Chapter 34
I was still on the ground looking up at this universe’s Clint who was still ready to shoot an arrow at me.
“What do you mean one of those universes?” Natasha said before I puked on Clint’s boots.
“Ah!” Clint groaned.
“Sorry.. dying really messes with my stomach.” I said before spitting the last of the bile out of my mouth.
“Here.” Natasha said handing me her water canteen.
I took it and rinsed my mouth out.
“Thanks.” I said.
“Who are you?” Natasha asked.
“My name’s Hanna.” I said hugging myself trying to stay warm. “Where are we?”
“New York… or what used to be New York.” Clint said. “You’re not from here.”
“You look… almost Asgardian?” Natasha said.
“Well I was just there.” I said.
“You’re Asgardian?” She said surprised.
“No just passed through it until Thor’s psycho ex girlfriend stabbed me.” I said rubbing my chest groaning when I saw the blood stains on. “Ah shit, Looks like I owe Frigga a new dress.”
“What’s a Frigga?” Clint thought out loud.
“Wow…” I said seeing the metal arm Clint had. “That’s new.”
“Do I know you?” Clint said using the cloak he was using to keep himself warm over the arm.
“I know another you.” I said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Natasha said.
“Ooof…” I said exhaling into my hands to try and keep them warm. “That’s a bit complicated and it won’t really matter for much longer. You two should go meet the rest of the team. I’m going to go find nice tall roof.”
“Yeah that’s a real smart way to avoid the drones.” Clint said.
“What’s the worst they can do? Kill me?” I retorted.
“Yes.” Natasha said. “You’re the first survivor we’ve run into since this all happened.”
“Since what happened?” I asked. Natasha and Clint exchanged looks in disbelief.
“Since Ultron decided to destroy all life in the universe.” Natasha said.
“Oh shit. This is the universe where Ultron won.” I said.
“What other universe is there?” Clint said.
“A lot more than you think and they’re all a lot warmer than this place.” I said before Natasha pulled a blanket out of her pack and handed it to me. “Thanks but I should really get going.”
“What are you going to do?” She asked.
“I’m going home and there’s only one way to do that.” I said as I started walking.
“She’s crazy.” Clint told Natasha.
“We fought aliens with a guy that turned into a hulk and a literal god.” Natasha said. “I’ve heard crazier.”
“I thought you had a plan.” He reminded her.
“It was a long shot.” Natasha said.
“And this isn’t?” Clint asked.
“What do we have left to lose?” Natasha said before running after me.
“You really don’t have to come with me.” I said. “I’m fine on my own.”
“I seriously doubt that. Your lips are starting to turn blue.” Clint said.
“The Clint in my universe is a lot nicer.” I said.
“I’m pretty sure he also has both his arms and his world didn’t get blown up by a killer robot.” Clint retorted.
“Touche.” I said. “I need to stop Tony from doing that when I get back.”
“Here.” Natasha said pulling me into what used to be a store. She quickly pulled out a black knit v neck sweater with a choker keyhole neckline from a shelf before grabbing a pair of faded grey jeans.
“Put those on.” She said before going to look somewhere else. I quickly slipped on the pants under the dress before pulling the dress off letting me see the dried blood on my chest. I was wearing a nude colored lace bralette that was not stained but no bruise or cut.
“Ehem.” Clint cleared his throat.
I quickly pulled over the sweater covering myself up.
“Found these.” He said handing me a pair of dark brown lace up boots. “They’re not snow boots but at least you’ll keep your toes.”
“That’s all I need.” I said slipping them on.
“In your world… your me… Is he… does he have a family?” Clint asked.
“No.” I said. “No family… not in the traditional sense anyway. He has a Nat, he has the team but he doesn’t have a Laura.”
“How did you…” Clint said immediately on guard.
“I’ve been to more than one universe Clint.” I said as I finished lacing up the boots. “They’re not the same but some things are.”
“It’s not a winter jacket but it’s something.” Natasha said tossing me a brown leather jacket. “Now what’s your plan?”
