I ran down to the hut Ayo had directed me to as fast as I could.

"Dad?!" I yelled. "Dad?!" He stepped out of the hut, confusion written on his face as he spotted me.

"Chris?" he asked. "What's wrong?" I cut him off by running up and wrapping my arms around his waist, burying my face in his chest. He was shocked but wrapped his arm around me as well. "Chris, what happened?" I took a deep breath.

"We were fighting," I said. "I got thrown. I didn't feel it, but it knocked me out, and...I had a dream, I guess." He stepped back and led me into the small hut, sitting me down on one of the pillows and sitting across from me.

"What was it?" I sighed.

"I...I was back at the tower," I told him. "Tony was there." He smiled sadly and nodded. "He said I was right, that he had no right to do what he did and that he hurt me." I looked at my hands in my lap. "He said that I don't need him anymore." It was silent for a moment.

"He was right," he said quietly. I looked up at him. "You don't need him. You don't need me." He smiled softly. "You don't need anyone. Not even Pietro." He grimaced, and I chuckled quietly, rolling my eyes. "You haven't needed anyone for a long time." I sighed and nodded.

"I know," I said. "And I know...whatever this was, it wasn't real. He wasn't actually saying these things, but...it felt real. I almost wish it was." He scooted over so he was beside me and put his arm around my shoulder.

"You...you were alone. For a long time. And then Stark showed up and pulled you out of that. He helped you when I couldn't." I sighed.

"It's not just that." My voice started shaking. "I just- I don't remember...what happened." He frowned.

"You don't- You don't remember?" I shook my head. "Well...what do you remember?" I sighed and furrowed my brow as I tried to remember.

"I- I remember Tony adopting me. And I remember going to stay at the tower. But nothing before that. Just how I felt." I gritted my teeth as the memory of how I felt before I met Tony flooded through me. "I was scared. And then...angry. So, so angry. And then Tony showed up, and suddenly I didn't have to be scared anymore. I didn't have to worry." He smiled softly.

"And that's all that matters." I opened my mouth to respond but was cut off as Shuri pulled aside the curtain to the hut.

"I'm sorry Mr. Barnes," she said. She looked at me. "Chris, I've got it!" I furrowed my brow.

"Got what now?" She grinned.

"I've got what I need to fix you!" My eyes widened.

"What? When??"

"Right now! We can fix you today!!" I gasped, and she nodded. "Come on, hurry!" I turned to my dad, who motioned for me to go on, and jumped up, grabbing Shuri and racing inside before collapsing into a chair.

"Okay, so what's the plan?" I asked her. She grinned.

"The tattoo ink is already infused," she said, "but what is a tattoo if it doesn't look cool?" I chuckled. "What are you thinking?" I thought about it and grinned, grabbing a piece of paper and sketching out my idea. She looked at it.

"Can you do it?" I asked. She smiled and nodded.

"I can."

*inhales* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

yeah i know, i'm an asshole and i'm terrible at keeping up with a schedule, but i had like no inspiration for this atm and then my gf broke her ankle, so needless to say i've been preoccupied

anyway

here go

epilogue out next, don't know when but hopefully soon :)