The Fall - Book 2

265. HOLY SHIT YOU HAVE A BABY!

DECEMBER 28, 2020 — THE OTHER AVENGERS COMPOUND — RÉA

We're all seated in the conference room, and I've just finished explaining my heritage to the duplicate Avengers.

Like my Avengers were in Wakanda, their variants are all stunned into silence. Other-Tony is the first to break it.

"Okay, so you're a half-Seraph, half-human Nephilim. You have wings—which we saw—and powers—saw those, too—and are indestructible. What I'm getting is that you're essentially a combination of the Drapery Twins, Jolly Green, and the geriatric Popsicles."

Both Thors, Lokis, Bruces, and Buckys, as well as Steve-Too, all groan at the nicknames, while the rest of us erupt into varying degrees of laughter.

"'The Drapery Twins'...I remember when you asked if my mother knew I was wearing her drapes," Thor-Too says.

"Our Stark said that to me as well," Thor replies.

"I wonder what else is the same? Between us and you?" Also-Bruce's expression is ponderous. "Perhaps we could—"

"Well, they don't have a Steve," Nova points out. "Where is your Steve?"

"I can explain, if my team is okay with that," I say; when my Avengers murmur their assent, I continue. "Our Steve is retired. He's chosen a successor, but that person has yet to step into the role of Captain America. They're mulling it over, and we're all respecting their decision."

The variants all nod, then take turns going around the table, asking my universe's versions of themselves questions. As the conversation flows, the remaining tension fades, leaving only genuine curiosity. Eventually, Wade turns the focus back to me.

"And what about you?"

"She already answered that, Wilson," Nova rolls her eyes at the man. "But you probably weren't paying attention...probably thinking of ways to annoy Bucky and Loki...and that Bucky, and that Loki."

"No...I meant 'what about you' in terms of romance? We've learned that their Stark is
married—"

"Which I still can't believe," Steve-Too and
Other-Nat mutter in unison.

"—and from the simmering tension between their Romanoff and Banner, there's something there. And you three," he gestures to Nova, Also-Bucky, and Other-Loki, "just ooze sexual tension...you're practically wearing neon signs saying 'we're all smashing our bits in a horizontal tango'! So I wondered if maybe the über-hot, badass redhead was single." He pauses, and I think he's finished, but that's a short-lived hope. "Speaking of the whole 'redhead' thing...does the carpet match the drapes?"

"WILSON!" everyone yells.

"Annnnd now my husband is going to hate you extra," I tell him.

"Husband?! I can't get any of these hot chicks...or get on any of these dicks! First, the magickal, wonderful unicorn that is Nova shoots me down...then Hottie-with-the-Partially-Metal-Body and God of I-Want-to-Sit-on-His-Face," he gestures between Also-Bucky and Other-Loki, "do the same...and now I can't even hook up with an angel?! Where is the justice?! Where is the win for Wade?!"

"Dude, it's so creepy when you refer to yourself in the third person," Sam-Too grumbles, giving Wade a side-eyed glare. Turning to me, his expression softens. "But I'll admit, I also kinda want to know about this husband of yours. Who is he?"

"I'm going to just make Conall visible now...I think that'll clear things up,' I tell Bucky through our link. 'Only if you're okay with that, of course."