Cassie had gone to her dad's room with Iron Man, leaving the other teenagers with Jessica Jones and the Captain.
"So, except for Cassie, is this all of you," he asked. "Or are there any more Young Avengers running around out there?"
"No sir, this is all of us," replied Iron Lad, and then introduced then all in turn. Billy tried to position himself to look slightly more impressive than he felt in front of the Captain America. "Patriot. Asgardian -"
"It's an honour sir," Billy cut in.
"Please..." mumbled Patriot.
"And this is Hulkling," Iron Lad continued, unfazed.
Kate coughed conspicuously.
"And this is the young lady who saved our lives at the Cathedral."
"But you're not a Young Avenger?" Cap asked.
"No sir," Kate replied. "These boys have a strict, sexist, no-supergirls allowed policy."
"Thats not true," countered Iron Lad.
"Then why is Cassie not a Young Avenger?"
"Because she wasn't part of the Avengers Failsafe program."
Billy's recognition sparked as he remembered Iron Lad explaining to the team how exactly he had found them. On finding the Vision he had programmed his data and hoped to use it to find the Avengers, but instead had found the failsafe program. This program was to be put in place if anything happened to the Avengers and be able to target the new wave of Avengers. The people it chose seemed to have some kind of connection to the previous avengers.
"What kind of tie?" asked Cap.
"We were hoping you could tell us," Teddy replied, clasping Billy's hand in his under the table.
"Maybe if we told you our real names -" Billy started, taking off his headgear.
"No!" exclaimed Patriot. "They're called secret identities for a reason."
"- he's Captain America Patriot."
"Yeah, but she's a civilian," Patriot said, looking directly at Kate.
"A civilian who saved your life," she retorted.
Needless to say this ignited another argument between the two of them, Billy sighed and leaned inconspicuously against Teddy's arm. But, before fire started shooting from both their eyes and them killing each other, Cap intervened.
"- I'm grateful to you," he said to Kate. "But if you wouldn't mind giving us a moment alone?"
Kate graciously left with a parting shot of: "Oh, and Patriot? You're gonna be hearing this a lot, but let me be the first to say it: Why can't you be more like him?"
Billy was certain that if Patriot wasn't wearing a full head mask, you would be able to see smoke coming out of his ears.
Captain America gestured towards a large oak table amidst the ruins of the former Avengers mansion. Iron Lad, Billy and Teddy took seats in front of Cap, but Patriot stood off to the side, visibly furious for some unknown reason. Cap motioned for them to speak; Teddy brushed his knee against Billy's and then left it there, occasionally rubbing them together before Billy spoke.
"I'm Billy Kaplan, my parents are Jeff and Rebecca. He's a cardiologist, she's a psychologist. Two little brothers, both obnoxious... does this mean anything to you?"
"No, I'm sorry."
"What about your powers, Billy?" asked Jessica Jones. "You generate electricity? Lightning?"
"Um... yeah. Kinda." and cast spells. Sort of. When it feels like working. But they don't need to know – yet.
"What about you, Hulkling?" Cap asked.
"My real name's Teddy Altman. I've got super-strength..."
"Any anger issues," Cap cut in.
"I don't Hulk out if that's what you mean," Teddy rubbed his foot against Billy's and then left it so they were touching from their knees downwards. "At least not any more than most sixteen year olds.
"How'd you get your powers? Radiation or -"
"I don't know. None of us knows. Except Patriot."
"Patriot?" Cap said. "Why don't you sit down and tell us about yourself, son?"
Patriot was leaning against the wall, but at this he stood tall and took a menacing step towards the table.
"First of all, I'm not your son. So you can breathe a big sigh of relief," Patriot growled. "And second of all, why should we tell you our secrets when the only reason you came here was to shut us down? You are planning to shut us down. Aren't you?"
Cap and Jessica cast guilty downwards glances.
"Patriot," Cap began. "If I am in any way responsible for you -"
"Don't worry. You're not."
Billy listened in shock at Patriots story. He wore the uniform of Bucky – Captain America's teenage sidekick during the war who sadly died and henceforth put an end to heroes having sidekicks – in respect for who he called: the real Captain America – the first Captain America. The black Captain America. He told of how, before the super soldier serum was tested on the white Captain America, the army tested it on his grandfather: Isiah Bradley, the black Captain America. A while ago, Patriot had gotten into a fight and lost a lot of blood. He had shared his grandfathers blood type and there had been a transfusion – thereby granting Patriot his powers.
"Look, I appreciate what you kids are trying to do, but -"
"You want to shut us down," Patriot responded. He backed away towards the other three. Billy picked up his headgear and placed it back on his head, fixing his face into a look of stubbornness for what he knew was coming. "Tell me Captain," Patriot continued. "How exactly do you intend to stop us?"