“It’s not really a plan more like I jump off a roof and hope that the next time I wake up I’m in the right universe.” I said slipping it on.
“Your plan is to kill yourself?” Clint said. “Told you she was crazy.”
“You just jump and when you land you’re in a new universe?” Natasha asked.
“No I jump, die and my body moves to a new universe and I wake up there.” I said.
“Oh that makes it so much better.” Clint said sarcastically.
“I didn’t ask for your help. You followed me.” I said.
“Your universe isn’t like this.” Natasha said.
“No Ultron hasn’t been created and if get back there in time he never will be.” I said. “If I’m lucky Steve made it back and has already talked some sense into Tony.”
“You said you were on Asgard?” Clint asked.
“It’s complicated and you don’t need to know. Nice meeting you but I’m leaving.” I said.
“What if we went with you?” Natasha asked.
“My world has a Clint and Natasha.” I said.
“What about another world?” She said.
“You want to leave your world?” I said.
“Look around, it’s not much of a world anymore.” Clint said.
“I’m not entirely sure you understand what you’re asking me to help you do. I don’t know where I’m going next.” I said. “The universe I end up next might just be as bad or even worse than this one.”
“Nothing can be worse than this.” Natasha said.
“I ended up in a universe where Hydra ruled the world.” I said.
“There were still people in the world.” Clint said.
“There was another world where Steve was going to be president and Tony who was still in the weapons business was going to be his secretary of defense.” I said.
“That’s bad but still not as bad as this.” Natasha said. “We’ll take our chances.”
“You trying to get out of this world might be the end of another world.” I said. “There is a lot at play here and not just for you.”
“There’s nothing left for us here.” Clint started.
“That’s a bit harsh don’t you think?” A robotic voice said before a squadron of Ultron’s crashed in through the window and ceiling.
“Well I guess now’s a good time to go.” I said.
“Great do it.” Natasha said.
“That’s not how it works.” I said.
“Then how does it work?” Clint said.
“I have to die.” I said.
“What?!” They said.
“I can help with that.” Ultron said before everything went dark.
I was falling down that pit again. At least now I knew, the order of best ways to go are as follows Ultron zapping me, jumping off the roof of a 10+ floor building and getting stabbed was all the way at the bottle.
It didn’t take long for me to start feeling the very familiar pull of being brought back into whatever world I landed in next.
And this new world was… noisy.
It probably didn’t help that they were in the middle of an alien invasion led by… Loki?
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I said sitting up from where I was laying on the…Helicarrier?
“Oh look sleeping Beauty’s up.” Clint snarked before shooting another arrow.
“What the hell is this place?” I asked.
“We were about to ask you that.” Natasha said. “It’s another world. You couldn’t have picked a nicer one that wasn’t in the middle of getting invaded?”
“I don’t get to pick and choose where I go.” I said.
“This one isn’t too bad.” Clint said. “We’re fighting aliens. Just another day on the job for us.”
“In a world where their Natasha and Clint died.” Natasha said. “It’s a second chance to get it right.”
“So I take it you’re staying?” I asked.
“Where else would we go?” Clint said. “My family’s gone but the Clint in this world might have one. I’m not him but I can look out for them. Do better than I did in my world.”
“Alright then. I’m just going to head out.” I said jumping to the side to avoid a flying chariot that had crash landed.
“Drop by for a visit sometime.” Natasha joked as she pulled me out of the way of one of the Chitauri’s lasers.
“If I ever figure out how to control it and your Loki doesn’t enslave humanity, then sure.” I said before running to the edge of the hellicarrier and jumping off.
I went down the pit again and I waited for the very pull to slingshot me back to whatever universe came next.
Universe 616-
Since Steve’s return the team had more or less gotten back together. That being said they were not the same as they used to be. From the beginning they were brought together by circumstances and for a mission. Outside of that they stayed together because they had someone in common but without Hanna it was getting harder and harder to ignore their many huge differences.
And this morning no one could really say why but they were fighting. Again.
“Say it again. I dare you!” Tony shouted.
