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The reporters immediately started asking questions.
Yelena definitely wasn’t in the mood to answer any questions about Valentina’s plan - that she came up with half an hour ago - to make them The New Avengers. And she figured no one else was either. She stepped up to the mic - deliberately forcing Valentina to move over - and spoke into it. “Thank you. It has been a long day. We will answer questions at a later time.”
Bucky walked over to Yelena and stepped up next to her. She moved over - forcing Valentina to move off of the pedestal - and let Bucky speak into the mic. “Thank you. We will hold a press conference… Another time.”
“Nailed it!” John called from the back.
Bucky and Yelena ignored him.
Yelena pointed two of her fingers at her eyes and then at Valentina - she’d seen Barney do it on How I Met Your Mother reruns on TV - and silently said ‘we own you’ again and turned and walked away from the pedestal. Bucky, John, Ava, Alexei and Bob followed her back through the hole in the concrete.
-
“Where are we going?” Bob asks, lagging near the back of the group.
“To get the van.” Bucky says from near the front.
“What van?” Bob asks.
He found out ‘what van’ when they stopped in front of The Watchtower - The Avengers Tower - The New Avengers Tower. The group coming to stand beside one another. Bob saw a van in the lobby. It didn’t take a genius to figure out the van had crashed through the front doors and into the lobby.
That had been the group of assassins and super soldiers’ plan.
“You crashed the van through the lobby?” Bob deadpanned, his tone saying ‘are you serious’. “Aren’t you guys supposed to come up with stealth-like plans?”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Bucky tells him.
“It was great plan.” Alexei says.
Bob turns to Bucky. “You were driving?” In a tone of betrayal. Like ‘but you’re cool and suave and The Winter Solider’.
“Judgey.” John comments to Bob.
Bob briefly looks at John. “Guess I can’t judge. My last plan came from The Emperor’s New Groove.” Referring to him, Yelena, John and Ava having to climb up the walls back-to-back to get out of the underground storage closet turned oven.
John points at Bob. “I knew it!” He exclaims.
“What is New Groove?” Alexei asks.
“It’s an awesome movie from 2000.” John says.
“It is pretty good.” Yelena says, nodding.
“Same.” Ava agrees.
“I can’t believe you watched that.” Bob says to John.
“You watched that.” John shoots back.
“Yeah, but you’re you and I’m me.” Bob says.
“I contain multitudes.” John says.
“Okay, that's a fair point.” Bob says. “Never mind.”
Just then Bucky’s phone goes off. He pulls it out of his pocket and flips it open to see it’s Sam who’s calling. He sighs before hitting the button to answer and puts the phone to his ear. “Hey Sam.”
“Bucky has a flip phone.” John says, in a tone saying he’s going to roast Bucky about it.
His other phone must have been an official work phone.
“He’s like two hundred.” Ava tells John, like that explains it.
“I’m a hundred and six.” Bucky calls out, as he walks back and forth.
“I’ve seen some people still using flip phones around.” Yelena says.
A few minutes passed while Bucky talked to Sam. When he was done he closed his phone and placed it back in his pocket.
“How’s Sam?” John grinned, knowing Sam went off on Bucky.
“Fine.” Is all Bucky says.
“We totally believe you.” Ava deadpans.
“I am sure he will come around.” Alexei tells Bucky.
“He didn’t - We’re not - “ Bucky starts.
“Fighting like an old married couple.” John comments.
“It’s - “ Bucky sighed. “We’re not fighting. We have a lot to talk about.”
“Uh huh.” Yelena comments.
“We should get food, yes? That will help.” Alexei suddenly says.
And yeah. It’s been a long few days. Food’s a good first step at figuring out about them being The New Avengers and what comes with that and Bob’s superpowers and Valentina and what to tell people because Bucky told the world they were going to have a press conference.
“I could eat.” Ava says.
“Where are we going for food?” Yelena asks.
“Pizza?” Bob suggests.
And it’s New York.
So why not.
They start walking towards the van and get in. Bucky in the drivers seat, Alexei in the passenger, and everyone else in the back. John sat next to Avawhi were across from Yelena and Bob.
Bucky manages to drive the van out of the lobby.
The group cheers.
“What is Emperor film about?” Alexei asks.
“It’s an animated movie about an emperor who gets turned into a llama - “ Bob starts.
-
After much debating back and forth, the settle on a pizza place. Or rather, find a pizza place. Because places are still open but some people needed a minute to deal with being voided and put out ‘be back in whatever many minutes’ signs. It’s small and there’s no one else there. The guy at the counter knows who they are as evident by the look on his face when he sees them.
He stares at them the entire time they’re ordering.
They order three large pizzas with a mix of toppings and just cheese. And water. They grab chairs and gather around the biggest table and start eating. The guy behind the counter keeps staring at them.
“Um. Can I ask - Sorry, who are you?” Bob asks, looking at Alexei with a piece of pizza in his hand.
