Chapter Twelve
"The gene should've cancled each other, right?" James asks his voice high with concentration as he rumges through a bag of doritos. James draws out a square and evenly distributing out the traits while Peter scans a screen with a layout of James's DNA. Peter bites on a twisler tearing it from his mouth before answering James, "I'm not that great with DNA... but from what I'm looking at it seems like your DNA is laced with some type of super enhanced structure..."
"Obviously..." James side glances over at Peter bemused.
Peter glances over at James taken back by the sarcasm, "I'm saying it's not what you call completely normal even for a super human. I mean when I got bit by the super gentic spider, my DNA didn't look anything like this. It was enhanced forsure, but your's is...is I don't know how to describe it. But I can see why they would want you... You're a lethal weapon."
"I'm-I'm what?" James stutters looking over Peter's shoulder unsure how to respond. "I can't be that dangerous considering all of the heroes and villians out there in the galaxy."
"I wouldn't say Dangerous... I would say more special." Peter assures impressed by the possiblites and potential of James's strength. "The things you could do for this world are endless... I mean you are the son of Captain America and Black Widow." James eyes fall to the floor feeling lost even more as his search for understanding leads him to even more confusion.
"What causes you to do what you do?" He inquires feeling hoplessness resonate in his chest.
"What do you mean?" Peter turns around to face James who now leans on the wall behind him his head hanging low.
James shallows drly before looking up, "The whole 'The Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman' thing. What causes you to do it, your convictions?" James brow creases as he tries to grasp for why he should use what he is at all.
"A sense responablity. I know what it's like to loose people you love, and it to be partly your fault... with the power you have, you can do either three things. One: Nothing. You could go your whole life keeping your gifts a secret and never lifting a finger to help anyone. Two: you could use it for selfish reasons, for gain. I've seen so many men and women who have theses ablities and they do it for themselves, to gradify theselves, but each one failed..."
Peter's words became lyrical as memories fill his mind with passion, "Or thirdly: You could use it for good. I know it's hard to believe that you can make a difference when there are so many like you, but you can. I see this DNA that shows you have inheriated power, but I also see curiousty. And I believe becuase of the curioustly you'll eventually come to face with why you are the way you are. I'm saying you don't have to go to the end of the galaxy to save people, sometimes you can save someone even if it's getting their bike back from a theif."
James eyes soften realizing Peter is right. He becomes quit as he processes all he had learned in just over two hours, it became clear to him that he possibily could do something beyond finding the truth. "What if there was way to end HYDRA?" Peter looks up perplexed by the question. "What If..." James hestiates fearful, "I end HYDRA?"
"You'll need training, back up, and possibily weaponry. But it could be done; It'll be a process though..." Peter folds his arms liking where this is heading.
"I need answers about them and why they want me... And I also need more info about me... I-I don't know how to find information. I've barely got any with what we have here." James voice cracks with frustration as he starts to pace around the room.
"Sometimes to find the answers we've been looking for we have to go to the source of lies..." James stops pacing at Peter's profound words.
"I may know somebody who has information that we could use... You probably know him."
"Who?" Peter eyes light up with peaked curiousty.
"H-he was a friend of the family, mainly my dad's friend, turned mother's new love interest at one point... Bucky, The Winter Solider? I haven't seen him a little over ten years." James voice drops at the old name causing slight remorse.
"Oh, yeah..." Peter chuckles, "I remeber him. He had a metal arm, that was cool."
"Right... The problem is, I don't exactly kno-w where he is..." James slurs while biting his lip slightly embrassed.
"Easy, we just track him." Peter chimes with a soft shrug.
"How?" James asks skeptical.
"How? Ha!" Peter scoffs jumping to his feet with excitment. "Kid, I know Tony Stark."
"Isn't he old?" James asks not buying this plan.
"W-well yeah, but no! Look, I did the Stark Internship so I know a few things!" Peter eyes widen with liveliness. "I'll be right back." Peter zings into the next room leaving James alone and confused.
Peter returns with the Spiderman mask on. James blinks unamused, "What does your mask have to do with anything?" Peter glances downward before answering.
