Winter's solace

Suits

Avengers Compound:

Months passed, Alyssa spent more and more time at the compound. More time around Peter. Bucky was always there. Watching over them protectively.

  "Bucky." Sam said quietly as he watched the man stand at the lab window

He was watching the kids in the kitchen. Bucky turned around.

"What?" Bucky asked

"It's Peter. Chill. He's with Mj anyway." Sam said

"You know he's poly, right?" Rhodey asked as he entered the lab.

"What the hell is poly?" Clint asked

"Non monogamous." Bucky answered "so's Alyssa. That's what worries me."

Sam chuckled.

"So you're worried about her being in a healthy relationship with someone who's the same romantic orientation as herself?" He asked

Bucky snorted before shooting Sam a look.

"No. I'm worried about her being in a relationship with a boy that's practically Tony Stark's son." He said

Bruce chuckled in the corner.

"Tony would've loved that." He said quietly.

"What?"

"You calling Peter his son. Anyone calling Peter his son actually. That boy and Morgan were his world."  He continued, a sad look on his face.

Bucky sighed, knowing the look's meaning. He glanced at the calendar.

"Anyone know how the kid's doing? Actually doing?" He asked "What about Morgan and pepper?"

"Pepper's putting on an act." Rhodey said "But it's killing her. Morgan doesn't even realize what today is I don't think."

"Peter snapped at May this morning." Bruce said "She told me. He never snaps at anyone."

Bucky nodded.

"Found Alyssa in the attic this morning." He admitted "Holding her mom's old knife set. She was crying."

"They're gonna struggle." Clint assured the other men "Tony and Nat were important to them."

He watched Alyssa laugh. She seemed happy But what pain was she hiding under the mask?

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Alyssa disappeared halfway through the day. Peter looked around the compound for her.

"Anyone seen Alyssa?" He asked "We had plans with MJ and now I can't find her." He said

"Check the sub level."  Clint said without thinking

Peter nodded, taking off down the hall.

"Alyssa!" He called as he entered the sub level.

He saw her, sitting on the floor staring at a glass case. She was looking up at a black body suit. He noticed the red hourglass on the belt and sighed, running his hand through his hair. He walked up and sat down beside her.

"She was a good woman." He said "Always nice to me."

Alyssa nodded. 

"She was good at that. Being kind to kids." She said "Not so good at making sure she made it home."

She sniffled and Peter's face dropped. He pulled her close.

"Yeah. She wasn't the only one bad at that." He said quietly, looking up at Iron Man's suit. "I'm sorry they're gone."