“Oh I’ll say it again….” Clint said.
“Guys…” Natasha started.
“That’s enough!” Steve shouted. “It’s the same thing with you two every time.”
“Really so what’s your big idea?” Tony asked.
“The same as before.” Steve said.
“Which means you’ve got nothing. Funny the star spangled man without a plan.” Tony said.
“Still better than your idea to blow all of SHIELD up.” Natasha said.
“SHIELD is HYDRA.” Tony said.
“Not all of SHIELD.” Steve said.
“Most of it.” Tony said. “The only reason you’re too afraid to go after them is you’re too afraid of what they’ll do to your pal Bucky.”
“We have a plan for a reason.” Steve said. “Because SHIELD is everywhere and who know who or what they’ll take down with them.”
“So you want to just wait and see?” Tony asked.
“Or you could stop complaining and let us do our job.” Natasha said pulling out a flash drive. “While you guys were kicking back in Mexico, stuck in another universe, being a hermit and a man whore, I stuck to the plan.”
“What is it?” Clint asked.
“Shield or Hydra intel. I got it off a remote server at an old SHIELD base in London. The problem is, its encrypted and it’s not SHIELD’s standard encryption either.” Natasha said.
“Let me take a look. I’m sure a few hours in the lab with Jarvis running decryption codes we can have answers by the end of the day.” Tony said.
“Sooner if you lay off the scotch.” Clint snarked.
“And what happened to my whiskey Barton?” Tony retorted.
And the argument started all over again.
Universe- ???
When I started feeling the very familiar pull slingshot me back to reality something felt different. This universe felt different almost as if I was in two very different places at the same time.
I looked around and everything looked normal. Well as normal as a new universe could be but it wasn’t.
Then there was that feeling I couldn’t shake, the feeling of me being watched.
I hurried down the street to look for a hint as to where exactly I was but the more I looked around the more I realized something was not right. The streets were empty and there was no one around. It was quiet, they type of quiet you never get to experience in a city.
“You are not supposed to be here.” Someone said from behind me.
I spun around to come face to face with a bald woman with yellow robes.
“What’s wrong with this place?” I said.
“We are on another plane parallel to that of Earth but that is not the Earth you are from is it?” The Ancient One said.
“That’s not it.” I said. “This isn’t the mirror dimension. It feels like I’m standing in two places at the exact same time.”
“It’s small pocket dimension.” She said.
“What for?” I asked.
“Allow me to show you.” She said before using her sling ring to open a potal to show me the two Dr. Strange one in serious need of some tweezers to pluck his eyebrows though I seriously doubt it would so anything to his tentacle situation. And then there was the other Strange that didn’t look so deranged but seemed to be fighting a losing battle.
“There’s two of them.” I said. “The testosterone and arrogance in this universe is suffocating.”
“Stephen Strange lost the love of his life, Christine in an accident. He took it upon himself to use the Eye of Agamoto to try and bring her back.” The Ancient one said.
“Emphasis on the try, I’m guessing it didn’t work?” I asked.
“Christine’s death is an absolute point in time.” She said. “It was always meant to happen and it will always happen.”
“And he didn’t take it well.” I said.
“He refused to stop so instead I decided to show him both outcomes and to let him work it out.” She said.
“It’s not looking good for the non-tentacle Strange.” I said. “Shouldn’t you do something?”
“It is out of my hands now.” She said.
“Right. Do you mind giving me a lift to the closest roof. Preferably ten floors and up.” I said.
“You are not of this world are you?” She said.
“No. So I’m going to go back to mine. Or at least try to.” I said.
“Hm…” She said looking at me strangely. “Your aura and soul… it’s an old one. Very old.”
“I don’t really believe in that sort of stuff but thanks for the free reading.” I said.
“You wish to return from where you came from.” She said.
“Not where I originally came from but home with the people I miss and are probably making a mess right about now.” I said as she opened a portal to a rooftop.
“You must really love them if you’re willing to go beyond the impossible to be reunited with them.” She said.
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say the L word just yet but they would do the same for me.” I said.
