A finger jabbed into the sleeping man's shoulder, forcing him out of his dozing. Blinking, his bright eyes adjusted to the early morning sunshine as it filtered through the clouds and the glass of the window to his right. The vehicle, a green taxi chosen for the specific purpose of driving him discreetly from the airport, had ground to a halt at the end of a gravel path, the weathered mailbox to the left the first to welcome him back. Clint Barton blinked, rubbing his eyes to rid himself of the sleep still in them, coughing once as he leaned into the backseat. Retrieving his bag, he nodded once to the driver, who definitely deserved a fairly decent tip for bringing him out all that way. The fellow seemed a little disgruntled, but when bills passed between them, his expression noticeably improved. Clint's was as well, a little smile forming as he climbed out of the car. After all, he was home.
"Thanks," he murmured quietly, grinning as the driver saluted him by touching a couple of fingers to his temple and gesturing him away. Barton waited as the car backed up, executing a turn and traveling back down the road they'd come from. He watched as it disappeared around the bend of the hill, not moving as the sounds of the engine dissipated into the morning air, leaving him with the distant chirp of birds and rustle of warm wind through the trees. Back home, to stay this time. For a moment, he stood there, soaking in the breeze, the openness of the sky above him, the scent of the greenery surrounding him. After so many days spent in dirt, concrete, blood and anguish, it was good to be centered somewhere calm and good.
When he returned from Seoul, Clint found he was unable to quite shake the events of the previous couple of weeks, found that it was becoming very difficult to push his promise to his wife down long enough to get the work done. He'd worked so hard at keeping his spot on the team, tried his damnedest to keep up, prove his worth, but the pay-off was not enough. If Ultron had taught him anything, it was how precious time was, and how easily it could be taken away from him and his family. Confessing as much to his wife when they'd retreated to the homestead, he knew the time had arrived to make a real decision about where he wanted to be, what place he wanted to fill. He no longer was as desperate to keep his spot, to be in the thick of it. He gave it his all, and it was time for the team to give back to him. His resignation, or at least partial retirement (he decided to leave the verbiage up to those processing the paperwork), was handed in with no regrets. Officially, he would be termed as a consultant, his pay maintained to support his family, but otherwise severing his ties from the field work. That part did not bother him overmuch. Saying good-bye was the only thing that detracted from the idea of finally leaving.
Each team member was accorded a farewell, with the obvious exclusion of Banner and the new members, who wished him well from a distance. Stark and Rogers were a bit more reserved in their good-byes, shoulder clasps and handshakes apiece, while the Odinson had squeezed him in an unbearably hard hug. Natasha merely looked upon him, blue eyes focusing on him intently, the barest hint of a grin curving her lips. As one, they nodded to each other, an understanding reached without a single word spoken. Before he departed to catch his flight, he did manage to catch his erstwhile self-defense pupil, expressing his apologies for not being able to stick around and teach her more useful stuff, as well as missing her nuptials to the captain. She'd shrugged it off, a swift gleam of sorrow glazing her gaze even as she attempted to smile and wish him luck. Gesturing for her phone, he took it when she gave it to him, plugging in a number.
"In case you do need to reach me, if you have any questions, this is my private line," he told her, handing it back. Slinging an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her in for a swift embrace, short so as to not prolong the twist of pain that was rising higher and higher with each good-bye. For a second or two, he debated saying what he was going to say next, but ultimately decided the kid had earned his trust. "Just so you know, if my wife answers, she may tie you up for awhile. She'll probably have a few questions of her own to ask you."
The look of shock decorating Holly's face as he drew away and shouldered his bag nearly made him laugh out loud, but he settled for a smirk and flick of his fingers as he pivoted on his heel, striding to the elevator. He was certain a phone call asking him to clarify would be in his future, but that would come later. The real surprise of his farewells came in the form of Wanda Maximoff. She'd met him at the door, just before he could exit the Tower. Like Nat, she did not have much to say. Instead, the red mists around her swirled and filtered, for once impressing her feelings upon him. Gratitude and grace filled him, and before he could structure a reply, her arms wrapped around his middle, her face burying into his shoulder. Her muffled thanks was whispered, barely audible, but in his head it had amplified so much that it seemed to have been shouted on a loudspeaker. He'd given her strength, hope. In his own way, in a short time, he had helped steady her, showed her how to find the depths of her courage and pull from it to make it her own. There was little else she could say or do. The last of his reticence, little though it was, melted away, and the witch was just simply a girl to him. A girl with extraordinary talent, and a promise for better things on the horizon. Very much like others he'd met before, and like some he would no doubt meet in the future. Softly, he returned her embrace, leaving her with no more than a smile as he finally got into the cab that would take him away to the airport.
Five and a half hours in total it had all taken, and now, he was home. Home again, home again.
