𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 || 𝐁. 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐒 ||

23. New Life

FIVE YEARS LATER.

"MRS Barnes, I'm sure you're aware that our school has a zero tolerance for bullying." Mr Taylor, Jamie's principal tells you as you sit in the office.

"I'm aware." You sigh. "In his defense, he was just looking out for his sister."

"Mrs Barnes, he called one of our students, I quote, a 'dumb fuck who can't spell his own name'." The principle reads out and your eyes widen.

The only person who Jamie could've learned that language from is Bucky. Still to this day, this man hasn't cured his potty mouth.

"The guy probably is a dumb fuck who can't spell his own name." You mumble.

"He's five."

"So?" You shrug. "Look, I have a dance recital to be at right now, can we wrap this up?"

Makkari has been begging you to put her in ballet for months and when you finally did, you were proud to hear that she was one of the top students in her ballet class. Today, she's got a dance recital and you were supposed to meet Bucky there when you were done with this meeting.

"No, we can't just wrap this up." Mr Taylor scoffs. "Do you have any idea on how serious this is?"

"With all due respect, I don't see Xander's parents anywhere here either. He's the one who cut my daughter's hair during a test and Jamie was just standing up for her. Honestly, I don't think he did much wrong."

"We've had a word with Xander privately." Mr Taylor mutters.

"And you couldn't have a word with my son privately?" You fold your arms. "Why'd you have to drag me all the way over here just because he said a cuss word?"

You weren't okay with the fact that he was using swear words but it wasn't that much of a deal to have a whole meeting because of it. The school should've just gave him a detention or something and reprimanded his language. There was no need to make things extra complicated.

"Because-"

"Because, nothing." You interrupt and stand up. "Look, I'm sorry, but I'm not staying here any longer so you can throw a bunch of bullshit at me. I'm taking my son and we're going to leave."

Mr Taylor doesn't say anything as you leave the room and you're glad he doesn't. You don't care if he's a man, if he's got a problem with you or your son, you'd be willing to hash it out with your fists if he's up for it.

"Come on, let's go." You tap Jamie's shoulder and he stands up from his seat in the waiting room.

"Am I in trouble?" He asks worriedly.

"No." You respond. "You did the right thing by sticking up for Kari but you can't cuss at people like that in school, okay?"

"'Kay, Mom."

BUCKY BARNES.

Where the fuck is she?

I've been sitting at this dance studio, waiting for Y/N to show up with Jamie and she still isn't here. Now, I have to deal with all the flirting mothers, since I'm the only dad here.

"Which one's your little girl?" A random woman asks me and I groan audibly before answering.

"Makkari." I say, pointing at my little girl putting her ballet shoes on. "That one there."

"Oh my goodness!" She gushes. "I don't know how I didn't put it together, you're the Winter Soldier, aren't you?"

Even though I gave up fighting entirely a few years back, people still only know me as The Winter Solider. And it's pissing me off.