#nessieart

“What happened?” You look around at the group of disheveled Avengers. They’ve certainly seen better days. Clint is helping Natasha toward a two-story farmhouse, everyone else trailing behind as you and Tony bring up the rear.

The endless sea of golden wheat seems to glow in the sunlight. There's a forest surrounding the few acres of land around the farm and wheat fields.

It's beautiful.

“Wanda,” Tony grimaces, “her powers messed most of the group up pretty bad.” Tony looks over at Bruce, his eyes full of concern for his friend. “others, well,” he shrugs.

“Clint and I avoided the bad Vulcan mind meld, it seems. Cap and Thor seem to be doing alright.” Tony brings a hand around your shoulders, pulling you in and guiding you to catch up with the group.

“What is this place?” Thor asks as you all climb the stairs and gather on the porch.

“A safe house?” Tony shrugs.

“Let's hope,” Clint pushes the front door open, leading you all into a spacious living room. “Honey, I’m home,” he calls out.

A very pregnant woman comes out, surprise on her face as she takes in the multitude of people in her living room.

You feel dizzy, and the ringing in your ears is loud, there is muffled voices conversing around you. And then you hear the peal of laughter, small feet stampeding down the stairs, and two children running and hugging Clint. It's beautifully domestic. You want that, and it makes you sick.

“I - I need some air,” you rush out of the room, before anyone can stop you, and out of the house. The slap of the screen door sounds behind you as you take a running start off the porch and into the grass.

The Shift is fast, and you don't give the tears time to fall from your eyes before you're out of sight.

The ground is wet on the pads of your paws as you weave through the trees, the smells of the forest calm your frayed nerves a little.

Why were the visions Wanda showed you so vivid? Why show you something you can never have?

A few miles of mindless running, you hear the sound of rushing water. Taking your time now that you've had a chance to outrun the panic, you find the source of water. There's a small waterfall that crashes into a pond, then flows down a river.

It's serene and almost makes you forget about the outside world; what happened just a few hours ago.

**

You make it back to the farmhouse an hour later, leaves and twigs clinging to your fur, but you don't mind. You can see Steve and Tony chopping wood out front, so you slowly make your way towards them. Paws dragging you forward and head hanging low.

As you near the two of them, they seem to be in a heated argument, which isn't a new thing with them.

Steve picks up a log and rips it in half with his hands, “Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die. Every time.”

You give a soft bark, the two men whirl around to face you. Tony's face is full of relief at the sight of you. Steve's concerned eyes scan you for any injuries, and when he can't find any, he just nods and puts his hands on his hips.

“God I was so worried,” Tony says as he hugs you around the neck. He only had to bend a little to engulf you in a tight embrace, your head resting over his shoulder. He stands and runs his hands through your dark fur.

“Um, Mr Stark?” Clint's wife cautiously comes into view. She's eyeing you with concern, and then she looks from Steve to Tony. She must realize you don't mean any harm as she continues, “uh, Clint said you wouldn't mind, but our tractor, it doesn't seem to want to start at all. I thought maybe you might…”

Tony nods, “yeah, I'll give her a kick.” He runs another hand over your head, picking out a leaf as he does. He turns to Steve and points at his small pile of chopped wood, “don't take from my pile.”

Steve says your name, and your head shoots up to him. He gestures to Clint's wife. “She's usually more human looking than this. This is Laura, Clint's wife.”

When you take a step forward, she shuffles back away from you, a hand going to her belly, so you stop, ears falling back and tail low. Steve comes to stand next to you to put a reassuring hand on your back.

Laura nods hesitantly and heads back into the house.

Steve heaves a sigh, “Well that could have gone better. Are you ok?” You heave a sigh as well, flopping to the ground with a grunt. He sits on a log next to you, and you lift your head to rest on his knee. He picks the twigs from your fur.

“Wanda got to me, too,” he murmurs after a moment, eyes unseeing and distant. “I saw Peggy. It was after the war. Like I never put that plane in the ice,” he sighs again. “She was waiting for me, told me we could finally go home, that my fighting was done.”

