Chapter 14

23 October 2017, Unnamed Dwarf Planet, Xandar System, Andromeda Galaxy

"We are not going to Tarnax II. Nope."

Quill rocked back on his heels and said urgently, "We don't have a choice, Rocket. It is where the gig is."

"Not interested, pal. You know my history with Tarnax II."

"Yeah, but you'll be sticking it to them. It is like payback or some s***."

As he returned to reassembling a long, strange weapon on the floor in front of him, Rocket said angrily, "It won't be payback if I land in one of their prisons, Quill. Forget about it. Not happening. Groot put that weapon down unless you are unusually interested in having acid spray over yourself."

"I am Groot."

Rocket gestured towards the bulkhead and said tartly, "I know that I told you to go look in the weapons locker for your game, but that doesn't mean that I gave you permission to start handling weapons that you know nothing about."

"I am Groot."

"When your trunk is as thick as I am tall, then you can talk to me about getting your own acid-grenade launcher."

"Hey, Rocket, can you focus back here?"

"Look, you know that we have a bigger mission. Right? And how is that going to go if we go larking off into what is clearly a trap? Hmm?"

"It isn't a trap."

Drax lifted his head and opined loudly, "It is most clearly a deception planned for foolish men like yourself. We should not fall into their snare, Peter Quill."

"Fine. Okay. So, you tell me how we are going to be able to power ourselves long enough to reach the portal?"

Rocket mumbled something inaudibly. However, Gamora had just entered the room. "Peter."

"Huh? Oh! Hi, Gamora. We were just, um, talking about the gig I got us."

Gamora kept walking as she said merely, "No."

"Look, we have to find a way to get through the portal. And from what crazy bald lady told us, it is going to take a f*** tonne of fuel to get there. We don't have the funds."

She sighed and said in a very slightly kinder tone, "It's ok, Peter. I have it worked out."

"You…how?"

"We'll talk about that in a minute. For now, you all need to plot a course to Satriani."

Rocket spluttered furiously, "Satriani! Satriani! Do you know how many times I have had to break out of their prison? Five. That's how many. Five!"

24 October 2017, Ste. 4102, Avengers Tower, New York City

"Come on, Clémence, it cannot be that bad, dear. You've only just come out of the bonding chambers."

"That's just it! That's exactly how I know that everything is ruined already. We aren't supposed to have left the bonding chambers already, Emilie. He has been kind and nice about everything, but Steve would be that way about almost anything. This is the worst thing ever, Emilie. He must be disappointed in me already. I must have done something wrong. Do you know how much of a failure Papa is going to think I am now?"

Shocked, Eleanor put a hand on Clémence's shoulder, as she cast a startled look at Emilie. "Why do you say everything is ruined, honey? What's wrong?"

Her eyes began to fill with tears, as Clémence insisted, "Steve says that he's going to join the others on this mission next month and that he'll be gone at least 20 days and that I cannot expect him not to do his duty. When he leaves, we won't have been bonded even four weeks!"

Eleanor laid a gentle hand on Clémence's arm and soothingly replied, "I understand that it is upsetting to think of him going on a mission so quickly. But, to be fair, it really is a huge, important one and when it was planned Steve hadn't even met you. Clint has been out there six weeks already and even Tony went out a few days ago. Trust me, Steve isn't trying to get away from you, honey. He is the leader of the Avengers, so he cannot miss something this critical."

Emilie added kindly, "Bucky is going with him, too, and you know how Bucky is about Steve. I pity the person who thinks they can harm Steve when Bucky is there, frankly. Steve will be safe, Clémy."

Clémence waved her hands dramatically and then moaned, "I know he is important and that he can't ignore his responsibilities. But we have barely been bonded a week, so I didn't even expect to be allowed out of the apartment already. I'm supposed to be entirely focussing on him and the bondmatch now. Right? Our hormones haven't even had time to stabilise yet. I was setting up the table for breakfast and Steve came in and stood in the doorway watching me. Then, he suddenly announced that he was going to spend the day training. He suggested that I might as well go off and socialise, because he wouldn't be back until tonight. I don't understand! Maybe I'm doing everything wrong and he's too nice to tell me. You know that the initial bonding time for level-4s and -5s is two weeks and the householding time is three months at least."

