*Italics - People speaking in Korean
~April 10, 2015~
(Clint's P.O.V)
"This is bad."
Clint found Steve out for the count and then spotted Thor also on his knees on the catwalk above. He frowned at the sight of them with worry and feeling anxious about to find Natasha to be in the same state as them. If the Maximoff girl had gotten the two out of here, then it was a safe bet that the girl would've gotten to Natasha in the shadows of the corridors.
He'd hoped he wasn't the only one still functioning but the radio has silenced the volumes of those who spoke. Clint combed through the various corridors, searching amongst the bodies worriedly before his eyes spotted a familiar short red lock. He breathed in relief that Natasha was at least alive and breathing as he saw her chest move.
His relief was very short-lived as he hurried over to her and saw the state she was in. Natasha was sitting on the staircase, her eyes staring at nothing but her face was in a daze as Clint tries to check on her with concern until Tony suddenly called over the comms.
"Natasha, I could really use a lullaby."
Clint sighed as he answered grimly. "Well, that's not gonna happen. Not for a while. The whole team is down, you got no back up here." He glanced at Natasha who's not capable of moving as he didn't want to leave her like this, so he puts her arm around his shoulder and carries her carefully before walking.
"I'm calling in VERONICA." Tony replied before his comm cuts off.
The archer made a deep sigh, looking so tired of all this worst situation they were having. Now they had to deal with the Hulk as well. And he'd bet at his life savings that the Maximoff girl had gotten to Bruce as well.
As he reaches the exit door, he places Natasha there before going back to retrieve his other team as he headed towards where Thor was still wrestling with his mind. First Natasha, then Thor, then Steve, all of them in a dazed look. Hopefully, that meant the effects of the illusion were starting to fade, not worsening. He then went back to fetch Steve, picking him up and hauling him out to where he had left Natasha. As he placed Steve down gently. 'Man, Caps. What have you been eating?' Clint thought a bit annoyingly as he groaned.
There was no way he would be able to carry them both back to the quinjet, he'd just have to wait for the other guys to break out of their trances.
'I really hope Stark's faring better than I did.' Clint thought downheartedly. Somehow though, he doubted it.
~o~
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The quinjet was completely silent as Clint flew them away from the African coast. Bruce was shivering beneath the blanket as he huddled himself on the floor in the corner of the jet with his entire body covered in a cold sweat. He was trying to fight both the effects of Wanda's mind manipulation and the extreme guilt at all the innocent lives he had harmed in the Wakandan city that the Hulk had destroyed.
Natasha sat on one of the jet's seats on the side a bit and for once trying to comfort him. She was also trying to fight the effects of relieving her own nightmares, the Red Room and on what they had done to her. It was taking all that she had to stop her hands from shaking in fear.
Steve was in no better condition where he sat on the other side of Natasha's, his head lowered and closed his eyes for a moment as he struggled to keep himself calm. Telling himself to forget about his unrealized feelings for Helen was bad enough but seeing her letting go from his hand and falls to her death had given him the worst fear he had ever felt, almost the same thing that had happened when he lost his best friend, Bucky as well.
Thor was staring blankly into space as he wrung his hands, haunted by the visions he had seen. It had been more than an illusion of fear for him as there was something too real in what had through his mind, a message hidden amongst the terrifying images. But he couldn't focus on it, the fear was getting the best of him.
Tony was sitting in the co-pilot seat behind Clint as the archer flew them off somewhere. The encounter with the Hulk and the team's failure was making him question the vision he'd seen back in Sokovia. What could he have done better to prevent this from happening, and what he knew was the inevitably coming? What options did the future hold for him?
Eventually, Tony was brought out of his reverie as Maria made contact. He saw the message icon beeping and switched on the video screen, opening up the communication's line so that she could inform them. "The news is loving you guys. Nobody else is. There's no official call for Banner's arrest but it's in the air."
Bruce twitched at the news he heard, only adding to his despair.
"Stark Relief Foundation?" Tony asked quietly.
"Already on the scene." Maria confirmed before asking carefully. "How's the team?"
