Thank you to Aragorn II Elessar for the use of his movie text for this chapter.
Happy New Year's everyone. Here is my final post for 2019 and it's a long one. Hope you all enjoy.
Jinero: Huh, didn't even think of that. Oh no kidding. Spider-Man, the superhero shining example of responsibility, makes a deal with the devil to bring back his aunt who outright tells him to let her rest in peace. Right.
Wolf quartz: Glad to hear it.
Agent N: Glad to hear it.
Zero Absolu: I don't watch Code Geass and even if I did, doing whole shows has always ended badly for me when it comes to watch it fics, sorry.
Guest 1: Well I can't help you out there. You either like it or you don't.
Guest 2: No it is not.
Guest 3: I think if Rhodey had died, Tony would have grown even more irrational than he already was. I also can't see Sam trusting him after that, so it would've ruined Zemo's plan. He and Vision would probably never be able work together again either. And Tony probably wouldn't work with Team Cap again either. Vision almost doomed the entire universe when he went for the kill shot.
Guest 4: Plot over logic. Much of Civil War is plot over logic and, if you question certain details about the plot, the entire film falls apart.
Guest 5: Well that's where we disagree. I see it as Fury manipulating people's emotion and using them like pawns in order to achieve his own goals.
Guest 6: I disagree. T'Challa wanted revenge on the man he thought had killed his father. W'Kabi wanted to take over the world and betrayed his friend because T'Challa failed a promise and actually worked with the guy who was responsible for T'Challa's failure. T'Challa also didn't try and take his anger out on every man, woman, and child the same race as Zemo.
Guest 7: Yep, I imagine it was.
Guest 8: The great thing about Loki as a character was that he went from a villain to a hero in a very natural way. To imply that he was not in control of his actions in any way at any point cheapens Loki's redemption and ruins that character development.
In the house, Maggie said the FBI were harassing Scott, saying they probably stood for Forever Bothering Individuals.
"She's not wrong," Barton said darkly as Lila patted his shoulder.
"There there dad," Lila said in a long suffering voice that had most of the room laughing.
"Don't use that tone with me, I brought you here. I can just as easily send you home," Barton with a grin that said he wasn't serious.
"Sure dad," Lila said dryly and everyone laughed.
The monitor checked out and Woo was a bit disappointed before being informed Hank and Hope were in custody.
"This is all my fault," Scott said guilty.
"You make it right Scott, don't feel too guilty," Barton told him but Scott still felt horrible.
Woo was happy before apologizing to Scott as they were his friends but he needed a win. They all walked out as Woo said he'd be back to declare the end of Scott's sentence and apologized for misjudging him. He said Scott should feel great about himself, making Scott feel even worse.
Scott groaned as he put his head in his hands while everyone eyed him sympathetically. Tactfully, no one said anything.
Hank and Hope were put into the cars as Woo's partner discreetly put the lab in his own car's trunk only for Ava to kill him with her phasing abilities. She took the lab and escaped.
"Damn, she's ruthless," Sam muttered.
"Ruthless and desperate, a dangerous combination," Natasha noted darkly.
"And she's got the lab," Steve said and Scott paled.
The other FBI talked to each other, saying they had a man down and the lab missing as Hope and Hank exchanged concerned looks.
At the house, Cassie walked into Scott's room, finding him by his bed. He thanked her for covering for him as she sat next to him. Cassie asked how long he had been Ant-Man again. He said it had just sort of happened and apologized for lying to her and risking everything. She said it was okay but he said it wasn't as he did dumb things and people he cared for paid the price, mainly her.
Scott sighed miserably as Clint shot him a sympathetic look, feeling a certain kindship with Scott in that moment. He had always struggled with balancing being an agent and later Avenger with being a father and husband. It seems Scott was going to be facing those same struggles soon.
Cassie said trying to help people wasn't dumb and Scott said he screwed up every time. Cassie said he needed someone to watch his back like a partner. Scott said she wanted to do nothing with him. Cassie asked who and he said Hope. Cassie said she meant her and asked Scott not to laugh as she'd be a great partner and Scott said she would but he'd be a terrible dad if he let her.
"Oh Peanut," Scott said with a weak smile, although it was clear he was still deeply troubled.
Cassie said he could let Hope be his partner as she was smart and Scott said she reminded him of her. Cassie said he should help her and Scott said he would but not without hurting her. Cassie said he could do anything as he was the 'World's Greatest Grandma' and he smiled before the two hugged.
