Chapter Nineteen

Names

"Uh, cool. Up for some name brainstorming?" Peter questions and I nod after a moment, then scoop Mercy up in my arms while we walk to my room. Peter makes himself at home on my couch and I sit next to him and Mercy next to me. Then I hand him a piece of paper and pen.

"Alright, Lightning Girl is pretty good. Not the biggest fan of girl, though." I tell him, watching him write the name at the top of the list.

"How about I take a picture of you with an energy ball, then ask what people's ideas are?" Peter asks excitedly. I'm up and handing him my phone immediately.

"Okay." I put a hand on my hip and snap sparks out of my other hand, then cease when I hear the snap of the camera. Peter grins at the picture and shows it to me after I plop down next to him again.

"It's wicked, Jo. Alright, here's what it looks like. I'll just ask for some superhero name ideas at the bottom with a list of your abilities." Peter explains as his thumbs fly over my phone screen.

"Sounds good to me," I affirm and watch him post it. Instantly, responses start flooding in. "Wow. I didn't know this many people even followed me." Peter laughs and points to a number at the top of my page.

"You already have over two thousand followers, Jo." He informs me and I hum in surprise.

"Oh. Well, any good ideas?" I ask while craning over his shoulder for a glimpse of words. He moves my phone between us and our hairbrushes as we both look at it. Giggling, we write down the best contenders, ending up with about fifteen names. "Cross off The Brain. Makes it sound like I'm some super genius." Peter strikes it obediently.

"What about Electric Mind?" Peter suggests and I scrunch up my nose. "No, got it." Another is scratched off. "Electra Mentalis? Em?"

"Nope. I want it to sound cool instead of so scientific." He strikes that one off as well.

"Hm, Lightning Sense." I perk up when Peter reads that. His light brown eyes meet mine as if noticing my composure change. "That's a good one." He approves and that seals the deal for me.

"Spider-man and Lightning Sense. Sounds killer to me." I agree and Peter low fives my hand. When he hands me my phone back I post one of the pictures we'd taken a while ago with our masks on. I write the same words I just said, then send it out to the world. Just then, both Peter and I realize that it's absolutely pouring outside. Our eyes are wide when we look at each other. "I guess I can prevent a drought from ever hitting New York," I remark dryly and Peter chuckles.

"You know, I actually wondered if you'd read my mind," Peter asks a little bashfully. My lips part in surprise.

"Read your mind. Uh, you know I'll be able to see all your thoughts and memories, right?" I make sure he knows just what he's getting into. Pink tints his cheeks, but he nods all the same. "Okay. Can I...hold your hand? It's easier to make a connection through touch." I add on the explanation quickly and he nods.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Let me go change. I'll be back in a minute." He sprints to his room and I figure I'll change as well. Mercy decides she's irritated with our moving and moves into the other room on my bed. Comfy shorts and a simple tank top are my go-to and by the time I'm done so is Peter. He's wearing an iron man shirt that I giggle at before finally taking his hand. 

Peter's mind is one of the youngest I've entered and it shows. It's colorful, hopeful, and playful. I do my best not to delve too deep so as not to reveal any unwanted things. I pull up a picture that has a ton of affection attached to it and bring it to the forefront of his mind.

"This is Ned, right?" I ask and feel the rush of excitement after I speak in his head.

"Oh, yeah! He's my best friend. This is so cool by the way." Peter adds happily.

"Well, is there anything you want me to see?" Peter's giddiness is infectious and it's hard to focus on anything else, but when I ask that a picture of my face at the party pops up. Affection is attached to this image as well, although it has a different flavor than Ned's. Heat rushes up to my cheeks and I quickly move on before Peter senses it, if he hasn't already. Suddenly, I'm in a blue part of his mind.

"This, uh, this is the stuff about my parents." He tells me in a somber tone and I'm quick to rescind myself, but pause when I feel his other hand on mine. I open my eyes a moment to look at him, but his eyes are still closed. "It's okay. You can go wherever you want." He assures me so genuinely it nearly hurts my heart.

"Thanks, Peter, but maybe another day," I tell him and feel the relief flash through his mind. "You can look through mine a little if you like." The words travel from mine to his as soon as I think of them. Surprise and joy course through his head as he hesitantly dips his mental toes in the ocean of my mind.

"You don't seem like the type to let just anyone do this." Peter is beyond careful while he swirls around my mind.

"Truth," I comment and feel the beginnings of a headache approaching. I'm very careful about keeping certain things behind a locked metal door in the back of my mind, so sweet Peter isn't marred by the scars in my mind. "You don't have to worry about running into anything I don't want you to see Peter. You're free to roam." I assure him and squeeze his hand. Deciding to be a little vulnerable, I bring up the memory of my parents. "These...these are my parents." Sadness in Peter's mind is abnormal, but he feels a tinge of it now as his consciousness tastes the picture of my dead parents.

"And you were there?" He zeroes in on a smaller me crouched beside the bodies.