"Jiggity, jig," he muttered under his breath, his boots crunching on the gravel of his driveway, pattering carefully up to the farmhouse at the end of the track, the weathered barn untouched and the lawn in a good need of a cutting. Later, he would see to the chores, set whatever he could to rights. There were other important matters to tend to. Climbing the front steps to the porch, he narrowly avoided the bat and ball left there from the day before, his hand turning the front knob silently. Avoiding the creaky slats of the floor, he tiptoed to the main archway, looking on his home with weary satisfaction. His boy and girl were curled up on opposite ends of the couch, dutifully reading as his wife instructed them to every morning before starting the homeschooling lessons for the day. Neither had noted his presence, so absorbed in their stories that the rest of the world ceased to be around them. A muted clank came from the kitchen, and his gaze tracked away from the kids to the woman, one hand on the kettle she just rinsed out and the other resting on the nearby counter. Deftly, he picked up the motion of her fingers, the way her thumb moved along the inside of the wedding ring perched there and making it shift. It was a habit she always had, fiddling with things when her thoughts were anxious. Years of insecurities and lack of assurances weighed down on her, that one little movement the only outward manifestation of her worry. Worry for him, maybe? Yes, partly; there was more going on in her life than just the high stress of his job. Well, used-to-be job. Perhaps it was time to assuage those fears.
Purposefully, he applied pressure with his left foot, the tiniest squeak of the floorboard underneath catching her attention. Turning carefully, her hand clenched in wariness, ready to swing or grab whatever she needed to protect her children and herself from an intruder, but it relaxed the instant her eyes met his. Long brown hair shifted over her shoulders as her head dipped, the bloom of love and relief hitting him full force. A true, happy smile spread over his lips, his chin dipping at her.
"Laura, kids," he murmured, raising his voice enough to break the children's reverie and dropping his bag to the ground. Immediately, Cooper and Lila's heads jerked up, the joy overflowing as they sprang from their spots on the sofa, books long forgotten in their haste to get to their father. Crouching down, Clint wasted no time in gathering his kids into his arms, holding them tightly and wishing to never let them go.
"Daddy! You're back!" Lila cried into his ear, arms looping around his neck and nearly shoving her brother out of the way. For his part, Cooper accepted the gracelessness of his sister, instead coming around to his father's other side and hugging him around the waist. A kiss was pressed into the little girl's hair, their smiles growing ever-wider as he held them for a moment longer. Gently, he put his daughter down, kneeling on the floor to be eye level with her.
"Yep, for a long time," he said, tucking an errant strand of her light brown hair behind her ear. Glancing up, he noticed the look of concentration on Cooper's face, the skepticism inside it making his heart twist.
"For how long?" his son inquired, the reluctance to ask very clear in his voice. His dad's work meant he often wasn't home, and when he was home, he never stayed around for more than a few weeks at a time. Would this just be another quick visit, one that would make it harder for them to let him go, that tore them up just a bit more than the last time did? Steadily, Clint met Cooper's gaze, bright blue meeting light brown with surety.
"For as long as you want me, kiddo," he pronounced, glimpsing his wife as she walked over to them all, reaching out to take her hand in his. His thumb swept over her knuckles, bringing them to his lips before standing up. Tears glittered in her eyes even as she grinned at him, cupping his face and pulling him down for a kiss, the disgusted groans of their children making her giggle.
"I suppose we could keep you around for awhile," Laura replied, noticing the lack of equipment and uniform amongst his things. The promise he'd made her before leaving, he had returned to keep. He had to make sure he knew what he wanted, from the team and from himself. It appeared that he had found his answer. Her hand dropped from his face, forefinger pointing downward. "You made it in time."
Looking down at the curve of her belly, he let out a short sigh. The baby was due within the month, and what had nagged him while he was completing relief follow-up the most was the thought that he would miss the birth of his second son. When Cooper was born, he was halfway across the world, stuck in an enemy hideout without food, backup, and having no idea if he would ever get to meet his child. With Lila, he was late by ten minutes, Nat having driven him from the airport to the hospital like a deranged maniac just to get him there at all. This time, he would be there. This time, he would be with his family as they grew.
"Yeah...I did," he said, palm resting on her stomach, the briefest flutter of movement sending a jolt of pure happiness through him. Clint knew where he needed to be, where his place was on the earth. It was there, in that farmhouse, with the woman he loved and the children they adored. With the child still yet to come. Pecking her temple, he cast another look around his home, his focus settling on the archway leading off the kitchen. "Hey, Laur, what do you think about me re-purposing the dining room?"
Her answering snicker tempered the exasperated roll of her eyes, her hand linking with his and drawing him farther into the room.
"Finish the floors first, and then we'll talk," she stipulated, nodding for the kids to go and gather up the projects they'd worked on since he'd left. As the clattering up the stairs dimmed, she stretched up to kiss him again, all repressed emotion flooding from her to him in that instant. Leaving him breathless, her arms linked around his shoulders, chin resting there as he held her tightly. "Welcome home, Clint."
xXxXxXx
Blowing out a breath, Holly leaned against the bare wall of her bedroom, pulling the binder from her short ponytail. Attempting to tame her waves in the rising humidity of the day and tie securely again, she made short work of the task. Brushing down her t-shirt, she cast a glance around the room, scanning for anything she might have overlooked. It was unlikely, given that a good majority of her things were already out, but it never hurt to check. From down the hall, she heard the huff of her companion, the groan and shift of a heavy box of belongings being dropped to the ground. She winced despite knowing the box in question would not be holding anything valuable. Peering around the doorjamb, she met the green gaze of Sarah, blonde curls swinging her pigtails as she shook her head.
