Reunion

A few weeks passed, and everything seemed normal for the first time in a long time. Mick's wounds had healed, the heavy SHIELD presence was lifted. Sharon was no longer a student but stationed at the safe house as the contact for the Outcasts, as she lovingly titled them. There was a day of mourning for the loss of the three girls of the Coven, but no one was told what really happened. Not even their families. 

Jake Carson was carted off to a SHIELD prison, somehow still able to control his powers. Bailey Annison made a full recovery, her speed powers faded away however. The strange electrical powers Mick had used to take down Jake turned out to be a one off use as well. Jerren and Davis held on to their unique skills, which was good as they would be starting at SHIELD Academy come coming the turn of the semester, leaving Mick, Sam, and Patten to be on their own. 

It really was nice having things starting to settle down a bit after how wild it had been. It was even more of a help for Sam, who with Mick's guidance started to get a control on her powers. While the two didn't really admit to it, they both gleaned a little more from spending extra time with each other. With Mid-terms right around the corner, they Outcasts knew their time was coming to a close. 

"So you're really not going to come to the Academy with us?" Jerren asked as they walked to his car. 

"Someone has to be here in case something goes crazy," Mick smirked. 

"Sure that's why you want to stay," Davis teased, eyeing Sam just before she shoved him. She'd slowly become an inseparable part of the little group. 

"I would say you could always write us, but I've seen your writing," Sam teased as Davis scoffed. "My little sister writes clearer than you and she's half your age!" 

"Hey," Patten placed an arm on Davis' shoulder making him feel a little defended. "It's not his fault. Aunt Patsy says he's her special little guy!" Everyone laughed as Davis began swinging at Patten playfully. 

"You know what, I'm not going to miss any of you jerks!" Davis huffed as he threw himself into the shotgun seat. 

"I'll make sure he isn't lonely," Jerren said as Mick laughed. "Besides, Sharon gave us a list of names of who to look for and who to avoid." 

"It's a completely different world up there," Mick said fondly. "Just, have fun ok?" 

Jerren and Mick embraced. They'd been friends nearly their whole lives, starting in kindergarten, and this felt like the end of an era. They'd never truly been apart. It was almost the same with Davis. They'd been friends since third grade, forged a friendly rivalry on the playground and never looked back. It was hard not going with them, but Mick knew he needed to be here. Sam needed him, more than her, Patten needed him. 

Nothing spectacular happened the rest of the school year, surprisingly. Sure Mick helped the police with a few petty crimes. Yes, he may have saved a few lives from a massive store fire, but nothing too terribly big. Nothing he did on his own, that was for sure. 

Summer break came, with much fanfare. Mick and Sam had slowly worked their way into admitting they were a little more than friends. She'd come to terms with her powers, finally accepting them for what they were; something she could use to help people. It had taken a few months of training, but she had them under control for the most part. The biggest question they all had was how did her powers exist? She wasn't even sure, only remembering that she'd had them as long as she could remember, and that her parents didn't like talking about it. 

This lead to months of speculation and wondering from Mick and Patten, several theories none of which either could prove. Patten's theory was a genetic mutation, Mick believed it had to be a triggered reaction, but Sam's parents refusal to talk about it, they'd be left with just theory. 

Mick, Patten, and Sam were all awaiting the return of their friends at the Bennet house. Everyone was gathered, from Davis' whole family, even Mick's. It was nice having them all together for the welcome home party. It wasn't long into the evening before Davis' truck pulled into the driveway. "They're here!" Mrs. Bennet cheered. 

Davis and Jerren walked in, both holding their backpacks over their shoulders, Davis slightly more muscular built now, Jerren now sporting goatee. "Oh, wow. Davis is looking pretty nice," Sam nudged Mick who then turned to her and rolled his eyes seeing her playful smile. 

"Sure hope it hasn't gone to his head," Mick muttered, his jealousy wasn't as well contained as he had hoped. 

Mick stood back as the adults swooped in greeting the two boys. The emotions in the room were a bit overwhelming for him, so he edged his way out. Sam and Patten would know where he went. He stood outside in the humid night air, the smell of rain wafting in the light breeze. His emotions settled with a relaxed exhale. 

"Recluse like always, huh?" Jerren teased as Mick turned to see his smile. Davis, Patten, and Sam followed him out the door.

"Missed us that much?" Davis wrapped his arm around Mick as he wiped his own face, pretending that he was sweating. 

"Shut up," Mick's hoarse voice gave him away. "Of course I missed you, dorks." 

"Dude, you should've seen it! So many beautiful girls, and they were all just as awesome as Sharon!" Davis cheered. "And there was this one really smart girl, she was so pretty," Davis' voice trailed off as he began to swoon thinking about her. "She had this really nice English accent, curly brown hair, these big brown eyes, you guys know how I say my perfect girl," Davis continued to prattle on as Mick and Sam looked at one another and laugh. 

"So you made some friends while you were gone then?" Sam asked looking at Jerren while Davis continued to drone on about this English science girl he was enamored with. 

"Yeah!" Jerren's excitement surprised them. "I actually met some people that have a doctorate, and they're our age! And they're still taking classes at the Academy to get more!" 

"Doctorate at sixteen? That's pretty amazing," Patten nodded. 

"Jemma Simmons the chemist, and Leopold Fitz the computer science wiz," Jerren said as Davis smiled at the mention of Jemma's name. "Jemma is the girl that caught Davis' attention. She's way out of his league." 

"I'm totally asking her out when we go back from break!" Davis balked as everyone laughed. 

"Did you guys have anything fun happen up there?" Mick asked as Jerren shrugged. 

"There's a rumor going around that a guy named Banter or something turned himself green," Davis shook his head. "Nothing really all that cool though." 

"What are you talking about?" Jerren looked at Davis. 

"You know that factory explosion in Virginia, apparently the guy turned green," Davis shrugged it off. "Some of the professors were talking about it." 

"Interesting," Patten nodded. "It's been very quiet on our front." 

"Oh we heard all about it from Agent 13," Davis said smugly. "Calling yourselves the Outcast now?" 

"Recluse and the Outcast just sounded cool, ok?" Mick sneered. 

"Sounds like our normal, angsty Mick," Jerren teased as they shared a laugh.