Cornelia Street - Avengers

In The After

"I can go anywhere I want, just not home."

(my tears ricochet, Taylor Swift)

...

Bethany Morozov stared dead ahead at the glass wall in the medical bay on the Helicarrier. Everything that had just transpired was hitting her all at once. Ultron. Pietro. Enzo. 

All the people. Sokovia. It was indescribable, watching the place that had been her technical home, crash and burn and fall into nothing but memory. 

The place with the origins of her accent and blood turned into nothing but a now jaded memory. She couldn't quite believe that she had been a part of it all either, and yet tomorrow she would be called a hero to the world. 

She didn't quite feel like one though. She had a home and yet she had just destroyed it, but was it ever really hers to begin with?

Beth was tired, more tired than she had ever felt, both emotionally and physically. And sad, for all of the lives they weren't able to save. She winced slightly, pulling back as the nurse applied something cold to the cut on her forehead. 

Wanda and Pietro sat in front of her in a different section, with her fast asleep on his shoulder, and a lost expression on his face. The door to the room slid open, and she didn't turn to see who it was, so as not to disturb the nurse in front of her. 

She heard footsteps, and a flash of blue moving to sit in front of her as the nurse left. It was Steve, looking just as beat up as she did. She offered him a small smile.

"She's fine. Tony got her out just in time, and she's on a Helicarrier back to the tower," he said with a smile, as she dropped her head in relief. "How about you? You feeling alright?"

"I suppose this comes with every job from now on?" Beth said weakly, referring to the cuts and bruises adorning both of their skin.

He looked up with a smile. "Be prepared to watch your pain tolerance skyrocket."

"It's pretty good already," she said softly, as her nurse left the room. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Steve said, leaning back.

"Is it normal to feel like we didn't finish the job?" She said honestly. "Yeah, we beat Ultron, but what about all those who paid the price along the way?"

He was quiet for a moment whilst he tried to find the right thing to say, knowing the feeling all too well. Shuffling closer he placed a gentle hand on her knee, his blue eyes soft with empathy. "I know that feeling," he admitted, searching for the right words. "But think about everyone who would have died if we didn't step in. Every person we saved. It helps, a little... helps you sleep at night."

She nodded, her mind still wandering back to the wreckage they'd left behind.

After a beat, Steve gave a small smile. "You know, we could've gone a different route. Opened a bakery instead. You bake, I serve coffee."

Beth smirked, shaking her head. "You, running a bakery? I don't think that's your strong suit, Captain."

He chuckled, albeit tiredly. "Don't knock it. I make a decent apple pie."

That finally got a laugh out of her, her turmoil softening just a little.

"There it is. A smile," Steve said, pleased with himself.

She dropped her head. "Thanks, Steve."

"Anytime," he replied, offering her a comforting smile before leaning back. She didn't feel much better, but it gave her something to think about at least. Hopping down from the exam table they let the twins walk ahead of them, as the Helicarrier would be dropping them off in New York soon.