131 See you again

The Quinjet cut a smooth path through the morning sky as Natasha guided it over the wooded expanse of New Jersey. Harry sat beside her in the co-pilot’s chair with one knee drawn up casually and his eyes drifting off to the horizon beyond him. Below them, the forest canopy stretched on endless green with the only human structure that broke the green expanse being Camp Lehigh.

To most, it was little more than an overgrown relic of the U.S. Army’s past during World War 2. To Steve Rogers, it was the ground where he had once marched, drilled, and trained in the days before he became Captain America. To SHIELD, it had been their first base of operation and, sadly, the place where a mechanical Zola would later call his home.

Now, it was becoming something new.

When Tony was going over the dormant assets of SHIELD, he realised that Camp Lehigh was still under SHIELD ownership. And with that, he saw possibility. Out here, away from Manhattan’s crowded skyline and fragile civilian infrastructure, there was room to build, to experiment and to fail safely.

Avengers Tower would remain their symbol in the city and a home for the Avengers, but this facility would be where they would operate from going forward.

The decision hadn’t been difficult. After Ultron’s rampage, the team had agreed that keeping all their eggs in one basket was reckless. If another Ultron rose, if another alien army fell from the sky, Manhattan would be the first battlefield. The Avengers all agreed that the risk wasn’t worth it.

Here, at Camp Lehigh, however, the Avengers could place their research, their armouries, and their most dangerous experiments at a safer distance.

Natasha glanced sideways at Harry, a faint smirk touching her lips. “You think Tony built this place because of strategy,” she said, her voice dry. “I think he just wanted to play architect again. Can’t help himself.”

“Maybe both,” Harry replied. “But if it keeps the city safe, I’m not complaining.”

The Quinjet banked gently, circling once before angling toward the landing pad. From above, the facility looked less like a top-secret Avengers compound and more like the world’s strangest moving day.

On the training ground, SHIELD soldiers shuffled back and forth in long lines, burdened with crates of equipment that seemed to multiply faster than they could put them down. One group wrestled with a particularly stubborn piece of machinery, only to discover it had been upside down the entire time. Their commanding officer buried his face in his hands while two privates tried to argue over which side was “up.”

Helen Cho stood in the middle of the chaos like a general on the battlefield as she barked orders. “No, the steriliser does not go next to the weights! Unless you want sweat dripping into my cultures!” She shooed away a pair of soldiers who had proudly parked a treadmill right in front of her surgical station.

Across the yard, Maria Hill oversaw the installation of the geo-surveillance systems. She tried to control her scowl as one of the techs accidentally rotated the satellite dish to face the cafeteria. “Unless you’re planning to spy on the salad bar, that dish goes west,” she said sharply. The techs scrambled to correct course, muttering apologies.

Phil Coulson was knee-deep in blueprints, trying to divide the main building into offices, locker rooms, and briefing halls. He had just convinced a group of workers to start on a meeting space when a squad of soldiers dragged in a ping-pong table and set it down with a cheer. Coulson sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose, and muttered something about “keeping morale high” before surrendering the entire east wing to “recreational activities.”

Eric Selvig, meanwhile, looked like a man in his natural habitat, or maybe a little too natural. He was halfway up a scaffolding tower, waving his arms and shouting equations no one could understand, while the scientists below tried to interpret whether “left” meant clockwise or the other left. At one point, he dropped a spanner that narrowly missed a soldier’s helmet. “It’s fine!” he called down cheerfully. “Gravity still works!”

Natasha brought the Quinjet down in a smooth glide, the landing struts kissing the tarmac with barely a bump. The engines purred into silence, and the ramp lowered. Waiting at the edge of the pad, trench coat flapping in the wind, was Nick Fury. He strode forward with his usual air of command, though Harry noticed the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth that almost resembled a smile.

“The two of you ready for your honeymoon?” Fury asked as Harry and Natasha stepped onto the tarmac.

“Almost,” Harry said, adjusting the strap of his duffel bag. “Natasha wanted us to pack some bikes for the trip.”

Fury’s single eyebrow arched. “That’s romantic. Peddling around Europe.”

“Who said anything about peddling?” a familiar voice called from across the lot.

Harry and Natasha turned just in time to see Steve Rogers and Clint Barton roll up side by side on a pair of growling Harley-Davidson cruisers. Tony’s custom tuning was obvious from the low, throaty roar that echoed off the hangar walls, and the smug grins plastered on both men’s faces.

Clint revved his engine dramatically as they slowed near the Quinjet. “How was the ride, boys?” Natasha called, her lips quirking into a smirk.

