Ellie Bishop: Agreed on Carol, she's nothing Thor couldn't handle. Glad the scene was good. Yeah, it won't take much longer for Gwen to figure it out. Yeah, Stan Lee wanted Peter and Gwen to end up together, he even modeled Gwen after his wife but the others writers wanted Peter to end up with Mary-Jane and, well, we know how that happened.

TW: Thank you.

Nonya: Fair enough. Hope you enjoy the story.

Passing Through: Indeed she does. Well, Carol has always been arrogant. Indeed on Wanda and Bucky. Yep.

Guest: LOL! Nice. Glad to hear it on Wanda. Indeed, there hasn't been development since Endgame sadly, excluding NWH. Glad to hear it.

Avengers Compound

Morning

In his office, Steve was watching a news report on Peter's battle with Marko, the caption 'Spider-Man battles Sandman' on the screen.

"Sandman. How long do you think it took them to come up with that one?" Sam asked as he walked up next to Steve. "What do we know about this guy anyway?"

"Flint Marko, serial killer. He was arrested by some Good Samaritans a few weeks ago, was supposed to be transferred to a holding facility until trial. No one can get any answers on how he went missing or how he got powers," Steve explained.

"I smell a cover up," Sam muttered as they continued watching the news. "Any word from Peter?"

"No. He hasn't reached out since we came home. Tony and I wanted to wait to see if he would, but he's clearly made the decision he doesn't want to be part of the Avengers. The least we can do is respect that," Steve said and it was silent for a moment.

"And Marko?" Sam inquired and Steve sighed.

"Tony's been running facial recognition through New York traffic cameras but nothing so far. He'll show up eventually but for the moment, all anyone can do is wait," Steve said tiredly.

New York

Same time

"Pack only what you can carry, the Marshalls are outside, waiting to take you into protective custody," George Stacy said as his wife and daughter came out with bags.

"You're not coming with us?" his wife asked in alarm and George shook his head.

"No, I'm the one who knows the most about Marko. I'm sticking around to run the manhunt while you two are in protective custody."

"Dad-" Gwen started but George wasn't having it.

"This is not up for discussion Gwen. I've been going after this guy for months, I know how he thinks. Now that he's fixated on you, he's not gonna stop until he kills you, he's done this exact pattern with several other girls, and that was without superpowers. And I'm not going to let my daughter be added to Marko's list of victims," George said his voice rising as he spoke. "So for once, do not argue with me and get in the car Gwen."

After a moment, Gwen nodded, realizing for the first time just how much danger she was in. Seeing this, George sighed, softening.

"I'll be in touch. We will get this guy, somehow," George assured her, although he wasn't sure if he was trying to convince them or himself.


A few minutes later, outside the apartment, George watched as he wife and daughter got into the back of a car driven by two US Marshalls.

"We'll keep them safe George, I promise," one of the Marshalls promised and George smiled tightly.

"See that you do," George said.

George then watched as the car drove off, exchanging a sad wave with his wife and daughter as the car drove off until he could no longer see it.

Watching from the roof of a nearby building, Peter watched this before swinging after the car, following it.

Barton Farm

Later that morning

Clint, Laura and their kids were standing outside the house as the Quinjet set down on the farm. After a few moments, the ramp lowered and a familiar redhead walked down.

"Auntie Nat!" Lila said happily, rushing towards her.

"Hi," Natasha said happily once she was on the ground, kneeling down and grapping the little girl in a tight hug.

Following more slowly after Natasha, clutching a duffle bag, Wanda walked down the ramp, looking around nervously. As she reached the grass, Lila spotted Wanda and let go of Natasha, walking over to the older girl.

"Hi. I'm Lila," Lila said in a friendly voice.

"Wanda," Wanda said carefully, trying to swallow her nerves.

"I like your hair," Lila said and Wanda couldn't help but laugh.

"Thank you," Wanda said as the others made their way over.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Clint said dramatically as he reached Wanda. "Good to see you kid."

"Good to see you too," Wanda said with a slight smile at his antics and the pair exchanged a hug.

"Wanda, this is my wife Laura, and my sons Cooper and Nate. You've already met Lila. Everyone, this Wanda," Clint made the introductions as he released Wanda.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you," Laura said, shifting Nate in her arms as she smiled at Wanda. "I've heard a lot about you. It's nice to finally put a name to a face."

"It's nice to meet you too. Thank you for letting me stay here," Wanda said gratefully.

