Avengers: Age of Ultron | Saviors | The Safe House
Three hours later, the QuinJet lands in a large green field with grass growing as high up to a person's hips. As soon as the large exit door opens from the plan, the strong whiff of nature hits everyone's noses. It looks so pure, almost calming - over the small hill stands a large farmhouse with a barn several feet away.
It looks like one of those farms every farmer dreams of owning.
In almost single file; everyone steadily walks towards the two-story house. Clint is taking the lead with Natasha; helping her walk as her coordination is still a little off after the vision she was pulled into. Bucky is doing the same with Ava, but she makes sure to carry most of her own weight as she doesn't want to be a burden. She knows James will detest that, so she keeps quiet not really wanting to speak anyway - letting him wrap his arm around her waist securely before helping. She hasn't said a word for a while now; the boys are beginning to worry.
The Avengers are tired and where they are, it's early morning now. They have travelled all night with no sleep - they are too awakened by what previously happened. Black bags are evident under many of their eyes' Thor is probably the only one who doesn't feel as tired as the others, as an Asgardian like him doesn't require as much sleep as a regular human. It's one of the advantages of being who he is.
As they come closer to the house, they take note that it's old, but many renovations have been done to make sure it keeps standing. New paintwork on the outside looks to be nearly a year old, but it looks as bold as when it was first completed. A rusty pickup truck is parked in the detached garage and no tire marks on the dusty ground tell them it hasn't been used in a while. The area is surrounded by trees and grassland; they won't be surprised if the only grocery stores are miles upon miles away. The lot is very secluded; a great place for a 'safe house' as Clint refers to it as.
Thor is the first to state his confusion when they step up onto the front porch. Clint is about to make his way inside with Natasha leaning against him. "What is this place?" He wonders out loud.
Tony shrugs. "A safe house," he quotes Clint's words.
Clint looks a little hesitant. "Let's hope," he murmurs to himself but knows everyone else can hear him too. He opens the front door and the strong scent of chocolate brownies catches everyone's senses. Everyone follows him in; not really sure what to think. This place - it looks more like a home than just a safe house.
Clint walks in a little further, peering in towards the kitchen. "Honey?" He calls, knowing where and who that smell is being made by. "I'm home."
The living room, kitchen and dining room are compacted into one - the area is wall-less meaning everything is open planned. Suddenly, everyone turns towards the kitchen when a female, in her mid to late 30's appears in the kitchen. Apart from Clint and Natasha; the other's blink when they see her. 'Honey?' They wonder silently. Remembering what Clint has said.
Suddenly, a woman just a bit shorter than Clint walks into the room holding a packet of coloring pens and craft paper. She has long brunette hair that reaches just above her breasts, and under her shirt is almost a basketball-sized belly. She's pregnant; at about 5-6 months by the looks of it. At the first sight of seeing Clint standing there, surrounded by the other Avengers - she's shocked, you can tell just by looking at her. But there's a sense of relief surrounding her aura, she's happy to see him okay and safe. Especially with everything that's being said on television right now.
Clint gives her a sheepish smile, glancing at everyone standing around him. "We have company," he gestures behind him, taking a step towards her a little. "Sorry, I didn't call ahead."
She doesn't care; a full blooming smile appears on her lips as she steps towards him, kissing him soundly on the lips. She wraps him in a large hug, as well as she can with a largely occupied womb under her shirt.
Tony blinks, his brain not able to comprehend what's happening in front of him. And he's a genius. Isn't Clint supposed to be the lonely one of the team? The one with no girlfriend or love life…other than Steve? "This is an Agent of some kind," he theorizes wrongly.
Clint reluctantly relinquishes himself from his wife's hug, turning towards his confused teammates - apart from Natasha. "Gentlemen," he glances over to Ava who looks as equally puzzled. But he doesn't notice that she's staring at the woman beside him; or more particularly, her stomach. "Lady. This is Laura," he introduces his other half.
Laura looks a little flustered, waving shyly to everyone. "I know all your names," she says with a light chuckle. She's been wanting to meet her husband's teammates for a very long time, so this visit is a great day for her.
Suddenly, a lot of footprints sound from upstairs, or more particularly, the stairs. Clint knows exactly who is coming. "Ooh. Incoming," he murmurs to himself, excited. Two young children appear from the doorway, heading straight for him, both shouting, 'Daddy' or 'Dad' at the sight of him.
