He grinned, seeing the unsurprised look on her face. Of course, he expected it. Carol was adept at adapting to her what was thrown at her. A skill he was certain most military people had to hone. What he had not expected was to be shot with crackling photon energy.
In truth, he should've been playing closer attention. He might've dodged the blast. Instead, though, he took the brunt of it -- managing to, in just enough time, to bring up his arms to keep it from his face and he could feel the blast initially push him back, but he propelled himself forward and kept himself from hitting the ground.
"Okay, then," he said under his breath and he darted directly at her, pulling his arm back, and right before going in for the punch directly square in the chest.