Artemis's Pov

"Mom! I'm leaving I'll be back on Monday, either Clint or Natasha will drop me off cause Tony's car is broke down." I exclaimed holding my bag with a few things.

It was time for another fun weekend with Peter and everyone. Honestly I needed it. I was beyond stressed with school, me and Peter having to do a project in English that was due exactly on Monday. yeah life as a high school student was amazing.

"Wait I need to talk to you!" She shouted from the kitchen making me visibly wince but I waited by the front door for her. Growing a little anxious.

It was a hot Friday which meant I finally got to wear shorts and a t shirt but that also meant I exposed my bruises and bandages but they were gonna have to see anyway.

I watched as she made her way over to me cupping my face. I looked at her deeply. "Be safe, and tell Me Stark he still has to have a serious talk with me, and if you so happen to have sex use a condom-"

"Mom!" I quickly exclaimed flustered seeing her laughing at my reaction. "What I'm just saying you're at the age, use protection, like sex is a pleasurable experience -"

"Okay I really really have to go! Nice sex talk though." I joked giving her the quickest hug I could I was quick to shout I love you before leaving the house fast. Meeting the black car out front that had Peter and his Aunt May in it.

My mom sure did know how to embarrass the hell out of me. What do I look like having sex at a compound full of super heroes?

___________________________

"Basically we have to discuss what life and death means to us Peter." I explained tapping my pen against the large poster board looking at him with a smile when he kept looking at me with so much confusion.

It was the first time I had ever been in the living room at the compound but it was nice for everyone to be in one room. Even little Morgan Stark was in here playing with her toys.

Everyone was trying to be quiet to allow me and Peter to talk about our project. We only had three days to finish it and we had barely gotten started.

"Life and death huh? I've almost died a bunch of times." He joked his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh yes I'm sure you have spidey." I joked getting on my hands and knees.

I grabbed a sharpie starting to write in big letters, Life and Death on the poster the cap in my mouth mumbling a playful gross when I felt Tony walk by kissing the top of my forehead before he went over to the little bar area.

"Oh you know you love it hush." Tony called making me chuckle shaking my head. "Can I see your arms." Steve asked in a gentle caring tone suddenly sitting next to me.

I gave him a soft smile and showed him my right arm. "Steve I told that I'm okay, just bruises that's all." I reassured him when he scanned his baby blue eyes to look at them more focused.

"Friday. " Was all Bucky had to call out looking up from reading his book with Sam next to him on his phone.

"Artemis, has major bruising on her arm and legs, and some minor bruising on her ribs."

"Friday." I exclaimed trying so hard to keep the showing of my stupid bullying to a minimal of no one noticing.

"Artemis!" I winced at all the loud concerned voices. "You have bruised ribs?" Clint questioned looking up from messing with his bow deeply.

"Yeah from falling. " I stammered out blowing my cover very quickly. "That's bullshit." Tony pointed out. "Shit." I couldn't help but not laugh when Morgan suddenly repeated what Tony had said making Steve shoot him a look.

"Morgan H Stark." Tony warned her shooting her a playful look.

"Artemis tell the truth you know they'll figure it out." Peter mumbled and I breathed out a rough sigh wanting to avoid their eyes.

"I'm just getting bullied by girls and boys at our school cause they know you guys are my soulmates." I explained.

"Wait boys are physically bullying you?" It was the first time Natasha had spoken from her spot on the floor playing with building blocks with Morgan. Her tone was very murderous.

"Yes I didn't wanna say anything cause it was gonna make it worse, and I only have one more year left." I said quietly Steve was shaking his head pulling me towards him hugging me tightly.

"You guys go back to school on what Monday? Me and Steve will drop you both off, I wanna have a word ." Tony casually said drinking from his glass which I could presume was whiskey.

"Oh god." Peter mumbled rubbing at his face hard making me once again blink deeply. "Yeah that's not okay kitten." Bucky called putting his book aside.

Sam made a playfully gagging noise making me laugh quietly shaking my head. Tony had made his way over sitting over and gestured with his hand for me to give him the sharpie which I did slowly writing down focused.

"You two have about the most people in the room who have seen death, we can all write our death experiences, and then you can explain the parallel of living." Tony explained to both me and Peter.

"Smart Tony." Steve mumbled his head laying ontop of mine, holding me in his lap in a protective hold.

"Why didn't I think of that." Peter mumbled chewing on the end of his pen.

"Cause I just did." Tony said sending Peter a playful wink that just made everyone laugh loudly including me.

Yeah I sure did love them. But with the cost of loving them, that also meant danger awaits at every corner unnoticed, unseen.