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"The news is loving you guys. Nobody else is. There's been no official call for Banner's arrest, but it's in the air."
I twiddled my thumbs as I listened to Hill. The feeling of being hated by more people than I could imagine was something I never wanted to experience, not when I was ridiculed as a child for the powers I possessed, and yet as I stood behind my uncle, who was piloting the jet, the heavy and dreadful feeling was clawing at me from the inside. I suppose it was part of the job, but that didn't mean it hurt any less.
"Stark Relief Foundation?" asked Stark.
"Already on the scene. How's the team?"
"Everyone's . . . We took a hit. We'll shake it off." For the world's sake, I hope so.
"Well, for now I'd stay in stealth mode, and stay away from here," Hill advised.
"So, run and hide?"
"Until we can find Ultron, I don't have a lot else to offer."
"Neither do we." Stark ended the call, a small beep resounding clearly through the quietude that filled the air. It was unsettling, how quiet we were. We used to be full of life, banter. And now fear and terror circled us. "Hey, you wanna switch out?"
I looked over my shoulder to find Stark standing beside me. He was talking to my uncle. I folded my arms over the headrest of the pilot seat and rested my chin on them. I had seen the clouds from this height many times, and each time I was filled with serenity, yet this time was different.
"No, I'm good," said Uncle Clint. "If you wanna get some kip, now's a good time, 'cause we're still a few hours out."
I bit my lip nervously, vision blurring in a daze. When Uncle Clint had mentioned taking the team to his place in Missouri, just to recuperate, I was tentative. This was a part of our lives that remained unspoken to anyone other than Natasha and revealing it felt intimate and strange. After all, Uncle Clint did everything in his power to keep my aunt and cousins safe.
This felt oddly counterproductive.
"A few hours from where?"
"A safe house."
Stark said nothing, though his face contorted with confusion. Eventually, however, he walked away. Perhaps he would be the one to piece things together. I don't know if I wanted him to, though.
"You should get some sleep," said my uncle, looking over his shoulder for a moment.
I offered a slight smile. "I will. I just . . . Do you think this is a good idea?"
"What other choice do we have?"
I thought about an answer for a second. "We could go to Norway. Niko's family has a cabin in the middle of nowhere that we could use. I even have a key for it, and we were there not too long ago for Easter so I'm pretty sure everything's stocked."