"Everyone's…" Tony begins to inform her but his voice froze, trying to think of the words he was going say about his team's condition.
Steve took a deep breath as Bruce huddled himself in closer while Natasha didn't move an inch, just staring ahead blankly as she tried to keep her face smooth and silent, Thor on the other hand just played on with his hands in emotions of guilt.
Tony finally spoke out and murmured. "We took a hit. We'll shake it off."
"Well, for now. I'd stay in stealth mode." Maria adviced him before continues to say. "And stay away from here."
"So, run and hide?" Tony asked.
Maria sighed before replying in a calm tone. "Until we can find Ultron, I don't have a lot else to offer."
The team all curled in slightly at that, hunching in on themselves as Tony sighed and admitted quietly. "Neither do we."
He cut off the call with Maria before he got up and walked over to Clint.
"Hey, you wanna switch out?" He asked quietly as Clint murmured back. "No, I'm good. If you wanna get some kip, now's a good time. Cause we're still a few hours out."
Confused at his reply, Tony asked curiously. "A few hours from… where?" Silence grows on between them until Clint quietly answered.
"A safe house."
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~o~
~April 11, 2015~
Clint leads the way as the team left the quinjet in a non-descript farm field, heading towards an equally non-descript whitewashed farmhouse. The other men in the team glanced at each other in surprise while Clint walked ahead, supporting Natasha by wrapping her arm around his shoulder and carefully walking with her along the way as the other men followed slowly from behind.
Today was very tiring for Steve as he sighed a little before Clint led them up onto the porch.
Puzzled by this place Thor was in, he asked. "What is this place?"
"A safe house?" Tony answered unsurely.
Clint glanced back at the team and as he opened the door before he replied. "Let's hope."
And with that, he pushed the door open, letting it creak slightly and led the group inside. He walked his way towards the living room, gently moving Natasha towards the window seat as he called out. "Honey." He ignored his male teammates' surprise. "I'm home."
Natasha sat at the chair by the window as Clint looked around, finding someone whom he's looking for until a heavily pregnant woman walked out from the kitchen. She was clutching on some papers that looked like they had children's drawings on them and just seemed to be surprised to see them as she hesitated for a moment.
"Hi." Clint greeted her with a soft grin and the woman gave an uncertain smile as she walked closer towards him. "Company." He added as he gestured at the Avengers team.
"The woman smiled more genuinely and murmured. "Hey."
The rest of the team blinked in surprise as the woman kissed Clint softly before they embraced each other warmly.
"This is an agent of some kind." Tony said to Thor, almost asking desperately.
The Norse God glanced at him in disbelief but their attention was brought back to Clint as he introduced her to his team. "Gentlemen, this is Laura."
The woman gave them a small wave of greeting as she smiled kindly at them. "I know all of your names."
Bruce was still fidgeting uncomfortably while Thor looked completely out of place. Steve at least gave her a genuinely warm smile, Tony, on the other hand, made an awkward wave when suddenly they all heard the sounds of pattering feet from the stairs in the hallway.
"Ooh, incoming." Clint murmured in amusement as he headed his way towards the open door. Steve glanced at where the sound is coming from and almost jumped when a young girl, maybe around six ran in excitedly followed by an older boy around ten years of age.
"Dad!" the little girl called out happily as she jumped into Clint's arms and hugged him.
"Hi, sweetheart!" The archer beamed with a grin as he picked her up when he felt his son hugged him as well, he kissed the boy on the head and murmured happily. "Hey, buddy! How're you guys doing? Ooohh…"
His teammates stared in a complete shock, Steve's mouth opened and closed briefly and Tony muttered to the team, clearly desperate trying to make sense of what they were seeing. "These are… smaller agents."
"Look at your face! Oh my, goodness!" Clint chuckled to his kids, ignoring the team as he puts his daughter down.
Steve and Thor lifted their heads, facing more forward and avoids the sight of the children when the little girl made Bruce freeze as she asked her dad. "Did you bring Auntie Nat?"
