You made it through the whole story? Cool! That means you stayed long enough for the Post-Credits Scene, or in this case…Scenes! So let's give "After the Fall, We Take Flight" one last peek, shall we?
Enjoy the reading!
AFTER THE FALL, WE TAKE FLIGHT: A HAWKEYE AND MOCKINGBIRD STORY
Post-Credits Scenes
THE HAWK'S SCENE
A typical morning in San Francisco offers the best moment to enjoy a breakfast, which is what Clint Barton tries to do. He is sitting on a table in a outdoor café with a couple of chocolate donuts and a cup of coffee, reading a text message from Bobbi, now that they chose to restart their relationship in a more proper way, taking it slow but enjoying the moments together. He also checks on the news, seeing the current news in New York and how his colleagues are faring.
"Donuts and Coffee for breakfast?" A female voice interrupts his thoughts "Some things just never change" Barton lifts his head and sees who is talking to him, a woman in her mid 30s, with pink and platinum blonde hair, wearing a black top with a denim jacket and matching jeans, lowering her sunglasses so he could recognize her better.
"Melissa?" Barton salutes his old friend Melissa Gold, a former villainess known as Screaming Mimi, later turned into heroine as Songbird, and also one of his former teammates at the Thunderbolts and Bobby Da Costa's 'New Avengers' "What brings you to San Fran?" he asks her, inviting her to take a seat.
"We heard about what happened to you and then we came to check how were you doing, and I'm glad you're doing OK, well, we're glad you're OK" Melissa replies as she takes her seat.
"And by 'We', you mean…" Barton asks, curious about who else is she referring to.
"That would be me" a male voice sounds and Barton sees the man in question, a main in his mid 30s, short black hair, wearing a plaid white shirt with an open dark grey vest and matching grey pants.
"Abner?" Barton recognizes the man; Abner Jenkins, former villain known as the original Beetle, later turned into a hero as MACH-X, also another of Barton's former teammates at the Thunderbolts.
"Good to see you again, man" Abner salutes his old friend and also takes a seat.
"OK, I know you two…this is not just a visit to check up on me, right?" Barton begins to look at them with suspicion, to which Abner and Melissa look at each other and then back at Clint.
"Something like that" Melissa replies.
"We know what happened to you and, well, the people are looking at you with a very bad light" Abner begins to explain the circumstances of their visit "Something we're all very much familiarized".
"But we remembered that when we went through that Hell, you stood up for us, and we believe that we should do the same to you" Melissa adds to Abner's argument "Which is why we came up with the idea of…reforming the Thunderbolts"
"What?" Barton asks, looking totally surprised about their proposal.
"The Avengers are now a global thing and let's face it, there aren't much superhero teams out there" Melissa comments.
"There's this Squadron Supreme of America thing but quite frankly, I don't trust those guys at all" Abner points out the detail about the current superhero team that defends the country, assembled by former S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson.
"So we thought about reforming the Thunderbolts, no government support but we'd be defending the world in our own way and gain the people's trust our own way" Melissa points out.
"And who better to lead this team than you, Clint Barton, the great Hawkeye" Abner comments, prompting Barton to laugh a bit.
"Man, this sounds definitively crazy…which is on-brand for you guys" Barton points out "Let's assume I accept, who else would be on this team?" he asks them, who then look back at each other and then at Barton again.
"Well, it's a work in progress" Abner replies "Erik is definitively in" he mentions their former teammate, and Abner's close friend, Erik Josten, also known as Atlas.
"And we're working on finding and helping Hallie" Melissa adds, referring to Hallie Takahama, the young member known as Jolt.
"But we're definitively NOT bringing back Norb" Abner now refers to their former teammate Norbert Ebersol, known as the Fixer.
"And the further we keep Karla from this, the better" Melissa now refers to their former teammate and enemy Karla Sofen, known as Moonstone.
"Please let's keep that crazy #$% away" Barton adds, recalling that she is also one of his exes, and how bad was that relationship "Another thing, if you want me in, you should know that you're not bringing in Hawkeye, that identity belongs to my protégé so she's the only Hawkeye this world needs" he comments recalling how he has officially and permanently given the name and mantle of Hawkeye to Kate Bishop.
"So you'd be this ninja guy?" Melissa asks, to which Barton shakes his head in denial.
"That thing brought nothing but pain, bad blood, bad memories and darkness" Barton seriously points out "Besides, I burned the suit" he adds that detail.
"So who'd you be?" Abner asks out of curiosity.
"If you guys want me to lead the team, then that would make me…'Commander' Clint Barton" he comments at his friends and then he shrugs his shoulders "Hey, it worked for Rogers once" he recalls how Steve Rogers was once referred to as 'Commander Steve Rogers' when he led S.H.I.E.L.D. and gave the shield and mantle of Captain America to Bucky Barnes.
"Well, fine by us" Abner laughs a bit in his response.
"So that means…" Melissa then poses the question while Barton grabs his cup of coffee.
"I'm in" Barton smirks as he drinks his coffee "So, when do we start?"
