"For centuries, man believed that the sun revolves around the earth. Centuries later, he still thinks that time moves clockwise."~Robert Brault
"Why Lady Carheart, are you nervous?" Thor asked me as we sat at the table together. "Well, I've never done one of these before." He nodded. "It is nothing bad, I assure thee. The people of great power tell us what has happened and if we succeeded in stopping the evil forces in our way." The team and I were just about to be debriefed on what exactly had happened. The knot in my stomach was similar to the one I had working the first day here. It seemed like years ago.
This was the last time I would get to sit and eat breakfast with Thor. Last night was the last time I would get to train with Steve. Natasha and I couldn't stay up till one anymore, telling each other secrets and eating. No more work in the lab with the brilliant Dr. Banner. And I would even miss Clint's practical jokes on everyone. I would miss working with Tony. Proving him wrong, one-uping him in the design of something, arguing relentlessly and knowing that I am right. I didn't even know if we were a thing or not. I mean, I got the point that he really loves me, but would it go anywhere? How would we see each other? I slumped against my left elbow propping me up.
"Hey, Andrea, how are you doing?" Natasha sat down on the other side of me. "Hey." I said half heartedly. "I just really don't want to do this. I don't want to go." She placed her hand on my shoulder. "I don't want you to go either. I miss having a friend that's a girl to talk to!" Thor looked over at her. "Do we not suffice for your needs?" The two of us laughed.
"I don't think you really want to hear girl talk, Thor!" Natasha replied. He tilted his head. "Do women here speak in another tongue?" Natasha laughed again, and I replied "Well, sort of!" The door to the presentation room opened up, and the three of us got up and headed in. "We can sit together." Natasha whispered. I just nodded. I felt like dying. "Okay." The two of us sat in a row of chairs. Eventually everyone showed up and this thing could get started. Tony came in and sat on my other side.
"Hey, what did I miss?" He interrupted my conversation with Natasha. "Oh, hey Tony! Nothing yet, it hasn't started." As I continued to talk to Natasha, he nonchalantly grabbed a hold of my hand. No one could really see, but it made me feel so much better. Not so lonely, you know?
"Excuse me everyone, but we are ready to begin." The chattering around the room came to a halt and we all awaited what was to come. The man leading the presentation gave us background information on Dr. Freemen. Turns out the guy really was crazy. Then another speaker told us all about the complicated device and how it essentially worked. A woman spoke this time, reviewing how the situation was handled and who had done what. It was nice to know what the others were doing while Tony and I worked on the panel. Then the man explained what the devices in our sides were and how they wirelessly connected to the machine.
Someone else told us about Tony's and my invention. How it reset the chips inside of us, bringing us back to the future. Everyone but Tony and I seemed to ask questions, some of which the two of us had to answer. Then the lights dimmed more. I felt terrible and my stomach lurched inside of me. Tony must have been able to tell, because he squeezed my hand tighter. "Now we are going to show you evidence of Mr. Stark's and Miss Carheart's travels to 1958." The man turned towards the two of us with a look of sadness on his face. "We have been ordered to show highlights from the entire video, excluding the hours in which you have slept." He really stressed the word ordered. At least this guy didn't want my reputation to go down the drain. Taking a big breath, I tried to relax as the video started.
Everyone laughed at the beginning when Tony tried to charm that girl. They were on the edge of their seat when I was cornered in the alleyway. They were fascinated by our though process and how the two of us argued, but did some amazing work. They laughed at some of our bantering. It was weird watching myself eat and work and do mundane things like that. I looked away when it showed me dressing. That's when it got awkward. The first time it showed Tony showering he covered my eyes with his hand. "Tony!" I whispered, pulling his hand from my face. "You're going to mess up my makeup." He chuckled at that, but said nothing more.
All of our awkward moments were displayed for everyone to see, and it was mortifying. Our emotional conversation was extremely uncomfortable, because it was so personal for the two of us. "It's like a really odd chick flick." Natasha whispered into my ear at some point. "Um, thanks?" I replied, unsure how to take it. Tony's dancing is when a lot of people lost it, including me. After that part was over, he stood up and took a bow. I thought everyone was about in tears. Then came the expo. This is where I wanted to leave. Everyone saw our interment cab ride, our flirting as we looked around, our dance, basically Tony sweeping me off my feet.
