The Product of Trauma
Chapter 1: The Missing Town
Natasha was standing alone on the rooftop of the Avengers Campus in upstate New York. Natasha's red hair was blowing in the wind while Natasha remained expressionless. Natasha couldn't help but reflect on the pain of the last five years. Everyone had lost someone. Then, most people got those people back five years later. However, there were a few people who didn't come back and Natasha herself was the reason for one of them.
"I figured I'd find you up here." A familiar voiced said.
Natasha turned around quickly. She relaxed immediately when she noticed that it was Fury.
"What are you doing here, Fury?" Natasha asked.
Nick moved forward several steps. He pulled aside his coat to reveal a white envelope that appeared to be filled with papers.
"I'm unofficially giving you an assignment." Fury stated firmly.
"Who says that I'm working?" Natasha asked sadly.
"I want you back in the game. We could use you for this one."
"What is it? What happened?" Natasha asked.
"It's Maximoff. She along with several other people including Stephen Strange and a new Sword agent I hired, Monica have all disappeared. Not only them but an entire town in New Jersey."
Natasha grabbed the file out of Nick Fury's hands and began to review it.
"I want to ask you to gather a small team. Maybe say you and two others? I want you to investigate the town and try to find Maximoff and the others. The man who is ruling the investigation is a terrible man. He took over Monica's position while she was on the blip and then refused to give it up."
"What a charmer. What's his name?"
"Hayward. Tyler Hayward."
"What authority do I have?" Natasha asked.
"Top. After I came back from the blip, I was offered a position at Sword. I accepted. Now I have full authority."
"How do you want me to play it?" Natasha asked.
"That's up for you to decide. One thing I will toss out is Maximoff lost Vision and her brother. She's also an omega level threat. You may want to try to keep things calm." Fury replied.
"I don't know her well. I know that she's powerful and she must be very devastated. I wish I could speak with Stephen about this."
"You can if you can find him. Our records indicate he was last spotted at Westview. He disappeared after that, so I imagine that he is where Maximoff is."
Natasha finished reading the file and kept it in her hands. She looked at Fury.
"How are you?" Natasha asked gently.
"Scared. I'm scared of what our world has become." Fury said.
Natasha acknowledged Fury gently and then turned away from him.
"You're the best I've got, Natasha. I trust only you with this." Fury added.
Fury then left Natasha alone.
Tony had a great deal to think about as he was headed to the shower. Tony felt a painful sense of regret. It was an emotion so powerful that he couldn't contain himself. Tony had recently lost Pepper. Tony and Pepper broke up due to an affair that Pepper had. Tony could not bare to be with Pepper after that. Tony was intentional about keeping a close relationship with his daughter and Pepper agreed to it. Tony had recently moved back into the Avengers campus. It was as beautiful as he had remembered it but it was hard for him to enjoy it. Tony walked into the men's lockers and removed his clothing. Tony felt a sense of arousal knowing that he was naked. Tony walked over to one of the showerheads. He had purposefully built open showers for the men as Tony was excited to be naked in front of other people. Tony turned on the faucet and let out a comforting sigh as the water ran down his back.
"Hey, Tony." Clint said.
Tony perked up when he saw Clint. Clint had become one of Tony's closest friends lately.
"Oh, hello Legolas." Tony quipped.
"Oh, ha ha." Clint stated.
Tony felt a surge of excitement as he saw Clint remove his clothes revealing a toned, muscular body.
"Damn." Tony swore.
Clint laughed. He walked next to Tony and showered right next to him.
"How are you doing, man?" Clint asked.
"I miss Pepper. I just miss her." Tony answered sadly.
Clint put his right arm on Tony's left shoulder. Clint's eyes met Tony's eyes sympathetically.
"It'll get better. It won't hurt as much as time goes on. It will pass. I know it did for me and it can for you."
Tony was staring directly at Clint's penis. Tony was admiring the shape and size of it.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Tony asked.
"Looks like you're getting better already." Clint replied.
Clint then playfully turned away from Tony.
"I love this view too." Tony said flirtatiously.
"I'll bet you do. Is this why you require nudity in here?" Clint asked.
Tony nodded eagerly.
"It's just so hot. I also think it helps with morale." Tony replied.
Tony's eyes were glued to Clint's huge ass.
"I trust you. I'm also very flattered." Clint said.
Clint turned around again. Tony blushed.
"How long did it take you to feel better after you left your wife?"
Clint sighed. He scratched his head and then grabbed a bar of soap to wash his body.
