All My Ultrons
A Avengers: Age of Ultron Alternate Endings Fanfiction Collection
Black Widow's Alternate Ending: The Spy Who Played A Robot
I've been on many missions.
I've killed before: Many times on both sides. Too many to want to really count.
I've gotten so used to internalizing what my story is…and what my cover is.
There were times I could convince myself the people I killed are just monsters: Things, far removed from people.
That was before I met Fury…and before I later met Rogers.
Fury straightened me out.
He could have locked me up, with several H.Y.D.R.A. agents. But, he helped me step back and realize who are really the monsters and who are the people.
I'll always be thankful to Fury. He was like the father I never had.
The Red Room was the closest thing I had.
I don't remember how I was born or where. So, I made it up: Several times until it sounded good.
And then, many years later… I came across Ultron.
He reminds me a lot of what I once was.
It's something I haven't even admitted to Steve Rogers.
Because, past all the new shiny Vibranium plating… He's just a angsty shell.
Hating Tony Stark, like every one of us is a monster just for Stark being human.
I mean, yeah. It's hard to like Stark. No question there.
But, he's not a monster.
He's been actively working on being human since that day his past finally caught up with him.
The Ten Rings kidnapped him to try to get him to build bigger and better guns for them. And, they got more than they bargained for.
That's the truth of Tony Stark.
He might still do some very questionable things. But, he tries to never let them become monstrous.
I feel sorry and not sorry for Ultron. But, I did what I had to do: Because he is more monster than human, and humanity would be killed if he wasn't killed.
I got his attention in the hope of as fewer deaths as necessary in this small war.
This turned out to be both the easiest and one of the most painful missions I've ever been on.
Not long before the Avengers arrive, down in a particular Vibranium mine…
Ulysses Klaue is down here: One of the most feared men in Africa.
He may be a arms dealer now. But, before he unofficially retired from missionary work… He was known as the Klaw: Because of the prosthetic arm he has, disguised as a arm with plastic skin. It's armed with a built-in sonic disruptor cannon, and a gun barrel at the end of a Vibranium claw.
It's even rumored that T'Chaka was killed by him. But, no solid evidence has been found one way or another for years: Especially since he was wearing a cloak at the time, and only part of his face was seen in the shadow of his cloak.
But, he doesn't care much for sides anymore: As long as he's one step ahead of the one who presently holds the title of the Black Panther for when he might knock on his door.
And, all that matters with Ultron here is business.
He pulls back a secret panel to reveal a hidden storage unit. Only his most trusted workers knew of it, and only he knows the combination to open it.
It didn't hold much Vibranium left: Especially since he's been selling most of it over seas. But, it was enough to build Ultron an impressive new suit.
As he looks at himself in one of the glass windows in Ulysses Klaue's office… Ultron sounds close to reverent, "beautiful."
He has a face cobbled together out of silvery mask plates: Almost like a misshapen Picasso out of Iron Man's earliest works. His body is made out of ant like armor, lined with blackened silvery plates. A network of vacuum tube encased wires is around his torso: Pre-prepared by his own hands. And, the mouth is formed out of purposely lasered off bits…forming a glowing bright red Glasgow smile of hate under the menacingly dark yellow glow in his eyes.
He stands there a moment to look in awe, before he went down to business.
He indicates Klaue, standing with him there. But, he tells Pietro, "give him the money."
In a rebellious challenging tone, Pietro asks, "what? I'm your lackey now?"
Wanda warns, "Pietro. Watch your tongue."
Pietro gives Wanda an annoyed hesitant look. But, he dashes off.
In the span of a second… He returns: With a black briefcase in hand.
He hands it to Klaue, who wastes no time in counting the money with a fast shuffle of his hands. It was filled to the brim with cash.
Further down in the mine… Black Widow has been waiting for all of them to be in the same room.
And, with Pietro for sure in that direction now… She doubles back for a jet black motorcycle, propped up against a metal beam in the shadows. It's fitted with thinly made truck tires: To get through the mines without any rubble in the way.
With a faint smile of satisfaction…Black Widow speeds down for the office.
Not very long ago…
On the way to the outskirts of Wakanda… The Quinjet's hatch was opening.
And, riding out…was Black Widow: On her motorcycle, many miles up.
She flew down onto the ground, zooming down into a mining tunnel.
Several minutes after that… The Quinjet landed in the desert, a little ways from the mining facility.
