When It Happens
Summary: Infinity War Spoilers. Clint Barton - he's at home, reading a book to his youngest son, when it happens.
He's at home, reading a book to his youngest son, when it happens. His daughter comes into the living room, looking pale and shaky. "I don't feel so good, Dad," she says.
He frowns. "Aw, let me see." He reaches out to touch Lila's forehead, but as he does so, the skin of her face changes. It shreds and blackens and he tries to grab her, but he's holding his little boy in one arm and then she's gone, before his very eyes. Pieces of ash fall and gather on the carpet and he hears himself scream. "Lila! Lila!" He stands in a panic and suddenly his son feels lighter, why is his son getting lighter?
He looks down and chokes on ash, and no, no, God no. Shock. What's greater than shock? He must be dreaming. He must be dreaming.
Cooper yells out from the other room. "Mom? Mom! Dad!" His voice is a strangled, anguished cry.
Clint's not dreaming.
He runs to his son's room. Cooper is there, staring in agony at the black patch staining the ground. "She was there, Dad," he says, "Mom was just there!" Clint sees Cooper's tears before he notices his own. He falls to his knees and grabs his son. His living, breathing son.
Clint holds him tightly and waits for an end that doesn't come for either of them.
The ash of most of his family is still clinging to his clothes, and the phone in his pocket starts to ring as loud as any siren he's ever heard.