Opposites Attract

Two

They pulled up onto the bright green grass. It was too perfectly mowed, the hedges too pristine. It would take some getting used to, that was for sure.

Their new house was an old one, wooden in most places, rotten in the rest. It was large enough to fit them all, and Bucky's first thought was that it was beautiful. It had three floors, and the attic with a quaint window was facing the balcony of the neighboring house. A small white balcony with room enough for two people to stand at a time.

The kids filed out and George squeezed his bulky frame out of the small van, scratching the top of his head. Winifred stepped out carefully and came to lean against George, clutching her arms close around her chest.

"Quite the place, huh, Beck?" Bucky pulled her close, ruffled her hair. Rebecca giggled and pushed his arm away playfully.

"Alright, kids, help us move the stuff inside," George spoke, leading Winifred into the house, holding onto her gently.

Bucky glanced around quietly, pursing his lips. The yards were too well-kept, the driveways smooth and polished, the houses towering and bright. He eyed the neighboring house and spotted a blond boy standing on the balcony, watching him.

The blond looked away as quickly as he could. Bucky frowned to himself. He hoped his new neighbors were the polite kind.

////

The first floor was surprisingly clean. Lots of wooden work, polished and nice. The carpet was outdated, but it was buried underneath their many boxes.

The second floor was pleasant but horribly outdated; the floral rugs looked like they'd been stolen from the 80's, and the wallpaper was peeling. Still, the windows were large and let in a pale white light, making the area seem warm and comfortable.

"Dibs on the attic," Bucky shouted before anyone could protest. It was about the size of a small room, almost more than enough for one person. It was surprisingly warm, however dark and dusty. It smelled of musk and leather. The window was wide and opened on a hinge to a small outcrop - not even large enough to be a balcony, but enough room to stand on, pressed against the house.

Bucky bolted up the stairs, hearing Emma complaining after him.

He heard Charlie thundering up the stairs after him, which spurred him on faster. Charlie was big - fairly tall and burly. Commonly among his family he was referred to as "Mountain", a nickname he'd had since high school.

"Dad says we're sharing, there isn't enough room in this place," Charlie said as he stepped through the door. "Well, we'll make the best of it." Bucky sighed a little as he stood in front of the window. Charlie studied him quietly. "C'mon, where's your smile, Buck?"

Bucky turned to face him and managed a nervous smile. "Think we belong here?"

Charlie sat on the bed. "To hell with if we look like we belong or not. We're here, aren't we?" He paused, gauging his expression. "Look, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks," he said finally and Bucky nodded begrudgingly. "It'll be good here."

"Right." Bucky sat on the other bed, taking in the odd scent of the attic. He could get used to this.

////

"Kids," George called, folding his arms. The six of them trudged down the stairs, talking amongst themselves. They squished onto the brown couch and looked at their parents. "We called the school."

Emma and Charlie exchanged glances. "And?" Chris piped, paging through his book. Teddy chose not to speak.

George frowned a little to himself. "There's a fee we must pay to get you all in, and..,"

"We can't afford that right now. With the new house and everything..." Winifred trailed off as well. Emma crossed her arms and glared at the floor. Bucky stared at his parents. "We'll wait and see," she added, as if to give them hope.

"I can take college next year," Charlie volunteered.

"We've paid the dues already. You're going," George said sternly. Emma continued to scowl, face red. "We'll figure it out," George assured her. "Now, c'mon, let's finish up unpacking this stuff."

////

After some exploring the neighborhood, Teddy, Bucky and Rebecca discovered a stream behind some houses, and they stayed there for a while. Besides that, the neighborhood was nice, and Bucky tried not to feel too disheartened by the prospect of not going to school. They'd agreed that, if she could manage to, their mother would homeschool them to the best of her ability.

"It'll be good," he murmured to himself, sitting on the wooden outcrop. Testing it earlier, it creaked under his weight and nearly broke. He was just a hop away from the white balcony.

Bucky sat, swinging his leg in the air. He eyed the blond as he stepped out onto his balcony again. Bucky caught his breath. It was time to be social.

It was time to meet Steve Rogers.