Artemis' POV
When my brother asked me to come see him on the Hellicarrier merely a month after I gave birth to my second child, I figured it was probably important. So, I kissed my kids on their heads, told my husband not to break New York while I was gone. Then got on the Quinjet we kept in our 'garage,' flying to meet the Hellicarrier where it was stationed over the coast of New York.
Upon my arrival, I was greeted by Kate Bishop, the new Hawkeye, and her dog Lucky, who my brother sent to 'escort' me to the training room. Really, I knew she was there to give her something to do, but I let her have her moment.
Once we got to the training room I was amazed to see three teenage boys practicing their superpowers as my brother looked on.
Two of them I recognized instantly as Billy and Tommy Kaplan, whom I had helped rescue from AIM nearly 7 years ago. They had been transfused with the powers of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, respectively, activating their dormant mutant genes and granting them similar abilities. After rescuing them, Ethan and I had found that the reason AIM could hold them without anyone's knowledge was because they were orphans. And we arranged for them to be placed with retired S.H.I.E.L.D psychologist, Rebecca Kaplan, and her husband Jeff, who agreed to raise them as their own.
The third boy I didn't know personally, but I had heard whispers of a shape-shifter floating around New York, disguising himself as other heroes in order to preform heroic acts undetected. I smiled, now knowing why my brother called me here.
"You dragged me all the way out here for show and tell Pollo'?" I tease, causing my brother to spin around quickly. Billy fell from where he had been floating, and Tommy tripped and tumbled to the floor. The other kid instinctively changed back into a human-like form, instead of the hulk-like form he had been sporting when I entered. Kate, still beside me, burst out laughing, doubling over and wiping tears from her eyes, as Lucky barked along excitedly.
"Artemis!" my brother yelled, his cheeks turning slightly red, "Give us a little warning!"
"I did." I smirked, "I told you I'd be here in 20. It's been 20, exactly."
Apollo jerked his head up toward the clock, sighing at the time. "Well, since you're here. I wanted to introduce you to the New Avengers."
"Well I already know Kate. And if you try to introduce me to Buck, Sam, or Jessie…"
"Artemis!" Apollo hissed, as Kate started giggling again.
"Fine, Fine." I relent, "Let's meet 'em."
"Well this is Billy Kaplan, and his brother Tommy." Apollo began, gesturing to each twin in turn. "Billy has powers along the lines of Dr. Strange and Scarlet Witch. He's picked the codename Wiccan."
"Another sorcerer," I say sarcastically, "great. Interesting codename though, I like it."
Billy blushed, looking at his toes, "Thanks." He mumbled.
"Tommy," Apollo continued, "Has super speed, like Quicksilver. He came up with the very original codename of Speed."
I chuckle, "Nice one. I think I might understand that reference."
Apollo rolled his eyes, before signaling to the third boy, "This is Teddy Altman. He's a shapeshifter. He decided on using the Hulk-ish form you saw earlier as his primary in battle, so he chose the codename Hulkling."
"Hm," I respond, "definitely interesting. Can't say I don't like it though." I turned to Apollo, "You tell Brian?"
"Not yet." He turned to smile at me, sweetly, almost too sweetly, "I was kinda hoping…"
"No." I said, crossing my arms, "Your team, your recruit, you tell Brian."
He sighed, defeated. Finally walking over to me. He looked at me shyly, "What do you think?"
I chuckle, "What do you mean?"
"The team! What do you think of them?"
"Oh! I didn't know it mattered what I think, seeing as I'm retired." Apollo looked down, "But if you really want to know what I think…" I draped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him into me, "I think you did a damn good job."
He laughed, wrapping his arm around my waist. "Thanks Artemis."
Leaning my head on my shoulder I added, "Might I make a suggestion?"
He moved, dislodging my head to look down at me, "What?"
"Coulson told me James Wilson applied to the S.H.I.E.L.D academy, I was planning on expediting his application myself. So I was thinking he'd be a good fit for that Avengers class you and Coulson were planning on starting."
"Jamie Wilson?" Apollo whistled, "I never thought I'd see the day he'd apply to S.H.I.E.L.D."
"I know." I grin, "Also, you might want to look into Scott's daughter Cassie. I heard she has some Pym particles in her."
Apollo hummed, "I will definitely look into that."