"Not much left, huh?" she called out, flapping a hand at the remainder of the apartment.
"Nope, just scrubbing down the bathroom and then we're done," Holly murmured, an upsurge of relief spreading through her. Mulling it over further, she shrugged a shoulder. "Well, after a last sweep."
With everything in her life accelerating, rocketing towards the future she was forging with Steve, she knew that she could not delay the inevitable. Much as she hated the moving process (and who didn't really?), it was necessary. Given how frustrated her landlord had been over the window-cutting incident last September, and the subsequent implication of Stark tech in his buildings, he was visibly pleased when she went to the leasing office and announced her intentions to break lease. Frankly, the promise of trouble looming on the horizon, not to mention the fanboys who littered the grounds every now and again, was not worth protesting the loss of rent. He gave her until the 31st to be gone, strongly encouraging her to leave before then. The process was unfortunately drawn out; Holly had few reasons to be grateful to be lack employment before June, but in that instance, she was more than happy for it. Finding the time to drive five hours just to pack up and haul stuff back the way she'd came was just irritating.
For a moment, she envied Sam Wilson; while he was making the location change just as she was, he was not about to sell his house. Instead, a cousin of his would be taking up residence, paying him so he could continue to send in mortgage checks and keep his home that way. His moving process involved a lot less stuff being shunted from one place to another. Meanwhile, her things would be split between the captain's quarters at the Tower, and the smaller suite of rooms set up for them at the new base. The very least she could be glad about was Sarah kindly offering her time and help to get the major furniture prepared for shipping, and the little things into boxes. Steve helped as much as he could, but the last Saturday of the month was when the last major components for the new base were to be transported, and he had to go with it. She would be driving back to the Tower that night, departing for the new base the next morning.
Sarah quirked an eyebrow, her voice cutting across her friend's thoughts. "Last sweep?"
Shaken back to the present, Holly nodded, pulling her phone out and tapping through her apps to find the one connected to the cameras installed in the apartment.
"Gotta get the security cams off the walls. They're Stark tech, and worth quite a bit of money. Money that I don't have to replace if I leave them behind," she reminded Sarah, the petite blonde canting her head as she recalled their existence. "Plus, the new tenants probably won't appreciate potentially spied on by Tony."
"Would he do that?"
"Not to my knowledge. If he did, he'd have a lot more ammo to tease Steve and me with. You know, if he didn't think his retinas would be burned out of their sockets from the free show." The deadpan look Holly shot Sarah caused the smaller woman to crack a grin, and soon enough both of them were chuckling at the billionaire's words. "Believe me, he's very vocal about not tapping into these particular cameras."
An eye roll came after that, and a few fingers flicked in the air, brushing off the statement. "Okay, like I've said before, the idea of the tech's cool, but it's a little weird that this clearly was a conversation you had, and it seems normal to you all."
There was nothing Holly could do but shrug at that. She had a point, after all. Such conversations were definitely becoming the norm in her life, and there was little she could do to change that. Or, more accurately, she did not want to change that. Pulling up the schematic that had been laid down months ago in her phone, she pointed at various spots, going to the bathroom boxes and removing a couple pairs of tweezers. Handing off a pair to Sarah, she showed her the planted cameras along sills and arches, gently prying away the ones by the living room windows and front door while her friend went into the kitchen and dining nook to do her share. Each camera was deposited into an envelope prepared for the task, to be kept safe for the time being.
Soon enough, the entire apartment was cleaned and scrubbed down, bathroom accoutrements and other assorted items moved into the trunk and back seat of Holly's car. For a long moment, she stood in the living room, turning slowly in a circle as she stared at the scrubbed walls and scuffed floors. Five years she had lived there, and they were good years, full of every little emotion and change that had been wrought in her life. It had been a haven, a refuge, not only just for her but for the people in her life. Scattered memories flashed in her mind, movies with Sarah overtaken by dinners with Steve, the crash of the shield and Bucky crumpling onto her floor. Images of friends, family, filtered in and out, making the place fill out into a real home. The image of a ring dropping into her hand rose, shaking fingers taking hers as she said yes. From the doorway, Sarah cleared her throat, quietly reminding her that the landlord was waiting for the return of the keys. Coughing once, Holly nodded, stepping away from the space, from the memories there. Her thumb ran along the wall as she walked, and with a final clunk (and a discreet wipe of the eyes) the lock slid into place. Her fingers worked at the keyring in hand as she went, small curses sputtered under her breath as she eventually got it and the mail key loose.
With the small things returned and her forwarding address given, Holly noted the shift of the sun, the afternoon continuing to shift to evening. Having a few hours free before she had to get on the road again, she and Sarah went around the city. Mostly it was just that: driving around, watching familiar signs and sights go by, anonymity retained as they went along, songs on the radio filling in the silence when their chatter petered off. After grabbing something to eat at one of the fast food places, Holly suggested going to the National Mall for a bit. It was pretty there, in the early summer, and she wouldn't be able to see it again for awhile. Sarah agreed to the idea, and within a half hour they were perched on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, staring out towards the tree-lined reflecting pool and the people making laps around it. The unseeing eyes of the president loomed behind them, the columns surrounding the statue helping to obscure them from sight as they sat and stared ahead of them. For a long time, neither of them spoke, instead sitting side-by-side in silence. Occasionally one would nudge the other, pointing obviously at the monuments or shouldering giant cameras and trying not to trip up the steps as they went.