Emilie replied sympathetically, "Yes, it is fast to go back to his job, Clémence, but Steve is probably someone who only thrives when he has something active to do. By the time we completed our two weeks of bonding time at the house in Brooklyn, Bucky was going insane. That is why we withdrew to my uncle's hunting lodge, so Bucky could spend his time with shooting practice and hours of physical exercise during our householding. If we hadn't done so, then he would have never have made the four months' time that we did have. It is likely that Steve doesn't feel that he can skip his training for two weeks, since the final part of the mission is coming soon."

Eleanor added calmly, "Honey, I imagine special ops soldiers don't get three months householding time either. It is the nature of jobs like our matches have to be extremely demanding of their time. Clint and I did not, despite Natalia taking two missions on her own to give him more days with me. Steve cannot plan everything around his bondmatching, you know. Supervillains don't take time off. None of our matches want to be away from us for long, you know, dear."

Clémence dropped her head and stared miserably down at her lap. "I suppose that you're right. Steve said that what he does as Captain America is too important to ignore his responsibility to help protect the world. At least, I think that is what he was saying, except with many more words." Clémence snatched up and then hugged a large, fluffy cushion tightly to her chest. "Except…except I thought that I was supposed to be his responsibility, too. And I agreed to that and…well, he…he said a lot of things during the Courtship, but I thought...well, he seemed to mean it. I don't want to make him angry or disappoint him, but I think that I must have, since he was surprised that I would feel sad when he went down to train this morning. He just told me that he has to get ready for his mission, since it is his duty and that he is sure that I can understand."

Emilie asked with a wry look, "Well, did you tell him that you didn't understand at all and that you felt hurt?"

Clémence's eyes widened and she looked shocked. "Of course not! That wouldn't be appropriate. If my match has made a decision, then I have to accept it. I'm just having a hard time figuring out how to actually do that without making him angrier than I must already have. I really thought we'd at least have the full householding time before he started taking away missions."

Eleanor patted her hand and said soothingly, "I know. Of course, you're disappointed, but I'm sure he is, too."

Emilie sighed and then interjected, "I think that Steve would want to know when you were hurting. He has always seemed very nice and kind."

"Oh, but he is! I promise, he is. It isn't his fault. I'm the one who must have done something very wrong. I must have, or he'd never have run off like that this morning. But he must know that I am sad about him planning to go away, Emilie. It wouldn't be right to complain or ask him to change his mind."

First setting down her teacup firmly on the tea table, Emilie responded, "Darling, you should talk to him. Honestly, I would have spoken with Bucky even if that had happened back when we were first bondmatched and I was so crazy in love and determined never to upset him that I didn't even admit to him for a year that the smell of his beloved coffee makes me gag. It is normal and ok to admit that you don't want to be parted from your match so quickly. I am sure that even if one has been bonded for years, knowing their Omega match misses them so much makes Alphas feel loved and appreciated."

Uncertain, but hopeful, Clémence looked at Eleanor for confirmation. "Do you think that is true? Is it acceptable to be upfront about something like this, especially so soon? Particularly since I don't know what I did to make him unhappy?"

Eleanor considered for a few moments and then replied, "Well, yes and no. I have to be honest that I probably would not say anything to Clint despite knowing now that he wants me to be honest when I'm unhappy. Frankly, I would probably stupidly sit there suffering miserably, which would upset him terribly and make everything worse. That is not because I don't believe I should tell him, but because I'm too afraid to say things. Our bondmatch is not yet settled, so I'm uneasy about doing anything that might make Clint unhappy."

Clémence nodded slowly. "So, you think I shouldn't say anything?"