“Just yet?” She asked.
“I think you have a sorcerer to go lecture now.” I said taking a step up to the ledge. “Third time is normally the charm.”
So I jumped.
I jumped a lot more in the next universe. Mostly because that Thor kept flying around and catching me in mid air.
Universe 616-
“Thor as nice as it is to have you back… did you have to bring the shire with you?!” Tony shouted as he blasted one of the dark elves.
“Actually there weren’t any elves in the shire, those were hobbits.” Steve said.
“Thank you captain obvious!” Tony shouted.
“Stop shouting on the comms and shoot the evil elves!” Natasha shouted.
“Jane has an idea. She can recalibrate her device…” Thor started.
“Do It!” They all shouted.
And just as the mist of the Aether started spreading all of the avengers could suddenly see color again.
“Guys… are you seeing this?” Clint said.
“You mean the giant red cloud of mist or the fact that I can see color again?” Natasha said.
“Guys we’ve got incoming.” Steve said spotting something or well someone falling from the sky quickly.
“More elves?” Natasha said.
“That’s not an elf.” Steve said running to where he though Hanna was going to hit the ground.
“Shit!” Tony said only to be blasted by an elf. Thor was in the middle of the cloud of mist.
Steve wasn’t going to make it but at the very last second Hulk managed to catch Hanna.
Hulk landed on the ground and as gently as he could put her down. Steve, Clint, and Natasha were immediately there looking her over.
Natasha brushed the blonde hair out of her face before checking her pulse.
“She’s not breathing and there’s no pulse.” Natasha said.
“That’s normal.” Steve said.
“Her being dead is normal?” Clint said.
“It’s not permanent. She’ll wake up.” He said. “Though we should probably get her out of here.”
“We’ll get her to the jet.” Clint said. “Things should be wrapping up here anyway.”
“Don’t let her out of your sight.” Steve said remembering what happened the last time he let his guard down.
“We got her.” Natasha said helping Clint pick her up. Once they were on the jet Natasha bought out the gurney and Clint set Hanna down on it. She immediately put the heart monitor on her only for her and Clint to be met with a flatline and a long never-ending beep.
“Shut that thing off.” Clint said.
“Steve said she would wake up.” Natasha said.
“Did he say when?” He retorted looking over Hanna seeing the dried blook on her skin and hair. Her torn clothes, what looked like a stab wound on her chest. It was probably not the only one.
“She got a haircut.” Natasha said running her fingers through Hanna’s hair, ignoring Clint’s comment and focusing on the fact that Hanna was back.
Clint didn’t say anything as he watched Natasha take a bowl of water and a washcloth to try and wipe the blood off of Hanna’s face and hands. That’s what Steve, Tony and Bruce came back to.
“Is she…” Tony asked.
“She hasn’t woken up yet.” Natasha said. Tony turned to the heart monitor that was still flatlining.
“She will. Sometimes it takes longer.” Steve said. “We should go home. It’s been a long day.”
“So that’s it? We just wait? Again?” Tony said.
“Hanna will wake up.” Steve said.
“When? You keep saying she will because she’s this real-life Kenny but… you don’t even know what that is do you?” Tony said.
“He’s the orange hoodie kid from South Park that you can barely understand that’s always dying.” Steve said.
“How do you…” Tony started.
“Kenny always comes back, and so will Hanna.” Steve said.
Hours Later…
They had made it back to New York and Hanna was still unconscious. They were all starting to seriously doubt Steve when he said she would be back and after another argument that almost made Bruce hulk out he kicked everyone out of the medbay.
Hanna was being monitored by Jarvis and Bruce would come by every hour or so to check up on her.
It was almost dark out when he came to check up on her again before calling it a night.
The heart monitor was still flat lining and her body temperature was nowhere near where it was supposed to be.
Bruce was about to walk out when he heard a loud gasp and coughing.
Hanna’s POV-
After ending up in a universe where the zombie apocalypse happened and having to climb up a building while avoiding said zombies and finally jumping off a tall enough roof I was seriously hoping I jumped universes before a zombie ate what was left of me off the pavement.