"Well that was sweet but oddly funny," Rhodey said.
At an FBI building, Hope and Hank were cuffed to the table as the agent said Woo would see them in an hour but Hank said they didn't have one. The agent mockingly asked if he had somewhere else to be before going out when Hope spit out a pin from her mouth and unlocked both the handcuffs.
"She's good," Tony said impressed.
"If Fury hadn't been so worried about not starting a war with Hank, I think he would've recruited her," Barton mused.
"Scott, your girl is something else," Sam whistled.
"Yeah," Scott said with a dreamy look on his face.
Hope said they could shrink the wall as she took out a disk and run like hell to avoid the falling ceiling. There were about 20 agents on the floor and 5 times that in the building, all armed so not great odds but they had to do it.
"That is a horrible plan," Natasha said immediately.
"It's pretty bad, yeah, but they're on a clock. You do whatever it takes to protect those you love," Scarlet said as she and Barton exchanged a look that confused the past Avengers.
Just before Hope could throw the disk, her suit appeared on the table and there were ants crawling on the ceiling. Hope realized it was Scott. He was outside, shrunken as he stood on a fence, and said they needed to find the lab. Hank asked what about him and an FBI uniform appeared for him.
"Antman to the rescue!" Peter cheered as Scott smiled.
"I have my moments," Scott shrugged.
Scott said they didn't have much time as the ants covered the security cameras.
"Not bad Tic-Tac," Sam said as they all looked to Scott impressed.
"Former thief," Scott shrugged.
Hank put on the uniform and walked out as Hope flew next to him and they got out as the van appeared and Scott asked them to get in. They did as Scott and Hope gazed at each other. "Hi," He said. "Hi," She said too when Hank asked if they were going to leave soon or if they would stare at each other until the feds started shooting. The two looked embarrassed as Scott started driving.
"Aw," Wanda cooed teasingly as Scott flushed.
"You two are so cute together," Lila teased and everyone laughed as Scott looked embarrassed.
"Is it too late to change my mind about being an Avenger?" Scott asked and everyone only laughed harder.
Uznam and another man were behind them and informed Burch.
"Great, these guys again?" Scott complained.
"They're like cockroaches, they keep coming back no matter what you do," Clint noted.
Woo was told the suit and the van were missing as he ran out in shock.
Everyone laughed at this.
Hank thanked Scott and he said 'you're welcome' before asking how to find the lab. Hank said after losing it the first time, he had put a different tracker. He was communicating with the ants and they looked up to see flying ants forming an arrow, pointing in the direction of the lab. Scott said that would do and followed them until they reached the front of the lab.
"Ant GPS. Well, now I've seen everything," Steve joked as everyone shook their heads.
"I know Hank loves ants, but this is going too far," Scott joked.
"He should check into Ants Anonymous," Tony joked and everyone laughed.
In the lab, Bill told Ava they could begin the extraction but it was dangerous so they could wait but she said she only had days to live. She went into the chamber to start the process.
"Damn it, we're running out of time," Scott said as he tensed.
"Don't worry Scott, everything works out just fine," Scarlet told him with a smile.
Out front, Hank said the tunnel hadn't been used yet and they didn't have much time. Scott said his grandfather used to say to make a list when doing something. So he made a list of 1) Break into the lab. 2) Kick out Foster and Starr. 3) Fight Ava. Then he realized it was part of 2 so it could be 2A). They also needed to make sure the lab was normal sized before Hope returned.
"That is quite a list," Thor said amused as everyone else laughed.
Hank said he was going to dive to their shock because the tunnel needed to be protected by them both. Hank told Hope he needed to do this and Scott said he was right.
"Only way this works is if you two work together," Steve noted.
Then Luis arrived in his van and asked, "Whassup?" They looked at him in amusement as he said again, "You remember that beloved commercial? Whassup?" Scott said he had Luis follow them for help.
"Man, I love this guy," Tony said as they all laughed.
"Yeah, he's pretty awesome," Scott said with a grin.
Scott later stood in position as Luis asked if Hope would like a pez in the van but she refused as Luis said he loved her suit. She thanked him as he said he'd like a suit with minimal powers or just a suit.
"Get this man a suit," T'Challa joked and they all laughed.
Bill started the machine inside but it shut off to his shock. He and Ava looked down to see ants disconnecting the wires.
"Who knew ants could be so useful?" Natasha mused.
"Yeah, they can even be pets," Scott said and everyone looked at him weirdly. "You had to be there."