"What? This is the Stark Intership." James mouths what before he continus to explain, "Mr. Stark made this suit, so it has some ablities that we can use to find your friend. Hey, Karen!" James watches as Peter walks around intently listening to something.
"Can you find a man named Bucky Barns aka The Winter Solider?" Peter asks while James watches as if he is crazy. "She found him! He's in...Virgina. Specifically Virgina Beach."
"Virgina Beach? I used lived there before I moved in with the Barton's." James explains curious on why Bucky is still there.
"Thank you, Karen." Peter slips off his masks revealing a smiling face with disheveled hair. "So what's the plan?"
"I don't know... I mean, I don't think Francis will let me go... Or I should say I don't know how to get pass Francis." James sighs feeling defeated before he ever could try to find HYDRA.
"Don't worry about Francis.. I'll take care of it." Peter adds with an encouraging smile.
James jumps at the sound of his phone ringing in his pocket. He takes his phone and laughs when he sees the caller ID. "Speaking of the Devil." He says showing Peter the phone before answering, "Hello?"
"Hey, where you at?" Francis asks on the other line.
"Um, um," James stumbles to say not wanting to reveal he's with Peter. "I'm in Queens..."
"Why are you in Queens?" Francis asks confused.
"I wanted to explore the city, and I heard that Queens is a pretty rad place. So I headed over here and found some cool places?"
"Why is that a question?" Francis asks skeptical and really amused.
"Why are you a question?" James glances over at Peter who nods with approval.
"That doesn't make sense... When are you coming home?" Francis asks avoiding the sorry excuse for his sorry lying.
"I'm coming home now." He answers quickly.
"Alright, well make it home quick.. Griffin looks lost without you..." Francis chuckles beforing hanging up the phone.
"Phew...That'd was close." James sits down anxious.
"You need to get better at lying, but anyway, go on home. We'll meet up again and figure things out. Don't worry..." Peter adds while walking with James to the door.
"See you around!" James hollers back as he walks down the hall.
James turns around the corner looking down at his phone only to bump into someone. "Oh, sorry..." James mumbles distractly looking up.
"James?" A very familar voices asks before James can register who is infront of him.
"C-cecile?" He stutters softly. "Wha-what are you doing here?" He utters to say while he twist his hands together nervously.
She glances noticing his hands, "I could asks you the same thing..." She smiles warmly hoping to calm him. "I'm meeting my aunt here, but I'm really surprised to see you here. Do you know him?"
"Hm?" James looks at her with puppy lost eyes, "Yeah! I know him! I met him through Francis because they are buddies. And I was in Queens just visisting and we bumped into each other. And hung out and did dude things."
"Dude things? What's that?" Cecile asks unable to stifle a smile.
"Chess." James answers quickly without thought.
"W-What?" Cecile laughs making James laugh as well.
"Would you like ice cream? Or Coffee, no that'll keep me up. Okay, whatever you want." James rambles feeling dumb.
"Are you asking me to hang out?"
"Yeah..." She smiles brightly before answering him.
"Then yes." James looks around lost.
"Yes to what?"
"Yes to whatever." She adds swaying a little with anticpation.
"Oh, well I kind of need a definate answer to the food area." He explains further.
"You hungry?"
"I'm straving." He answers short and sweet.
"Well I know a good Thai place around here." She says while now heading back to the direction of the stairwell.
"I've never had Thai before." James admits softly following her.
"Well it's a new experience!" She excalims across her shoulder. James skips some steps to walk next to her.
"I"m always having new experiences with you." Her assures with a smirk. Cecile smiles downwardly hiding the oncoming blush.
After getting amazing Thai food James and Cecile head towards a park in Southwest Queens. Once they get there they lay down on the grass in front of a lake letting the cool summer night sweep over them. "I forgot, but you did something diffferent with your hair..." Cecile says pointing towards his hair.
"Oh, yeah..." James reaches up touching his hair remembering he dyed it. "I did this so you know they won't find me." Cecile nods her head not saying much about that.
"Can I ask you a question?" James asks with a sigh turning his head to look at Cecile who is looking longingly at the stars.
"Of Course..." She turns towards him with a welcoming smiling.
"What do you think of me becoming like my parents?" His voice grows timided as he waits for her response.