I was falling down that very familiar dark pit for a while. Longer than ever before. Maybe I needed to start thinking about taking a break between jumps and recharging so to speak.
Finally the very familiar pull started happening and I was dragged up to the light. Lucky for me I hadn’t really had a chance to eat anything between jumps this time so there was no I way I was going to projectile vomit on someone.
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a grey ceiling. As I sat up gasping for air I noticed I was actually in a lab.
“Hanna?” Bruce said rushing over to me.
“B-Bruce?” I said.
“Y-you… you’re…” he started before I hugged him. I didn’t really think it through I was just really happy to finally be back in the right universe. “Oh uh…”
“Sorry I know you don’t do hugs it’s just really good to see you and to be back in the right universe.” I said still not letting go of him.
“It’s good to see you too.” He said gently hugging me back. “You feeling okay? You were a bit…”
“Dead?” I finished for him. “Yeah that happens a lot more than I’d like. Also for future reference if I end up in a coma or vegetative state or anything that leads to me being hooked up to a machine to stay alive… you keep those machines on no matter what. I’m not kidding Bruce I am done jumping universes. Dying really fucking sucks.”
“I’ll try to remember that.” He said. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, though I could really use a shower and coffee… maybe some pizza.” I said.
“Jarvis can you ask Natasha to set up a room for Hanna and… order a pizza and a coffee.” Bruce said.
“Miss Marin’s room has already been set up.” Jarvis said. “If you would follow the lights.”
“It’s so good to see… hear you Jarvis.” I said getting out of the gurney I was on. I ran through my hair trying to get it out of my face only to notice it was matted win blood and something else. “I really hope that isn’t zombie guts.”
“Zombie guts?” Bruce asked concerned as I followed Jarvis to my room.
One floor up and I was in a room decorated almost identically to my old room in Malibu. There were already clothes laid out for me on the bed. Definitely Natasha’s doing.
I headed into the bathroom and stripped peeling off the clothes stained with my blood and other things I ran into. I took a look in the mirror looking at the dried blood on my skin but no bruises or cuts as far as I could tell. Boy was I a mess.
I hopped in the shower and enjoy the first hot shower I’d had in what felt like forever.
Meanwhile…
Downstairs Bruce had to have Jarvis lock everyone in the common room to stop them from ambushing Hanna. Even if she didn’t mention anything he could tell that she needed a minute.
“Did she say anything? About where she’s been?” Tony said.
“Is she okay?” Clint said.
“Did she say anything about Hydra or what’s supposed to happen next?” Natasha said.
“Are you sure she’s okay being on her own? Maybe I should check on…” Steve started.
“Guys!” Bruce shouted. “She’s okay. She’s… Hanna. Just give her a minute and get her a coffee and a pizza.”
“Coffee I can do.” Clint said.
“Wait. She likes dirty matcha lattes.” Steve said.
“Okay…” Clint said.
“With extra matcha, extra shot of espresso.” Steve said.
“On it.” He said.
“And with oatmilk. Don’t forget the oatmilk.” Steve said.
“What the hell is oatmilk?” Clint said.
“It’s like milk for people who don’t like milk.” Steve said and everyone looked at him like he had grown an extra head. “Hanna’s universe is weird.”
“There’s a vegan place down the street I think they do coffee.” Clint said. “Maybe we can pick up a pizza on the way back.”
“With extra bacon.” Tony said. “Hanna really likes bacon and I‘m going to get a huge I told you so and need to start making it to her.”
“I don’t think there’s enough bacon in the world to make up for getting your house blown up and letting it fall on her.” Natasha said.
“I said it was a start.” Tony said.
Back Upstairs…
After the best shower I had ever had in my entire life… never thought that would be something I would say. I got out and looked at myself In the mirror barely recognizing myself.
I shook off the thought. There was no use looking back. I was back and that’s all that mattered.
I combed my hair drying it off as best as I could with my towel. One of the perks of short hair was how fast it dried.