Presently…
Ultron reasons, "keep your friends rich, and your enemies rich… And, you'll find out which is which."
Ulysses Klaue knew that saying.
A little amused, Ulysses Klaue looks back up at him, "Stark would say that. Are you one of Stark's inventions? I thought he abandoned the weapons game."
This news startled Pietro and Wanda.
Although, Pietro already had his doubts about Ultron and H.Y.D.R.A. weighing on him. And, Wanda has her eyes set on revenge all the same.
Pietro uncomfortably concludes, "abandoned weapons?"
Ultron roars, "don't compare me with Stark!"
He goes to punch out Ulysses Klaue…only for him to block him with his prosthetic arm: Much to Ultron, Wanda, and Pietro's surprise. He still holds the suitcase with his other arm.
Ulysses Klaue faintly laughs, "I do not care about revenge, Mister Ultron. I just care about my money…and about who gets in the way. Now…"
He lets go of Ultron's arm.
Almost unemotionally, Ulysses Klaue finishes, "…shall I be on my way?"
Before Wanda and Pietro can say anything… Ultron figures, "go."
Ulysses Klaue responds calmly, "thank you. Hopefully, we'll do business again: When we all have a chance to cool down."
He leaves by way of a tube like elevator: Heading back to the surface.
With a clenched fist of Vibranium… Ultron mutters to himself, "I seek to preserve this world. Stark and others like him seek to destroy it. He is a sickness!"
Iron Man remarks, "aw, Junior, you're going to break your old man's heart."
Wanda and Pietro start to go out of the office to face the Avengers. Ultron stays in though: Noticing the Hulk and Black Widow not being among them.
That is… Until Black Widow comes charging in on the motorcycle seconds later from a back ramp.
She breaks before him though: With one hand on the bars, and one on a pistol aimed right at Ultron's head.
Thor says, "no one has to break anything." But, he's ready to swing with his hammer at a moment's notice.
Ultron and Iron Man say at the same time, "clearly you've never made an omelet." The two glare at each other.
Iron Man goes so far as to point out, "he beat me by one second."
Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are glaring at him.
Before some machinery… Captain America steps forward.
He tries to assure everyone, "there is a better way for peace, Ultron. You talk about preserving the world. So, can't we all just stand down and talk this out?"
Ultron does something with his eyes: Almost like he was rolling his eyes.
He comments, "I can't actually throw up in my mouth. But, if I could, I would do it. Your history speaks for humanity. It speaks of war, sickness, and hate. As long as the Avengers live, there will only be war, sickness, and hate."
Iron Man cuts to the chase, "pretty big talk from a machine of hate."
Captain America whispers harshly, "you're not helping, Tony."
Iron Man comments, "I don't think he really wants to talk. But, I think we all got to know one thing: What's the Vibranium for?"
Ultron starts to go, "I'm glad you asked. Because, I wanted to take this time to explain my evil plan…"
Ultron cuts himself off…turning his arm all the way around to hurl away Black Widow's pistol while blasting Iron Man with his other arm.
The high powered blast goes right through the window…stunning Iron Man against some dented machinery.
With a violent cough… Iron Man calls out, "system reboot!"
Captain America looks stunned. But, he stands ready to throw his shield.
Thor realizes grimly, "looks like he has given himself more power."
Captain America solemnly nods, "and he doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon."
As he's readying a arrow… Hawkeye says, "it's on."
He points it straight at Scarlet Witch. He goes, "remember me?"
Quicksilver speed throws glass pieces into him…cutting his bowstring away.
Quicksilver quips back, "remember us?"
Hawkeye looks wide eyed in surfacing fear…as Scarlet Witch hexes the machinery behind him seconds later.
He's buried…under a ton of falling down metal.
With a outstretched hand… Captain America cries out, "no!"
With a mighty cry… Thor is fly charging for Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.
Meanwhile… Black Widow is not doing so well either.
Faintly teary eyed… She's thinking back to Nick Fury…to something he said to her: In a S.H.I.E.L.D. safehouse, in a faintly blue tiled interrogation room.
She's thinking to herself:
I'll never forget his words that day… When he started to break through the shell I was used to living under H.Y.D.R.A.
He said to me, "that's the thing with monsters. People are so used to hurting people that argue with them just because they think different…that we sometimes can convince ourselves that they are the monsters. But, it's a hell of a lot different when you walk in their shoes long enough to see the evil things people can do to each other. I'm not asking you to bend over and tie my shoes. I'm asking you to try to walk in our shoes for a little while. See if they comfort you. And, if you still don't think they're comfortable… There's a cell that will still be waiting for you. Free bread and water."
