Phantom || Peter Parker

24

Days turned to weeks, but when the weeks added up, it turned out to be almost a month. Bucky stayed true to his word, staying with Avalon day and night, leaving twice a day to get some food when the others weren't paying attention, showering early in the morning, push-ups, sit-ups, other exercises when he felt necessary, and sitting down next to Avalon. Peter had gone back to school, practically being bombarded with questions from his best friend, Ned Leeds and going to the Avengers Tower every day, staying with Avalon for a few hours until he had to go back home to his Aunt May. Strange stopped by every day and night, checking in on her vitals and changing the bandages that covered her wound, teaching Bucky how to do it as well, just in case.

The other Avengers would stop by every once in a short while, making sure she was still breathing, even Loki would stop by with a book in his hands as he read a few chapters to Avalon, Natasha would wash her up every morning, kicking Bucky out to give the girls some privacy, everything falling into a routine. Especially when Ross called Stark every day to see if he had any information on the whereabouts of Phantom, which he always lied about. But she was still lying in the same hospital bed, a light blanket over her, covering her, even though the room was kept at a cool temperature. She was wearing a simple black sports bra with matching Capri leggings, her right arm laying on the bed, with her dragon bracelet around her wrist and ring around her finger, her left hand resting on her stomach while she held her lucky pocket knife, her blue bracelets on her wrist, no one else bothering to hold that hand or even remove the knife. Natasha made sure Avalon wore her black choker, but Stark had taken her locket to do something with it.

Bucky was sitting on the chair next to his daughter, like he always did, his hand resting on top of hers, assuring himself that she was okay and all she had to do was wake up so he could see her ice blue eyes again. Avalon could feel the things around her, knowing that she was laying down in a somewhat comfortable bed, but she also felt the pain in her right side. What really sucks, is that pain pills had never worked on her, so she knew she was to feel it for a few days, even though it's been about three and a half weeks. Bucky's breath hitched slightly when he was suddenly pulled into a memory, and he remembered that day like it was yesterday. It was the day he had given her the locket, and he had found it on a man who had stolen it from another, but there was nothing inside of it. So, he decided to take it and give it to his daughter, who had wore it every day since then, and surprised that Hydra didn't take it from her.

They had just finished training for the morning, Avalon was walking over to a corner of the room to put her primary away, hanging her chain on the wall next to it. She stopped when Bucky called out for her, turning around and looking up at him, watching as he walked over to her and kneeled in front of her small frame, pulling out the necklace from his pocket and dangling it in front of her. Avalon looked at it in confusion, but letting him clasp it around her neck, causing her to look down at the small locket, then back up at her father. It surprised her when he gently ran his hand through her hair, but she found it comforting, causing a small smile to form on her lips. The memory faded, Bucky gently taking his hand from Avalon's, just as she began to open her eyes, which connected with the ceiling above her.

But her eyes snapped shut, eyebrows furrowing slightly at the pain in her right side, a small groan emitting from her, which caused Bucky to shoot up, looking at his daughter, a shocked laugh emitting from him when she moved her head to the side.

"Hey, malyshka" Bucky said, a smile on his lips

He reached up, gently moving some of her hair away from her eyes as they opened once more, small tears beginning to form in his eyes when he finally saw hers, never thinking that he would miss seeing them. A small smile formed on Avalon's lips as her tired eyes looked at him, her right hand slowly rising, causing Bucky to gently grasp it with his metal hand, but this time, not being pulled into a memory.