✪ 𝑱𝑶𝑯𝑵 𝑭. 𝑾𝑨𝑳𝑲𝑬𝑹 ✪

"I'm not allowed to leave the room even thought medically there is nothing wrong with me." Lukas points out. He isnt even allowed to have his video games or phone to entertain himself. "It's been three weeks." The teen does not pout as he looks at John. "I feel like a prisoner." Clowing his eyes, he hates that he feels like a failure. Lukas looks at John with hope that the older man would have better news, however since not, Lukas wants to cry. "It's stupid that I cant even go home."

John listened without interrupting, his eyes staying on Lukas as the frustration finally spilled out. He understood it. Three weeks locked inside the same room would wear down just about anyone, especially a kid who'd already been through more than enough. "I know," he said quietly, giving a small nod. "I'd be climbing the walls too." He rested his forearms on his knees, keeping his voice level. "They're not keeping you here because they think you've done something wrong. they're keeping you here because whoever took you is still out there, and nobody wants to give them a second chance." John paused for a moment before adding, "Doesn't make it any less miserable, though." a faint, sympathetic smile crossed his face. "I'll talk to the people in charge. See if they can at least loosen things up a little. no promises, but I'll ask." He held Lukas' gaze. "You haven't failed anybody, kid. you're still here, and that's what matters right now."

"I feel like that me staying here is giving them a better opportunity to get me. At least out in the open, I can hide if I need to and run." Lukas points out. He sighs as he closes his eyes. The only good thing about being locked up is that the press cant get photos of him. Being the son of Bucky and Natasha, as well as being the adopted son of Clint Barton, he is pretty famous. "The only good thing is I dont have to hear about how my beautiful face is now ruined." He says, scoffing a bit at the comment the one nurse made when he first was saved. "Thanks John. Really. Even if I can get a book or my kindle, my switch, video games- anything." He huffs. "I'm not even allowed a coloring book!" Lukas knows he is being a bit of a brat with his whining. The teen looks over at John, shoulders dropping. "I'm sorry. I've done nothing but complain."

John let the kid talk, resisting the urge to cut in with an answer for every point. By the end of it, he leaned back in the chair with a quiet exhale, a small shake of his head following Lukas' apology. "You're not complaining," he said simply. "You've been stuck in one room for three weeks. I'd be in a worse mood." A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth when Lukas mentioned the coloring book. "No coloring book? that's just cruel." The humor faded into something more thoughtful. "As for running...maybe you could. maybe you couldn't. The people making those calls aren't interested in finding out the hard way." He shrugged lightly. "I don't always agree with how they handle things either." John glanced toward the door before looking back at Lukas. "I'll see what I can do about the books, the Kindle...something to keep your brain occupied. No guarantees, but I'll push for it." His gaze briefly settled on the scars before returning to Lukas' eyes. "And for what it's worth..." he said evenly, "anyone who's more concerned about a few scars than the fact you made it out alive has their priorities backwards."

Lukas listens to John, and he knows the other man has some points. He just hates feeling weak. Useless. Like a child. He knows that the people giving orders are making sure he is safe- if not only to use him to get his family to comply with what they need. Lukas isnt stupid. He graduated high school at 15, he knows that what happened to him is top priority in finding those who took him. "Thanks John. That will be a life saver. I would finish my college work but I doubt they would let me. Anything really would help." The teen admits. "Yeah? Well, a few of the nurses think that it's ashame that my handsome face was ruined." He says weakly as he looks to the wall- there is not even a window in his room!- "hey, at least I dont have to worry about a boyfriend now." He points out with a weak attempt at humor. "Seriously, John. For visiting. For trying to get me something. It helps."

John let out a quiet huff that almost passed for a laugh, shaking his head. "College work? If your brain needs something to do, I'll see if I can convince them that's a better idea than letting you stare at four walls all day." at the comment about the nurses, his expression flattened. "That's a hell of a thing to say to someone who just got out of a kidnapping." There wasn't much anger in his voice, just clear disapproval. "They should know better." Lukas' joke earned the faintest smile. "Kid, if someone decides whether they want to be with you because of a couple of scars, they're probably doing you a favor by walking away." John rose from the chair, resting a hand briefly against the bed rail. "Don't mention it. you don't have to sit in here by yourself if I can help it." He gave a small nod toward the door. "I'll make a few calls. maybe I can get you a book, your Kindle..hell, even a coloring book if that's what it takes." The corner of his mouth twitched. "just don't expect me to bring crayons. I've seen what happens when bored people start drawing mustaches on government paperwork."