"Yeah, I was there. That's how I got my scar." We both start extricating ourselves from the other and I release his hand so we're both free. A deep breath in steadies us both and we smile at the other doing the same. Peter reaches up and just barely skims my scar with his fingers. For a fleeting moment, I think he's going to kiss me. Then he leans back again and we both blink.

"It really just makes you look cool. Maybe even a little scary when you make that scowling face." I laugh at this and am rewarded with his happy grin.

"Thanks, Peter," I tell him and relax back against the couch with a sigh. "I think I'm going to go find Bucky. It's been a bit since I've seen his pouting face. Will you survive?" I tease as I stand. He nods instantly.

"I'll go find Mr. Stark. See if I can help with anything." We part ways at my doorway as I go to Bucky's door and he walks down the hall. I knock twice before entering and grinning at the décor. Silver and navy are the main colors, but there's a bit of gold thrown about as well. It's the same set up as my room, so I walk straight into his bed area to look for him.

"Bucky?" I call out and spin around when I hear a creak. "Oh, fuck," I swear and look down at the floor. He chuckles and walks to his dresser to grab some clothes since all he has on now is boxers.

"Hey, kiddo." I risk looking back up and find he now has on some sweatpants and a black t-shirt on.

"Hi." I greet him and his amused smirk. "I hadn't seen you and wanted to check in." His smirk grows.

"So, you missed me?" He corrects and I roll my eyes.

"Sure, grandpa. Whatever makes you happy." I tease right back.

"Where's your shadow?" Bucky asks and walks back to me, throwing an arm around my shoulders. I roll my eyes.

"Peter is off with Tony. Why? Do you not want to hang out with me?" Bucky scoffs and scoops me up into his arms.

"Very funny. Honestly, snuggles on the couch are far overdue." He says and carries me over to his living room and sits on the couch with my legs in his lap and me leaning against the arm of the couch. Before he grabs the remote to most likely turn on Say Yes, I open my mouth.

"Uh. Could we talk?" I ask timidly. Instantly, I have all of his attention.

"Of course, kiddo. What's up?" His dark eyebrows furrow over bright blue eyes as he considers me curiously. I struggle for a minute to find the right words and say them, but Bucky is always patient with me.

"After...after everything you went through, how long did it take for you to...get back in the swing of things? Emotionally, physically, romantically?" I add the last nonchalantly in the hopes he won't question it. Luckily, Bucky's cool.

"Aw, Christ." He looks up at the ceiling as he thinks. "I don't know, Jo. A long time." He looks back at me and tenderly runs his hands over my shins. "Anyways, we're both different. We heal differently." A small smile curves my lips up.

"I don't think we're too different, Bucky," I tell him and get a grin back.

"Maybe. My former comment still stands, kiddo." I see the question pop up in his eyes before he voices it. "Why are you asking?" He reaches over and pokes my stomach playfully. I slap his hand away lightly. Insecurity hits my heart like a truck.

"I...well...uh, shit." I huff and grab his left hand, tracing the metal to soothe me. "I can't hold someone's hand without reading their mind. How the hell am I supposed to do anything else without being bombarded by thoughts?" I send him a meaningful look while he connects the pieces.

"Oh. Whoa." He squirms a bit in his seat. "You sure you wouldn't rather talk about this with Natasha?" I smirk and shake my head.

"No. What, are you afraid to have the sex talk, Bucky?" I tease and laugh when he glares at me.

"Fuck. Honestly, I never thought I'd have to give it to anyone." He mumbles and his discomfort relieves most of mine.

"I'm asking for ideas, Bucky." He scoffs and throws his hand that isn't captured in mine into the air.

"Abstention?" He suggests and I shock his metal arm in retaliation.

"Seriously. And I swear if you say a bodysuit made of latex, I'll kill you." Seems this was at the opposite end of Bucky's mind since he leans his head back on the couch and shuts his eyes. "Bucky." I tap on his forearm with a nail. A heavy sigh leaves his lips and his finger taps his lips.

"Kiddo, I don't have an answer for you. If it makes you feel any better, guys aren't really thinking about much during sex." He tells me, meeting my eyes once again. "Anyways, would it really be so bad reading the thoughts and emotions of someone during that? I think you're overthinking it, Jo." Bucky assures me and squeezes my hand. I nod and sink down a little more into my seat. "Why the sudden interest, huh?" I look down at our hands with a tiny smile.

"Peter and I sort of almost kissed," I reveal and look back up at him. Realization is plain on his face as he nods.

"Figured it had something to do with that kid." He says in a slightly deeper tone.

"Please continue being nice to him." I remind him and he nods begrudgingly.

"Anyways, you sure you're ready for all of that if it does come up, Jo?" He asks with a little worry in his voice. Once again, his other hand rubs my shins to lessen the blow he thinks his words may have. I shrug.

"I have no clue. I wanted to ask anyway, so..." I shrug again. "Thanks, Bucky," I say a little quieter.

"Anytime, kiddo."

A/N

Bucky + sex talk = priceless