THE BIRD'S SCENE
"I know I shouldn't be here" Bobbi Morse begins to talk as she opens her eyes, standing in the almost empty room except for the large monitors behind the man she is talking to "I know that what I did and how I acted was entirely inappropriate and I'm not here to give you any excuses, but it's fair for you to know that I stand by my decision and I stand by my actions, for my actions helped clear the case I was working on without further damage, so I think you should know that" she ends her explanation to the man in front of her.
"You're right Bobbi, your actions are not the right ones for someone of your caliber, but I did not call you back to scold you" the man begins to explain his response "I called back here because I want to acknowledge your work" he adds, leaving Morse a bit surprised "Is true that it was wrong to confront Director Okoye like that, but your decision and your actions led to the discovery of the Nefaria Family's secrets and clearing the name of Clint Barton, and that kind of 'thinking outside the box' is the kind of work we value and at times encourage here at the Agents of Wakanda" he explains to Morse "Which proves how valuable you are for us, and which is why I'm inviting you back in, providing that you accept" he adds, giving Morse her Kimoyo Beads.
"WOW, I…I don't know what to say T'Challa" Morse tries to say the right words but then she grabs the Kimoyo Beads and nods with her head "I promise I'll work better and make myself worthy of the second chance"
"I know you will" T'Challa replies to Morse "Welcome back, Agent Morse" he adds, saluting the reinstated Agent of Wakanda.
"Thank you, T'Challa" Morse replies "Where's Okoye? I'd really like to talk to her" Morse asks about the Director, hoping to make amends with her as well.
"She's talking with a new recruit" T'Challa replies "You can give her the welcoming as well" he suggests, to which Morse nods with her head.
"I'll do that, thanks" Morse replies with a smile, leaving the premises and heading back to her post, now ready to retake her duty as Agent of Wakanda, but as she walks down the aisle, she reaches the room where Okoye is talking with the new recruit and cannot help but eavesdrop their conversation.
"You have great credentials, and we have received good words from fellow heroes; Spider-Man, Kitty Pryde, Storm, even the Black Panther himself vouches for you" Okoye speaks to the new recruit.
"Huh, the newcomer sure has credentials" Morse thinks for herself.
"I just want to make the best out of the opportunity at hand Director Okoye, and I promise that I'll do my best to surpass the expectations" a female voice is heard replying Okoye's comments, a voice that Morse has heard before.
"Hmmm, that voice sounds familiar, where have I heard it before?" she wonders.
"You will have the chance to prove it, so I trust you'll perform perfectly" Okoye responds "With this, the only thing I have left to say is, Welcome to the Agents of Wakanda, Agent Parker"
"Parker? As in…OH #$%&!" Morse immediately curses herself in her mind because now she knows who the new recruit is. Morse then jumps back from the door and stands still as she sees the two women step out of the room and they both look back at Morse, who inevitably notices the bandages that cover Teresa's nose, which she broke when they fought each other back in Vegas.
"Agent Morse, I assume you spoke with the Black Panther" Okoye talks, to which Morse nods her head in response "Good, you and I will have a talk later" she adds with a serious tone on her voice "Meanwhile, allow me to introduce you our newest member, she's Teresa…"
"We already met each other Director Okoye" Teresa interjects dryly, recalling their previous encounter.
"Oh, I see" Okoye replies "Well, in that case, I leave you both to get reacquainted" she adds, leaving them both in the aisle, with Teresa looking at Morse with a deadly glare while Morse inevitably feels deeply embarrassed.
"So…you're now an Agent of Wakanda, huh? That's so cool!" Morse awkwardly tries to engage in a conversation, but Teresa remains quiet glaring at her "You're still mad at me, are you?" she asks, but still has no response "I know it was terrible but, in my defense, if I had let you arrest Clint, his name wouldn't have been cleared so, in a way, I was right" she tries to defend herself, but she still receives silence and a glare as a response "I guess apologizing won't do so…" Morse then takes a deep breath and closes her eyes "Do it" she mutters as she stands still "I know you want to do it, so do it, that would makes us even" she replies, waiting for a few seconds, then she opens one eye, then the other, but before she could say anything, Teresa lands a hard punch in her nose, effectively breaking it and sending her to the floor, landing on her back.
"That felt good" Teresa whispers and then looks at Morse trying to sit, positioning herself against the wall "Well, now that we're even…" she comments as she crouches in front of her "I hope you and I can work together and get to know each other under better circumstances" she replies smiling at her and then she stands back up, walking away from the scene "Oh, and by the way, thanks for complementing my wings!" she adds as she leaves Morse holding her bleeding nose.
Under normal circumstances, she would strike back, but she knows she had that one coming, so she accepts the hit and leaves her be.
"Man, she can pack a punch" she mutters while she holds her nose, forcing it back into position, confirmed by the loud cracking sound it makes "OW!" she complains, holding her nose while she stands up and heads to the infirmary, now wishing that the day ends and move along.
Normally, this is the part where I put "Hawkeye and Mockingbird will return" but I don't think I'll revisit these characters in a full-on story for the time being.
I'll see you in the next project!