Friends with Fire // Bucky x Oc (Discontinued For Now)

• 13 •

“I don’t need that kind of attention,” I say simply, turning my phone off. I glance at the TV and do a double-take, noticing something. “That guy has the missing piece of the sphere,” I realize.

“Who?” Parker asks quickly.

I point in the background of the interview going on at a man holding something. “We need to go,” I say swiftly, already grabbing my coat.

“Should I come?”

“I just said we, so yes,” I say shortly, opening the door. I turn the TV off and lock the door behind me. I turn to find Parker pulling his mask on. “I’ll meet you there. Try to find that man,” I say. He nods before shooting out a web and launching himself into the air.

I make my way quickly back to the location of the fire and slow when the flashing of first-responder vehicles becomes more visible. I pause and scan the interior of the caution tape, looking for the man I had seen on the TV.

“Ms. Brantley,” someone says in a hushed tone.

I jump slightly and turn, finding Parker tucked into the alleyway behind me. “Don’t sneak up on me,” I hiss, irritated.

“Noted,” he says swiftly. “I got the guy. He’s in that alleyway,” he continues, pointing down the street.

“Good job,” I say, starting toward it. I check that no one is watching me, but anyone on this street is focused on the brunt building and not some random woman walking into an alleyway.

I hear muffled noises and as my eyes adjust to the dimmer lighting I find the man pinned to the wall by Parker’s webbing, some of it covering his mouth. One of his hands is tightened into a fist, holding something. “Hello,” I say smoothly, stepping in front of him.

He makes muffled noises at me as he struggles against the webbing holding him in place. “He doesn’t really seem to want to be complacent,” Parker says, dropping down beside me.

“Take that stuff off his mouth,” I say.

“But what if he calls for help?” Parker asks.

I lock eyes with the man. “If you call for help I’ll give you a real reason to,” I threaten darkly.

His eyes go wide with fear and he nods excessively, showing he understands. Parker slowly removes the webbing from the man’s mouth and steps back. “I didn’t do anything,” he says immediately, shooting Parker a dirty look.

“What’s in your hand?” I ask, not looking away from his face.

He blanches and his eyes flick between me and Parker. “What… what do you mean?” he stutters, pursing his lips nervously.

“Do I need to check it myself?” I growl, stepping closer. I hold my hand out under his. “Open,” I order, holding his gaze. He flinches slightly and opens his hand, dropping the piece of metal into my waiting palm. “That wasn’t so hard now, was it?” I mutter, wrapping my fingers around the piece of metal. I step back and glance at Parker.

“Are we done?” he asks, glancing up at the man.

“Yes,” I respond. “Will that stuff… go away at some point?” I ask, motioning at the webs.

“Eventually,” he replies.

“Lovely.” I turn and walk out of the alleyway and back to the safe house where Parker is already waiting for me, doing a handstand. “What in the world…” I mutter, walking around him. He places his feet down into a backbend and stands, facing me. I shudder slightly. “That was unnerving,” I mumble. I unlock the door and enter, Parker close behind me.

“I grabbed my bag so that I can change out of my suit,” he tells me.

“The bathroom is upstairs immediately on your left,” I say, hanging my coat up.

“Thank you,” he says energetically, running toward the stairs.

“I do not have that energy level,” I murmur, running a hand down my face. I grab a teapot and fill it with water before bringing it to the stove. I pause, the pot held in the air, and stand there for nearly a full minute before turning the stove on and placing the pot down.

I saved people, against my better judgment, and now I’m helping a fifteen-year-old boy who’s apparently working for Tony Stark. Since when did I get so soft? I zone out, watching the teapot blankly.

Who even am I anymore? My wristlet stopped working and my microchip was removed, giving me full access to my powers again, which I haven’t had since I was… twelve?! The Avengers are pissed at me for killing a friend of theirs and are the reason I’m having this existential crisis currently. As well as the fact that I have nowhere to go and I’m not sure if the organization is still running or something happened…

All in all, I’m pretty fucked at the moment… Oh, and the fact that because of my microchip being removed I have to feel all my emotions again which makes me unstable, going against the entire reason I was given the microchip in the first place, and making it more likely that I’ll explode and use my powers negatively… What the hell am I supposed to do?

I’m jarred out of my head by the high-pitched whistle of the tea kettle and quickly turn the stove off, grabbing a cup and placing a tea bag in it before pouring out the steaming water.

I hear rapid footsteps barreling down the stairs and turn as Parker comes charging into the kitchen, no longer wearing his Spiderman suit. “What’s our next move, Parker?” I ask, leaning back on the counter.

~~~~~~

Paragraphs of inner monolog >>> writing anything else