"Why do you want do you want to do that?" She asks with an open mind.
"I was talking to Peter-"
"Spider-Man." Cecile interjects with a cheeky smile.
"You know?" James asks taken back.
"Of course, I know, he's terrible at keeping secrets. The best way to describe Peter is he's a twenty-seven year old, living in a one bedroom flat in Queens. He eats left overs and soggy ramen for breakfast, and works at the Daily Bugle as his personal selfie taker. And still says he does/has the Stark Intership which is his suit... He's the living the life." She laughs at how great it is to do the things you love. James smirks at her perfect description of Peter.
"Well he said something that inspired me. I could make a difference, and I could end HYDRA once and for all. This orgination has torn my family to shreds in more than one way, so I think it's only fair to end them." James explains while nibbling on his lower lip.
"So Vengance, a vendetta of some sort?" She asks with a slight sigh.
"Well, yeah. I mean, they killed my parents and put my other parents in the hosptial it's only right. And constanly after me." James adds with passion waving his arms around expressivly with every word.
"If it's for vengance then I don't think you should do it..." Cecile slowly admits knowing he will not be happy with her response.
"What? Did you not hear what I just said?" James asks offend deeply. "I'm not like Peter who has responablity as his thing, and my dad his whole thing was patrotism, and my mom was to clean her slate. So..."
"No, I mean, you might be more like your dad than you realize. You really are doing it to protect your family and others who potentially could be affected by HYDRA. Am I wrong?" Cecile explains wishing she had better explained herself before.
"Well no... I just really want answers and to stop all this..." He sighs feeling almost stupid for trying.
"Then do it." She softly encourages causing James to look at her perplexed.
"Really?" His voice softens unexpectedly. She nods her head with a faint smile.
"You really do wear your heart on your sleeve..." She says jokingly.
"What? No, I don't." James scoffs offendly, "The nerve..."
"I'm being facetious... you really only wear it around me or Francis sometimes Griff... It's like you don't know what to do with emotion, so it comes out intenstly and randomly." She says observantly.
"Whatever..." He brushes off what she said not liking the fact she knows him that well.
"You're actually really aloof half the time which confuses me... like you really confuse me sometimes. But then other times I competley understand you..you're a great mystery. I would say that your myer's bridge type is most likely an INTP...maybe..." She looks off in the distances with deep thought.
"What's that?" James asks confused.
"It's your personality type... there's sixteen catergoires that people fall into." Cecile explains exciedly.
"So like Astrology...?" James asks trying not to poke fun.
"No, it's actual scientific psycology fact." Cecile explains while taking her phone out of her poket.
"You sure about that?" He asks biting his upper lip so he wouldn't laugh.
"ugh, such a classic INTP thing to say... Look here is my type, I'm an ENFP. Read it." She plops the phone on his chest making him read. James picks up the phone squiting at the bright screen, he turns down the brightness before reading with a smile.
"Humph, I would agree that is you." He agrees handing her back his phone.
"Seeee, amazing right?" She emaphasizes amazed.
"You have an obession." He points out the obvious while he turns on his side to look at her better.
"Of course I do." She states proudly making him laugh.
"You're cute." He compliments warmth growing in his chest. Cecile smile grows to the point of her cheeks hurting.
"Thank you." She laughs before sitting up pulling her knees to her chest. Her hair cascades down her back making her innoncently beautiful. "Can I ask you something?" Cecile looks down at the moonlight grass unsure of herself.
"What?" James asks his voice husky with exhaustion.
"Nevermind, it's dumb." Cecile quickly changes her mind not wanting to expose her thoughts. She shakes her head trying to grasp her emotions.
"You can't do that! You can't just ask a question and then not ask a question and leave me with curiousty for the rest of the night. It will steal my sleep..." James excaliams laughing while sitting up as well.
"Mkay... well..." She stops trying to formulate her words.
"Why do you do this? You always leave me in wonder like just come out and say what you mean." James empahtically says with a playful glint in his eyes.
"Is that why you left?" She look at him with wide eyes shock she just said that.
"What?" James shakes his head now confused. "Left? Like...what?"
"You know...back-back then..." She says gesturing to when they were teenagers.
"When we were together?" He asks now putting the pieces together.
