Welcome to Among the Many, where you'll find a collection of one-shots and what-if scenarios throughout the MCU.
Summary: A collection of what-if stories and one-shots from my imagination in the MCU. What if Steve killed Tony in Civil War? What if Tony was a victim of the Decimation in Infinity War? What if Odin never adopted Loki? What do I imagine Clint and Natasha's reunion to be like in Avengers: Endgame? Post-Avengers: Endgame trailer. Some entries have not yet been added. Rated T for violence.
Author's Notes:
SO. We finally got the Avengers: Endgame trailer and it. Is. Incredible! Hawkeye's reveal, him being my second favorite MCU character of all time, really shook me. By now, with all of the articles and proof that're on the internet, it's almost confirmed that he's turned into Ronin because of his family's death. :( I am SO SO excited for this movie and I also am so hungry for details about Clint. Has he turned completely bad? Is it just a madness summoned by severe grief? Is he going on a killing rage because he doesn't know how else to get rid of his grief? So many questions!
I've been thinking a lot since I began going through the MCU and watching the movies a few months ago about "what if" scenarios. I've never written what-if scenarios before and I started writing down some ideas. Eventually, I decided to, someday, start a book with a collection of what-if stories in it. I hadn't started it before the Endgame trailer dropped, but I've decided to add one-shots to the book as well.
So I have been thinking ever since seeing the trailer what Natasha and Clint's reunion will be like in Avengers: Endgame and it could go so many ways. Clint could be so different and dark that he barely recognizes Natasha. He could be completely different. He could be shocked to see Natasha. I could go on forever, but there are so many paths the Russo Brothers could take their reunion. I couldn't wait and I started this one-shot right away.
I've never written one-shots before and this was a great first. I felt the emotions throughout the whole writing process.
This one-shot takes the reunion in a painful way, not an emotional or surprised way. And as for the reason why Natasha (and her traveling companion in this one-shot) are in Japan, I don't know. Of course, we don't have that information yet. I tried to make up some kind of reason for them to be there aside from just...being there. I needed to have a reason, even if it was a flimsy, barely grounded one. Hopefully it doesn't pull away from the snippet.
Now, without further ado, please enjoy my very first one shot.
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Avengers movies, the Marvel franchise, or any of the characters. That all belongs to Marvel Studios. Everything to Marvel Studios. Any added dialogue, plots, or characters are mine, but nothing else. I don't own it.
One-Shot: Natasha and Clint Imagined Reunion in Avengers: Endgame
Title: Who You've Become
The Quinjet grinds to a halt as the dying lights of Hong-Kong pierce through the ship's windows. Steve and I exchange a wary look as he hits the button to open the door. A light drizzle fades into being. An unspoken question resonates between our grieving minds.
What's happened to the rest of the world? Will it be nothing but silence?
"You sure we're going to find anything, Steve?" My fingers drum restlessly against the baton on my waist as I picture the electricity winding through the weapon with the flick of a switch.
"Nothing's certain, Natasha. We can only hope."
I grit my teeth. "Hope didn't save them."
Steve sucks in a rattling breath. "I'm not giving up on them."
"They're gone, Steve. There's nothing we can do but trust in each other."
The captain thumps me on the shoulder, his stature stiff as he trudges out of the Quinjet. "You ready?"
"Ready enough." I strut down the ramp only the halt at the sight of the city.
Buildings, crumpled and destroyed amid burning wreckage. A purple sky, brooding and rumbling with an overhanging dread. The lights of Hong-Kong, usually alive and bright with color and activity, are dim and flickering with broken wires spilling from sidewalks. Telephone poles are splitting in half and cars, still smoldering. I take a few more steps, blinking. Stones crackle underfoot. A chill stings my skin as the wind howls, reeking of smoke and blood. Hardly any living thing, even in one of the largest cities on the globe.
"We heard there had been a disturbance, but none of the tech back at the facility indicated anything to this scale." I swallow hard as dust blows by my feet, a shiver flooding through me as I try to envision who's remains now whistle with the breeze.
"Do you think the Decimation did all this?"
"Negative. Over there." I jut my chin toward the beginning of an alleyway where a few men lay in a heap beside a group of trashcans, blood streaming from fatal gashes in their chests.
