New York City, Friday Evening (Fandom Time)
For their part, the Avengers did an admirable job at trying to deal with the Kree and the Skrulls, and their equal insistance that Teddy needed to come along or they'd play out a second war on the Avengers' turf. Captain America was adamant that the only fair option was for Teddy to stay where he was, on Earth, and it seemed like that option would work, right up until one of the Kree tried to shoot him, and Eli pushed Captain America out of the way, taking the blast instead.
Clearly, Teddy's special brand of stupid had become contagious.
"Eli!" Kate screamed, running over to him as the Kree and the Skrulls began firing on each other.
"Hold on, Eli. We'll get you out of here, I promise," Captain America said. He kneeled down and picked Eli up, keeping him close and out of the line of fire.
"I'm sorry," Eli said weakly. "I didn't want you to get hurt."
Billy watched closely to make sure they didn't need to be shielded as Captain America looked around for more help. "It's okay. It's going to be okay."
"You're not going to yell at me?" Eli asked.
"Not this time, son," Captain America replied.
Kate winced as Eli coughed and laughed shortly. "Then I must really be in bad shape."
Finally, the Sentry came over and gently took Eli from Captain America. "I'll get him fixed up. Have Jessica Jones meet us at the hospital."
"Cap, don't let them take Teddy," Eli said quickly, before the Sentry could pull him away.
"Don't worry," Captain America said, "nobody's going anywhere." Then, as soon as Eli was safely out of earshot, he turned to the Young Avengers. "You all need to get out of here. We have to get you to safety."
"No way," Teddy said. "If I go, they'll tear the city apart looking for me. Nowhere is safe. At least if I'm here, the fighting will be contained."
"That's an order," Captain America said more firmly. "I need you kids to clear the area now."
"No way," Kate said, moving into position beside Teddy. "We're all staying, and you don't have time to fight them and us."
Captain America stared Kate down for a moment, and sighed in resignation. "Then there's only one thing to do. AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!"
Billy was pretty sure that answering that call was the high point of his entire life thus far, but there wasn't much time to dwell in delight before Kree and Skrull forces barrelled down on them. He lost track of Teddy, Kate, and the Vision quickly - Cassie, thankfully, was hard to lose when she grew big enough to snatch people out of the sky - but he managed to find Tommy from the sound of his voice.
"I know, I know, I look like Wiccan, but I'm not him!" Tommy yelled, rolling his eyes at Captain America as he tried to brush imploded Skrull guts off of his shirt.
"Actually Cap, this is Tommy. He's a speedster," Billy said as he ran over.
"Seriously? We're going to discuss this now?" Tommy asked. "Alien soldiers! Trying to kill us!"
Billy grabbed onto Captain America's arm to pull him out of the way (and tried to ignore the roar of oh god oh god touching Cap oh god in his head) while Tommy rushed around them in a blur, taking out any Skrulls who dared to approach. "Cap, do you remember when the Scarlet Witch gave birth to twins who turned out to be Mephisto's lost souls?"
Captain America stared at Billy in surprise. "How do you know about that?"
"Because I think Tommy and I are those lost souls," Billy said.
"Maybe now--isn't the--best time?" Tommy suggested as he circled them.
"Tommy's right. We can discuss this later," Captain America said, but the look on his face made Billy feel like he wasn't actually being blown off. It was kind of nice to get that look from an Avenger, for once.
The longer the fighting went on, the more clear it became that no one was going to win. The Kree and the Skrulls were both determined to take the other out, even if it meant killing Teddy in the process, and finally, the Super-Skrull managed to pull Teddy aside.
"You need to pick a side," he insisted. "If you come with me, you can reclaim the Skrull empire. The war with the Kree will continue, but it will not be here. Your friends, your adopted planet, they will all be spared."
"But only if I leave them all and go with you," Teddy said.
"Believe me, if there were any other way..." the Super-Skrull said.
"There is," Teddy said, his face lighting up. "Stay close and follow my lead."
Billy frowned as Teddy and the Super-Skrull disappeared from sight, and by the time he found them again, it was only because the fighting ceased as Teddy surrendered.
"What's he doing?" Cassie asked.
"Something ridiculous. It's the only possibility," Billy said.
Sure enough, the result wasn't something any of the Young Avengers wanted to hear. "The matter is settled," the Kree leader said. "The son of Mar-vell will spend half an Earth-year with the Kree, and half with the Skrulls, at which time, he will declare his ultimate allegiance."
Captain America glared at both sides, before looking at Teddy sadly. "Until then, he'll make regular, scheduled visits home to Earth."
"But if Teddy is harmed in any way," Iron Man added, "or if he misses even one visit, the Avengers will see to it that the Kree-Skrull war is ended once and for all."