"Yeah..."
"No... I left because I felt like I was holding you back. You were about to move, and I thought becuase of our age it would've been best to not have a long distance realtionship. And for you to be free, and I felt like I wasn't good enough for you." James answers truthfully hoping that would help her understand better.
"Oh..." She looks downwardly happy it wasn't because of her, but also sadden by the fact he thought he wasn't good enough for her.
"I never stopped having feelings for you..." James suddenly whispers, but enough for her to hear.
"What?" She looks at him quickly shocked by what he just admited.
"I mean back then, not not now. I don't have feelings for you now, I did back then when..." James rambles pass the point of realizing his mistake.
"O-oh.. I see what you mean." She gives him a faint smile trying to defuse the sitation, "I'm sorry I brought it up. I know realtionship stuff can make you uncomfortable."
"No," He soft spokenly reassures her, "No, it's good that you did. I mean you said you wanted understanding right?"
Cecile blinks trying to keep here eyes from watering. She touches her cheek hiding the small stray tear. "Are you okay?" James asks noticing her change in dispostion.
"I'm fine. You know it must be the outdoors, I get allergies in the summer because of pollin and my eyes water sometime from it. I actually have a head ache like in the sinus area so... ya know..." She explains now cupping her cheeks embrassed by the sudden burst of unwanted reaction to her unwanted emotions.
"Oh? Do you want to go?" He asks not wanting her to be uncomfortable outside.
"Do you?" She asks looking over at him with big eyes.
"Not really..." He answers truthfully.
"We can stay for a little bit longer..." She says while they lay back down on the grass.
"Okay..." James agrees yawning deeply.
James stirs at the bright light causing him to open his eyes slowly. He blinks as he stares up at the orangy hazy sky, "Holy Shit!" James sits up relazing he fell asleep. He looks down to find Cecile wrapped safely in his arms still causing his heart to beat even faster. "She looks like an angel..." He says under his breath still very sleepy. He nudges her awake, she softly sighs awake barely opening her eyes. "What time is it?" She asks unaware of her surroundings.
"Cecile..." James sweetly says trying to wake her up fully.
"Ja-" Cecile scans her surroundings taking in the trees, the sky, and James's arms. She sits up quickly panicked, "We stayed out here all night?"
"Yes..." James slurs still sleepy.
"I'm dead." She pushes her hair back panicked, "You're dead... I still live with my parents."
"Nice knowing ya..." James says sarcastically with a smile.
"Com'on!" She excalims jumping to her feet with James in tow following slowly behind.
James slowly unlocks the door as he glances his surroundings before creeking open the door. He turns around after shutting the door to find Griffin sprawled on the couch fast asleep. Without making any noise James heads into his room shutting the door hoping to not wake anyone. He quickly changes out of his jeans and slips off his shirt before sliping on some sweat pants and curling into bed going fastly back to sleep.
Five hours later, the door opens causing James to stir only a little, "James, get up." Francis orders as he pulls the covers off his brother.
"What?" James grabs the sheets back pulling them over his head annoyed.
"I thought we'd go to DC and see mom and dad..." Francis adds now sitting on the edge of his bed. James slowly pulls the covers off of him now interested in the conversation.
"What about Griff?" Francis looks up at the ceiling with a smirk.
"I'm sure Cecile could come and check on him every now and then." James sits up quickly shaken by Francis's statement. "Don't look so surprised. I know where you were last night. I put the two together." Francis snikers standing up beyond amused.
James glances downward with a guilty expression before confirming his brother's accusation, "You were right..."
"I knew it... Get a shower and we'll leave in thirty minutes." Francis walks out the door leaving James bewildered. James stands up with a exhausted sigh before heading to take a shower.
Once competley dress James heads out into the living room to be greeted by Griffin who cheekily smiles at him. "Wha-what?" James chuckles heading over towards the kitchen.
"Oh, nothing. I just didn't know Romeo had a randezvous with Juliet every week since we got here." Griffin walks in behind James folding his arms together while James opens the fridge ignoring him. "Com'on, James. She came by yesterday looking for you. Why would she do that unless you've already seen her?" Griff implores walking towards the cabinet to pull out a bowl.
