Hawk decided to brief the rest of the Team on what happened to Scarlett and inform them she was leaving to train with the Avengers. While Fury explained the details of what the Tesseract did to her Scarlett scanned the faces in the crowd. These people were her family, as much as any she shared blood with.
They would lay their lives down for each other, and many had in the past.
Struggling to keep tears at bay she saw them smiling in support, some crying, some looking frankly awestruck. But as she scanned the crowd there was one always unreadable face she couldn't find. As she moved her head she just caught the movement as he left the briefing hall.
She caught Hawk's gaze, seeing he noticed as well he nodded and she got up and followed him.
She had to jog a bit to catch up as he was really leaving quickly, but she eventually called out, "Snake!"
The figure in black stopped, but remained with his back to her.
"You weren't even going to say goodbye?"
She said it in a half joking/half hurt way, but he stiffened and she got quiet.
"Snake Eyes, look at me...please."
Scarlett winced inwardly at the pleading tone in her voice, but he turned to face her.
"I wanted to thank you for getting me out of there...I know it was dangerous, given what happened to me."
He shrugged, his way of saying, 'no big deal', and she stepped closer, shaking her head. "Please don't shut me out like that."
Her voice broke a little as she continued quietly, "I don't want to go...but I have to know how to control...this."
She lifted her hand, glowing with those ripples of power, and she admitted in a shaking voice, a near whisper, "Snake, I'm terrified."
She sounded for all the world like a petrified child and Snake Eyes suddenly felt very selfish for his reaction. He hadn't thought about how scared and unsure she must feel, only about his own feelings about her leaving. He visibly deflated and pulled her in for a hug, before drawing back to sign. "I am sorry, forgive me please."
She hugged him back fiercely and shook her head, "There's nothing to forgive, we kind of got thrown into a crazy situation. She pulled back a bit and looked at him, "But I have to ask, why exactly did you get so upset about me leaving?"
He let out a breath, raised his hands to sign, hesitated but then continued, "Do you really have to ask?"
He waited for what he said to sink in, and her beautiful blue eyes widened as it dawned on her, her gaze so intense he dropped his eyes, afraid to see the rejection he was sure was coming.
However, he was instead surprised to feel her fingers lifting the bottom of his mask and he grabbed at her hands in a near panic to stop her from seeing his ruined face. She stilled but didn't drop her hands, instead she softly said, "Trust me."
The strange stalemate continued for a moment until he loosened his grip, holding his breath. She lifted the mask only to the point where his mouth was exposed and then her next action floored him.
Scarlett lifted her head and brushed her lips across his. The kiss was tentative, unsure at first, but at his apparent acceptance she deepened the kiss and Snake Eyes got over his shock and enthusiastically returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around her to hold her close, his fingers delving into her thick hair to cradle the back of her head as her tongue swept into his mouth and he matched her.
Their moment was broken by Nick Fury's voice, first clearing his throat, then speaking, "I hate to interrupt, but it's time."
Scarlett broke the kiss with a broken sob and she pressed her forehead to Snake Eyes' chest, trying to hold it together. The sound stabbed him through the heart but he took a deep breath and lifted her chin to look at him, "You can do this. And when you come home, I will be here waiting for you." He then brushed a kiss on her forehead, and mouthed, "I love you" against her brow.
Scarlett took a deep breath and stepped back, squeezing his hands and as he gave her his signature 'thumbs up' and she nodded, turned and walked down the hall, side by side with Nick Fury.
Snake Eyes stood and silently watched her go, sensing Hawk step up beside him, both stood and watched her leave.
After long moments of silence, Hawk casually remarked, "So did you finally make a move on her, or did she?"
Snake Eyes, was visibly shocked and turned to gawk at his Commanding Officer and Hawk smirked, "Either way, its about damn time. What the hell were you waiting for?"
Snake Eyes was totally flummoxed, 'How could he tell...?'
Hawk shook his head, "I pay close attention. You think I don't notice how close you stick to her? How your gaze follows her around a room? How you always place yourself between her and danger?"
When Snake Eyes sighed Hawk clapped him on the shoulder, "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."