"Thanks, Sare," Holly piped up, her friend's attention diverted from the glistening waters before them. A hesitant half-smile greeted her words, eyebrows inclining slightly.
"For what?"
The brunette shrugged, cupping a palm in the air. "For indulging me in this cheesy, last-minute touristy thing I wanted to do."
Sarah snorted, sitting up straighter and a glint of humor slanting over her eyes. "I'm just here to watch you get more and more aggravated with people when they narrowly miss running into you in front of Lincoln. The cool view is an added bonus."
Holly barked out a laugh at that, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees. Another beat or two passed before Sarah spoke again, her gaze softening slightly.
"Can't believe you're leaving."
Glimpsing her out the corner of her eye, Holly's lips twisted. "You've had three weeks to adjust. But I know what you mean. It's..."
She trailed off, the words escaping her for the moment. There were too many emotions and descriptions for her situation that narrowing it down was difficult.
"Scary?" prompted Sarah, tugging on a blonde curl that had worked its way out of her pigtails. Tilting her head to the left, the other woman considered it.
"And exciting, and different, and...a lot of other good words that I can't think of."
"A writer who can't think of descriptors?" tutted the blonde, shaking her head and clicking her tongue. "Shame on you."
A low chuckle came out of Holly's mouth, eyes fastening on her worn sneakers. "Yes, how dare I?"
"Moving, starting a new job...and getting married in another couple of weeks. You're insane."
"I thought we established that a long time ago."
"I'm in shock that you're even conscious right now," Sarah intoned, the seriousness of her voice countered by the playful poke she gave her in the arm.
"Coffee has been my constant companion for over a month now," was the confession, and she could attest to the truth of it. Holly had been fueled by so much caffeine since the beginning of May that her tolerance for it had risen sharply; it had to, given how much she had going on at once and trying to keep things from toppling over. A shoulder lifted, a sweet smile creasing her lips as she looked at her friend again. Gently, she laid a palm on Sarah's shoulder, squeezing it for emphasis. "And it helps to have some really great people to rely on."
In spite of her resolve, the blonde felt a a few tears prick at her eyelids. Staunchly forcing them down and pushing out a grin, she groaned, "Okay, you're making the moment cheesier than before."
Her shoulder was squeezed once more, and then Holly's hand was dropping back into her lap. After a moment or two, Sarah nudged her with her elbow, nodding to indicate a passing gaggle of teenage girls, their bright chatter broken by their rising cell phones and calls to get into the frame as they snapped a picture. A night out, away from parents, away from school and other responsibilities, their futures assured in their eyes. Both of the older girls smiled at the group's banter, with them moving along swiftly as one of their number pointed across the way towards the trees lining the pool.
"What am I gonna do without you around?" whispered Sarah, the tears she was holding back threatening to break free. Holly's lashes fluttered, red coming into her cheeks as she felt the well of emotion climb up in her. She had no real answers for her best friend of five years; it wasn't the first time, but she honestly wished she had something to tell her, to reassure her. This, this was what she had been dreading about moving: saying farewell to her. It stuck in her throat, and clearing it barely helped.
"Dunno," she murmured eventually, tapping a finger on her knee and sighing inaudibly. Guess you're just going to have to come up to New York more often if you want to see me."
"That could happen." An arm slung around Holly's shoulders and Sarah sighed again. "I'm gonna miss you."
"I'll miss you, too, Sare," Holly told her, the honesty hitting them full force. It would be tough, living far away from her best friend, but they would manage. It was the age of technology, after all; video calls and texts and maybe even a trip or two into the city would happen. It would be different; if she could make it work with Steve for nearly nine months, she could keep in touch with Sarah. A thought came to her, and she wagged a finger playfully as she shifted forward subtly in her seat. "But not for too long...still have that down-to-the-wire bachelorette party to have."
Taking that as her cue, Sarah rose from her spot on the steps, proffering a hand to help Holly up. "You're lucky I like you enough to plan that."
"Yep, I know," she said, taking the petite woman's hand and hauling herself up. Slowly, they made their way down the steps, the glow of the sinking sun filtering around them as they headed back to where she'd parked the car. "Heck, if it comes down to getting drunk on wine and watching rom-coms with a cheese plate, I'll be happy."
Sarah snorted loudly. "Oh, please. I'll be trying a little harder than that."
It was only a short drive (in relative terms; city driving was so varied) back to Sarah's place, the brunette and the blonde saying no more as the Buick rolled into the parking lot. Shifting into park, Holly turned in her seat to look at her friend, the inevitable moment arriving. To her credit, Sarah did not burst into tears. She was made of sterner stuff, and she would not spoil the upturn of her companion's future with unnecessary bawling. Rather, she just unclasped her seat belt and leaned over, looping her arms around her and holding on tightly as she hugged her back.
"Safe travels. Call me when you get there," she said, the request a common one she had made over the years. Even if she hated the idea of Holly leaving, she didn't want her to run into trouble on the way out. A hand patted her back, and her eyelids slammed shut as she heard Holly cough to rid herself of the thickness in her throat. "And tell Steve I said hi."