"Teddy, are you sure you want to go through with this?" Captain America asked, like there was any possibility Teddy could back out now.
"There is no other way, Captain," Teddy said, before turning to the Young Avengers and the Super-Skrull. "Thank you all, for everything. I hope one day you will understand why I had to do this, and you will forgive me."
Everyone fell quiet as the warring sides went back to their ships, the Kree with Teddy in tow, and the Skrulls looking annoyed, but vaguely triumphant. It wasn't until the ships had disappeared that Captain America finally turned to Billy and his friends. "Are you all going to be all right?"
"What are you asking them for?" Wolverine said. "It's the Super-Skrull you ought to be worried about."
"I do not know what you mean," the Super-Skrull said, but Wolverine shook his head.
"Cut the crap, kid," he said. "The nose always knows."
Teddy smiled as he dropped the disguise, turning back into himself, and the look of genuine surprise on Captain America's face was like icing on the cake. "I actually didn't see that coming."
"So, the Super-Skrull...?" asked Iron Man.
"Is a super-spy," Kate said with a grin. Billy started forming a disc for them to float away on, and Kate offered Tommy a hand to make sure he got on. "We knew because we know Teddy, and because when the Super-Skrull talks, he does not use contractions."
"Where do you kids think you're going?" Captain America asked.
"To the hospital, to see Eli," Kate said, smirking a little in a 'duh' motion. "Are you coming?"
When they got to the hospital, they found Eli already on the road to recovery. His grandfather was donating blood, his mother was with him, and doctors were on their way to do everything they could to make him better.
"The doctors said that if the surgery is successful, Eli will be able to lead a completely normal life," Captain America said, "and I'm hoping that, in light of what happened to him, you kids will too."
All of the Young Avengers exchanged an uncomfortable look, but it was Kate who actually spoke up. "Sir, with all due respect, the minute Eli's back on his feet, he'll be chasing down bad guys, powers or no powers. That's just who he is. It's who we all are," she insisted. "I know you and Iron Man don't approve of us, but I can't help thinking that if you guys had supported us, or taken the time to train us, maybe Eli wouldn't be in surgery right now. Maybe Billy's parents would still have a place to live. Maybe Teddy's mother would still be alive. That's how it feels anyway. So, if you really want to protect us, just accept us." After a long moment, she added, "Sir," and moved back to stand beside Billy.
"Kate, you just bitched out Captain America!" he whispered sharply.
"Well, somebody had to," she whispered back with a smirk.
In the end, while they weren't officially sanctioned, the Avengers agreed that the world was probably better off with the Young Avengers helping out--especially now that all of their parents knew what they'd been doing, and could ground them if necessary.
"Are you going to be around for the memorial service, or are you being shipped back to school right away?" Teddy asked. The Avengers were letting them use the mansion for the service, as long as the teens helped clean up the garden and the statues outside.
"I'll be here for the service, but I also have to call my parents every. single. night from school," Billy said, casting a spell to put one of the statues back together. "Thankfully, they don't know what I get up to there."
"At least, not until Parents' Weekend," Kate quipped.
Billy's eyes got wide. "They are so not allowed to come visit that weekend. You guys need to... I don't know, break in and steal their invitations or something and come and see me instead."
"We should send Tommy. He kind of counts as family, right?" Teddy asked with a teasing gleam in his eye.
Billy punched Teddy in the arm, even though it hurt his hand more than Teddy's arm. "He is family, I'm sure of it. Have you gotten any word back from him?"
Kate sighed and shook her head. "No. We sent him a uniform and a code-name and everything, but I guess he's not just the type."
"It's funny you should say that, of all people."
Billy, Kate, and Teddy turned around, and found Jessica Jones entering the garden, smiling at Kate. "I have something for you. Cap asked me to give you these." She opened her shoulder bag, and pulled out a quiver full of arrows and a bow. "They belonged to Clint Barton. So did the code-name Cap picked out for you."
Kate took the gifts carefully, handling them like they were fine china, and pulled a notecard off of the bow that said For Hawkeye. "No. No way. I can't take these!"
"Look, even without the bow and arrows, the only Avenger who ever stood up to Captain America the way you did was Hawkeye," Jessica explained. "Cap trusts you to carry on in his name, no matter how annoying it may prove to be for him."
Kate squealed and set the bow and quiver down carefully before tackling Jessica in a hug. Billy watched and laughed, before turning back to Teddy. "I'm so sorry about your mom. Are you going to be okay? I... maybe I don't need to go back to school right away."
"Yes, you do," Teddy insisted. "You need to go back and learn how to become the most awesome superhero ever." He grinned at Billy and pulled him into a hug. "I'm gonna be okay, I promise."
