Working in the summer camp was much more fun than I expected it to be. At first, I was a little hesitant to help out, but now I couldn't thank Christin enough for giving me a job. He put me in charge of teaching the little kid's gymnastics and if some of the slightly older ones were interested, self-defense. I mostly worked with the younger kids (3–6-year-olds) but I didn't mind that. I liked little kids. Even back in the war I liked little kids, I just never really had many chances to play with them, with all the fighting going on.
Of course, my age group did also include Black Sheep. In all honesty the kid was kind of growing on me. He was very interested in gymnastics, and was practically attached to my leg the whole lesson, if he wasn't doing a cart wheel. He looked a lot healthier now too. Compared to the small pale half-starved child that only had one blank expression on his face he was when I met him, Black Sheep was now thriving. He had gained some much-needed weight, his skin while still pale had more color too it, and he started smiling more. And man, that kid had learned how to make killer puppy dog eyes.
Other then the kids, my colleagues were alright as well. Doctors McClain, (both mother and daughter) and Taiga, would swap shifts of acting as the medic on camp grounds. Jenette turned out to be one of the combat instructors, but she only worked with kids who were one or two years from ageing out and earning their masks. The rest of the counselors were all around my age, some a little older some a little younger, and I was a good friend with a few of them, but the one I talked to the most was Snowy.
Well, I was never sure if that was her actual birth name or not, but everyone called her that.
Snowy, was the youngest counselor, only 15, but she had apparently been in the same masking ceremony that Arrow was bestowed with her mask (Which, I learned later that Arrow turn 16 a week after said ceremony, while Snowy wouldn't be 16 until August). She looked like a white werewolf too me, though she was technically part artic fox. She didn't have any hair on her noggin, instead she had fluffy ivory fur that looked like a messy cross between a short bob and a pixie cut, with two large foxy ears that were perched atop of her head. Her face, having a complexion of chocolate milk, looked very human, if you ignored the fangs and slightly larger than normal pale violet eyes. She had claws on her hands, a fluffy tail on her behind, and never wore any shoes as she had paws at the end of her legs instead of feet.
We got close, as she also worked with the younger kids. She was in charge of arts and crafts, and foreign languages classes. In fact she was so good at foreign languages that a few days into the camp, Christin recommended that I ask her to help me learn chosen tongue, and she happily agreed.
Though the weird thing about Snowy was that she wasn't from Christin's clan. She was actually from another clan known as, Shashla, who's clan Leader, was named Prowler (Snowy got a job at Christin's camp thanks to a treaty agreement). Her clan had been refugees who fled their first Counseling when civil war broke out. Barely fifty of them survived the trip south from the artic circle, but despite their small size, they were welcomed into their current Counseling. Their previous counseling had been much more isolated from the outside world then Nexus, and in a much harsher environment, so their culture did differ slightly from the mutants I had already met. I still couldn't believe she was already engaged ("wait, wait, you're 15, and you're getting married?" "You say it like it's weird." "Don't you think you're a little young?" "You're not aware of the average lifespan of a mutant, are you?").
There was a gaggle of young children, playing at my feet. Christin had called for me and Snowy to bring our groups together today. For what? I wasn't sure yet, that's what Snowy was finding out while I kept an eye on the kiddos. The only kid, that wasn't playing like the others was Black Sheep, whom was still clinging to my leg.
I could hear some giggling from some of the older campers whom were standing nearby. I glanced over only for them to turn away the moment I looked. Were they watching me?
"Barnes!" I heard the squeaky voice said form behind.
I looked back, seeing Snowy returning, a large infectious smile on her face, "What Christin want?" I asked turning back to the group of older campers.
"Well, we're…What are you looking at?" Snowy said.
"Those girls were staring at me."
"Really?" Snowy raised a brow, before eyeing me up and down, "Must be the scars, mutant chicks dig those. So, anyway were going to the water front today."
"Really?" I raised a brow.