"I will," she breathed, letting go slowly. "Bye, Sare."
"See you in a couple weeks, Holl," she promised, opening the door and climbing out of the car. As she let it slam shut, she gave her best friend a watery smile, the wave of her fingers returned after a few seconds. The subtle shift of the car's gears came soon after, and the Buick began to accelerate away from the curb, one last wave on the other side of the glass sent her way. The vehicle turned a corner, vanishing from sight, and with a shaky breath, Sarah pivoted on her heel, stepping up to her own apartment, her own home. There was still quite a bit for her to do, and she would not waste time on tears. They would see each other again very soon.
That in mind, she straightened her stance and went inside, the outer door of the building locking behind her with a click.
xXxXxXx
Waking up from a deep sleep was not gradual in the case of Steve Rogers. A little after three o'clock in the morning on June 1st, his eyes just snapped open, the inky darkness of the bedroom. Groggy, he reflexively slid a hand through his hair, tousling it more as he moaned in frustration. There was no reason to be up at that hour, not that day. Dropping his hand onto the comforter, it thumped down against the mattress. Curiously, it had not accidentally landed on the slumbering form of his fiancée; in fact, her side of the bed felt cool and empty. After moving for two straight days, he had thought she was exhausted, and would maybe actually sleep through the night in spite of being in a new place. Evidently, that was not the case. His brow furrowed in the darkness, and in turn he rolled onto his side, wanting to rise and figure out where she had gone.
Turning on the lamp on his bedside table, Steve blinked blearily as he sat up, confusion flooding through him. Pushing the sheets back, he climbed out of the bed, scrubbing his face as he exited the room. In the hall, his foot brushed against a stack of boxes that still had yet to be unpacked, the scrape against his skin making him mutter curses under his breath. Though a good portion of their things had been put away, there still a good amount left, so they had sectioned it off by rooms. Thus far, the bathroom and kitchen were taken care of, and the bedroom was partially finished with (mostly in that they had a change of clothes for the next day, and Holly's bed had been brought in to replace the one installed there already. Steve may not have been a huge fan of mattresses, but he found that he slept better on her bed than on any other). Looking from left to right, he peered into the private office space and the bathroom, with no evidence of another person within. The kitchen area and living room were likewise empty, and he frowned to himself. Scanning around again, he spotted a piece of notebook paper left on the nearby counter. Looking at the looping scrawl, he sighed to himself, reassuring himself of Holly's absence and therefore her safety. She had gone exploring, she had written, and she did not intend to be gone too long. If he woke up before she got back, she wanted to let him know that she was just in the base somewhere, having a look around.
Shaking his head, Steve went back into the bedroom, pulling on a pair of sweats over his boxers and grabbing his phone. Wandering back into the front hall, he pocketed his keys and slipped his running shoes on before exiting the quarters. Sliding the lock behind him, he tapped into his phone, contacting the new AI in charge of the security of the new base. After a few seconds, it had found Holly, his eyebrows inclining as it revealed her location: on the rooftop, near the helicopter landing pad. Slowly, he wound his way down the long halls, taking the emergency stairs two at a time as he went. Going through the propped-open door, he made sure the block of wood was still in place as he maneuvered over it. Exhausted blue eyes trailed around the pad as he walked around the helicopter, an A branded on its side and lit up by a couple of flood lights. Soon enough, he spotted a woman at the far rail, her wavy hair freed from bonds and stirring in the wind. She leaned forward, staring out into the blackness of the night, focusing beyond the reach of the sparse outdoor lights of the base and on the mountains just beyond the bounds of the property, a dark swatch blotting out the stars that could be seen. Treading softly, he stopped a few feet behind her, watching her shift in her sandals, admiring the tilt of her hips beneath the sweats and the line of her back against the material of her shirt as she settled again. It battled against the tiredness of his mind, his jaw and tongue loosening.
"You're up early."
Turning quickly at the sound of his voice, Holly's look of surprise faded away, replaced by a tired grin. Gesturing for him to join her at the rail, she waited to speak until he was beside her, mimicking her posture from earlier and letting his arms rest on the cool metal.
"Couldn't help it," she murmured, a knowing glance shot at him. He understood all too well her inability to sleep soundly in new places, so he wasn't terribly surprised that she'd done so. Her thumb tapped at the rail as she went on, "Since I couldn't fall back asleep, I decided to take a look around while it was still fairly quiet around here."
A half-smile curled his lips. "Even with everybody setting up today, it will still be quieter than the city."
"True," Holly replied, exhaling softly. Shuffling sideways, she tiled her head, letting rest upon his shoulder. Tipping her chin towards the black shapes beyond the light, she said, "It's very pretty, or at least it is during the day. Never thought I'd live near mountains."
"Me, either."
True enough. Back when he was no more than that little guy from Brooklyn, he never imagined a future in which he'd live upstate, let alone near a mountain range. Hell, back in the day, he could barely imagine a future where he wouldn't be stuck in the cramped tenement he shared with his mother, the broke, Irish-American boy destined to live and die in the city. It was a new experience, he could say that much.