Billy hugged Teddy back, and looked around at his friends. Hopefully, with enough time, they'd all be okay.
[Aaaaand I'm finally done. Adapted from Young Avengers #11 and #12.]
Clearly, Teddy's special brand of stupid had become contagious.
"Eli!" Kate screamed, running over to him as the Kree and the Skrulls began firing on each other.
"Hold on, Eli. We'll get you out of here, I promise," Captain America said. He kneeled down and picked Eli up, keeping him close and out of the line of fire.
"I'm sorry," Eli said weakly. "I didn't want you to get hurt."
Billy watched closely to make sure they didn't need to be shielded as Captain America looked around for more help. "It's okay. It's going to be okay."
"You're not going to yell at me?" Eli asked.
"Not this time, son," Captain America replied.
Kate winced as Eli coughed and laughed shortly. "Then I must really be in bad shape."
Finally, the Sentry came over and gently took Eli from Captain America. "I'll get him fixed up. Have Jessica Jones meet us at the hospital."
"Cap, don't let them take Teddy," Eli said quickly, before the Sentry could pull him away.
"Don't worry," Captain America said, "nobody's going anywhere." Then, as soon as Eli was safely out of earshot, he turned to the Young Avengers. "You all need to get out of here. We have to get you to safety."
"No way," Teddy said. "If I go, they'll tear the city apart looking for me. Nowhere is safe. At least if I'm here, the fighting will be contained."
"That's an order," Captain America said more firmly. "I need you kids to clear the area now."
"No way," Kate said, moving into position beside Teddy. "We're all staying, and you don't have time to fight them and us."
Captain America stared Kate down for a moment, and sighed in resignation. "Then there's only one thing to do. AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!"
Billy was pretty sure that answering that call was the high point of his entire life thus far, but there wasn't much time to dwell in delight before Kree and Skrull forces barrelled down on them. He lost track of Teddy, Kate, and the Vision quickly - Cassie, thankfully, was hard to lose when she grew big enough to snatch people out of the sky - but he managed to find Tommy from the sound of his voice.
"I know, I know, I look like Wiccan, but I'm not him!" Tommy yelled, rolling his eyes at Captain America as he tried to brush imploded Skrull guts off of his shirt.
"Actually Cap, this is Tommy. He's a speedster," Billy said as he ran over.
"Seriously? We're going to discuss this now?" Tommy asked. "Alien soldiers! Trying to kill us!"
Billy grabbed onto Captain America's arm to pull him out of the way (and tried to ignore the roar of oh god oh god touching Cap oh god in his head) while Tommy rushed around them in a blur, taking out any Skrulls who dared to approach. "Cap, do you remember when the Scarlet Witch gave birth to twins who turned out to be Mephisto's lost souls?"
Captain America stared at Billy in surprise. "How do you know about that?"
"Because I think Tommy and I are those lost souls," Billy said.
"Maybe now--isn't the--best time?" Tommy suggested as he circled them.
"Tommy's right. We can discuss this later," Captain America said, but the look on his face made Billy feel like he wasn't actually being blown off. It was kind of nice to get that look from an Avenger, for once.
The longer the fighting went on, the more clear it became that no one was going to win. The Kree and the Skrulls were both determined to take the other out, even if it meant killing Teddy in the process, and finally, the Super-Skrull managed to pull Teddy aside.
"You need to pick a side," he insisted. "If you come with me, you can reclaim the Skrull empire. The war with the Kree will continue, but it will not be here. Your friends, your adopted planet, they will all be spared."
"But only if I leave them all and go with you," Teddy said.
"Believe me, if there were any other way..." the Super-Skrull said.
"There is," Teddy said, his face lighting up. "Stay close and follow my lead."
Billy frowned as Teddy and the Super-Skrull disappeared from sight, and by the time he found them again, it was only because the fighting ceased as Teddy surrendered.
"What's he doing?" Cassie asked.
"Something ridiculous. It's the only possibility," Billy said.
Sure enough, the result wasn't something any of the Young Avengers wanted to hear. "The matter is settled," the Kree leader said. "The son of Mar-vell will spend half an Earth-year with the Kree, and half with the Skrulls, at which time, he will declare his ultimate allegiance."
Captain America glared at both sides, before looking at Teddy sadly. "Until then, he'll make regular, scheduled visits home to Earth."
"But if Teddy is harmed in any way," Iron Man added, "or if he misses even one visit, the Avengers will see to it that the Kree-Skrull war is ended once and for all."
"Teddy, are you sure you want to go through with this?" Captain America asked, like there was any possibility Teddy could back out now.
