Paige is a single mom, part time accounting student, and almost full time bartender. One night she bartends for a charity event and meets Bucky Barnes, one of the Avengers. Finding him interesting and different from other men she has dated she inv...
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One month later The Avengers text alert sounded on Bucky's phone as it sat charging on the kitchen counter. He glanced at it from where he sat at the dining room table but didn't answer as his hands were busy, helping Noah glue together a model airplane. The boy looked at him, prepared to take over the holding part.
"It can wait a moment," answered Bucky to the unasked question. "It's not always a mission."
"Won't you get in trouble?" asked Noah.
Bucky shook his head, waiting patiently as Noah applied the drop of glue to the right spot. After several moments holding the two pieces together, the super soldier slowly removed his fingers from the section and nodded.
"Now I can answer," he said, stepping over to the counter and bringing up the message.
Avengers group: Attempted break in at Iron Mountain vault overnight. Three in custody. One deliberately tripped the alarm and will only speak to Bucky Barnes.
"I'm going to have to call them back," he said to Noah. "You feel like you want to tackle this on your own?"
"I can wait," smiled the boy. "It's okay."
Smiling back at him, Bucky stepped out onto the balcony and dialled the compound. Maria answered.
"I know you're on leave, but he won't speak to anyone but you," she said. "We think he's another forced super soldier as security footage shows him pulling a vault open. Ex-military, Paul Sheridan. Widower, no kids. Since then, he's stopped talking."
"Okay, let me see if I can get Mrs. Kavinsky to watch Noah, otherwise I'll bring him to the compound," he replied.
"No problem, Peter and Ned are here," said Maria. "I'm sure they can keep him occupied."
With Mrs. Kavinsky getting some dental work done that day Bucky brought Noah to the compound. On the drive over they talked about everything and nothing, just enjoying their time together. In the month since deciding to take personal leave Bucky had taken part in only a few Avengers events, including the pizza party at the hospital, Noah's carnival day at school, and a brief rescue mission that saw him take out a human trafficking ring after they kidnapped a judge's grandchild to force his cooperation in the trial of one of their associates. For the rest of the month, he had been Noah's almost full-time caregiver, while Paige worked at her internship during the day and the bar at night. He had offered to pay her expenses while she did the internship, but she made it clear she didn't want him as a sugar daddy. For the record, he had enjoyed his one-on-one time with Noah, building a trusting relationship with him. Bucky had even started his own personal growth challenge, working on his GED specifically so that he could take some college courses in the future.
When they arrived at the compound Peter and Ned were both waiting for Noah, having brought out a robotics kit to work on together. Without even a backwards glance at Bucky and Maria he ran off with them. She smiled after him before looking at Bucky.