Ava put on her helmet and walked out to see a trail of ants leading up the building. Bill walked through a door and found himself surrounded by giant ants as Hank put on his old suit, saying Bill had been taken care of and he was suiting up now.
"Good luck Hank," Scott whispered, a little worried for his mentor.
Bill said he had just wanted to save Ava as she was facing something far worse than death so Hank said he'd help when he returned and they'd figure something out.
"After everything they've done, he's still willing to help them," Steve said as the past Avengers all felt their respect for Hank grow.
"Hank's not the easiest person to get along with, but he's a good person underneath all the ego," Scott said.
Bill wished him luck as the ants sent him out while Hank sat in the machine. 15 minutes were left. Hope asked Scott if there was any sign of Ava and Scott said not yet when she grabbed him from behind and slammed his head on the glass before throwing him through a wall.
"You were saying?" Natasha asked dryly as Scott winced.
"I can feel that already," Scott muttered.
Scott tried to use the regulator but it didn't work.
"Oh come on!" Scott exclaimed, not noticing the smirks on the faces of the future Avengers.
Scott simply ran around to avoid Ava, saying he had a 'Ghost' problem. Hank sat in the machine and told Hope he loved her in case he didn't make it back.
"Don't say that Hank," Scott almost pleaded.
"Relax, everything's gonna work out Scott," Parker assured him but Scott was still worried.
Scott ran around and was thrown down by Ava just as Hank flew into the tunnel as his machine shrunk with him. Hope then pressed a button and the lab shrunk down, to Ava's shock. Scott told Ava he was misdirecting her, having learnt it from Online Close-up Magic University and shrunk too as Luis picked the lab and put it in the van.
"Whoa," Peter said in awe.
"Told you it came in handy," Parker said as Scott looked at the screen in disbelief.
"First thing I'm doing when I get back is signing up," Scott muttered as everyone looked at him in amusement.
Scott flew off on a flying ant as Hope was about to start the van when Sonny and his men arrived in cars, with him saying their business wasn't over. Hope backed up the car and drove the other way with Sonny following.
"Ugg, this guy again," Rhodey grumbled.
She drove as Sonny's men chased her. One of them was about to ram his car into hers but she shrunk the van and it rammed into a car, crashing.
"Ha, how do you like that!?" Scott cheered.
The van enlarged again as another came after them. Hope shrunk the van again and went under the car, with Luis saying the undercarriage was filthy. Hope said they had bigger problems before enlarging the van, shattering the car as well.
"This is the weirdest car chase I've ever seen," Tony said.
"Indeed Stark, this is a strange one," Thor agreed.
Scott asked where Hope was going and she said she was taking the scenic route. They reached a bush as Hope shrunk her van and the car crashed over it before another crashed into it and was wrecked while Hope drove away and Luis screamed how they would die.
Everyone laughed at this.
"Nice job Hope," Scott said proudly.
"Maybe we should ask her to join instead of you," Clint joked and Scott rolled his eyes.
Pym moved further into the Quantum Realm when the signal was lost and began recalibrating as microorganisms surrounded the vessel. "You never said it was so beautiful, Scott," Hank said as he looked around.
"It is beautiful," Wanda said as the past Avengers all stared in awe of the Quantum Realm.
"Indeed little witch," Thor said, finding it among one of the most beautiful things he had seen on Midgard.
The microorganisms closed in on the vessel when the signal was regained and Pym flew further in, just narrowly avoiding the microorganism.
"Oh thank god," Scott sighed in relief.
Scott joined Hope and Luis in the van as Hope told him to take the wheel while Sonny made men on bikes chase them. Hope fired a blast and shrunk a bike, making the man fall down. She fired again but shrunk an elderly man's car instead who said, "Well, the 60's were fun. But now, I'm paying for it!"
"And now you've shrunken his car," T'Challa noted as they all laughed.
"What is your saying on this earth about karma?" Thor wondered.
"That it's a bitch," Natasha said and Thor nodded.
"Yes, karma is a bitch old man," Thor said vindictively, still not over his hair.
Ghost arrived and phasing through a car, kicked a man off his motorcycle while Sonny watched and she rode it after the van. Hope took Luis' pez dispenser and threw it before enlarging it with a blast as two men fell down and Luis said they got pez'd.
"He's been pez'd," Tony joked as they all laughed.
Scott then saw Ghost on her bike as she disappeared and climbed on top of the van. She phased into the car and kicked Hope out.
"Hope!" Scott exclaimed worriedly.
