Golden Boy

Josh raised an eyebrow, “I’d be intimidated by the look, but after dying I guess I’ve developed a spine.” 

Clint raised an eyebrow at the comment, but didn’t think any further on it. He was sure he didn’t want to know. “Alright, then.” If it meant he didn’t waste time sleeping as he tried to put this puzzle together, then he was all for it.

Josh was pleased the other didn’t ask anymore questions, he didn’t like to think about it but at the same time felt compelled to talk about it... Probably a conundrum for a therapist but he wasn’t gonna get involved in any of that. “Okay.” he nodded, “I’m gonna need to touch your for it to work, arms or chest would probably be best, do you have a preference?” he asked, trying to be as polite about it as possible.

“That could be handy and money saving, another argument you can throw in in the conversation in case you need it.” he pointed out nodding. “No problem, thought of a name already ?”

laura eyed the dog for a moment and josh, before she stepped towards them. “i don’t see why we wouldn’t be able to.” she said, gently patting the dogs head. “you two match.”

“uh….sure i guess. all the stuff we have there i’m sure there is something.” she barely waited for a response before heading off to the kitchen. she just hoped she wasn’t getting roped into something much bigger. she wasn’t sure if she was in the mood for any of that.

Ororo smiled as Josh brought the puppy closer to her. “Hello, there,” she said calmly, watching as the dog sniffed her hand before giving it an inviting lick. “He’s sweet. But I do think a better name than boy might suit him better. Perhaps something like Goldie or Sunny?”

Holding the puppy, Josh couldn’t help but feel a little better, he could just feel the animals warmth and happiness. “Yea, I don’t think I’ve felt him be sad after I found him, he was on his own then.” Kinda like how Josh had been. “I am not calling him Goldie.” he deadpanned, “That’ll invite way too many jokes.” Considering his skin-colour, “Sunny isn’t bad... What about just ‘S’?” Nice and simple.

Clint thought maybe the kid would try to insist or something to get him to rest. That’s what most people tried to do when they saw him like this. But what the kid was offering, well…he needed all the energy he could get. “You can do that?” he asked. He heard a little bit about what the kid could do but he honestly didn’t know much.

Josh nodded, “I can.” he spoke quietly, “I’ve killed a Skrull Logan and came back from the dead, it won’t be that hard.” he spoke it all in a deadpan since that was probably the easiest way to gloss over the facts. “But I’m not making a habit of it; it’s a one time deal since I doubt you’ll sleep till you drop and that’ll only harm your body.”

Clint glanced up at the kid with the darkest circles around his eyes. Sure, he probably should try to go get some sleep before he fell flat on his face, but he couldn’t. Not until he knew his family was safe. “Dually noted,” he replied, his tone very monotone before he went back to looking at the files scattered before him.

Josh sighed. He shouldn’t get involved, it was a bad idea and he didn’t want people thinking he was a damn walking coffee machine but... the little he knew of Mr. Barton’s situation was enough to cause him to make an exception, “I can help if you want? Rewire your body to give you some more energy back?” It would be easy really.

Did Loki listen to Empire’s New Clothes, yes.  He did. It gave him maybe one too many ideas of mischief, which resulted in a bit of …an explosion  …. firework.

Josh jumped at the explosion across the street, when he saw the figure behind it he just sighed, “You know what... I’m beyond being shocked by the crap you do.”

Ororo wished she could give Josh an answer, but she didn’t know the answer either. She didn’t know what to do or how to handle everything that happened. She needed to talk to the Professor about it, but for now, she was just as lost as she was. But thankfully, before she could tell him that she didn’t know either, there was a noise that distracted them and Josh pulled out the puppy. The little ball of fluff made her smile as she gently scratched behind his ears. “He’s adorable,” she said, looking back to Josh, “If you’re wondering, you can keep him. Have you named him yet?”

Her silence only served to heighten his worry for the state of the school. Sure he knew the professor could probably fix any problem but he still found it difficult to believe. In the end they were all just people and this war had been too much for all of them. He was trying to think of a way to deal with the subject when his puppy burst from under the and into his embrace. “Sorry,” he said with a sigh, chuckling as the puppy licked his face, “I was gonna tell you but with everything it sorta... slipped my mind.” he shook his head, “I haven’t. I’ve just been calling him ‘Boy’ so far, guess I should think of a good one, huh?” he asked, “Wanna say hi?” Josh stepped forward, the puppy already sticking his nose forward to try and sniff or lick Ororo.

“By hiding into the bush huh?” Logan wasn’t judging, he just noticed Josh last attempt of being discrete, a remarkable fail. “Heard you kill the green me.” He finally said with no tries of being subtle. “Well done kid.”

Josh sighed, “Yea... Not a great excuse is it?” he asked with a sigh, already feeling bad for not being honest with the other guy, even if he was more than  a little scared of him. “I did.” Josh swallowed, “I’m really sorry about that.” he added quietly, not sure why but feeling he should apologise for his actions, “I didn’t want to but... he stabbed me through the spine.” 

“Well arent’ you  lucky to be able to fix everything that comes into your hands. “ he stated sarcasticaly . “There’s nothing to understand , it’s life. “

Jubes looked at Josh, then the puppy.  “ It has a heart condition, it will die anyway. “  she was turning to end the conversation, when he stopped her with his questions.  “ Life. “she replied. 

As soon as Josh stepped aside, Ororo entered, rubbing her hands in front of her before turning to look at Josh. It was a fair question and while she probably should, she hadn’t had the courage to really talk to him just yet. The memories were still a little too fresh. “No, I haven’t. They kind of come more in flashes than anything else.” Such as the flash of her Skrull killing Shogo and being killed by Logan. Those were the ones that seemed a bit too fresh for her.

Josh looked down and sighed, there were talking but neither was saying much about what they probably needed to talk about. “Oh... You uhh... You should. I think he needs to see people.” Josh just didn’t know how to act around the guy now, once stabbed in the spine, twice shy, even though he knew Logan hadn’t done it. “I’ve heard a few people say that.” he paused a moment, “Ororo...” he licked his lips, “What’re we gonna... I mean how...” Josh sighed, “I’m hiding in here and I don’t know what to do an- at that moment a scrabbling noise was heard form under Josh’s bed and moments later a golden retriever puppy bounded from the bed and jumped into Josh’s arms, “Uhh.. I made a friend?” he half-asked. Josh had been hoping the puppy would stay asleep under there. 

laura eyed the dog for a moment and josh, before she stepped towards them. “i don’t see why we wouldn’t be able to.” she said, gently patting the dogs head. “you two match.”

It was still a little bit of a mess. In her mind, she was still flashing to moments where the Skrull had been impersonating her, but when Josh opened the door, all she could see was him floating out of the bay doors on that space ship. It was a miracle he was even still alive. “I was actually coming to ask you that question,” she said, giving him a warm smile. “May I come in?”

“If I start answering that I don’t think we’ll ever have time for anything else today.” he said softly, stepping aside and opening the door, “Course, please come in.” he stepped aside and closed the door after her, leaning against it, “Have you uhh...” he paused and looked down, “Have you seen.... Y’know Logan.” Josh was still going out of her way to avoid him, “I guess you still remember all the stuff that happened even if... it wasn’t you.”

“Well as long as you’ll agree to take care of it yourself and make sure he’s being properly cared of, I don’t see why they wouldn’t let you keep him. In my opinion it’ll even benefit both of you I’m sure.”