A/N: Hey everyone. I'm on time this week :) Well, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel, Disney or the Avengers. Just Mia.
Song used in this chapter is What I've Done by Linkin Park.
"Limit the amount of stunts you pull, like you did today. While I appreciate anything that will brighten the spirits of those children, too much press can be a bad thing too."
"Trust me sir, I completely understand." I laughed as we headed down the elevator. The end of the workday had come, and I was eager to get home to Steve and Athena.
"Bucky?" I asked, noticing the man that stood by my car in the underground parking.
"Mia," he said softly, his eyes scared.
"I'll see you tomorrow Dr. Fish- I mean Peter." I said, giving him a smile at my fumble. He had insisted, as we'd be working much closer over the next few weeks.
"Goodnight Mia," The older doctor said, waving and walking to his car. Turning back to Bucky, I noticed his scared eyes.
"Are you alright Bucky?" I asked gently.
"… I ran." He said, not meeting my eyes.
"From the Tower?" I asked, not judging. Some days it was so crazy I wanted to run for the hills.
"Steve had… gone to see Dr…"
"Banner," I supplied.
"Yeah, him. And I went to rest, but I had… flashbacks."
"I understand. Do you want to go up to my office to talk? Or is it okay if I drive us both home?" I asked, giving him the choice.
"Um, not here, but not the Tower." He said, and I understood.
"How about I take you out for dinner? What do you feel like?"
"There's a pizza joint I've been meaning to see, if it's still there." He said, nostalgically.
"What's the name?" I asked, taking out my phone. He supplied Totonno's, and I was surprised at the history behind the place.
"Still there. I'm just going to call Steve and tell him you're okay. I won't tell him where we are going if you don't want me too."
"Please don't. I've already worried him, but he's been acting like…"
"Like you're fragile."
"Yeah." He said as I unlocked the car and gestured for him to get in. He did so, while double-checking his gun was on safety. While it made me nervous that he had a gun, I knew it was more for his peace of mind than mine.
"Steve," I said when he picked up.
"Hey, sorry I'm looking for Bucky right now." He said as I got in the car. Starting it, I said, "Bucky is with me. We are going out to talk."
"Oh, thank god. Where? I can meet you there."
"I can't tell you." I said, and he sighed audibly, "Why?"
"Steve, I need you to trust me on this. He needs to talk and I'm here to listen. I'm the one who has no investment in him to lose and he needs to be heard by someone who won't look at him differently."
"I…. Just please let me know when you'll be coming back. Update me what you're doing, and I promise not to come and find you. But if you don't tell me you're safe every 30 minutes, I'm coming after you."
"About as fair as can be." I sighed, before I said goodbye and turned on a little music. Bucky was gazing at the stereo, puzzled at the song and tune.
In this farewell
There's no blood
There's no alibi
'Cause I've drawn regret
From the truth
Of a thousand lies
So let mercy come
And wash away
What I've done
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done
Put to rest
What you thought of me
While I clean this slate
With the hands of uncertainty
So let mercy come
And wash away
What I've done
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done
For what I've done
I start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I'm forgiving what I've done!
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done
What I've done
Forgiving what I've done
"That's…"
I stayed silent, knowing he would pick up he courage to speak when he was ready. It was halfway through the ride down the I-278 when he said, "I remember the day. I remember Howard looking at me as if seeing a ghost."
My grip didn't falter on the steering wheel, and I nodded for him to continue.
"He kept calling me Barnes, and now I know why. I really wish it had been then that I realized, because you might still have a father. Your mother died on impact."
"At least she didn't suffer," I said, before saying, "Pepperoni or ham and pineapple?"
"I'm talking about the day I killed your father, and you are avoiding it by asking what pizza toppings I like."
"I'm not avoiding it. I've accepted it. I can't change it anymore than you or Tony can. I do not and never will, blame you Bucky. You were, and I'm sorry if this is insensitive, a mindless puppet of Hydra. They gave you a mission, and you followed orders. I've never wished someone dead, but Hydra has been at the top my list for over a year."
"I'm not?" He asked, shocked.
"No, so stop beating yourself up. Everything you've done, everything that came to be because of Hydra, has come down to this moment. It's where you decide your path. Will you forgive yourself, as others have forgiven you, or wallow in self pity and never do something about it?" I said, anger leeching into my voice.
He seemed taken aback at my outburst, but looked to be thinking about it.
"I want them to suffer like I did. I want them to answer for their crimes, against anyone I took out, and to those it affected."
"Wonderful. Now, pepperoni or ham and pineapple?"
