𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘔𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵

03. Homemade Cookies

"Oh, you're here, Buck? I thought you were going to see Tony?" Steve asked, using his shirt to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

"He's in a meeting. I'll see him later."

On the other side of the large gym, Steve and Nat had finished a round of sparring. Clint, who'd arrived before Bucky had, was standing eagerly in front of the training bow rack waiting for the target simulation to boot up.

"Also, if Clint comes anywhere within a 5ft radius of my cookies then I'm taking his bows away."

"What?" Clint dropped his quiver, head snapping towards him. "Shit, suppose I should've seen that coming..."

Nat scoffed, rolling her eyes. "What's he done this time?"

"He slobbered up my cookie dough like he was a starving hound."

Clint spluttered, "Wha- I did not!"

"Tell that to Miss FRIDAY, I'm sure she recorded it," Bucky slyly grinned, turning to the sweating duo. "Can you believe he shoved the whole thing into his mouth in one go? Didn't know we lived with an ape in this tower. No, I think they might have better manners."

There was silence for a second, until Natasha laughed loudly, and Steve sighed briefly before looking over to Clint, ready to give a reprimanding. Bucky seemed to be joking around, and they were caught off guard by it since it doesn't happen that often. They both smiled to themselves, knowing the brunet must be in a good mood today.

"Okay, you're completely exaggerating, I did not eat it like that! Nat, you have to believe me!" Clint whined.

"Clint, what have I told you about eating that? What if you upset your stomach?" Steve has his arms crossed.

The archer chortles, "As if anyone's gotten salmonella from eating raw cookie dough."

"It's still a risk!"

"Yeah, yeah, alright gramps, go back to your training before you pop a hip bone from the stress."

Clint barely managed to dodge Steve's playful fist as he walked away.

*****

Bucky went back to the lab and bumped into Peter by the doorway.

"Heya, doll."

"Hi again, Mr. Barnes!" Peter's face split into a wide grin, and he gave a little wave. For a split second James could imagine a wagging dog tail behind him. Cute.

"I'm actually about to head off now." the teen says.

"Wait, before you go," Bucky stopped him, "Do you like cookies?"

Peter looked at him puzzledly. "Of course I like cookies. I mean, who doesn't?"

"Good. 'Cause I got some right 'ere for ya."

James placed the small tupperware of cookies right into Peter's hands.

"Wha- really? Is- is this for me?"

The older man nodded.

"All of them?" Peter peered into the box. There were around 4 large chocolate chip cookies, and they were warm and freshly made. They smelled delicious and Peter's mouth started salivating.

"Did you make them? Wow. They smell so good."

"Yeah, I made a bit too much so I figured you might want some."

Tony watched the whole interaction from across the lab, jaw agape.

Huh?

What was happening?

Was what he was seeing real?

Tony squinted in disbelief, because he knew Bucky was lying. He hadn't 'made too much' because he always makes the perfect amount. And even if he had, Steve and Thor's bottomless stomachs would eat them up anyway. He must've made this portion specifically for Peter.

The mechanic rubbed his eyes, and yep, Bucky was still there, giving his homemade cookies to his intern, chatting to him like it was every other day. His face was less menacing than it usually was around people who weren't the Avengers, and there was even a hint of a smile.

Tony was in stunned silence and hadn't realised he'd been staring until Peter called his name, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

"I'll be off now Mr. Stark, see you on Monday!"

"Uhh, yeah, see you later kid... you sure you don't need Happy to drop you off?"

"Nah, I'm good thanks, I'm meeting up with MJ and Ned."

When Peter left the room, Tony's eyes rapidly locked onto Bucky.

"I didn't know you were capable of talking to someone other than us, Snowflake." Tony remarked, leaning his chin against his palms.

Bucky shifted his weight on his feet, shrugging. "He's a good kid."

Tony hummed fondly, "He is, isn't he? Actually, nevermind, I'm not surprised you can talk to Peter. I swear he has some sort of powers."

Bucky looked at him with his eyebrow raised.

"Seriously Barnes, he has weaponized puppy dog eyes. They're dangerous! One look and that's it. You'll want to do anything for him. He's already got the R&D interns wrapped around his fingers. They took the blame for the fire he started in lab 02, because they didn't want him to get into trouble!"

Bucky snorted. "How long has he been your intern?"

"About a few months now. He's one of the only kids that I actually got along with from the internship program, well, Pepper seems to think that we get on a little too well, like a house on fire."

******

Peter made his way to the designated meet up spot with Ned and MJ, earphones in his ears as he hummed a tune down the sidewalk.

He looked down at his phone for a split second and as he did, he bumped into a tall man with glasses that he hadn't even noticed was walking in front of him. It was like he appeared out of nowhere, and not even his senses were able to warn him.

The man's documents spilled out of his satchel, and Peter tugged out his earphones, immediately apologising.

"Oh, I'm so so sorry! I wasn't looking at where I was going, this is my fault- are you okay?"

The man watched him cautiously, and seemed to be looking at something behind him? Peter glanced back slightly, but there was nothing there. Okay then...

"No, this was my fault." his voice sounded hoarse, like he had a sore throat. Was he ill?

The man went down on his knees and gathered his things up with relaxed ease, as if he was in no rush.

Peter crouched down to help him, and as he was picking up his things the man suddenly grabbed onto his hand, and turned his palm upside so that his bare wrist was showing.

Peter froze and stared at the man in slight shock at the sudden action, the man whose eyes were staring at him. His eyes were hauntingly black. When Peter came back to himself and jerked his hand away, the man had a tight lipped smile on his face, pushing his round glasses up his nose. Peter stood back up and the man followed after.

"Forgive me, I thought you looked familiar to someone I know for a moment there."

"Ah... no w-worries..."

Peter watched the man walk away, unnerved as hell. His senses didn't seem to work around him, and they were deafeningly quiet. Peter wasn't able to detect his oncoming actions at all.

That was really weird.