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[~~THOUGHT YOU'D BE RID OF ME!!!!~~

Well, whatever happens next, he figures there's no point in keeping a distance.

Besides, he needs to make sure that Bucky wasn't actually hurt by that throw — because Peter's got a sense for scale, at least a little, and he knows it smarted something fierce. He didn't mean to toss him so hard (but, you know, panicked spider powers). So with that in mind, he forgoes being delicate about this and makes his way where he knew Bucky was staying last. It's the crack of dawn and barely even light out.

He admittedly hasn't been able to sleep much after that mess anyways. Mainly, he's listening for Sasha, 'cus it's easier to hear the dog than the sneaky assassin dude.

He's not Spider-Man, though. He's in his usual over-sized school sweater and converse, backpack full of both a spider suit and medical supplies slung over his shoulder (Mr. Barnes probably has a lot of medical stuff, because he's... him, but he figured he'd bring it anyways). And — yeaaah, he's got a pretty swollen eyebrow that is mottled with interesting colors and stitched up where it'd split from a headbutt-punch combo; it speeds faster through the healing process than the average human, and in a day or two it'll be like it never even happened.

He wonders if Mr. Barnes heals faster, since he can eat so much and punch so goddamn hard.

Anyways. He should see what the hell the guy was talking about.

Even if he totally tried to punch him in the back of the head over it.]

Edited 2018-08-22 09:21 (UTC)

[Bucky lost a lot of time that night to remembering all the other people that he attacked that way who didn't deserve it. That kid had just been trying to do the right thing, even if he needed to know when to back off and when to keep going, and Bucky had laid into him because he was too scared to share the truth.

Maybe he is still partly the monster he's afraid to be.

He's on his feet the second he hears someone enter his space, definitely not relaxing at all when he sees who it is and the state that he's in. Fuck, he looks like he's gone several rounds with a combine harvester. He's just a kid, and Bucky did that to him.]

...you shouldn't be here.

[He shrugs like it's the most casual thing ever, hands on his backpack straps. It's probably hard for Bucky to imagine, but he's had acid thrown on him and has been lacerated with talons and all sorts of fun things, both here and at home; yeah, nobody really expects the answers to "where'd you get that injury?" and Peter prefers to dance around it.

Though he knows he's gonna have to explain to his teachers where it came from today — maybe he should just call out sick? And hide his face in a pillow all day. Or invest in a beanie that'll go over it... Maybe he should blame it on the bullies that wander around the alleys. He's already got some beef with them. He clears his throat, stepping closer with little concern.]

I came to take your dog for one of our walks.

And talk to you before that, or something.

[Good segway. Nice.

Stop looking at him like that, sheesh.]

[The fact that Peter is up and walking around at all is a subtle reminder of what set Bucky off yesterday, that he can't be entirely human. No normal kid could have taken those hits and got up again, maybe not even kept breathing. He's glad that he didn't go that far, but it still keeps the tension rigid in his spine.

He doesn't take a step back when Peter steps in closer, but his whole body language shifts to give off warning vibes so strong that he might as well be issuing verbal threats along with it.]

I don't want to fight you again.

[Because that's what he assumes talk means.

That whole thing about Sasha is being ignored, as there's no way that Peter has actually shown up the day after a beating to walk his attacker's dog.]

[Peter sighs, rather harmlessly frustrated.]

Why's everything gotta be a fight, man? I told you before you tried to punch me in the back of the head, I don't wanna fight you; that's not what kinda superhero I am. I just wanna know what you were doing back there, so I can maybe help. In a less illegal way, maybe.

[He shrugs off his backpack]

Anyways, I brought you some ice packs for your ribs, too, 'cus I heard one crack a little bit. Do pain meds work on you, or...?

[Good hearing, this one.

... Yeah no, he doesn't seem to be taking this mess as hard as Bucky is.]

Edited 2018-08-23 08:56 (UTC)

I'm not recruiting some kid I don't know.

[And if he really is working with the guard or the Avengers, then they need to look at why they're letting kids do dangerous jobs like this. He's seen teenagers in battle before, of course he has, both sides in the war had let younger men slip through the recruitment process because of the desperate need for men. He's seen kids fighting in other countries, over many decades, but he doesn't want to add that to his list of crimes.]

You need to leave.

[Because if this really isn't going towards a fight over gathering illegal information, then Peter needs to keep his distance for safety from now on.]

No offense Mr. Barnes, but you're not exactly the worst that's happened to me in this gig.

There'll be plenty worse after you, too, I'm sure.

[It's not even the first time he's fought Bucky, but you know, whatever. Fact of the matter is, no matter how much people wanna treat him with kid gloves here, he's dealt with some real shit. Hell, worse here than at home — the cult thing has given him plenty of bad dreams, and he still feels the weight of carrying half-starved women and children out of that place.

And he knows that it'll get worse back home. He's gonna fight a big genocidal maniac. His friends are gonna die. They're gonna lose. So yeah, fuck the 'kid' treatment, s'far as he's concerned, even if it's the totally logical response to have. He'll eat that kid treatment and burp. Or something.]

I'm out there every night, dude. This — [He waves a hand absently at his head.] — this is just hump day hangovers, and I'm just happy you don't spit acid. So at least try to work with me a little here? I'm not exactly going anywhere or changing my work hours.

[The fact that this isn't the worst is sad, and he's going to make sure to talk to whichever of the Avengers he comes across first and ream them out for letting some kid think that he can be a superhero. He should be in school, not fighting. Too many people have to fight already.]

No.

[Just that, a flat refusal.]

I'm not dragging some kid into this, I don't care how capable you think you are. It's not happening.

