Perception

~CHAPTER 14~

OUTSKIRTS OF BERLIN GERMANY present day

"What do you know about them?" Steve asked leaned against the wall next to Seph. Bucky was now free from the compressor, but Sam kept a harsh glare at him as he explained how HYDRA had created more soldiers.

"They speak 30 different languages, they hide in plain sight, infiltrate, assassinate, destabilize... they can take a whole country down in one night, you'd never see them coming," Bucky finished explaining hunched over in his seat. Sam stood more straight, and swiftly passed Seph to go talk to Steve. Blocking out the concerned whispers from over her shoulder, Persephone stood up and wiped the dust and dirt from her knees.

"You know, I read about you in a museum," She said calmly as she slowly walked closer to him. He shot his head up quickly hearing her peaceful voice. he took in what she said and looked at her.

"What did you read?" He asked after pausing for a moment. he kept his tone soft and deep as he studied her face. She looked down at the ground remembering the day Steve took her to the Smithsonian.

"I read a lot about you actually," She said thinking about it. "Not in a creepy way or anything, just that... well you know, I grew up with Steve," She was stuttering over her words and gestured behind her to Steve who was still talking with Sam. The smallest smirk grew on James's lips. Seph didn't notice, But just the way she spoke brought a smile to Bucky's face, and he didn't realize it either.

"Well, you probably know more about me than I do myself," He said sighing as he finished looking up at her a lighthearted smile trying to grow on his face.

"I'm sorry," She said quickly, Bucky narrowed his brows at her, and listened as she continued. "I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you," She said nodding her head making eye contact with him. "I'm also sorry for going after you earlier, getting myself involved when it wasn't really..." She tried to find a way to word it.

"Why did you do that?" He said looking at her with a firm yet the soft expression on his face.

"I um.." she tried but Sam interrupted the two.

"Come along children, we have a plan," Sam said slaping Seph's back, she was relieved they had interrupted when they did, or else she wouldn't know what to say to Bucky. What? I think I went after you because I care about you? no, she couldn't say that! and to be honest she didn't even know why she cared about him. right now she was just confused scared and rebellious, she had no plan, so she decided she might as well follow theirs.

NEW YORK a few hours later

Bethany buckled her seat belt as Tony drove just the two of them to his claimed next stop, she knew her dad needed her to come for extra help, so she was slightly confused why he had to make another stop.

Pulling up outside of Peter Parker's apartment complex Beth grew eager and confused. Why was she at Peters's apartment? sure she had come here with Happy to pick up her sister, or she had walked from the school here with Seph for school projects.

"Okay kid, Stay here this will only take a second," Tony said getting out of the car. Beth planned on sleeping the whole ride, so she decided to let her confusion not get the best of her and to take a nap. 

around 30 minutes later, Beth woke to the sound of the car door opening in front of her, her father slid into the driver's seat casually and fixed the glasses on his face looking in the red view mirror to find her sleeping, she kept her eyes closed. Tony just assumed she was still asleep. What did manage one eye to pop open, was the sound of the door next to her opening.

"Mr. Stark? should I?" She heard the chipper, shakey quiet voice of Peter say. She shut her eye again when Tony leaned over his seat to help peter. "Oh, sorry I didn't know..." He said quietly noticing Bethany in the seat across from him.

"She's out Pete, don't worry bout it," Tony said helping him place his bags. Peter looked over at Beth and then tilted his head in confusion.

"Mr. Stark, Why is Beth coming with us?" He asked. Tony Began driving off. looking through the rearview mirror as a form of communication, Tony shook his head slightly.

"She's going to help," Tony said ashamed of it.

"Why? is she-" Peter's eyes got wide. "Is she a hero too? Like Persephone?" He asked shocked. Tony shook his head again and made eye contact with peter.

"No, not a hero. she wants to be though, like her sister." Tony stated.

"Why does she not go out on missions with Seph? why can't she be a hero?" Peter asked. As Bethany listen she sided with Pete and desperately wanted to hear her father's answer.

"Because she's... She's never been on big missions, and it's just.." Tony moved his hands around and furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to come up with an excuse. Deciding to drop it Peter looked out the window. and Seph fell back asleep.