Red Thorn

Chapter 11

May 2015

Nobody had said much during the flight, everyone was still in shock. Natasha sat alone staring into the void, whilst Thor paced around the jet. Banner desperately tried to stay calm, not wanting to Hulk out again, there had been no official call for his arrest yet, but it was in the air so Maria had told them it was best to stay away for a while.

Red and Steve sat to one side. He was still struggling after his own visions, but Clint had asked him to sit with her whilst he flew and after seeing her in such pain and anguish, he couldn't refuse. She'd accidentally dozed off not long after her brother had told Tony they were a few hours out from the safe house they were headed to. After what felt like an eternity of her reliving the same nightmare over and over again, she suddenly awoke. Her breathing was ragged and her eyes panicked.

"Cap," Clint called out from the cockpit, wanting him to help his sister, but the supersoldier was already on it. "Thank you."

"It's okay, you're okay," he assured, taking her hand and placing it on his chest. "Just follow my breathing. In...and out. In...and out."

She did as she was told, concentrating on the rise and fall of his chest and slowly but surely, her breathing returned to normal. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Always, Charlie," he replied, just loud enough for her to hear.

She rested her head on his shoulder and he tensed at first before relaxing. Red wasn't usually one to show her vulnerable side, it was a weakness, but Wanda had made her relive some of worst times of her life and she was far too exhausted to keep up her façade any longer. He was her best friend, one of the few people she felt safe with other than her adopted family and at that moment in time, that was all she needed. Safety. A reminder that she wasn't ever going back there.

Red began to sing quietly to herself. "C'est la belle nuit de Noël, La neige étend son manteau blanc. Et les yeux levés vers le ciel, A genoux, les petits enfants, Avant de fermer les paupières, Font une dernière prière."

Soon enough, the jet landed and the Avengers were making their way to what appeared to be a farmhouse. Clint had tried helping both Red and Natasha as they walked, both women still unsteady on their feet, but Steve was quick to lend a hand, wrapping on arm around Charlotte as the archer lead the way.

"What is this place?" Thor asked.

"A safe house?" Stark answered, though it was more of a question than a statement.

"Let's hope." Clint pushed the door open, shouting as he entered, "Honey, I'm home." His smile doubled in size when a heavily pregnant woman entered the kitchen, arts and crafts supplies in her hands. "Hi. Company. Sorry I didn't call ahead."

"Hey," she said sheepishly, looking over the Avengers.

Tony turned to Thor just as Clint kissed her. "This is an agent of some kind."

"Gentlemen, this is Laura," he beamed, introducing his wife.

"I know all your names," she joked, hoping to diffuse some of the awkwardness in the room.

The sound of footsteps filled the air as two children came barrelling into the room, wrapping their arms around Clint. "Ooh, incoming!"

"Dad!" the little girl squealed with joy as her father picked her up.

"Hi, sweetheart!" He bent down, placing a kiss on his son's head. "Hey, buddy. How are you doing?"

Tony frowned. "These are... smaller agents."