“Of course. You do not know me. I am Yelena’s father.” Alexei explains.
Bob looks from Alexei to Yelena and back to Alexei.
“Not biologically. But still, he is my father.” Yelena says, sharing a glance with Alexei.
“Cool.” Bob says, taking another bite of piece.
They eat in silence for a few more seconds.
“What was that hand eye thing?” Bucky asks, his question directed at Yelena.
Yelena scrunches her face, thinking. “Hand eye thing?” She realizes what he’s talking about. “Oh. I saw it on How I Met Your Mother tv show rerun. It means like, I am serious. I mean it. But jokingly. But I was not joking with Valentina.”
“Speaking of Valentina.” Ava starts. “Are we really doing this? Being a team?”
“We are great team!” Alexei says. “Work well together.”
“We did some good.” Yelena says. “We made a difference.”
“We did.” Bucky says.
“I think… We should stay together and help each other and keep doing good and trying to make a difference.” Yelena says.
“Yes!” Alexei cheers, throwing his arms into the air.
“I’d like that.” Bob says, softly.
“And the last few days were kind of fun.” Ava admits.
John turns to Ava. “We almost died.” He deadpans.
Ava looks at him. “Your point?” She asks him.
“Fair point.” John relents, knowing it’s in their line of business.
But maybe they could change their business.
Try and do some good now.
Like Yelena said.
“I mean, I was Captain America.” Is what comes out of John’s mouth.
“For like, a minute.” Yelena says.
“Hmmm, you weren’t for long.” Ava says.
“Shut up.” John says but there’s no bite behind it.
“I would like for us to try and do good without Valentina watching over us. But I did tell her that we own her. So we can try and… What is that saying? Turn tables?” Yelena says.
“Turn the tables on her?” Bob suggests.
“Yes. Turn tables.” Yelena says. “She does not own us. We own her.”
“I’ll drink to that.” John says, grabbing his drink.
“We’re drinking water.” Ava says to him. They’re not at a bar.
“Still.” John says, taking a drink of water and placing his drink back down.
Yelena turns her attention toward Bucky. “Why did you tell the world we were going to hold a press conference.”
“I panicked.” Bucky says. “You said we would answer questions later. And we can try and get out from under her as much as we can… Somehow. I need to talk to Sam again.”
“I did not want to deal with questions that came from Valentina’s plan she came up with half an hour before.” Yelena tells Bucky.
“Neither did I.” Bucky says back. “Which is why I said that.”
“None of us did.” Ava says.
“Oh, she definitely came up with that plan last minute.” John comments.
“Do we think Valentina will send us on missions that help people.” Yelena comments.
No one says anything, knowing the answer.
“Only if it’ll benefit her.” John says.
“Screw her. We will do best we can.” Yelena says.
The rest of the group silently agrees as they keep eating their pizza.
”We are great team.” Alexei suddenly says. “Last few days. Our first real mission together. We save Bob.” Bob looks mildly confused at Alexei’s statement. “We save New York from Dark Bob.”
Now Bob looks concerned. “What happened?” He asks, point blank.
“You went all Super Sayian and then went all Heartless and then sent half of New York to the Shadow Realm.” John explains.
“I understood none of that.” Bucky says.
“I do not understand.” Alexei says.
“I did.” Bob breathes, realizing the impact of his missing memories.
“It is fine, Bob.” Yelena assures him. “We saved everyone. You helped save everyone.”
Bob looks at her. “I did?”
“You did.” John tells him. “You beat the shit out of your Void self, but that turned out to be what he - you - wanted. Together we managed to pull you back - literally - from dark you and then we got out of the Shadow Realm.”
“Void rooms.” Alexei says.
Bob briefly looks at John. Then turns to look between everyone. “Pull me back? Like... A hug?" Everyone briefly looks at each other. Because that's basically what happened. Their caring about one another and friendship saved the day. Love saved the day. "What happened before that?”
“What’s the last thing you remember?” Yelena asks Bob.
“I woke up in a bed. Valentina was there. She said chose me. That I could be her guy. I told her I could control my powers. And then…” Bob trailed off, trying to remember. “Flashes.” He eyes darting back and forth as he tried to remember. “Fighting. I think. And then… Nothing.”
“Yeah… That was us.” Ava tells him.
“What?” Bob asks, shocked.
“Yeah, you beat the shit out of us as Sentry and we retreated - gracefully - and then you went all Void.“ John says.
“It was Valentina.” Yelena says. “Not you.”
“It was parts of me.” Bob whispers, thinking of what he inflicted on everyone.
“We are here for you, Bob.” Yelena tells him, placing a hand over his reassuringly as she smiles at him. Bob can’t help but smile back at her a little.
“She dyed your hair.” Ava says, cringing.
“What?” Bob asks, shocked.
