Homecoming

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"You're supposed to be sleeping."

Ana didn't have to turn around to know Tony was standing behind her in his Iron Man armour. She could hear the clicks and whirring of the suit. She stared down at the street below her from her spot on the edge of the rooftop. She couldn't sleep. Something just wouldn't let her and it was driving her crazy.

"I can't." Ana mumbled.

"What's the reason?" He hopped down beside her, placing his hands on his knees.

"Paranoia." She answered simply, peeking at him from the corner of her eye.

"'Cause of the kid?" Tony assumed, popping open his face plate.

"No, not Peter." Ana shook her head. She breathed in deeply, before casting her eyes over her city. The subject of her problem. "New York. Something's going to happen, something bad. And I don't wanna go to bed without knowing what."

Little did she know, many others that lived in the streets of New York felt the same way.

"Ana, whatever it is — and I'm sure it's nothing — the authorities will handle it." Tony sighed, "You made your choice. Stick to it. Live life free of responsibility." He wasn't sure why Ana wanted to get back in when she knew there would be consequences.

"This is my home, Tony. If anything or anyone threatens it and everyone in it, I'll take action whether or not I have jurisdiction. A law can't stop me." Ana told him defiantly, lifting her chin confidently.

"Yeah, I know." Tony mused.

Ana blinked at his lack of conviction. "You're not gonna give me a warning?"

"Nope." Tony replied, "I really can't be bothered with all the paperwork and jail cells piss you off, and everyone knows to stay clear from an angry superhuman. Really though, if anything goes down, call me. I'll put together a team and take care of it." He looked her in the eyes, smirking when he could recognise the familiar rebelliousness in them.

"Fine." She quipped.

"You're not going to call me, are you?" Tony asked after a few beats. She threw him a smirk, shrugging a shoulder.

"No promises, Stark."

They sat in silence for a little while longer. Tony glanced at her quickly, a thought crossing his mind. He had been hanging to ask her about something. And now seemed the perfect time to tell her.

"Have you talked to Steve?"

Ana wasn't sure how to answer. There was a hint of desperation in his gaze and she naturally reached out and placed a hand on his armoured shoulder. "Christmas. We spoke briefly. I know it's dangerous to hold the line, so the conversation was short. But it was enough. Knowing he's safe out there, with the others... it's comforting. Miss 'em like hell though. All of them."

"Yeah, me too."

- - -

"Hey, May. Is Peter in?"

Ana knocked against the kitchen wall, alerting her presence to the woman. May turned and beamed, putting away the dishes in the sink. She wiped her hands on the tea towel and gave Ana a quick embrace.

"Yeah, he's getting ready for his dance." She cheered with excitement. She pushed her in the direction of his room, "Go on in, honey."

When Ana walked in, she smiled at the sight of Peter in a suit. "Hey, Peter." She greeted. Peter turned away from the mirror and dropped his hands from his tie, tucking them into his pockets. "Excited for homecoming?"

"Sure am." Peter smiled. "Liz, my date, she's a senior and I really want to give her a good time since she's graduating soon." He rubbed his hands nervously. She chuckled, joining him and sitting down on his desk.

"As long as you don't leave her alone, I'm sure she'll seal the night with a kiss." Ana told him.

"You think so?"

She gave him a shrug, looking down at the notepads on his desk and straightening them up. "I guess. I don't know what girls these days do at a dance. I'm only telling you what I've seen in movies."

Peter grinned, brushing a hand through his hair. "What are you up to tonight?"

Ana paused. "I think I'll turn in early. I've been so tired these days."

That was an understatement. Ana couldn't contain the gloominess she felt from missing her teammates. And Bucky. She wanted to visit him, but she knew he would still be in the same state, and thought it wouldn't do her any good by going to seeing him, only having to leave with the same outcome. Ana missed the old days, that was for sure. Lately she had been meaning to find Vasily Karpov, the man that oversaw her while she was in Russia. When Bucky was in Winter Soldier mode, he had told her that he was dead, and that Zemo was responsible. Knowing Vasily would have more documents about her and her parents, made her want to find him. And she will, just not now.

Peter frowned, unsurely. "How come?"

Ana gave him a smile. "Just worrying too much. Have fun tonight, buddy, you deserve it."

"Un-freaking-believable."

Ana gawked at the huge mess on the beach. Ned had called her from homecoming and told her to go to Coney Island. At first, Ana was a little confused as to how he had her number, but after he explained how Peter had ditched the dance to find the Vulture, she got out of bed and literally jumped there. Tony's plane that carried all of his new equipment had crash landed, emptying everything that was inside in a random trail by the water. Luckily the crates were made from sturdy material, and nothing had been exposed. Smoke and fire engulfed the crash site, and she raced towards it when she saw the familiar red and blue suit. She sent a quick text to Happy, telling him to get to her location pronto.

Ana could see civilians from the nearby amusement park herd towards the beach, and pulled her hood over her head for what they might see her do. She went to work, collecting every crate filled with expensive equipment. Peter was webbing Adrian Toomes, the Vulture, by the crates he stacked up. He turned his head, finding a hooded figure carrying an enormous amount of weight on her shoulders.

And he smiled.

"Who's that?" Adrian croaked out, not expecting Peter to reply.

"My sidekick."

Ana's response to Peter's statement was dropping all five crates on the sand. "In your dreams, kid."

