Healing

Chapter Two-Party

An hour passes before we're ready to head out.

"Well?" My body nearly vibrates with excitement as I wait at the door for both men to get going.

"We're going, kid, cut us a little slack."

"Both of you are never early unless I'm with you. You both seem to get off on seeing how close you can come to being late. Especially you, Steve." I lean into him as we descend the stairs and he smirks.

"Get off? The hell you learn that expression?" Bucky asks with a frown and my eyes roll.

"I'm sixteen. I'm in college. Do the math." Steve does his best to strangle the laugh in his throat but based on Bucky shoving him down the next flight of stairs he isn't successful.

"Are you wearing-"

"Spandex under my pants for preparation to wear under my dress? Yes. Dad, I've got this. Let's go." I emphasize as we reach the long hallway leading to the door outside. Slowly, we all tiptoe down only to nearly jump out of our skin when Cathy's door swings open.

"Is that my sweet girl?" She accuses and I grin, nodding.

"Hey, Gran'ma Cathy. Yeah, we're headed to Tony's for a party. What do you think about my hair?" I ask for her opinion and she tsks.

"I think you look finer than I did back in the day and trust me, that's saying something." She winks at me and I laugh lightly. "Anyway, why aren't these two men telling you how fine you look? Don't either of you have manners?" She frowns behind me at Bucky and Steve who give me pleading looks.

"I don't know, Gran'ma Cathy, maybe they need more lessons on it." My smile widens as she focuses fully on them and slips the oven mitts off her wrinkled hands as if to hit them with them. I lean over and peck her cheek before heading out the door. Bucky and Steve will extricate themselves eventually. A deep breath of fresh air soothes me a bit, but excitement still buzzes in my chest.

"Perce!" A familiar voice shouts and I turn just in time to see Peter land beside me in a white button-up and black slacks.

"Peter!" I exclaim and move towards him with furrowed brows. "You're swinging in your fancy clothes?" I question and he shrugs.

"I was just swinging by on the way to Tony's party and thought I'd drop in. I like your hair." He compliments and I run a hand over my hair self-consciously.

"Thanks. You look really handsome too. A little like Tony." His chest puffs out a bit and his hands flatten out his shirt. A loud noise has us turning back to Bucky and Steve who now seem to actually be being beaten by Cathy's oven mitts.

"Maybe I shouldn't have baited her. We'll be late if she keeps this up." I purse my lips disappointedly.

"Uh, well, do you want a lift?" He offers and my eyebrows pop up.

"Like, swinging?" I repeat and he nods with a shrug.

"It's how I was going to get there anyway. If you're not comfortable-"

"I'd love to! Thank you, Peter. Dad!" I yell and both Steve and Bucky look to me. "I'm heading in with Peter!"

"What-!?" But he's too late. I've latched myself to Peter as he lifts us up and takes off swinging. My curls still fly like a flag behind us and I laugh as we soar. Peter's grin is luminous and it's only the blurred sight of the city that keeps my eyes wandering away from it. It's a good thing too.

"Pete, based on your speed and velocity, the degree of how much you're turning is significantly below what it should be!" I shout as we turn between skyscrapers.