"Yeah, it's a water front play day. And all of our kids are signed up. Usually, the water team would handle this, but too many pups for them to keep an eye on."
"So, were heading to the lagoon?"
"Yep!" Snowy turned to the kids, "Alright Pups! We're going to Lagoon to day! Now what is it we need to do?!"
"Form a Chain Train!" the children squealed.
"That's right!" Snowy squeaked, "Now, form behind me, and let's go!"
The children all lined up behind Snowy, and they all started marching towards the lagoon. Snowy cheering, "Where are we going?" the which the kids would answer, "The lagoon," and then Snowy cheered, "How are we getting there?" and the kids would scream, "On the Chain Train!". I smiled at the sight; if only my drill sergeants had been that enthusiastic.
Something tugged at my leg, I looked down, still finding Black Sheep there. The small boy reached up at me and whined to be picked up. I pulled him into my arms, and he laid his head on my shoulder.
"You don't want to be in the Chain Train?" I asked.
Black Sheep shook his head.
"Too many people?"
He nodded.
"Okay, you want to walk with me?"
He nodded.
"Okay."
The Lagoon was beautiful. Despite living on the property for nearly two months now, I had never come down to this place. An almost circular pool, maybe a little larger than a football field, of bright blue clear water with calm waves that sparkled like a sapphire in the sunlight stood before me. It was amazing
The kids were having a fun time in the water with the lesson, and while that was a good thing, I also learned something as well. Modern swim suits were weird, and really revealing. I had to stop myself a from staring at Snowy's two-piece, which showed that she had fur going down her back, and all the way up to her knees from her paws. While I did enjoy wearing the new fabric my swim trunks were made out of, seemingly much more fit for water use than the wool things we used to use, I still questioned the designs.
The water team was welcoming enough. There were about twenty little kids, and only four of us. Which meant we had to keep an eye on five kids each, though, I kind of only had to watch four as Black Sheep rarely left my side. However, the point was that we were all a little too busy to talk that much.
Overall, it was a weird, yet enjoyable experience.
Eventually it was time for kids to break for lunch. We all sat on the shore, and let the kids have a picnic (there was a program that made small lunches for the kids that had to live on camp grounds). Black Sheep, and I had found a nice shady spot underneath one of the large silver maples, with a perfect view of the lagoon.
"Hey!" shouted a voice in English.
I looked over to see Junia walking over. The clan leader's son had been working on the water team in Arrow's place until she got back. But that didn't mean we really talked as I mostly worked in-land rather then in the water (Didn't seem like a good idea with a metal arm), besides I didn't really know what to think of him. Other then the fact that he and Arrow were now dating, I had zero relation to him. Sure, he was staying the farm house, like all of the other counselors, but that didn't mean we had to be friends, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to. He just gave me a feeling that I didn't like. And the bejeweled mask and hair tie he seemed to never take off wasn't really helping.
"Is something the matter?" I said in chosen tongue.
Junia seemed surprised, "You speak Chosen Tongue?" he asked in said language.
"Yes," I answered, "Not well, but I can understand it."
"Oh, my apologizes, I didn't realize you were learning," He looked away from me, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Junia looked at me even more confused.
"Why are you so surprised?"
"Well, most outsiders don't care to learn, since we already speak an average of five languages per person. It's likely that one of use can speak their native tongue."
"That's stupid. They're technically the guests here, if they don't want to learn the language that's their choice, but they shouldn't expect the people they're visiting to speak their language."
Once more Junia eyed me in shock, "I think you might be the weirdest outsider I've ever met."
I gave him a flat look, "Thanks, now why were you coming to see us?"
"Oh," Junia seemed to snap back into the conversation, and cleared his throat, "Well, I was wondering if I needed to return the little one back to the group," he looked to Black Sheep.
At that moment the little black-haired boy cuddled a little closer to my side. I looked down, and immediately recognized that he didn't want to move.
"I thinks he's alright here," I said.
