The Twins went up and packed to head to the mansion, while their parents packed for their mission.

As they did, though, a thought kept coming back to Nikki. A thought that was quickly growing into a plan. It was weighing to heavily on her mind that she had completely stopped packing and was just standing there, seemingly staring off into nothing.

Soon, Jamie noticed this.

"You good, sis?" He asked her.

At first, Nikki didn't respond. Too deep in thought. However, she did respond to Jamie poking her arm.

"Oop, there she is."

"Sorry, I was thinking about something." She replied.

"Sure looked like it. What was it?"

Before answering him, the blonde teen walked to the door of their room and closed it. This confused her brother.

"I gave Mom the list of names I found," She finally said, "the one I showed to you and Shaun."

"Oh, well that's good." Jamie replied positively.

"Yeah...but there's more."

As soon as Nikki said that, a weary feeling came to Jamie. "What do you mean?" He asked.

Nikki reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small slip of paper about the width of a ruler and showed it to Jamie. Taking it, he could see what it was right away. A name from the list...which had been ripped off of a bigger sheet of paper. The one Nikki had earlier.

"Wait," Jamie said, his mood shifting to suspicious, "Is this from-"

"Yes." Nikki cut him off, already knowing what he would ask.

"The one you-"

"Mhm."

Damn twin powers.

"Nikki, why do you still have this?" Her brother asked, his tone going a bit higher. Nikki could tell he was getting cranky.

"Promise you won't get mad or tell Mom and Dad?"

Jamie was getting so heated, he spoke through his teeth. "Tell me first before I answer either of those."

"You see the name and address on there?"

She nodded to the paper in his hand. Jamie took a moment before looking at it and seeing the name and address in question. It was a Baltimore address, and it was the residence of an 'Isaiah Bradley'.

"Yeah, what about it?" Jamie asked, looking back up at her.

"That was the last address on that list and that person hasn't been recruited yet." Nikki explained. She paused momentarily to gauge her brother's reaction, and it was obvious he was waiting.

"...okay, and? I know there's more!" Having a smart-ish brain and knowing his sister all to well, Jamie pushed as he felt he knew what was coming.

Here's where it was either going to hit the fan or...well, there really wasn't much of an or here. All Nikki could do was hope for the best - whatever that was.

She took a breath and winced before saying, "...I'm going to Baltimore to warn Mr. Bradley about Mace."

Boom. There it was. And just like that, Jamie went into a frenzy of worried brother and bugged sibling.

"Nikki, didn't you just get chewed out by Mom about this exact same thing?"

The blonde teen didn't reply right away. Rather, she bobbed her head and shrugged. "Yes...and no."

"What do you mean 'no'?" Jamie exclaimed, totally confused. "You did! You totally did!"

"Could you keep your voice down?!" Nikki whisper-yelled at her brother.

Jamie was about to retaliate back with something even louder, but he held himself back and groaned loudly through his lips. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took deep breaths through the nostrils as he tried to calm down, even sitting down on his bed to help.

It was quiet for a moment as Jamie collected his thoughts and tried to think about what he would say next. But before he could...

(Pop)

A notification sound came from his phone. It took him a moment to pull it out, he almost didn't too. But when he did, he saw that it was a text. From...

Nikki: [You alright?]

Jamie furrowed his brow before looking up to see his sister in a chair, looking at him with a small smile as if asking for forgiveness.

At the moment, he was disturbed. But, if there was one thing Jamie couldn't do, it was hold a grudge. Let alone one against Nikki. She was his best friend aside from Peter and Torunn. And having lost her one time, he knew life was too short to stay mad at someone he loved.

Thinking about this actually helped him calm down a bit. Taking in and letting out a heavy sigh, he typed up and sent a reply.

Jamie: [I'm fine]

Thinking a bit more about the situation, he sent another text.

Jamie: [Are you seriously going to do this?]

Nikki read the message and quickly replied.

Nikki: [yep πŸ’―]

Jamie: [But why? Again, mom already yelled at you once about this exact same thing]
[And she never yells at you]

Nikki: [...I know I know] [In my defense tho those were bad guys. This man isn't one]

Jamie: [You don't know that. He could be dangerous too]

Nikki was about to reply quick with some witty remark, but, as much as she didn't want to admit it, Jamie was right.

Nikki: [...touchΓ©] [But I still have to try.]

Jamie rolled his eyes and sighed again. Of course she was. When Nikki had her mind set on something, there was pretty much no stopping her. That how she handled it with the Soul Stone and helping their team acquire it. And they almost lost her forever.