“The suspension is amazing,” Clint shouted back, clearly enjoying himself.

Steve patted the handlebars like it was a loyal warhorse. “Be careful with the accelerator. It’s got a punch.”

“Perfect then,” Natasha replied smoothly as the two Avengers guided the bikes up the Quinjet’s ramp.

Fury, arms crossed, tilted his head toward Natasha with a long, slow raise of his eyebrow. “Bicycles, huh?”

Natasha didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. “You heard wrong.”

Fury’s lips twitched again, though whether it was amusement or disapproval, nobody could quite tell.

The five of them strolled into the facility, making some small talk to look for the rest of their gang. It wasn’t difficult to find the rest, though. They followed the sound of animated voices until they reached the medical lab. Inside, Tony, Bruce, and Thor stood huddled around Helen Cho’s Regeneration Cradle.

“Are you sure you don’t want us tinkering with this technology? Maybe smooth out the calibration, refine the algorithms, optimise the bio-interface?” Tony asked, circling the cradle like a hawk sizing up prey.

Helen didn’t even look up from the diagnostic tablet in her hands. “I’m sure. I’ve got this handled. If I need help, I’ll give you a call.”

“You’ll forgive me if I don’t hold my breath,” Tony muttered, shooting Bruce a sidelong glance. “Seriously, Banner, back me up here, this thing screams ‘room for improvement.’”

Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling through his teeth in the way of a man who had endured this conversation one too many times. “Tony, she’s the foremost expert in her field. If Helen says she doesn’t need help, she doesn’t need help.”

“Or,” Tony countered smoothly, “she doesn’t know she needs help. Big difference. Trust me, people rarely realise they need me until after I’ve already saved their project.”

“Or blown it up,” Bruce replied dryly, folding his arms.

When the quintet stepped into the lab, “Ah, the Potters have arrived!” Tony announced dramatically, as though they had been missing for years instead of just a few days.

The moment Thor’s gaze landed on Harry and Natasha, his entire face lit up like a sunrise. With a booming laugh that rattled the lab equipment, he strode forward and swept both of them into a massive bear hug that made Natasha grunt and Harry’s feet lift half an inch off the floor.

“My friends!” Thor thundered, clapping them both on the shoulders hard enough that Harry half-expected to need a healing charm for bruises. “How I have missed your presence!”

“Good to see you too, big guy,” Natasha said with an indulgent smirk, steadying herself as Thor finally released them.

But then Thor’s smile dimmed a fraction, replaced with a trace of wistfulness. “Yet I am saddened that you will not be joining me in Asgard. My father and mother were most eager to host you. The halls of Asgard would have rung with celebration at your union.”

“Let them have their honeymoon, big guy,” Clint interjected, patting Thor’s arm in the same way one might try to soothe a particularly enthusiastic golden retriever. “I’m sure they’ll come by soon enough after they finish with their honeymoon.”

Harry chuckled. “Clint’s right. Don’t worry, Thor, we’ll make the trip. Let us have this one thing first. A little time to ourselves.”

Thor considered it, then nodded, though his expression remained solemn. “A wise request. Even gods cannot deny the need for such peace.” His tone brightened again as he added, “Regardless, I must thank you both for speaking with father and mother during your wedding. Your counsel about the Infinity Stones has made it easier for me. Father now turns his attention toward seeking their whereabouts.”

“That’s good to hear,” Natasha replied, giving him a small smile.

“Though,” Tony piped up, “just for the record, if Odin does figure out where the Stones are, I’d appreciate a phone call before someone with a hammer tries to shove them in a vault again.”

“Agreed,” Bruce said flatly.

Once the pleasantries faded, Fury lingered at the edge of the group with his hands tucked behind his back. He surveyed them for a moment, before letting out a long, weary sigh that immediately cut through the laughter.

“So, this is it, huh,” he said.

The words landed like a stone in the middle of a pond. Conversation stalled, and all eyes turned toward him.

“What?” Steve asked, brows knitting together. “It’s not like we’re ending the team here.”

“Isn’t it?” Fury countered. His gaze swept over them, sharp and deliberate. “Let’s take a roll call, shall we? Romanoff and Potter are off to God knows where for their honeymoon. Probably leaving me with nothing but postcards.”

“It’s the Potters now. Thank you very much,” Natasha corrected with a smirk, sliding her hand into Harry’s.

Fury ignored her completely.

“Barton’s calling it quits and focusing on his family life,” Fury went on, jerking a thumb toward Clint.