Bruce glanced back at Natasha in surprise who ignored his expression as she stood up and walked around the team, asking the little girl softly with a smile on her face. "Why don't you hug her and find out?"
The little girl's eyes lit up when she saw Natasha smiling at her then happily ran over, hugging the red-headed woman as she lifts the little up into her arms. Clint chuckled at the sight of his daughter hugging his close friend.
Steve tries not to look so surprised and with a forlorn look before he gazes at Laura, politely apologizing. "Sorry for barging in on you."
"Yeah." Tony chimed in with a hint of accusation. "We would have called ahead, but we were busy having no idea that you existed."
Natasha rolled her eyes in annoyance as she walked over towards Laura and Clint answered as he placed his arms around his wife and son. "Yeah, well Fury helped me set this up when I joined. He kept it off S.H.I.E.L.D's files, I'd like to keep it that way." He added pointedly.
The team shifted again as Clint added quietly. "I figure it's a good place to lay low."
Steve stared at the whole family, mind completely blank at the sight he was seeing. He remembered Clint was talking on the phone a few days ago, at first he thought he just calling someone who's either an agent or an accomplice but he had never expected this to see the archer having a wife and two kids he was keeping a secret for so long.
"Honey." Laura murmured as she greeted Natasha with a friendly smile while Steve suddenly heard a crunch behind him and turns to see Thor had accidentally stepped on some of the children's Lego houses.
"Ah, I missed you." Natasha was murmuring to Laura and added as she touched her friend's pregnant belly. "How's little Natasha, huh?"
"She's…" Laura sheepishly began to speak as Thor hastily kicked the broken Lego pieces under the couch. He glanced up to meet Steve's eyes as the super-soldier raised his eyebrows in dumbstruck.
"Nathaniel." Laura finished with an apologetic look at Natasha whose face is dropped in slight disappointment as she bent down to Laura's stomach and muttered to the unborn baby. "Traitor."
Steve just watched the whole family having a normal conversation as Clint and Natasha exchanged quiet words while Tony turned to speak quietly with Bruce and Thor stared down at the little girl who stared up at him curiously.
The Captain and the Norse God were startled from their thoughts as a toaster dinged in the kitchen popping the toast out, hot and crisp. Steve took a quiet breath, steadying himself when Thor suddenly strode out without a word. He frowned at the sudden leave of his friend as he followed the Norse God outside, the rest of the team glancing after them questioningly.
"Thor." Steve called out as he walked out onto the porch. The Asgardian turned around from where he had walked onto the lawn.
"I saw something in that dream. I need answers, I won't find them here." Thor explained tightly, gesturing at the house.
Steve felt his heart clench as he took a deep breath before Thor swung his hammer then shoots himself up into the sky, flying off to God knows where.
The Captain watched him go before his eyes lowered, roaming around the farm. Steve turned back towards the house but stopped himself as Helen's soft saddened voice from Wanda's vision rang through his mind.
"Steve…"
Swallowed hard as he heard the sounds coming from inside the house, where he could just see Clint and his family hidden by the door. Will he ever be happy just like Clint? Will he ever find someone who loves him, the same way Peggy loved him back then? Is Helen really the woman he can easily grow to love? All of his thoughts swirled around his mind as Steve turned back around, heading back outside to be alone.
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(Clint's P.O.V)
Laura bent herself over to lift Clint's shirt and checked his side where his wound has been healed. "See you worried for nothing. Can't even feel the difference, can you?" Clint murmured softly.
The pair were standing in their bedroom as Laura gave him a soft smile before she pulled his shirt back down and murmured. "If they're sleeping here." She nodded out of the bedroom window to indicate the Avengers. "Some of them are gonna have to double up."
Clint laughed while placing his hand on her shoulder before flatly said. "Yeah, that's not gonna sell."
He chuckled again before walking off towards the closet. Laura followed her husband and pointedly asked. "What about Nat and Dr. Banner? How long has that been going on?"
"Has what?" Clint asked with a confused look as he pulled on another t-shirt as Laura chuckled.
"You are so cute." She teased him.