His eyes find yours after another quiet minute, “I can only imagine what you saw. The way you looked at Laura, and then her kids,” he shakes his head, “you'll get to have that one day. I'm sure of it.”

“Whoa, is that a dog?” Excited little voices followed by quick footsteps reach your ears. You shoot up to all fours and back away behind Steve.

Steve stands and puts his hands out to stop Clint and Laura’s kids, “well, wait a minute, uh–“

Around Steve, you can see Clint running to catch up, his wife on the porch looking concerned. The moment Clint notices you, he grabs his kids to stop them.

“What the hell is that?” He asks. Steve says your name like it’s the most obvious thing, gesturing to you as you step around him. Head low and body ready to run if you need to.

“Jones?” Clint asks. He slowly lowers his hands and his kids all but launch themselves at you. Small hands rake through your fur, petting and rubbing places no one else has.

A purr rumbles out of your chest as you sit and let the kids harass you with affection. Your hind leg lifts to scratch an itch when they hit a good spot. They giggle, and you flop over so they can rub your tummy.

“Can we keep her?” The girl asks. You give an offended bark and Steve laughs.

“I'm gone for 10 minutes, and everyone's getting handsy with my girl?” Tony stands off to the outskirts of the group, hands in his pockets and a fond smile on his face. You're upside down as you look at him, mouth open, tail wagging, and tongue lolling out. He chuckles at you.

He unties the flannel from around his waist and holds it out for you, shaking it a little. Behind him, you notice Nick Fury. Ah, so that's why he was in the barn.

You sit upright, prance around the kids a few times, making them laugh, and make your way to Tony, “time to change, honey,” he holds the flannel up to block the view of others as you Shift. It's large enough that when he wraps it around you, it covers down to your mid thighs. The sleeves are a little too long, so you bunch them up at your elbows, fastening a few buttons so the flannel doesn't fly off your frame.

When you turn around to face the kids, they run over to you, asking a million questions and tugging you along towards the house. You cast a glance at Clint, and he just shrugs, following you as his kids tug at your hands.

Laura stops you, taking her kids by their shirt collars, “ok you two, why don't you let Ms. Jones gets washed up and changed before we give her the 20 questions.” You shoot her a grateful smile, and she nods at you, turning her kids to run into the house. They both give a grumbled aw mooom, but trudge into the house nonetheless.

You're left at the bottom of the porch stairs, worrying your bottom lip as Clint, then Fury, and then Tony climbs up the stairs and into the house. Steve begins his ascent, but you stop him when you grab his wrist. You can see Tony through the screen door, brows furrowed but waiting for you.

“I can't have that life,” you say quietly for Steve. You know he hears you when he grabs your elbow to step closer, “Can't,” your free hand grips the fabric around your middle a little tighter when you look up at him.

A shaky exhale leaves your lips, you feel the burn behind your eyes but don't bother to blink it away, “Bucky was - he” you shake your head, “- the Soldier was there. There was fire and smoke. And him. He said I was supposed to be his.”

“None of that happened. It wasn't real, Flowers,” Steve brushes the tear from your face with his thumb.

“But it was real to me,” You're trembling and you don't realize you've started to cry until Tony pries you away from Steve and carries up the stairs of Clint and Laura's home.

He runs the shower for you and says there's extra clothes on the bed from Laura and Nat.

It was quiet in the room, Tony didn't pry or ask what happened on the porch. He just let you stare off out the window. He'd wait for however long you needed to.

**

Clint had stuck his head in the room a while later, saying dinner was ready, and to head down when you both were ready.

“We had a daughter,” you say as Tony gets up to leave. He stops short, hand hanging in the air near the doorknob. “I was pregnant, too. Maybe 6 months or so,” a sad smile flits across your face, hand coming up to rub over your stomach again. Tony turns to look at you as you do.

“Were we happy?” He asks softly. His whole body looks like it wants to melt into the floorboards. Tears glisten your eyes, and you nod.