Hope shrunk to save herself. Ghost then tied up both Scott and Luis and taking the lab, jumped onto a nearby truck, throwing the driver out as Sonny and his men gave chase.
"Damn it!" Scott said in dismay.
"It's like the world's weirdest game of football," Sam muttered.
Scott's van crashed as Hope leapt into the truck and battled Ava, who had the upper hand. Scott jumped onto a flying ant and leapt on the truck's viper, only for Ava to activate it as Scott was thrown around while Hope and Ava fought. Then the regulator malfunctioned and Scott grew in size.
"Oh come on, can't that thing ever work?!" Scott exclaimed.
"The universe hates you," Rhodey joked.
Scott then shattered the glass and punched Ava's face, breaking the mask. Hope threw the lab out and jumped back but Ava threw off the mask and jumped back too. Scott shrunk again due to the regulator when Sonny rammed into the truck and Hope fell down as Sonny grabbed the lab and drove off.
"And now he's got the lab. Great, can this get any worse?!" Scott snapped.
Hope shrunk and flew after Sonny as Ava ran after him while Scott grew again and using all his strength, managed to stop the truck, passing a café where people were working on laptops.
"Well that's something you don't see every day," Steve said amused.
"I feel like there should be a meme about this," Peter muttered.
Scott then used the truck as a skateboard of sorts.
Hank was in the Quantum Realm and soon entered the Quantum Void where there was only blackness. "I'm coming to you, honey," He said as he increased speed and went further in as the shrinking continued and then he crashed on the ground with only 4 minutes 52 seconds left. He walked out of the vessel and looked around.
"He better find her quick. There's not a lot of time left," Natasha said and Scott watched tense, worried.
Luis found the lab's remote in the van and Hope asked him to bring it but the van was busted so Scott told him to open the Hot Wheels Rally case. He did and inside were several Hot Wheels Cars. "I love you, Dr. Pym," He said.
"Hank just made Luis' dream come true," Scott joked.
"Riding a Hot Wheels. Awesome," Peter breathed.
As Sonny arrived, the van shrunk as the Hot Wheels car appeared and Luis sped past them, shouting happily. Sonny's men gave chase as he shrunk and jumped the car on another while one of the cars after him crashed.
"Nice Luis!" Scott cheered.
The car enlarged again and Luis said Burch's boys were after him. Hope said she'd take care of them as Scott said he'd get the lab. As the men chased Luis, Hope burst through the window and enlarged between them and said, "Hi." One of them tried to attack but she shrunk and he hit another man as she knocked him out and Luis found it badass.
"Because she's badass," Scott said with a dreamy look in his eyes.
"You need a bib for your drool Tic-Tac?" Sam teased and Scott flushed as everyone else laughed.
She leapt out and kicked the driver out before flying away as the car crashed into bicycles while she flew into the Hot Wheels car and enlarged next to Luis.
"Now you just need to take care of Burch," Steve noted.
"Leave that to me," Scott said with a smirk.
Scott caught up to Sonny and knocked the gun out of the hands of one thug before kicking the van hard, crashing it. Sonny ran out with the lab as Scott tried to chase but Sonny ran through a narrow alley into which Scott couldn't fit.
"Oh come on!" Scott groaned. "Work in progress my ass Hank!"
"He really should've worked on this one more," Tony noted.
After failing to shrink, Scott ran to the other side, asking people if they had seen a southern man with a lab when he saw Sonny escaping on a ferry and wondered how he had gotten a ticket.
"Probably bribed the guy to let him on," Natasha mused and Clint, Steve and Barton nodded in agreement.
"Those people must be so freaked out," Sam muttered.
"It is an unusual site to behold," Vision agreed.
He kept pressing buttons, begging the regulator to work for once and it did, shrinking him.
"Finally!" Scott said.
He tried to call an ant but a seagull ate it. He tried again to the same result and it continued happening a few times as he called them murderers.
"The universe really does hate me, doesn't it?" Scott said with a sigh.
He managed to get one finally and flew on it, calling it 'Ant-onio Banderas' because it was badass.
"You have a weird obsession with naming ants," Natasha said and Scott shrugged.
Then another seagull arrived and Scott jumped down into the water as it ate Ant-onio.
"Seriously?" Scott sighed.
"Wait for it," Lila said with a smirk that confused the past Avengers.
Sonny asked Uzman to meet him at the waterfront in 3 hours on phone as the announcer saw something in the water and said they had company when Scott leapt out as Giant-Man, greeting the people.
