𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝔾𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕃𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣- completed but editing

Chapter 68 | aon mhionaid (A Single Moment)

The key jiggled in the lock and I hauled the door open. I could hear the shower running and the oven clicking as it heated the dinner I left for Bucky to heat.

"I'm home!" I called into the bathroom door.

The shower turned off. "Hey, Ann!"

"There was some big news story that Shuri told me about. I'm going to check it out."

I changed out of my dress and into a pair of Bucky's boxers and a hoodie. After checking on the lasagna, I flopped onto the couch and flicked on the TV.

The Staten Island ferry in pieces seared itself into my eyes. Words were flying everywhere, almost shouted by news anchors and sprinting across the screen in white letters.

FERRY DESTROYED. CIVILIANS TERRIFIED. SPIDERMAN AND IRON MAN INVOLVED.

Bucky came out of the bathroom wearing a towel around his waist. "Everything ok, doll?"

"Uh," I gulped, my eyes on the pictures on the screen. "I'm not sure."

"Should we check on Peter?"

He wriggled into a pair of pants while I dialed.

"Hello?" Peter's voice was grave and sounded hoarse.

"Peter? Are you ok?"

"Li Anne?"

"It's me. Peter, are you ok?"

"No," his voice sounded like it was made of gravel. "Mr. Stark took my suit. He said it wasn't working out."

Bucky sat down next to me. "What's going on?" He mouthed.

"Peter, I'm so sorry," I said before mouthing the situation to Bucky. "Are you ok talking about it?"

"Yeah. I don't know what to do. I was so close to catching that guy. And I snuck out of detention that I earned for sneaking out during the Decathlon."

"Are you gonna get expelled, kid?" Bucky asked, leaning over me to talk into the phone. "Li Anne, couldn't you prevent that?"

I jotted up. "Yeah. I don't want you going to that school on 46th street. Doesn't the principal have a crossbow?"

Bucky laughed really hard, his chin falling in my lap. I stroked his wet hair and he looked up at me, smiling. "A crossbow?"

"I'm pretty sure that was a myth Flash started," Peter assured us.

We shared a strained laugh.

"Peter, we can talk to the principal if you want."

"Please. Aunt May can't deal with anymore. She was so worried when I got home."

Bucky started playing with my hair. "We got you, kid."

"Thanks, Mr. Barnes."

"What did we talk about?"

"Fine, Bucky."

I smiled at their conversation. "Hey, Pete, I have something to talk to Buck about something and if we're gonna keep you in school, we gotta do something before they make any decisions."

"Ok." He sighed. "Bye. And please pray for me."

"Of course."

I hung up, Bucky turned off the TV, and we turned to face each other. "What's up?"

I took a deep breath. "Do you remember that talk we had about kids a couple nights ago?"

"Yeah," he said, straightening up. "What about it? We know it's not really an option."