"I mean, the freakin' Adirondacks are right there, Steve," Holly emphasized, jerking her thumb out towards the range in question.
Chuckling a little at her upsurge of enthusiasm, he remarked, "Yes, dear, I know."
A breeze stirred the trees in the darkness, the shifts of the branches reaching their ears as the wind moved past them, gliding over the man and woman standing on the rooftop, their sleep clothes stirred. The heat of summer had not fully pierced the place, and so it was a bit chillier than one would have expected. Beside him, Holly attempted to repress a shiver, disguising it as best she could by stiffening her spine and tucking her hair behind her ear. Not fooled in the slightest, Steve tucked his arm around her, pulling her closer to share his heat and warm her up a little. Without hesitation, she leaned into his embrace, an arm looping around his back and squeezing him in silent thanks.
"Ready for today?" Holly inquired, an edge of nervousness in her voice. It was to be the official opening of the new base, with agents and trainees coming in to start work, doctors and office workers preparing to set up shop and represent the team with the best of their ability. The new Avengers would be put through trials to determine the amount of training they would receive as the day-to-day operations were structured around them. It was the start of something new for both of them, in a way, and she knew for a fact that she was a little tense about the possibilities.
Steve let out a sharp breath, canting his head to the side. "I could say I was born ready, but that is both corny and...patently untrue."
"But still..." she trailed off, watching him as he turned the notion over in his head.
"Still, I think I am, yeah. And you?"
"Considering that my work doesn't actually start until tomorrow, yeah. I'm ready to stake my desk and do tech hook-up."
"Not to mention meet the people you'll be working with," he pointed out helpfully. A muted groan bubbled up in her chest.
"Oh, yeah," she said, the tenor of her voice turning uncertain. "God, I hope they don't suck."
"There you go. Remain positive," he murmured, smiling blandly at the skeptical glance she shot up at him. Dropping a peck in her hair, he inhaled carefully. "Your coworkers will probably be no worse than mine."
A snort shot out of her, dark eyes warming as she looked into his blue. "Glad to know I can count on your support, sweetheart."
A hand came up to cup her chin, drawing her into a sweet, slow kiss, lips parting beneath his as his fingers slid back into her hair. She gripped at his shirt, balling up as she pressed against him, the length of her body molding to his. A minute or two passed before he pulled away, the haze in his eyes reflecting adoration, and something deeper. Bussing her lips once more, he rested his forehead against hers, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close.
"Always. C'mon, let's get back to bed," he said, bodily turning them both from the railing. His hand slipped around her waist as they walked around the helicopter, the heat of his palm bleeding into her shirt. "There might be something we can do to get you to fall asleep."
"Oh, and what would that be?" she asked, looking up at him with half-lidded eyes. Her own grip around him tightened minutely, the sway of her body moving with his. A playful grin cropped up on his face, a mischievous glint in his gaze.
"I've heard a glass of warm milk can do the trick."
The appeal of the idea to her was apparent from the way her face scrunched up in distaste. "Ew."
"Don't knock it until you've tried it," he retorted, a silent snicker wracking him as she clicked her tongue at him. Arm in arm, he guided her back inside, the cavernous stairwell and empty hallways echoing their soft footfalls as they went.
xXxXxXx
The orange and black Audi turned off the main road, finally off the freeway for the first time in over three hours. The melting of the cityscape into greenery and scattered towns was jarring, and made the driver a little nervous the farther away he got. Still, that would not deter him from making the trip...even if he was deliberately toeing the line in regards to his probationary status in going. Eh, Tony resolved to stay out of the labs; no sense in actively pushing it.
The new Avengers base was miles away from the nearest town, set upon the framework of an old Stark Industries storage facility. Relocation of the product left over was not difficult, as there was little left there to begin with; the site's popularity had dwindled since the early nineties, and this just gave him the excuse to get the last of it out. As he negotiated a left turn onto a frontage road, glancing in his mirrors as he went, he let out a breath. He had not been there in some time to oversee the last few weeks of work, indeed, the panes of glass were being shipped out the last he'd heard, still to be placed on the eastern walls. It made him nervous,though he would not show it. The dark brown of his irises reflected relief as he broke past the treed lane, the dirt road winding up to the bright and clean building at the end of it. The silver A on the broad, white wall of the main facility stood proud in the midday light, a clean contrast to the unending walls of trees on the edges of the property, the mountains looming in the distance. Tapping a button on his steering wheel, he overrode the opening mechanics of the garage door, it sliding back in time for him to enter it with care and precision. The rumble of a landing quinjet penetrated through the shell of his vehicle, causing him to jump slightly. Refusing to be miffed by the noise, Tony merely cleared his throat to himself, brushing down the jacket over his layered tee and clipping his shades onto his collar before stepping out of the car. Glancing around the vast space, he bent down and reached into the center console, removing the remote tracker for the vehicle and straightening in time for a familiar baritone to call out to him in greeting. Spotting the tall, blond fellow, the billionaire snorted. Steve Rogers was already suited up for the day, heavy boots tromping and the star on the center of his chest flashing. Obviously it had been freshly cleaned, thankfully, and obviously the little missus-to-be had not been able to persuade him into wearing normal clothes for the day. Oh, well, wasn't any of his business, and he merely tutted to himself under his breath.