"No, I didn't mean that you should be quiet. I was just being honest that I would be. Emilie is right that if you think Steve would respond favourably, then you should try to talk gently to him. Tell him that you want to make him happy and please him; that you are talking to him about your fears so he doesn't misunderstand when you overreact to something."

"I don't think that I could though. Especially…well he still scents so strongly at nearly everything I do. One minute we are talking and then then next I can barely think. If he goes away so soon, then will the bond ever settle properly? Isn't that why we are supposed to have the bonding time?"

Eleanor laughed slightly, but her expression was miserable, as she said, "That is what they said at school, but I don't think these traditions are designed for level-5 Alphas. Clint and I could have had a year before he left on a mission and I don't think we would have a settled bond. I do not actually know if the hormones he exudes when we are together are still this strong since our bond is so wobbly though. It could be a level-5 thing."

Emilie frowned and asked sharply, "Is he using his scent-control against you, Ellie?"

"No, Clint promised on our bondmatch night that he would never use his scent-control against my will. He promised. And he's too honourable to break his word."

Emilie sighed. "I'm glad. Unfortunately, Bucky has no such qualms. He is jealous enough to have used his scent-control several times on me. I hate it so much. And afterwards he always regrets it and feels horrible."

Clearly very anxious, Clémence stuttered, "St-steve said we are n-never supposed to admit that they can control their scent." Clémence anxiously looked between Emilie and Eleanor. "It is supposed to be heavily regulated or something."

Eleanor nodded. "Absolutely so. No one must know. Ever. I just know that your matches both can, so we can discuss it with each other. Clint says that he has only ever met one level-5 other than your matches and he is confident that Alpha couldn't scent-control."

Clémence shrugged and asked uneasily, "So, why is it so bad if people know?"

"It isn't bad. It is simply an immense tactical advantage, Clémence. Clint can do so much more than just release bonding hormones, dear. He can influence other Alphas, too. That is why it is dangerous for people to know."

Emilie added, "We learnt this in school, Clémence. You must remember that. Bucky and Steve grew up decades ago, so they weren't registered in the current system. Their level was determined retroactively and they are Enhanced, so they're different anyway. Clint dropped out of school before the placement test would have been administered and is a few years too old to have undergone genetic sequencing as a child. They are all lucky, therefore, that they can keep their most extreme abilities quiet. You cannot talk about it, Clémence."

"I won't say anything, Emilie. I just don't really understand why it matters. Wouldn't it mean people are just more likely to respect our matches' ability in the field?"

Eleanor looked over at Emilie and shook her head to indicate that Emilie shouldn't reply. "No, dear. This is an ability that puts our matches in danger. Trust me on this."

Clémence nodded submissively. "Ok. I do."

Grabbing her cousin's hand and squeezing firmly, Emilie said with a smile, "Why don't we finish what we were saying before? We were talking about you speaking honestly with Steve. I would tell Bucky if it were me. Eleanor says you should tell, too."

As she her lip while she watched Clémence, Eleanor admitted, "Honestly, I haven't had to worry about talking to Clint about things like that yet, because Natalia always speaks up for me. She is frighteningly good at reading me."

Clémence replied, "So, basically, you don't think that I should say anything."

Eleanor tugged her shawl closer around her shoulders and then continued sadly, "No, not at all. I was just admitting that I am not very good at talking to Clint myself. I'm not brave at all, you see. However, I believe that it is very true that Alphas need to know that their match will miss them, otherwise, they feel like they aren't important enough. You just have to be careful about how you say it, so Steve doesn't feel manipulated. If I had any courage at all, then I would tell Clint everything I am feeling and so should you now with Steve."

Emilie said, "Exactly. That is how I have to handle things with Bucky sometimes. He needs to know that I actually care when he is absent. I could tell him 100 times and he'd need to know 100 more. Remember what they said at school? The higher-level Alphas are naturally more insecure about their bond, since it is so critical to their wellbeing."