After Peter webbed up every crate, Ana dragged him away when local police arrived. She raced him to the very top of a rollercoaster, the Cyclone. She sat with him, dangling her legs from the edge. She watched him for a while, as he stared down at the disaster on the beach.

"You did good, Pete. A little... messy, but you'll get better with practise." Ana told him after a few moments of silence. She didn't want to lecture him again, and instead focused on the positives. He was battered and bruised, with blood trickling from his mouth. But he still managed a smile her way.

"How long do you think?" Peter questioned.

"Oh, you never stop practicing." Ana chuckled, wiping soot from his cheeks. "You can never be the best without a little mistake here and there. Trust me, I know."

"Ana, my arm hurts. I think I dislocated it." Peter mumbled as he tried to shuffle closer to her, and give her a better look at his arm. She pulled up his sleeve and cringed, "Uh, it's very bruised. Look at the ocean while I pop it back in on the count of- three!" She pushed his shoulder back, and a loud pop sounded, making him cry out unexpectedly.

"Ow!" He gave her an incredulous look, "What the hell?!"

"If the Black Widow can do it to me, I can do it to you." Ana argued, "Besides, it feels better now, doesn't it?"

"Yeah." Peter rubbed his shoulder, nodding his head.

"Come on, let's get you home, Spider-Man."

"Oh, wow."

Ana couldn't contain the sad smile that made its way into her face. In front of her was the place she used to call home. It was where she woke up every morning with her friends — scratch that, family — and then go to work. Avenging the world. The only job she enjoyed because she knew how much it meant for so many people. The only thing worth doing with the abilities she possessed.

Too bad she was 'retired'.

She was actually afraid to go in. Why? Because she knew she wouldn't see Steve, Sam, Clint, Wanda or Natasha. Scott was an exception since he wasn't as close as the others. Still, he did mean something to her. And it did suck that he wasn't able herself to see his daughter that he worked so hard to do.

Ana found it difficult to not use her Sling Ring and find the group. She knew if she did, and Tony found out, that the government would get involved and try to pry the information out of her. And that wouldn't end well.

For the government, that is.

She would have to stick to phone calls. Which weren't as good as talking in person. She wanted to find them and hug them, and then cry some because she knew once she looked at Wanda, she would crumble. The Maximoff grew on her so quick she considered her as a little sister. And Ana also felt responsible for her, especially after the death of Pietro. Losing someone like that was a pain no one could imagine, and Ana tried her best to be there for her.

She just hoped Steve and the others took her place as Wanda's confidant since she couldn't be there herself.

Vision had floated by the front windows. He noticed Ana standing outside the building, with both hands gripping the strap of her duffle bag tightly it made her knuckles white. The sides of his mouth turned downward, eyebrows scrunching up in confusion. He hovered forward, phasing through the glass doors, and approached her.

His feet touched the ground before he sighed. "I understand it's been a while since you've last been here."

"Yeah, it was before Peggy's funeral. We were all discussing the Sokovia Accords up in the kitchen after Ross' visit." Ana mumbled, eyes lifting to the higher floors where she remembered the kitchen was.

Vision smiled with his hands clasped behind his straight back. "Well, nothing has changed."

Ana looked at him. "You still have that one painting in your room? I've told you when you first moved here to fill it with things!" She chuckled.

"I don't spend much time in my room. Instead, I was always with Wanda." Her name sounded so quiet when it left his lips and Ana sighed, lifting one hand to pat his shoulder.

"I miss her too, bud."

Vision simply nodded once before gesturing for her to come inside. Ana followed behind him, heading for Tony's office while Vision said he would grab her a drink. A hand rested on top of her bag as the other pushed the doors back. She stepped into Tony's office, glancing around the large area for any sign of the man.

"Tony?"

She wondered around his office after dropping her bag on his desk.

Tony swung around from the corner and approached her as she turned to face him. "Ah, there you are. I've been meaning to ask, do you want Peter's room to be next to yours or are you just fine with me putting him next to Vision?" He asked, placing his hands on her shoulders.

Ana blinked. "Peter's room? He's allowed to stay here? As an Avenger?"

"You saw what he did." Tony stated, walking around her to get to the liquor cabinet. There he pulled out a bottle of bourbon and poured himself a glass. He offered her one to which she declined with a shake of her head. "Peter's a good kid. He's got courage and perseverance, something I think he learned from you."

"You think so?" Ana smiled, eyes darting off.

"It goes without saying, I think he deserves a chance to join our little crusade." He added. They sat in the twin chairs across from the desk. His eyes wondered to the duffle bag she had with her and he tilted his head.

"Next to my old one." Ana said, referring to the room. "I'm afraid Vision's going to creep the hell out of him when he does that phasing thing all the time. And I'm sure Pete would be grateful for sleeping next to Steve Rogers." She chuckled lightly. Her smile faltered a little after her last statement, and she let out a sigh.

Tony shrugged. "Fine with me. Now, what's in the bag?"

Ana stood and pulled the bag closer and unzipped it. "Just my old equipment."

Tony picked up the damaged eye mask. "I've actually got a few new models that I made a while ago, back in your room."

Ana paused. "I don't think I'll need them."

"What?"

"I'm not an Avenger anymore, remember? I'm legally retired." Ana snorted, finding the whole thing ridiculous.

"You and I both know that's not gonna stop you from punching a few thugs." Tony pointed out. She chuckled, nodding in agreement.

"You know me very well, Stark."

- - - - -

Q- Black Widow or Scarlet Witch?