"Whoa," Peter breathed.
"I'm even bigger than in Germany," Scott said stunned.
"Over eighty feet," Parker said, stunning everyone.
"Damn Tic-Tac, you are something else," Sam muttered.
He told Sonny the lab didn't belong to him, trying to snatch it. Sonny hung on but Scott said he was embarrassing himself so he let go as Scott tapped his chest and he fell down.
Everyone laughed at this.
"He really is embarrassing himself," Tony chuckled.
Hank walked around in the Quantum Realm and time ran out as he felt his entire body in pain and screamed as he heard Scott, little Hope and Janet.
"What's happening?!" Scott asked in a panic.
"Humans weren't meant to go that small. The Quantum Realm is affecting his mind," Scarlet explained and Scott paled.
He then found himself in his house as a little Hope called out to him. He followed the source of the voice to find an adult Hope instead asking him why he hadn't found Janet. Scott then appeared and said he looked lost before Bill appeared and asked if he still thought he had all the ideas. Then Ghost appeared in a corner.
"Ghost," Peter said as Scott gripped his hands tightly.
"Not exactly," Parker said, to their confusion. "Just watch."
She marched towards him and then touched his head with her hands as energy passed to him. Then the Quantum Realm appeared again and the woman took off her mask to reveal not Ava, but Janet. She was old now with grey hair but it was her. Hank was overjoyed.
"That's…" Scott trailed off as the realization hit them all.
"Janet," Scarlet confirmed.
"He did it, he actually did it," Scott said with a smile.
It's me," She said and the two kissed passionately. "I'm so sorry!" Hank said, "It took so long," "No," Janet kissed his cheek and face. "You're here now. Let's go home."
They sat in the machine as Hank asked about what she had done and she said this place changed them. It was adaptation and evolution.
"It gave her powers," Steve realized and the future Avengers nodded.
"Cool," Peter said.
Hank was about to fly up but lab coordinates were missing so he said he better tell her what they were dealing with.
Scott had the lab but was getting dizzy as he reached the shore, startling the people. It was all over the news. Woo watched and decided to go after him with agents as Jim and Maggie watched too in their home while Cassie smiled.
"Well, there goes my freedom," Scott said with a sigh.
"It's not over until the fat lady sings Scott," Barton said vaguely, confusing the past Avengers.
"You make a fat lady sing?" Thor said confused and everyone couldn't help but laugh.
"It's an expression Thor," Steve said once he had gained control of his laughter.
Kurt and Dave ran to help as well while Scott dropped the lab on land just as Hope and Luis arrived and the former noted Scott was too big. A dizzy Scott said he was going to sleep and fell into the water.
"Yeah, let's not do that when I get back," Scott said and everyone nodded.
"The Giant form could use some work," Tony said.
Luis ran to get the lab and Hope shrunk and flew to where Scott was. Luis ran to the lab but Ava arrived and kicked him down before taking the remote and enlarging it.
"You had to ask if it could worse," Rhodey said as Scott groaned.
She went inside as Hank said they could return now and that they had done it.
"Not quite," T'Challa said.
"Let's go see our daughter," Janet said and they flew back up as the vessel continued enlarging. Hope tried to wake Scott up and opening his regulator, pressed some buttons, finally managing to shrink him. She looked for him and finding him, flew up and brought him back to normal size as he woke up on the shore. She let out a sound that was a mixture of a laugh and a sob and kissed him happily.
"Aw," Natasha said teasingly as Scott flushed.
"Really reconsidering accepting being part of the team," Scott said.
"Too late, you already accepted," Tony said gleefully.
"It's like a blood oath, you can't take it back Scott," Clint joked.
Luis was outside the lab and asked if Scott and Hope had been crushed by it.
"If we were, we wouldn't be able to answer him," Scott pointed out.
Then Sonny and his men stopped him and pointed guns, asking for the remote and Luis said it was inside. Sonny's men were about to shoot him when they were knocked out from behind by Tasers from Kurt and Dave. Sonny watched in shock as Luis knocked him out and thanked the two.
"A cockroach taken out by a bunch of ex-cons. There's a joke in there somewhere," Sam quipped as they all cheered.
"Finally," Scott said relieved.
Bill arrived and ran into the lab while Ava was starting the process, telling her to stop as people were getting hurt. She said she was hurting more while Bill said Janet may die and she would be able to help as she was a brilliant scientist. Ava said she'd help right now. Bill tried to stop her but she threw him across the room, knocking him out.
"And now she's even turned on him," Wanda noted.
