"They're so fast!" Shawn pants, struggling to keep up with Peter and Steve.

"Means we're close. They speed up when the scent is fresher." Steve replies, not out of breath. Peter sped on, determined not to lose Max and Axl.

'Hang on, Ace. We're coming.'

~~ ~~ ~~

"That's it. That's where she's at." Steve says, pointing to the run-down house.

"You sure?" Peter asks, Shawn panting hard behind him. Steve points at Axl, who stood staring at the house, eyes now yellow. Max stood silently next to Steve, sniffing at the house.

"Ace programmed Axl to stare at his find and turn his eyes yellow. She's in there." Steve says. Peter looks at the house.

"How are we getting in?" Shawn gasps, standing straight. Peter looks at his friend.

"We break in."

~~ ~~ ~~

"...so, you knew my parents?" Ace asks.

"Not very well, but yes. Steve and I had known your grandmother during the war. You look just like her." Ace smiles at Bucky.

"What was she like?"

"She was sweet. Kind to others. She would often help Steve when he got into a fight." Bucky chuckles.

"He got into fights?"

"Oh, yeah. All the time. He still did even after the serum." Bucky laughs.

"What else was Grandma like?" Ace asks, curious.

"She was loyal, never getting up on her friends. That's why she and Steve were so close. He would keep her from doing anything crazy, and she kept him going. She was the reason why he wanted to join the army." 

"That's amazing. I can't believe he never told me." Ace says.

"There's a lot he hasn't told you." Bucky says.

"Really? Like what?" Just then, a window on the second floor shatters. Ace looks up as a bundle of red and blue falls from the open ceiling and tumbles past the pair, hitting the wall before unfurling into a person.

"Ow." Ace stares at the upside-down boy.

"Peter?" The door of the room bursts open.

"I told you the door was unlocked." Shawn says, staring at Peter.

"Shawn? What are you guys doing here?" Ace asks. The window in the room explodes, showering Ace and Bucky with glass shards. Ace instinctively throws her wings up for protection, crying out when a shard slashes across her face, leaving a red line of blood across her cheek. She hears growling and peers through her wings.

"Axl!" The robot had pinned Bucky to the floor, eyes red in attack mode. "Axl, heel!" Immediately, the dog's eyes turn orange as he clambers off Bucky to sit next to the bed. He rests his head in Ace's lap, eyes turning blue and tail wagging. "Good boy."

"Is everyone alright?" Ace perks up at Steve's voice.

"Yeah." Peter says, rubbing his head as the man walks in. Steve spots Ace and runs to her, engulfing her into a hug.

"You're okay!" Steve examines her. "Um, are you okay?"

"She's fine." Bucky says, standing up. "She can't shift back completely at the moment. Hence the wings."

"Woah, you're the dude Robin was talking about. The one who brainwashed her." Shawn comments.

"Indeed, and I'm sorry if I cause you to worry for her, but I needed to find Ace quickly and quietly. It was the only way." Bucky explains.

"Why didn't you let me know?" Steve looks at Bucky.

"He was too close to finding her. I needed to make her disappear." Bucky says.

"He? He who?" Peter asks.

"He calls himself the Predator. He's been after Ace since she was born. He's killed anyone who stood in his way, including her parents." Steve says.

"Why didn't you tell me who killed them?" Ace demands.

"If you knew, he would've found you faster. I couldn't have you face him before you were ready." Steve explains.

"Let's get her to the Tower." Shawn says.

"Wait. I want to see if I can shift back." Ace says, standing up. Taking a deep breath, Ace focuses. The others watch as her wings start to shrink, disappearing into her back. Ace's eyes fly open and her legs collapse from under her. Peter rushes forward and catches her.

"You okay?" She blinks several times like she came out of a daze.

"Yeah, I think so." Peter smiles.

"I'm glad we found you."

"Were you hyperventilating again?" Ace smiles mischievously.

"No...maybe...yes." Peter sighs. Giggling, Ace stands on her toes and kisses Peter. Shawn coughs awkwardly and looks away, while Steve and Bucky share an amused look. When Ace pulls back, she smiles.

"Don't worry so much. I'm okay." Peter smiles.

"I can never worry with you beside me."