Monster (A Bucky Barnes Fanfiction)

131

"So, flowers and sauerkraut." Dad says to Howard, "You got a big date tonight?"

"My wife's expecting." Howard replies and I smile, "And, uh–Too much time in the office."

"Congratulations," Dad says.

"Thanks." Howard says, then offers Dad the flowers and sauerkraut, "Hold this, will you?"

"Yeah, sure." Dad takes them. "How far along is she?"

"I don't know–Uh–" Howard tries to show with his hands then drops them "She's at the point where she can't stand the sound of my chewing." Howard answers, fixing his tie, "I guess I'll be eating dinner in the pantry again."

"I have two girls, one is a grown woman with four kids of her own, and then I have a little girl."

"A girl would be nice." Howard tells him, "Less of a chance she'd turn out exactly like me."

"What'd be so awful about that?" Dad questions.

"Let's just say that the greater good has rarely outweighed my own self-interests."

......................................................

"So, where are you at with names?" Dad asks Howard as they walk outside, me still a shadow behind Dad, listening to them.

"Well, if it's a boy, my wife likes Elmonzo," Howard answers.

"Huh, Might wanna let that stew awhile," Dad replies, "You got time."

"Uh-huh. Let me ask you a question." Howard says and Dad turns to face him, "When your kids were born–were you nervous?"

"I wasn't there for the first, unfortunately, but with my other one, wildly. Yeah."

"Did you feel qualified?" Howard questions, "Like you had any idea how to successfully operate that thing?"

"I literally pieced it together as I went along, I thought about what my dad did, and–"

"My old man, he never met a problem he couldn't solve with a belt."

"I thought my dad was tough on me." Dad says "And now, looking back, I just remember the good stuff, you know. He did drop the odd pearl."

"Yeah?" Howard asks "Like what?"

"'No amount of money ever bought a second of time.'" Dad says.

"Smart guy," Howard says.

"He did his best," Dad says.

"Let me tell you." Howard says, "That kid's not even here yet, and there's nothing I wouldn't do for him."

Howard walks towards a car and Dad and I spot Steve and Dad lifts the case to show him right before Howard comes back to Dad and takes his stuff from him.

"Good to meet you, Potts," Howard says.

"Yeah, Howard–Everything's gonna be all right," Dad says, a bit awkwardly, and hugs him. I let a few tears fall, knowing what this means to Dad. "Thank you–for everything–you've done for this country."

Dad and I then walk away to get to Steve and get home. As we meet up with Steve, I stumble, pain radiating in my body as we hide behind a building. I slam into Dad, nearly falling. He and Steve catch me as I whimper.

"What's wrong Nadya?" Dad asks, concerned.

I shake my head. "I-I don't-" I break of gasping then realize what it is and my eyes widen.

"Nadya, talk to us," Steve says, just as concerned as Dad.

I hold back a pained howling scream and breathe through my nose.

"We... need to get back," I gasp out.

"Is something wrong?" Dad asks, even more worried.

Steve and Dad help me stand. "I'm not sure."

They hold on to me and we punch in the date so we can return home. I hate lying to them but I didn't want them to worry right now; I don't even know who it is that's lost yet. And it scares me.