[The camera cuts to a sunset in San Francisco, showing a metal face with a sign saying in its headings, "RESTRICTED AREA, DO NOT ENTER" with the subtext, "AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT, SECURITY ID OR ESCORT REQUIRED", then cuts to a scene inside the New Avengers facility, someone cutting the two bread with peanut butter filling into a couple of triangles, as someone else was speaking. The camera pans up to Romanoff, now having red, long hair, over-colouring her blonde streaks, hearing Rocket Raccoon out about his status so far.]
"Nice hair." Ana says. Natasha can't tell if she's being sarcastic or not, so she just gives a small nod and smile.
ROCKET: Yeah, we boarded that highly suspect warship Danvers pinged.
[The camera cuts showing a few of the Avengers in holographic calls from the left to right, respectively: Nebula and Rocket Raccoon, Okoye, Danvers with a tomboyish haircut, and Rhodes.]
"And you too! Everyone's changing their hair!" Ana says, cuddling Goose into her chest and petting his head.
NEBULA: It was an infectious garbage scowl.
"Oof. Man, that sounds gross." Sirius says, wrinkling her nose.
ROCKET: So, thanks for the hot tip. [turns to Danvers and replies back with a smirk]
CAROL DANVERS: Well, you were closer.
ROCKET: Yeah. And now we smell like garbage.
NATASHA ROMANOFF: [turns to Okoye] You get a reading on those tremors?
"Way to take charge, Natty." Tony says with a smile.
OKOYE: It was a mild subduction under the African plate.
NATASHA ROMANOFF: Do we have a visual? How are we handling it?
OKOYE: Nat, it's an earthquake under the ocean. We handle it by not handling it.
NATASHA ROMANOFF: [turns to Danvers] Carol, are we seeing you here next month?
CAROL DANVERS: Not likely.
ROCKET: What, you gonna get another haircut?
CAROL DANVERS: [irritated] Listen fur-face, I'm covering a lot of territory. The things that are happening on Earth, are happening everywhere, on thousands of planets.
This brings everyone back to reality. Back to all the losses. Back to how they lost.
ROCKET: [murmurs to himself] All right, all right, that's a good point. That's a good point.
CAROL DANVERS: So you might not see me for a long time.
NATASHA ROMANOFF: Alright. Uh, well. This channel is always active. So, if anything goes sideways... anyone's making trouble where they shouldn't... comes through me.
[Okoye agrees in her language.]
ROCKET: Okay.
NATASHA ROMANOFF: Alright.
[The Avengers cut off their calls one by one...]
CAROL DANVERS: [To Rhodey] Good luck. [cuts off call]
"Why does he need luck?" Clint asks.
[Except for Rhodes. Nat sighs exhausted, and sits down, as she notices Rhodes still online in the call.]
Everyone gives Nat sad smiles. She's trying her best to keep everyone together, to keep going.
NATASHA ROMANOFF: Where are you?
RHODEY: Mexico. The Federales found a room full of bodies. Looks like a bunch of cartel guys. Never even had the chance to get their guns off.
NATASHA ROMANOFF: It's probably a rival gang.
YOU ARE READING
Quake
FanfictionWhen the Marauders were in school they made a friend who one day disappeared, only to be pronounced dead soon after. Years later, they get a letter telling them that their friend is still alive. How will they react? Will she still accept them? Anast...