"Nat and… and Banner?" He asked in a mix of belief and confusion as he stared at his wife, and Laura smiled in amusement. "I'll explain when you're older, Hawkeye."
"Oh, okay." Clint shrugged as he pulled on a plaid shirt over his t-shirt.
She walked over slowly and asked quietly. "It's bad, right?"
He glanced at her with a sullen look on his face and she murmured. "Nat seems really shaken."
Clint sighed as he answered softly. "Ultron has these allies, these, uh kids. They're punks really." He sighed again and added. "They carry a big damn stick, and Nat took a serious hit."
Laura's face was a bit downcasted and he finished firmly. "Someone's gonna have to teach 'em some manners."
He walked out of the closet as she followed him and asked. "And that someone being you?"
Clint didn't reply as he walked across the room as Laura continued gently. "You know I totally support your Avenging, I couldn't be prouder."
The archer settled down into the seat by the window, getting his boots. His wife rested her hands on his shoulders and stared out at the window, quietly said. "But I see those guys." She looked out at the lawn where Steve and Tony were now chopping wood in their casual attire. "Those Gods…" She trailed off as though unable to say anything more.
"You don't think they need me." Clint replied shortly.
"I think they do." Laura answered in a serious tone as she looked back down at her husband.
He glanced up at her in surprise as she added. "Which is a lot scarier." Her eyes flickered outside briefly and pointed out quietly. "They're a mess."
Clint sighed and he looked out the window as well. "Yeah. I guess they're my mess." He murmured softly.
Laura ran a hand through his hair both soothingly but also warningly as she murmured. "You need to be sure that this team is really a team and that they have your back."
Clint turned back to her, sensing her worry. They had a similar discussion when the DELTA had first been formed and it had taken a while before Laura had been able to sleep at least somewhat peacefully whenever he disappeared with Natasha. Now, he could see the concern lining on her face once again and Clint stood up quickly, wanting to comfort her and assure her that things would be alright. Just he had all those years ago.
Laura murmured as Clint stood before her. "Things are changing for us. In a few weeks' time." She nodded down at her pregnant belly. "You and me are gonna be outnumbered."
He smiled a little while trying to ease her anxiety. Laura continues to speak. "I need…" she cuts herself off, staring up at Clint with a crestfallen look on her face. His eyes dimmed as she swallowed a sigh and finally whispered, the silent plea still hanging between them. "Just to be sure."
"Yes, ma'am." Clint murmured as he stared down at her lovingly. He kissed her softly before embracing her with one arm, placing a kiss on her head as well. The pair turned to look out the window together, Laura runs her hand backed up to Clint healed wound on the side waist.
"I can feel the difference." She whispered.
Chuckled softly at her reply. "Dr. Cho told me that you won't feel the difference but it seems she was wrong about it, though I'm grateful this doctor saved my life."
"Well, I'm honestly glad that this doctor has healed you greatly." Laura smiled up at him, stroking his waist gently.
"You have no idea how this woman amazes me." A glint of a chipper in his eyes as he continued. "She really has invented an advanced medical device that can heal injuries."
"Then I should thank her for saving my stubborn of a husband." She raises her hand towards his cheek, stroking it softly. "Who is too reckless to handle such a big fight. I hope I get to meet her someday and maybe liking this famous Dr. Helen Cho." Winking at him in amusement.
Clint is so pleased to see his wife looking delighted to meet the woman who saved her husband from his mortal wounds. He definitely hopes that one day Laura will thank his life-saving doctor when the two meet in the right time, he is sure of it.
"Oh, you'll definitely like her, hon. I'm sure you will."
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~April 11, 2015 (U-Gin Research Lab at Seoul, South Korea)~
At the early night, Helen was typing on her computer when suddenly she received a video call from Maria as she accepts it. The screen popped out, revealing Maria's appearance looking so serious and concern at the same time as Helen asked her.
"Agent Hill, what I can do for you?" Looking a bit worried at what reply the Agent is going to answer, though she kept her usual calm self and waits for her reply.