You won't drag a kid into it, but you'll headbutt them?

[He laughs, mystified, and tosses a large unused ice-pack at Bucky.]

If I don't get any info from you, I guess I'll need to investigate on my own.

[He throws another ice-pack at him, casually.]

Sure that'll go swell.

[Wait, wait, here comes another ice-pack. This little shithead.]

[Damn it all.

Peter has him there, because he can't risk the kid going and investigating on his own, not when he might crash headfirst into HYDRA and get hurt for it. Or worse. He snatches both ice packs out of the air when they come at him, and his expression suggests that he might be thinking about headbutting Peter again.]

I want your word that if I tell you, then you step aside. I don't want your blood on my hands.

[He means real blood, lifeblood, not just this brawl.]

Of course! Of course, you got it.

[He practically radiates new, eager energy as he moves to sit down with criss-crossed legs.]

I'm not gonna do anything crazy, okay? Contrary to popular belief, I like my blood in my body.

[Idiot kid. He shouldn't be so eager, like he's being given a present. But as long as he sticks to his word to keep out of it, then Bucky supposes that he doesn't have much of a choice.]

Do you know about HYDRA?

The creepy nazis from the 40's who infiltrated a bunch of government groups, S.H.I.E.L.D included?

[He nods, a bit more grim at the topic.]

... There was a lot of press about that, after Captain America helped to out them a couple years back.

[That's underplaying HYDRA somewhat. It's strange to think that there's this whole generation who only really see the Nazis and HYDRA as something distant and vague from history, not the real threatening horror they had been.

He nods, expression set in a blank hardness.]

There was one of them here, I'm making sure he didn't recruit and if he did-- I need to weed them out before they spread.

[To be fair, Peter makes everything sound underplayed. Like. Always. It never fails.]

Whoa — one of them was here? Just recently? What kind of work did he do here, do you know?

I said I wasn't getting you involved.

[Which means no details. Observe the stern face of disapproval.]

I told you what I was doing, that was the agreement.

[He frowns, certainly genuine in his concerns as he plucks at his shoe strings.]

Okay, but... Do I at least get some kinda name to look out for? What if he or anyone else from HYDRA knows about Spider-Man? I've hung out with the Avengers, especially Mr. Stark. You don't think they'd go after someone like me to — I dunno. Test on, or - or something?

[That's actually kind of concerning. Like. He's someone who can throw cars and fall off of airplanes without dying. If HYDRA's trying to weasel into Riverview at any point... He's always been kind of paranoid about people figuring out he's super-powered. Like, people who might try and kidnap him for nefarious villain stuff. Maybe it's a stupid concern, but...

Well, if a cult could almost do it, maybe creepy government nazis could.]

[He shakes his head a little, though he can certainly understand the fear. That sort of worry isn't groundless, and he can tell enough to assuage that.]

I don't think they have the resources to do that here. It was one man, and I plan on rooting out anyone he might have recruited, they won't grow a head here.

[So stop getting in the way of his midnight information gathering.]

[He huffs, massaging his less battered temple.]

... Okay.

But look, I can't just — turn the other cheek, if I see you busting into places, okay? It's my job and I'm not gonna slack off for someone I like. So if you're gonna — [He bites his lip, sighing through his nose.] If you're gonna break into places, try not to catch my attention next time. Because I really am not a fan of fisticuffs.

Don't be an idiot.

[Even if he wasn't talking about going to toe to toe with him again, there are other ways that sort of statement is idiotic. Though it makes sense coming from a teenager, who still thinks in black and white.]

You keep stopping me, then you're aiding HYDRA. Sometimes the right side ain't the law.

[He feels a pang of annoyance at that, familiar and sharp in his gut, and his face smooths into something colder — or, well, as cold as someone like Peter seems to manage.]

Oh, yeah, I've heard that one before. A weapon arm's dealer waxed poetic about how the law isn't always right and how I'm aiding the wrong side, just before he dropped a building on top of me and left me for dead. [He stands up, slipping his backpack back on.] You have your way of doing things? That's cool, dude, but so do the assholes. And so does the idiot.

[He squints at him — or, well, one eye is already squinting, and motions at him with one hand.]

Get sneakier or don't do it, Mr. Barnes.

[He turns to leave, because at least he gave the guy some ice packs.]

Edited 2018-09-10 19:40 (UTC)

It isn't always right.

[He should leave it, let the kid walk away and out of this whole situation. But he's angry now, and he doesn't want to think of a teenager out there playing vigilante without seeing the bigger picture.]

Part of being a hero is fighting for what's right no matter what the law says. I've been some places where the law said certain people were second class citizens, or believing a certain thing meant you should be killed. Maybe this isn't that. But if someone is trying to fight something like HYDRA, that's when you look at the bigger picture. I ain't in there trying to steal people's personal information, I'm trying to find dangerous new recruits. You keep stopping me just because the law says so, you're fighting on their side.

[His voice has remained level this whole time, but now it sinks a bit in weariness. He's not expecting to have made a difference, but he had to say something.]

[If it makes any difference - he is listening. It’s not like Peter can’t get a morally gray situation. Sometimes things aren’t so clear-cut; if he thought otherwise, he wouldn’t have tried to befriend the guy he knew was a criminal back home. So yeah, he hears him. But it doesn’t win him over, not now, not here, after that mess.]

You maybe should have practiced that speech before you wailed on me.

... See you around, Mr. Barnes. Hopefully not like that again.

[He thwips a web to the highest branch, and catapults himself into a swing over and through the tree line.

Oh, he’ll be back to walk that dog. You’re not rid of him. Unfortunately.]

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