That's what Jamie didn't want to happen. For him, their friends, or their parents.

Another text from her came through. One with the intent to reassure.

Nikki: [I'm just going to warn him, then I'm coming right back.]

[Strictly recon]

On the positive side, Jamie now had more details on what Nikki was planning to do. However, though she didn't plan on doing anything else didn't necessarily mean nothing else would happen. And that's what Jamie was worried about.

But, it didn't seem like he could talk her out of it.

With a heavy sigh, he looked to her once more before typing his reply.

Jamie: [You sure about this? I mean, we could just give it to mom and dad and let them handle it]

After reading that text, Nikki seemed to think it over before shaking her head and typing her reply.

Nikki: [No not really]

[Mom and Dad have their own mission already. This is something small that I can handle]

[I know I can do it]

If this were a court, Jamie could rest his case. His sister was determined like a predator, but stubborn as a mule. But that's a fighter for you. And that's what she was. A fighter.

Feeling much calmer now, Jamie now spoke out loud. "When do we leave?" He asked.

"Well, I figured-..." Nikki stopped herself, unsure if she heard right. "Wait, did you just say 'we'?"

"Mhm." The redheaded teen nodded, "Mom would kill me if I let you go alone. Besides, what kind of brother would I be to let you do this by yourself?"

At that, Nikki smiled before standing from her seat, walking over to her brother and embracing him fully.

"I love you, Jamie." She said happily. She was glad to have him. Best partner ever.

"Yeah, yeah. I love you, too," He replied hugging her back. "Even though you bug me sometimes."

"Oh, you love it!" Nikki teased, pulling away. "Besides, you're no easy person to live with yourself."

"Zhopa." Jamie said in Russian, unable to hold back a smile.

"Suka." Nikki retorted, smirking all the more.

He laughed at that, to which she did too.

"So, when are leaving?" He asked again.

With a new "secret" mission of their own, the Twins began to formulate their plan. And hopefully, the wouldn't get into too much trouble.

The worst that could happen was they get grounded for life.

But, they were willing to face that...sort of.


The Twins had finished packing and now on their way, with Bucky and Shaun, to take their friend home. Then, it would be off to the mansion and the execution of Jamie and Nikki's mission would begin.

Shaun directed them to his address, with Bucky driving, of course, and they soon arrived at his house. However, as they pulled to a stop, the Twins - more so Nikki, - saw an oddly familiar car parked right out front of the Lucas' home.

Almost instantly, Nikki recognized it since she had chased it halfway across town. It was Mace's car.

"He's here." She stated.

Bucky and Shaun looked to her, with the latter slightly confused. "Who?"

"Mace."

Her Uncle Bucky caught on right away. Shaun, however, was surprised. Anxious and worried, the black teen jumped out of the car and bolted up to his front door.

"Shaun, wait!" Worry coming over her, Nikki jumped out after him.

"Nikki!" Bucky exclaimed, but she was already out. "Jamie, stay in the car." He ordered his "nephew" before getting out.

"Frick that!" Jamie replied, jumping out as well.

All of them out, Shaun was the first to the door and opened with speed. As soon as it opened, though, he was met by...

"Dad?"

"Shaun." John Lucas stood just out of the door's path with a duffle bag in hand, and his mother Evelyn right behind him.

Shaun noticed this and immediately, his mind went frantic with questions. One of them being "What's with the bag?"

Evelyn opened her mouth to speak, but someone else from outside spoke up. "Well, son, your father's been called to serve his country. Again. This time in the best way possible."

Shaun and the Twins turned and saw the very man mentioned earlier. Gideon Mace. Thought there were three of them, he particularly eye Nikki.

"Ms. Rogers." He nodded to her with a coy smile.

Her face hardened as she held herself back from jumping or tasing him right there.

"Dad, you can't go with this guy." Shaun whispered to his father, pushing him back a little out of earshot. "I don't know what he's told you, but he is not a good guy."

"You see!" Evelyn added, "Your own son gets it and he just got here."

"He doesn't get anything and neither do you!" John hissed, shrugging both of them away. "This is my choice. And I ain't gonna be loaded down here no more."

"Listen to me, John!" His wife exclaimed, jumping in front of her husband. Her voice sharp and her finger was right in his face. No doubt about it, she had his attention. But he didn't shrink back at all. "Now you have a family here. A wife who loves you and a son who's trying his best to be there for you. But for that to happen, you need to be here. Not running off doing God knows what that man will have you doing. And I'm sure its not saving people. You're needed here. I'm begging you, John...stay."

