"Password?"
"It's me, JARVIS," I call, setting my purse on the floor to press my hand to the scanner.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Stark."
Ouch. That hurt.
"'Jennifer' or 'Ms. Walters' will be fine from now on, J."
"As you wish, ma'am." JARVIS beeps and the front door opens. Cool air splashes across my face – Tony always kept the house cool – he claimed he didn't want his precious electronics to overheat, but I'm pretty sure he just didn't want She-Hulk to overheat.
I stride into the foyer, snatching up my mail with my free hand. I glance over the remaining mail slots, eyeing Clint's.
"Hey, J?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Has Agent Barton been in lately?"
"He came back to the mansion last night with Agent Romanov, ma'am. Shall I page him for you?"
I shake my head, then remember that JARVIS can't see me, and clear my throat.
"No, thank you."
"Very good, ma'am."
I walk slowly upstairs, looking around and mentally cataloguing what I want to take with me, what I want to leave, and notice a light water ring on the coffee table.
"Hey, J?" I call, eyes on the stain.
"Yes, Ms. Walters?"
"Does anyone besides members of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers have access to the mansion?"
JARVIS stays silent.
"JARVIS."
"I…should not answer that, ma'am."
"Did Tony program you not to answer that question?"
"Yes, ma'am."
I nod.
"I see. Okay, let's try another way. Do civilians have access to this mansion?"
"Yes."
"Female civilians?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
"Total or by date?"
"In the past three months."
"Four."
A deep shudder of disbelief and sadness shakes me. I inhale sharply and briskly walk upstairs.
"Thank you."
"I am very sorry, ma'am."
I sneak into my bedroom and slam the heavy oak hard.
"Yeah…me too, J," I say quietly before sinking against the door.
It's amazing how fast one can pack when helped by robots.
Within five hours, ten years of memories are stowed into 12 blue Rubbermaid tubs, neatly organized by DUM-E (who is actually good for Tetris-like packing; Tony's just been using him wrong), which are now being loaded by a super soldier and a man with breath-taking anger management issues into a large U-Haul.
I watch as Steve and Bruce do the grunt work and I'm overcome with a wave of remembrance.
Arms slide around me and a pair of lips press to my neck as I watch Avengers and movers lug all my UCLA and New York things into Tony's huge mansion. I sigh happily and tug my husband's arms around me tighter.
"So, they're unpacking and setting up the bed first, right?" Tony growls into my ear. I laugh and swat him.
"Is that all you think about?" I ask incredulously. Tony kisses my neck again and grins.
"Who wouldn't when married to you?"
I roll my eyes and elbow his ribs.
"Hey, newlyweds! You gonna stand there or help?" Clint, carrying a floor lamp, calls. I laugh.
"Tony's buying you pizza and beer! Keep unloading!" I yell back. My Hawk rolls eyes and grabs another lamp.
"Lousy pizza and cheap beer, oh what a feast," he murmurs as he sidles by us.
"We could always just put out some birdseed," Tony yells as Clint disappears into the mansion.
"Shut up or I'll replace your scotch with oil, Tin Man!" Clint hollers back.
I shake my head and I'm back to watching Steve and Bruce huff and puff as they load my sofa.
Okay…watching Bruce huff and puff…Steve has barely broken a sweat.
"You're very, very good friends!" I call to them. Steve turns and salutes, Captain and gentleman through and through, while Bruce just pushes up his glasses and shoots me a small smile.
"That's the last of it, cous. You ready?" Bruce says, taking off his glasses and smudging them along his shirt. I nod.
"To Brooklyn we go," I say softly, turning back to lock my door for the last time.
Well…to let JARVIS lock it and revoke my mansion key.
I straighten my back as Steve and Bruce clamber into the cab of the U-Haul.
"JARVIS."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"I'm leaving."
JARVIS hesitates. "Ma'am, are you sure you want to –"
"Yes. Do it."
I swear, if J could sigh, he would.
"Beginning final scan." A small beeping noise surrounds me and I shut my eyes as JARVIS scans me for the last time.
"Scan complete. Ms. Walters, you are being removed from the system. I have one final message from Mr. Stark, would you like me to bring it up on the video screen?"
I open my eyes and take a deep breath.
"Yes. Thank you."
"As you wish, ma'am."
Tony's face zips into the video frame, his mouth in a grim smile, fingers steepled in front of him.
"Jen," he breathes warmly, disappointment flowing through his voice, "so, you're really leaving. Packing up. Turning in the key, huh?"
I nod, though I know he can't see me. Virtual Tony continues, oblivious.
"Well, I wish we could have worked it out, but since you decided to handle it like this, I'd like to give you this friendly goodbye."
Tony leans into the camera and pulls his brows together.
"If you even think that this is going to be quick, easy, painless, and civil; if you think you're getting a penny, you think again. I will fight you, Jennifer. I will fight you with every fiber and dollar I have. You don't get Tony this time," Tony sits back and crosses his arms, "you get Iron Man."
The screen goes dark and I stare a little longer, the image of an infuriated Tony burning behind my eyes.
"Thank you for visiting today, Ms. Walters. Please let the Stark estate know if you require any further assistance," JARVIS chirps, all familiarity gone.
I really am done here.
I swing my purse over my shoulder, signal Steve to start driving, and unlock my silver Audi R8 in one fluid motion. I press the Start button and let the air conditioning flow over me, cooling my heated skin. I close my eyes as my passenger door opens and someone slips in.
"Seriously, Clint, would it kill you to make a 'caw-caw' or something?" I say without opening my eyes.
"How'd you know it was me, babe?" Clint asks in his husky voice, clicking his seatbelt into place.
"My entire life for the past ten years has collapsed in on me and you've been here every day since I found out," I answer sharply. "Also, no one else would dare be around me right now, especially not in an enclosed space. Also…your cologne is very distinctive."
I open my eyes and look at him. Clint shrugs before laying his hand on top of mine.
"The last thing you need is to be alone." I give him a weak smile. "You okay to drive to Brooklyn?" I nod.
"Steve practically whooped for joy when I chose to live there." Clint chuckles and squeezes my hand.
"He loves whenever anyone chooses his old stomping grounds over Manhattan." I shift into Drive and pull out slowly, not looking back once we're on our way towards my new apartment.
"I'd choose Hell over Manhattan right now," I murmur. Clint nods in my peripheral vision, his sunglasses glinting.
"It'll be okay." I nod briskly and push the gas pedal a little harder.
"Yeah. It'll be peachy keen."
