After Infinity War

Part 23

CLINT

We all watch Tony for a moment, sure something will go wrong. But he lies still, asleep.
'I'll go.' Steve says next, walking towards Carol. She directs him to an armchair and he sits, looking up at her.
'Good luck Steve.' I say, patting him on the shoulder.
'Don't hang about, okay?' Natasha says after me.
Thor moves forward and takes Steve's hand to shake. It is odd seeing him use such a human expression. 'Good luck, my friend.' He says, and then backs away. Shuri doesn't say anything, just nods at Steve. She had a strong friendship with Bucky, almost brotherly, and if her brother were not in the stone, she would go in for Bucky.
'Think of your friend. Nothing else. We'll see you soon.' Steve's head drops to one side, instantly asleep after Carol places her hand on his neck. 'Who's next?'
Rocket steps up from where he was sitting beside Thor.
'Rabbit, are you sure?' He asks, holding onto Rocket's arm.
'I've got more people in this here thing than anyone else. They'd all go in for me. I'm bringing them back.' He says, moving away from Thor.
'You can only focus on one, if it is true that you have a strong bond with each of the people you lost you might find that they appear too. But for now, focus on one.' Carol says as Rocket takes his place lying on the table.
'I got it, now let's go.' He says. Carol places her hand on his neck and he goes limp.
'It is my turn.' Shuri says, stepping forward. She has paint marks on her face, the same markings she had in the last fight. She's in traditional Wakandan armour, not taking any risks.
'Good luck, Shuri, I will see you when you wake.' Shuri drops and Carol catches her before she hits the ground. She carries her to another armchair and lays her down. She looks so much younger without the ferocity in her eyes.
'Do you want to..?' Natasha ask me, gesturing to Carol.
'You go first. Bring Wanda back.' I say, pulling Natasha into a hug. She looks as though she's about to say something, but decides against it.
She sits on the floor, no room left anywhere else. Carol places her hand on Natasha's neck and winces slightly. It takes a moment longer but Natasha soon drops to the floor, unconscious.
It's just me to go now. Bruce kneels beside Natasha to check on her, Pepper hovers above Tony, Peter in her arms. Thor sits on the armchair's arm that Steve is asleep in. I don't think he is used to not being in the action. But I'm sure his time will come soon. Lila sits beside me, holding onto my arm.
Pepper comes up to me and pulls me into a hug. I haven't talked to Pepper much, but I don't question it.
'Good luck, Clint.' She says, and goes back to perch on the sofa where Tony lies.
I turn to Lila, 'Alright, I have to go now. I'm going to bring everyone back, okay?' I say.
'I don't want you to go.' She says, tearing up, 'I don't want to be alone.'
'You won't ever be alone, Lila.' I say hugging her and feeling myself start to cry.
'I want to come with you.' She says.
'I'll come back for you, Lila, always.' Thor comes forward and takes Lila by her hand. She goes with it and finds herself clinging to Thor's leg.
'I'll look after her until you return.' Thor says, placing his hand on her shoulder, 'you have my word.'
'Thank you.' I say with complete sincerity.
'Are you ready?' Carol says, stepping forward.
'Yes.' I say.
'Now focus on you wife, your kids would have a more complex surrounding, due to their undeveloped minds. Your wife will have a clearer exit route.'
'Okay.' I say, preparing myself to go under.
'Good luck.' She says, placing a hand on my neck forcing me into another world. I see a vast industrial building, which changes to an old mechanical one. A forest, a small bedroom. And then I land in Budapest, the hotel where I first met Laura. The rooms are all empty and the world seems to be whiter.
'Laura?' I shout, 'Laura?!'
'Clint?' A voice shouts back from a different room.
'Laura!' I shout back, running to where the voice came from.
She stands beside a bar, in a long fancy dress, like the one I first saw her in. I run to her and she wraps her arms around me.
She buries her head into my shoulder and I can't help but cry a little as I look at her, properly, for the first time in over a year.
'I missed you so much.' I say, holding her around the waist as she leans out to look at me.
'You took your time.' She says, crying.
'Well apparently a week in space is a year on Earth, at least to some people.' I say, brushing her hair behind her ears.
'A year?' She asks after a moment.
'Yeah. You've been gone over a year.' I say.
'No...no that's not...but the kids.' She says looking up at me.
'Lila's doing fine, but the boys are in here with you.' I say, gently.
'Oh God.' She says, raising her hand to her mouth, 'they must be terrified.'
'We'll find them.' I say, 'but to do that we need to find the way out.'