Clint grins, "Hey, sweetheart," he says to his daughter, hauling her up into his arms securely. He brings his son into his side, kissing the top of his head before ruffling the growing hair on his head.
Everyone's reactions are pretty similar. Steve and Bucky are gaping like fish - Tony is having an even harder time coming up with an explanation that would suit his overexerted mind - Thor is just staring, shocked - Bruce looks a little uncomfortable, he loves kids, but they are a dreadful reminder of something he can never have. As for Ava; she swallows hard especially when she looks at the little girl. Everything starts to feel closed in like she can't breathe - she can't handle this, she needs to get out of here before she snaps.
The little girl looks like the one that reminds her of the past. Her first mission that went south. Unaware of the turmoil Ava is experiencing; Tony relays the same theory as before. "These are smaller agents."
The little girl looks up to Clint. "Did you bring Auntie Nat?"
To the side, a large smile lifts on Natasha's face, already feeling better. She catches the little girl's attention quite easily. "Why don't you hug her and find out."
The girl squeals with happiness, jumping out of her father's arms before rushing into Natasha's awaiting arms. Natasha sits Clint's daughter on her hip, bouncing slightly within a hug.
Steve feels the need to say something, to apologize for barging in their home without prior knowledge. "Sorry for barging in on you," he says towards Laura when Clint wraps his arms around her again, but from behind this time.
Tony also feels the need to say something, words that are between sarcastic but with an indication of hurt. How come they don't know about this secret life Clint is living? "Yes, we would have called ahead. But, we were too busy having no idea you actually existed."
Clint sends everyone an apologetic look, obviously knowing that they would be hurt when something this big is kept under the rug. But he needs to, to protect his family. He doesn't know what he'd do if something happened to Laura or his children because of anything he's done. "Yeah, well, Fury helped set this up when I joined," he explains, being truthful. "He kept it off SHIELD's files and I'd like to keep it that way," he shrugs. "And I figure it's a good place to lay low."
Ava feels herself swallow hard; she feels Bucky move away from her slightly to murmur something into Steve's ear. The two of them are still clearly having trouble with the news that Clint actually has a secret family. And not just a secret girlfriend; but a whole wife and kids were hidden away. It isn't until she feels a small tap on her right human arm that makes her body tense; she looks down and sees the young boy, Clint's son. He looks up at her with awe in his eyes, his eyes constantly going to her metal arm with wonder.
"You have a metal arm," he says, a childish grin on his lips. "That is so cool." But Ava doesn't even smile in greeting, her mind turning a mile a minute once again. When she looks down at the boy; all she can see are the children she killed; the ones she maimed and tortured. Her heart clenches in agony so hard that her breathing begins to heave. Children…the one hurdle she doesn't want to jump just yet…
Clint's son - Cooper - tilts his head with confusion, but also concern when he notices the older woman starts to act weirdly.
Bucky just moves to touch Ava's back and immediately at the feeling, she flinches away. She notices the hurt appeal in his orbs but she just can't concentrate, it feels like she isn't really in her body anymore. She can't figure out what's happening or going on; she feels the fear for everyone and herself the longer she stays in this atmosphere.
It's then she notices all the worried looks; even some measures of pity she's really despising at this moment, and every time she sees it. "I'm sorry," she swallows once more, her eyes darting around the room to everyone standing there. She probably looks like a complete freak but she doesn't seem to care. "I-I can't," she shakes her head frantically, trying to keep her mind less muddled while trying to find the right words to use. "I can't be here. It's not safe with me here." And with that, she backs out of the room in a hurried pace and goes right outside the door, bumping into one of the corner tables as she goes.
She just needs to get out of here; she needs space. Somewhere peaceful that she can connect to nature; someplace like Central Park would've been good. But even she knows that being around children right now is a big no, and she won't even be able to get there anyway at this point in time. They are clearly very far away from the park.
Avery is glad to hear that no one is rushing after her. She needs time to process everything that's happened today; and even everything that's happened before that.
Right now it just feels like layers upon layers of shit is ganging up on her - and she deserves it, she knows that. But it's beginning to become a lot to handle.