They need it. They need it, because Natasha has softness, has bruises and scars on that softness. She's lost a family, too. Aunt Nat and Uncle Frank were always welcome in that house. The kids loved them. Clint and Nat lean on each other, and Clint mostly keeps his eyes shut, because he's bone tired and doesn't really want to see any looks in anyone's eyes. He doesn't want to see pity, or he doesn't want to see the pain reflected back at him. Might have to do some bonding with Thor later, sounds like, but he's not sure he could take a conversation about it right now.
Maybe a big, bone-crushing hug might be nice. Later.
When Steve lands them, and it's late as hell, and it's quiet because even here, half the everything living's gone, they file out. Bruce doesn't leave Thor's side, a comforting hand on a huge bicep, blanket held around him in the other hand. Rhodey lets the distraction take him, his mind clearly elsewhere, doesn't have anything snarky to say. Nat asks Clint if he's good to go, and he nods. Insists on taking one of his bags, and he doesn't even argue. Steve is still solid, rigid, but he can catch a moment where Steve's staring at him and Frank just a few seconds too long before the captain tears himself away again.
The compound's big, as usual spared no expense by Stark, who should be here even in spite of the last big blowout that happened. People always in and out. Was never full. Still feels too big, too empty. Clint's never spent a lot of time here, mostly helping train the new recruits (who aren't here), but mostly god damn retired until he wasn't again.
"Maybe it's about time I get that sitrep," Clint suggests, his voice still thick from all the Too Much.
"You're an idiot," is what Nat says with not an ounce of heat to it.
"Everyone get some rest." Steve's trying to sound commanding, but really just sounds as tired as the rest of them. "Whatever you can. We can all reconvene in the morning and catch everyone up on what's going on. Then we figure out where to go from there." Everyone includes Frank, because now it has to include Frank. "Castle, there's plenty of empty rooms; we'll make sure to give you access to one."
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Maybe a big, bone-crushing hug might be nice. Later.
When Steve lands them, and it's late as hell, and it's quiet because even here, half the everything living's gone, they file out. Bruce doesn't leave Thor's side, a comforting hand on a huge bicep, blanket held around him in the other hand. Rhodey lets the distraction take him, his mind clearly elsewhere, doesn't have anything snarky to say. Nat asks Clint if he's good to go, and he nods. Insists on taking one of his bags, and he doesn't even argue. Steve is still solid, rigid, but he can catch a moment where Steve's staring at him and Frank just a few seconds too long before the captain tears himself away again.
The compound's big, as usual spared no expense by Stark, who should be here even in spite of the last big blowout that happened. People always in and out. Was never full. Still feels too big, too empty. Clint's never spent a lot of time here, mostly helping train the new recruits (who aren't here), but mostly god damn retired until he wasn't again.
"Maybe it's about time I get that sitrep," Clint suggests, his voice still thick from all the Too Much.
"You're an idiot," is what Nat says with not an ounce of heat to it.
"Everyone get some rest." Steve's trying to sound commanding, but really just sounds as tired as the rest of them. "Whatever you can. We can all reconvene in the morning and catch everyone up on what's going on. Then we figure out where to go from there." Everyone includes Frank, because now it has to include Frank. "Castle, there's plenty of empty rooms; we'll make sure to give you access to one."