"It comes and it goes. I'll always miss her but ultimately, it just wasn't safe. Thanos proved that. Who knows who our next enemy will be? That person could have any kind of power and could realistically find my wife and my kids. I had to make the change. I started feeling better about a year after, but it still saddens me sometimes." Clint said.
"I wish there was something I could do to help." Tony said.
"You have. I love this family. I love the Avengers. I love what we all do. It's a good thing that we are here. Threats will likely come to challenge us and we will win." Clint replied.
Natasha walked down to the second floor of the campus. She walked up towards the railing and rested her hands on it. Natasha looked down below but she didn't see anyone. Bruce walked up to her.
"How are you doing, Nat?" He asked.
"Hi Bruce. I'm just thinking about things." Natasha replied.
"What's on your mind?" Bruce asked.
Bruce leaned on the railing slightly and smiled at Natasha. Natasha acknowledged Bruce briefly but she turned away from him.
"I can let you know at the team meeting tonight. I have to do some thinking on my own for a while." Natasha said.
Natasha then abruptly left Bruce on his own. Bruce wanted to go after Natasha but Bruce decided against it. He was aware of the pain and the trauma that Natasha had been through. Bruce was interrupted by his thoughts when he noticed Steve and Clint.
"Looking sexy, Dr. Banner." Tony said.
Bruce blushed and looked down awkwardly at his feet.
"Do you hit on everyone?" Clint asked playfully.
"Yes." Tony said very quickly.
"Are you going to the meeting tonight?" Bruce asked.
"I'll be there. I'm worried about Nat." Clint replied.
"Me too. She's really shaken up." Bruce commented.
Bruce walked down the large marble staircase followed by Clint and Tony. As Bruce made it to the first floor, he saw Maria Hill and Sam Wilson. Bruce smiled at them both.
"Thank you both for coming. Welcome." Bruce said.
"It's good to be here, Dr. Banner." Maria said.
"If Natasha needs my help, I'm there." Sam affirmed.
Clint and Tony brought over five chairs from a backroom. Clint, Tony, Sam, Maria and Bruce all sat in the chairs together. After a few silent minutes, Natasha appeared from another backroom. She acknowledged Sam and Maria briefly.
"Thanks for being here tonight. I just spoke with Fury. There's another crisis. I want to assemble a team, but only me with two other people. It has to be small and discrete." Natasha said.
"Tony's out then." Clint joked.
"What's the crisis?" Maria asked.
"It's Wanda and Stephen and one of Fury's agents. Her name is Monica. The three of them as well as an entire town have gone missing. We don't know much only that they're all in danger. If someone or something gets ahold of Wanda's power, we may not be able to stop it in time." Natasha replied.
Bruce shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Maria looked pensive as she was processing the information. Clint looked at Natasha sadly.
"So what we would do?" Tony asked.
"We would go to the site. It's in a small town. Westview, New Jersey. We go there and try to see if we can make contact with Wanda, Stephen or anyone who could hear us." Natasha replied.
"I'd like to go." Bruce said boldly.
"State your case." Natasha said calmly.
"I know the science. I could help with that. Also, I'm made of Gamma radiation. I could break through any barrier relatively unharmed." Bruce mentioned.
"But what if Wanda manipulates your mind? We can't have her take control of you." Tony said.
"That won't happen again. I'm in control now of my both states. I worked very hard to make that happen. Trust me." Bruce said.
"I want to go. I know Wanda. I may be able to help her." Clint said.
"Clint." Natasha said softly.
"It's okay, Nat. I'll be okay. I've got you there to protect me, right?" Clint asked.
"No, I don't want you to go." Natasha said.
"How do we decide on how goes and who doesn't?" Maria asked.
"A vote seems fair." Sam commented.
"Is there anyone else that wants to go? I hear Bruce and Clint." Natasha said.
"I don't think I could. I really want to help though. It's just my relationship with Fury would make this complicated. I'd be recognized by this team almost immediately." Maria said.
"Wouldn't we all?" Sam asked.
"You all would be seen as Avengers. You are all like celebrities to these people. For me, I'm one of them. They wouldn't trust me." Maria answered.
"I'd like to help too but I don't view myself as a discrete person." Tony said.
"I don't know Wanda or Stephen pretty well. I'd be happy to support though." Sam commented.
"Why don't we choose Bruce and Sam then?" Natasha asked.
"Why does it have to be 3, not 4? I can go with you all too." Clint said.
"No you can't. Clint. You can't go." Natasha said sternly.
"Why not?" Clint asked.
"I can't lose you." Natasha said openly.
Natasha's face turned red and she felt embarrassed. She abruptly walked away from the remaining Avengers.
END CHAPTER ONE
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