sight of her old curtains floating outside hypnotized her, the movement was so slow and calm, until a man jumped from it making her scream and back off. She got composure and ran out to her apartment, finding Bucky, the last person she wanted to, seeing what was inside that room.
“Did he take anything? Why aren’t you chasing him?” She panickily asked.
“He only got to this room.” Which was a mess. “Was there anything of value in here?”
“Not enough value for someone to specifically step in for it. I’m calling the police.” While walking to take her phone, he got her forearm.
“Quinn, I’m afraid this is not a usual robbery. This person’s ability to climb up here unnoticed by me is not normal.”
“B-But what is it, then?”
“I think they were searching for my place.” He said, while sitting down in the small bed.
“You just mentioned this person’s skills, I don’t think a super villain or whatever that was didn’t know how to get a proper address.” She gestured with her arms, almost upset that he seemed so calm and used to this.
“Wait.” He stood up and walked to the open window, there was a black plastic bag hanging in there. “This was on the person’s hand, it must’ve fallen. Do you recognize it?”
“Yes.” She took it and opened it. It was a music box. “It’s from my biological parents. I don’t like it that much.”
“It doesn’t have emotional meaning.” He stated. “If you don’t mind, I’m keeping it in case they come back from it. Which believe me, I don’t think they will.”
“Of course not, who comes for a weird childhood item expecting to find out that their victims neighbor is the infamous James ‘Bucky’ Barnes.”
“Great, you’re taking it with humor. Then let’s laugh about this.” He pointed out the small desk with a framed photo. Of him. Well, him before being presumed dead. “When were you telling me you were a fan?”
“Why would I? That man doesn’t exist. Neither does the girl who liked him.”
“That’s a fair point.” Another small silence. “Are you okay?”
“Is it weird that I get more upset about having to re arrange this room rather than the fact that someone broke in?” In all honesty, her shakiness began when recognizing the music box. She hated it.
“Coming from you? No.” They got out of the room.
“Great. I think I’m staying at Trisha’s.”
“That’s not possible. Unless we confirm or deny our suspects, we don’t know if I’m the one being followed or you. Your friends must be safe.”
“Then where do I stay?” He looked at her, and cheekily smiled. “Oh, no.”
“Seems like our friendship is transcending in new and unexpected ways.”
“Yay.”