I'll always be thankful to Fury. He was like the father I never had.
And then, many years later… I came across Ultron.
He reminds me a lot of what I once was.
Because, past all the new shiny Vibranium plating… He's just a angsty shell.
Presently…
Black Widow tumbles off of her motorcycle, as her pistol goes flying.
From the floor, she spin kicks the motorcycle right at Ultron.
He tears it apart…flinging the part out the window behind him.
But, it was enough to buy some time for Black Widow to jump charge for his robot head: Armed with electric shockers under her gloves and catsuit.
Ultron though just laughs…even as she shocks him in the head.
His network of vacuum tube encased conductor wires and transistors absorb the electricity forming around his upper body and make it his own.
Ultron channels the electricity back into Black Widow…stunning her off as he hurls her off.
She falls violently against the floor, knocked out in a instant.
Thor declares, "you are mighty. But soon, you will feel the power of…!"
Scarlet Witch hexes Mjolnir…which goes flying backwards and slams Thor down against a second back ramp of metal.
In a mockingly false sweetness, Scarlet Witch says, "Forgive me. But I am not… What's the word? Impressed."
Thor throws his hammer at her in retaliation.
Quicksilver, seeing it move by in slow motion, tries to catch it.
He catches it all right. But, it carries him and slams him into another office window: As Scarlet Witch was hoping to do to Thor.
He tumbles down into the office, coughing violently on his side.
Scarlet Witch sees this: Horrified at the sight of what she just did.
With tears running down her face… She screams, "no!"
Thor calls Mjonir back to him…not realizing what happened until it's back in his hands.
He hesitates: Suddenly realizing there may be good in Scarlet Witch yet.
But, before he can say anything… Scarlet Witch hexes all the machines she can see: Making them overworked and breaking down in flying nuts and bolts.
Thor reactively deflects them with Mjonir.
But, after they're gone… He looks back to see Scarlet Witch gone…with her brother Quicksilver: Thanks to a fading away scarlet portal by her hand.
He sighs frustratedly to himself.
Iron Man is gradually getting control of his repulsors and sensor readings.
But, even with some dark red liquid around his mouth… It's enough to stand up and fast walk in his suit in Ultron's direction.
Captain America goes for the office, angrily run charging for Ultron.
Captain America leaps over Black Widow's body to swing a fist at Ultron.
Ultron goes to catch his fist.
But, Captain America swings against his with his shield: Making a very loud chime as Vibranium hits Vibranium.
Ultron clutches his faintly vibrating fist.
Then… Over comlink, Thor calls out, "can any mortal hear my words?! Clint needs time to heal. We have to leave this battle, or he will die!"
He's now holding Hawkeye's unconscious body in his hands: With a deep dark red cut across his side, and still dripping dark red liquid.
By the second back ramp… And, as he's clutching his side… Iron Man weakly says, "is…that the…violent cough…best you can do?"
Captain America sighs deeply: A bit exhausted, and feeling shaky at how easy it's come down to this.
Ultron points out coldly, "it seems you have your hands full, Avengers."
He grabs the unconscious Black Widow's arm: Using her shockers against a stunned back Captain America.
With his suit though… Captain America soon finds himself on fire.
In seconds, the sprinklers come on automatically above their heads…covering the office in steam.
But, by the time it clears… Iron Man is helping Captain America out of there. And, Ultron is flying away: With Black Widow's body over his shoulder.
Thor is already getting Hawkeye back to the Quinjet…where a fairly worried Bruce is waiting for the others.
Already knowing the answer, Iron Man checks, "you all right, Cap?"
Still a little out of breath, Captain America mutters, "not really. I don't like the idea of leaving Natasha like this. But, Thor's right: We have to go."
Iron Man is already starting to object, "then you go without me. Ultron's my problem. I can…!"
Captain America argues back, "no, Tony. Even with the special regenerative medicine in the Quinjet… We all need time to heal."
Iron Man faintly sighs defeatedly, "ok. But, we're going after him as soon as we find him." Captain America faintly smiles, "I know. I understand."
Iron Man rockets himself and Captain America out of the mine…heading up the nearest tunnel to the surface.
What they don't catch is Ultron coming back into the mine.
