Special Touch Part: Three

Chapter Nineteen

No alarms sounded, the tower wasn't evacuated, and the conference room was swiftly cleaned up by those loyal to Fury.

The start of the new SHIELD, one completely clean of Hydra and corruption, had to first start with bloodshed, and you might've been the one to bring this on, but you were neither criminalize nor rewarded for it. You could only console yourself in the coming days until you saw your family with the knowledge that this was finally over, and you stuck to your guns through it all. There was no way in hell you would let these people walk around like ticking time bombs that could easily blow up and take plenty of people you loved with them.

"I want him to train here."

You and Bucky were walking down the halls of the tower, waiting for when Peter was expected to come by for his training and he was going to drop Ollie off with you since he's been watching the dog since Natasha left.

"Excuse me?" You stopped, turning to him with a look of offense across your face, "You don't get a say in those types of choices."

"I know," He nodded with a frown, looking away, "But I just feel like, with what Banner said, he could-"

"And Wade called him an 'angel-soldier hybrid'," You deadpanned, unamused, "Everybody has had a say in what they think is best for me and Natasha's son, but you know who gets to actually make those decisions?" You asked rhetorically, your eyebrows raised, "Me and her, no one else."

"Wade's a dick, but he wasn't wrong."

"If I'm an angel, then I'm Lucifer."

"You've got a good heart and yeah, you might've fallen off the deep end there a bit, but," He took a deep breath, "If we hadn't brought you in to save Nat's life, would you have been perfectly content helping the little guy forever?"

"That would've bitten me in the ass eventually with Paige and whoever else found me."

"Okay," He smirked, throwing his arm around your shoulders as you guys continued walking, "But isn't all this shit worth it?" You cocked your eyebrow at the question, a teasing smile crossing your lips as he got serious, "Meeting Nat, meeting me," He chuckled and you rolled your eyes playfully, "Helping more people than you ever would've been able to and having Cory...isn't that worth all the crap?"

"I killed so many more than I would have if-"

"You really think they didn't deserve it?" He shook his head in disbelief, "They were Hydra. Threatening you, Nat, and Cory, if you hadn't taken them out, I know I wouldn't have hesitated."

You knew he was right; they were killers – people much more evil than the average criminal because they were supposed to protect the public, not put it in danger, but it still bugged you that you had so much blood on your hands. You had fought so hard to do good, to help others, and once you found out about your mother – the thing she turned into – you pushed yourself even harder to avoid that fate, but maybe that just brought you further over the edge. Maybe going after something, having that anger and magic rooted in your genes and trying to fight it, was something you could only ever manage and never truly defeat.

And maybe you were okay with that.

"I don't want Cory training," You admitted lowly after a while and he sighed, his lips going into a thin line, "I'm sorry, Bucky, but this stuff is too dangerous and-"

"He's my kid too."

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" You snapped and he raised his hands, shaking his head.

"Not what I meant!" He corrected quickly, "I just meant, he's got super soldier serum coursing through his veins and your ability to heal people, once he figures all that out, he's gonna be just like his mom and want to learn this stuff to help people."

The idea of putting your kid into this life made your stomach churn, but you knew Bucky was right to some extent and you just dreaded the day Cory asked about it all.

"Y/n!" Peter's voice called out and you both spun around as he jogged over with Ollie pulling him towards you.

"Hey, Pete, thanks," You smiled sweetly at the curly haired boy, taking the leash from him, "Everything go okay?"

"Yeah, he's a good boy," He smiled brightly at the dog who now sat at your feet, and you couldn't help but to mirror it, "And Mr. Stark said Cory's going to be attending Midtown in the fall?"

"Yeah, nineth grade," You nodded, having put off that information for a while with everything going on, "He really likes dissecting things, so biology will be fun for him."

"Yeah, he mentioned that last time he was here!" Peter laughed and you chuckled while Bucky just crossed his arms, not the hugest fan of the spider, "He's going to have such a blast and he'll at least have a few people to sit with at lunch."

He was walking around you as he spoke, needing to meet with Stark for a suit fix, and you turned with him.

"Thanks, Peter, that means a lot to me." You smiled kindly and he nodded before sending you a wave, going on his way.

"I can tell you're tired." Bucky observed as you both headed for the elevators.

"You were the quiet one." You smirked, but your eyes did feel heavy, and you kind of just wanted to get home, cuddle with Natasha, and maybe sleep for a week.

"Want me to drive you home?" He offered and you smiled gratefully up at him.

"Nah, it's okay," You waved it off, "Might take the subway."

"Okay, screw that," Bucky rolled his eyes, and you furrowed your eyebrows, "Your car's not even here? You're being stubborn for no reason, so I'm taking you home."

"Alright," You smiled tiredly as the two of you got on, planning to take it down to the lobby, "But we're getting food on the way."

"Of course."

"And Buck?" You peered up at him and he smiled, "Will you stay with me until Nat and Cory get back?"

You asked it quietly, partly because you were sleepy, but mostly because you didn't like feeling vulnerable around too many people or all too often. Bucky's features soften immediately at the question and he pulled you closer with the arm around your shoulders, kissing the top of your head before he answered.

"Of course, doll."