Thank you to everyone who read or reviewed the last conversation. You are all so fabulous. This was originally part of chapter 42, but I decided to split it because we switched perspectives, and there was a bit of time between conversations. Because of that, I also decided to reshuffle the order of chapters. Instead of having two beta timeline chapters before two gamma timeline chapters in a row, we alternated. Obviously, we're back in the gamma timeline.
Also, remember you do not see all the conversations. Some of this is happening behind the scenes. Otherwise, the story would end up being a million words. So sorry you missed an offscreen discussion between Tony and Robbie. You're also missing May's laments to Coulson.
Continuity/spoiler notes: This chapter does contain a few references to things from Wandavision.
I was planning to wait a little longer before addressing the Agent 19 Revelation of Hawkeye. However, since Bobbi is mentioned in this chapter, I need to address it now. I always treated Bobbi and Laura as decomposite characters of 616 Mockingbird/Bobbi Morris. It's kind of how Laura ended up a Shield agent in the story. It just turns out canon agrees with me a little more than I thought it would.
Just keep in mind my story takes place in a branch/variant timeline. Things are different here. Hopefully, things have changed for the best, and certain things won't happen. My poor baby Peter.
Conversation 44: Conversations you have when you're supposed to be paying attention to something else
Chief mechanic: How the hell can Jeffrey still be talking about this? Has he realized I'm not actually paying attention to him yet? It is too late for this conversation, especially in the middle of an apocalypse. Yes, we're currently in the early stages of an apocalypse, but still, I would like to get some sleep and maybe a handjob. Probably in that order.
Ana Junior: Agent America has, but she's already texting Coulson. She also wants Jeffrey to stop talking.
Ana Junior: They took this time to plan the retrieval of the green Stone.
She's decided that she's going with the team to retrieve it. Steve and Leo are going with her as soon as Zephyr 3 is ready. Coulson will not try to talk her out of flying a barely tested spacecraft.
Chief mechanic: Well, that's one less thing for me to plan. Agent knows not to get in the way of his girlfriend's bucket list. ETA?
Ana Junior: Tuesday afternoon. It would have been tomorrow, but the Princess will be leaving for San Francisco in the morning. However, she expects to make significant progress overnight. Doctors Leopold and Fitzsimmons should be able to finish up with the rest of her team. They will arrive in the morning before her departure to brief them. Also, at least one member will be coming with her to San Francisco. They're bringing her mobile lab.
Chief mechanic: She's not going to sleep again tonight, is she?
Ana Junior: That seems highly probable. Especially because she made it so her brother can't lock her out.
Chief mechanic: I wish I could be playing with her. Instead, I am sitting through this horrible meeting. Seriously, Jeffrey, this is not the time. Why the hell is he still talking about Chuck Todd? He's lucky I didn't punch the guy. How much longer do I have to stay here? I regret that he doesn't know how dangerous the situation really is. Unfortunately, baby bird said we need to keep his knowledge to a minimum, and I trust her on this.
Ana Junior: I plan to make an excuse to call you away in 8.3 minutes. Unless something genuine happens first.
Chief mechanic: Considering what's going on right now, that is entirely plausible. I stopped paying attention like 40 minutes ago.
Ana Junior: Which is why you began texting Sharon. Everyone in the room is aware. You're less discreet than Agent May.
Chief mechanic: Her smile is anything but discreet. I would ask for a transcript of her text messages, but I feel like she's sexing up the agent in addition to the strategizing.
Ana Junior: She says that you can see them.
Chief mechanic: Honey Bear says it's okay for me to text during meetings when it's technically work-related. I've also been texting flame thrower. He will be arriving in the morning. When will my son and daughter-in-law get here?
Ana Junior: They are also scheduled to arrive in the morning. Although Wanda is disappointed that she will not spend the night in Denmark like originally planned.
Chief mechanic: What TV show do I need to get her a box set of to make up for it?
Ana Junior: She is still missing seasons four and five of the Muppet show.
Chief mechanic: Because Disney has yet to release them. Make a phone call. Although in the meantime, find something that's actually available and send it to her on my behalf.
Chief mechanic: Not Dick Van Dyke. Let's not make that mistake again. Fuck Obadiah forever.
Ana Junior: Of course, sir.
Ana Junior: Your daughter would like to know if she can go to San Francisco with her cousin and Hunter. Also, a message has been sent to the Guardians, but no response has been received. Apparently, we don't have real-time capabilities yet, but Fitzsimmons Junior is working on it.
Chief mechanic: No, she cannot go to San Francisco. If she wants to go somewhere, she can go to Malta with the other kids. Otherwise, she's heading back to New York tomorrow evening after everyone else leaves for their missions.
Chief Mechanic: We're relocating to the house lab anyway since it will be easier for us to keep up appearances with SI and the ATCU, respectively. I really wish we didn't have to keep up appearances, but we have no choice. But at least working out of the Queens townhouse will give us more time to work on the time travel GPS. We need it ready to roll by the time they get the particles.
Ana Junior: Afia says no to going to Malta. Also, Flash is not going to Malibu to be with Pepper. Afia said something about him not being in the same state as his ex-boyfriend.
Chief mechanic: That seems fair. Especially when it's obvious Flash is making progress with Benji. I saw them practically snuggling during the briefing. MJ gave him a thumbs up. I need to make time to talk to him about all of that. I'm worried about the kid.