Junia stared wide eyed, at Black Sheep, "The little one is attached to him, fascinating," He muttered clearly trying to be quiet but failing miserably.
"Hey, I don't think I know your name," I said trying to shift the conversation topic.
"Oh! Yes, my apologizes. Introductions are probably a must, "He offered a hand, "Junia Arabel."
I shook his hand, "Bucky Barnes."
"Oh yes, well I figured that. It isn't everyday that an outsider is welcomed into a Clan leader's home. Though I suppose if anyone would do that it would probably be Christin."
I raised a brow, "And outsider?"
"Oh, uhm, I didn't mean to be offensive, I just meant one with out a clan…or powers…or mutant DNA in general… or-"
"Okay, you can stop now. I get it. I'm not technically one of you."
"I didn't mean to be insulting."
I shook my head, "Just forget it."
"No, please let me apologize for offending…oh I understand your hostility."
"What?"
"This is about Arrow, isn't it?"
"What? No, Arrow has nothing to do…"
"No, no, I understand. She saved your life. It's only logical that you feel protective of her. Seeing me, the one courting her, as a new threat. Don't worry, I don't blame you."
I furrowed my brows, but not at him. Was I really protective of Arrow? It felt weird, yet made sense at the same time. It made sense because, right off the bat I wasn't really sure of Junia, especially since I saw him flirt with Arrow the first time our paths crossed. But it was weird as, I had seen Arrow fight, and I knew she could take care of herself.
"Mind if I join you?" Junia asked, gesturing to a spot next to me.
I shrugged, and he sat down next to me and Black Sheep. I honestly wasn't sure if I wanted him to or not. One hand I felt like I couldn't trust him, on the other I wanted to see what Arrow liked about him.
"So, how have you been adjusting?" Junia said trying to start a conversation.
I just stared at him with a raised brow, while slowly sipping from my water bottle.
Junia stuttered, "Well, now that I said that out loud, I realize, it's a stupid question. You're clearly doing alright. Working in the Camp and all."
I nodded, "Yeah, Snowy and kids have been fun to work with."
"Yes, how is Snowy? I haven't spoken to her in a while."
"She seems to be doing alright. You know her?"
"Of course, we used to play together as children. She and Arrow are quite close."
"Really?"
"Oh, yes, they were inseparable as little girls. In fact, Row will be playing the part of the maid of honor in Snowy's wedding this autumn."
"I still can't believe she's engaged. She seems too young."
Junia shrugged, "I do suppose it may seem young to someone from the outside, even if said someone is from over 70 years ago. But you have to remember, 15 is legal age for us, and in Snowy's case, possibly too late. Her clan is small and unsure, they need more families in order to become more stable and self-sustaining. So, the elders are pushing the youth to wed early. But I wouldn't worry about her. I've met her betrothed. He's a good man, a black smith, young yet very talented."
I nodded, "How did you meet him?"
"He apprenticed underneath one of my mother's best metal workers."
"Oh."
There was beat of silence between us, until Junia broke it.
"Mind if I ask something a little more personal?"
"Shoot."
"Do you still respect Captain America?"
I froze, before feeling a flash of anger going through me, "What?"
"Do you still respect the captain even after how much he hurt the people, you owe your life too?"
"What is that supposed to mean? Cap, took me in, he became the brother I never had, he saved hundreds of lives. Of course, I still respect him. I would trade my life for his given the chance."
"Are you certain?"
"Of course, I am."
"Then you're a fool. Your precious captain wasn't who you thought he was."
I glared at him, "Really, how would you know that? You weren't even alive when he was saving the world."
"He wasn't saving the world. He was merely following orders, playing the rules of war, killing the opposite side."
"You agree with the Nazis?"
"No, of course not!"
"Cap saved lives, he was protecting the world from Hydra, Skull, Zemo, and the Nazis."
"From your clouded judgement, he was."
"Clouded judgement?"