Once I was dressed and more or less put together or as close to that as I would ever be, I had Jarvis lead me to wherever the kitchen was in this place. Someone was going to have to give me a map of the tower at some point.
I followed Jarvis’ light to the elevator and then up a few levels to be brough to the common room. The movies did not do it justice and the view… Nothing like it.
“Hey stranger.” Steve said.
“Hey you.” I said smiling before hugging him. “You made it back.”
“I made a promise didn’t I?” He said.
“Good to know you can listen.” I said.
“Missed you too jerk.” Steve said.
“Punk.” I said letting him go.
“Hate to interrupt but your dirty matcha latte is getting cold.” Clint said.
“You’re my favorite person.” I said to Clint letting go of Steve.
“Hey I was the one who told him what a dirty matcha latte was.” Steve said.
“You’re top five.” I said hugging Clint.
“At least I’m on the list now.” Steve mumbled.
“Don’t I get a hug?” Natasha asked.
“Depends… Steve’s makeover, how did I do?” I asked.
“How’d you get him out of his khakis?” Natasha said.
“The dryer in our building overheated and burned them.” I said I said giving her a look so that she would understand it was actually me.
“Smart.” She said smirking before hugging me.
“Ehem… pizza’s here.” Tony said. “Extra bacon. Might be more bacon than pizza.”
Natasha gave me one last squeeze before letting go.
I looked at Tony and crossed my arms giving him an emotionless look.
“Tony.” I said.
“Before you say it. I know I screwed up and I am so sorry….” He started.
“Tony.” I started again.
“I should have listened to you and we should have left when told me to but…” He continued.
“Tony.” I said again.
“Happy was in the hospital and no one was doing anything and…” He continued before I stepped up and put my hand over his mouth to make him shut up.
“Stop talking.” I said. “I’m not mad. I was… and I imagined me giving you the biggest I told you so in history but I’m not. Let’s just leave this as you giving me a giant I Owe You I’m going to cash in in the near distant future. And next time I warn you not to do something you should actually consider listening to me.”
“Promise.” He said before I hugged him.
“I missed you.” I said.
“Missed you too.” He said hugging me tight.
“Now give me pizza, I haven’t eaten anything in like five universes.” I said going straight for the box.
“Five universes?” Steve said. “How many have you been to since Asgard?”
“UH…” I said taking a bite and trying to count them all in my head. “Well there was the universe where the world was destroyed by killer robots, The universe where you all died before Steve got out of the ice and Loki invaded Earth, uh…. There was the zombie apocalypse universe… So like nine this time.”
“There’s a zombie apocalypse universe?” Clint asked.
“Yeah it was gross and smelled really bad.” I said.
“It was probably the dead bodies.” Bruce said.
“Probably. They don’t mention that in The Walking Dead.” I said.
“Were there any good ones?” Natasha asked.
“Well there was this one universe where Thor was like a real life Hercules. You know sent to Earth raised by human parents but still had his powers. He’d fly around saving people even when they didn’t need to be helped. He kept catching me every time I jumped off a building. Then he started following me around like a lost little duckling.” I said.
“You mean like he does here?” Steve asked amused.
“Our Thor is nothing like that.” I said.
“Do you remember Asgard?” Steve asked.
“Asgard was amazing.” I said.
“I meant you and Thor on Asgard.” Steve said and I still didn’t get it.
“So he didn’t sound like he was reading Shakespeare every time he spoke?” Tony asked.
“No he was more like your typical 80’s surfer.” I said, “His favorite words were dude, brah, and epic.”
“He does have the hair for it.” Natasha commented, making everyone nod in agreement.
“That was pretty much the only high point… well that and making it back here.” I said. “And I learned that if I ever need to jump universes again to not do it by getting stabbed. That shit hurts a lot.”
“We could have told you that.” Clint said.
“I didn’t really plan on finding out.” I said. “Little tip we should avoid Thor’s ex-girlfriends. Chances are they can use magic and they’re crazy. So that’s enough about my messy misadventures. How are things here?”