"You two are so cute tougher." Natasha said into my ear. She wouldn't be thinking of that in a few minutes. I did get to see Tony stuff his clothes with computer parts, and that was rather entertaining. Then they watched us ride home, laughing at my sassy remark. Then they watched how our night went and ended.
"We were at it pretty good, and we didn't even know this was being taped. You know, we could really make a good-" I placed my hand over his mouth. He wasn't going to end that sentence with anything good. The following morning wasn't any better. They watched us shock ourselves and then the video quit.
The lights came back on and the speakers blabbed for a few more minutes.
I sat there red faced and completely violated. Tony played it off cooler than I could, but I could tell he was feeling the same way. "Debrief is over, and you all are dismissed." We all exited out of the doorway and into the cafeteria. Back in my room, my stuff sat in boxes. Boxes I never even had the change to quite unpack yet. Natasha had helped me box up my clothes last night. As we all stood there, I didn't want this to end. I thought I had found where I belonged, but it turns out I didn't. Where did I belong? I sniffed in, already feeling the emotions attacking. Clint was the first to start.
"Andrea, I know we didn't get to know each other that well, but none the less, I will miss you very much." I smiled at him and he gave me a big hug. "I never did get to get you to shoot an arrow." He sounded disappointed. Stepping back, Natasha came forward.
"It has been so nice having a girl like you around. When I am on a break, we will get together, I promise! Oh, I'm going to miss you so much!" We embraced each other tightly, and I didn't want to let go of her. But I had to, and I did. "I called it, by the way." She said, and the two of us laughed. "You definitely did." Next was Thor.
"Lady Carheart. Our breakfast of Pop-Tarts and the drink called coffee will be missed greatly by me. From here on I shall keep your workstation clean in hopes of your return. I will miss you." He wrapped his arms around me in a big hug. My feet lifted off the ground, and I felt a tear slide down my cheek. "I'll miss you too." Was all I could say.
Setting me down, he stepped back. Steve came next. "Let me tell you, you are one tough girl. Even if you do think my workouts are 'too easy'!" Grabbing my hands, he put them near my face. "Remember to keep those hands up, and you'll be fine." I shook his hands off and hugged him. "And if he ever gives you any trouble," Steve said, nodding towards Tony. "You know how to reach me." Smiling, I let go.
Bruce was next to last. "Andrea, you are one of the most intelligent lab partners I have ever had. You have a brilliant mind, and SHIELD is stupid to fire someone like you. I can't wait to work with you once again." He was all professional like and stuck out his hand. Almost jumping on him, I gave him a bear hug. "Dr. Banner, I am going to miss working with you more than you will me."
Next was Tony's goodbye. I really hoped it wasn't the last time I would see him though. "Well, I don't know how to thank you. There's just too much to thank you for, and too little time. You are an amazing girl, and…and I could never deserve someone like you." I could tell it was hard for him, so I went ahead and hugged him hear. "And you're an amazing guy, Tony." We held onto each other for a few moments.
"It's that little light in his chest that makes him good." I heard Clint say in a voice that was supposed to be mine. "Oh, shut up!" We all began laughing, but more tears were sliding down my face. "I can't even fathom how much I am going to miss you guys."
I walked alone to my room. Everyone helped me take my boxes out to the cab. I was going to stay in a hotel before I could find an apartment or somewhere to stay. I just wanted one more look at my room. I remembered when I had first come here, when it was dusty and dirty. Plopping down on the end of the bed, I faced towards the now empty closet. I remembered when Natasha and I were trying to find something for me to wear on that Friday long ago. I cried even more.
Slowly I got up, and exited the room. And I didn't look back on it. I was carried to the ground, where a cab was waiting. Turning back around, I saw the Avengers on the helicarrier, waving to me farewell. Tony though, was down at the cab. "Is this really good bye?" I asked, letting him hold me again. "I don't think so." He said. I knew that maybe it was. Maybe this was the last time that I would see the man I grew to love. I knew what I was getting into, and yes, I was going to be hurt. But I realized something that I hadn't since my brother passed away. Love can hurt, but I would rather love and get hurt than to never love anyone like this again.
"You are a busy man,Mr. Stark." I said. "I knew what I was getting into. I don't know if you remembered what you told me before you electrocuted yourself, but you told me you loved me. I love you, Tony." Kissing his lips once more, I pulled myself in the cab, closing the door myself. The cab took off, leaving Tony behind me. And maybe that's where it all belonged. In the past.
Or...maybe not...