Chapter 54: Returnt o earth-66

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West House, Earth-1

Morning

"So, you're gonna go back to Earth-66 to save this Pietro?" Joe asked as Barry explained everything to him, Wally, Cisco, and Caitlin in the living room.

"I have to Joe. He's Wanda's brother, uncle to my son or daughter. Not only that, but it's the right thing to do. When my kid asks me one day where I was when their Uncle Pietro was in trouble, I plan to tell them I was fighting like hell to save him," Barry said passionately.

"We get it Barry," Wally as the first to speak up.

"You feel you gotta go, we support you," Joe assured his son.

"Who's all going with you on this trip?" Cisco asked, trying to keep them from noticing just how tense he was.

"Steve, Clint, Tony, and Natasha. Wanda's not going because of the baby and Sam's staying to keep an eye on her," Barry explained.

"I'm pretty sure we can handle that," Caitlin told him and Barry barked out a laugh.

"It's cute how you think that. I'm not sure when we'll be back. So, take care of my city and take care of Wanda. This whole thing is probably going to cause of lot of stress for her," Barry said and it was clear form his tone how much this bothered him.

"We'll do our best to keep the mother of my grandchild relaxed and calm," Joe assured him and Barry shook his head.

"Don't hover, she'll hate that. Just try to keep her mind off it but don't make it obvious," Barry warned them.

"Man, this girl is high maintenance," Wally muttered.

"All women are when pregnant," Joe said as he patted his son on the shoulder. "Just wait until you become a father Wally."

Barton apartment

Same time

"I know, I keep breaking my promise," Clint said guilty as he and Laura sat in the kitchen, Laura holding Nate in her arms.

"It's okay Clint," Laura said but Clint shook his head.

"No it's not. I made a promise to you that I was done but I keep breaking it," Clint looked away in shame.

"I never expected you to keep that promise," Laura told him and he whipped his head towards her in shock. "You were never someone who was going to be comfortable sitting back while your friends were out their risking their lives. I knew that when I married you Clint. I was just waiting for you to figure that out. Just…come back to us."

"Always," Clint whispered as he took her hand with one of his and reached down, brushing some of Nate's hair with the other.

Star Labs

Later in the morning

Steve was in his quarters, getting ready for departure when he heard a knock on the door frame. Steve looked over from the gun he was loading to see Caitlin lingering in the door way uncertainly.

"Hey, am I interrupting?" Caitlin asked and he shook his head.

"No, not at all," Steve said as he lowered the gun to a table in the room. "Just getting ready."

"Didn't know you used guns," Caitlin noted and he shrugged.

"I used to a lot in World War Two, haven't in a while. Since I don't have my shield anymore, I figured I might as well get back in the habit," Steve said and Caitlin nodded. "Was there something you wanted?"

"We need to talk," Caitlin said, sitting down on his bed and patting the spot next to her.

Having a feeling he knew what this was about, Steve sat down on the spot next to her.

"The last few months, it's been great…but I think we both know we have an expiration date," Caitlin began, trying to gather the words.

"I know," Steve said lowly. "My earth…I can't abandon it. I'm going to go back there. If not now, then soon. It's who I am Cait. I can't let the people over there down."

"And I don't expect you to. But I wanted to say…thank you," Caitlin said and Steve looked at her surprised. "After what Jay, Zoom, did to me, I felt broken inside. And even after I moved passed what he did to me, my heart just…stopped. I wasn't sure I was capable of letting someone in, of caring for someone like that again. You showed me that I was…and I want to thank you for that."

"I owe you the thanks," Steve said and Caitlin was surprised. "When Peggy died, I was in some sort of limbo. Moving forward but staying in place at the same time. But being here, being with you…it's shown me how much more I still have to do. So, thank you. I will never forget you Caitlin."

"I'll never forget you either," Caitlin said softly as she leaned close to him.

Steve leaned down and the pair shared a kiss, what they sure was the first of many goodbye kisses.

Barry and Wanda's apartment

Same time

"I think I should go with you," Wanda said for what Barry thought was the thousandth time today as he packed some stuff.

"And if you weren't pregnant, I'd agree with you. But you are, and I'm not risking our kid by bringing you into an unknown situation. I don't think you will either," Barry told her as he zipped up his bag.

Wanda looked away, knowing he was right but unwilling to admit it. Barry sighed as he walked over to her.

"Hey, look at me," Barry took her face in his hands and made her look over at him. "I will come back to you, I promise. And I'm bringing your brother back with me."

"I'll hold you to that," Wanda said, pulling him for a deep kiss.

Star Labs

Afternoon

Everyone was in the Breach Room already when Barry and Wanda arrived, everyone but Cisco that was. But Barry would worry about Cisco when they got back.

"Everyone ready to go?" Barry asked as they walked in.

"We were waiting for you," Natasha said, dressed in her black suit and Barry nodded.