John heard her. He took in every word she had said and broke it down piece by piece. On doing so, he even looked to Shaun. In his eyes, he saw him pleading with him not to go. But deep down, John knew he couldn't. It wouldn't feel right. He was a soldier, a fighter. One that had been cast aside. But no more.

Looking past his family, he walked past them and exited the house. As he did, he left his wife there with a broken heart. She couldn't believe this was happening.

And Shaun, he was shocked too. But still, he didn't give up. He followed his father outside and tried to catch him before her jumped in the car.

"Dad, wait!" He called after him. "You can't-"

But John cut him off. He had had enough.

"SHUT UP, SHAUN!" He barked, eyes wide and nostrils flaring. "Man the hell up!"

His words left Shaun both shocked and speechless. Not exactly what he said, but what he was doing. He was leaving him and his mother. Like they didn't matter. That hurt.

John sat down and closed the door behind him, leaving only Mace standing out there with them.

"Well, y'all have a nice day." He said to them. Then he looked to Bucky, "Mr. Barnes, I'm we couldn't persuade you. You would've made a fine asset."

It took a lot for Bucky to not attack. He really wanted to, but he was trying to be better. He was a different man now. But that didn't stop him from balling his fists.

"Oh, and Nikki?"

At the sound her name, the blonde teen felt her blood go cold.

"Be careful where you poke your nose. You won't like what happens. Trust me."

That was all he said before he got in and closed the door behind him.

They all stood there and watched as the car started and drove away.

And as the car drove away, Evelyn felt her heart being crushed more and more. The tears she had already felt earlier now came through without a fight.

Bucky noticed this. "Ma'am, are you alright?"

"My husband just left." She said still in disbelief. "Just up and left us for some...some... I don't know what!"

"Your son was right, ma'am." Jamie said, "That man isn't a good one...I'm sorry you had to deal with that."

Evelyn gave a half smile through her growing tears. "Thank you. You must be Jamie, and this must be Nikki. Shaun has told me quite a bit about you."

"He's a good friend, ma'am." Nikki said with a half smile of her own. It was her way of saying thank you to her. An unspoken thanks.

"Evelyn, please." The woman offered, "And thank you. I'm glad he has friends like you. Lord knows he needs you now."

The Twins smiled at that and nodded in thanks. They could tell she was cracking up on the inside. An ordeal like the one she just experienced wasn't an easy one to shake off.

"Well, we better get going," Bucky said, "You're sure you're all right, ma'am?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Um...excuse me for asking but, where are you going exactly?"

"Avengers Mansion." Jamie answered. "We're staying there for a bit."

Evelyn took that in and nodded. "Oh."

"Their parents wanted them to be safe just in case." Bucky explained. Short and semi-sweet, as usual.

"Mace came to our parents too," Nikki added, "but they said no. Now they're going after him."

Taking in all they said Evelyn had an idea. "Would it be possible if Shaun could maybe...go with you? Please?"

The question was mostly directed towards Bucky and it definitely caught him off guard. "Uh..I-...do you think you should be alone right now, ma'am?"

"Drop the ma'am, please. My name is Evelyn. And don't worry about me, I'm fine. But Shaun...this place holds too many bad memories for him. He needs to be somewhere else where he can be happy. Just a for a little while. Please!"

Bucky struggled to find the words, but fortunately, he didn't have to anymore.

"Sure he can!" Nikki spoke up.

"Nikki!"

"What? Come on, Uncle Bucky. He needs it. Besides, we have plenty of room."

Jamie shrugged and nodded in agreement. "She has a point, we do. More than enough."

Still, Bucky struggled. He couldn't make a rebuttal for this. And now, all eyes were on him.

Looking to Evelyn, he saw in her eyes the worry of a mother. A mother who would give her life for her son's. And right now, she wanted to save him.

Sighing, he gave a smile and nodded.

"Okay."


And the plot thickens. This story just keeps getting heavier, I tell you! I feel bad for Shaun but I relate to him very personally. And I'm glad he has Jamie and Nikki there for him. Hope you guys are still with me and it's still good for you.

Sorry it's taken a bit since I last uploaded, but I'm here. Just busy and still writing. 😁 Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, PLEASE lmk what you thought. Better stuff to come in the upcoming chapters, and the upcoming stories. πŸ˜‰

Til the next chapter. ✌ πŸ˜ŒπŸ‘