"A lot of times freedom doesn't mean being free. It is not a right, but a choice. Anyone can be free if they want to. Telling someone to be free is taking away their choice to be free. You don't take away decisions."
A story in which Lilly Richards...
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Everything stopped for a while. She remembered, the last time she saw their faces was the time everyone fought everyone. She didn't know what to do with herself.
"Arrest them," said Ross, turning to Rhodey, as he swiped him off. Lilly looked away from them and noticed Banner. "Bruce?" But he didn't hear her, as he openly stared at Nat.
"Great to see you, Cap," Rhodey said and shook hands with him. "You too, Rhodey." Steve replied as he moved away from him. He glanced at Lilly, who was standing a little further away from them.
"Well. You guys really look like crap. Must've been a rough couple of years," Rhodey said to them. "Yeah, well, the hotels weren't exactly five star," Sam replied.
"Uh, I think you look great," Bruce said. Lilly looked at him. "Uh... heh... Yeah. I'm back, too," he added.
"Hi, Bruce," Nat said to him. "Nat."
Lilly felt the awkwardness and building up between everyone. "Oh, right. Lilly, you wanted to tell me something?" Rhodey asked her. She lifted her eyebrows in surprise and shook her head. "It's okay, it can wait." She said a bit her lower lip. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what.
"That's not the Lilly I know," Sam said as he walked up to her. "I missed you," he said as he gave her a hug. She was shocked by that and slowly hugged him back. "He missed you," he whispered in her ear. She let go off him and inhaled sharply, before turning on her feet.
After she walked inside her room, she closed the door behind her and sighed. She felt didn't feel like crying, yet she felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She bit her lower lip, stopping herself from crying out loud. She knew that if the day like this came, she'll have to face him. But boy, was she not ready.
She slowly dragged herself to bed, where she sat on the edge of it. She breathed in and out, calming herself. She heard a knock on her door. Her heart started beating faster. "Lilly?" She heard Nat say. "Can I come in?" "Yes," she said, holding back the tears.
Nat opened the door and walked inside. She smiled at Lilly and walked up to her. Lilly stood up and pulled her into a hug, which surprised Nat. "I'm so happy to see you," Lilly said, hugging her tightly. "Feeling's mutual."
"As much as I would like for us to stay here and talk, we're waiting for you," Nat said and pulled away. "So you didn't come here for me,..." Lilly said looking at her. "I told you. I'd rather come in here to tell you to grab your wallet, because we're going out to a bar, but sadly, I can't do that just yet." Lilly nodded.
"Thank you," she said to Nat, "for coming back." Nat smiled and walked out from the room. Lilly sighed, relief washing over her.
She walked out and towards the room, where everyone was gathered. As the door slid open, everyone turned to look at her. "You're late," Sam said, as he was sitting behind Wanda.
Lilly looked at him, but said nothing. "Aw, I thought I'd get a remark from you, since it's been so long after I heard it last time."
"We have an important issue to discuss," Steve said, shutting him up. "Where's Clint?" Bruce asked.
"After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal. It was too tough on their families, they're on house arrest," Natasha replied. "Who's Scott?" He asked her. "Ant-Man," Steve replied to him.
There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man? Okay, look... Thanos has the biggest army in the universe. And he is not gonna stop until he... he gets... Vision's Stone," Bruce said, looking at Vision as he said the last part.
"Well then, we have to protect it," Natasha said.
"No, we have to destroy it," Vision said, who was leaning on the window. "I've been giving a good deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its nature. But also, its composition. I think if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something, very similar to its own signature, perhaps... its molecular integrity could fail," he said, walking towards Wanda.
"And you, with it. We're not having this conversation," she said back to him. 'Glad that at least someone made up' Lilly thought to herself.
"Eliminating the stone is the only way to be certain that Thanos can't get it."
"That's too high a price." Vision cupped her face with his hands. "Only you have the power to pay it," as he said that, Wanda walked away. "Thanos threatens half the Universe. One life cannot stand in the way of defeating him," he added.
"Aren't you forgetting something," Lilly said. "Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays. J.A.R.V.I.S., Ultron, Tony, Bruce, the Stone. All of them mixed together." Bruce walked towards her. "Who did you learn such big words from?"
"I guess being half Asgardian has its perks," she said to him and smiled at him. "Also, since you're one the biggest brains in here, I need to talk to you later," Lilly said to him and he nodded.
"Wait. You're saying Vision isn't just the stone?" Wanda asked them.
"Maybe if we take out the stone, there's still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts," Bruce answered her. "Is it possible?" Steve asked him. "Not here." Bruce replied.
"You better find someone, and somewhere fast. Ross isn't exactly just gonna let you guys have your old rooms back," Rhodey said, "that goes for you as well, Lilly." He looked at her.
"I figured it out. Don't worry, I don't plan on staying here, doing nothing."
"Where do you plan on staying?" Steve asked her. This was the first time in years, she spoke to him. She needs to remember that whatever happened, happened. "Wherever I can be useful," she replied, crossing her arms.
"I know the place," he replied, not breaking eye contact. Nat coughed and so did Sam. Lilly looked at both of them, brows furrowed together. "What?"
"Nothing," Sam said and got up. "I guess it's better we prepare then."
They started leaving the room one by one. Bruce pulled Lilly with her, "what did you want to ask me before?"
"It's actually two things."
"Alright."
"What happened to you back there, with Wong, Stephen and Tony?" She asked him, worriedly.
"The last time I saw them, they were okay." She nodded, relieved, but not fully.
"Okay, good to hear that, because I have to show you something." He watched her grab the hem of the hoodie. "Hey, hey, woah!" He exclaimed, stepping backwards. "What?!" She said back. "I just want to show you what happened with my wound."
"You're wounded?"
She looked to her left and noticed Steve looking at the two of them. She parted her mouth, but her brain froze.
"Lilly, what happened?" He asked her, as he slowly made his way towards them. "I think I see Vision calling me," Bruce said and walked away. "Bruce, damn it!" She said gritting her teeth, trying to grab him by the hand and stop him from leaving, but failed.
Why is she like that? She shouldn't be the one cowering before him.
She slowly looked up at him. Damn, was he handsome. "I- Yes," she said and he lifted his brow.
"I mean, I am NOT injured and I don't have a wound, but I had one. I was also injured, but not anymore. You see I—" "Stop talking for god's sake," he said as he cupped her face and kissed her on the lips.