Ave then started the process as she went into the chamber. Hank and Janet were flying up when the energy started tearing Janet apart.
"No, we did not come this far to lose now!" Scott shouted as he paled and everyone else watched, tense.
Then Scott and Hope arrived and the latter ran to the computers as the former pulled down the wires. Ava got out and tried to fight but he shrunk to avoid, until she kicked him away. Hope fired but her powers protected her. Ava attacked but Hope shrunk down to avoid. Scott enlarged and punched her before shrinking when Hope enlarged and punched her too before shrinking. Then Scott enlarged and kicked her away and Hope leapt from his back and enlarging, kicked Ava away.
"Thank god," Scott sighed in relief. "Thank god."
"You two really work well together," Clint noted.
"Reminds me a lot of us," Natasha noted and Clint nodded.
"Minus the making out and gazing into each other's eyes all the time," Clint said and Scott flushed.
Hope tried to attack but was knocked down and Scott as well when the vessel arrived. Scott enlarged and got Hope out of the way as the vessel hit Ava and she was knocked away into a wall.
"Nice job," Steve told Scott, who only nodded.
Scott and Hope were back to normal size as he asked if she was okay and she said she was. Then Janet staggered out of the vessel and Hope watched her.
Everyone watched, seeing mother and daughter reunited stirring something up in all of them. Especially Tony, Steve, Thor, Peter, and Wanda.
"Mom?" Hope asked as the two moved towards each other. "Oh, my God." They hugged as Hope cried happily and said, "We found you. I missed you so much." "I missed you too, Jellybean," Janet said happily as Hope watched her. "It's okay. I'm, I'm here now. We have time."
Scott smiled, happy that Hope finally got her mom back.
Unnoticed by Scott, the future Avengers exchanged a glance, something Steve, Natasha, and Clint noticed. The trio exchanged a glance, a hollow feeling settling in their stomachs.
"No more last minute business trips, okay?" Hope asked and the two laughed.
"I promise," Janet said, "It's okay, it's fine." "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Hank said as he staggered out. "Dad!" Hope said and hugged him too.
Everyone laughed at that.
"Scott," Janet said as she looked at him. "Miss Van Dyne," He said. "It's nice to...I guess we've already met." "I guess we have," She agreed.
"I guess so," Scott mused as everyone else laughed.
Then Ava got back up and Hope was about to attack but Janet stopped her and walking up to her said, "Your pain...I can feel it," "It hurts," Ava said. "It always hurts."
"That poor girl," T'Challa said as they all felt sympathy for Ava.
"I'm still not happy she almost went after Cassie, but still, no one deserves that," Scott said and everyone nodded in agreement.
"It is a fate worse than death," Thor agreed.
"I'm sorry," Janet said. "I think I can help you." She then touched Ava's head and Quantum Energy flowed into her, stopping her phasing and reducing her pain as she was overjoyed while an awakened Bill watched with a smile. Scott asked if Hank knew she could do that. "It's okay," Janet said to Ava.
"Is she magic now?" Scott asked as the past Avengers stared in shock.
"Not exactly. It wasn't a permanent solution, but it bought her some time," Parker explained.
Luis arrived and said the cops were coming so they needed to go. Hope asked about Bill and Ava. Outside, Kurt and Dave were confronted by cops but pointed at the captured Sonny, Uzman and another man, saying they were just normal workers who had been threatened by Sonny so they had apprehended them for the cops. "We traffic in stolen technology," Uzman said. "And we have killed many, many people," The other man said before gesturing to Sonny. "He's in charge." Sonny said, "That's true. I am. I've also committed numerous healthcode violations in my restaurant. Some of them would shock you." The concoction lay next to Uzman who said, "It is truth serum." They had been injected with it.
"That's what we've been saying the whole time," Tony said in exasperation and everyone laughed.
Scott, Hope, Hank, Janet, Luis, Ava and Bill ran out and said they needed to get out and escape the cops. "I have an idea," Scott said. Woo and the others were told of Giant-Man's location and drove there to see him standing against a building. Woo told him to return to normal size but it was just a suit as Scott, wearing a shirt and boxers, ran off.
"Is this as embarrassing as it looks?" Scott flushed as everyone else laughed.
"Yeah, but it got the job done," Barton said amused.
The suit deflated and shrunk as Woo groaned, "Magic." He turned around and saw the lab shrink in the distance before he and the others drove away as Hope got the suit and flew to Hank and Janet with the latter complimenting her. Then they were beckoned to the van and ran into it.
