Love over Blood - Bucky Barnes

Chapter Nine

Bucky's POV

I've spent the last two nights with Opal and I can't say that I'm looking forward to sleeping on my own tonight. This morning we all got up, Opal made breakfast and we took Hunter to school together. He's such a sweet kid, I would have loved to have had my own but things didn't exactly work out.

After we drop Hunter off, we head to the coffee house, I stand at the counter talking to Opal and Cindy as they work; waiting for Steve and Sam. Cindy leans her elbows on the counter and looks at me "I heard you won't put out". Opal smacks her in the arm and they both giggle. "I'm just teasing, I think it's cute". I chuckle at her bluntness "I just want to do things right".

The door opens at 9am, "Hello stranger" Sam smirks, I roll my eyes at him and give Opal a kiss on her lips "I'll pick you up at 2:30" and off I go.

On the way back to the compound I'm bombarded with questions from Steve and Sam which I don't have a problem answering, which is so unlike me. Steve asks me about her son and I tell them about our day together. "I really am happy for you, man", "Thanks, Sam".

I spend the day talking to Natasha about Opal and badgering Tony about cars. He has so many and knows a lot about them. I'm thinking of getting one so I can take Opal and Hunter on day trips and things like that. I know you're probably thinking i'm crazy but I really do like her and I know I only met Hunter 24 hours ago but I would do anything for that little boy.

Tony agrees to help pick out a car with me sometime this week; I'm very grateful. We haven't always got along but our relationship seems to have improved the last couple of months. He's given me his car until I get my own and it has genuinely been so much easier.

2:30 rolls on fast. I'm currently sat outside the coffee house waiting for Opal. I see her walk through the door so I roll down my window, "Hey, pretty lady" I smile, "Oh sorry, I'm actually waiting for someone and he'd kick your ass" She jokes. She hops in the passenger seat and I drive us to the school.

When we get there she points out the bitch and funnily enough, 2 minutes later she and her husband walk over. "Sergeant Barnes, I am a huge fan" He says, I shake his hand. Elise looks Opal up and down and brings her eyes back to me, "Careful with this one, she's a little irresponsible" she whispers cockily. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak about my girlfriend like that. She is not irresponsible, she's the best mother to Hunter and I can guarantee you wouldn't last a week as a single parent". Her husband snickers slightly but covers it up with a cough while she stares at me in shock. I wrap my arm around Opal's waist and pull her to my chest. When Elise and her husband head to the other side of the yard, Opal looks up at me "Girlfriend huh?", I laugh and push her head back into my chest "Shut up". It just slipped out.

Opal's POV

James called me his girlfriend. I have to admit, hearing that gave me butterflies. We haven't spoken about that yet but I don't think I'd be opposed to the idea.

5 minutes pass and the parents begin to leave. James is on the phone to Sam waiting on the other side of the yard but there's no sign of Hunter, I assume he's just late coming out. He's always misplacing things. Elise approaches me "Uh, Opal?", I turn to look at her, "Jessica said that Hunter was picked up at lunch". My heart stops. "What?". I rush towards the teacher that's outside with Elise trailing behind me "Where's Hunter?". She looks at me sweetly "Oh, his grandad picked him up at lunch". I go to lunge forward but Elise grabs me "He doesn't have a fucking grandad. Why the fuck would you let some random man take one of your kids, My fucking kid!" I shout. I grab James' attention with my yelling and he rushes over "What's wrong?". "They took him".

I'm shaking like a leaf while all the other parent gather around asking their children if they seen who picked him up. James is explaining the situation to the team and they're making their way over now. I go over the teachers words in my head- 'his grandad'. Something clicks in my brain. What if it was his grandad? Fuck. I run out of the school and sprint home without anyone noticing.

I grab my old, black, hooded suit that was made for me when I was training. I fill my holsters with my guns and knives. I put on my two gauntlets that have compact swords stored in them and I head out. I'm a little shocked it still fits.

Bucky's POV

The team get here in no time. "Where is she?" Wanda asks. "She's right over there" I point but soon realise that she's no longer there. I shout to Elise and the other parents asking if they've seen her, they all shake their heads no. Before I called Tony, Opal said I should tell them about her past just incase they thought it would be best for her to sit out on this. There was no way she'd sit out but I guess she just wanted everyone to focus on Hunter and not her safety. A true mother. I call her atleast 15 times but they all go straight to voicemail. The parents have been advised to stay out of it as they were going to form a search party. We don't know who this person is, they may be a threat. Oh god, what if this is because of me? Clint see's the worry on my face "I'm sure they're both okay" he reassures. "What if they've been targeted because of me?". Steve looks at me sympathetically "We'll figure out what's going on".

We head to Opals house to see if she's there; she's not. We do find an empty box chucked in the middle of the floor though. "What do you think this is?" Scott asks. Nat runs her hands over the lid "It's a suit. The red room used to get ours from the same place. I remember the packaging". "So you're telling me that she's suited up and is hunting for her son by herself!?" I shout. I'm going to have a panic attack.

I storm out of the house. Tony follows me and grabs both of my shoulders with his hands "Look at me Barnes. We'll figure this out". He does breathing exercises with me until I calm down a little. "TEAM, LETS SPLIT UP" he yells.