How Long

After Patriot returns from boot camp, the one YA member not affected by the SHRA seeks him out to talk.

Disclaimer: The characters and concepts belong to Marvel comics.

Author's Notes: English is not my native language. That said, any criticism – including grammar and syntax – are welcome. Also, first timer here.


When she got to the doorbell, she didn't hesitate. She could freely debate the issue inside her head – she allowed herself that much, she wasn't delusional –, but no outward sign of could be shown, even alone. And of course she couldn't, because in her head, if she did show, she would prove Cassie right. So she didn't hesitate.

But she sure felt like hesitating.

After the door bell was rung – in a very straight-forward manner, if she did say so herself – a "coming!" came from inside. Eli.

He opened the door for her, and she hoped her smile looked natural enough, because it felt anything but natural. Press ahead, Kate.

"So… How was band-camp, Patriot?"

"Kate! Wow! How've you been?"

"Same old. You?"

"I'm Ok. Man, I missed New York! This leave is gonna be to short!"

"How long you've been in town?"

"I got back just a couple of days ago. Been spending some time with my grandparents, talking to some old friends. You just got back too, right?" She was surprised he knew – maybe he called – and thought it might have shown, with the way he was smirking at her. "From... what-is-it-called..."

"Interlochen…" and she remembered something "Wait, Billy and Teddy were around me when we talked about that. You were taking a beating from Kang–"

He cut her off promptly, with just the appropriate tone of indignation "Hey, I was not 'taking a beating', I was keeping him distracted till Billy could blow out the guy's forcefield. We needed that done or–"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, well, I was the one who blew out his whole armor. And came to your rescue. Again. Not the first of many, I may add." She smiled falling back in the familiarity of the situation. Or so she tought.

"Fine." He said, shaking his head.

Fine? That's it? He was just going to accept what she was saying? No retort, no 'hawkingbird' comment? Not knowing why, it made her fell awkward all of a sudden, thinking it was different from before. He was in some unspecific way different and it was enough to make her feel like she didn't belong.

He hadn't invited her in, they were still standing at the door, and that only made her feel worse about it. The summer heat added to her discomfort. She discreetly glanced down the street to her right, and maybe Eli noticed what she was thinking for he invited her in next.

"Do you wanna come in?"

She smiled again, and now she was sure he noticed it was fake. She didn't respond any further, just stepping inside, and taking the time to pull herself together again, composing a better mask. It wasn't really necessary.

She heard footsteps – and a fair amount of creaking – on the wooden floor to her right and looking up she saw what must have been the third tallest person she had ever seen. He was definitely taller that Eli, and also… also Captain America. He was old too, no way to hide it, but so muscular, he looked kinda like the Hulkling all buffed out. But he was not intimidating, not really, not with that pleasant smile on his lips and wrinkles around his eyes. She knew this certainly was also Captain America.

"Kate, this is my grandfather, Isaiah Bradley," and turning to is grandfather, Eli continued "Grandpa, this is Kate Bishop–" a short pause as if considering "–also, Hawkeye."

The big man reached out a hand which enveloped Kate's own with a resounding "Hi." It was a good thing she already knew everything Eli had said, because she didn't hear a word of it. She was in awe. She wouldn't be able to explain it later, why someone who could be described as a 'overgrown retard' should impress her so, but she'd still know it was real. Just as real as the ass-kicking she'd dish out to whoever described him that way

There was something about him, some benevolent… aura, or somesuch she couldn't quite name. So much power but kept in check by a smile and wrinkles. He seemed someone worthy of respect, but so humble he didn't expect it and was pleased when he got it. He should always be pleased, she thought. And when he spoke, he sounded just like… like…

"Like James Earl Jones." She spoke out loud in a way that let the men know she was far away.

Three things happened at once.

In her head, she sliped a Homerian 'Do'h!' Man, there goes Foot in Mouth Disorder.

To her left, Eli was venting an already familiar "Kate!"

But in front of her, blurring out the other two, she heard a profound sound, a rolling laughter that made her smile and quieted her friend. Smiling, the giant left them as Eli told him he was taking Kate to the porch out back.

Barely stepping outside, Kate turned to Eli. "You should want to be just like him." She said smiling, then her face slackened, realizing how it came out and she was just about to fix it when a smile bloomed on Eli's lips. "Yeah, I know." She smiled back at him, all the while noticing how his smile was… sad, or something. No, not sad, but different, but she couldn't tell why. It reminded her – in a way – of when she gave him his star back, after Iron Lad had returned to the future and Captain America had had them turn in their gear. It was awkward, she suddenly realized, he was awkward, like at the door. Was it something I did?

"He seems great, Eli." Just making sure.