James stands up shutting the fridge pulling out the milk and some fruit. He puts grapes down on the counter looking up at Griff with a raised brow, "She came by?"
"Yeah, I went out to take out the trash, and she was at the stairs looking for someone. And she asked if you were here, so like why was she here?" He asks pouring Lucky Charms in his bowl.
"I don't know," James answers aloof while popping a grape in his mouth.
"Ah, Com-"
"James! You ready?" Francis hollers out from the living room.
"Yeah!" James grabs his back pack from the counter before heading towards the living room, "Also, Griff, if you get lonley call Cecile. I'm sure she'll be around this area."
"I'm sure she will be..." Griff sighs as James and Francis leave.
Francis and James head to DC in silence while James looks up information about SHIELD and HDYRA on his phone. Francis glances over noticing his brother engrossed in his phone probably looking up interesting facts like always. "What you reading?"
"Hm?" James doesn't look up from his phone, "Just something interesting."
"You look really invested in it." Francis chuckles changing the song on the radio. James nods his head still not paying much attention to what his brother is saying.
His eyes scan the screen engulfing all of the history. His eyes stop scanning when he reads the name Captain America. His shoulders slack as he reads the paragraph about how Cap and HYDRA have been enemies over the years. "We're here." James looks up from reading as they pull into a secure parking lot with guards surrounding the premiter. Francis parks the car before they head towards the hospital.
"This is a extremely secure place." James whispers as they walk down the white halls towards the ICU. Francis nods his head vaguely before they are greeted by a nurse with a friendly smile.
"Your father is in room 120 and your mother is in 124, Mr. Barton should be awake right now." The nurse informs before walking towards another patients room.
Francis and James walk into room 120 to find Clint sitting up still pale, but watching TV. "Hey, boys!" Clint sings when he notices his boys in the room.
"Hey!" They both chime before heading over to sit on the chairs provided for them. "How you feeling?" Francis asks with deeply concern eyes.
"Better, lots better. How are you two? How's New York?" Clint looks over at James who scans the room with a tight liped expression. "James?"
James blinks now hearing his father speak to him, "Oh, um, it's good." Clint musters a smile when he answers him vaguely.
Francis loosk over at James slightly annoyed for his distance, "It's been more than good for you. You met someone." James snaps his attention towards Francis bambi eyed hating that he mentioned Cecile.
"I did not." He defends suddenly referting back to when he was eight. Francis smiles knowing he's got James out of his shell now.
"oH, yes you did. Dad, remember that girl that was James friend in Iowa?" Francis adds making James squrim.
Clint painfully laughs at his boys silliness, "I remember her, you met with her in New York? You two dating again?"
"N-no!" James exclaims with a smile appearing, "We're just friends." He assures taping his dad's hand.
"More like friend's with beneifits." Francis teases merciless.
"That's...not. true." James infroms rolling his eyes. "How's mom?" He asks changing the subject to more important matters.
Clint looks away not sure how to tell the boys, "She still hasn't woken up."
"What do you mean?" Francis asks his voice cracks with the unsettling news.
James stands up quietly and heads towards the door, "Where are you going?" Clint asks watching James closely.
James doesn't answer as he walks out the room and a little down the hall into his mom's room. He stops when he sees her peacfully sleeping with a tube in her mouth. His heart sinks at the sight, his beautiful mother now laid up unresponsive. He looks away blinking away the tears glisting in his eyes, he takes a deep breath heading over to her. "Hey, mama..." James whispers pulling a chair next to her bedside. He sits down and takes her hand into his. "How are you?" His thumb strokes her hand as he pushes back her hair from her face with his other hand.
"I met someone..." James softly states with a tender smile as he watches her slow breathing. "Remember Cecile?...ha, of course you do... well she and I have been hanging out, secretly of course. And well," He breathes with slight laughter escaping his lips, "I think she still likes me... I know I still like her... You were right about her, Mama. She is something to marvel at. I'm scared to do anything about theses feelings, but I'll see what happens."
