Eagles and Sparrows

In Bishop’s office, the two women fell silent at the same time.

Though the video was brief, just as Barton had realized thousands of miles away, the amount of information it contained was terrifying—especially for superheroes like them.

"I… I thought I was the only one." The blonde woman Kate called Lance stared blankly at the television screen, her expression a complicated mix of emotions.

"You know him?" Kate tucked a pale lock of hair behind her ear and asked again curiously.

"Yes. He’s… sort of a junior to me." Lance thought for a moment before answering. "We didn’t cross paths much."

"I remember you saying that the Bat-Family didn’t exactly get along with your people." Kate smiled. She had recognized his identity from the conspicuous bat symbol in the video.

Ever since she had accidentally saved this woman from another universe, Kate Bishop had heard plenty of stories from her about the superheroes of that other universe. They often reminded her of the wonderful days of her youth.

"Strictly speaking, it seemed like he’d been kicked out of the Bat-Family? Their family situation is strange, and I don’t know much about it either. But I still can’t believe I wasn’t the only one who came to this universe." Lance looked agitated, but deeply worried as well.

She was excited because she had never expected more heroes besides herself to arrive in this universe. More importantly, the ones who had come were the Justice League’s Big Three!

But she was worried because the Red Hood she remembered had somehow fallen into Red Skull’s hands. Judging by his condition, he had suffered inhuman torment, and that stirred considerable anger within Lance.

As a hero who had dealt with the Bat-Family before, Lance knew that the superheroes of that line were almost all possessed of unshakable willpower. The Red Hood was no exception. Even if he had been captured by an enemy, he would never reveal a single piece of intelligence.

And that made it all too easy to imagine what Red Skull might have done to torture him into that state.

"If I remember correctly, you used to be a member of the Justice League too. Looks like you have a reason you can’t refuse now." Kate Bishop said seriously.

"A reserve member. But you’re right, Mayor Bishop."

Lance nodded heavily. Then she looked at Kate Bishop and spoke, word by word.

"Perhaps our strength alone is insignificant, but don’t worry. Superman is here. There’s still a chance to make things right. With Wonder Woman and Batman’s help, this world will definitely come back to life!"

"…" Kate Bishop looked at Lance’s earnest expression. She wanted to say something, but in the end, no words came out.

Superman, Wonder Woman… In her own world, there had once been people with such immense power too. But in the end, every one of them had died in that battle. Not a single one had survived.

That was why, to Kate, the hopeless state of the wasteland was not frightening. What was frightening was someone trying to bring her "hope."

Perhaps sensing Kate Bishop’s distrust, Lance added solemnly.

"Believe me, Mayor Bishop. You don’t understand their power. I promise you, Red Skull’s rule won’t last much longer. This world will welcome true peace."

"I hope so."

Kate Bishop forced a smile, then turned her gaze toward the window. Looking out over the shelter she had led countless people in building, Kate Bishop found herself torn.

Kate Bishop knew exactly what would happen if she stepped back into the fray.

Perhaps the villains had forgotten her, or perhaps they had never taken her seriously in the first place. In any case, after all these years, ever since establishing the shelter, Kate had hardly encountered trouble from anyone.

But Kate understood that once she acted again, Red Skull’s sheriffs and Hydra’s members would investigate her background. They would find this place, and they would kill every single person here.

It was a gamble, but it was also the gamble Kate Bishop least dared to make. If she lost, all her efforts over the past forty-odd years would be reduced to nothing.

After a long silence, Kate Bishop finally made up her mind.

"I’ll help you deal with these problems. After staying here for so long, perhaps it’s time I went out and stretched my limbs a little." Kate turned around, her expression resolute.

"Thank you, but this is my mission."

Lance clenched her fists, and soon, her face was filled with a smile.

"You’ve already helped me so much, Mayor Bishop. Let me go alone from here. This place… can’t do without you."

"No, you don’t understand the wasteland. The world outside is even more chaotic than you imagine."

"Don’t worry, Kate. I’m a superhero too, remember?" Lance stepped forward slowly and gave Kate Bishop a gentle hug. "I’ll act carefully, just as you taught me during this time."

"…"

Kate Bishop wanted to say more, but she knew Lance was right. The shelter needed her. She could not abandon these people and rush out without hesitation.

If she were still the street ranger from New York she had once been, she would have picked up her beloved bow and arrows and joined Lance in striking back against evil. But now, she was no longer alone. She had to be responsible for everyone in the shelter.

Kate Bishop slowly raised her hands to Lance’s back and embraced her. Everything was left unsaid.

After a pause, Kate Bishop slipped a note into Lance’s hand.

"What’s this?" Lance asked curiously.

"It’s the contact information for an old friend of mine. Though I can’t help you, he’ll definitely give you his full support. He’s been wandering the wasteland all these years. No one understands the outside world better than he does." Kate Bishop’s eyes were full of reminiscence.

Seeing the look in Kate’s eyes, Lance’s lips curled upward. "He’s someone very important to you, isn’t he?"

"He isn’t."

Kate Bishop answered without even thinking, then let out a long sigh.

"I’ll be thanking heaven if he doesn’t cause me trouble. Anyway, go find him. I promise he’ll help you."

Lance did not refuse Kate’s kindness.

Her gaze drifted until it finally landed on a photograph on Kate Bishop’s desk.

In the photo, a young Kate wore a bright smile. Behind her stood a man in a purple combat suit, holding a bow and arrows with proud confidence. Though his expression was somewhat stiff, the concern in his eyes was impossible to miss.

For a moment, Lance found herself staring in fascination.

Clutching the note tightly in her hand, Lance understood.

This man was probably Bishop’s Oliver.