Clémence pleaded, "Well, would you tell me what to say? Please? I can't bear feeling like this, Eleanor. I don't know why he isn't satisfied with me. And I definitely don't know how to talk to Alphas at all. Everything with Steve is all so new that it almost feels like it can't be real still. I'm pretty much the least qualified girl I know to be Captain America's Omega match. I'm not beautiful, I'm not clever, I am too shy to be any good at parties or galas, I can barely hold a conversation about anything other than flowers or fashion, and I have no idea what an Alpha from his time needs. I know he only chose me to please his bonded brother, so I can't blame him for being disappointed. And who am I to keep him from going out and stopping the villains and all that? He's my match, so I have no right to tell him what to do. I just want to do what makes him happy. Please tell me what to say."

Emilie, who had gasped when Clémence made the comment about Bucky, insisted urgently, "No, dear, Steve didn't choose you to make Bucky happy. That isn't true at all. Bucky told me that night after he made the Introduction that he couldn't believe how excited Steve was about you."

Clémence began to cry and pulled her hand away from Emilie, saying only, "No, you don't understand, Emilie. Two days ago, Steve admitted that he had originally felt like he should refrain from bondmatching for at least another year or so, since both Clint and Natalia are only available part-time now. It was only because Bucky arranged it that Steve even accepted the Introduction to me."

Eleanor put one arm around Clémence and replied, "That was an awfully tactless thing for him to say, dear. Perhaps he only meant that this was what he thought before he actually met you. He may have accepted the Introduction because of Bucky, but entered into Courtship and made the Claim because of you."

"I don't really think so, Eleanor. I cannot imagine why he would choose me when he could easily have someone much more beautiful or clever or intelligent or anything else he wanted. He wants to rebuild his bond with Bucky and a bondmatch to me would strengthen those ties because of Emilie."

Emilie frowned and said sharply, "Not if he is treating you poorly, Clémy. I will not stand for it. I really thought Steve was a nice guy, but if he is telling you that he only bondmatched with you because of Bucky, then he's nothing like I thought he was."

Clémence began to cry again and attempted to make some sort of explanation that got almost entirely drowned out by her sobs and sniffles.

"Ok." Nodding, Eleanor repeated softly, "Ok." She looked across at Emilie, who had leant against the arm of her chair exhaustedly as she scowled angrily. Obviously, Emilie was not much up to helping. "You forget that I saw Steve with you at the dinner to announce his Claim, Clémence. He did not take his eyes off you for more than a few seconds at a time. I don't know what exactly he was trying to explain to you about the Introduction, but during the dinner Steve looked overwhelmingly happy and excited. It also looked to me as if he found you to be extremely attractive based on the way that he kept staring at you."

"Do you think so?"

"Absolutely, I do. You have to talk to Steve, dear. Let him clarify everything and explain his feelings. I suppose that you can start with just saying that you are feeling unhappy at the thought that you will have to go without him for a few weeks, but add that of course you are proud of him for everything he does. That is absolutely the truth, right?"

"Ok. Yes, I am proud of him. I think he is pretty amazing."

"Of course, you do. You do not want him to think that you believe he doesn't put his bondmatch with you at the top of his priorities. So, make sure that you let Steve know you are confident that he wouldn't go on this mission unless he had to."

Surprised, Clémence stammered, "O-oh. D-do you think that is wise? He might think that I'm actually trying to manipulate him."

"I don't know, dear, but you do need to be absolutely sure that he knows you trust him. "

Clémence dropped her head and mumbled, "Ok."

Emilie commented, "It's alright, dear. It is new and you're still figuring everything out. He said something hurtful, but he may be quite shocked to know that it came out that way. Steve isn't really erudite, you know."

"You're right, I know. He tends to stumble over everything he says to me. Sometimes it takes him forever to get a thought out."

Eleanor frowned. "That doesn't sound like Captain America, dear. Honestly, that seems more like Steve Rogers: a male Alpha who is very emotionally affected by you."

