Then Again

Chapter 1

This is the sequel to Adopted By a Billionaire. This book is going to contain more plot and action as things start to begin to make a bit of sense. It all starts begins with the appearance of one Peter Parker!

I hope you enjoy this new journey you're about to embark on!

-- Yuki :D

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Dé·jà vu; noun: a feeling of having already experienced the present situation.

Ever since he turned six years old, Percy's life felt like one big déjà vu moment. Everything was familiar, yet it wasn't at the same time, and, more than anything else, he was confused and a bit scared. He knew names of people he had never talked to, he remembered scenes from something that had yet to pass. Every fleeting moment in his dreams felt like watching a tape of an instant he could not recall correctly, like trying to remember the specific order answers came in a math test.

Percy remembered clearly how he cried days before his mother died. He had tried to tell her, he wanted to warn her about the nightmares that seemed to be building up to something awful. She had told him not to worry, that she wouldn't leave him, but he knew that she would not be able to keep that promise. His mother was going to die and no one would ever believe him. He was alone with only his dreams to keep him company.

One of the biggest surprises for him in his life of predictability was when he met Tony Stark. He was so surprised to meet the hero because something inside him whispered that it was not a déjà vu moment. However, he also knew deep down inside that, for whatever reason, he needed to stick to the man like glue.

Sitting inside one of the rooms of his small school, being held in the arms of someone else as he shook with fear, Percy knew with so much certainty that he was meant to run into Peter Parker. When the older boy grabbed his hand to take him away from Smelly Gabe, he felt safe. There was no hesitation inside him and he followed the other like there was no question otherwise.

"I got you, I got you," Peter whispered as he ran a hand up and down Percy's back. "I got you, you're safe."

"I know," The six year-old replied in an equally quiet voice even as he still trembled minutely. "I know. How did you find me?" He peered up at the boy, eyes wide.

Peter's eyebrows scrunched together, confusion filtering on his face for a moment, "I-I don't know. I just... I knew you needed help. I knew where to go."

Percy blinked at that answer before accepting it, tightening his arms around the other, "Thank you for finding me."

"I'll always find you," The brown-haired boy promised before perking up when he heard a voice come down the hall towards them. His tense shoulders dropped when the Winter Soldier walked inside the room, even scooting himself and Percy out from where they were hiding under a desk.

"океан," The Winter Soldier knelt in front of the two boys, holding out his left hand. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

The six year-old shook his head, a few strands of his hair falling in front of his eyes, "Nuh uh, Peter saved me!"

Winter turned his gaze to Peter, who seemed to be shaking slightly as he looked at the older man with barely concealed awe. After a moment, the ex-assassin inclined his head, "Thank you."

"Y-Yeah," Peter nodded slowly. He shook his head, stating more firmly, "I'll always protect him."

The older man may have smiled but it was hard to tell underneath the mask. Still, it made the twelve year-old feel warm inside. Winter helped Percy up, hoisting him onto his hip even if the child was nearly too old for it, "I will walk you outside, Peter. океан, your father is here, he is very worried."

Percy perked up at that, as did Peter curiously enough, "Daddy's here?" His eyes filled a bit with tears even as he smiled widely, "Hurry, Minty! Hurry!"

"Patience," The soldier replied, focusing on keeping pace with Peter so he could keep an eye on the young boy. He wanted- something that was still fairly new to him- to ensure that he got to his family safely. He scanned the crowd of panicked parents, who were now calming after Ugliano was taken by the police, in search of anyone that may hold similar physical characteristics to the preteen next to him.

"Peter!"

Said boy perked up, a grin stretching on his face, "Aunt May!"

Winter watched as a woman in what looked like her thirties ran over to the boy, hugging him tightly. The scene made the ex-assassin hug the six year-old in his arms a bit tighter. He thought he might have felt... happy to have Percy safe and Peter back with his aunt. He was thankful that he took Ugliano down before he felt the need to fire a single shot from his gun.

"Peter saved me," Percy said to the woman, May, as he leaned forward to her as much as possible in Winter's hold. He nodded to himself, a huge smile on his face, "Peter saved me! He's my hero!"

Peter blushed, especially when May nodded with the six year-old and said proudly, "He's such a good boy. He's going to do amazing things."

"He already has," Winter whispered quietly as Percy turned to wrap his small arms around his neck. "And I can never thank him enough." He sighed, saying goodbye to Peter and May, before pushing through the crowd of thankful parents to find Tony.

The billionaire was standing away from the building a bit with Natasha and Bruce, looking like he wanted nothing more than to be inside. The media was, thankfully, focusing more on the parents and what happened in the school, probably already having gotten statements from the three heroes. It was a time like this that Winter was glad he had such a fearsome reputation since it kept the vultures from daring to talk to him.

"Stark," Winter said as he walked closer to the billionaire. He tried not to focus on Tony's smile too much as he lit up at the sight of the two. It was too much for him to handle, especially when he still felt so guilty for his past actions. He didn't think he deserved to be even looked at with such happiness from someone whose life he ruined- even more so when it came from someone as amazing as Tony Stark.

"Daddy!" Percy cried happily as he was scooped up in Tony's arms. He wrapped his own arms around his father's neck, burying his face in the crook of the hero's neck as he was held in an embrace that brought such a strong feeling of safety.

The genius hugged the child close, "Oh, honey pot, I'm so glad you're safe. I was so scared, I thought I was going to lose you."

"Ugliano did not have the chance to use his weapon," Winter felt the need to report, shifting his body so he could hide Tony and Percy as much as possible from the reporters. "Percy was taken to another room as I dealt with him.

"A hero saved me!" The six year-old said proudly. It was something he wanted to tell everyone.

"Oh, yeah?" Tony leaned back from the hug so he could see his kid more clearly. "Who was this hero?"

Percy held up his hands, his eyes sparkling with wonder and a sense of pride. "Peter Parker!"

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Words: 1,203

Song: Memories - Thutmose

Translation(s):

-океан - ocean