Hotel California // Chapter 1
Masterlist
Chapter 1: New kid in town
Chapter Summary: Was it you? or this little town and the people in it all seemed like they were just coming out of a family commercial?
Pairing: Dark!Bucky Barnes x FemaleReader (very ambiguously described, really naive too)
Chapter Warnings: WandaVision Wanda (yeah she is a full warning, she´ll hit you like a train), nothing much yet, moving day for the reader, cozy, meeting people, some of those people are creeps, a little stalking, taggs to be added by chapter
Word Count (Chapter): 2.1k
Notes: I´m not specifying where she is living, even though it is described such things as the scenery, the people, the style.
Lets get this party started!
You felt the autumn breeze caressing your face and that made you smile widely, you loved roadtrips, you loved the empty highway in front of you, the roaring of the V8 engine in your car, the playlist made specially by you for each of your long trips, for this one in particular you'd chosen a selection of classic rock songs, among them your favorite, to accompany you through this cowboy like part of the country.
You found it so relaxing, you enjoyed the little things, the quiet moments with yourself, you´ll turn off the volume of your phone, so you could enjoy at its fullest being behind the wheel and the road in front of you.
That was one of the reasons you had decided to leave the city behind, to move across the country all by yourself into this little town in the middle of the mountains, forests and rivers
As you took the exit of the highway and drove through a much smaller road, you came into a complete change of scenery, the big snowy mountains ahead of you, the evergreen trees on both sides of the road, right then and there you knew you had made the right choice.
You were born and bred in New York, you rode the city accordingly, but it never really suited you. You had finish highschool and went to college in the city, that's what your parents wanted anyways, after graduating a couple of years ago you had found a great job, but that didn't really fulfilled you, you didn't like the long hours it took you to get to your job, you didn´t like the never ending noise, you never really liked the big city whatsoever, so as soon as you saw an opportunity, while visiting cousins on the other side of the mountain pass, you came across this amazing little town, just like in the movies, you fell in love instantly with their colorful streets, breathtaking surroundings, and their nice people. 2 months later, you grabbed your car and took the greatest road trip ever to your new home
You could work from home, until you could start your own business, or start working in town, or anything you liked. You had savings, and living here was cheaper, nicer, and way more comfortable
Before going into town you decided to stop at the gas station, it looked almost abandoned, but you knew it was operative as you saw people inside it.
Without looking much around you started pumping the gas onto your car
“Nice ride.” You turned around to see the most gorgeous man you have ever seen, what struck you most was his lumberjack look, his frannell shirt, his jeans, his boots adding to his handsomeness. He had dirty blonde hair, combed back, deep blue eyes, a thick beard, and he dwarf you in height and in body musculature
“Well thanks.” You couldn't help feeling the heat on your cheeks, you loved your car, even though it drained a big part of your monthly check on gas, you couldn't part from your Pontiac Firebird, it made you feel like Thelma and Louise
“Are you passing by?.” He asked, eyeing the gas pump, you always made sure your car had a full tank, as your father always taught you
“No, actually” you giggled “I'm staying, I´m just moving in”
“Oh really?” his almost worried gaze changed suddenly into a wide smile “Welcome then!” he opened his wide arms, but he didn't made any attempt to hug you or come near you
“Thanks, I´m excited, I fell in love with this town as soon as I saw it” there was an awkward silence, he didn't removed his wide smile tough
“Sorry, that is not very neighbour of me” he joked, as he offered his big hand for you “I´m Steve, Steve Rogers” his smile and him entirely belong to a family friendly commercial, those that could catch the attention of male and female alike
“I´m (Y/N) (Y/L/N)” you shook his hand on a tight grip
“Are you near the town square?”
“Oh, just outside town by the river” you explained “I like the tranquility”
“You came to the right place then, it's very quiet in here”
“That's what I'm counting on” you smiled shyly, he was a handsome man, and you didn't want to make a fool of yourself
Your car was finished, so you put away the pump, as you felt observe by the blonde adonis
“I'm all set” you were hurrying him, you wanted something from him, but you didn't know what, it was the first friendly face you encountered in your new home, and letting him go made you uneasy. That feeling lasted several seconds, but you shook it off easily, how could you be clinging to someone you just met? mental slap
“I really hope I'll see you around” he said with a small smile
“I hope so too”
“But I hope it is not when you get in trouble!” he warned you, you didn't quite knew why he said that, but there you were
“I'm a good girl I promise” GOD! Did you really just tell him that??? What the actual fuck was wrong with you?
He just winked at you, and with a last smile, you got into your car and drove off
If you knew back then that was the beginning of the end you'd turn around right then and there and go back from where you came from, but you didn't know then
“Bucky” he breathed on the phone “you have to see this… her, she's back”
You drove into town. You were slowly checking out all the places, restaurants, and you couldn't be more excited, all new small, cozy places to visit, and to get to know the people behind them.
You chose a house on the other side of the town, on the outskirts, surrounded by woods there was a roundabout that had like 5 other houses or so, the last one, belonging to you.