Emilie added, "I agree. Try complimenting him, since it might make him feel more confident. They do like being told that you are impressed by them, you know. I tell Bucky all the time that he is the prime Alpha anywhere. It always makes him frown as if he is annoyed, but then he struts as he walks out of the room afterwards, so he obviously likes hearing it."

Eleanor made a sad humming sound. "Clint doesn't believe that I think that about him no matter how much I say it, but perhaps one day he will if I say it enough."

Clémence gasped, "Does Clint really not know how you feel? I don't see how that is even possible. You clearly adore him!"

Her smile dropping as her posture stiffened, Eleanor quietly said, "No, he really doesn't. I will find a way to show him eventually and one day Clint might even believe he is worthy of that. It is surprising how fragile the high-level Alphas are. I always thought Alphas had shocking egos, but our matches are all level-5's and they are similarly insecure."

Emilie replied thoughtfully, "Well, they haven't had easy lives, have they? Maybe being top-level almost guarantees that you cannot live normally, especially if they are Enhanced. But perhaps it is just as bad for the Naturals, since they are all born into families who are completely unprepared for a child with such special needs and unusual abilities."

"I had never thought of it that way, Emilie. You are so right." Eleanor stared into the distance as she considered Clint for a while and then continued, "That was quite an insight. Thank you."

"Even in a world that reveres Alphas, Eleanor, many people are equally thrilled and repulsed by the upper-level Alphas. Bucky has told me that even Steve, who has the most golden reputation of any Enhanced or Natural upper-level Alpha on the planet, has vocal detractors."

Clémence's eyes filled with tears as she confirmed, "Oh, that is so true. Just last night, Steve was agonising over something one of his critics published about him too. He was telling me that he worries about every death that was not prevented whenever the Avengers complete a mission, since he always feels that there must have been something different that he should have done. Dr Erskine ought to have found a way to give Steve a way to emotionally handle all the power that came with his Enhanced body."

Eleanor shook her head. "No, it is important that they wrestle with these dilemmas, Clémence. If they did not, then they would not be human. Do you really want 'heroes' who do not count the cost of every human life?"

"I suppose not, but you don't know the agony Steve was feeling over it all. He paced the floor for an hour."

"Don't I?" Eleanor countered sharply. "Do you think that Clint just lets his arrows fly into someone's body and then trots along home blithely without any concern about the result? Don't be ridiculous. He knows his exact body count. He also calls himself an assassin, not a hero. You try to tell me that I haven't seen my match suffering with that guilt, too, Clémence."

Emilie stomped her foot and exclaimed, "Well, I think that we can all agree that my Bucky grabbed the short end of the stick in this contest because: HYDRA. So, shall we let this topic drop please?"

Clémence nodded. "I'm sorry, Emilie. Sorry, Eleanor. You were giving me such helpful advice and I am really grateful. I didn't mean to insult you or Clint, really, I didn't."

Eleanor shrugged stiffly, but replied more politely, "Very well. The most important point, Clémence, is to let Steve hear how much you respect him and that he is already so valuable to you. It is possible that he will rethink how involved he needs to be in this mission, but much more likely that he will simply take great pains to make sure you feel better about him needing to leave."

Emilie said seriously, "That is much better advice than my suggestion to just blurt it all out. I'm very sure Steve wants you happy, Clémence. Remember that I also saw him at the Claim announcement and, in my opinion, he was thrilled. To be so newly bonded and have to leave already will be very hard for him, too. Honestly, Bucky told me that Steve was over-the-moon that you wanted to bondmatch with him."

Clémence's face reddened and she gasped, "Really, Em? Are you sure? I don't know…even Mama says that I'm nice looking, but not beautiful like you two. Steve is a very good man, so I know that I'm very lucky to have bondmatched with him. However, since we actually bondmatched, he has sometimes been so stiff and proper about things that I wonder if he's disappointed now that he knows what I'm really like."

First glancing over at Emilie, Eleanor said kindly. "Clémence, you have only just begun. It will take time, but you will get there. Steve is a very old-fashioned man and you are a very traditional girl. That is why I thought you would be a good fit. I didn't have any idea what Clint was thinking when we first bondmatched, you know, and I'm only just starting to have general ideas about it now. I mean, if it had not been for Natalia, then things would have been even worse."