"You went back to your old suit back, looks kind of bland," Tony noted as he eyed Barry's Flash suit. "What happened to the other one I made you?"

"Didn't really feel wearing something designed to stab me in the back without my knowledge, so I sold it for spare parts," Barry said coolly, conveniently leaving out he'd given it to Shuri in Wakanda.

"Let's make one thing clear Stark, we can put aside our egos to work with you. But you are not forgiven, not by a long shot," Clint sneered as he got in Tony's face.

"Clint," Barry said and Clint looked over his shoulder at him. "He's not worth it."

Clint gave a terse nod and turned away from Tony. As Clint walked over to Laura to say goodbye, Tony had never felt more alone than in this room of people who seemed to despise or only tolerate his presence.

"Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone," Barry said as he put a hand on Wally's shoulder.

"Come on man, I got this," Wally said confidently.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Barry smiled slightly before turning to Joe. "Make sure he doesn't-"

"I know," Joe said as he hugged Barry goodbye. "You see anything wonky, you run the other way."

"No promises," Barry said, hugging his dad back before letting go and looking over at Caitlin. "Think you and Cisco can hold down the fort while I'm gone?"

"I think we can handle it," Caitlin said, hugging him goodbye and he chuckled as he hugged her as well.

"Not saying goodbye to Steve?" Barry asked, noticing how she made no move to go near Steve.

"We already said goodbye," Caitlin said vaguely and Barry noticed she seemed off but didn't push the issue.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road," Cisco said as he walked in and everyone turned to see him wearing some red suit.

"Dude, what are you wearing?" Sam asked in surprise.

"This is my suit. Pretty cool huh?" Cisco said gleefully.

"Why are you wearing it? Cisco, you don't even know Pietro," Barry pointed out.

"Yeah, but last time you were over there, you ended up stuck there for a year And I know there was time travel involved, but better safe than sorry, right?" Cisco lied his ass off.

In truth, the fact that Barry, Steve, Tony, and Clint were all going to Earth-66 with someone working with Savitar had brought his fears about his Vibe to the surface. He was not going to let this particular Vibe come true. He was going to stop it or die trying.

"The more the merrier I say," Clint said and Barry shrugged.

"Alright, let's get going," Natasha ordered.

"So bossy, man," Cisco joked and she glared at him. "Shutting up."

Clint smirked as Steve, Sam, and Barry attempted to muffle their laughs and Cisco glared at them betrayed. Tony felt the sense of loss of comradery in that moment but pushed it out of his mind as the six of them gathered on the landing pad.

"Earth-66, here we come," Cisco said as he opened a breach in front of them.

Avengers' compound, Earth-66

Moments later

As they appeared in the hanger, The Avengers immediately felt something was off. It took them a moment to pick up on it.

"It's took quiet," Natasha said after a moment.

"What?" Cisco asked confused.

"She's right," Barry agreed. "Even on the quietest day of the year, you could still hear the kitchen staff moving around. And I'm assuming you didn't fire them Tony?"

"No, I kept the staff around," Tony agreed, as on edge as the others.

They heard a sarcastic clapping sound and turned to see a blond man walk into the hanger.

"I must admit, I'm impressed that, after months of not stepping foot in this place, you picked up on that so easier. Hello Natalia, Clint," Alexei said as he smirked at the stunned former spies.

"You-you're dead," Natasha stammered as she stared at him.

"Death is but an illusion dear Natalia. But you know that too well," Alexei told her.

Taking advantage of their shock, the man threw a track dart, getting Clint in the leg. As he went down, the sedative already beginning to take effect, Barry sped into action. He tried to speed over to Alexei but was knocked off his feet by sudden movement. He looked up and saw, to his shock, Pietro standing over him.

"You didn't see that coming?" Pietro asked with a smirk.

"Pietro?" Barry asked stunned.

Pietro responded by trying to punch Barry but Barry sped out of the way. As the speedsters raced around the room, Alexei pulled out a gun and opened fire on the others. Cisco and Tony were hit, joining Clint in unconsciousness as Steve and Natasha dodged the tranq darts and tried to engage him. However, Alexi pulled a disk off his belt and threw it, forcing them to dodge. Steve noticed it bounced off the walls in similar ways that his shield had done.

"Pietro, why are you doing this?" Barry cried, dodging a kick from Pietro as he did.

"As if you don't know!" Pietro snarled as he sent a punch to Barry.

"I don't!" Barry cried out, grabbing Pietro's arm and flipping him over onto the floor.

However, Pietro suddenly pulled out a knife and cut him in the ankle. Barry was surprised by the move and Pietro took advantage, jumping up and punching Barry, hard enough to send him to the ground, out cold.

Smirking as he saw this, Alexei pushed a button on a watch on his wrist. Natasha and Steve looked up and were blinded by a bright light.

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If you enjoy please support me on my patreon Future 80+ chapters at patreon.com/Darkphoenix11

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