InsaneJournal

With yesterday’s meeting, it was very clear that they all had a lot of preparing to do before Thanos arrived. It wasn’t a matter of if, he would arrive, it was now a matter of when. It was painfully clear everyone was on high alert after the meeting. But it was needed and routes needed to be voiced out. Everyone made valid points, the question now was how soon can everyone get ready since no one had a real estimate on when Thanos was coming.

With the late afternoon upon then, Nat, Fury, Clint, and Bobbi all found themselves walking to one of the SHIELD SUV’s. After spending the morning training with Clint, just to get their blood pumping it was time for them to head to S.I and see this Quantum device first hand. As usual, Fury took the wheel, with Nat in the passenger seat beside and Clint and Bobbi in the back. It felt good to her personally to be wearing her old SHIELD uniform, as well as working with Fury again.

Bobbi, she was learning about. Glancing through the mirror to the back seat once, inside the SUV, Nat glanced over at Fury after her seat belt was fastened. “Think we have a winning chance this time?” She asked resting her head back in the passenger seat as she glanced over at Fury for the moment

Nick didn't answer at first. Friday's meeting had given him a lot to think about but very little to actually do. He had to admit: he was proud of the initiative everyone was taking. It seemed like a good plan had come together.

It was just those unknowns: like Wakanda.

"We have as good as chance as any," was his response. Tapping a finger on the wheel, he looked around and sighed. Fucking traffic. "Fuck, next time remind me not go to through downtown. I don't know what I was thinking."

Clint was silent. When he was with Nat, training or… the thoughts were kept at bay. He was even able to sleep as long as she was there against him. Right now, they were in the same car, but they might as well be in different countries, with Fury and Bobbi right here as well. There could be no real communication or closeness, definitely no extraordinary touching.

And so the thoughts swarmed in. Think we have a winning chance this time…

Started for the phone when something was wrong with the baby… started for his gear when it was Cooper too…

Laura in the doorway…

Running from the house with Lila…

Ashes and dust…

Yeah. Clint was a bit busy trying to keep his face blank.

Bobbi spent a lot of time observing the training of all the agents, old and new. The new ones tried her patience, but better her than Fury. The returning agents...well that held an interest of its own. For example Romanoff and Barton. She knew Clint was hurting, and why. It wasn’t surprising that Natasha was taking care of him. Good partners had become close friends. But now...something was different in their dynamic. Bobbi was pretty certain she knew what it was. She didn’t really care, to be honest, but as soon as it interfered with how they worked together she’d put a stop to the working together part.

“You always blame the traffic, old man,” Bobbi smirked where Fury could see her in the rearview mirror. “Can’t possibly be your driving.”

“Maybe next time leave the driving to me.. I mean, are you even allowed to drive in your old age?” Nat said with a side smirk. Oh, she missed this. Avengers was great. But to be with Fury like old times, before aliens started showing up was something Nat missed. A quick glance in the mirror towards Bobbi and Clint as she smirked at both of them.

They still have prepping to do, and Nat still have the spear to let Tony tinker with to see how he could use its power to help them win this fight that felt like it was getting closer. Already she’d lean over and honked the horn. Seeing it that would get people to drive.

But that sinking feeling that something was wrong started to seep in.

“Didn’t anyone tell you two to respect your elders?” he asked, a grin in his eyes if not on his face. Moving the car slowly forward, he turned to look in the rearview mirror. “And speaking of which, Nat did you manage to get a hold of -- “

And that was all he got out. Within a fraction of a second, his arm started to disappear. There was no time to put the car into park, or even hit the brakes before the stoic man was nothing more than a pile of dust in the driver’s seat.

Clint started so violently he hit his head on the roof of the car. He trusted Nat to grab the wheel—if this was real—and so didn’t get in her way by attempting to lunge for it himself. But he grabbed Bobbi’s arm. “Am I hallucinating?” Asked in that pleading way of not really believing he was but really fucking hoping.

“Nick!” was all Bobbi was able to get out. But he was gone and the car was lurching around wildly. “Autopilot engage!” she shouted. This was a SHIELD mobile. It would have all the whistles and bells. “Security level Alpha. Clearance Co-Director Morse!” Acknowledged, Co-Director Morse. Security measures engaged. The doors locked and sealed while oxygen began filtering through the AC vents.

“Romanoff! The wheel please?” She knew she didn’t have to give that order, but it was more reassuring than assuming.

That taken care of she put her hand over Clint’s on her arm. She looked a little panicked at the edges of her eyes. “No. No hallucination. Fury’s gone.”

Nat was laughing and then she wasn't anymore. Even with the command given by Bobbi, Nat was already in the driver seat a second after Fury dusted. “Autopilot disengage.” Yes, Black Widow. Autopilot disengaged. .

With the car suddenly braked, is when they would hear it. People screaming. Her fingers gripped the wheel until her knuckles were white….

“We need to find Tony and Steve.” is all she said as she put the car in drive and turned down a corner. Chaos all around and Nat knew. It was one reason for this. Thanos.

Clint, who should be helping, contributing in some way, whatever that was, simply doubled over and dug the heels of his palms into his eyes. Nate. Cooper. Laura. Lila. He left his fate in the hands of Bobbi and Nat and inwardly, silently, screamed and screamed.