Almost Dusk {A Black Widow Story}

CHAPTER NINETEEN

(Clint's Perspective)

That morning, we all made our way up to New York City.

Eva and I hadn't spoken since our little feud. She won't even look at me.

I felt bad for what I had done, but I didn't know how to approach the subject with her.

"So we'll see you later, then." Milton bid to us as he opened the car door for Eva.

From here we would part and while Milton took Eva around the city, Nat and I would take Rose to Tony and see about getting her home safely.

There was a light drizzle raining down, but not hard enough to reach for an umbrella. I watched the water droplets skitter down the car windows as Milton and Eva got inside.

From where I stood, I could see Eva still held her stuffed animal in her lap.

Seeing it made me swallow a lump of guilt down.

As the car started up and pulled out onto the road, I caught eyes with Eva who lifted her head just enough to peer up at me from behind a curtain of hair.

I just gave a nod to her, but she didn't register it. Her expression was stony, almost emotionless. She had a certain way of masking her emotions the same way Natasha would do; except that now I've gotten so good at reading Nat that she doesn't bother trying it around me anymore. I think with more time, I could uncover Eva as well. Maybe.

I'll tell her as soon as we get back, I promise silently, watching the car pull away.

As the car drifted further up the street, I feel Rose grab my hand.

I faintly smile back to her as we begin our walk over to Stark Tower.

The building was as tall as ever; its blue neon emblem glowing reverently in contrast to the overcast sky. The closer we came toward it, the more intimidating it seemed.

"I almost forgot how big it was." Rose murmured, gazing up at it.

Nat and I share a look.

The place was definitely bigger; Tony had been remodelling the place lately and had added more height to the already towering skyline that the building previously possessed.

By the time JARVIS lets us through and we take the elevator up to the main floor, Tony is already waiting readily on the couch, a drink in hand.

Typical.

"Well look who decided to show up and cause more chaos. What is it this time you need? Some secret niece of Peggy Carter I don't know about need to be saved via time travel? Or has the happy family decided to adopt a dog to take back in time?" He asks, the sarcasm dripping from his words like a faucet.

"Nice to see you too, Mr Stark." Rose matches sarcastically.

Stark grins as he walks to us, then sweeps Rose into a hug.

Before he can offer her a sip of his drink, Natasha speaks up.

"Actually, we wanted to know more about this." She pulls the phone from her jacket. "Rose said she used it to transport herself back here by accident."

Stark grabs the phone off Natasha and takes it with him as he moves back to the couch.

"Yep. That's one of mine." He confirms proudly.

"What we want to know" I press on, "is how do we use it to get Rose home again?"

"Oh you can't." Tony states like it is obvious.