*C43 - Luke's realization! Everyone's worried for Luke!

'Inner dialogue/thoughts'

"Normal dialogue"

[System]

[Diary entries]

(Word count: 1,913)

~ The following day with Luke, in the café ~

Walking into the café before opening hours, Luke was still feeling a little fatigued from the previous day's events. In the daytime, he had gone into a complete mental meltdown. Whereas not too long after, he had been ambushed by HYDRA.

'It's not too bad. Let's look at it positively, at least when the meltdown happened, it was early into the timeline and in a controlled and safe environment. Also, the attacker had not been able to inform the rest of HYDRA about me or Wanda being in Los Angeles.' Luke thought.

Heading over to his usual spot, his musings were interrupted by a sudden hug attack from a certain blonde employee. "LUKE!" Crystal exclaimed.

"Are you sure you're supposed to be up and about?! You can take a break from work today you know?! Wait, why are you even here? You're the boss of the café, you don't need to be here since you've hired us to work for you! You should be at home and resting and-" Before she could say anything more, Luke had placed his palm to cover her mouth.

"Mmmfffmmmff mmfffmfff." Crystal muffled, unhappy at being stopped by a hand.

Raising his eyebrows, Luke eventually allowed a smile to settle on his lips. As he removed his palms, Luke said reassuringly, "I'm okay Pup, really. I was just a little out of it yesterday."

Attempting to move away slightly, Luke was met with a disbelieving stare from Crystal, who stood her ground and kept her arms around Luke. Crystal's stare was fixed at Luke, trying her best to look intimidating.

"Sigh. . . Tell you what, the next time something like this happens, if it happens, you'll get first row seats to say, 'I told you so' or whatever else you want. And I'll even stand there taking it like a man." Seeing as Crystal would not budge, Luke could only offer a compromise, "Deal?"

"You'll also have to apologize to me and April and the rest of the staff personally for worrying us like that." Crystal tabled an additional term as she released Luke from her hug and stuck her hand out.

"You drive a hard bargain missy." Luke stated in contemplation. "You got yourself a deal." Luke said in defeat as he shook hands with Crystal, who in returned smiled before grabbing Luke into another hug, this time in relief at seeing her friend was doing fine.

"You scared me there." Crystal muttered in a soft tone.

Confused at what made Crystal suddenly react this way, Luke just stood there not knowing what to do. He had already tried to reassure Crystal just a moment ago and he felt that it would be awkward to do so again.

However, seeing that Luke was just standing there, Crystal squeezed Luke a little harder and said in a threatening, yet playful manner, "Don't you ever do that again. We were all worried sick about you."

As if realizing why Crystal had been more active and emotional than normal, Luke returned the hug. This time, Luke had done so willingly and emotionally. 'That's right, I'm not in some fictional Marvel Universe. I'm here, alive. Everything around me is real. And most importantly, I'm not alone here anymore.'

"I know. I'm sorry for worrying you, Crystal." Luke replied, finally recognizing that there were people in this world who had grown to care for him. After a few moments, Crystal ended their moment of closeness.

Before walking away, Crystal felt that she needed to mention something to prepare Luke for another person's worried wrath. "You should know Luke, although I'm the first to approach you to check on you, I most certainly won't be the only one."

Hearing Crystal talk so mysteriously, Luke could not help but start feeling a foreboding sense of danger to himself. "What do you mean?" Seeing that Crystal began walking away in hurried steps, Luke asked his question again, this time in a louder voice, "Crystal, what do you mean?!"

"Ahem." Hearing a voice from behind him, Luke felt like bucket of ice water was being poured over him. 'So that's what she meant.'

Turning around ever so slowly, Luke was met with the intimidating figure of April, who had donned a stoic expression. "Hey there April, I was just about to see you and-" Noticing the eyebags on April's face, Luke stopped his words.

Deciding on facing her worries head on, Luke allowed himself to look embarrassed as he spoke, "Does it help if I say that I've already had that conversation with Crystal, and that I'm sorry and will try not to let it happen again?"

Seeing April stand and gaze upon him as if he was being judged upon by his mother, Luke started feeling uncomfortable and started fidgeting a little. Upon seeing this, April decided she had got her point across and nodded towards Luke.

"Take a seat, you shouldn't be moving too much this early in the day after what you went through yesterday. I'll bring your usual." April said as she made her way to the counter to start preparing Luke's usual order.

Walking past Luke, April did not forget to let Luke know just how worried she was for him, "I'm glad you're okay." After saying this, she gave a quick hug to Luke, who stood there dumbfounded at the actions of April, before resuming her walk.