"In your mind you've put the captain on a high pedestal. To you he can do no wrong. And if anyone proposes a thought that goes against that belief, then you reject the thought full force. You let the emotions of the interactions you had with him, stop you from seeing the consequences of his actions. That closes off your mind, making it clouded. You can't even see how he's hurt you."
"And how fit are you to judge him? You only know historical facts, that might not even be true. You don't know who Steve Rogers really was."
"The real Steve Rogers, was 90-pound asthmatic, who died the moment that Erskine selected him for Project Rebirth. Captain America was the hollow shell of the man that the government found; a mere advertisement to kill even more people. He is responsible for the deaths of the number of those he saved, ten-fold."
"You're wrong."
"Am I? After all the pain that project rebirth started off? After all the kidnappings? After they did to Arrow?"
I raised a brow, "Arrow? What does Cap have to do with Arrow?"
Junia looked a me for a moment, before huffing a laugh, "You don't know."
"Know what?"
The mutant boy stood up, "Maybe one day you'll be worthy enough to know, but first you need to see just how many people the captain's hurt, including yourself. Good day, James."
I was cold.
Something freezing was lapping against my limbs. The chill traced its freezing touch across my being, stinging and numbing my flesh as thought it was bare. I opened my eyes, all around me was nothing but a maze of frosted over navy mirrors. The floor was flooded, the water deep enough to coat my body, but my face remained unsubmerged. Shaking, I forced myself to move. Curling my body up until I was resting on wobbling elbows. Cold water dripping from my hair and down my spine.
My panting echoed off the walls of glass, making me feel small, alone and trapped. Getting to my feet was much harder than it should have been. All of my limbs felt numb, their movements, heavy weak and sluggish. I coughed, feeling the shivers starting to wreck my body.
I looked around, the endless glassy blue space around me, was empty, hollow, dead. I rubbed my hands together for warmth…wait hands? I looked down, at the trembling limbs. Both of them in black gloves, familiar black gloves. I was in my old suit, no tatters or singed edges. Sure, it was soaked, but it was still undamaged. Carefully, I pulled off the left glove. My breath hitched; the hand wasn't metal. It was flesh. Cold, stiff, and turning blue, but it was flesh.
What was going on?
Walking through the water was a chore to say the least. Not only was it freezing, but the liquid was pulling at my boots making my feet slow. The cold thick air was hard to suck in and when I did inhale my lungs and nose burned. My movements were slow and sluggish; I felt like I was going to trip with every step. Eventually I had to lean a hand against one of the frost-covered walls to stop myself from falling.
The maze seemed endless. Walls of cold glass, after walls of cold glass. The only sounds to filled the void, were my breaths and the subtle splashing of my steps. It was so empty, so alone. After some time, the terrain began to shift around me slightly. Small to large black dagger like shapes began to stick out of the walls, ceiling, and floor.
I stopped for moment to try to breathe, and I heard something splash. Immediately my eyes darted towards the sound. I nearly missed it. A pale form dashing across the hallway ahead of me.
"Hey wait," I called out, suddenly finding the energy to run.
My steps were splashing through the water, as I ran. I turned the corner, barely quick enough to watch the from duck behind another wall. I continued to pursue. Though, it wasn't easy. The water seemed to be getting deeper, colder, and the black daggers grew closer together.
"Stop!" I shouted, my voice echoing of the walls.
The form still was far ahead of me and it wasn't slowing. All the obstacles, the water, and the cold, didn't seemed to faze it. It expertly slipped in between everything like it was nothing. I only managed to catch up with it when it squeezed between a crack in one of the walls.
I followed through the split in the ice, slowly shuffling sideways, the cold coarse walls, scraping against my body. I stumbled as I exited the squeeze, and entered into another chamber. The walls frosted white, and the water on the floor appearing rusted. The white form now frozen in the center of the space, still as stone.