Francis leans on the door way watching James, he shallows trying to gain strength to be there better for him. James leans his forhead on her hand that he clutches desperately. "Mama, please wake up..." He pleads boyishly as a stray tear slips down his cheeks. Unsure if he imaganied it he felt her softly squeeze his hand lovingly. "Mama?" His voice squeeks as he sits up rapdily staring for any signs of her waking. He stands up checking her, "Mama? Mama? Mom?"
Francis hurries over next to James, "What is it?" He looks over at James breathing heavy.
"I-I felt her squeeze my hand..." James admits feeling foolish.
"Really?" Francis asks hopeful as he touches her cheek softly, "Mama? Are you here?" James and Francis smile at each other their eyes bright with hope.
Their smiles fade when they hear her heart rate increasing, "What's happening?" James asks starring at the monitor. Francis turns quickly to head out of the room to get a nurse. "Nurse!" Francis calls from outside the door way.
James turns back to Bobbie watching her closly as the machine flatelines causing him to snap back towards the machine panicked. He grabs the call button and pushes it repeatedly. "Francis!" James yells as he grabs her hand.
"Mama, Mama?" His voice penetrating through the choas now ensuing around him as nurses and doctors rush into his room. "Mama!" James yells as the sound of the monitor is suddenly drowned out by the orders being given around them. James watches he is removed from the room and the door is shut in his face.
Francis grabs James away from the door unsteadly, "You okay?" He asks scanning his brother. James nods his head slowly feeling overwhelmed.
"I don't know what happened..." He answers truthfully. He stops talking when he notices some one walking down the hall putting a empty vial in his pocket. "I'll be right back..." James whispers as he slowly heads off into the direction the man went.
James hides behind a open door when he notices the man glance behind him. He watches as the takes out his phone and speaks something in Russian. "Russian?" James asks suddenly remembering what he read about HYDRA. After the man hung up the phone James appears out from behind the door, "Excuse me..." James walks over to the man standing tall. The man looks up at James while he puts something in his mouth.
"Yes?" The man asks cooly. James glances down noticing the vial again, but this time could see the contianments that were once in it. The man follows James eyes realzing he sees the vial. They make eye contact before the man punches James in the face and runs down the hall.
James grabs his nose stumblng back by the blow. He scans the hall noticing the man dissapeared, he takes off running in the direction he thinks the man had went. James runs down the hall weaving in and out of people, "Excuse me! Sorry!" He bust down the door leading to the fire escape stairwell. He scans the stair well for any signs of the man. When he notices the man is no where in sight he runs back into the hallway.
James stops running once he reaches the third floor lobby, he scans the area breathing heavy. The man walks down the stairs calmly nodding kindly to everyone he sees. "HEY!" James yells causing the man to turn around quickly. "STOP!" James pushes pass people as he follows after the man who is now reaching the second lobby.
James jumps over the railing and onto the second floor cutting the man off in his tracks. Unable to escape the man pulls out a knife and raises it towards James, "Move." James glances at the knife contemplating his next action.
"No. You move." James grabs the man's wrist twisting it around causing him to drop the knife. The man yelps as he kicks James in the shin causing him to release his wrist. The man knocks James off his feet before grabbing the knife again, and starts heading towards the stairs. James twist to kick the man's feet out from under him. He avoids the move only to be faced with James now punching him in the gut. The man snarls as he bends over in pain, "I have felt a similar punch before...I can't quite place it." He glares up at James before lunging forward slicing his side.
"Ugh!" James grasps his side as the knife cuts deep. James looks over when he hears men running towards the second stairwell completley armored. James grabs the man before he can escape and slams him on the ground knocking the knife from his hand. "Who are you?" He demands cupping the collar of his shirt in his fist.
The man lets out a deranged laugh, "You already know... Who I am, James Rogers..."
"Who are you?" James growls slamming him back down on the ground.
"Hail HYDRA..." The man utters before crunching on something. James lets go of the man as the white foam froms around his mouth. James stumbles back as soliders surround them.
"Stand down!" They order as they raise their guns towards them. James lift his hands over his hand in surrender before they take him away.
"Hyrda..." James whispers to himself as the world starts to spin around him. "Can't be..."
Author Notes: Hey, guys! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! A lot has happened in this long chapter, but it's really exciting to get to write the rest of this story. lol! Thank you for the reviews!
-C.R. :)