“Uh…” They all stayed quiet.
“It was pretty boring. The usual stuff” Tony said.
“Did a bit of traveling.” Bruce said.
“And we fought elves in London.” Steve said.
“Just work.” Natasha said.
“Yup. Same old same old.” Clint said.
“Wait you fought elves in London? As in the dark elves?” I said. “That’s not supposed to happen until November the year after New York.”
“Uh Hanna, it is November.” Bruce said and as Tony brought up his phone calendar to show me.
“It’s November?” I said. “I’ve been gone almost a year?”
“Just about.” Clint said.
“I didn’t think I was gone that long.” I said before I spotted something on Tony’s calendar. “Dinner and dessert with Miss March? Really Tony?”
“What no that was…. I was going to cancel.” He said.
“Uhuh.” I said not buying it and clicking on the calendar reminder only for her cover photos to pop out. “That’s a cute bikini. Have fun on your date.”
“I… it’s not… they wanted to do a spread on Iron man and…. I’m not making this any better am I?” he said.
“No.” Everyone said.
“Well this has been great but I’m beat. See you all tomorrow at Breakfast or probably brunch. I’m still not a morning person.” I said.
“Night.” They all said as I left.
Once I was gone…
“So how bad did I screw that up?” Tony said.
“If you have to ask you know how bad it was.” Natasha said.
“Miss March? Really Tony?” Steve said.
“I forgot that was in there.” He said immediately deleting it. “Jarvis cancel on Miss March and while you’re at it maybe order some flowers for Hanna. She likes flowers right?”
“I don’t think you’re going to be able to buy your way out of this one buddy.” Bruce said.
Hours Later…
I was in bed trying and failing to get some sleep but I just couldn’t. The bed was too lumpy and soft so I moved to the floor and which for some reason was a lot more comfortable to me.
While I did get some sleep it wasn’t a lot. I was in and out most of the night and by morning I had given up on actually falling asleep. So I got out off the floor, made the bed and went to get myself some coffee.
Boy did I miss coffee.
It was still super early and I didn’t expect anyone to be up just yet but Clint was already standing by the coffee pot waiting for the machine to finish.
“Coffee.” I said mimicking a zombie.
“You’re up early.” He said.
“I think I might be jetlagged… or universe lagged not entirely sure what the right term is.” I said. “And I was craving coffee.”
“Can’t help with the sleep but coffee I can do.” He said pouring me a cup.
“This is why you’re my favorite.” I said.
“I’m pretty sure you’ve said that to all of us at some point.” Clint said.
“Not Steve though.” I said. “One time in my universe he brought me coffee and then took it away from me when I really needed it.”
“He’s a monster.” Clint teased.
“The worst.” I said making him chuckle. “So what’s new with you? What have I missed?”
“Nothing.” He said giving me a weird look.
“You did nothing all year?” I asked.
“I didn’t really work. I was put on leave… indefinitely.” He admitted.
“What? Why?” I asked.
“You were dead.” He said bluntly. “I didn’t really see the point of doing anything anymore.”
“Clint,” I said.
“After New York and Loki getting into my head, finding out SHIELD was really Hydra and the losing you… I took too many hits and just couldn’t do it.” Clint said.
“Do I even have to tell you how bad at being retired you are?” I said.
“Don’t worry Nat’s told me. More than once. She blew up my door.” He said.
“Pretty sure you had it coming.” I said.
“Maybe.” He said.
“I’m sorry.” I said.
“Hey it wasn’t your fault Hanna.” Clint said.
“I took way too long to get back.” I said.
“That wasn’t on you. You died… more than once trying to get back and you made it.” He said. I didn’t know what to say to that so I didn’t say anything. I just hugged him. Clint didn’t hesitate to hug me back.
“You want to watch the new season of Game of Thrones to see if you can break Steve again?” Clint suggested.
“I don’t think that will happen again. My universe really did a number on him.” I said. “But just to be sure…”
We grabbed our coffees and jumped on the couch for an all day HBO marathon and yeah we broke Steve again.