Lucy nodded. "Mmhm," she murmured, totally unaware that Mavin had not in fact informed Bucky or Steve about Connor yet. She settled in her chair, balancing her plate on her knees and tucking in.

Bucky took a moment to think about the new information.

"Steve is sweet on her, I think," he commented. "He's got no idea."

That made Lucy choke on her food for a moment. She coughed, clearing her throat, and looked at him with big eyes.

"She hadn't told you?" she asked, her voice a little squeaky.

"I did not know," Bucky said, watching her. This was definitely not the reaction he thought he'd get. "And I promise I'd know if Steve knew, so I'm pretty sure he's got no clue."

"...Shit. Okay." Lucy pulled out her phone and sent off a quick text to Mavin.

Accidentally just told Bucky about Connor, didn't know you hadn't told him or Rogers.

Okay, came the reply. I'll figure out what to do. Don't worry about it. I'd have said something at some point.

Bucky raised an eyebrow a bit when he saw Lucy frantically texting.

"I assume she didn't say anything on purpose," he said. It wasn't a question. "Can't say I blame her, wouldn't want him around us either if I had a kid."

Let me know if I can help.

"What?" Lucy looked up sharply at that. "No! That's not it at all." She ran a hand through her hair. "Okay, seriously, Bucky. It's not you two. It's... mixing work and home. Connor is her son, and she doesn't tell many people about him. You two are still her work right now."

Bucky raised an eyebrow slightly.

"We're dangerous," he pointed out.

"So is Logan," Lucy shot back. "So is the Professor. So are most of us, here." She shook her head. "We're all dangerous, in one way or another, here. That doesn't make a difference."

"Not the same thing, and you know it," Bucky replied, looking at her. "None of you are like me."

"No," Lucy agreed. "And you can't kill someone without even being on the same continent, like the Professor. You don't have metal claws, and you can't make someone feel agony without laying a finger on them. So no, it's not the same, but you're no worse than the rest of us." She held his gaze, practically daring him to keep disagreeing.

"I get triggered and I can't stop," Bucky retorted, daring her to object in return. "I'm not safe yet and everyone knows it."

Lucy snorted quietly. "Not to us," she said, watching him. "The kids, sure. But not to us." Somehow the conversation had shifted, and they weren't just talking about Connor anymore.

"That's exactly the point," Bucky replied. "I ain't worried about the adults, they can take care of themselves. But I'm dangerous to the kids." He didn't notice that he was shifting further away from the Soldier than he had in a long time; he was too focused on the conversation.

"Except that here is one of the safest places to be, for you and for them," Lucy told him, shaking her head. "Between all of us adults, the kids are well protected. We wouldn't let anything happen to them, and the fact that you're worried about that means you probably won't either."

"Still doesn't change anything," Bucky said, looking away again.

"Yes, it does," Lucy said, shaking her head. "This isn't like the Tower, where you've got access to a few hundred civilians. The kids here aren't in danger."

Bucky just made a vague sound, but didn't actually agree with her. It wasn't worth arguing anymore.

Elsewhere in the mansion, Mavin was sitting in the 'art room,' flipping through some things on her phone while Connor amused himself with a large sheet of paper and a big fistful of markers. The red, blue, and black markers were getting the most use as Connor worked on his own rendition of Captain America vs. The Bad Guys.

Lucy frowned at him and nudged his foot with hers. "The Professor wouldn't have let you come if he thought you'd be a problem."

Steve had already eaten and was ready to sit for a while and sketch, and someone had mentioned a quiet art room for him to use. He stepped in and paused, looking at Mavin and Connor.

"The entire reason I'm here is because I'm a problem," Bucky pointed out in return.

Mavin blinked when she saw him.

"Captain, hello," she said, surprised. Connor stopped coloring for the moment and looked up, curious.

"For the tower, sure," Lucy agreed. "But not for us." She frowned at him and nudged his foot again. "The Professor is nice, but not nice enough to let you stay if he thought you'd be a real danger to the kids."

"Mavin." Steve nodded to her, looking between her and Connor and rapidly putting some pieces together. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just looking for a place to sit and sketch for a little while."

Bucky just didn't reply. It wasn't worth arguing about anymore, she obviously wasn't going to listen to him.

"You're not interrupting," Mavin said quickly. "Please, make yourself comfortable, we won't bother you." She glanced at her son. "Will we?"

Connor shook his head.

"Nope," the boy said obediently. Mavin smiled.

"That's my little man," she said. She blinked and looked at Steve. "Oh, Captain, I'm sorry, this is my son Connor."

Lucy huffed a bit but also stopped arguing. Instead she just made sure he was eating, at least.

Steve smiled at Connor. "Hi Connor," he said. This, at least, he could do. He knew very well how to be the dancing monkey and act like nothing was wrong and smile. And nothing should be wrong, really. Connor was just a bit of a surprise. He hadn't realized Mavin had a child.

"Hi," Connor replied. He looked to his mother, and Mavin smiled.

"Connor, this is Captain Rodgers," she said. "Remember when I said I was working with important people? Captain Rodgers is one of them."

Connor just looked up at Steve, his adorable little face screwed up as he thought about it.

"He looks like Capin Merica," Connor finally said.

Steve chuckled quietly. "I hear that a lot," he said, taking his cue from Mavin about this. "What are you working on there?" He crouched down next to Connor to get a better look.