Sharp Edges

Chapter Twenty-One

James sighed as he stepped back and wiped sweat from his brow before looking at everyone hard at work. The frame to the house was up and they were slowly working on paneling, although it was going much quicker with Stark's help.

"Does anyone need water?" Cara called out from her position at a picnic table they'd gotten. Yelena carried over a full jug and set it on the end of the table. "Daddy, you look sweaty!"

He turned towards her with a laugh and nodded. "Sweat means you've been working hard," he told her.

"Then you've been working really hard!" she replied with a giggle.

"Paneling should be done today at this rate," Tony said as he approached the table, barely any sweat on him. His machines were doing the bulk of the work for him. He'd have the house wired for electricity in no time too.

James climbed down from the ladder he'd been on and let out a breath. "We're ahead, that's for sure."

"We want to get you in here as soon as possible," Steve said as he approached from working on the porch. "School starts soon."

"Not that we don't love having you guys at the compound with us," Tony added.

Cara shrunk at the mention of school. "We'll figure it out," James stated. "I think the school had some damages of its own."

"Maybe we can help with other local damage once we get the house finished," Tony offered.

"We can see what's needed," Yelena replied, lowering to sit beside Cara and rub her back. They weren't rushing school; if they needed to start at home, they would. Though James was the only one of them who'd been to real school and it was a long time ago.

James rubbed the back of his neck as he played with his water bottle. "I'm sure there are a lot of people that need help."

"We'll do what we can for them," Tony told him surely. "But for now, I'm going to get this house completely wired and solar powered once the roof is finished."

"Can we camp out here tonight?" Cara asked, taking a sip of her own water bottle. "Or are we taking the jet back?"

Steve frowned slightly. "We didn't bring any camping gear, kiddo. Didn't think of it."

She shrugged. "It's okay. Maybe tomorrow we can," she replied.

Yelena leaned in and pressed a kiss to the side of Cara's head. "Tomorrow we can," she told her.

"I like being home," Cara admitted quietly.

James kneeled down and pulled her to him. "I do too," he told her. "But we need to build the house before we can stay here."

She gave him a small nod, staying close to him. "Okay," she agreed in quiet understanding.

"Hey," Clint said, stepping up. "I have an idea, if your folks are okay with it. We're not too far from my house so I was gonna fly back there tonight to see my family. What if you came with?"

Cara's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"

"You live out here?" James asked.

"Missouri," Clint shared with a nod. "Only a jump from here in the jet."

"Welcome to the club," Tony said with a smirk. "We didn't even know that until recently. Or that his family even existed. So, you are now among the trusted few."

James chuckled. "It's an honor."

Clint nodded in reply. "You guys are in the family now," he said simply. "So, how about it? Sleepover at my house?" He glanced to Bucky and Yelena then. "You guys are welcome too, but I'm really happy to keep her for the night."