1 - Prologue
Newswoman: “NEWSCAST: NEW YORK CITY! The ‘Young Avengers’ are calling it quits. The amateur superhero brigade split after a horrific accident created by their own Kate Bishop. Her fatal mistake in this incident caused 20 casualties and over 50 injured. The amazing Hawkeye even stepped onto this case, Miss Marvel and him both appearing to make the announcement that The Young Avengers should go back to their day jobs. Where are ‘The Real Avengers’ when you need them. No one from their team has made a response to the current situation.”
Newsman: “Well I’m sure The ‘Real’ Avengers are in action somewhere. Where The Young Avengers Are Is Now A Mystery.”
Newswoman: “Kate Bishop is not new to the crime scene. Her mother was arrested...for her involvement in a criminalist group that were were responsible for many of the backstreet killings recently in New York City.”
I turn off the tv, slamming the remote down onto the coffee table in front of me. Putting my hands in my head I try to breathe. God, this has been one of the worst weeks of my life. 6 days ago, to think I’d finally be the hero. Yet I fucked it up. I ruined any chance of being a full Avenger again.
The phone rings “Hello.”
“I expect you know why I’m calling.”
“No...No. I may need some reminding”
“This isn’t funny Kate.”
“Look I know. I fumbled the ball. Look, it looks bad. I know, but this wasn’t my fault.”
“How the hell is this not at all your fault?”
“If I had been given more time, I could’ve...”
“You could’ve what Bishop? Tell me, because I’m running out of options here.”
“You...You don’t need to do anything. I’m old enough to make my own choices.”
“Yet your mother is in jail and gave me the control of your lease.”
“Excuse me, what?”
“She asked me to watch over you...to make sure you don’t get hurt. She knew the choice she made Kate, and is sorry she’s brought you into it. But you also need to take responsibility for your actions.”
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me Clint. I really do. But please, just let this go.”
“Let this go...okay. I’m done talking about it.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“Please be safe.”
“You know I mean it when I say I’m sorry right?”
“I know you do. I truly do. But you know you need to take a step back.”
“No. No...i’m perfectly fine.”
“You sure? Because I can feel your anxiety through the phone.”
“Listen I’m just...tightly wound. You’re tightly wound too actually.
“What you’ve put me through in the past and present gives me a fucking headache.”
“But...you love me.” I drags into the phone with a smile
“Yeah...I do.”
“Have you heard from Yelena?”
“Yelena?”
“Yeah...the sister of Black Widow. The one who thought you killed her sister. The one who I literally found in my apartment eating the mac and cheese in my cupboard. She judged me on my cutlery. You only need one fucking fork.”
“I told you...she...”
“She what? You didn’t tell me anything about that night.”
“I wanted to keep it as private as long possible. For her. When we fought, and I finally got to tell her what actually happened to Natasha. Yelena believed me. It took her a moment, yet it settled in with her. She’s a good kid.”
“She’s a woman.”
“I know she’s a woman and so are you.”
“Wait, would you call me a kid?”
“Compared to you both I’m a grandpa.”
“You got a point.”
“Fuck you.”
“Fuck you.”
We both laugh. I needed this talk with Clint. He’s my hero. And to lose his trust would break me. I also didn’t wanna lose my connection with Yelena...whatever the fuck this is. We met on always odd occasion.
But sometimes the odd brings you to the right occasion. And maybe this is the right one.
No, hell fucking no.
Yelena Belova isn’t the one.
“Why didn’t you tell me, about Belova?”
With a final sigh Clint answers.
“Because you also need to hear it from her.”
And as the last word leaves my partner’s lips, he’s gone as the phone line goes dead.
