ange.§

Steve＊s stomach lurches, and he exchanges a look with Clint. ※Strange? He＊s back in this dimension?§ Clint asks, sounding guarded.

※It would appear so, Agent Barton.§

Steve blows out a breath. He is perfectly fit and well again and could probably move on with his life quite happily after his stint in the multiverse exactly as he is now＃but there＊s a part of him that will always want to know how this happened to him, even if he＊s managed to work out why. And besides, his experience could really be of use to Richards and the others who are interested in finding out more about the multiverse. With that in mind, he makes a decision.

※Patch him through,§ Steve says.

Richard＊s voicees through the speakers almost immediately, sounding annoyed. ※About time. I＊ve been waiting for you to get back to me for weeks.§

Clint pulls a face and shows the ceiling his middle finger. Steve bites down on a laugh. ※Yeah, sorry. Fury＊s orders,§ he says. ※Had to be back at full strength before I let anyone poke about in my brain again.§

※You know if you＊de in sooner we would have been able to draw more conclusive data-§

※I＊m sorry, was the point to get data about your freaking pet multiverse theory or to help Steve?§ Clint butts in angrily, before Steve can say anything. He shoots Clint an exasperated look, because he appreciates the solidarity but he＊s most definitely fit and well enough to be fighting his own battles. Especially when the battle in question is nothing more than an awkward phone call with an overzealous scientist.

There＊s a pause, and then Richards speaks again. ※This whole experience could hold the key-§

※Yeah, you＊ve said that before,§ Clint says rudely, and Steve sends him a warning look which he of coursepletely ignores. ※Now what do you actually want?§

Richards sighs, sounding put out. ※Stephen Strange is back. He can help us look at any traces of magic left in your consciousness, maybe he even knows who did it. Either way, he seems interested in helping.§

Steve jumps in before Clint can piss Richards off too much. Frankly, if Richards is going to go delving about in his brain, he wants him on side. ※Okay, when is he available to-§

※This afternoon,§ Reed says immediately. ※He says he hasn＊t got much time to spare.§

Steve pauses, thinks for a moment. ※Okay,§ he says.

※Whoa, whoa, time out, not okay,§ Clint says, slashing his hands violently through the air. ※This afternoon? Don＊t we need to call a team meeting or something? Is this going to be safe? What are you even planning?§

※Of course it＊s safe,§ Richards says dismissively. Clint sends Steve a meaningful look, shaking his head insistently from side to side. Steve frowns back; surely if Richards says it＊s safe, it will be safe? They wouldn＊t put him in danger just for the sake of sating their curiosity, surely?

※You can guarantee it＊s safe?§ Steve says, and Clint emphatically mouths ＆no.＊

※Yes,§ Richards says, now sounding impatient. ※We wouldn＊t do anything that would permanently damage you, Captain.§

Steve raises his eyebrows in a ＆there you go,＊ face which he directs at Clint, who is still shaking his head, mistrust etched into every line of his face and countenance. Steve ignores him, and carries on talking to Richards. ※Okay, this afternoon is fine. Thank you, Doctor Richards. Shall Ie by the Baxter Building?§

※Yes. One O＊ clock. See you later.§

The call disconnects without further ado and Steve reaches for his shirt, slinging it over his shoulder. Out of the corner of his eye he notices Clint is still looking far from happy, annoyed frown firmly in place. He＊s got the shaft of an arrow in one hand, a stray purple fletching in another, turning it over and over between his fingers.

※Hey. Stop with the frowning, it＊ll be fine.§

※You know the Fantastic Four became the Fantastic Four because Richards miscalculated something?§ Clint says pointedly, chucking the arrow shaft back onto the counter with a clatter.

※Okay. I＊ll tell him that if he＊s going to miscalculate again, I want invisibility.§

※Oh ha fucking ha, joker,§ Clint retorts, and then looks down for a moment, staring at the fletching that＊s between his fingers. ※We can＊t lose you again, Cap,§ he says to his shoes. ※Seriously.§

Steve suddenly feels bad for not taking Clint＊s obvious 每 and understandable 每 concerns seriously. ※I＊m sorry,§ he says honestly. ※But you can＊t 每 I＊ll be fine. If you guys start leaping in to protect me from everything that could go wrong-

※This is Richards, it probably will go wrong.§

※Clint, he knows what he＊s doing,§ Steve says firmly. ※I need to do this, and I trust that he＊s not going to do anything that＊s going to hurt me. If it helps, you cane with me.§

Clint looks at him for a moment and then nods, though he still looks unsure. ※You need to tell Tony.§

※Don＊t,§ Steve says, before he can stop himself, spine prickling at the way Tony＊s name is casually thrown into the conversation. He＊s not sure what to make of the fact that Clint thinks that Tony needs to be a part of this 每 Steve and Tony aren＊t together, Steve doesn＊t need Tony＊s permission or say so-to do anything, Tony doesn＊t need to know everything that＊s happening to Steve. ※He doesn＊t need toe back just for this.

