Mr Fantastic

“You may have the looks , but , my dear, I have the most charism and charm. “ He winked and loved.  “You are a sneaky motherfucker … I know what you’re trying to do. “  he commented the moves.   “Rather well, to be honest.  Sword is running very smoothly and up there I don’t have to deal with the mess that is Earth …yet here I am …again…to fix mistakes others have done. The usual. “

“Debatable.” he simply retorted with a slight smile. “You’d hate for me to play it easy on you, don’t you ?” he said with a nod to the side. After all, that was the whole point on those chess games, to keep their brains working. Nodding gently as Tony answered him, he was glad to hear things were going as smoothly as possible but still, the discourse sounded too familiar. “I’m glad to hear that but...how about you, who makes sure you’re not burning out because of that ?”

Clint laughed just a bit, figuring he should have figured that Reed wasn’t here to just chat or see how he was doing. He was one of the smartest men in the world - he didn’t go some place like this to talk with people like him. “Of course there is. I don’t know how much help I can be exactly but you must have already thought this out if you came all this way. So…what can I do for you, doc?”

Technically he was, just here to chat but he couldn’t really just get in the Raft for that so of course he gave a false request but he’llfigure out that part once he’ll leave. For now, he needed to talk about what was bothering him, the rest could wait, his brain would find an excuse that made sense. “It’s not what you think...” he first answered, as he approached the cell a bit more. “I’m not here to get something out of you, not a favor at least. And even if I did think this through indeed, I still can’t figure it out it seems. But I’d understand if you’d want me to leave you alone.”

If Clint was still confused as to why Reed was standing there, that was because he most definitely was. Considering their two opposite fields as well as his knowledge compared to Reed’s, Clint had very little in common with Reed. Not to say that he didn’t hold any respect towards the man because he most certainly did, but talking to Reed was like trying to talk to Banner and Tony when they were working on a project. He tended to leave the science stuff to the smart ones. “You came all the way here to this dreary place to ask how am I?” Clint asked, still mostly confused.

It was surprising to say the least, him visiting the Raft just like that but yeah, as he thought of the little problem that brought him here, Clint was the man he needed to talk to right now, even if it looked a bit far fetched. “I’m sure it’s not a question your jailors often ask and even if we’re not really more than acquaintance, doesn’t mean I don’t care. But if I’m being honest,there’s an ulterior motive for my visit...” he told him hoping he wasn’t just going to tel him to eff off. Though he’d understand if he did.

“Jeez, ou sound just like me. “  Tony commented in some mockery.  “ By the way, bishop on E4  and pawn on F7. “

“We’ve been known to be pretty similar Tony, except obviously, I’m way better looking.”

This security protocol was a shame, an embarrassment really, such as the mess in this laboratory, if you will call this one. Doom never liked the place, too clean, too white, definitively impersonal, yet he came. And if his glare stopped on the man for a few seconds, he didn’t come for him, on a better day, he could have, but this day wasn’t one for courtesy. “Taking back what is mine.”

When he recognised the voice, Reed stiffened a bit for a second but he knew that if his visitor wanted him dead, he would already have make his move. So instead he just looked up, detailling Doom and replied. “You’re gonna be a little bit more precise than that if you want me to answer that request Victor.”

“I’m sure with our two intellects working on it, we could come up with something. What is it?”

“Let’s hope so.” he said with a small smirk. “I was thinking about using the proprerties of the Skrull DNA to help make some sort of stem cell compound that would be grown in large quantities; D’you think that could work other than in theory ?”

“Define sometimes,” Johnny replied with a hint of disbelief. Very rarely did he ever see Reed outside of his lab and when he did, he normally made a big deal about it. “Yeah, there is and I would strongly recommend you avoid it at all costs. You may be married to my sister but I’ve seen how bad she can be. I don’t even know how I survived our childhood.”

Reed grimaced for a split second. “I play chess with Tony, I try to teach Franklin how to remember the first digits of Pi...” he answered, knowing his reply wasn’t really counting as something relaxing but it was, for him at least. He chuckled again with Johnny’s assesment. “Cheer luck I suppose.” he let out before sighing a little. “ I’m just trying to finish this project that could help a lot of people and yet I’m stuck and being myself, it tends to become an obsession.”

“It’s Wednesday, in case you were wondering,” he replied as he relaxed in his chair, “Seriously, Reed, are you ever going to leave your lab? Do I need to take you to a bar or something to get you to relax? I know how annoyed Susie has been about you basically living in this place.”

