In Another Life | Sergeant James 'Bucky' Barnes / The Winter Soldier + Ikaris

Chapter 23

April 12, 1987 - Virginia

In the two weeks since she had awoken, she had secretly stayed at Howard's house to recover. It was also to mentally re-acclimatize her to the current world. It was so weird to think of, but Howard's teenage son had helped her. She and Howard had not explained the situation to him so Anthony thought she had amnesia after a field incident.

Howard led Scarlet into his house, with Jarvis following, "I have your room ready for you, its upstairs... I will warn you that it is within hearing distance of Anthony's room."

"I can't believe you are a father." Scarlet said in disbelief as he led her up the stairs.

"I can't still believe it either. I don't know how to be a father... now that he is a teenager... it's even worse." Howard told her, "Here I'll introduce you."

Howard walked over to a door with the sign on it that said 'KEEP OUT. DANGER. EXPLOSIVES IN USE'

"Explosive personality?" Scarlet joked.

Jarvis gave her a look, "No ma'am... he has had explosives in there prior to today. I will take these bags to your room."

"Okay then." Scarlet said as Howard knocked, "Thank you Jarvis."

"It's been a pleasure again ma'am." Jarvis said as he walked further down the hall.

Howard knocked louder to be heard over the music.

Scarlet frowned. "That is music now?"

"Rock music." Howard told her as the door opened and a young boy appeared wearing headphones on his ears. "Can you turn that racket off? I want to talk to you."

Anthony rolled his eyes and turned around, slamming the door behind him.

Howard opened it and led Scarlet into the room, "Excuse the mess."

"This is my room I can... well hello."

Scarlet wanted to laugh as his attitude changed within seconds.

"Hello gorgeous, I am Tony." He said as he took Scarlet's hand in his and kissed the back of it, "Pleasure to meet you Miss-"

"Ms. Scarlet." Howard told him, "She was married, Anthony and is recently widowed."

"You must have married young. It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Scarlet." Tony said.

"Agent as well, so try anything and she could put you on the floor." Howard warned him.

"You are an agent at SHIELD?" Tony said surprised, "Wow."

"She is staying down the hall in the purple room, so try to keep it down. She is having some... issues and just wants to relax." Howard told him.

"Scouts honor, I'll stay quiet. If I bother you sweetheart, just let me know. If you need anything, just ask." Tony said with a grin.

Scarlet tried not to laugh, "Thank you...Tony."

Howard shut the door behind them and he shook his head, "Sorry about that."

"He's cute...reminds me of you so much." Scarlet told him.

"He is nothing like me." Howard told her as he led her down the hall.

"Really? Ladies man, smooth talker? Nope nothing like you were at all." Scarlet said with a grin, "How did Maria even rein you in?"

"Funny," Howard said as he opened her room's door, "Here is your room... Maria decorated it."

"Definitely... purple." Scarlet said as she walked in and sat on the bed, "So how did you and Maria meet?"