“We could - I mean, if -” Tony clears his throat and rubs his palms down his jeans, “if you wanted to, y’know. Try,” his brows pinch, and he winces. “It um, it sounds nice. The quiet life.”

“It does,” you frown, standing and pacing the room like a caged animal. You tell Tony the rest of the vision you had. He doesn't speak. He looks like he's going to be sick.

“I -” I can't get pregnant, “- I'm sorry I ran away. Earlier,” is all you manage to say.

You didn't pay much attention during dinner. Everyone talked about Ultron and what there was to be done about him.

The plan was laid out. You wanted to go with Steve to South Korea, just to double check on Dr. Cho.

**

“I'll take Natasha and Clint,” Steve said as everyone else put their gear on.

Tony nodded, “Alright, strictly recon. I'll hit the NEXUS, I'll join you as soon as I can.”

You followed Nat to her room. You're positive she'd have an extra suit for you. She raised her brows at you as you stood in the doorway, arms crossed over your chest.

“I need a suit, I'm going with you,” you left no room to argue. You knew she wouldn't. Natasha smirked at you and tossed you a duffle bag.

After changing, you follow Nat down the stairs. Before you get to the bottom, she flips a knife over and holds it out for you. It was your turn to raise an eyebrow, hand coming up and extending your claws. Nat's gaze never wavers, and she raises her perfectly sculpted brow at you in return. You sigh, taking the blade and stashing it in a holster on your hip.

Fury's voice carries across the landing as you reach the bottom with Natasha. “I'll drop Banner off at the tower. Do you mind if I borrow Ms. Hill?”

“She's all yours, apparently,” Tony's eyes found yours, and his brow creased. “Take Tooth and Claw with you, too.”

A round of protests was heard from you, Natasha and Fury. Your voice is the loudest.

“Absolutely fucking not, I'm going with Steve,” you pointed an aggressive finger at the man. His ears tinge pink as his hands come up in defense. Before he could speak you held up your hand, “it's non negotiable.” And you storm outside toward the quinjet.

Steve cleared his throat as you stomped passed, eyes looking at Fury, “What are you gonna do?”

Nick chuckled at your retreating form, giving a knowing look at Tony and Steve, “I don't know. Something dramatic, I hope.”

You wait outside the quinjet for Tony. You couldn't leave without saying goodbye, no matter how upset you were a minute ago.

“Look, I know you're mad,” his hands come up in defense as you narrow your eyes at him, “I'm just trying to keep you safe.” He stops in front of you, hands rubbing up and down your arms.

“And I've told you I can take care of myself,” you bring a hand to his cheek, running your thumb under the cut beneath his eye. You smile a little, “I'm not the one who's fragile.” He huffs and turns his face into your palm, kissing your wrist.

“Just be careful,” Tony's brow creases with worry.

“You too,” you lean up to kiss him, “and I'm always careful.” Tony scoffs and rolls his eyes in response.

**

Clint dropped you and Steve off on a rooftop, overlooking the facility you knew Helen Cho would be in.

“Two minutes,” Steve says, the ear communicator also picks up his voice. “Stay close.”

“Couldn't have dropped us off closer, Clint?” You say as you and Steve start jogging.

You hear his laugh over the comms, “now where would the fun in that be?”

Soon, Steve and you enter the facility. It's dark, the axillary lights are on, some blinking in and out. Reaching the lab, you notice broken equipment, glass shattered everywhere, and a few dead bodies.

Steve rushes forward, “Dr. Cho!” He grabs a rag and places it over her bleeding wound.

Cho's breathing is heavy, her skin sheen with sweat, “H-he's uploading himself to the body.”

You kneel down next to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, “where?”

She shakes her head. Steve goes to get up, but Helen stops him, “the real power is inside the Cradle. The gem, its power, is uncontainable. You can’t just blow it up. Get the Cradle to Stark.”

“First I have to find it,” Steve says. “You guys copy that?”

“We did,” you hear Clint.

You step away, pulling out your phone to get emergency medical personnel at your location for Helen and any of the other survivors, if there is any.

“EMTs are 8 minutes out,” you say. Helen nods in appreciation.

