Kick Vibe [Bucky Barnes]

Wanderlust

I run downstairs right after the bell rings. I've waited for this moment since he left to the Rain Forest. Screw his nature-resurrecting powers. Always trying to save the world with them. I swing the door open before attacking the olive-skinned mutant that's standing on my porch.

"Oh, how much I've missed you!" I exclaim while he wraps his arms around my waist.

"I've missed you too, you tosser." He grins in my ear.

"Ah. Hi, Jackson." My mom's voice sounds behind him, "Good to see you back."

"Good to see you too, Mrs. Jones. I would give you a hug, but this little monster won't let me go."

I roll my eyes as I let him go, so he could embrace my mother. I close the front door behind me and follow them to the living room.

"Do you kids want something to drink?" Mom asks before disappearing in the kitchen.

"Coke, please." I shout after her.

"Make that two, please." Jacks shouts too.

We sit down next to each other on the three-seat sofa as I lunge backwards. It's almost normal to sit like this together after such long time apart. But I feel a void nonetheless. He can't replace Team Cap.

"What's going on in your head?" His voice pulls me out my string of thoughts, "You miss them, don't you?"

"It sucks that I don't know where they are." I sigh, "And I still have to travel to Homestead for Clint."

"Why don't we go on a road trip? All the way to Homestead and back?"

"You're crazy." I huff, but he sits straight up.

"I'm dead serious, Dee. We could do it in a day. If we leave now, we'll be home by tomorrow afternoon. Plenty of time for you, right?"

"C'mon, Jacks. I can't ask you to go with me on a trip that takes at least 7 hours to and from, each."

"But Dee." He smirks, "I don't care as long as we spend the time together."

**

The open fields around us make the road look long and empty. My legs are sprawled over the dashboard while Jacks is of course driving.

"You know, the team misses you." He comments.

"Tell them thank you and move on." I grin, "I can't permit myself for risking other people's lives. Not after what happened."

"Yet you chose to fight two days ago."

"That was different. Do you remember what Storm taught us about the Sentinel program and the whole treaty around it?"

He nods, "Yeah... Putting all mutants on the map and exposing them, right?"

"That's the thing." I agree, "They now want to do the same with superheroes."

"Now I get why you wanted to fight."

"But I still owe you guys a lot. I mean, I wouldn't be able to control my powers like this without Professor X. And I wouldn't have amazing friends."

"Those guys have done something to you. All that flattering and hugging..."

"I've been taking life for granted lately." My voice wanders off.

"What did you do?" He grins.

"I almost got myself killed. For the thousandth time. The usual stuff, you know."

"Doesn't surprise me at all."

"You know, I spent almost a week with them, and you wouldn't even be able to compare it to the team. I mean, this fighting is the only thing they have left in their lives."

"Some of us do too." He remarks.

I keep my mouth shut now as I don't want Jacks to get mad at me. I've caused enough strains between us over the years.

We pass a sign that says Welcome to Homestead and I know that it isn't far anymore. We take a right turn and follow the same dirt road for the next 10 miles until a little home appears. We eventually stop and get out.

I go up the porch as Jacks follows me two steps behind. I knock on the wood next to the door and wait.

"Who is it?" I hear through the house.

"Um, Laura?" I hesitate, "I'm Addison. Clint asked me to come by if he-"

The door flies open as a quite young looking woman with long dark hair stands in the portal.

"Again?" She asks as if it was a habit he gets caught, "Come in."

Jacks and I enter the house that's so typical for a farmhouse. Two kids look up from the TV while another is laying in a crib.

"I had no idea Clint has a family." I speak my mind.

"He chose to keep it a complete secret because of his work as a spy." Laura explains as we follow her to the kitchen, "Please sit."

I do so, while Jacks looks behind him.

"I'm going to sit with the kids and entertain them a bit. It's not my conversation to make." He nods at me and leaves for the living room.

"Nice fella you have there." Laura begins.

"Oh, no." I smile, "He's my best friend. He likes me though, but it could never happen."

"I thought the same with Clint." She shakes her head, "But here I am, raising our 3 children."

She gives me a glass of water which I gladly take before she sits across me.

"So, what happened?" She changes the subject.

I'm quite hesitant about what to tell her, and I reckon a light version of the facts would be in place.

"We stumbled upon Stark and his fellows. They kept the lot from going further." I say as I remember something, "He did tell me to tell you that next time he'll retire for real."

"Clint will never retire. He just did because of those accords." She laughs, "And how did you get into this?"

"Well, Sam is my former neighbor and my lifetime best friend, so it was kind of obvious." I smile and look outside.

Jacks is playing with the kids, creating flowers around them to play in. It's cute how he gets along with kids. Something I can't.

"How cute." Laura mentions, "He's a keeper."

I smile because I know she's right. Every other girl would be happy with a guy like Jacks. A caring, child-loving, sweet guy like him, but somewhere deep down, I know that he isn't the right match for me.