"Breaking News: Shadow, with the help of Spider-Man and Iron Man, have finally taken down the villain who is responsible for many attacks this year. We hear from sources that the Dark Menace is dead, Zagan is being detained, and the identities of Dark Menace, Spider-Man, and Shadow were revealed. We join Kate Gonzales at the scene where the battle went down."

Eloise watches the screen in Peter's hospital room with anxiety and uncertainty of the future. She's still in her black suit, but minus the mask since her identity is no longer a secret. It's a wonder how fast the news of what happened just an hour ago has spread like wildfire. Every news station Eloise flips through is talking about the altercation. On the small screen, a woman in a neutral-colored suit and shimmering eyelids motions to the destroyed street where Eloise lost control of her powers and caused a building to collapse. The woman describes the fight, a smile on her face that gets under Eloise's skin. She's sitting there, bruises, cuts, scrapes, and dirt littering her skin, watching the news reporter talk about the events as if they were a piece of entertainment for viewers. For those who didn't live in New York and feel the real impact of the events, then this news coverage probably is just a source of entertainment. Even if they post a selfie with a the hashtag #NewYorkIsSaved, #ThankYouSpider-Man, #PrayForTheVictims, or something of the like, it's all just for show. They don't feel the affects of the day like Eloise does. Her friend's murderer, who was also the boy who took her to her first high school dance, was impaled and killed right in front of her. Peter, the boy she has professed her love to, almost died.

Eloise runs a hand down her face and closes her eyes. If Peter died and was in a morgue instead of the hospital bed a foot from Eloise's stiff chair, she doesn't know what she would do. The boy next to her is more important than she ever thought someone could be to her. Eloise glances over at Peter and holds back tears that pool in her eyes. He's sleeping still, and he'll probably be out for a while because of  the sleep medicine the doctors gave him. He has so much more color in his face, but he isn't unscathed in the slightest. The darkest, purple and green bruises cover Peter's neck like a thick necklace. It's painful to look at. Eloise blinks back the tears and looks down at the ground.

There's a short knock on the door. She looks up and watches Bucky emerge from behind the door and close it softly behind him. As soon as the door clicks shut and his eyes find Eloise's, the girl shoots up from the chair and launches herself into Bucky's chest. Her arms wrap around his body and clutch onto the back of his leather jacket for dear life.

Bucky stumbles back from the impact but doesn't hesitate to reciprocate the hug, one hand rubbing her back comfortingly as his chin rests upon her head.

"Hey, kiddo," he murmurs and presses a kiss to the top of her head. He doesn't ask her how she is, but he doesn't have to. Holding her is the best he can do for her in that moment as she tries to hold herself together.

Eloise buries her face into Bucky's chest. "How's Tony?" She asks, voice cracking. She isn't sure if it's from screaming and crying earlier or from not talking for a while.

"Awake and annoying," Bucky replies, lightening the mood. "He wants to see you and Peter make sure you're alright, even though I told him you two are okay."

A small smile makes its way into Eloise's lips. Bucky retracts his arms from around her as she does the same, both turning to look at Peter lying in his hospital bed. For a moment, the only sound is true steady beep of the heart rate monitor.

Bucky's eyes flicker to the news report on the TV. His brow furrows at the image of Peter, Mason, and Eloise's school pictures up on the screen next to their full names and superhero/villain aliases.

Eloise looks up at the screen and sighs. "At least I'll be popular in school next year," she tries to joke, but it falls flat. Bucky keeps his blue eyes trained on the TV.

The door opening draws both of their attention from the screen to the two last people Eloise wants to see storming into the room. She tenses and backs up, inconspicuously cowering behind Bucky.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones stand in the doorway. Their faces are set and their eyes sharp as they lock onto their daughter in her black skin-tight suit. Both are slightly disheveled but still in their normal business attire, Mrs. Jones's makeup perfect and Mr. Jones's watch blinding. They don't get off work until later, but here they are. Eloise can't help but be surprised by their presence.

Mr. Jones's eyes slide from Eloise to Bucky beside her. Recognization flashes in his gaze, and his face reddens. "Eloise Jane Jones," he enunciates every syllable for an intimidating effect. "In the hallway."

When Eloise doesn't immediately move, her mother says with an eerily calm voice, "Now."

Eloise shoots a glance at Bucky. He looks down at her and tries to flash a reassuring smile, but it's forced. He knows how her parents can get, but after finding out that she sneaks out and fights crime? There's no telling what their reaction will be. Eloise figures, like most things she does, her parents will be disappointed or angry with her. Probably both.

Taking a deep breath, Eloise follows her parents into the hallway. The door clicks behind her and she is left in a long hallway with two adults with steam blowing out of their ears. There is a doctor at the very end of the hall, but other than him, the three Jones' are alone.

Eloise avoids their eyes. There's silence, her parents waiting for her to begin, but she doesn't know how to. There's too much going on to think clearly.

"So you're a vigilante?" Mr. Jones starts.

Eloise bites her lip.

Mr. Jones shoves one hand into his pocket and combs through his hair with the other. "What were you thinking, especially about hanging out with criminals?"

Eloise's brow pulls forward. She looks up and finally meets her father's piercing eyes. "Criminals?"

"The Winter Soldier," Mrs. Jones pitches in. She throws her thumb over her shoulder at the hospital room. "Do you know how many people he has killed? You don't need to be around that."

Eloise bites her tongue, almost confessing to killing someone, but instead defends Bucky. "His name is Bucky, not the Winter Soldier," she states with an even tone. "And I don't hang out with criminals, I hang out with heroes."

Not listening to a word her daughter is saying, Mrs. Jones says, "And what about your little secret?" She motions to the black suit Eloise is wearing. "I didn't realize we raised a liar."