"Hey, Cap," he returned, tapping Steve's shoulder when he got close enough. "Shouldn't you be off rallying the troops or something?"
"Believe me, the troops are more than capable of getting themselves together," Rogers retorted lightly, a smirk decorating his mouth. The others were occupied with tidying their own spaces, watched over by Natasha and Fury in the interim. Tipping his head back towards the door he'd come out of, he continued, "Let's go make the rounds."
It was no secret that Stark would be arriving for a short tour. He intended to cast his eye around the place, catch the detail that had been missed in the hasty assembly of the facility and order more work to be done as needed. As well as that, he was curious as to the number of people who would be on the payroll for the foreseeable future. Shortly put, he was nosy and he was curious—a deadly combination that had plagued him for much of his life. In certain endeavors, of course.
"Friend Stark! I'm pleased you came!" Thor cried upon seeing him coming into the main facility. A bone-crushing embrace was dealt to him. Normally, he would've objected or even squirmed, but as the god was scheduled to be leaving the earth after the final inspection of the new base, he couldn't begrudge him the hug. Instead, he just shifted awkwardly, patting the behemoth of a fellow on his back and managing a small grin once he was released.
"Well, I do own the place, technically; wouldn't be a good landlord if I didn't check it out on opening day," Tony replied, tucking his hands into his pockets and shifting in his stance.
"Despite having your tenants move in beforehand?" Steve rejoined, grinning at his roll of the eyes and gesturing for him to follow.
All in all, the facilities were impressive, even more so for the compressed time frame it was built in. The design of it had allowed for an underground garage expansion, the entrance off the frontage road disappearing into a roll of hill. Landing platforms were built on the ground, a helicopter pad on the roof that would lead from a large service elevator down to the open spaces of the offices, and hospital bay. Conference rooms opened up from the main halls, acting as temporary holding stations for computers and bins as agents scurried around, finding places for everything. Labs were scattered sporadically throughout the building, varying from weapons work to robotics depending upon which floor you visited. A large training arena with all the latest gadgetry and equipment took up the eastern side of the building, the large glass panes installed on time and thick enough to withstand most wayward shots, even in mock battle. They were also tinted to discourage gawkers from trying to get a peek inside as the heroes went about their work. The private apartments in the back weren't nearly as spacious as the ones available in the Tower, but they were comfortable for those who elected to live onsite. A good number of the hired agents and laboratory techs had chosen to commute to work, scattering across the towns closest to the base, but the team members had rooms on reserve indefinitely, as well as the upper management.
The talk amongst the three males making the survey had shifted from the staff (Helen Cho had arrived the night before, but was eager to get her work station set up, and Dr. Selvig had a team of college students trailing behind him as they passed) to the future of the new team. There had been long discussions over the last few weeks in regards to what should be done about the Vision. The creature had, thus far, posed no threat to his fellow teammates, but the jewel encased upon his forehead still gave them pause. If what Thor had said was true, then it could potentially be a disaster waiting to happen. The god, however, was of the mind that the android could be trusted. After all, he had wielded Mjolnir; if he was deemed worthy of that, then why should he not live and keep the stone in which the greatest source of his power came from? However, that merely reopened the Mjolnir debate from the end of the last month and what it could truly deem worthy. Thor let the conversation go on, chuckling to himself. Since the captain and Stark agreed upon so little, it was worth the ribbing they were giving him about it all.
"In spite of the speculation, I am saddened to leave," he expressed a short time later, blue eyes clouding over as he spoke.
"You don't have to. I mean, there's that whole Cap-getting-hitched thing happening in a couple weeks," Tony pointed out quickly, betraying his wish for his friend to stay in that instant. "You sure you can't stick around? A few days wouldn't make too much of a difference."
"As much as I regret missing the happy day, I must go, Friend Stark, Friend Steve," Thor reiterated, nodding to each man in turn. A wistful smile was sent in the captain's direction, his sorrow clear, but his resolve swiftly returned. It hardened his face as he considered his dreams of late, of the birth of the Vision and the resulting power showed in the Mind Stone. That he had to go was beyond question, even if he loathed parting from those he cared about (the last good-bye he'd shared with Jane just days ago still tore at his heart). "A startling number of the Infinity Stones have appeared in the last four years alone. To say it's troubling is—"
"—An understatement," Stark supplied, his mouth set in a grim line as he pondered it. Thor nodded, the loose strands of his hair swaying as he did so. Steve said nothing, but the grimace he sported was enough to go by. Pressing a hidden button on the interior wall, the glass panels of the hall they were striding down opened, allowing a flood of fresh air to stream in as they stepped out onto the grounds. On the upper deck, a group of trainees sprinted by, their instructor barking at them to keep up as they went. A cloud of dust was dissipating on the frontage road nearby; evidently, the last of the truck hauling in equipment had arrived, their streaked hulls peeking out from the other side of the hill.
"Yes. This feels too...orchestrated to be mere chance," Thor confessed, his brow screwing up in concentration. Everything, from Loki's attempted congress of Midgard up until Ultron, seemed to be connected, a force behind every event hovering just beyond sight in his mind. And that made him uneasy, for the earth and for his friends upon it. "An unknown hand is pushing us across the board, ever closer. Towards what I do not know. "
"Yet," Steve countered, consideration in his expression. "But there's a good chance you can figure it out?"