Ana Junior: Afia says progress has been made but only in the sense that BITC knows Flash is gay. Flash told me I could tell you that. He also really wants somebody to fix the voice recognition software on the Stark watch.
Chief mechanic: That is still progress, even if it's caused by voice rec mishap. Please tell them to go to sleep. It's almost midnight our time.
Ana Junior: Flash says he will try to get Afia, MJ, and Benji to sleep, but he makes no promises.
Chief mechanic: Tell him good luck. That reminds me, Ana, can you please do a complete background check on Sharon's neighbor. I would like to ensure that her next-door neighbor isn't a geriatric Ross plant.
Ana Junior: Already completed, sir. He is the late husband of Steve's former boyfriend, Arnie Roth. I sent this file complete with images to your Stark pad.
Chief mechanic: I would say that's an interesting coincidence, but I don't believe in coincidences. He kind of looks familiar, but I can't place the face.
Ana Junior: Maybe you met him at a comic book convention, sir? You did go to a lot of them when you were younger.
Chief mechanic: No. This feels like something else.
Ana Junior: Agent Rodriguez is trying to message you.
Chief mechanic: You know Yo-Yo is on the list. I always want to talk to her. Actually, can we use this as an excuse to drop the call with Jeffrey?
Ana Junior: I have just cut your feed and notified him that you have an urgent call from the West Coast facility that you need to take.
Chief mechanic: Bless you, Ana. Put Yo-Yo up on the screen.
Ana Junior: However, Agent Rodriguez is in a place where text messaging is preferable to video.
XXXX
Ana provided translations of text messages from the original Spanish
Slingshot: You could've told me yourself that you were sending Hunter. Seriously Hunter?
Chief mechanic: And the princess. Look, the current situation in San Francisco is 100% because of a past Shield fuck up. Although we need to be the ones to clean it up, it can't look like we are the ones cleaning it up. All parties involved do not trust us at all except maybe Scott.
Slingshot: Bobbi is not happy. If you're sending the princess, she doesn't get why Hunter needs to be there. Mack is okay with the situation because he actually misses Hunter a lot.
Chief mechanic: Bobbi should just be happy that the Russian government members responsible for her getting burned are no longer alive. Therefore she can spend time with Mack. She's supposed to be starting a new job in the research and development department at SI, far away on the other side of California.
Slingshot: Pepper said that she can begin her new job after your wedding. She's with me. Besides, she wanted to see Sharon's new apartment anyway. You bought the building, didn't you?
Chief mechanic: Maybe. By the way, the wedding is not happening until at least June now because of apocalypses. Look, Hunter is there for a reason. It could be worse. I could be sending her ex-husband with his new husband.
Slingshot: One of those apocalypses resulted in Mack dying in the other timeline.
Chief mechanic: I see you read the reports. Which means you realize how important all of this is.
Slingshot: Even though our relationship is complicated, I don't want him to be gone.
Chief mechanic: I'm not even going to ask if you guys are on or off at the moment. I'm just going to keep your relationship status as "it's complicated." Did you also read what else happened?
Slingshot: Yes. I would want to go down fighting. Mack wants to pull me off of this mission because of it. Thankfully your orders supersede his.
Chief mechanic: We discussed the situation earlier. I pointed out that you are necessary for this mission. You might actually be able to go up against Ghost because of your powers. And if this goes really badly well, you can get the Pym particles through plan B.
Slingshot: Mack argued they might see me as another powered person being used by Shield.
Chief mechanic: They're not wrong to assume that. I know some of Talbot's bosses see you that way. Of course, that's because they are idiots.
Slingshot: I allow no one to use me.
Chief mechanic: With you being there, they can see that for themselves. Besides, you might be more useful in breaking Scott out.
Slingshot: I already have. West Coast Ana is mimicking his tracking bracelet. We've also retrieved his old suit.
Chief mechanic: Does my niece know about this?
Slingshot: Yes, I just passed her a note along with the other files regarding the Beta timeline. I posed as the pizza delivery person.
Chief mechanic: I adore you.
Slingshot: I met her neighbor. He looks like an older version of your husband. Steve doesn't have any long-lost half-brothers to go along with the sister in Nevada?
Chief mechanic: Not that I am aware of, but the drunken prick was prolific. I can totally see sweetie bear's ex-boyfriend falling for his half-brother. Could you run back in there and get me a DNA sample without anybody realizing it?
Slingshot: Already done. West Coast Ana is running the results now.
Chief mechanic: Perfect. You just got me out of an excruciatingly long meeting with Jeffrey and PR. Now I'm going to go cuddle with my boyfriend and maybe sleep for a couple of hours. Let me know if anything comes up.
Slingshot: I will. We'll get the particles no matter what.
Chief mechanic: I trust you. Although let's avoid using Plan B unless there's no other option.
Slingshot: Can I tell Scott about what happened in the beta timeline? He's already curious about us helping him get the suit back.
Chief mechanic: If you have to. The same goes for Pym Senior. Especially if it will help us get the particles.
Slingshot: I will take care of it.
To be continued…
If you want more Marvel from me, check out my new story, Letters I Can Never Send. Warning, it does take place post No Way Home.