"Why are you squishing your face to the glass like that?" Yvonne asks, watching me quizzically.
I sigh, "Looking for somebody. Can't see him, though."
"Yeah, well, in this heat, I bet most people are inside. If they're smart, that is." Rhodey puts in, unbuckling his seatbelt.
"I know he'll be there." I insist firmly, fiddling with the catch on my own belt. I can't get the stupid thing open! I scowl, shaking my head. "Piece of shit."
"Here." Yvonne says exasperatedly, unbuckling it for me. I get a little hot with her so close, but manage to smile normally and say, "Thanks."
"No problem. I mean, it's not like I can leave you on the plane. Let's go, Xavier." she says, waving me forward. She didn't notice anything. Good.
The heat is murder outside the plane, but it barely registers; I see Jared, running over in that sophisticated army fashion. I can't keep the smile off my face, even as he breaks ranks, which will probably get him in trouble. He doesn't seem to care, either.
"Hey, X-Man!" he calls, then wraps me in a bone-crushing hug. I return it to the best of my ability, resting my head on his shoulder. I really missed my brother.
Yvonne clears her throat. "That was unexpected."
Jared shakes his head, then pulls back, holding me at arm's length, but glancing at Yvonne. "Oh, shut up. I'm allowed to have a minute with my little brother, aren't I, Commander?"
"Oh, so you're his brother. I see."
Jared frowns a little. "What did you think I was? Oh! You and your sick mind."
She shrugs. "It seemed like a good explanation, okay? Don't let me interrupt the family reunion."
She walks away, then Jared looks at me. "Jesus Christ, you're as tall as I am! When did you grow so damn much?"
"Last year. I had a severe growth spurt."
"I'll say! Damn, Xavier. Soon you'll pass me, too. Wow." he exclaims, shaking his head. For a minute or so, we just look each other over, then he quietly comments, "You've got a headful of hair now."
I absently reach up to touch it, smoothing it out of my eyes. "Yeah. It's nice to actually have something up there, you know?"
He nods, then puts his arm over my shoulders. "You seem different, too. More mature, or something."
"I don't know about that, but I'd say it's possible, since the last time you saw me was when I was seven, Jared." I joke, and he grins.
"Still got your sense of humor. Good. So how are things back home? Bianca doing good?"
"Yeah. She came over yesterday, and that was. . . it was good to see her." I hedge. I don't want him to know I made Pepper cry. That makes me seem like such a tyrant, and I just want to give him good news.
"And Pepper? How's she holding up on her own?"
I bite my lip. "We've had a few. . . ahem, disagreements, and she disapproves of my humor and language."
Jared rolls his eyes. "That's a given, my friend. Those things happen. She'll get over it. Have you been doing school, or what? Any kind of education?"
"I'm enrolled in high school this fall. It's like, a private high school for kids with disabilities. I seem to qualify just fine." I explain as I walk beside him, feeling slightly numb. I always get this way when I talk about myself as disabled. I guess I'm sort of disabled, but it never bothered me until I got out of the hospital.
Jared nods, then looks worriedly at me. I grin brightly in his direction to let him know I'm okay, then we walk off across the dusty earth of Afghanistan towards Tony.