"Do you understand him now?"

"Only a bit, unfortunately. Clint is unpredictable and very non-traditional. My match is nothing like we were taught to expect in school."

Clémence curiously asked, "But are you happy with him?"

"I think he is the most incredible man that I've ever met. He is utterly amazing."

Emilie nudged Clémence. "I think that is a yes, don't you?"

Eleanor laughed. "Definitely, it is a yes. He is so intense."

Clémence sighed. "That was the first thing that I noticed about Steve: he is just so fierce about everything."

Smiling wryly, Emilie added, "Yeah, I have the champion of the universe when it comes to intensity. Bucky makes a laser look unfocussed."

Clémence rested her head on her hand and stared dreamily in front of her. "That sounds pretty incredible though, no? Steve told me that Bucky loves you so much that it surprises him still, even though Bucky has always apparently been deeply passionate about everything that matters to him."

However, Emilie shrugged and made a less than impressed face as she replied, "Yeah, yeah, he does, Clémence. So much that he is ready to fight and destroy anything that takes too much of my attention away from him."

"Oh. Oh! I thought that was just because he doesn't like Camille that he was always so weird."

"Bucky has no problem with Camille, dear. He was jealous that you and Camille were taking up my time. In fact, I have gone months sometimes without talking to anyone but him."

"Oh my gosh, Emilie, really? I thought Uncle Philip and Aunt Maria were exaggerating. Is it because of his past and stuff? The HYDRA stuff? That could be trauma or something."

Emilie stared at her young cousin and replied sharply, "Yes. It is absolutely because of trauma. He has raging PTSD, but he doesn't want to deal with it. He is never going to be like Steve, Clémence, ok? It is different."

Seeing that she was about to cry, Eleanor patted Clémence's hand soothingly, as she faced Emilie to reply, "Maybe not, Emilie, but I think that it is important that Steve and Bucky have been going to bond rehabilitation together these last five weeks. That is a huge development."

Emilie added flatly, "It is. I know. Bucky won't talk about it, but he made the promise to Steve that he would go, since he knows that their sibling bond has been badly damaged. Also, Steve has his own issues that Bucky is determined to help him with."

Camille asked anxiously, "Does Steve have PTSD, too? Is he ok?"

Her patience having clearly run out, Emilie replied with asperity, "Darling, he crashed his plane into the ice and thought he was going to die. Then he woke up 70 years later and everyone he ever knew was dead. Then his best friend, who he thought was dead, showed up and tried to kill him because HYDRA is evil. Then his best friend (with whom he had the closest of sibling bonds) goes off and bondmatches a girl, which stretches their sibling bond to near breaking point. So, for the past four years your man has been miserably lonely and trapped 70 years in the future with his best friend half-insane and difficult to predict. Of course, he has PTSD."

Clémence moaned and then began to cry messily. "I ought to have known that! I'm so stupid."

Eleanor frowned, as she replied firmly with a meaningful glare at Emilie, "That is not true, Clémence, and I won't let you say it. You are lovely and already quite devoted to Steve. My guess is that Steve would not like you to know he has any weaknesses, dear, because he thinks that then he might lose your respect. You know how Alphas are."

"Are they?" Clémence seemed very uncertain, but willing to trust both Emilie and Eleanor—who nodded in unison—she asked, "Would he truly think that I would think badly of him because of that? Alphas are so strange. That's…that's just silly. Do your matches ever react like that?"

Eleanor dropped her eyes and fiddled with her hands. "Oh yes, Clint still thinks that, honey. I have not yet been able to do or say the right things or enough of the right things to convince him that I think he is quite perfect as he is."

Emilie tilted her head and replied seriously, "You hadn't told me that, Eleanor. Is your bondmatch struggling that much?"

