Tʜᴇ Aᴠᴇɴɢᴇʀs: Tʜᴇ Lᴀsᴛ Hᴇʀᴏᴇs

Ｆｏｒ Ｓｏｍｅｂｏｄｙ Ｅｌｓｅ

Sacrifice.

Over the past six years, Carson had heard that word far too much. And now here it was again, except now, he had an excuse as to why they didn't get the stone.

Because someone had to die to get it.

"Carson go sit over there, let us figure this out." Natasha commanded. Clint nodded in agreement but you could see the fear in his eyes even then. Someone was loosing their best friend today. Carson gladly took a seat a few rocks away next to the Red Skull and patiently awaited an outcome. "You won't join them in conversation?" The Red Skull asked. Carson looked up at the red figure and then back down. "They won't be able to choose between each other, there's no point in me putting my I'll die card in the deck if the outcome will be that we leave the stone here and say oh well. Astrid will understand." He explained.

"Astrid." Red Skull said more to himself than to Carson but he still replied. "Yea, what about her?" He asked. Red Skull smiled. "You love her, and yet...you would torture her with this decision." Carson's eyes went dark as he avoided Red Skull's gaze. "It's for the best." He said. "Maybe for you...but not for her." He replied. Carson stayed silent. "You see, you believe that by purposely not saving Ben that you'll be able to swoop in and save Astrid from herself. And then she'll love you again, right?" Silence. "But you see, I do know all. I know that Natasha will choose to lay down her life to save the universe's, but I also know that Astrid will never be the same if you fail. Her entire being is dedicated to bringing back not just Benjamin but Lilly, Sarah, Anthony and all the other millions that have died by the hands of the late Thanos. If you get in the way of that revival, not only will you hate yourself for loosing her, but she'll despise you, Natasha and Clint for your failure. Things will never be the same and she will become the one that she hates the most. Dark Lightning."

That name...Dark Lightning, it was familiar, and then it hit him. During Astrid's adventures in the portals of the multiverse back when she was trying to save the universe her way, she encountered the evil version of herself that had killed every royal member in Asgard and took over the crown, the killings included her mother, father, brother and the royal berguard of Thor's. Astrid had almost died in battle against her and when she told Carson this story, she had fear in her eyes, ever had he seen her this afraid in her life, and especially at herself.

"You will be the singular cause of the great undoing of Astrid Sif Odinson-Foster. And I personally don't believe that you could handle that guilt...or her wrath." Red Skull finished.

Carson had tears in his eyes for the first time in a while. "You um...you're sure?" He asked, not knowing what else to say. Red Skull nodded as he floated off towards the edge of the cliff. "The choice is yours."

Natasha had so much to live for...

Clint had a family...

Carson wanted Astrid...

Everyone had something that they had to hold onto...except Carson was the only person who had heard the news of the sacrifice and had no intent on dying for anyone except Astrid. But that was it, he would die for Astrid and if he didn't sacrifice himself then Natasha, who'd never done anything evil or selfish was going to lay down her life. Or worse, Natasha and Clint wouldn't be able to do it and they wouldn't get the stone and Astrid would turn into Dark Lightning and kill all of them. So, what would the right choice be? Well Carson finally figured it out.

His feet had never moved so fast to the edge of that cliff. Clint and Natasha noticed the dust flying around and then realized what was happening. "Carson, no!" Natasha yelled, sprinting behind him Clint following. "Carson we've got this, you don't have to worry!" Clint yelled up at him. Carson paused at the edge and looked back, "Tell Astrid and my mom that I'll be okay, I can finally meet my dad." He smiled, about to dive off the cliff. But Clint had an arrow up his sleeve, literally. He threw the arrow at Carson's feet and before he could react, his ankles were tied together and he was being pulled towards Clint.