Ava told Bill to leave her but he refused, saying they could make it together and that he wasn't leaving her. She hugged him emotionally.
"Everybody needs somebody," Rhodey said and they all nodded.
Woo and the agents arrived at Scott's home and looked around before hearing sounds. They found Scott playing his drums and when he saw them, he asked, "Are my 2 years up already?"
"Cheeky bastard," Clint said amused as everyone laughed.
"That's me," Scott said cheerfully.
The ankle monitor was unlocked reluctantly.
"And now I'm a fee man," Scott said cheerfully.
"Congratulations Tic-Tac," Sam said with a smile.
Scott asked what it was like out there, asking if people still danced or if food trucks were still a thing.
"You're enjoying this way too much," Steve said amused and Scott shrugged as they all laughed.
Woo said Scott had gotten away this time but he'd see him again. Scott asked where and Woo said in general if he did something bad. Scott said he'd thought Woo was inviting him and both wondered why would he do that until Woo asked if Scott would like to come to dinner and he shrugged so an embarrassed Woo walked away.
"Wait, you mean he was so focused on me because he was into me?" Scott asked shocked.
"He wanted some of that sugar," Barton joked and everyone laughed.
"What is it about me?" Scott mused.
"You're very likable," Scarlet said amused.
Scott ran to Maggie's home and rang the doorbell before opening it as Cassie hugged him and Maggie too before Jim hugged them so tight they groaned.
Scott simply smiled as everyone else snickered.
Scott was later at X-Con with Luis, Kurt and Dave as footage of the latter people apprehending Sonny was shown on the news when Luis got a call from Mr. Karapetyan who had seen the news of them apprehending Sonny and agreed to do business, to their joy. They all cheered happily.
"Yes!" Scott cheered. "X-Con will stay in business!"
"Congratulations Scott," Steve said with a smile.
"No more struggling to pay rent for this guy!" Scott cheered.
Hank and Janet stood on the beach as the former took out his old house, which was shrunken and Janet laughed. He enlarged the house and the two watched it.
"Some people take the beach to their house, he takes his house to the beach," Tony quipped as everyone else laughed.
Scott, Hope and Cassie watched 'Them!' in Scott's car. Hope asked what Cassie wanted to be when she grew up and she said she wanted to help people like her daddy.
"Oh Peanut," Scott said, feeling like the proudest father in the word in that moment.
She said she wanted to be Scott's partner but he wanted Hope. Hope looked at Scott and the two smiled at each other.
"Aw," Natasha, Wanda, Scarlet and Lila said teasingly and Scott flushed.
Then a giant butterfly appeared on the screen and Scott honked the horn to get it to leave but it came on the car instead as they tried to shake it off. They were sitting in shrunken cars while the laptop was playing the movie in front of them like a movie theater. The screen went black.
"Well, that's one way to go on a date while you're on the lamb," Steve joked.
Later, Hank and Janet on a rooftop were shown working as he said he used to be a respected scientist with his name plastered to the sides of buildings and now he had this. They had made a smaller Quantum Tunnel in Luis' van.
"Well, she's right, it's certainly smaller," Natasha noted.
Scott got out after honking the horn as Hope gave him the collection unit while Janet warned him about dangers. Then Scott went subatomic and flew inside as Hank did a mic-check but they got no response for a few seconds until Scott spoke up and Hank told him to quit screwing around.
"Yeah man, there's a time for that," Sam said and Scott flushed.
"Sorry," Scott mumbled.
Scott managed to collect a lot of Quantum Energy and told the others. Hope started counting down but then no sound came from the other end, startling Scott who told Hank to quit screwing around.
"But he just told you not to screw around," Peter muttered.
"Hank doesn't screw around, ever," Scott said as he paled. "Something's wrong."
Outside, in the place of Hope, Hank and Janet, there were 3 specks of dust as Scott told them to quit screwing around before calling out in panic, "GUYS!" The screen went black.
"No, no!" Scott exclaimed in horror.
Everyone was too shocked to respond as Scott buried his head in his hands, sobbing. The future Avengers looked at him sadly, knowing there nothing they could do for him in that moment. As she got over her shoulder, Natasha placed a hand on his shoulder, hoping to offer him some comfort.
"We'll stop him this time. I promise," Natasha said in a surprisingly gentle voice.
