Niobe woke with a headache. She was confused and disoriented. The last thing she could recall was clouds flying past her as she drove through the sky. She scrunched her eyes shut in an attempt to adjust to the light. Niobe sat up. This was a medical bay on a ship. Tony did not have this. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement. Her first instinct led her to knock out a nearby doctor.
The man cursed, holding his eye as he laid on the ground. She cringed.
"Ooo, I'm so sorry about that," she said. "Honest, you scared me."
The man groaned, pulling himself off the floor.
"Where am?" She asked.
"On a starship," he said.
The door slid open with a hiss. Niobe looked over and felt a chill settle over her. A creature in black stepped into the room. Niobe began to panic.
"Obe," the creature said.
She reached for her lightsaber and panicked more when she found that the blade was missing.
The creature reached up to the mask on their head and brought the shiny material upwards. The face was scared and pale. They were disfigured.
"You know me," they said.
Niobe hesitated. She looked at the eyes. Those blue eyes. Anakin's eyes.
"No," she said.
"Obi-wan left me to burn on Mustafar," Anakin said. "I almost died."
Niobe's eyes overflowed, tears spilling onto her face. How could this be Ani? How could Obi-wan do such a thing?
"Ani..." she said.
His eyes seemed to light up. She stood from the medical bed and hurried into his arms. She sobbed. His chest was cold and metallic now. She could hear the hiss from the machines keeping him alive.
"I missed you so much," she said.
His arms wrapped around her after placing the mask back down.
"I missed you too," he said.
Niobe felt weak. His voice was so different. She wanted to collapse.
"How long have I been out?" She asked.
"Not long at all," he said. "A few days really. We must head back. Preparing a ship this size to jump galaxies takes more time than we would like to admit. We have been warming the hyperdrive."
"Wait," she said.
They pulled apart.
"For what?" He asked.
"I have to say goodbye," she said.
She was certain he was rolling his eyes at her.
"No, we need to leave."
"Ani-,"
"No!"
Niobe stumbled back. Anakin was frightening with his new appearance. The temper he was known for seemed to have magnified.
"Obe," he said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell."
Niobe kept her eyes on the floor as she wiped away tears.
"The suit causes me pain," he said. "The pain affects my reactions. I would never hurt you."
Niobe's heart plummeted. The thought of Anakin in pain for the rest of his life hit her in the stomach.
"Pain?" She asked.
"I have lost my limbs," he said. "I cannot breathe on my own anymore. Of course, I'm in pain."
"Can the doctors not do anything?" She asked.
"Palpatine says the medical technology is not advanced enough," Anakin said.
Niobe frowned. The Chancellor's reasoning seemed weak. Kamino can make clones fully functional with their own personalities, but they cannot manage to regrow tissue?
There was a prickle in the back of her mind. She wanted to help him. She wanted to bring the former Anakin back. The one she knew.
Anakin turned to leave, waving for her to follow.
Helen.
"Wait," she said. "I can fix you."
Anakin stopped.
"I know someone who can rebuild tissue," she said. "She built an entire body with her machines."
He turned to face her.
"She is on Earth. If we go back, she can set you free of this pain," Niobe said.
"I don't-," Anakin said.
"Let me help you," Niobe said.
Anakin seemed unsure. She wondered if there was almost a fear in him that left him wanting to refuse her.
"You will not hurt anymore," she said. "Everything will be okay again."
OOOOOOO
Niobe and Anakin took a small pod to the New York, landing on a platform at the top of Avengers Tower. They left the ship hovering above earth, cloaked from satellites.
"This city feels primitive," Anakin said.
Niobe hopped out of the pod with a scoff.
"They are young," she said. "Do not judge."
Anakin rolled his eyes.
"Keep up the force projection," Niobe said. "This new appearance will frighten them."
Anakin nodded and held his hand out for her to lead the way. She smiled and headed towards the glass wall. The door was touchpad activated and she did not have the password.
She peered in, tapping in the glass. Clint sat on the couch looking at a tablet. At the sound of her tapping, he glanced up. His eyes widened. She waved at the archer. Clint yelled out and ran to open the wall.
Clint wrapped her in his arms, letting out a strangled sob. Her hands tucked his head into her neck.
"I thought you died," Clint said.
She laughed.
"So did I," she said.
"How?" He asked.
Anakin walked up beside her. She released Clint and gestured toward Anakin.
"This is Anakin," she said. "The man constantly saving the lives of his friends."
Anakin laughed.
Behind them, Tony ran up with Steve at his side. The men tackled her after Clint ducked out of the way. Tony pulled away at the same time as Steve. Tony grasped at her face. There were tears in his eyes.
"God," Tony said. "I-I thought I lost you."
Niobe held onto his wrists.
"Tony," she said.
"The last thing we knew is that you left to search for survivors we missed," Steve said.
"I'm so sorry, Obe," Tony said. "You would never have been in danger-."
"Stop, my love," she said. "I would never blame you. Besides, Anakin saved me in time."
Tony glanced over to the man behind the Jedi.
"Anakin?" Steve asked.
"This is him," Niobe said. "My closest friend."
"Hello, Blondie," Tony said. "Good to see you in person."
Anakin grimaced.
"Thank you for looking after her," Anakin said. "I lost my temper last time and I am thankful for your intrusion."
Tony pursed his lips, but he accepted Anakin's words.
"Well, we love our little E.T.," Tony said. "We would do anything to keep her safe."
Steve raised his brow as if to emphasize Tony's statement. They did not trust Anakin. She could not blame them.
"What did I miss?" Niobe asked.
"Well," Tony said.
"Bruce," Steve said. "He disappeared."
Niobe stepped back. Her chest felt tight.
"N-no," Niobe said. "Why?"
"We figured his leaving had to do with you dying," Clint said. "You guys really attached yourself to one another."
Anakin grabbed onto Niobe's arm, steadying her. Bruce was gone now.
"I'm so sorry, Obe," Tony said. "We tried tracking him, but the ship was cloaked. We had no way of finding him."
Niobe nodded, her eyes distant.
"I understand," she said.
She took a deep breath. The Jedi could not linger on this too long. She had to let go and trust that Bruce would be back when necessary.
"So," Clint asked. "What are you doing back here? You got Anakin back."
"Yes," Niobe said. "We need your help. In particular Helen's medical expertise."
"Is something wrong?" Tony asked.
Tony began grabbing onto her, checking for wounds.
"No, not with me," she said. "Anakin is trapped in a suit due to wounds he suffered. I thought Helen may be able to rebuild what he lost."
The men looked at Anakin. Their eyes widened as Anakin lowered the force projection.
"Jesus," Tony said.
"He needs help," Niobe said.
"I'll contact Helen," Clint said.
The archer left the group and ran back inside towards the lab. Anakin raised the projection again. Tony appeared to be holding back sarcastic comments. He looked at Niobe as if pleading to say them. She nodded waving him on.
"What's with the cape?" Tony asked.
