Healing

Chapter Four-Life and Death

*Bucky's POV*

I watch her and Natasha workout from just outside the door before heading down to Tony's lab. He'd retreated into the depths after Percy left, but I still caught her little whisper to him. It's not like Percy to keep things from Steve and me, especially me, and I want to know just what the hell is going on. I stomp down and into the lab, but Tony sighs before he's even looked up at me.

"I have no clue how you were an assassin. Your footsteps sound like a goddamn elephant coming down the hallway." He tells me and slides out from under one of his many expensive cars. My arms cross and the metallic one whirs with worry.

"What are you and Percy meeting about tonight?" I ask and his eyebrows raise.

"Getting a little too overprotective, are we?"

"Tell me, Stark."

He sighs and rubs oil over his forehead. "You know, its good for kids to have some secrets. Anyway, why ask me? Why don't you ask her?" Tony questions and my jaw clenches. "Ah, you don't want her to see your crazy overprotective assassin side. Sorry to tell you bud, but she probably already knows which is why she's whispering to me rather than you. Doesn't want you to worry." He tells me and flips a wrench in his hand as he stands and leans against an island covered with various tools.

"You know why I worry, Stark," I tell him in a less argumentative tone and his amber eyes scan my face interestedly. "We can't have another incident like last time."

"Hm, yeah, you ever wonder if that happened because of the restrictions you put on her? The kid already shoves all the other shit in her life down, then you added her powers to that. She's like an atomic bomb just expanding, expanding, expanding until one day-"

"Stark," I warn him and he sighs.

"She just wants to know if I got a hit on her blood. Which I have. Years ago. And still haven't told her about." I sigh in relief and let my arms float down to my sides. "Speaking as someone who was lied to by their parents, then parental figure, then my close friend, I'm going to tell you something obvious." He walks a bit closer and sits on a stool a few feet away from me. "Come clean. I'm lying to her now because it would hurt her worse than the truth to know you've been keeping something this important from her. But I won't always lie for you." He threatens and advises at the same time. I tame my relieved expression and nod to him, then head out.

Unintentionally, I find myself back at the gym where Natasha now has her doing crunches on the bar with weights in her hands. She'sstrong, my little girl, but telling her she's a goddess, part of an alien racelike Thor's that came here long ago and dazzled humanity, that's a lot even forher strong shoulders.

Especially with everything her story in particular entails.

*Percy's POV*

Thoroughly sore from my workout with Natasha, I retreat to my room and take a long, hot shower. Once out I change into some fleece-lined leggings and a big, comfy, grey sweater I'd stolen from Steve. I collapse sleepily on the bed and have just decided to go grab some hot chocolate when there's a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," I call and Tony ducks in with a smirk at my position.

"Hey, kiddo." The door clicks shut and he comes over to sit on the bed next to me. "Natasha kill you?" I giggle and nod.

"Feels like it. Something up?" I ask and sit up with a brief struggle. Worry is etched into his face and I automatically shift closer to him for comfort.

"Ah well, our resident Robocop heard you whisper to me today about meeting up." My eyes widen, but he waves my worry away. "No worries, it's been handled, but we should meet tomorrow instead of tonight." He tells me and I nod. His hands have been fiddling with something and he holds it out to me. "But just in case you're exercising," he emphasizes the word and I half-smile, "and need my help, I made this for you." It's a little bracelet made from butterflies that are all different colors. Red and gold, navy, baby blue, red and black, red and silver, and yellow. "I'm the red and gold one, so just press down on the antennae and it'll patch you through to my watch." He taps the black watch on his wrist. Touched, I lean into him and marvel at the bracelet.