HAWKEYE.

“Monica asked me to get a read on you.” Kara doesn’t love the implication that she’d use her powers to do so. “Sorry.”

“You blew up. If that wasn’t scary, I’d want your head checked. Actually, I want your head checked anyway. Did they do any kind of post resurrection outtake assessment? They should have.” Jessica shakes her head, a sigh building in her chest. “You know I’m going to worry about you. I love your circus raised ass.”

“A little extreme? They could have at least tried to let the explosion take me out before Exodus  popped me. Look, I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to have my mind this clear. I’m just also going to be a little upset for a while.”

“How I should feel and how I do feel don’t line up. I thought that’d bother me, but it doesn’t. Those mutants did a bang up job, didn’t they?”

“I am aware of how Emma comes across,” Storm purses her lips. She often does that in regards to Emma Frost, it seems. “But her heart is often in the right place. Right now, however, I think individual voices are needed less than a cohesive unity.”

“I’m not breathing down your neck, Barton.” Monica all but huffs. They don’t always get along, but there’s usually a mutual respect. Right now, he’s annoying the hell out of her. “I say no, you’re not ready to be team leader right now. You need to get therapy or clearance to declare you fit before we go out there and trust you with our lives.”

“Gross. Neither.” That’s her secret: she hadn’t been allowed to read it. It makes a lot more sense now as to why not. “There are way better books out there.”

“I think we have bigger problems right now.” Bigger than a reality merge. Carol can’t wrap her head around that. “Or, if not bigger, at least as pressing.” At this point, they need to make a giant list and figure out which fires are literal and which can wait to be extinguished. Hearing about Natasha — even a different Natasha — seems to strike a nerve. Carol files that away silently. “Bruce, Stephen, Spider-man, Thor and myself. We’re not all original, but it’s better than nothing. I even called Clint. He’s retired now, got some kid he’s training. We’re outsourcing.”

“Maybe they can drop an EP or something. Test the waters out.” Jen is pretty certain Bucky can’t sing. He doesn’t give her singer/songwriter vibes. Neither does Yelena, really. Red Guardian seems like the type to think he can sing but really can’t. Jen has to reel it back in before she goes too far down the rabbit hole. “Some of them likely didn’t have any other options. They have criminal records. Extensive criminal records in some cases. I’d imagine they got time shaved sentences, immunity, etc.” She would have killed to see all the contracts, but it wasn’t like she could go around asking for them. All Jen could do ( to avoid legal pushback ) was wait for them to come to her, and even that was dicey. “Arrowhead? Aw, man. That’s rough. Kind of catchy, but rough. If that kind of stuff is written as mandatory in your contract, you definitely need me.”

Val squints. “I didn’t say you got to be a hawk.”

“It’s ever changing, just like the multiverse. I couldn’t possibly say.” A true copout answer if there ever was one. She smiles at his antics. “Maybe back when you and Bobbi were married. There was that one wave of everyone getting married and having kids. It obviously didn’t last.” Sue and Reed are still married, as are Jean and Scott. Jan and Hank called it quits even before he died. “Of course you’re my favorite Barton, Clint. You’ve got the home field advantage.” 

Looping her arms around his neck, Bobbi pulls him close and situates her lips next to his ear. She whispers in a low tone, “If you think I’m going to stroke your ego anymore, baby, you’re sorely mistaken.” Dropping her arms, the blonde notices the change in his demeanor. “Yeah, sure, of course.” She brushes off the sentiment. “I doubt you’ll appreciate me making you talk about your feelings right now, but that’s exactly what I’m about to do.”

“How much are they paying you to do that?” Ava titters. “Talk about how good you are?” She’s under no false pretenses about what her team is and what they’re contracted to do. They’re not the fresh slate type. “I don’t always want to be the technical type. We’re both here, aren’t we?”

“Go for it, bruv. My genius deserves to be spread and shared throughout the land.” Elsa can’t help but grin for a moment. “Seriously though, it’s good to see you, Barton. How long’s it been now?”

Stephen let out a dry laugh. “That’s exactly what it was, I won’t mince words about it. I wasn’t myself for so long that having my soul back feels.. odd.” He placed a hand over his chest as he took in a deep breath. “If I’m being honest, I didn’t know if I would ever make it back. Making Clea Sorcerer Supreme was the last desperate act to try and make things right.” And now she was giving him the title back. Things were changing faster than he liked.

Clint didn’t seem to be any more enthused about their topic of conversation. Stephen took a moment and raised a brow at the archer. “Different can be good. Judging by your face though.. I wouldn’t say it’s been that for you. Hm?”

“But you are back now, right? No more pesky contracts with Death to worry about?” Clint watched as Stephen placed a hand over his heart and offered back a half-smile as he listened. It really was good to see his friend back, and alive at that, even though the circumstances were less than ideal. “Not that I’m against Clea as the Sorcerer Supreme, but why wouldn’t it be right if you held that title? You seemed pretty good at it.”

There’s a slight cluck of disapproval. “I don’t make empty threats. I deal in promises and warnings. Maybe you should check your hearing aids, hm?”