Chapter Ninety-Three: Barton’s Home

On the way back, Doctor Banner sat wrapped in a blanket aboard the plane, silent and withdrawn. He was overwhelmed with guilt and self-reproach over the people the Hulk had killed and the destruction it had caused.

Natasha sat nearby, comforting him, while the Avengers rested around them.

Today’s mission could still be counted a failure. They had destroyed the new body Ultron had built, wiped out countless iron machines, and succeeded in dismantling Ulysses’s arms depot, eliminating that Hydra leader, Crossbones.

But Ulysses had still escaped, and the vibranium had been secretly taken away by Ultron. Ultron would surely use it to forge a new body.

Arthur, Bucky, and Sam sat on the floor resting. Rhodey and Stark spoke in low voices. Wanda dozed against Arthur’s side, Pietro sat beside Wanda, Thor was texting his girlfriend, and Barton and Steve were flying the plane.

“The television stations just love reporting on you. The police still haven’t issued an arrest warrant for Banner, but the news is already all over the place,” Hill said as she checked the Hulk reports on her computer.

“What about the Stark Relief Fund team?” Tony Stark asked.

“They’re already there. They’ll take care of treatment and compensation for the injured,” Hill said.

“We need to find somewhere to lay low now. The whole world is watching us, and so is Ultron. We’ll have to stay in the shadows for the moment and strike only when he makes his next move,” Hill said.

Steve Rogers nodded as well, thinking it a sound plan.

“I know a place where we can stop and recover,” Barton said.

“Where?” Stark asked.

“My place,” Barton replied.

...

Barton led them to a farm. The wide property held only two small wooden houses, and there was no one for miles around.

This was Barton’s home. His wife was overjoyed to see him return.

Tony still half refused to believe she was his wife, thinking she might be a female agent.

“Everyone, this is Laura,” Barton introduced his wife.

“I know almost all of you already...” Laura said, greeting the Avengers.

Barton’s daughter and son came running out and threw themselves into their father’s arms. Barton’s daughter was delighted to see Natasha as well; the two of them were very close.

“Sorry to intrude on you like this, but we had no idea you even existed,” Steve Rogers said.

“This was arranged for me by Fury when I joined S.H.I.E.L.D. There’s no record of it in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s files, and it’s better if there never is. It’s a good place for us to recuperate,” Barton said.

“Darling, it’s been so long. How are you, little Natasha?” Natasha asked, touching Laura’s belly. Laura was pregnant again.

“Barton told me Arthur said two years ago that it was going to be a boy. I named him Nathaniel,” Laura said.

“What? Arthur knew two years ago that you’d have a boy? He was just guessing, right?” Natasha asked.

“Whether I was guessing or not is none of your business. Barton, do you remember our bet?” Arthur asked, and everyone looked at him strangely.

“Of course I do, and I’ll settle it in a moment!” Barton replied.

“How did you know Barton’s wife was carrying a boy?” Tony Stark asked.

“You believe I can tell fortunes?” Arthur said mysteriously.

“I don’t believe it,” Tony answered.

“Then let’s make another bet. You’ll have a daughter five years from now,” Arthur said.

“You’re on. If you win, I’ll agree to one favor,” Tony said, making the bet with Arthur.

“What about Jane and me? Predict whether we’ll have a boy,” Thor cut in.

“No. Jane will leave you in two years,” Arthur said, stating the truth Thor found impossible to accept.

“I don’t believe it! Jane would never leave me!” Thor said firmly.

“Want to bet?” Arthur asked.

“What’s the wager?” Thor countered.

“If I win, you’ll go to the Asgardian treasury and bring me the Cosmic Cube,” Arthur said.

“What do you want the Cosmic Cube for? You already have two Infinity Stones,” Thor asked.

“The more stones we have, the better our chances against Thanos. I don’t trust leaving the Cube in Asgard. You should hand it over to me for safekeeping,” Arthur replied.

“All right. I’ll take that bet. If I lose, I’ll go back to Asgard myself and steal the Cube for you!” Thor agreed.

“Who else wants to bet with me?” Arthur asked, looking at the remaining Banner, Rhodey, Bucky, Sam, Wanda, Pietro, and Hill.

They all shook their heads. Only Wanda looked at Arthur and asked, “What about me? Who will I end up with in the future?”

“You... I used to know, but now I don’t,” Arthur answered helplessly.

“You really don’t know?” Wanda asked, staring into his eyes.

“I... I don’t know,” Arthur said, not knowing how else to answer.