"Dr. Cho, we have a serious situation in South Africa, most of the civilians are severely injured." Maria informs her with a grim expression as she requested. "We need your help on this."
Helen stares at the screen before making a deep sigh, bothered at the news she was hearing. Innocent people got hurt or possibly killed because of another warzone, she mentally sighed at this kind of problem. When will this war ever end?
The Doctor looked up to see Maria on the screen waiting for her reply. "What about the Avengers? What happened to them?" She asked curiously yet also concerned for the team, especially Steve. It has been almost two days since she last saw him and not thought of the Captain for a while, she had hoped to God that he and his team are alright.
She can see the agent sighing with a grim look on her face before answering. "After you went back to Seoul, The team traveled to the ship off coast of South Africa where Ultron was located… their mission didn't go well as planned. Most of the team except Tony and Clint have all been distracted by some terrible visions, one of the Maximoff twin's power has effected them all in one swoop."
"What?" Helen's eyes widened in shock when she heard this information. 'They were having terrible visions from an enhanced human's power?' Helen thought, disconcert about the condition. So this means, Steve is one of the members who got such visions. Looking completely worried about the Avengers and mostly Steve in particular, since he was the leader of this team but… mostly because she can't help but fear for his safety.
"I told Tony to flew somewhere off the radar without Ultron finding them. It's best if they hide for a while until we can figure something out." Maria added solemnly.
The Doctor nodded in reply before sighing, at least Steve and his team are safe for now. She hopes that nothing terrible happens to them, especially Steve.
"You're right. Then I'll be there as soon as I can."
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After an hour later, Helen informs one of her staffs about the situation in South Africa and told them to prepare everything to fly off to South Africa as she walks into the hallway with the two of her employees.
"Take everything to the plane, because we don't know what could've happen." She says to them with a serious and determined look on her face.
"Understood." Both of her employees replied and nodded before leaving.
As the twin doors swiftly slide open for Helen to enter the lab when suddenly she looked up to see Ultron waiting for her inside.
"Scream... and your entire staff dies." He threatens her with a deep ominous tone.
'Ultron'. Helen stares up at the robot in horror yet still kept herself looking usually calm as she heard him saying.
"I could've killed you, Helen. The night we met… I didn't."
"Do you expect a "Thank you" note?" She taunts him a bit.
He cuts her off and pointedly said. "I expect you to know why."
Helen silences herself for a moment as she looks down anxiously at the medical technology she created. 'Does Ultron mean…' She thought ominously.
"The Cradle."
Ultron makes his way towards the invention she created and places his hand on it before plays a record of her voice saying. "This is the next thing, Tony."
"This…" He then looks up and narrows his dangerous red eyes at her. "Is the next me."
"The Regeneration Cradle prints tissue." Helen protested this and stared up at him with her eyebrows furrowed. "It can't build a living body."
"It can." Ultron cuts her off with his words as he approaches her. "You can."
Helen hastily moves back away from him as he added before he stood in front of her. "You lacked the materials."
The Doctor looks at his side and sees one of the Iron Legions holding a cylinder of vibranium. Ultron spoke out continuously. "You're a brilliant woman, Helen." She suddenly hears a sound from behind her as she turns around to see an Iron Legion holding Loki's Scepter and places the tip on Helen's chest.
"But we all have… room to improve."
Her eyes widened and gasped when she felt something in her mind that's trying to invade her consciousness as her eyes suddenly turned pure blue, now being controlled by Ultron to do his dirty work. Helen tries to snap out of herself by Ultron's restraint but unfortunately, she can't for she is trapped, permanently controlled and cannot be undone. She hopes that the Avengers will come out of their shadows and fight this 'monster' to end this tyranny of his. And most especially… she hopes that Steve will be there in time to rescue her not because she is in distress, it is, of course, her duty to help and heal the people around her. Even if it's risking her life for it to save them … and him as well.
'Steve… help me.'
Oh no, Helen is now in trouble!
Steve, you better hurry up and save your woman❤️ !
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See you soon for the next chapter ;)
Review (^u^)❤️?