"Unfortunately, yes. If it weren't for Natalia, then we would be in a terrible mess. It isn't Clint's fault at all. I am just dumb at a lot of things. I am having trouble adjusting to how non-traditional Clint is even though I actually prefer everything about him compared to what North Shore taught me to expect. Oh, there's so much that I need to do still."

Clémence tentatively put her hand on Eleanor's. "He loves you. Everyone says so."

Eleanor nodded. "Yes, I believe that. I'm just so silly about certain things."

"But he loves you, so it is ok. Right? He wouldn't stop being with you."

Eleanor bit her lip slightly as she looked at Clémence. "Bondmatches are unbreakable, dear. You know that."

Sighing tiredly, Emilie commented, "Well, some Alphas do live separately, Eleanor. The bond cannot be broken, but in rare situations…

Clémence squeaked miserably and she interrupted, "Oh no, oh no, do Alphas really do that? I thought only Betas did that to their wives. Steve won't do that, will he? I would die. I really would. Emilie, you know what my father would do if I disappoint them again. My family would never forgive me."

Emilie hugged her cousin and replied fiercely, "No, of course Steve wouldn't! Nor do I believe that Steve would allow Uncle Alois to do anything to you. Why are you afraid that Steve might want to leave you? Is there something you haven't told us?"

"No. I wasn't actually. I didn't even consider that until you mentioned it."

Eleanor breathed out forcefully and tried not to grind her teeth as she answered, "Well, Steve will never do that, ok? You can be sure of that. It would be unthinkable for any decent Alpha to do something like that, Clémence."

Emilie glanced at Eleanor and tried to ask her silently what was wrong, but Clémence did not catch the subtext. She just moaned, "I have to go and talk to Steve. He should be back soon, I think. I'll try to remember what you suggested, Eleanor."

Looking down at her watch, Eleanor then forced herself to face Clémence and say, "I am sure that Steve wants to spend time with you and have more days for building the bond. If you talk calmly with him, then it will probably go well. He must feel incredible pressure to go on mission because of his responsibility as the leader of the Avengers. I hope that you will give him a chance instead of falling apart, Clémence."

Clémence and Emilie both seemed surprised by both what was said and the vehemence with which Eleanor said it. Yet before either replied, Eleanor continued, "My match has been gone for six weeks now, you know. His previous mission was nearly three weeks and we only had four days in between. We have only been bondmatched for half a year. I hate the time apart, but Clint is doing what he feels he is meant to do. I will learn to handle it though, since he does. When he returns, I am determined that this time I will do anything possible to make him happy. I'm sorry, but I need to go back upstairs now. Natalia requested that I be back before 4 and it is now 3.45. She does not like if I am too close to the deadline, so I need to hurry."

Biting her lip nervously, Clémence commented, "You obey her like she is your Alpha."

Emilie elbowed Clémence. "Don't be rude! Besides, would you dare to disobey the Black Widow?"

Eleanor coldly stated, "She is Clint's bonded sister. I wouldn't ever go against her."

Nudging her cousin again, Emilie replied to Eleanor, "I know, dear. However, it is probably a good thing that Bucky and Steve decided to go for a lateral bond for our matches. The one Alpha I already have is more than enough."

Clémence shivered, clearing considering how unpleasant it would be to have as close a connexion to the Winter Soldier as Eleanor did to Natasha.

Eleanor stood up sharply from her seat and responded emotionally, "Well I like having a sister. I would not change it for anything. Anyway, I cannot imagine that a joint bond with Steve orer Bucky would be anything like mine with Natasha. Brothers are very different from sisters. Oh dear, now I really need to go!" Eleanor hurried upstairs and only made it into the flat at 5 'til 4.00, which she was quite aware was late in 'Natalia Romanova time'. As she raced across the floor of the sitting room, she then turned to go down the corridor towards her bedroom in Natasha's flat. Yet, as she did, she heard voices coming from inside that startled her. Accordingly, Eleanor wrenched open the door handle to her room and saw Natasha and Clint standing beside her bed.