"Yeah, he is." And the strange smile continued.

She sat on a rocking bench, he sat on a chair near by. They kept silent for a short while, and she decided to try again.

"So, Eli, How was Stamford?"

He kept quiet for a second before replying "It was Stamford."

"That bad, huh?"

He didn't respond beyond raising his hands in a gesture that might have been 'sure' or 'whatever'. Either way, it felt dismissive.

"Lots of drill sergeants, I guess." Kate continued despite the warnings already ringing in her head from Eli's behavior.

He nodded in a non-committal manner.

This time, she thought, I'm fully aware of the foot I'm putting in my mouth. 'Queen of not knowing when to shut up' indeed.

"Is that why you are sad?"

"I'm not sad, Kate. I'm Ok." He answered with that strange smile. And that tone. Now she could distinguish it, and when she did, she felt herself wanting either his old temper or his old smiles. Right now, she felt either one would do.

Maybe I should have called first, She thought, maybe he's uncomfortable with me being in his home. If we'd gone out somewhere, maybe he wouldn't be like this. I Should have thought this trough. But she thought about how much she missed them, all of them, and she knew Cassie and the others were with their families, Teddy with the Kaplans, Tommy was off to God knows where, and she'd just gotten in from Interlochen that morning, and she knew they'd already be back, and as weird as it sounded she missed fighting with him, they'd been gone so long…

"I thought this would be weird, you know?" she said before thinking it trough. A second later she was cringing. Foot in Mouth Disorder strikes again. Worse than Tourette's!

"What do you mean?" there it was again, that weird tone. She could almost see it, but not name it.

She smiled at him, but it felt forced, even to her. She looked at the field ahead of her, beyond the house, before answering. "Well, you guys up and left some four months ago, and I, well, I didn't. We kept in touch – well, mostly me and Cassie – but after everything we went trough, not having you guys around was just weird. It wasn't like I could talk about it with anyone of my family, or at school. All of a sudden some of the most important experiences of my life were… I don't know, not taboo, but proscribed. You know?"

He nodded. And that was it. He's just so helpful. And she felt some anger towards him for it.

She kept silent.

He was Eli.

She sighed and kept going.

"I guess I didn't know how it would be when you came back. You went to boot-camp, trained together and I stayed here–"

He cut her off. "You thought we wouldn't need you anymore."

Too close.

"Ha! You guys will always need me! Without me you couldn't find your way out of a paper sack!" She said boisterously.

"That's about right."

She just looked at him, waiting for some snarky retort. He just kept that serious countenance. Once again she caved.

"Eli, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Don't try to change the subject, Kate."

"No, you stop trying to change the damned subject. You've been strange since the moment I got here. I let you keep dancing around it, but that's it."

"It's got you that curious, huh?" he smiled in a way that wasn't that nice. It wasn't just 'not-nice'. It was almost – but not quite – vicious. It was the worst till now.

Curious? It made her angry, and in that subconscious way when you know you're right, that the anger is righteous, she decided to ride it.

"Curious?! Yeah, sure, Eli, I was just curious, God forbid I should be worried for someone I -

(Care about)

"- went trough so much together, who I trusted to lead me into battle, whom I allowed to risk my life cause I trusted him to do it! Yeah, Eli, I'M JUST CURIOUS!" She screamed the last part, not caring if his grandfather, neighbors or whoever heard her.

He kept quiet.

Oh, fuck you, Eli.

She stood up and headed for the kitchen door.

"You're right. It was weird." He looked up at her. "In group activities we were always teamed together. We, the Young Avengers. The ones who were there. I guess they think we're a winning combination, or something.

"Yet, There were times, when we were discussing what we should do, I kept waiting to hear what you had to say before realizing you weren't there." He inhaled deeply. "There was one occasion when I actually asked 'what do you think, Hawkeye?' and everyone just kept looking at me in a strange way."

She leaned on the windowsill to the kitchen, looking at him with a smile on her lips. All of a sudden she felt like everything would be alright again. Maybe she'd call them all today to set up something for tomorrow like… Wait a minute. He's blushing! Oh, she couldn't actually see it; they were on the shaded side of the house, and with his dark complexion it was already hard to tell, but just from the way he was looking away – away from her – she just knew. It was definite. I rock.

And even though – or because – she did, indeed, rock, she knew all good things must end. Or, as Kate so adequately put it: Time to let the poor boy of the hook.

"Eli, it's too hot out here. And I'm feeling like ice-cream. Are there any good ice cream parlors around here?"

He looked at her. And he was smiling. An honest-to-God smile, with none of that strange vibe she'd been picking up. She didn't even notice she was smiling also.

"Sure there is. Just three blocks away."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Lead the way!"

TBC