※He＊d want to be here.§

※Well he can＊t get here,§ Steve reasons, because it＊s true; even if they called Tony now and he managed to get his jet off the ground in the next hour, he still wouldn＊t arrive in time. Clint is looking more and more unimpressed, so Steve hesitates. ※I＊ll call him afterwards.§

Clint still doesn＊t lookpletely convinced, but there＊s not a lot Steve can do about it. Supressing a sigh, Steve pushes away from the counter and reaches over to clap him on the shoulder. ※Don＊t worry,§ he says, straightening up and stepping backwards. ※I＊m going to take a shower.§

※I still think you should be more concerned about this plan,§ Clint yells after him, and Steve just rolls his eyes and walks away. It is touching 每 yet frustrating 每 that Clint＊s worried, but he supposes it can be put down to the fact the rest of the team went through hell whilst he was out for the count. It still makes him feel oddly guilty in a way, though he had had his own torments to be dealing with whilst in the multiverse. It wasn＊t like he had an easy ride whilst leaving them all here in the lurch.

As he heads up to his rooms, his thoughts drift back to the way Clint had so easily said that Steve should call Tony, to let him know what＊s happening. He thinks about it for a moment, and finds he actually wants to. Not because he thinks anything will go wrong, but simply because it seems right to tell Tony about something like this.

Like he would if he were in a relationship with someone.

He bites the inside of his lip and pushes the thought away. He can＊t call Tony, not for this. The whole point of Tony going away was so that Steve could deal with this whole multiverse experience and then work out how he felt, not to tangle the two up again.

I＊ll call him afterwards, he promises himself, and doesn＊t debate it any more.

※Tony!§

※Always with the shouting, what＊s with the shouting,§ Tony says vaguely, eyes on the circuit board in front of him, soldering iron in hand. Pepper is still shouting his name and he can hear her heels clacking on the metal stairs that lead down to his workshop. He＊s been in LA for seven and a half weeks now and he actually thinks he＊s been pretty well-behaved for his tenure on the west coast; he＊s signed all her paperwork andpleted the specs for the new tower's energy grid and even been to two whole shareholder meetings. Honestly, he＊s got no idea why she＊s yelling.

※TONY!§

※J, have I otten anything?§ Tony asks, eyes still fixed on the circuitry in front of him. ※Work out why she＊s yelling.§

※I＊m afraid I do not know,§ Jarvis said apologetically. ※You have actuallypleted all of the tasks that Ms Potts categorised as non-negotiable.§

※And you, always with the surprise,§ Tony grumbles.

Jarvis ignores him and carries on. ※Though it may be down to the fact she has just finished a phone call with Agent Barton.§

Tony goes very still, eyes on his hands. He＊s not heard much from Clint and the others in the past few weeks; just enough to keep himforted that they aren＊t pissed at him for leaving and are simply respecting his choice to put some distance between himself and the situation. Mostly he receives photo messages from Clint. They＊re often pretty random,ing in at unpredictable and ridiculous times of the day and night, and they seem to serve as a sort of pictorialmentary of life in the tower; images of empty coffee cups; some amazing array of equipment that Bruce has set up in the lab; the kitchen table covered in empty plates, newspapers and various bits of Natasha-themed weaponry. One had been of Steve asleep on the sofa in the rec room of the tower, sprawled out on his back with his mouth hanging open, shirt all twisted and rucked halfway up his stomach, the cushions all knocked to the floor.

Clint never adds any captions or words to the pictures, but Tony thinks there＊s no real need. It＊s oddly reassuring, getting the odd snapshot of his teammates, though the picture of Steve had made Tony feel like throwing something across the room because he hadn＊t been there to see it himself.

※Tony, where are you?§

※You rang?§ Tony says as Pepper＊s feet hit ground level, shoving his stool away from the workbench and rolling across the floor so he＊s not hidden from view behind the tool cab. He frowns as she marches over; she looks somewhere between panicked and frustrated and that＊s never a good look, especially when he＊s got no idea why she＊s looking that way.

※What＊s happened?§

※Clint just called, he was trying to call you, why did you not answer?§

※Busy,§ Tony replies, standing up and walking over, catching her elbows with his hands. ※Jarvis was diverting, Pep, whoa, calm down and tell me-§

※Clint says that Stephen Strange has appeared back in this, th

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