"Oh, I learned my husband had a habit of taking in strays a long time ago," Laura said jokingly, sharing a look with Natasha, who merely smirked.

"Yeah yeah yeah. Come on, let's head inside before we get cold out here," Clint said before they all moved towards the farm.

Asgard

Same time

Thor was looking out over a balcony, deep in thought when he felt a presence walk up beside him.

"You seem troubled," Sif noted in concern and Thor sighed.

"I am troubled. There has been no sign of the Skrulls withdrawing from Earth. The Skrulls, for their faults, are not stupid. I fear what they will do next," Thor said uneasily and there was a moment of silence.

"What will you do if they do not comply?" Sif inquired and Thor grimaced.

"I will have no choice but to declare war against the Skrulls. I do not want to, but I will," Thor said tiredly and a beat passed.

"Then all of Asgard will stand you, as shall I," Sif declared and Thor smiled weakly.

"Thank you Sif. I appreciate that more than you know," Thor said before pausing. "Only now do I realize the burdens that my father shouldered. I wish I would have paid more attention to him then."

Sif opened her mouth but, before she could get a word out, the doors to Thor's room opened and the pair whirled around to see Heimdall walk in.

"I apologize for the intrusion, but we have a problem Thor," Heimdall said and Thor frowned.

"What is it my friend?" Thor asked.

"Talos has not complied with your demands. He has sent the one called Carol Danvers to kill you," Heimdall announced to the shock of the pair. "She has been fed lies and will arrive within twenty minutes."

"I'm aware of Danvers. I should have expected that Talos would send her after me," Thor mused, calling Stormbreaker and Mjolnir to his hands. "I think it is time I meet her."


Nearly twenty minutes later, Thor stood on the Bifrost Bridge, looking up at the skies. After a few moments, something flew down from the sky. Spotting him, Carol Danvers flew down, hovering in the air. For a few moments, the two merely regarded each other.

"Welcome, Carol Danvers of Earth," Thor greeted, surprising Carol.

"You know who I am?"

"I have a friend who can see things," Thor said cryptically. "I am Thor Odinson, King of Asgard."

"I know. I'm here to stop you from waging war against an innocent race," Carol sneered and Thor smiled tightly.

"I would like nothing more not to be the one to wage war, but that is up to the Skrulls. You have been misled, they are not innocent in this conflict," Thor tried to warn her.

"Like I'd believe anything you said. You're threatening my friends, I won't let you," Carol said, stubbornly refusing to listen and Thor sighed.

"Very well," Thor said, steeling himself, gripping Mjolnir and Stormbreaker in one hand each.

With a roar, Carol shot a beam of energy at Thor but he threw Stormbreaker, cutting through it with ease. Carol stared in shock as Thor called it back to his hand. Thor's eyes flashed with lightning before, to Carol's shock, a large bolt of electricity came down and struck her, sending her flying.

She crashed into the river below and a few seconds passed before she emerged from the water, glowing as she flew above. She glowered at Thor, who stared at her calmly before she rushed him. She attempted to punch him but Thor blocked with Mjolnir before striking her with it under her chin. The blow sent her flying but she ignored the pain, managing to steady herself before flying back at Thor.

Thor's eyes flashed with lightning once more before throwing Stormbreaker, which was charged with his power. Carol tried to catch it but, to her disbelief, when she put a hand on it she was blasted back several feet.

A loud boom was heard as Carol crashed into the ground near the mountain side, creating a crater the size of a baseball stadium. Carol flew out; pain coursing through her entire body before she saw Thor flew up, landing on the ground, wielding both his weapons.

"I could have killed you, at any point during this fight, quiet easily in fact. That you are still alive is because I do not wish to fight you," Thor said and Carol paused, considering this. "Talos is not who he says he is, he has deceived you. And, if you would stop this senseless battle, I can show you proof that even you would not be able to deny."

Barton Farm

Not long after

Wanda followed Clint up the stairs and he led her down the hall. To Wanda's surprise, he didn't stop at any of the rooms. Clint stopped towards the end of the hall and pulled on a rope. To Wanda's surprise, a ladder folded down and Clint made sure it was steady before gesturing Wanda to follow him, offering to take her bag on the way up.

Wanda handed him her bag and Clint climbed up the ladder. Wanda followed him up and, once she had reached the top and climbed up, she looked around in surprise.