Lukas gets a small smile while John is talking. He knows John has multiple points. He puts his hand on top of John's. "Thank you." He says quietly. "I'm fine with that. I'll use markers if I can steal some from the nurses." He jokes. "How is the outside world?" He changes the subject as he sits up. "At least I have been working out more." He teases, doing push ups and other easy work outs in the room. "Yeah, my dad used to do that a lot. Actually he would give me offical reports as a kid and told me to draw on them. Uncle Nick had a file of my artwork." He admits.

John glanced down as Lukas rested a hand over his, giving it a brief pat before letting it go. "Don't make me an accomplice," he said with a small smirk. "If markers disappear, I'm pointing them straight to you." He chuckled at the story. "Your dad giving you official reports to draw on? Yeah... I can actually picture that." At the question, he shrugged. "Outside world's still turning. Too much traffic, too much paperwork. You're not missing anything exciting." His gaze returned to Lukas. "I'm glad you're keeping yourself busy, though. Just don't overdo the workouts." A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "It's good to see you smiling again."

"I'm not allowed to leave the room even thought medically there is nothing wrong with me." Lukas points out. He isnt even allowed to have his video games or phone to entertain himself. "It's been three weeks." The teen does not pout as he looks at John. "I feel like a prisoner." Clowing his eyes, he hates that he feels like a failure. Lukas looks at John with hope that the older man would have better news, however since not, Lukas wants to cry. "It's stupid that I cant even go home."

John listened without interrupting, his eyes staying on Lukas as the frustration finally spilled out. He understood it. Three weeks locked inside the same room would wear down just about anyone, especially a kid who'd already been through more than enough. "I know," he said quietly, giving a small nod. "I'd be climbing the walls too." He rested his forearms on his knees, keeping his voice level. "They're not keeping you here because they think you've done something wrong. they're keeping you here because whoever took you is still out there, and nobody wants to give them a second chance." John paused for a moment before adding, "Doesn't make it any less miserable, though." a faint, sympathetic smile crossed his face. "I'll talk to the people in charge. See if they can at least loosen things up a little. no promises, but I'll ask." He held Lukas' gaze. "You haven't failed anybody, kid. you're still here, and that's what matters right now."

"I feel like that me staying here is giving them a better opportunity to get me. At least out in the open, I can hide if I need to and run." Lukas points out. He sighs as he closes his eyes. The only good thing about being locked up is that the press cant get photos of him. Being the son of Bucky and Natasha, as well as being the adopted son of Clint Barton, he is pretty famous. "The only good thing is I dont have to hear about how my beautiful face is now ruined." He says, scoffing a bit at the comment the one nurse made when he first was saved. "Thanks John. Really. Even if I can get a book or my kindle, my switch, video games- anything." He huffs. "I'm not even allowed a coloring book!" Lukas knows he is being a bit of a brat with his whining. The teen looks over at John, shoulders dropping. "I'm sorry. I've done nothing but complain."

John let the kid talk, resisting the urge to cut in with an answer for every point. By the end of it, he leaned back in the chair with a quiet exhale, a small shake of his head following Lukas' apology. "You're not complaining," he said simply. "You've been stuck in one room for three weeks. I'd be in a worse mood." A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth when Lukas mentioned the coloring book. "No coloring book? that's just cruel." The humor faded into something more thoughtful. "As for running...maybe you could. maybe you couldn't. The people making those calls aren't interested in finding out the hard way." He shrugged lightly. "I don't always agree with how they handle things either." John glanced toward the door before looking back at Lukas. "I'll see what I can do about the books, the Kindle...something to keep your brain occupied. No guarantees, but I'll push for it." His gaze briefly settled on the scars before returning to Lukas' eyes. "And for what it's worth..." he said evenly, "anyone who's more concerned about a few scars than the fact you made it out alive has their priorities backwards."

Lukas listens to John, and he knows the other man has some points. He just hates feeling weak. Useless. Like a child. He knows that the people giving orders are making sure he is safe- if not only to use him to get his family to comply with what they need. Lukas isnt stupid. He graduated high school at 15, he knows that what happened to him is top priority in finding those who took him. "Thanks John. That will be a life saver. I would finish my college work but I doubt they would let me. Anything really would help." The teen admits. "Yeah? Well, a few of the nurses think that it's ashame that my handsome face was ruined." He says weakly as he looks to the wall- there is not even a window in his room!- "hey, at least I dont have to worry about a boyfriend now." He points out with a weak attempt at humor. "Seriously, John. For visiting. For trying to get me something. It helps."