Tony nudged Steve Rogers with his elbow and whispered, “There’s definitely something going on between those two.”

Steve nodded. Even he could see that Wanda seemed to have feelings for Arthur.

Seeing Arthur hedge and joke his way around the question, Wanda turned and walked outside. Arthur sensed something was wrong and hurried after her...

Laura looked at Barton with concern. “You brought back too many people. There’s no way we can fit this many here.”

“I’ll figure something out in a bit,” Barton said.

“Do you know what’s going on between Natasha and Doctor Banner? How long has this been happening?” Laura asked.

“How long has what been happening?” Barton asked, utterly confused by his wife’s question.

Laura laughed. Her husband really was a block of wood; how could he not see it?

“Natasha and Banner? Those two?” Barton was a little surprised. The two of them had always seemed normal enough, and Natasha had only been helping Doctor Banner control the Hulk. How had they ended up together?

“Then what about you? Is everything all right on your side?” Laura asked worriedly.

“It’s fine. Just an artificial intelligence robot. We have so many superheroes in the Avengers that we’ll deal with it easily. Don’t worry,” Barton said, holding his wife and reassuring her.

Arthur was also comforting Wanda, though he didn’t know how to face her feelings. At the moment, he only thought of Wanda as family.

Wanda could feel Arthur’s kindness toward her, but it was not what she wanted. It seemed Arthur had always seen her as a younger sister.

Just as Arthur and Wanda were talking, Steve and Tony came out with Bucky, Sam, and Pietro.

“Aren’t you done talking yet?” Tony asked Arthur, while Pietro went to Wanda, took her hand, and supported her decision to pursue her own happiness.

“What is it? Why is everyone coming out?” Arthur asked.

“Barton’s house is too small. It can’t hold this many people. I think we should just go back to the plane and rest,” Steve Rogers said.

“No need to make it so troublesome. Finding a place to stay isn’t hard,” Arthur said. Then a red Reality Stone appeared in his right hand. With a flash of red light, a villa materialized in the empty space beside Barton’s house.

The villa was identical to Arthur’s own home. It had been created by the power of the Reality Stone.

“That stone is incredibly convenient! Isn’t that your house? Can people really live in it?” Tony asked, startled along with everyone else. Could a house really be conjured out of thin air?

“Of course. As long as I’m nearby, it can remain here indefinitely. You’ve never been to my house, have you? Then consider this a visit to my home,” Arthur told them.

The others came out from Barton’s house as well, and all of them were stunned by the sight. Barton’s two children even cried out in delight at the surprise of having another villa appear beside their home.

“You did this?” Barton asked Arthur.

“Your place couldn’t fit everyone, so I moved my own house here too. Now there’s nothing to worry about,” Arthur replied.

Barton nodded. Indeed, the problem of too many people and too little space was gone.

“All right! It’s rare for all of us to be together like this. Even if Peter Parker and Scott Lang aren’t here, we should still celebrate properly. How about we make ourselves a feast?” Arthur suggested.

“Great! Since everyone’s come to my home, I ought to treat you well. I’ll have you all taste Laura’s cooking in a bit,” Barton said.

“My cooking can’t compare with Arthur’s. I usually watch Arthur’s food videos to learn how to cook,” Laura said modestly, waving a hand.

“You’ve been fooled by Arthur. That’s just for the show. I lived at his place for a while and never once saw him cook. It’s all acting,” Tony said, doubting Arthur’s culinary skills.

“Looks like I’ll have to show you what I can do today, so Tony stops questioning my abilities. Laura can make a few side dishes, and I’ll barbecue for everyone. Wanda, you should show your skills too, or Tony will say you’re acting as well,” Arthur said, determined to prove himself. Wanda nodded and agreed to make a few dishes too.

So Wanda and Laura busied themselves in the kitchen while Arthur worked the grill in the courtyard. Barton brought out a square table and more than a dozen chairs, preparing to eat dinner outside.

The others all came to help. Tony, Steve, Bucky, and Rhodey helped Barton split firewood. Natasha and Doctor Banner had gone off somewhere unknown. Pietro showed Barton’s two children his powers, and the rest chatted and laughed in the yard.

The scene was warm and lovely. Arthur smiled as he watched it all. How wonderful.

“Hey, Arthur, stop daydreaming. The beef’s burning!”

“Huh? Damn, I zoned out. My mistake, my mistake...”

“Do you even know how to cook? Looks like Tony was right!”

“It was just an accident!”

...