UNKNOWN GUEST

#135 Reunion and Goodbyes

Uncle Clint drove with a steady hand, eyes focused on the road as we navigated through the streets. The tension from earlier had faded, replaced with a calm that hung between us like a warm blanket. I glanced at him, a smirk tugging at my lips. "So, what happened exactly? I missed the best part, didn't I?"

Clint huffed, shaking his head. "Oh, trust me, it was anything but fun." He paused, as if replaying the whole chaotic scene in his mind. "It started when I saw it on TV—a giant, red monster appeared out of nowhere. It was like a Hulk, only... angrier, if that's possible. A single swing of his fist, and he leveled an entire building. Tony was the one who called me in. He still can't use his suit properly, so he needed eyes on the ground."

 Clint's fingers tapped the steering wheel, his gaze distant. "Bucky was already there, and Sam and this new kid, Torres—they were practically trapped in the chaos, sandwiched between the Red Hulk and crumbling debris. We all jumped in, trying to keep things under control."

I raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with interest. "Then what happened?"

Clint chuckled, shaking his head. "Just when I thought we were going to get flattened, another shield flew across the battlefield, smacking into Red Hulk and actually slowing him down." He turned to me, a glint in his eye. "I looked up, and there they were—your parents, charging into the fray without a second thought. And then Wanda showed up, tossing the big guy around with her magic. It was... well, it was something else."

I laughed, shaking my head in disbelief. "And Bruce? You mean Professor Hulk was there too?"

"Yup," Clint confirmed with a grin. "Eventually, Bruce joined in and helped cool the guy down. It wasn't easy, though. Took everything we had."

I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. "Man, I really missed out on all the action."

Clint chuckled, but then his expression sobered. "After the dust settled, Sam managed to track Sharon to an apartment in the Capitol. They found her hiding out, licking her wounds." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But that's when your mom—she was frantic. She kept asking where you were, over and over. None of us had an answer for her. Sam was convinced you were still trapped under the debris, just like Sharon's doppelganger."

He shook his head, his gaze growing distant as he recalled the tense hours that followed. "Your mother was ready to tear the city apart brick by brick to find you. We all started going through the rubble, turning over every broken piece of concrete, every scrap of metal, trying to get a lead. And just when we thought we'd have to go worldwide to track you down, Intelligence caught the doppelganger Sharon, trying to sneak into a facility where Ross was being held. That's when things got serious. Your mother practically ordered the entire team to find you, no matter where you were."

I swallowed, feeling the weight of his words settle in.  Clint's voice was soft. "And then, just like that, you show up out of the blue, just doing what you always do—saving yourself without anyone realizing."

I sighed, nodding as I looked out the window, watching the city blur past. The relief I'd felt when I escaped seemed insignificant compared to what they'd gone through. I could picture my mom's worried face, my dad's tense posture, and the team rallying behind them. It was a sobering thought, knowing they were all ready to tear apart the world if it meant finding me.

The car finally came to a stop in front of Uncle Tony's place. I could tell Mom and Dad were staying here for now, probably hoping for a few days of rest after everything that had happened.

Before I opened the door, Clint turned to me, his face thoughtful. "Oh, and... one more thing. Don't freak out, James. But, everyone knows you're a Rogers now."