Steve rushes past me, dropping to one knee in front of the corpses. "This isn't the work of Thanos." As I draw near, I catch him muttering. "These are marks of a large blade. Thanos didn't use any weapon beside the power of the Gauntlet and his strength." He glances back at me. "And these attacks are fresh. They've happened very recently."
"How long ago?"
"Few hours. Maybe more."
Staring straight ahead, my stomach twists with every new body I pinpoint, sprawled on the ground with blood leaking from massive wounds. "Steve, they're everywhere."
"What?" Steve withdraws from his investigation. A small gasp escapes his lungs. "By the gods… What happened here?"
"I'll pull up the hologram." Ripping my eyes away from the gruesome sight, I fold my sleeve back and tap my watch's screen twice. A blue image wavers a few feet above my wrist, coalescing into a digital map and tracker with words clicking on the side. I squint to read the information. "Massive city destruction and genocide. Detected through satellites." I lower my arm. "Guess we didn't read that part."
"You think the killer's still here?"
"I would hope so. We've already got enough problems on our hands without having a murderer on the loose." I cock guns in both hands.
"Two on two. Keep watch. Constant scanning."
"Affermative."
We slam our backs together, sidestepping through the streets with our gazes locked on every moving thing. One step after another, one broken alley after another. Weapons loaded, reflexes alert, bonds tight. Minutes drag by. Still nothing.
At the end of the main street, Steve and I drop our guard, turning back to each other, sighing. "I'll bet whoever it was is long gone now."
"You pick up any tracks or clues on the way, Nat?"
I shake my head. "You?"
"No luck."
"Another dead trail." I drop my head, scratching the barrel of the gun with my thumbnail.
Here we are, two veterans, standing together in dead silence. Dead silence. Not even the wind blows anymore. Mourning passes between the two of us, darkening the mood and lowering our self-esteem as we're reminded, once again, of our brutal loss.
A shriek from afar jolts us to attention. Our legs erupt into action as we take off immediately toward the sound.
Another scream. We run faster. A sword unsheathing. Slicing through flesh. A thump.
Steve grunts, lengthening his stride as the process repeats.
Our feet pound on the splintered roads, blurring the debris below us.
The collection of lethal sounds comes a third time. A screech, a blade, a swipe of metal, and a thud as a body hits stone.
We round a corner and stagger to a halt. Three carcasses slump around a cloaked man, one beside a torn motorcycle, one on his stomach in front of a car, and one between the assassin's legs.
I can't stop my jaw from hanging as I observe the mysterious identity.
Dressed in brown attire with dull orange stripes lining the seams, the man dons a baleful aura, gripping a katana in his left hand. Blood streams down his cloak, running down his legs and pooling at his feet.
Steve takes a tentative step forward, squeezing my wrist in hesitant encouragement. "Hey! We don't know who you are and don't care, but you've got two of Earth's Mightiest Heroes to deal with now. Stop this reckless murder and state your business."
A few seconds pass. Out of the darkness croaks a hoarse chuckle, mocking in its low tone. "Earth's Mightiest Heroes…" The growl rasps out of a parched throat. "The Avengers… Yeah, that worked out quite well for you, didn't it?"
Steve's hands curl into fists and his eyes shine with unshed tears.
I allow a whisper to sneak out. "Steve, don't."
"Ah… Steve Rogers… Natasha Romanoff…" The masked killer flicks back his hood and pulls a black skintight cover off his head. Hair flecked with blood and drenched in rain crawls out, accented by shaved sides. "So nice to hear your voices again."
By now, the gravelly voice is hauntingly familiar. Too familiar. I sneak forward a few feet, slipping my electrical baton from my belt. Forcing myself to stay calm, I tempt a simple question. "Who are you?"
There's a pause. "I am Ronin."
Steve tugs me back. "You lost someone in the Decimation?"
A burst of laughter escapes the identity. "Someone?" The following word explodes as a roar. "Someone?" His body trembles, dripping with blood and rain. "No, Captain. I lost everything." Slowly, he turns to face us.
The sight steals the words from my mouth.
His eyes, like poisoned fire, are as familiar as I recall, and yet dark with an eternity of emotion. Bloodlust dances in his gaze and gives way to a terrifying madness that words of reason will not douse.
Standing before me, red rain streaming down his face, is Agent Clint Barton.
A deadly sneer plays amid the blood. "As will you."
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Hope you enjoyed!
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