The attic had been converted into a bedroom. It was about the size of the Barton kitchen, maybe a little smaller. There was a bed in the center of the room with a mirror on one wall and Wanda could see a make shift closet over by the window.

"Figured this was better than having to kick my son out of his room for a month. Besides, we weren't really using the attic," Clint explained as he saw Wada's shocked look.

"Thank you. You didn't have to do this," Wanda said gratefully and Clint shrugged.

"I wanted to. Things are gonna be awkward for a few days, but just let everyone get to know you. I think Laura already likes you," Clint said with a smirk and Wanda huffed out a laugh.

"She's just being polite," Wanda dismissed.

"My wife is never just polite. Trust me, let them get to know you, they'll be begging you to stay before you have to leave," Clint said with a smirk.


Down in the kitchen, while the kids were watching TV, Natasha and Laura sat at the kitchen table.

"She seems like a nice girl," Laura mentioned about Wanda.

"She is. A bit rough around the edges, but she has a good heart," Natasha assured her.

"Sounds like someone else I know," Laura said with a smirk and Natasha rolled her eyes good naturedly. "So, I hear you're dating a certain super soldier."

"Clint always did talk too much," Natasha said with a roll of her eyes. "Steve and I are…still figuring things out. We haven't exactly put a label on anything."

"Do you love him?" Laura asked and Natasha was silent for a long moment.

"I think I've loved him for far longer than I've been willing to admit," Natasha said after a long moment. "I just didn't feel worthy of him."

"Nat, you do deserve to be happy," Laura said gently and Natasha smiled tightly.

"I know. It's just taken me a long time to get to a point in my life where I can accept that," Natasha said and a silence descended upon them.

"So, time travel?" Laura inquired and Natasha scoffed.

"I see Clint told you about that. Yeah, it was…a mess," Natasha said, not having any other word to describe it.

"From the sounds of it, sounds like an understatement. These Accords, Thanos, six gems that can wipe out half of all life," Laura listed, still having trouble wrapping her head around it all.

"You're telling me. I saw it all and I still have trouble wrapping my head around it. But we're doing everything we can to make sure that future never happens," Natasha promised, hoping they could manage to do it.

Asgard

Not long after

Thor did not consider himself to be a petty man. But, standing in the cells, watching as Xavin explained Talos's plan to Carol and the blood draining from her face with each word that left the Skrull's lips, Thor couldn't deny that he felt a certain vindictive pleasure.

"So you see, Talos is not who he says he is," Thor said as he led Carol away from Xavin's cell. "He fed you a tale of half-truths and outright lies. While the Skrulls have been enemies of Asgard for a long time, it was they that started the conflicted by trying to replace my brother and Lady Sif. And now they have done the same to Earth and are almost ready to launch an invasion."

"How could I not have known? How could I fallen for his lies?" Carol wondered in shock.

"Because you wanted to," Thor said as they stopped. "The Kree had taken your whole life from you, so you wanted them to be completely to blame in this conflict. You dismissed anything that contradicted this, including the possibility that Talos might not have been entirely truthful."

"I couldn't have known he was lying to me," Carol argued defensively.

"Maybe not, but you could have investigated. Your reasoning for believing Talos to be good was that his family was being held captive by the Kree, was it not? Every race in the universe that has gone to war keeps prisoners of the other side, that does not make them good," Thor pointed out and Carol couldn't refute that, as much as she wanted to. "But it's not just Earth that has suffered for your negligence. Talos has sent you after others in the past, has he not? And you refused to listen to them when they tried to explain themselves, just as you did with me. How much innocent blood is on your hands, Carol Danvers?"

Carol looked on the verge of vomiting as this new information sunk in. Because Thor was right, Talos had sent her after other enemies in the past and she had not listened when they tried to explain themselves. She had….

Carol trailed off, unable to even think the thought. Seeing how affected she was by this, Thor softened, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"You've made many mistakes, but there is still time to change things. Don't make the lives you killed in Talos's name be for nothing. I told Talos to withdraw his Skrulls from Earth or there would be war, instead he sent you after me. Go to him; tell him this is my last offer of mercy. And make it perfectly clear you will not be doing his dirty work anymore," Thor said as he pulled his hand back. "Find out what happened to the humans that have been abducted, and then contact me."

"How will I do that?" Carol asked and Thor smiled.

"The Skrulls aren't the only one with advanced technology."

While Thor is completely capable of beating Carol into unconsciousness, I just don't think he would do that because he wants to have her on his side more than anything else.