"Pepperoni. I'm a Brooklyn boy, born and bred." He gloated.
"Great," I laughed.
"Mia?" He said, gaining my attention as we pulled into the parking lot for Totonno's.
"Yeah Bucky?" I answered, shutting off the car, and taking my seat belt off.
"I'm sorry. And thank you."
"You have nothing to be sorry about. And you're welcome. Someone had to get your head out of your ass," I teased, as he full belly laughed getting out of the car.
"I've been needing a woman to do that for years," he shot right back, slinging an arm around my shoulder.
"I'm taken bub. Take your moves elsewhere," I laughed.
"Trust me, you couldn't handle me," He said, puffing out his chest.
"Shall I give you the pin?" I said, very seriously.
"Pin?" He asked, confused.
"To let out your over inflated ego." I said, poking his chest. Once again, I was surprised by the laugh that escaped him. It sounded free, and effortless, like he was letting go of the weight on his shoulders.
"I just need to text Steve," I giggled as I got he got us a table. Sending off, "Coney Island. Safe," I turned back to Bucky, who was smirking.
"I see it," He said.
"What?" I asked, wondering what he was on about.
"He has a thing for mouthy brunettes. Steve must have noticed your eyes first though. I've only seen them on two people, now three. You've got moxie. Is that the right word now?"
"I would trade moxie for sass, spirit or even attitude." I said, winking saucily.
"Definitely sass." He laughed. We ordered our pizza and decided to eat and walk along the boardwalk. It was still nice enough out that he weather kept sunny until the beginning of October. Bucky had stories of Steve that I'm sure were never going to stop being funny, and I enjoyed listening to his best friends view of things. Bucky asked me what he should do about his hair, and I promptly took him to a little barbershop on the boardwalk. I explained to the stylist that he needed something simple to work with in the morning, and she started cutting. He had a certain style he liked, so he picked out his own clothes when I dragged him to a few boutiques.
"Steve! We're home!" I yelled, as Athena bounded out to meet us. She jumped up and had enough force to knock me on my ass. Stunned, I watched as she stood on my stomach, wagging her tail and Steve coming into the kitchen with Bruce trailing behind.
"Mia, Buck, how was Coney Island?" He asked, realizing how happy Bucky seemed.
"It was not as I remembered it, but still nice to see that some things haven't changed. Totonno's is still there! And Nathan's! And I got a haircut," Bucky said, starting to explain to Steve the whole excursion in detail, even telling him that I had serious moxie.
"He's animated," Bruce commented once Steve took Bucky to the living room.
"He's free." I said, effectively ending that line of thought. Bruce seemed to agree, smiling quickly before looking at me seriously.
"So Athena was given a version of an anti serum. It was meant for me, but in the confusion of getting her off to the vet, my research was set beside a Bunsen burner, and went up in flames. DUMMY 2 was able to get the fire under control shortly after we left, and I had no other copies. We have no way of tracing the serum in her blood, and we suspect, she's developed an accelerated growth rate."
"How accelerated?" I said, letting my inner scientist take over. I could be the worried parent later.
"She'll be full grown in a month, and she may even live longer. The serum was supposed to take away my other side, but instead it was nearly identical to the one Steve received in the 40's."
"My dog is a super soldier?" I sassed, an eyebrow quirking.
"Yes?" He said, unsure of how to judge my reaction.
"Now I have two of them," I groaned, Athena wagging her tail against my ankles.
"Aren't you mad?"
"I can't be mad. It was an accident, and at least she isn't dying."
"Oh. Tony owes me $20 then," He said, smiling, before saying goodnight. After I heard the elevator close, I turned to see Steve smiling, as Bucky told him about the new roller coasters at Coney Island.
"Well, I should go get some sleep. How about a run tomorrow morning Punk?" Bucky suggested, moving to get up, petting Athena goodbye.
"Yeah, 5am in the lobby, and we can determine where to go then." Steve said, giving Bucky a manly hug.
"Don't be late Punk," He said, kissing my cheek and lightly jogging to the elevator. Steve just stared after him, dumbfounded.
"Steve?" I asked softly.
"Thank you," he said, smiling wide, and sweeping me up in a passionate kiss.
"Wow, your welcome, but I didn't do it for you. It was for him."
"Thank you for doing it for him. I'm so happy, I could almost not kill him for kissing you," He said, before his serious face returned, making me giggle.
"It was friendly, he meant no harm. Not encroaching on your territory," I teased, drawing a finger slowly down his chest. He almost growled as he picked me up and ran me to our room, me laughing the whole way.