"There is no other way, Captain," Teddy said, before turning to the Young Avengers and the Super-Skrull. "Thank you all, for everything. I hope one day you will understand why I had to do this, and you will forgive me."
Everyone fell quiet as the warring sides went back to their ships, the Kree with Teddy in tow, and the Skrulls looking annoyed, but vaguely triumphant. It wasn't until the ships had disappeared that Captain America finally turned to Billy and his friends. "Are you all going to be all right?"
"What are you asking them for?" Wolverine said. "It's the Super-Skrull you ought to be worried about."
"I do not know what you mean," the Super-Skrull said, but Wolverine shook his head.
"Cut the crap, kid," he said. "The nose always knows."
Teddy smiled as he dropped the disguise, turning back into himself, and the look of genuine surprise on Captain America's face was like icing on the cake. "I actually didn't see that coming."
"So, the Super-Skrull...?" asked Iron Man.
"Is a super-spy," Kate said with a grin. Billy started forming a disc for them to float away on, and Kate offered Tommy a hand to make sure he got on. "We knew because we know Teddy, and because when the Super-Skrull talks, he does not use contractions."
"Where do you kids think you're going?" Captain America asked.
"To the hospital, to see Eli," Kate said, smirking a little in a 'duh' motion. "Are you coming?"
When they got to the hospital, they found Eli already on the road to recovery. His grandfather was donating blood, his mother was with him, and doctors were on their way to do everything they could to make him better.
"The doctors said that if the surgery is successful, Eli will be able to lead a completely normal life," Captain America said, "and I'm hoping that, in light of what happened to him, you kids will too."
All of the Young Avengers exchanged an uncomfortable look, but it was Kate who actually spoke up. "Sir, with all due respect, the minute Eli's back on his feet, he'll be chasing down bad guys, powers or no powers. That's just who he is. It's who we all are," she insisted. "I know you and Iron Man don't approve of us, but I can't help thinking that if you guys had supported us, or taken the time to train us, maybe Eli wouldn't be in surgery right now. Maybe Billy's parents would still have a place to live. Maybe Teddy's mother would still be alive. That's how it feels anyway. So, if you really want to protect us, just accept us." After a long moment, she added, "Sir," and moved back to stand beside Billy.
"Kate, you just bitched out Captain America!" he whispered sharply.
"Well, somebody had to," she whispered back with a smirk.
In the end, while they weren't officially sanctioned, the Avengers agreed that the world was probably better off with the Young Avengers helping out--especially now that all of their parents knew what they'd been doing, and could ground them if necessary.
"Are you going to be around for the memorial service, or are you being shipped back to school right away?" Teddy asked. The Avengers were letting them use the mansion for the service, as long as the teens helped clean up the garden and the statues outside.
"I'll be here for the service, but I also have to call my parents every. single. night from school," Billy said, casting a spell to put one of the statues back together. "Thankfully, they don't know what I get up to there."
"At least, not until Parents' Weekend," Kate quipped.
Billy's eyes got wide. "They are so not allowed to come visit that weekend. You guys need to... I don't know, break in and steal their invitations or something and come and see me instead."
"We should send Tommy. He kind of counts as family, right?" Teddy asked with a teasing gleam in his eye.
Billy punched Teddy in the arm, even though it hurt his hand more than Teddy's arm. "He is family, I'm sure of it. Have you gotten any word back from him?"
Kate sighed and shook her head. "No. We sent him a uniform and a code-name and everything, but I guess he's not just the type."
"It's funny you should say that, of all people."
Billy, Kate, and Teddy turned around, and found Jessica Jones entering the garden, smiling at Kate. "I have something for you. Cap asked me to give you these." She opened her shoulder bag, and pulled out a quiver full of arrows and a bow. "They belonged to Clint Barton. So did the code-name Cap picked out for you."
Kate took the gifts carefully, handling them like they were fine china, and pulled a notecard off of the bow that said For Hawkeye. "No. No way. I can't take these!"
"Look, even without the bow and arrows, the only Avenger who ever stood up to Captain America the way you did was Hawkeye," Jessica explained. "Cap trusts you to carry on in his name, no matter how annoying it may prove to be for him."
Kate squealed and set the bow and quiver down carefully before tackling Jessica in a hug. Billy watched and laughed, before turning back to Teddy. "I'm so sorry about your mom. Are you going to be okay? I... maybe I don't need to go back to school right away."
"Yes, you do," Teddy insisted. "You need to go back and learn how to become the most awesome superhero ever." He grinned at Billy and pulled him into a hug. "I'm gonna be okay, I promise."
Billy hugged Teddy back, and looked around at his friends. Hopefully, with enough time, they'd all be okay.
[Aaaaand I'm finally done. Adapted from Young Avengers #11 and #12.]