“Go,” she tells both you and Steve.

“There,” Clint says as you and Steve exit the building. “Right above you, Cap. On the loop by the bridge. I can take out the driver.”

”Negative, That truck crashes, the gem could level the city,” Steve helps you up the last few rungs of the ladder. “We need to draw out Ultron.”

”Here it comes” You point. The truck is coming in fast. Steve grabs you by the waist, making a quick decision before you have room to protest.

”Just like old times,” as he leaps from the overpass, once his feet hit the trailer, he lets you go, you roll a little, and get your bearings.

”I hate when you do that,” you groan, standing up. Steve maneuvers to the back of the truck, hanging from the back door before it's blown back, and then he flies up and back down onto the dangling trailer door. “Steve?” You peer over the end of the trailer, and he looks up at you.

”Well, he’s definitely angry.”

”You’re no match for him, Cap.”

Steve shakes his head, getting his balance, “Thanks, Barton…” Before Steve could get back up to you, Ultron flips the door off the trailer, and Steve goes flying back into a car.

“Cap?” You call, watching as he swings from a truck mirror and launches himself back onto the truck trailer next to you. He nods his head at you.

“You know what’s in that Cradle?” Ultron appears in front of you, floating with his arm raised and poised to shoot. He fires, the beams bouncing off the shield on Steve’s back. “The power to make real change. And that terrifies you.”

Steve grimaces, “I wouldn't call it a comfort,” pulling his shield off his back and throwing it at Ultron. It bounces off a few times before he kicks it into Ultron’s chest.

Ultron flings the shield away. It flies off and onto the street, “Stop that!” He shoots a plasma beam right into Steve’s chest and sends him flying to the front of the truck. Ultron turns to you, slightly hovering in the air as he makes his way toward you. “Don't make me put you down,” he raises his hand like he’s going to shoot you, but waits. You growl at him, both hands letting go of the metal trailer and turning towards him to strike.

Steve jumps back up on top of the trailer and onto Ultron’s back. You jump on his front and try to dig your claws into any part of him that you can tear away. Ultron throws you off first, and you barely have time to catch yourself before you’re thrown off. You use the momentum to get into the back of the trailer. Two Legionnaire sentries raise their guns on you. The repulsors charge up, but before they could hit you, they fly out at the sounds of the quintet machine gun.

“Cutting it close,” you sigh. “whoa…” the cradle is - well - it’s definitely different.

You tried to disable the upload, but nothing you did mattered. You were getting locked out no matter what buttons you smashed. After a few minutes of trying to force the cradle open, the clamor of shuffling feet and fighting above your head dies down.

The truck jostles, and you feel it lift off the ground.

Shit.

“The package is airborne. I have a clean shot," Clint said into your ear.

“No! I'm still in the truck!” You tell him, trying to find a way to release the cradle.

“What the hell are you...?”

“Just be ready, I'm gonna send it to you,” you take the knife out that Nat gave you, sawing through the straps. It is released one by one, and it begins to slide around the bed of the trailer.

Through the opening, you see the quinjet try to keep level with the back, Clint opens the ramp of the jet, “Ready when you are, Jonesy.”

You exhale a heavy breath, latch onto the cradle, plant your feet on the wall behind you, and kick off as hard as you can. In the air, you free fall for a moment before the cradle lands with a thud in the quinjet.

Before you could climb in, something grabs your foot and yanks you from your position. You fall, and then large metal arms grab you. For a moment, you're relieved, but then when you look up to your supposed savior, it's Ultron, and your blood runs cold.

You struggle to get free, but his arms hold you tighter, “Ah ah, stop squirming. Don't want to drop you.” If robots could smirk, you're sure he would be.

“Where are you taking me?” There's concern over the comms about you, Steve asking if you're ok, Clint and Natasha asking where you are. Before you can answer, metal fingers dig the communicator from your ear and squish it between its fingers.

Red eyes look down at you, a hand coming up to your face, “You'll see.” And the last thing you hear before your vision goes dark is a saddened metallic voice saying, “You'll all see…”