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The city exploded — and not a civilian was left on it. It all crashed into the water, and Thor and Tony flew out of it alive. They lost Pietro; he died saving Clint and a little boy. Kate could barely look at Wanda, but they saved everyone they could, and for that she was grateful.

They tried to contact Bruce, but the jet was in stealth mode, and he cut off communication. No way to track him, no way to reason with him. No way to get him back, unless he decides to come back on his own. Kate's hoping he will, but she knows he's probably going to hide himself away. Away from anybody he could possibly hurt — which, to him, is everyone.

Another thing she's caused by making Ultron. Pietro's death was something else.

If she had seen it, if she had known...

Clint was a wreck over it. He was finally retiring, putting the Avengers behind him. Everyone was happy for him, too, but he seemed reluctant to go, at first.

"You sure you'll be okay?" he asked Kate, even with his packed bag on his shoulder.

She rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. I'm fine."

"Kate, you haven't been fine since you joined SHIELD," he said. She physically winced, the truth stinging. "I'm sorry, but it's true. For a while there, you were getting better. Don't let this undo your progress. Please."

She shrugged. "I'll try. Don't worry about me."

"Just... if you need me, call, okay? And Laura said you can come and stay any time you want to get away."

Kate nodded. "Alright. Got it. Seriously, just go. You got a baby coming soon, you don't wanna miss that."

He sighed, hugging her. "Alright. I'll call you." He pulled back. "I love you, okay? You're one of my best friends. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I love you, too," she replied, fighting off tears. That sap never knew when to quit.

He turned to Nat, hugging her, too. "Make sure she's okay, okay?"

"Way ahead of you," Nat replied.

"Good. And Kate, check up on Nat, too. You both could use professional help."

Kate scoffed. "That's what Fury said when I joined SHIELD, and you remember how long that lasted."

Clint sighed, then turned back to Nat. "I love you, too. I'll call you."

"You better," she replied. "Love you, too."

He finally left, and Kate and the others stayed in the Tower while Tony began developing a new Avenger's facility upstate. It was one of his other properties, more out of the way. It didn't take long to get it move-in ready, which meant everyone going there had to hurry and pack up. Kate didn't have anywhere else to go, so she started packing.

Nat and Kate helped each other pack. Neither of them were very organized, so it took two to close a suitcase.

"Alright, there's two things we need to talk about," Nat started, sitting on Kate's floor. "Number one: what in the world was that fire beam thingy that happened in Sokovia? And number two: Why was Wanda wearing my jacket?"

Kate chuckles. "It was there, and it was red. I haven't seen you wear it in ages, anyway."

"But it was still my jacket!"

"Not anymore."

"You get kidnapped for a few hours and suddenly people are giving away your clothes," Nat mutters, rolling her eyes and throwing Kate's shirts into her suitcase. It was red; Tony bought it. "And that beam?"

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