I could finally get a good look at it. It was a person, that was covered in frost. So much frost that they were snow white. It was a man, I was sure; the shoulders were too broad, what hair I could see was shaved short, and they were tall. Taller than me. The clothing was ripped nearly to shreds. The only things that seemed to be intact were the flaring gloves and boots, and a weird circular object that appeared strapped to his back.
"Hello?" I said, taking a cautious step forward.
The form didn't move.
Eventually I got close enough, to see the details on the circular object. The way it was strapped on. The patterned lines on its frozen surface, that formed three circles and a star. My breath hitched. I swallowed as I reach out, gently wiping the frost away revealing the familiar colors of red, white, and blue. The form began to turn around.
"Cap?"
"Bucky?"
Something was shaking my shoulder. Underneath me I could feel the firm mattress of a bed, and a silk sheet draped on top of me. What?
"Bucky."
The shaking became more volent. There was an odd noise shrieking around me.
The voice gasped, "Bucky! Get up!"
Something frozen cold touched my neck and I shot up like a lightning bolt. Panting, I looked around and memory flowed back to me. I was in my room, on Christin's farm, safe. I breathed a sigh.
"Finally," The voice spoke again.
I looked towards it, finally recognizing the speaker. It was Snowy. The human fox hybrid was standing next to my bed. Her fur ruffled and still in her night gown. One of her claws was alit with a baby blue glow. I reach up and felt my neck, the part she touched still cold and numb.
"Snowy, what the heck? It's nearly 3:00 AM," I said, looking at my alarm clock.
There was a loud sound coming from behind my room's back wall. Like something was banging against the side of the house, and cracking the siding; trying to break in.
"We don't have time, get your arm on. We need to go," Snowy said, in a tone so serious and scared, that is sparked a sense of urgency.
With in a moment, we were running out of my room, and down the stairs.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"Due to the unexpected storm, Christin decided to do and extra check on the kids," Snowy said, as a loud clap of thunder rang out, causing both of us to flinch.
"And?"
"Head count was one short."
"We're missing a kid?!"
Snowy nodded, before quickly running to the kitchen and coming back with a torch for me to use.
"Usually, Christin wouldn't bother to wake all of us up, but due to the weather…"
"All hands-on deck?" I finished.
"Yeah, but Christin also needs to act a lightning rod right now, to keep anything or anyone else from getting hit."
"Do we know who it is?"
Snowy looked at me, with fear in her eyes, "Bucky, it's Black Sheep."
"What?"
We rushed outside. Finding Nico giving orders to the other counselors and Christin's adult children. Amira standing close to him.
Nico looked to us, "Barnes, Birch, you both are taking the east orchard."
"I swear I locked the door when I put him to bed," Amira said through tears.
"Calm yourself, Carrier," Nico said to her before turning to us, "We're going to search the property until we find this boy, or his body! Get to work!"
The orchards were nearly pitch black. The only lights, being Snowy's eyes, my torch, and the occasional lightning strike, which would light up the entire area for a split second and then drench us back into the shadows of the night. The wind would pick up, roaring at us and then stop for a moment before coming back with a vengeance. It hadn't started raining yet, but if the humid sweet smell in the air was anything to go by that wouldn't last long.
"Black Sheep!" I called out.
"Black Sheep!" Snowy shouted.
"Where could he be?"
"Who knows, little pups can vanish with in moments, it's like a built-in super power."
I wanted to laugh at that, but now wasn't the time. There was another flash, that was shortly followed by a heavy thunderclap. It sounded like a bomb. I looked into the woods. The trees were tall, and their dark grey bark now appeared black. Their branches cracking against each other as the snapped back and forth in the wind. As loud as gunshots. Gunshots…Bombs…
"Bucky!"
I jumped, and looked to Snowy, "Huh what?"
"I've been calling your name for the past three minutes. You, okay?"
"Y-yeah. Why?"
"Well, you're acting weird, and your pillow was drenched in sweat when I came to wake you."
I swallowed, "Bad dream."
Snowy nodded, "It wasn't about anything Junia said, was it?"
"What makes you think that?"