The god smiled ruefully, stepping away from them. "Better than most. I wish you well, my friends, while I am gone." His focus latched on one fellow, then the other, as he squared his stance and spread his feet. "In all that you do."
"Good luck," the captain said, he and the billionaire instinctively backing away a few feet as the air around them began to pop and crack. The smell of ozone crashed through the air, the hairs on the backs of their necks standing up as Thor raised his hand to the sky, Mjolnir extended. The rush and whirl of the wind caught his cape, billowing it out as the portal away from the world opened. In a moment, he disappeared in a flash of color and brightness, the effect of the portal leaving emptiness and a peculiar design in the grass.
Tony raised an eyebrow, putting on his sunglasses and shaking his head. "Should I call the landscaping crew now or later?"
Blinking, Steve shrugged a shoulder. "I don't know; maybe we should leave it. It could act as a landing spot for him when he comes back."
"At least it looks interesting," the billionaire muttered, taking the remote out of his pocket and clicking it twice. The garage door to the frontage road popped open, and soon enough his car came rolling out, unmanned. Used to the genius' machinations, Steve barely allowed a flicker of surprise to show on his face. Ignoring the look the captain shot him, Tony canted his head and went on, "It'll be a lot quieter without him around, too. So many coming and going in such a short span of time."
"Everything changes, whether we want it to or not," the captain said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Sometimes for the better," Stark remarked, frowning a little to himself. At Pepper's request, he'd started seeing a licensed therapist (since Banner was gone for the time being), and while he wasn't overly pleased with having to do so, he accorded the guy some respect. He just didn't realize he'd accorded him enough to begin reflecting the guy's slightly-upbeat attitude. Flapping a hand in the air, he murmured, "Maybe Barton's got it right; living out in the middle of nowhere, little house, family...people you care about around you."
"There's a reason why the idea holds so much appeal, and has for a long time."
"Don't know if that will ever be my speed," muttered Tony, his posture stiffening as he paused in his steps. Glancing slyly at the captain, he said, "I figured it'd be yours, with your eventual missus, but...here you are, still. Both of you."
Steve's bright gaze dropped to the ground for a moment as he thought about it, reflected on the truth of his colleague's words. "What I wanted then, and what I have and need to do now...are very different. We're figuring it out, one step at a time."
"Some pretty fast steps, as far as some things go. Can't blame you for it, though." The fellow inclined his head towards the facility, affording himself one more look. "But for now, you're both set on calling this home?"
For a moment, Steve looked beyond him, towards the base. It was as if his gaze could pierce through the fire block and concrete, beyond the milling masses to the bank of offices on the first floor, where the archives department was set up. As if he could see the pretty brunette bent over her computer, lines creasing her forehead as she concentrated on work, a hand scrubbing at it and an easy laugh pouring out when someone pointed it out to her. After a few seconds, his blue gaze shifted back to the man in front of him, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"If I'm with her, any place is home to me."
The silence that followed sat between them, with Stark's eyes widening beneath the glasses and Steve's honesty lacing his entire person.
"Wow..." Tony breathed out. Raising an eyebrow, he wondered, "I'm curious, which title would you object to me calling you less: The Cheese King or Sultan of Sap?"
Steve snorted. "Fire your writer, Stark, you were reaching on that one."
"Can't really do anything about that," the billionaire said, posture relaxing and hand extending. When the captain clasped it and they shook hands, he continued, "See you in a couple weeks, Steve. You'll need to have your game face ready by then. Sam's made some interesting promises about the stag party."
"I'm sure he has," Steve groaned, a laugh coloring his words. Letting go of his grip, he watched as the dark-haired man turned on his heel, opening his car door. "Bye, Tony."
With a final nod, Stark got in and fired up the Audi, roaring down the dirt road and stirring up dust clouds as he went. Instead of feeling annoyance, the captain settled his hands on his belt pack, smirking a little as the engine's revving faded into the distance.
"Hey, Cap, am I gonna have to put the recruits through their paces on my own, or are you coming in?" a feminine voice called from the hallway hatch, and when he turned around, he was met with Natasha's piercing gaze and arched eyebrow. Off her knowing smirk, he simply nodded his head and moved towards her, pulling himself to his full height as he walked.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming, Romanoff."
There would be enough time to ponder the warning in Thor's words, and Stark's reflections on the future. For now, there was work to be done. The new team was not ready for the major leagues yet, but they could get a good start that day.
A/N: So this is the official end of all the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, albeit with the AU twists. However, this story is not over just yet. We still have a wedding to get to...which we will, very shortly here. And I intend to have some fun with the bachelor party...just saying. ;)
By the way, the section where Holly and Sarah say good-bye—which is not the end of their friendship, but it is still a significant event—took forever to write. Mainly because moving away and leaving friends is hard enough to do, let alone write about. But I hope it turned out alright.
Yep, we're getting back to the sweet and sappy romance part of the story, so I hope you're all okay with that.
I don't own anything from the MCU, nor any other pop culture references mentioned.
Thanks for reading, please review, and I'll see you all for the next one!