Challenge 3 - and the last for now. I'm not telling what this challenge actually entailed...so, please have a guess!

HOPE


Summary: They sit in the dark, with their grief, anger and loss. And wait. And hope.


Cold light of the still early dawn crept under the half drawn blind and swept over the floor, the room dimly lit with muted peals of bleak grey.

It was quiet.

The lack of sound was a heavy, dense ache that clung to the mood; black grief, lack of hope and so much anger.

Clint, grave and sober on the other side of the room, his usual perch left for a spot at the table. He sat with his back to the world, sure that this was not the end.

To his left was Bruce.

Bruce, whose eyes had been an even blend of green and brown for days. His mug of tea held close to his chest – yet, not his mug – hints of red and gold half seen in the space to the left of his thumb.

Tasha, the same as usual, yet not…her icy cold mask lost to worry and fear.

Thor was quiet. Real quiet, not his 'soft boom', but a true loss of voice that was so not like the god. It was clear at first sight... he felt the fear too.

The dark mood of those four did not come close to the whole story.

The daily paper was held in a tight fist, and he was lost in his own world, set back a ways from the table, wary of his team and the pull of their grief, lest it add to his own and break him.

The sag of his tired eyes over heavy black bags told of worry that did not allow him to sleep.

The beard of five days, dark on his jaw and the stain on his three day old shirt told of grief that did not allow him to care.

The wet shine in his blue eyes told of love that did not ever allow him to give in.

Steve set the paper on the table, Tony's soft grin aimed at him from the front page.

The bold black title at the top read, "Have you seen me?"


FIN.

Okay - this was possibly the hardest of the three challenges - and still great fun.

If you think you've worked out what makes it special please leave a comment - you might win yourself a Christmas ficlet!

ALSO - The actual story content is a teaser for a much longer story I'm working on. Full length Stony, with plot and everything, so let me know if you are intrigued.