John let out a quiet huff that almost passed for a laugh, shaking his head. "College work? If your brain needs something to do, I'll see if I can convince them that's a better idea than letting you stare at four walls all day." at the comment about the nurses, his expression flattened. "That's a hell of a thing to say to someone who just got out of a kidnapping." There wasn't much anger in his voice, just clear disapproval. "They should know better." Lukas' joke earned the faintest smile. "Kid, if someone decides whether they want to be with you because of a couple of scars, they're probably doing you a favor by walking away." John rose from the chair, resting a hand briefly against the bed rail. "Don't mention it. you don't have to sit in here by yourself if I can help it." He gave a small nod toward the door. "I'll make a few calls. maybe I can get you a book, your Kindle..hell, even a coloring book if that's what it takes." The corner of his mouth twitched. "just don't expect me to bring crayons. I've seen what happens when bored people start drawing mustaches on government paperwork."

"I'm not allowed to leave the room even thought medically there is nothing wrong with me." Lukas points out. He isnt even allowed to have his video games or phone to entertain himself. "It's been three weeks." The teen does not pout as he looks at John. "I feel like a prisoner." Clowing his eyes, he hates that he feels like a failure. Lukas looks at John with hope that the older man would have better news, however since not, Lukas wants to cry. "It's stupid that I cant even go home."

John listened without interrupting, his eyes staying on Lukas as the frustration finally spilled out. He understood it. Three weeks locked inside the same room would wear down just about anyone, especially a kid who'd already been through more than enough. "I know," he said quietly, giving a small nod. "I'd be climbing the walls too." He rested his forearms on his knees, keeping his voice level. "They're not keeping you here because they think you've done something wrong. they're keeping you here because whoever took you is still out there, and nobody wants to give them a second chance." John paused for a moment before adding, "Doesn't make it any less miserable, though." a faint, sympathetic smile crossed his face. "I'll talk to the people in charge. See if they can at least loosen things up a little. no promises, but I'll ask." He held Lukas' gaze. "You haven't failed anybody, kid. you're still here, and that's what matters right now."

"I feel like that me staying here is giving them a better opportunity to get me. At least out in the open, I can hide if I need to and run." Lukas points out. He sighs as he closes his eyes. The only good thing about being locked up is that the press cant get photos of him. Being the son of Bucky and Natasha, as well as being the adopted son of Clint Barton, he is pretty famous. "The only good thing is I dont have to hear about how my beautiful face is now ruined." He says, scoffing a bit at the comment the one nurse made when he first was saved. "Thanks John. Really. Even if I can get a book or my kindle, my switch, video games- anything." He huffs. "I'm not even allowed a coloring book!" Lukas knows he is being a bit of a brat with his whining. The teen looks over at John, shoulders dropping. "I'm sorry. I've done nothing but complain."

John let the kid talk, resisting the urge to cut in with an answer for every point. By the end of it, he leaned back in the chair with a quiet exhale, a small shake of his head following Lukas' apology. "You're not complaining," he said simply. "You've been stuck in one room for three weeks. I'd be in a worse mood." A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth when Lukas mentioned the coloring book. "No coloring book? that's just cruel." The humor faded into something more thoughtful. "As for running...maybe you could. maybe you couldn't. The people making those calls aren't interested in finding out the hard way." He shrugged lightly. "I don't always agree with how they handle things either." John glanced toward the door before looking back at Lukas. "I'll see what I can do about the books, the Kindle...something to keep your brain occupied. No guarantees, but I'll push for it." His gaze briefly settled on the scars before returning to Lukas' eyes. "And for what it's worth..." he said evenly, "anyone who's more concerned about a few scars than the fact you made it out alive has their priorities backwards."

"I'm not allowed to leave the room even thought medically there is nothing wrong with me." Lukas points out. He isnt even allowed to have his video games or phone to entertain himself. "It's been three weeks." The teen does not pout as he looks at John. "I feel like a prisoner." Clowing his eyes, he hates that he feels like a failure. Lukas looks at John with hope that the older man would have better news, however since not, Lukas wants to cry. "It's stupid that I cant even go home."

John listened without interrupting, his eyes staying on Lukas as the frustration finally spilled out. He understood it. Three weeks locked inside the same room would wear down just about anyone, especially a kid who'd already been through more than enough. "I know," he said quietly, giving a small nod. "I'd be climbing the walls too." He rested his forearms on his knees, keeping his voice level. "They're not keeping you here because they think you've done something wrong. they're keeping you here because whoever took you is still out there, and nobody wants to give them a second chance." John paused for a moment before adding, "Doesn't make it any less miserable, though." a faint, sympathetic smile crossed his face. "I'll talk to the people in charge. See if they can at least loosen things up a little. no promises, but I'll ask." He held Lukas' gaze. "You haven't failed anybody, kid. you're still here, and that's what matters right now."