You loved it as soon as you saw it, and didn´t think too much before putting in an offer for it, the seller sold it for the offer you made him, and the house was yours.
You loved your new home, a master bedroom, a smaller one that turned into your small office, a living room connected with the dining room and the kitchen, a big luminous space. It had big windows, one that was actually a door that led to a backyard deck, with a huge backyard, maybe even you´ll get a dog. The thought made you smile. The wood flooring added to the cozzines of the ambience, the soft colours of the walls, the fact your bed had a wooden frame
Your father had make sure to contract great moovers, almost everything was ready, except for the boxes you yet had to unload out of your car, containing your more personal items
“Welcome home” you muttered
You were setting up the most important thing to you, your speaker, when a knock on the door startled you. Curious as you where, you ran towards the door, and opened without hesitation
“Hi darling” greeted a redheaded woman, gorgeous, with a soft smile, big green eyes
“Hello” you said, as you gave her a smile as wide as hers
“I´m Wanda, your next door neighbour, I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood” she offered you a pyrex with what looked like lasagna. “I hope you are not vegetarian”
“I am not!” you said as you smiled widely, receiving the glass container “Just like in the movies” you giggled, Wanda smiled widely “I love it, thank you so much” a tightness got ahold of your chest, a nice warm feeling, you wanted to commit to this community, make friends and be a good neighbour
“We wanted to welcome you” Was it you? all of the people and the town itself seemed like coming out of a commercial
“´Please!” you exclaimed, opening the door widely “please come in!” you invited her enthusiastically, and she accepted your proposal
“My name is (Y/N) (Y/L/N)” you greeted “sorry for the mess” you explained, looking sadly at the remaining boxes you still haden´t unpacked
“Don´t worry about it darling” she giggled “see you painted the place”
“Yeah” it was a soft green colour, and you changed it by a deep burgundy red, it was a deep change, but the house was so luminous it looked cozy, specially with your big couch
“Looks lovely” she looked like she just came out of a 40´s magazine
“Did you know the person that lived here before me?” you asked
“Yeah, nice little lady such as yourself”
“What happened?” you asked
“She moved in with her boyfriend”
“Oh, things really worked out”
“Yeah, you might see her around town someday” she said “and maybe you'll tie down with someone around here?” you felt heat in your cheeks before you giggle nervously, you didn't plan on it
“Well, I was hoping, since this is such a small community” you started “I don't know how to… connect more with the people here”
“Oh darling you are so sweet” she gave you a reassuring smile, like she was dealing with a toddler, but you found it comfortable
“Should I throw a barbecue? “ you asked, she giggled when she saw your excitement
“Now that's a good idea” she had an accent, of where you couldn't quite place, but she was adorable, you felt instantly drawn to her
“Sadly I don´t know anyone yet, well, except from that cute guy I met at the gas station”
“Oh, what was his name?” she was already a friend to you
“Well I don't think you…” and then you remembered this town had less than a thousand habitants “Steve Rogers?” you gigled “Tall, blonde...”
“Devastatingly handsome?” she interrupted and then laughed, and you giggled alongside her
“That's the one!” you said
“Please don't tell Vis I said that” she had an amazing laugh
“your secret It's safe with me” you winked at her
“Aren't you just a cutie pie?” she giggled, “you'll fit right in”
“I´d like that”
“Why don't you make a couple rounds into town and then we can plan something fun, ok?”
“Sure” Wanda left shortly after that, something about having something else in the oven.
You paced around your new home awkwardly, you still had things packed, and needed to get to it, to settle once and for all
You went to your room, to make the bed, and arrange the things you brought with you. Music blasted your little speaker, you were dancing around, putting everything together, your books in the self that faces your bed, that also holds your tv. Everything was coming beautifully. But when you grabbed the box that held knick knacks, the bottom of the box collapse, and the contents fell loudly to the floor
“Shit” you cursed, dropped knees on the floor to collect your items, some of them broke, and you curse once more, surviving a moving company just to be carelessly dropped to the floor?
One of them had hit a wood plank off the floor and moved it, revealing there was a space under it. You took it off the plank and you drew a sharp breath when you found a secret little spot. you found a leather purse and a diary, clearly belonged to the previous owner of your new house
You took both items to see them more closely, you grabbed the purse first, it was black leather, with a simple zipper, you opened it carefully, and you were shocked to find it was full of cash. There might have been at least 5k on it. Who would leave money in here?
The other was a diary, more like a journal, those with simple leather covers, and detailed dates for you to organize your days. You were a naturally curious person, but something stopped you, should you peek through it? Who leaves the house without 5k and their personal journal? So many questions needed answers
You sat on your bed with the journal in your hands, you treated it like it was made of glass, afraid to break it. On the very first page, the name of its owner was written with perfect calligraphy and black ink: “Sharon Carter,” the girl that lived here before you? the one Wanda told you about, probably sold her house to you, and was now living with her boyfriend here in town.
But seriously, how could she forget these things? that amount of money?
Did she leave in a hurry?
Why?