Reed let out a small chuckle as he nodded to thank him for the head’s up. He knew he was spending way too much time in here but it wasn’t like he could just shut off his brain at will, ‘cause if so, believe that he would knowing how all this affected not only him but his family. “I relax... sometimes.” he tried to defend himself even thoug he didn’t sound convinced. “Oh trust me I’m fully aware, I know there’s a strom coming.”

“I’m never too busy to help out a fellow man of science,” Hank replied as he removed his glasses and leaned forward. “How may I be of assistance?”

Reed flashed a smile hearing Hank say that, he was expecting that kind of response coming from him. “Well ever since that all Skrull thing’s finished I’ve been having this idea in my head but I can’t quite figure out if it’s trully possible to make it happen so I wanted your opinion on this since biochem’s more your thing than mine.”

There was very, very few people Clint ever expected to show up to see him. The list really consisted of Ross, Osborn and surprisingly, Tony. Natasha would not be a surprise but he doubted she would show up. Reed Richards? Now that was a shocker. He sat up, probably a bit faster than he should have as his ribs yelled in protest. His grunted as he turned, giving Reed a confused look. “What are you doing here, Reed?” he asked. There was nothing malicious in his voice. If anything, he was more shocked than anything. 

They never really crossed path many times before or bonded enough to be labeled friends but considering how highly Tony was always talking about him (in his own complicated and sometimes ambiguous way, for after all we’re talking about Tony here), Reed was concerned with Clint’s status. Obviously, what he did to Zemo was wrong but strangely, somehow, he understood why he did it. And could easily imagine how he’d feel if roles would be swaped. Maybe why he thought that coming here to see him to get some answers regarding his own troubles was a seemingly good idea. “Checking up on you and also I have something to ask you.” he first stated before taking a closer look to the man. “How are you holding up ?”

Ross had let him know what was going to happen next but he didn’t listen. All he did was lay on the cot facing the glass. He always heard when the doors to the observation area opened and found the pattern of when the guards would change out. So when the door beeped a couple of hours early, he knew it wasn’t a normal occurrence. Probably Ross here to tell him something. “Not really in the mood to talk, so let’s not and say we did,” he announced to the person without looking.

Lately, all kind oh thoughts were rushing into his head and not all of them were welcomed there. Especially the ones that made him doubt about himself once more. He still wasn’t sure how Sue didn’t already leave him giving how he was even back when they were only just dating but add parenthood into the mix now and well, let’s just say that himw working days & nights on his latest project didn’t help him make those thoughts go away. So since he promised his wife to get some air eventually, might as well actually do it and get some advise while doing it. Even if he was pretty sure that wasn’t going to be a ball in the park considering where and who he was visiting. But nevertheless, as anyone who knew him knows, once Reed’s got an idea, there’s not much one can do to stop him so here he is, paying a little visit to Clint in the Raft. Oh the face on the guard’s face when he arrived... priceless. Reaching the other man’s cell, he smiled hearing him sending him straight off. “Well luckily for you or not, I can do the talking for the both of us.”

“Well the offer still stands, should you change your mind. I know space holds a place in your heart. “   He put his hands in his pockets. “ Yeah it has, but you know, between the end of the war and rebuilding everything, kinda busy … and you what have you been up to ? “

“I might one day, thanks.” Indeed, space had a special place for him but for now, his place was around here, he had work to do, more things to discover to help after everything that happened. “That’s one way to put it I guess.” he smiled before answering. “Oh you know me, trying to find new ways to help people, to ensure everybody’s safety against future threats, same old same old.”

“You look like shit,” Johnny commented as he walked in and sat down opposite his brother-in-law. “Seriously, when was the last time you left this building?”

“I probably do yeah” he nodded as he watched him taking place in front of him. “In all honesty, I’m not even sure which day we are now so I guess that answers your question.” he replied like this wasn’t something to be concerned about

Tony had some visits to make during his time on Earth. Clint’s arrest was not planned , but of all things maybe it was something positive. He promised himself to visit an old friend and after getting to his lair, he could only smile.  “Still don’t want to join the SWORD ? “

Hearing that voice always took him years back in the past, to a simpler time, if that was ever really the case considering their respective track records. “As much as I’d like to, and might I add I’m still flattered by the offer, the answer’s still no Tony. Good to see you though, it’s been some time.”

“Ah, yes,” he smirked as he put his work to the side, “I feel like I need to keep my mind busy with my research otherwise I’m without purpose. How is your research going?”

“I know the feeling all too well” he commented as he seated himself in front of Hank. “Not as well as I’d want to actually, that’s why I’m here. I need your help, that is if you’re not too busy obviously.”

“The part where Osborne had to act like he was okay with what was happening.”

“I’ll give it to you yeah, that part was quite enjoyable indeed.”