The sky is cloudy over The Barton's farm, Clint Barton, with his daughter, Lila, was coaching her as she notched an arrow in her bow. "Okay, you see where you're going? Let's work on how to get there." Clint said, fixing his daughter's posture. "Okay, good...tip down...bow arm out... three fingers-"
"why three?" Laila asked, still focused on the target that hung in front of her on the tree trunk.
"'cause two's not enough and four's too much-"
"You guys want mayo, mustard, or both?" Clint turned, in the field behind them, his wife, Laura, was setting the picnic table for lunch, while his sons, Cooper and Nathaniel, were playing soccer. "Who puts mayo on a hotdog?" Laila asked, weirded out.
"It's probably for your brothers," Clint answered, "Two mustard, please! Thanks, mama." He turned back to his daughter, watching her carefully. "Draw back your arrow, deep breath..." and Laila let go of the arrow, hitting the target in the center. "Good job, Hawkeye! go get your arrow." Clint smiled at his daughter proudly.
"Enough murder practice! Lunch is ready!" Laura yelled for them.
"We're coming!" Clint yelled back. He turned back to his daughter, but she was missing, her bow and arrow laid at his feet. He walked towards the tree, "Laila?!" he yelled, but no answer. He turned to where his wife and sons were, only to find them missing too.
No one could be seen for a hundred yards in all directions. Clint broke in a panicked run "Honey?! Boys, where are you?!" No one answered him.
***
Blackness...
The Benatar Ship tumbled, adrift in space. inside, Tony Stark and Nebula were playing table-top football. Tony had his two fingers on the table, acting as the goal, while Nebula had the 'ball'. She flicked it, and it flew above Tony's fingers, making Nebula the winner. Tony offered his hand, "Good sport, have fun?" He asked. Nebula studied his hand, confused, as she is not used to winning anything. She finally shook his hand, "It was fun."
Sometime after their small game, Tony, thin and haggard, kneeled in front of his broken Iron man helmet that sat at the deck of the ship. He hit a switch, which resulted in a light to blink.
"This thing on?" He stared at the camera that was recording his message. "Hey, Ms. Potts...Pep. if you find this recording, don't post it on social media, it's going to be a real tearjerker,"
Tony leaned against the wall of the flight deck, exhausted, "I don't know if you're ever going to see these. I don't even know if you're still...God, I hope so. Today's day twenty-one, no...twenty-two. You know, if it wasn't for the existential terror of staring into the literal void of space, I'd say I'm feeling a little bit better today. The infection has run its course, thanks to the Blue Meanie back there. Oh, You'd love her, very practical and only a tiny bit sadistic,"
Tony sighed, tired of everything that had happened in the last few days. "The fuel cells were cracked during the battle, but we figured out a way to reverse the ion charge. Bought ourselves about 48 hours of flight time. Problem is, that was about 49 hours ago," he exhaled deeply, wishing to just go back home to the person he loves. "Which means, we're dead in the water... A thousand light-years away from the nearest Seven-Eleven."
He picked up the empty aluminum zip-lock bag that once contained 'space food'. "Food and water ran out four days ago. Oxygen will run out tomorrow morning...and that will be it..." Tony stood up and leaned on the glass, staring into the endless void. "Pep, I know I said no more surprises...but I'm really hoping to pull off one last one. Please know, when I drift off, it will be like every night lately, I'm fine...totally fine, I'm going to dream about you," He looked at his helmet, "It's always you." He said so softly it almost came out as a whisper.
He switched off the helmet for one last time, before laying down on the floor next to it. He closed his eyes, ready for darkness to consume him. The ship was quiet yet again. Nebula found Tony, peacefully closing his eyes. She helped him into Quill's chair; he was completely still. She walked out, leaving him by himself.
Suddenly, a light started to glow brighter and brighter, illuminating Tony's face and the whole flight deck. Tony blinked and covered his eyes to shield them from the bright light. Once his eyes got used to the light, he saw Captain Marvel hovering in space.
***
Back at the Avengers compound, Steve Rogers was in the bathroom. He stood in front of the mirror. The water was running from the tap into the sink. Steve slowly dragged the shaving blade across his cheek for one last time as he finished shaving. He washed the blade, then wiped his face with a towel.
He stared at himself in the mirror, exhausted. the shaving mirror started to tremble, Steve looked at it, puzzled. He heard a loud noise coming from outside. He rushed out with the rest of the avengers.
As the moon hung over them, a silhouette of the Benatar Ship flew closer and closer, propelled by Carol Danvers. Steve, Natasha, Bruce, and Pepper watched Carol guide the ship down to the ground.
As soon as the door of the ship opened, Steve raced up to help Tony down the ramp.
"Couldn't stop him," Tony said.
"Neither could I," Steve said, as he guided Tony towards the compound. Tony stopped and looked at Steve, with sadness in his eyes, "I...lost the kid," he said, on the verge of tears. Steve was unable to finish his sentence as he spoke, "Tony, we lost... all of us..."
"Is Pepper...?" Before he could even finish his sentence, Pepper ran towards him and hugged him, "Thank God..." she said.
Nebula was sitting on the ramp nearby, watching the heroes reunite. Rocket came and sat next to her, grateful that one of his teammates made it out alive. She rested her hand on his furry arm, giving him a sense of comfort.
YOU ARE READING
Avengers Endgame Junior Novel ✔
Science Fiction"PART OF THE JOURNEY IS THE END" After Thanos executed his sinister plan of seizing all six of the Infinity Stones, the paths of those who were left were dispersed, leaving many questions pending: Is there victory over Thanos? Can they undo the chao...