Snowy sighed, "Junia is a good guy, but sometimes he forgets that he's in a casual conversation and not an interrogation. Besides he doesn't really have a very good opinion of non-mutants."
"Yeah, I guess he did say something that got under my skin. He started talking about how I saw Cap in the clouded way. How he wasn't a hero at all, and then he brought in how he hurt Arrow and somehow me. And then…" I trailed off at the sight of Snowy.
The vixen girl's ears were perched high and alert. Her fur standing on end, sharp and taunt. Her large eyes widened in horror, "He brought up Row's incident?"
"Row had an incident?" I asked.
"You don't know do you?"
"Know what? What does everyone know that I don't?!" Probably a lot.
Snowy's ears fell, "I'm sorry I can't…I shouldn't…"
"Snowy?"
She sighed, "All I'll say is this, three years ago, Row had an incident."
"What kind of incident?"
"Let's just say that for a mutant, it would have been better if they had just killed her."
"Who?"
Snowy's ears suddenly snapped up, and she looked toward the woods, "Did you hear that?"
"What?"
"A whimper."
She didn't even glance at me, before running off into the woods. I dashed off after her. After a moment, I could hear it to. In between my footsteps and panting breaths, the sounds of a child's cry could be heard throughout the woods. The winds were whipping at us harder now, grabbing at our legs and pushing against our bodies, as if they were trying keep us away.
Eventually, we broke through a tree line, finding ourselves on the cliffs near the lagoon. I felt like I was in the center wall just before the eye of a hurricane. I used my prosthetic to shield myself from the flying branches and leaves, as I strained to looked forward. There he was, Black Sheep. My heart began to pound; he was standing near the cliff edge.
"Black Sheep!" I called out, hoping that my voice wasn't lost to the wind.
I looked towards Snowy, hoping she could use some kind of ice magic here, but any hope of that was quickly dashed away. The vixen girl was holding on to a tree, her claws digging deep into the bark. She was much smaller than me, barely just five feet and probably much lighter. She was struggling to keep on the ground; she couldn't get to him.
I turned back to Black Sheep. He was standing in the middle of the storm. His back turned to me. His hair barely being touched by the whirling winds. Still standing dangerously close to the edge.
"Black Sheep!" I shouted.
He turned slowly to me, I had to stop myself from fumbling at his eyes. His black eyes were now glowing bright yellow, tears filling them and dripping down his face. His small shoulder shaking as he cried. I knew right away he was scared. The look on his face wasn't calm or raging, it was fear. Something spooked him, something that tipped off his powers.
Christin warned me when I started worked with the little kids. Sometimes they could become so frightened that their powers went into survival mode, protecting the person that the gifts were bestowed upon subconsciously. Powers were apparently like a wild animal, only through bonding with it could the owner control them, and when frightened they are at there most deadly. I needed to calm him down.
"Black Sheep, look at me!" I said, "It's me. It's Bucky. You remember me?"
He looked at me, still weeping with fear, but gave a small nod.
"Yeah, you do. Good, I'm right here. Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
He shook his head, stumbling backwards a little on awkward legs. A heavy gust blasted against me. I swallowed nervously, and tried to push through the wind closer to him.
"Okay, yeah, you're okay. You're okay. You're safe. Want to come over here?"
He stayed still, like a deer in headlights. I crept closer, praying that he didn't take another step back.
"I know your scared, but I need you to come to me, okay?" Please listen. Please listen.
I was closer now, probably ten feet from him. His black hair a mess, and grass stains on the loose pjs he was wearing. He looked so small. The scar on his cheek glowing dimly, as if to remind the world of what was done to him.
"You're okay. I'm not upset. Something scared you huh?"
He nodded, and another blast of wind hit me, nearly taking me on a ride.
"Yeah, that happens and no one mad at you for it," I got down on my knees as to not look like a threat, "You're safe. No one's going to hurt you."