“It’s back to being whatever colour that is.” Ava says assuringly, motioning at him.
"Oh, good." Bob says. He looks around at everyone. “How did I go Void?”
The group looks between one another, not sure how to answer because they don’t know.
-
They find out how Bob went Void a week later.
They’ve moved into The Watchtower/The New Avengers Tower. Picked their rooms. Went grocery shopping - which was a whole thing. Got a TV and a DVD player for the living room. Got some board games. Got some art to put up and nicknacks to put around to decorate the place. And divided up the cupboards and the fridge. They’d put off the press conference and plan to as long as possible. Valentina insisted they use the training room and that they see a therapist.
Bucky insisted on a choir wheel.
Bob made one and colour coded it with marker.
Mel shows up with some guys in tow. It’s early morning, everyone was eating breakfast in the kitchen at a giant round table. She walks into the kitchen and stands in the doorway, three people standing behind her.
“Hi, guys.” She starts. She scans the kitchen until she finds who she’s looking for. “Bob. Hey.” She half waves at him. Bob stops eating cereal and puts his spoon down in the bowl, looking like a deer in headlights. “I just wanted to say I am so sorry for killing you.”
A chorus of “What?!” is heard around the table.
“Yeah… You were all Sentry and you were choking Valentina. There’s a kill chip in your neck.” Mel says. “I technically killed you and then you went all Dark Willow.”
Another chorus of “What?!” Is heard around the table.
“That’s how it happened.” Bob says, realizing how he went Void and briefly brings his hand up to rub his neck.
“Valentina was going to use the kill switch first, but then you were trying to kill her and I… did it. I just wanted to say I’m so sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing - but now I know Valentina can be… Kind of the worst. But I’m hoping to try and do good. Which is why I’m here. I got these guys - “ She motioned behind her to the three people standing behind her “To come take the kill chip out. I mean it doesn’t work. But I thought you’d want it out of your neck.”
“Uh. Yeah.” Bob says, like it’s obvious.
He finishes his cereal and gets the chip out.
-
The New Avengers - sans Bob - come back from a mission and take the elevator up the floor they’re living on. The second they step off of the elevator they hear a sound.
“Bob?” Yelena calls, walking forward into the room.
The group hears the sound again and realize it’s a cat.
Bob walks into view with a white cat in his arms.
“I found her in the lobby.” Bob explains, like that’s a reason to bring a cat home.
“And you brought her home?” Ava asks.
“No one’s allergic, right?” Bob asks, concern in his voice.
A chorus of “No” is heard.
“We have a cat now.” Bucky deadpans.
“I guess having a pet isn’t such a a bad idea.” Ava says.
“Yes!” Alexei cheers that they now have a cat.
“What are we going to name her?” Bob asks.
“That cat is white as shit.” John says, like he’s suggesting relating the cat's name to what he just said.
The rest of the team changes into civilian clothes - except for Ava and her suit - and they go to the living room and sit on the couches and chairs. Bucky sits in a chair - Alexei sits in the chair across from Bucky while Yelena and Bob sit on the couch and John and Ava sit on the other couch across from them. Because naming the official cat of The New Avengers Tower is serious business.
“Snow.” Alexei starts it off.
“Snow… Drop.” Yelena says.
“Snowcake.” Ava says.
“Winter.” Bucky says.
“Like part of Winter Soldier.” Alexei grins. “Ha!”
“Snow… Angel.” John puts his idea for a name in.
“Angel… Dust.” Bob says, deflating towards the end of his sentence.
“That’s a drug, Bob.” Yelena tells him.
“I know.” Bob whispers. “Jeremy named his dog Angel dust.”
“Who is Jeremy?” Yelena asks.
“One of my drug dealers.” Bob says, like he’s hating the turn this whole conversation took. “What if we just start saying words and if the cat says anything, we can pick whatever that word is?” He suggests.
“Bob. You suggest we let cat name cat?” Alexei asks.
Bob blinks. “Uh. Yeah.” Thinking they think it’s a terrible idea.
“That is magnificent idea!” Alexei beams.
Bob cheers up a bit. “Really?”
John leans over to the cat. “Uhh. Snowboarding. Skiing. Skating.”
“Are you just naming winter sports?” Ava asks, her tone judging.
“Do you have a better idea?” John asks.
They don’t.
“Free riding snowboarding.” Ava joins in.
“Alpine - “ The cat meows “ - skiing.” Yelena says.
“Cat has spoken!” Alexei says.
“Hold on.” Bucky says. Staring intently at the cat. “Snow. Snowdrop. Snowcake. Snow angel. Skiing. Snowboarding. Alpine - “ The cat meows again “ - Okay.” He finishes.
The cat has spoken.
“Alpine.” John tests it out.
The cat meows again.
“Are we telling Valentina we have a cat now?” Bucky comments.
A chorus of “No” is heard.
Bucky smirks.