The Other Rogers

Chapter 48

Anya and Tony walked into the room where a man she had never met before stood in front of an ugly brown van, with Natasha not that far away standing next to the Hulk?

"Bruce?" Anya called out and smiled when she saw that it was indeed Bruce, but he was larger and greener than she had ever seen him.

"Anya, it is nice to meet you, properly." He smiled and gave the woman a hug.

She laughed and hugged him back, frowning slightly as she realised, she barely came to his ribs. "Meeting on a battlefield in a mystical land isn't a proper meeting?"

Bruce snorted and shook his head, "No not really."

"So? When did this happen?" She asked, gesturing to his new appearance.

Bruce smiled sheepishly, his eyes on the floor. "Five years ago, we got our asses beaten. Except it was worse for me. Because I lost twice. First, Hulk lost, then Banner lost. Then, we all lost."

Anya shook her head, "No one blamed you, Bruce, I definitely don't."

Bruce pointed at himself and looked down. "I did. For years, I've been treating the Hulk like he's some kind of disease, something to get rid of. But then I started looking at him as the cure. Eighteen months in a gamma lab. I put the brains and the brawn together. And now look at me. Best of both worlds..."

She nodded agreeing with him. It took her a while to realise that her powers could be a blessing rather than a curse, after-all they helped her free James and end Pierce's reign of terror.

They spoke for a while, talking about everything and anything that had happened in the last five years. Bruce still couldn't believe that Steve and Natasha had gotten married, same with Tony and Pepper.

Leaving the man to do his thing, she turned to Natasha who had tears in her eyes. Natasha ran to her sister-in-law and hugged her, arms tightening around her waist. "You didn't stay after the announcement."

Anya lost her smile and looked away. She knew she had hurt them by leaving, but she had to. Wakanda was her home, and at least there, she suffered in peace.

Sighing, she hugged Natasha back and hummed as the other woman cried into her shoulder. "I'm sorry, but at least I gave you one hell of a present."

Natasha chuckled, nodding her head. "That you did."

A throat being cleared caused Anya to look to their side where a tattooed Clint stood, his hair styled differently. A smirk was plastered on his face as he stared at her.

"Hey Hawkeye." Anya giggled as the man scoffed and walked towards her with his arms open.

Hugging the man, she ruffled his hair laughing as he whined like a child. "It looks good, as does the tattoos."

They laughed and sat down, catching up as she had done earlier with Bruce. Clint told her about his vendetta against Gangs that were known for ruining lives and despite the previous blood on his hands, she was proud of him. She had told him about Steve and Natasha's wedding, blushing slightly when Clint praised her on giving the couple the best gift.

"It was nothing, they deserved it."

Clint raised a brow, "That is true, but the fact that you did it makes it beautiful. I know you may have forgiven Natasha, but I don't believe that she has forgiven herself yet. My question is though, did you heal yourself afterwards?"

Anya said nothing, silence was her answer. She had healed herself, but not that it mattered, the only man she could see her having children with was gone.

Tony may say that they have a way to bring them back, but she struggled to believe it.

Clint had taken her silence the wrong way and gave her a sad frown, "Anya, please tell me you did."