'Thank you. . .' Luke said internally to whatever God that had surrounded him with kind people. With a smile on his lips, Luke carried on making his way to his usual spot.

After April brought him his usual breakfast order, Luke took a moment to enjoy the warm atmosphere that the café had brought to him.

'Yesterday was a much needed wake up call, and today's earlier interactions just cemented it. I really am living in this world. Everything I do will have consequences. If not for me then for those around me. And although I have abilities, there are still stronger beings out there who could with a snap of their fingers erase my existence here.'

As Luke was lost in his thoughts while having breakfast, he was interrupted for the second time that day by a familiar voice. "Luke!" Seeing Pepper walk into the café and make her way towards him, Luke put on an exasperated smile and stood up while raising his hands to stop Pepper.

"Yes, I know I've worried those around me. Yes, I have promised not to do that again and if I do then they get to talk me down. Yes, I'm alright. And yes, you can give me a hug like the rest that have already done so. That should just about cover everything you wanted to ask." Luke said, already predicting the conversation he would have with Pepper.

Standing in amusement, Pepper replied with a little bit of sass in her voice, "Oh, being the smart one now?" Seeing as Luke had spread his arms open, Pepper scoffed before accepting the invitation.

"April was really worried for you. She came barging into my office and started drinking and only went to sleep after passing out in a few drinks." Pepper started as she sat opposite Luke. "You're like a brother to her. Seeing you breakdown like that, really scared her. And not only her too."

"I know, I saw the way she looked. And she even arranged my order neatly, she never does that." Luke replied in a soft tone. Looking up at Pepper, Luke asked in return, "How about you? How are you holding up?"

Seeing Luke's concern, Pepper smiled as she answered, "Oh you know, same old same old. Tony's still trapped somewhere in this world going through God knows what. The company's stocks are still falling down without him around. My position as a PA of a kidnapped person might be in trouble. And to top that off, my close friend couldn't sleep due to worry."

"Haha, yeah same old same old. Though when he does return, you could use this to demand a raise. Call it the 'emotional raise' for having to deal with his kidnapping." Luke re-affirmed Pepper's attempt at keeping the atmosphere light.

Catching onto Luke's choice of words, Pepper decided to clarify, "When, and not if?"

"Come on Pepper, a guy like that won't just die in the middle of nowhere. After all I've read about him, I'd like to believe he'd be arrogant enough to stay alive and escape just as a way to flip off his kidnappers." Luke said.

Thinking about it, Pepper snickered as she thought that that would be something that Tony would do. "You're right. Anyways, I won't keep you from your breakfast for much longer. If you'll excuse me, I'll be borrowing April for the day."

"As long as you return her for work tomorrow, she's my manager you know!" Luke said as Pepper walked towards the upper floor where April had gone to.

~ A few hours later ~

As Luke was reading the news articles about more rumours regarding Tony's kidnapping, for the third time that day, Luke was once again interrupted by a familiar voice. "Luke, you got a moment you could spare for me?"

Hearing Natasha ask her question, Luke was curious as to what she would want to speak about. On the way to the café in the morning, Luke had passed by the area he had been attacked the night prior. However, he saw that nothing was out of the ordinary – no vehicle with holes and no shrivelled corpse.

"Of course, please have a sit." Luke offered.

"In private, Luke. It's got something to do about last night on the streets." Natasha said, hinting that she knew what happened regarding the attack. "I know a place where we can discuss the topics of a sensitive nature. Things that the public are not ready to know just yet."

'This early?' Luke was surprised at how early Fury had decided to show his hands. Luke had only just written the diary entry not even 24 hours ago, yet Fury had already decided to make his move.

"You're not going to kidnap me, are you? I mean it's not everyday a man's fantasy of being kidnapped by a hot lady gets to happen in real life you know. You would take me to a basement, knock me out and I'll come to all chained up." Luke teased.

"That will depend on your answer." Natasha replied with a smile as she winked at Luke. Hearing her answer and the seeing the wink Natasha gave, Luke's body started heating up in embarrassment.

"You know it's only fun if you get embarrassed and not me." Luke said dejectedly. "But sure, I've got time. Lead the way, Nat."

Soon after, both Luke and Natasha made their way to Natasha's previous apartment, as she did not think it would be wise to let Luke and Wanda meet accidentally at her current apartment.

- End of Chapter 43 -

Next time in C44 - S.H.I.E.L.D.!

"My name is Natasha Alianovna Romanova, and I am an agent of SHIELD." Natasha revealed.

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Placing his indec finger on his lips, Luke replied cheekily, "Shhh, don't you know to never ask for a man's secret? We're sensitive beings too you know."