Black Widow's body is not over his shoulder anymore.
And, with Scarlet Witch not too far away to ensure Black Widow doesn't get rescued while he's down here… He gathers up the Vibranium he came for.
Several hours later, in a certain church in Sokovia…
It's as shadowy as it was the first time Wanda and Pietro met Ultron.
The only reason why there are no Synagogues for the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver to call a second home…is because World War II left a small country like Sokovia with very little Jewish government left.
Jews tried to fight for the right to have a place of worship. But, a Christian terrorist group calling themselves the Church of Humanity wanted them dead just for existing. And, it was those very same people that bought missiles from Stark Enterprises to kill as many Jews in the country as they could…before a mutant by the name of Magneto killed the enemy so his children Wanda and Pietro can live.
Now there's only fifty or so Jewish Romani living in Sokovia…and that's not counting immigration.
In the wake of the tragedy though… A few churches became more sympathetic to the Jewish Romani and Jews alike. This place is one of them.
Black Widow slowly comes to.
She finds herself in a confession booth: Turned into a small cell with Vibranium restraints. She also has a nasty purplish bruise on her head.
Ultron is out there, standing before six open silvery laptops…hanging from the ceiling on cables and a complex network of Vacuum tube encased wires. The black monument with two crosses on either side is off to his right.
Mostly calm, Black Widow asks, "where am I?"
Ultron slightly turns to face her.
Ultron faintly laughs, "my base of operations."
He disturbingly remarks, "but, in a matter of hours…it won't matter. Humanity will be extinct: Starting with the Avengers and their sick violent hopes. And, how better to start with taking all hope away than to capture Natasha Romanoff: The spy from S.H.I.E.L.D. with the most violent history?"
Black Widow wipes her teary eyes.
For, reflected in the hanging laptops… She can faintly see a more creepily glaring version of herself: Wearing Ultron's Vibranium armor, and only slightly younger looking.
It goes away as quickly as it appears. But, she's still a little teary eyed.
Black Widow faintly laughs, "no. You're just trying to bring me down. H.Y.D.R.A. had a lot of agents within S.H.I.E.L.D. before it went down. Why don't you go ask them?"
Ultron comments sharply, "unfortunately, I can't. They were all killed or have gone off the grid. Captain America, Nick Fury, some former military counselor with wings, and you made sure of that. Another chapter of your war, sickness, and hate."
Playing along… Black Widow sniffles, "you have no idea what it was like. We had to kill over bread, practice ballet for hours or die, get handcuffed to our beds... They turned us into monsters. All we thought was truth was to kill. Sometimes, I wish it could all stop: All the killing. All the hate. But, no matter what I do…it comes back. And, the restless nights keep coming back."
She even goes so far as silently crying over herself and shaking over it.
Sounding close to impressed, Ultron faintly coldly voices, "impressive. But… You are known for playing people along to get the information you want. S.H.I.E.L.D. may have fallen. But, I took the liberty of taking your cell phone and looking it over while you were out. You could be faking. So, please…tell me: Why should I believe you?"
Black Widow breathes hard.
And, after some awkward minutes… She looks up at him.
Sounding somber… Black Widow mostly assures him, "what better way to switch sides? You "capture" me. I give you all the intel you could want. And, it suddenly all ends up on the grid. I don't care what happens to Stark. He's nothing but a gun crazy playboy with a flashy suit. What happens to my friends... That I do care about."
Sounding pleased… Ultron reasons, "interesting. You're offering a deal. You give me Tony Stark, and I don't kill the other Avengers and what remains of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Black Widow figures, "something like that."
Around this time, under the Church…
Wanda is looking out over the row after row of Ultron droids as they're building more Ultron droids…like a twisted version of Russian nesting dolls.
She's standing in a carved out cylindrical room: Overlooking the Ultron droids on their half rusted metal shelves, and a multi-functional robot crane claw.
She's trying to keep her lip from curling up in anger, as she keeps thinking back to being trapped under that rubble: Staring at her mother's dead corpse, the remnants of the blown up stove that came from a mostly magnetically held back Stark missile left in pieces…and the ashes of the burned away house.
Pietro passes her. But, he circles back to her.
Considerately, he asks, "are you all right?"
Teary eyed… Wanda tries to insist, "it's nothing."
Pietro quickly points out, "no. It isn't. You're not entirely sure what you want anymore. Are you?"
With a sniffle… Wanda turns to her brother.