The yellow glow faded from his eyes, and the winds died down. He looked at me with this expression of utter loss and confusion. Tears were dripping down his face, making him look younger than he was.
I reached out a hand, and that's all he needed to know. The small child dashed into my arms, wailing uncontrollably. I instantly hugged him, allowing my shirt take all of his tears. I began rubbing his back, trying to sooth the poor boy.
"You're okay," I said.
"Bad man."
My eyes widened. It was small, and soft, but it was heard. Black Sheep spoke. The little boy had never said anything before. He had only ever communicated through whimpers and gestures.
"What?" I asked.
"Bad man."
"What bad man?"
"I closed eyes. Bad man."
"You were sleeping, and he came to get you?"
Black sheep whimpered and nodded, "No! Bad man! No get! Bucky!"
I hugged him tighter, "Okay, okay, I won't let him. I won't let him. He won't get to you."
"Baco no. No get."
I didn't even raise a brow at the weird nickname, "He won't get you. I'll never let him get to you. I promise."
He wouldn't let go of me, even when I stood up, but I didn't mind carrying him. Black Sheep was still crying softly, his face buried into my shoulder. I walked over to Snowy. The vixen girl was still getting to her paws, her fur now much more frazzled and eyes staring at me almost in awe with her jaw hanging open.
"You, okay?" I asked.
She nodded, her mouth closing, but the eyes remained wide.
"Come on we need to get back."
The walk was silent. I didn't even notice. All my focus was on Black Sheep. Tears still were dripping from his eyes, but he wasn't openly wailing. The occasional whimper escaping from his throat. For a moment, I thought I saw a dull yellow glow fade from his cheek, I eventually shrugged it off to mutant weirdness.
"We got him!" I shouted as we made our way to the farm house. The entire search party coming to greet us.
"Oh, thank the Lost Queen," Christin said, coming up to us.
"You have him!" Amira shouted, as she and the others joined came over, "Is he wounded?"
I shook my head, "Not a scratch, just scared."
"Oh baby, let's get you back to bed, that's enough excitement for one night," Amira reached for Black Sheep.
I was about hand him over, when the little boy wrapped his arms around my neck tightly, "No, Baco! NO!" He shrieked.
There was sudden gasp from Amira, and she slowly back away. I looked around seeing shocked expressions.
"What?" I asked.
Christin looked at Snowy.
The vixen girl shook her head, "I haven't taught him that yet. We've only been going through basic conversation holding, not…" She trailed off.
"What?" I said again, feeling like I was missing some very important information, "Haven't taught me what?"
Christin looked at me, "Bucky 'Baco' is a chosen word."
"I figured it was in the mutant language…" I said.
"No, no, Bucky not like that," Snowy said.
I raised a brow.
"The mutant language, while called chosen tongue only a few words are actually chosen," Christin said.
"Chosen?"
"That's the closest word in English I can describe them with. But they have what I can call double meaning, and by that, I don't mean just different meanings in different contexts. They have altering properties."
"Altering properties?" I furrowed my brows.
"It's like a magic spell. When these words are said they effect the world around us." Snowy said.
"What?" I asked.
Nico stepped forward, "To mutants' blood does not bond the family. Choosing does. When certain words are spoken, we claim each other. Baco is the word for a chosen brother."
"Are you saying that Black Sheep considers me a brother?"
"Not just considers, Bucky," Snowy said.
Christin looked to Amira, "Show him."
The Carrier raised a hand, her finger tips glowing a dull yellow. She waved a hand over Snowy's face. My eyes widened as two symbols appeared on the vixen's face; one on each cheek.
"The right is for her clan, the left is for her line," Amira said, "All mutants are born with a line mark, whether they are first to carry their line or part of an already existing one. If born into a clan they carry one of them as well, but those symbols aren't permanent. A mutant can claim new ones, if a bond with the other individual is formed."
She waved her hand over Black Sheep's face. I expected something to show, but his face stayed the same. Blank. No markings.