After a moment, Scott pulled himself together and sat up, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"I-I need to know something," Scott said, his voice gruff as he looked at the future Avengers. "Tell me, Cassie, did she…"
"She survived," Barton said gently and Scott nearly slumped into the chair in relief. "So did Luis. But Jim, Maggie, Dave and Kurt weren't so lucky."
Scott put a hand to his face, trying not to break down as the lighthearted atmosphere the recording had offered vanished.
"Who else?" Steve said gruffly. "Who else did that bastard get?"
"You're better off not knowing," Parker said.
"We need to know," Tony said roughly.
"Please," Thor almost begged and, after a moment, Barton sighed.
"They won't continue until we tell them," Barton said before looking over at Thor. "Sif."
Thor looked like he'd been punched in the gut with his own hammer. First his mother, then his father, the warrior three, Loki and Heimdall, now Sif? How much more could he lose?
"Ned," Parker said softly as he looked over at Peter, who paled.
"May, did she…" Peter nearly sobbed in relief when Parker shook his head.
"No. she made it," Parker assured him, thinking of their reunion when May had hugged him as he walked through the door.1
"Sharon," Barton told Steve, who paled as Barton looked to T'Challa. "Shuri."
T'Challa put a hand to his face, a tear falling from his eye as he processed this. He had failed as a king, now he had failed as a brother.
"Clint," Scarlet said softly as she looked at him and he knew. Ever without words, he knew.
"No, no," Clint said, shaking his head in denial. "No."
"They didn't make it," Barton said softly, his eyes having a faraway look in them. "We were on a picnic outside the farm. I was…cleaning up after Lila and I had been shooting some arrows while Laura was getting lunch ready. Then, suddenly…I was alone. Laura and the kids…they were gone."
"Noooo!" Clint roared as he jumped to his feet. "No!"
"Dad," Lila jumped to her feet and rushed over to him, grabbing his face and making him look at her. "It's okay, I'm right here. We we're okay, mom, Cooper, Nate and I are all okay."
But Clint didn't hear her, his knees gave out he fell to his knees. Lila went with him and she hugged him tightly. Clint clung to her as though she was his lifeline, burying his face in her shoulder as he sobbed.
Steve, Tony, Thor, and Wanda watched in a state of shock. To see their friend, who usually had such a handle on his emotions, completely break down was nothing more than heartbreaking.
The only one seemingly unaffected by this was Natasha, but was because she was having such a hard time processing this blow herself. The knowledge that Laura, Cooper, Lila, and even little Nate had been victims of Thanos was a crushing blow. The only reason she wasn't in a similar state to Clint was because she knew it was a lot harder on Clint than on her. So she got to her feet and walked over to father and daughter, kneeling down next to them and placing a hand on Clint's shoulder.
"Thanos hasn't beaten us yet," Natasha said gently. "We have two years to plan on how to stop him. We won't let him do this. We won't let him take them from us this time."
For a few moments, the only sound in the room was Clint's heavy breathing. Then, Clint pulled back from Lila, his face wet with tears.
"Sorry," Clint said gruffly, wiping the tears from his face.
"It's okay dad," Lila said with a weak smile. "It's gonna be okay."
Lila went back to her seat and Natasha gave Peter a look before jerking her head over to where Steve, Sam and Scott sat. Understanding, Peter got up and took her seat, feeling awkward about it as Natasha then took his seat next to Next. Wanda placed a hand on Clint's shoulder, hoping it would offer him comfort. He tried to offer her a smile but it just came out as a grimace. He just felt numb all over.
At Scott's home, the TV was shown having an interrupted broadcast as a message appeared saying broadcast had been interrupted due to emergency and they needed to stand by. The giant ant sat in Scott's place, playing drums and stopped. The screen went black.
No one made a sound. It should've been funny, but it was just disturbing to see the house completely empty, knowing what they knew.
"We can take a break now if you want," Parker offered.
"No," Clint said in a gruff voice. "I need to see."
"He's right," Steve said as he exchanged a glance with Tony and Thor, who both nodded. "We're ready."
Barton eyed them, making sure they were all ready to continue before he nodded. Then, he started the recording.
1: I know Far from Home says that May was dusted, but that is either an inconsistency or a recon. Before Endgame came out, there was an interview with the Russos where they talked about the fate of certain characters after Infinity War. One of them was May, who was confirmed to have survived.
Wow, I finished a movie in less than eight chapters. But, then again, Antman and the Wasp was pretty fast paced.
Some of you might be disappointed I didn't leave Clint in the dark about his family's fate, but after the ending, I couldn't justify it to myself on keeping their in the dark anymore.