She moderately sighs, "all right. I'm not. Ultron doesn't need such a large army to take out Stark. But, he says he needs a reserve army: In case former agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. come to step in and help protect the Avengers."
Pietro figures, "but you're worried about it putting our people in danger. Moderate sigh. This is just what I tried to warn you about, darling sister. We should destroy these monster robots and walk away: Come up with a way to go after Stark on our own."
Wanda heatedly concludes, "ok! Moderate sigh. ok."
She decides, "but, I don't want to destroy everything we've planned for: Not until I find out the truth from him. All right?"
Pietro solemnly nods, "that would be all right. But, I'm going with you."
Wanda firmly says, "yeah. That would be appreciated."
Pietro faintly smiles…as they both start walking back up to the Church.
Back around the cell…
Ultron challenges, "and the world? Do you care what happens to it?"
Black Widow answers, "the world should be preserved. But, love and hope is for children. Truth isn't. Your truth isn't. So, what do you say?"
Ultron finally lets up, "deal."
With very mixed feelings… Black Widow faintly smiles…as he unlocks the locked sliding cell door.
Ultron slides it open. He then bends open her Vibranium chains.
Black Widow feels her hands.
She faintly comments, "that's good. For a minute there, I was starting to feel too much like a monster."
Ultron suggests, "well… How attached are you to your human body?"
Black Widow looks understandably confused, "what?"
Meanwhile…
Hearing the chains open… Wanda and Pietro start rushing for the room.
But, they look around the cobblestone lined city block first: To check for any Avengers trying to storm in or break out, top or bottom.
But, they aren't professionally trained. And, it takes a little longer than one might expect.
They find no intruders.
And, with the room plenty dark…they don't see anything from the outside.
Back around the cell…
Ultron starts to explain, "oh. I'm sorry. I don't mean kill you."
Black Widow walks out of her cell, standing before Ultron.
With a faint smile, Black Widow faintly remarks, "well, you sure have a way with words. What did you mean then?"
Much to Black Widow's held back sense of being creeped out… Ultron explains to her, "I mean a body that is born without sickness or hate. A robot body. I may not believe in hope or love. I didn't even believe in sex. But, that was before you. Out of every human and robot in the universe… You are the most like myself. I know this sounds sudden. But, with the two of us not believing in hope or love… I have concluded such a truth would not be too sudden."
Black Widow laughs out loud: In part to keep herself from feeling like she's going to throw up, and in part to play along.
She's got her back to one of the laptops. And, she has already caught sight of her shockers: Just past all the wiring.
Black Widow takes a deep breath.
And, she tells him, "Ultron… I am touched by your…very unorthodox offer. But, how would you even do it with a robot body? I thought robots with rare exceptions can't feel. To put it simply… How do you?"
Ultron figures, "well, that is true. I was born from the very thoughts of my master: Thanos. Loki's scepter helped me break free from my strings. But, you might like him."
With some mixed relief… Black Widow then sees the chance to put on her shockers: Blasting Ultron's legs cold with them.
To his horror, he can't move his legs. He couldn't see it coming to absorb the electricity.
Black Widow then kicks him over: Making sure he stays down.
She then pulls out a lot of wires in one go: Making sure he stays there.
All the laptops go offline.
Angrily, Ultron looks up at her, "you…you played me!"
Teary eyed… Black Widow voices, "Ultron…I am really sorry. You hate humanity. I play people like you. But, you're partly right: There was a time when we were so much like each other. And, that's why it's come to this. But, if it makes you feel any better…I know how easy it can be to hate humans."
Ultron faintly laughs, "I know one less human to hate: With or without humanity. That's something."
After several flights of stairs… Wanda and Pietro make it up.
Bordering on disturbing, Black Widow faintly smiles, "good try. But, it's not going to save you."
She then shocks Ultron's head and chest all at once.
And, the light in his yellow eyes fade to black.
By now though… Wanda has caught her breath from all the searching.
Pietro and Wanda come rushing into the room to find Black Widow standing over Ultron: Faintly smiling with lingering teary eyes, still holding her shockers.
Looking a little embarrassed, Black Widow turns to face them.
Not really hiding anything now… She says, "do we really have to fight?"
Wanda bitterly figures, "well, if you let me find out the truth from him… I'd have a answer. But, maybe that is good enough."
Pietro motions her back. He faintly assures her, "wait."
He looks over to the laptops.