Harry grinned slyly. “Are you really sure you want to go with Nathaniel?” he asked, tilting his head. “I mean, come on, Harold or Hadrian has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? When you and Laura have another girl, just name her Natasha. Problem solved. You don’t have to saddle the poor boy just because you promised to name your next kid after her.”

Clint shot him a flat look. Before Harry could add fuel to the fire, Natasha elbowed him hard in the ribs. “Shut up, don’t butt in. He already betrayed us by being born a boy instead of a girl. No need to change his name just because you’re salty about it.”

Clint’s lips twitched as he leaned back on his heels. “Godmother’s spoken,” he said smugly, nodding toward Natasha.

Harry threw his hands up in mock defeat. “Fine, fine. Nathaniel it is. But don’t come crying to me when the poor kid grows up, realising his name is a lifelong reminder that you lost a bet to Natasha.”

“Please,” Clint smirked. “Kid’s gonna wear that name like a badge of honour. And besides, if anyone’s going to mess him up, it won’t be the name. It’ll be growing up with Uncle Tony teaching him how to hot-wire cars before kindergarten.”

“Hey,” Tony piped up from the sidelines, raising a finger. “I said after kindergarten. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

The group broke into laughter as Clint just shook his head, grinning despite himself.

“Banner’s off to Fiji with Miss Ross,” Fury continued.

Bruce adjusted his glasses with a shrug. “I won’t be gone that long, you know. It’s just a small holiday. A little sun, a little sand, no Tony. Perfect.”

Tony smirked, seizing the opening. “Yeah, yeah, just make sure you don’t, uh, turn green when you’re about to finish. Fiji or Miss Ross doesn’t need that kind of natural disaster.”

The group groaned in unison, with Natasha burying her face in her hand and Steve muttering something about “language.”

Tony raised his hands, all mock innocence. “What? Somebody had to say it.” He turned back to Bruce. “Also, pack a suitcase full of calming potions. We don’t know when Harry and Romanoff are going to come back, and the world doesn’t need an accidental honeymoon Hulk-out.”

Before he could gloat further, Bruce swung an arm out and gave Tony a sharp backhand to the shoulder.

“Ow! Abuse!” Tony yelped, staggering back dramatically and rubbing his arm. “I make one joke and suddenly I’m the bad guy.”

Fury gave a little smirk and continued with the roll call. “Stark’s calling it a day.”

Tony smiled at that. “Yeah? Well, maybe it’s time for me to tap out. Take a page from Barton’s book and build Pepper a farm, live the quiet life, hope nobody shows up to blow it to pieces.”

Clint chuckled into his drink. “The simple life. I wonder how long you’d actually last.”

“An hour,” Steve said dryly, not missing a beat.

The group laughed, Tony shaking his head with mock offence, though he didn’t argue. Deep down, he knew they weren’t wrong.

“And Thor is going back to Asgard,” Fury noted, shifting the attention toward the towering god.

Thor nodded solemnly to it. “I must return. The Mind Stone is the third of the Infinity Stones to reveal itself in recent years. That is no coincidence. I have to seek counsel from my father and mother. We already know of one who sought the Space Stone during the battle in New York. If he coveted such power, others may follow in his wake.”

Steve leaned forward, curiosity etched across his face. “You think you can find out what’s coming next?”

Thor nodded firmly. “I do.” Then his features softened, and he turned to Tony, giving his shoulder a hearty pat that nearly knocked him off balance. “Besides this one, there is little in this world that cannot be explained.”

Tony straightened his jacket with exaggerated offense. “Yeah, well, try not to make me sound boring, Point Break. Some mysteries deserve to stay unsolved.”

“All that remains is good old Steve from the original team,” Fury said.

 “I think the new team has some good players,” Natasha remarked as she checked the lineup on her phone.

“More than good,” Harry added, glancing at the others with a spark of pride. “I think they can do the job.”

“Yeah, you got the Maximoff twins,” Clint said, ticking them off on his fingers. “Wanda, the magic wielder… and Pietro, the super-speed guy.”

Tony raised a hand like he was calling in an objection. “Are we sure we trust Magic-girl and Sonic the Hedgehog?”

“Careful,” Harry muttered, half-smiling. “She’ll make you dream about turning into a frog for the next week.”

“They fought with us against Ultron,” Steve said firmly. “And they understand what it means to be Avengers.”

“Plus,” Natasha added with a sly grin, “they’re young enough to remind all of us we’re getting old.”