"He had line before he claimed you. A non-mutant," Amira said, "Someone who had no line for him to copy…"
"So, they vanished," I said.
I swallowed, looking at the small child in my arms. Suddenly, I felt like a weight had been hung around my neck. He picked me. He chose me on this weird magical level that I barely understood. I felt both honored and terrified.
"So, what does this mean? What…what happens now?" I asked looking a Christin, hoping he had answers.
"Uh…Amira?" Christin turned to the Carrier. His expression of disbelief was not helping me feel better.
"Don't look at me. This hasn't happened before," Amira said.
"What about non-mutant parent who take in mutant kids?" Snowy asked.
"Yes, that does happen, but those parents usually already have a mutant child, and those kids aren't taught to claim the parents with the chosen words," Amira said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because mutant whose mark vanishes can lead to problems down the line. It's not really a normal thing," Amira said.
"What type of problems?" I said staring worryingly at the child in my arms who was sucking his thumb.
"Mostly legal, but there could be biological ones," Amira said.
"Could be?" I raised a brow.
"I don't know, as far as I can tell this hasn't happened before," Amira ran her fingers through her hair, nervously.
"Perhaps we should focus on the present?" Nico interjected, "We have a problem of custody here."
"Custody?" Snowy raised a brow, "Black Sheep chose Bucky. That means Bucky is his guardian now."
"Not necessarily," Nico said.
"Not necessarily?" Snowy said, "This is old law, Mask Code junk. If a bond is claimed they are family, and cannot be separated. No other mutant family would take in a child, when they have a relative, they chose, that's of adult age. I saw the moments that lead up to Black Sheep claiming Bucky. That boy is picking someone he trusts, someone who has proven that he cares for him."
"Admiral Winter Warrior, might be correct," Amira said.
"What?" Snowy argued, "You as a Carrier should know that when a child claims someone, they go with them."
"Yes, as a Carrier I do know that, but I also know the more modern regulations for this. Bucky, while at an adult age by our standers, doesn't have a mask or is part of a clan. Legally he has no grounds to take custody of Adam."
"I do though," Christin stepped in.
"Clan leader Striker?" Amira questioned.
"Legally I can take Black Sheep. I'm already housing Barnes, might as well take in his little brother," Christin said.
"Brother what are you doing?" Nico all but glared.
"I can legally take custody, even if Black Sheep hasn't claimed me. We have the room and Bucky already living with us. They stay together, and we avoid a lot of unnecessary paper work. Now we might have to change things in the future but this will work for now," Christin said before turning to Amira, "That work for you?"
"It's insane, but yeah I can work with it," The Carrier said.
Christin nodded, "Okay, let's settle this tomorrow, everyone back to sleep."
Everyone dispersed heading back to their rooms. I wanted to do that, but I felt like I was standing in quicksand. I couldn't move. My brain was still trying to figure out what the heck just happened. Christin eventually broke me out of my trance, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"You alright?" Christin asked.
I closed my eyes and shook my head, "I need to go to bed."
Christin chuckled, "Okay, let's go to bed," He turned towards Black Sheep, who was now sleeping soundly, "We can put this little guy in the nursey."
"Nursey?" I asked.
"In the farmhouse. Let me remind you I had six kids some of which were very close in age. When they were old enough but still too young to have rooms to themselves, we kept them in the nursey down stairs. Hasn't been used in a few years, but it will suit his needs just fine," Christin patted my back, "Don't worry we'll help you with your new little brother. Come on let's get back to sleep," Christin started walking back to the farmhouse.
I looked down at the sleeping mutant boy in my arms, wide eyed. I had a little brother. Sure, I had Rebecca but she was away in school, so most interaction we had were through letters. I wasn't raising her. And she didn't have crazy superpowers.
I was in trouble.
A/N:
Well, this was a monster. I thought it could go faster, but this turned out to be much longer than I thought.
I'm starting a new job next week! YAY!
Next chapter, a birthday of a dead man.