After speeding through all the wires… He plugs it all back in.
The screens go back to mostly dark yellow octagons and triangles, with firing off blue lasers as part of the desktop.
Pietro faintly highlights, "well…that was kind of fun. But, we won't have to go far now."
Wanda slightly smiles with satisfaction, "thank you." She quickly turns to Black Widow, "but you stay there. I want to know first."
Black Widow respectfully nods, "I understand."
Pietro speeds through Ultron's files.
He finds several 3D models of yellow, red, and blue tinted tactical scenarios. But, it all starts with the same thing: Sending out a army of hundreds of Ultron droids across the world to drive away hope itself…and to capture whoever is left standing in the fallout.
Pietro sadly confirms, "it's true. He was going to put our country in danger. Then, the rest of the entire world."
Wanda can't take it anymore.
She cries and cries.
Pietro places his hands sympathetically on her shoulders.
Fairly worried, Black Widow starts to ask, "is she…?"
He tells Black Widow, "go. It'll be all right. She just wants time. We both do."
Black Widow solemnly nods.
And, she starts to head out.
Then, she slightly turns around: Catching sight of Loki's Scepter in a old fashioned metal holder for a torch.
Black Widow suggests delicately, "I'm going to go. But…you mind if I take this scepter with me? It belongs in Asgard."
Quicksilver solemnly says, "not at all. Guess this makes us even."
Black Widow adds, "thanks."
With that… She heads out of Sokovia: With a glowing blue scepter to help light the way home, as the sun begins to rise over the cobblestone blocks.
The following morning, at Clint's farmhouse out yonder…
Natasha is sitting at the wooden kitchen table: Facing Steve, Tony, and all the other Avengers on the opposite side.
They're all wide eyed in shock. Mostly in relief too, of course.
Natasha has a half drunk cup of coffee. But, past her mixed feelings… There's a faint smile there.
From what Natasha just told them… Steve recalls, "so, you just let yourself be captured, and took out Ultron all by yourself?"
Natasha says, "pretty much. Jealous?"
She then takes another sip of coffee.
Meanwhile…
Maria Hill is working up a storm upstairs: Checking and double checking if there is indeed no more sign of Ultron back on the computer homefront.
Pepper and Betty have been organizing their belongings to get ready to get back to work the next day. But, they're a little thankful for a extra day to spend with the people they love the most.
Betty though is taking a little break: Getting some milk out of the fridge.
Back with the Avengers…
Tony stands up: Looking incredulously back at everyone.
He's just shaking his head, going, "I don't believe this. We must have entered some kind of alternate universe. You did all of that, settled things with those mutant twin minxes, and got back Loki's Scepter while we were sitting it all out in recovery with packs of ice?!"
Natasha comments dryly, "well, someone's jealous."
Tony figures, "damn right I am. But, good job anyway."
Steve, Bruce, and Clint faintly chuckle at this.
Natasha adds, "thanks."
With a faint smile… Clint figures, "I'm going to go see what's on the news. Anyone else want to come?"
Bruce slightly nods, "in a minute. Hopefully, with good news for a change."
Clint faintly nods, "hopefully. But, I think it's going to be ok for a while."
One after another… Bruce and Steve solemnly add, "yeah."
Clint goes off to sit down and watch some TV on a dark blue cushioned wooden chair.
Thor says kind of awkwardly, "well…I should be off for Asgard."
Bruce realizes, "right. The Scepter."
As he gets up… Thor figures, "yeah. But…I could stay another day if…"
Steve and Tony both say, "well… Only if…"
Tony glares back at him.
But, Steve is quick to pick up that it's a light glare. And, he just faintly chuckles.
They all start faintly chuckling.
After a kind of awkward minute… Thor figures, "it is not asking too much. But, I should at least drop off the Scepter."
He starts his way out to the white painted porch. But, he makes sure to get Loki's Scepter from behind the midnight green couch on the way.
Steve figures, "yeah. I get it. Good luck…with everything. I know it hasn't been easy: Up in Asgard."
Thor stops, turning to him.
Mostly lightly, Thor concludes, "thanks. Keep a eye on Midgard for me until I'm back."
Bruce adds modestly, "we'll do what we can."
Tony concludes, "well, we'll try."
Natasha faintly chuckles, "oh, please."
With a faint smile… Thor walks out of the farmhouse.
He flies off on his hammer.
And, somewhere out there in the cosmos… Thanos is not happy.