“Speak for yourself,” Thor boomed, puffing out his chest. “I am in my prime!”

“Right,” Clint muttered. “For the last thousand years.”

“At least you have Rhodey as War Machine to have your back,” Tony pointed out.

“That’s some solid experience there,” Harry agreed with a nod.

Thor clapped him on Tony’s shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance again. “A warrior with armor of iron! Truly a brother-in-arms.”

“More like a babysitter,” Natasha quipped, earning a laugh from the group.

 “Oh, and Steve’s running buddy, Sam Wilson as Falcon too,” Natasha pointed out.

“Really?” Clint raised an eyebrow. “What does that guy do? What’s his superpower? Is he enhanced?”

Steve, just shook his head, knowing that Sam would not be spared from the roasting. “He’s a former United States Air Force pararescue airman who wields an experimental military wingsuit. Tony and Bruce have been generous enough to modify the tech for better combat suitability.”

Clint blinked. “So… his superpower is flight? That’s it? Who recommended this guy again?”

“Steve did,” Harry cut in before Steve could scowl. “And hey, don’t forget his military training. That counts for something.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Clint muttered, “but I still say if flying’s the only requirement, we should’ve just recruited a pigeon. Less attitude.”

Natasha smirked. “You’d lose to the pigeon in a dogfight. It’s not like you had superpowers.”

“Yeah, well I don’t think this Falcon guy is going to be making impossible shots like I did with a bow and arrow.” Clint argued back, but the conversation had already moved on.

“And lastly, we have Vision,” Thor declared proudly.

Bruce frowned. “Are you sure you want the Mind Stone to just… stay in his head?”

Thor nodded without hesitation. “If he can wield the hammer, he can keep the Mind Stone. The Vision is a safe option, and these days, safe is in short supply.”

Bruce threw up his hands. “I still say the rules have changed.”

Tony jumped in, smirking. “We’re dealing with something new.”

“ Yes, an artificial intelligence,” Bruce cut in.

“A machine,” Tony echoed.

“So it doesn’t count!” Bruce insisted, pointing like he’d just won an argument.

“Look, Harry could pick it up,” Tony said, jerking a thumb toward him. “And that’s got something to do with his having magic backing him. For all we know, he enchanted the hammer to give himself an ego boost.”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Tony, I clearly risked public humiliation in front of a Norse god just to rig a party trick.”

Clint snorted. “Sounds like something you’d do.”

“Different rules for us mortals and non-magicals,” Bruce grumbled.

“Yes,” Tony agreed with mock seriousness, pointing between them. “Both nice guys, but one is magical, the other is artificial. Totally different categories.”

“Thank you!” Bruce said triumphantly, as if he’d scored a victory no one else acknowledged.

Steve folded his arms, giving the group a small, confident smile. “Yes, after your… delightful theories about Vision and the hammer, I’d say we’ve still got a good team on our side. We’re not exactly the ’27 Yankees, but we’ve got some heavy hitters. I’m sure they’ll carry the legacy of this team forward.”

Natasha smirked. “Well, it’s your team now, Rogers. You get to whip them into shape.”

“Drill sergeant Steve,” Clint teased, putting on a mock-stern voice. “First rule of Avengers boot camp: you get hurt, hurt 'em back. You get killed, walk it off.”

Steve rolled his eyes. “They’ll do fine. And if they don’t—” he glanced at Natasha and Harry, “—I’ll borrow you two to scare them straight.”

“Yes, well,” Natasha said, glancing around the room with a small smile, “all of us are just taking a break. Tony and Clint get their well-earned retirement, but the rest of us will be back soon enough. You don’t get rid of us that easily.”

Steve nodded. “Still, we’ll miss you guys, but I know we’ll see each other again.”

Tony clapped his hands once, smirking. “Alright, before this gets too sentimental, I’m calling it, group hug. Come on, bring it in. Don’t make me stand here like an idiot with open arms.”

He expected laughter, maybe a sarcastic jab, but to his surprise one by one the team actually stepped forward. Clint shrugged and walked in first, muttering, “Fine, but only because I don’t want you to whine.” Natasha rolled her eyes but joined anyway, tugging Harry along with her. Thor’s booming laugh echoed as he wrapped his massive arms around half the circle at once. Even Fury grumbled before being dragged in by Steve.

In the end, the mighty Avengers weren’t just a team. They were a family. And though paths were splitting for now, every one of them knew this wasn’t goodbye.

“See you soon,” someone said quietly.

And that was the note they all left it on as the hug lingered longer than anyone expected but no one ready to break it.