Home sweete home
A rush of air blew towards me as the underground pulled in and stopped with a loud squeal. Only a few minutes ago I had stepped off my plane at John F. Kennedy International Airport and now I was already on my way to Queens. With sweaty fingers, I shouldered my bag and boarded the train. Of course, it was filled to bursting point and so I didn't get a seat, although I could have really used one after the almost twelve-hour flight. I was incredibly tired and I could already feel the jet lag. I hadn't been able to sleep for the last twenty-four hours because of the excitement and nervousness of seeing my family again after such a long time.
Although this was not my style, as I had been exposed to other stressful situations at the Armée (France), I had not seen May and Peter for three years, at least not in person. I was a little ashamed of it, but three years ago Ben had died and that had completely thrown me off track and I had withdrawn completely after that, not even responding to phone calls. It had taken me three months to talk to May or Peter again. And now I was back here in New York and I hadn't even let them know I was coming. I had finished my career as a combat swimmer in record time a fortnight ago and had even made lieutenant. They had promised me a great future, but I was drawn home.
With a jolt, the train came to a halt. "Queens," a woman's voice let out and I hurried to get off. I stood on the platform for a moment, undecided, before making my way to the toilets.
I had spent the last fifteen hours in my field suit and wanted to change before facing May. So I found a vacant relatively clean cubicle and entered. With routine moves I exchanged the camouflage field suit for the dark blue service suit, the red Barrett for my white peaked cap and the clunky boots for light low shoes. With a few more grips, I stowed my clothes in my bag and stepped out of the cabin. Satisfied, I looked in the mirror and left the loo, smiling at the guy who had almost had a heart attack at the sink next to me. Now, no longer distracted by changing, I was starting to get nervous again.
At the flower shop I almost couldn't express myself properly and I almost ran a red light too, if one of the cars hadn't honked loudly. I would have liked to turn around and run away, but I was just turning into the street where the flat was. My heart pounding, I stepped in front of the door and straightened my shoulders. I took another deep breath and pressed the doorbell.
I heard the ringing echo through the flat and someone starting to move shortly afterwards. "I'm coming!" shouted a woman's voice, which I recognised immediately as May's. My heart beat faster. The footsteps were getting closer. There was a humming in my ears. Then the door opened. Immediately a sweet smell hit me. Apple pie. And then I saw May, looking confused at first, then pausing in her movement and inhaling sharply.
"Hey Mom.", I said a little shakily. I was about to start to say more when a loud clap sounded, followed by a burning pain in my left cheek. "What the-" I began, holding my aching cheek, but I was interrupted. "Cole Franklin Parker! I don't see you for three years! I don't hear from you for the last two months! And you come in here and say "Hey Mom."?!" she yelled at me and I saw tears running down her cheeks. "I thought something had happened to you." she said in a shaky voice. And before I could react any further, she fell around my neck and clung to me. "I thought something had happened to you and you'd disappear, just like Ben," she sobbed and clung to me even tighter. The thought made me swallow hard. I hadn't known that not hearing me for two months had devastated her so much.
"Oh God, Mom. Please don't think like that. I could never do that to you," I said, returning the hug, which was a little hard with the bouquet of flowers in my hand. "Look, I brought you some flowers. I know they don't make up for me not getting in touch, but it could certainly be a start, couldn't it?", I said as I broke away from her and gave her a crooked grin. She gave me her famous you-wanna-fuck-with-me-you-know-you'-can't-get-away-with-it look and grabbed the flowers.
"You'll have to buy me a few more flowers to make up for this. And pay my Starbucks bill for at least a month." My grin grew even wider and I nodded.
As soon as I entered, I remembered that I had wanted to go back home to see May, but of course I also wanted to see Peter, but he didn't seem to be at home. "Tell me, where is Peter? Is he at Nets, or at HQ?", I asked as I placed my bag at the foot of the stairs.
"The second. He's hardly been home at all in the last week. Maybe you can manage to get him back here sometime," she said, smiling at me hopefully. I just nodded and turned to the door again when May stopped me. "Don't you want to change first? I can understand that you wanted to impress me with your uniform, but I think it would do Peter good not to see someone in uniform again. I think he likes you more when you dress yourself normally," she said and smiled affectionately at me.
Sighing, I turned around again and grabbed my bag and went up the stairs. Although I had changed only half an hour ago, I had forgotten that Peter would probably prefer not to see me in uniform for now. So I went into my room and changed my suit for one of my white band shirts and a pair of black jeans and my black leather shoes for a pair of boots.
The room looked exactly as I had left it. A neatly made single bed in one corner, a desk under the window and a wardrobe in the opposite corner. The walls full of posters of various bands and other artists. With a nostalgic smile on my lips, I grabbed a black denim jacket by the door, put my visor cap on the dresser next to the door and went back downstairs.
May was already waiting for me and looked disapprovingly at my shoes. "They're clean," I interjected quickly and May laughed. "You don't believe that yourself. Ten years and you still don't get it. Go on, off you go. I'm sure Peter is already waiting for you." I shook my head. "Not only have I not let you in on my plan to come back, even Peter doesn't know I'm back here." May looked at me surprised. "Well then wait a minute. I'll just let Happy know that a visitor is coming over for Peter. Or how did you think you were going to get in." With an amused grin, she reached for her mobile and dialled a number. "Happy? Is it ok if a visitor drops by later briefly for Peter?...No, you're not supposed to announce him, it's supposed to be a surprise...no, not a crazy fan...yes, I'll tell him...no, I won't forget... I you too. See you." Curious, I followed the conversation and intently looked at May. But she just kept grinning at me. "It's fine, you can go in." I raised an eyebrow in challenge. "I'm sure we'll talk about that when I come back later, won't we?" "I can do whatever I want, Cole," she said, putting her hands on her hips indignantly. I raised my hands reassuringly. "Hey, I know you can. You're good at taking care of yourself, too. I'd just like to know who puts such a smile on your face," I said, laughing as she pushed me out of the room. "Go on, get out of here. I have work to do." "Ai ai, mom. I love you!", I called after her before she disappeared back into the kitchen. So I grabbed my key from the hook and stepped back out into the street.
Since we didn't own a car and I certainly wasn't going to try to go anywhere in this city by bike, I made my way to the nearest underground station. I would have to make a few stops before I got to the Avengers' headquarters.
A good hour later I got off the train. I had to switch trains several times and was glad to finally arrive. I still had to walk a few blocks, but I only knew that because Peter had described it to me on the phone last year. I just hoped that I hadn't got off the wrong stop and that I was at the right place.
But when I passed "Snuffels and Meows" I knew I was in the right place. I could still remember exactly how thrilled Peter had been when he had told me about the cute little puppies in the window and had mentioned the name of the store. Then I took the next road on the right. At first I thought I had taken a wrong turn, as it was only a gravel road for a good three hundred metres, but after a sharp bend it became a paved road, but there was then also a high gate. There was no dorbell or anything to let people know, that i was there. Indecisive, I stepped closer and when nothing happened, I was about to call Peter in defeat, but before I could reach into my pocket, a mechanical whirring sounded.
"Hello?" asked an electric voice. Indecisively, I shifted my weight from one leg to the other. "Um, I'd like to see...Peter?", I asked hesitantly and when nothing happened again for a few seconds, I followed up with, "Uhm..Happy knows?" This had an effect, because shortly afterwards the gates slid open on both sides and I continued on my way.