"I can't believe you lied to us," Mr. Jones continues, just as pissed off as his wife. "There is absolutely no trust in this family, I guess."

"You know what?" Mrs. Jones sets her hands on her hips. Her red lips pout in a scowl. "You're coming home, right now."

Eloise's jaw drops. "Peter hasn't even woken up yet, I have to be here for him and—"

"You're coming home," Mr. Jones commands with a raised volume that echoes down the hall.  He reaches out for his daughter's arm, but she steps back.

"I'm not going anywhere," she denies, "I'm not leaving my real family."

"Who do you think we are?" Mrs. Jones exclaims, incredulous. "I birthed you, we raised you. We cared for you, provided you a place to stay, put food on your plate, we gave you everything."

"What about love, huh?" Eloise retorts. She crosses her arms. "What about support, or comfort?"

"You're being ridiculous." Mr. Jones goes to grab her arm again, but Eloise rips her limb from his grasp.

"I'm not going anywhere," she declares and swings open the door. As she enters Peter's room, Bucky's glances up from his spot in a chair. His eyes flicker to her parents behind her as they follow her inside the room.

"You're coming home now, and you're going to get rid of that stupid costume, young lady," Mrs. Jones hisses through her teeth.

Bucky slowly stands. His gaze moves between Eloise and her parents. "Woah, hold on."

"It's not stupid," Eloise counters sharply. "Tony Stark made it for me."

Bucky, recognizing that Eloise is growing upset, tries to step in before she loses control of her powers again. They are known to spike when she has powerful emotions, and he doesn't really want her to make the hospital room explode. Or wake up Peter. "Hey."

"You're grounded," Mr. Jones states matter-of-factly.

Eloise scoffs. "In case you didn't know, I'm eighteen. I'm pretty sure that means that you can't force me to do anything."

The tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a knife. Eloise and her parents glare at each other as if they were the only ones in the room. A heavy silence falls over the three for a moment.

Finally, Mr. Jones snaps. He laughs and throws his hands up. "Fine, then don't bother coming home."

With that, Mr. Jones takes Mrs. Jones's hand and they strut out into the hallway with their heads high and their faces set with scowls. As soon as they leave, Bucky steps closer to Eloise and rests a gentle hand on her shoulder. She doesn't move her gaze from the door her parents just exited.

"There's a spot for you at the compound," he says quietly.

Eloise closes her eyes. She inhales deeply, pauses, then exhales. She glances back at Peter before looking up at Bucky beside her. With a small grateful smile, she murmurs, "Thanks, Bucky."

🕸

The sky outside the window is dark and allows only a faint glow of the moon to enter the room. Eloise sits in the chair next to Peter's hospital bed in sweatpants and a t-shirt instead of her black suit. She fell asleep a while ago due to pure exhaustion, despite trying to keep her heavy eyes open as long as she could so she wouldn't miss when Peter woke up again. However, that plan was ditched a half hour ago when Eloise rested her head on Peter's hospital bed and sat next to him with her hand in his. Holding onto him reminded her that he's still alive and that he's not going anywhere. She knows he's okay, but the images of Zagan holding Peter up by his neck high above the street still flashes in her mind. The painful cries and pleas to let him go resonate in her mind, but when she fell asleep, it was just blank bliss. While unconscious she can't feel the pain or remember what happened hours ago. Her mind is just blank.

Movement in her hand startles Eloise awake from her peaceful sleep. She inhales sharply and lifts her head off the bed, eyes blinking to adjust to the dim lighting. Feeling more movement in her hand, Eloise's eyes travel from her hand up Peter's arm and to his face. A smile captures her lips as Peter's eyes flutter open.

Groaning, Peter tries to move his head but fails due to the intense pain the movement causes. He gasps and wince as he brings a hand up to touch the bruised skin.

Eloise lets go of his hand and quickly catches the other before Peter can touch his tender neck. Slowly bringing the hand down, she says, "Hey, you might not want to do that."

Defeated, Peter lets his head lean back against the soft pillow with his eyes closed. He opens one to look at Eloise leaning against the bed.

"It's late, like two in the morning I think," Eloise yawns. She rubs her eyes and blinks slowly. "Ned and MJ went home a while ago, if you're wondering where they're at."

Peter's mouth opens, but no words fall out. A painful croak passes his lips and Peter stops himself short with a wince.

Eloise squeezes his hand comfortingly. "It's okay, don't talk."

A frustrated expression settles on his features, but he doesn't try to speak again. Eloise's eyes drop from his face to his neck and feels a pang of guilt. Obviously she wasn't the one choking him, but she still feels like she could have done more. If she had more control over her powers, then maybe Peter would still be able to talk and wouldn't be in pain every time he tried to move his head.

Ducking her head and looking down at her shoes, Eloise murmurs, "I'm sorry, Peter."He assumes she means that she feels sorry for him because of his state, but then she adds, "If I had complete control of my powers like you do, then I would have been able to stop Zagan instead of just watching him strangle you."

A frown settles on his lips. He wants to tell her that it's not her fault, but his inability to utter a single word overpowers that want. Instead, he tries to communicate through his actions by squeezing her hand.

Eloise sighs and sits back. She studies Peter with tired eyes. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Peter smiles. Eloise smiles too, leaning forward to brush his disheveled hair out of his face and to press a kiss to his forehead. When she leans back, Peter's toothy grin is stretched across his face.

"You're so cute," Eloise lets out a breathy laugh as she messes up his hair.

Peter frowns, but there's a happy glint in his eyes. Eloise taps his nose with her finger and sits back in her chair, suddenly not so tired anymore.

_____

Is anyone else into AVPM or TGWDLM? I've been binging StarKid musicals on YouTube lately and I can't get the songs out of my head.

Chapter Song:
Risk It All | The Vamps