[AN: Sorry for the kate update, I was on a rank game and didn't noticed the time :D ]
The smell of food did more than any pep talk ever could.
Eggs, toast, something sizzling in butter—simple things, ordinary things.
After metal floors, restraints, and sleepless nights under fluorescent lights, the kitchen might as well have been a sanctuary.
Wanda sat stiffly at the table at first, fingers wrapped around a mug she hadn't yet dared to drink from.
Pietro leaned back in his chair, trying very hard to look relaxed and failing at it.
Clean clothes.
Clean skin.
No alarms.
No screaming.
It still didn't feel real.
Tony Stark broke the silence by dropping a plate in front of them like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"Alright," he said, clapping his hands once.
"Rule number one of post-captivity life—eat. You can hate me after."
Pietro blinked. "…You cook?"
Tony scoffed.
"Please. I supervise cooking. Big difference."
Clint slid into the chair beside the twins, already chewing.
"He got a team of professional chefs prepare all this while you guys were busy bathing."
"Traitor," Tony muttered, then sighed and leaned against the counter.
His tone shifted—not heavy, but serious in that quiet Stark way.
"So. I've been thinking ahead," he said.
"About you two."
Wanda looked up.
"I can make you… legal," Tony continued.
"Identities. Clean ones. Birth records, school history, whatever you want. You're eighteen—perfect age. College, if you want. Or not. Normal life. As normal as it gets around us."
Pietro's fork froze halfway to his mouth.
"…You'd do that?" Wanda asked softly.
Tony met her eyes. No jokes this time.
"Yeah. I would. You deserve more, in fact, just say the word and I'd do anything to make your lives as normal as you want it to be."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Wanda nodded, slow and careful, like she was afraid the moment might break if she moved too fast.
"Thank you," she said.
Bruce cleared his throat, breaking the moment.
He looked tired—but lighter than before, the tension eased now that the immediate danger was gone.
"I'm… actually going to step away for a bit." he said.
"See Betty. Before things get worse again."
Tony nodded. "Yeah. You do that lover boy."
Tony nodded.
"Yeah. You do that lover boy."
"I'm not a boy." Bruce retorted, almost saying 'just a lover.'
But Tony's not done.
"Then lover guy?"
This time Bruce just gave him the stare.
Tony raised both hands, "fine, romeo. My point is, make the most of it. Although HYDRA isn't as many as in the past world war II, but this time, they have hidden very well in almost all government positions. Even that senator expert in prostitution guy who wanted my armor is a HYDRA. One thing for sure, they are not simple enemies."
That was when Pietro straightened.
"We can help," he said quickly.
"When you fight HYDRA."
Wanda nodded immediately.
"We want to."
The room went still.
Clint stopped chewing.
Tony's brows knit together.
Bruce's shoulders tensed.
All three like mother hens denied the siblings proposal.
"No," Clint said flatly.
Tony followed up just as fast.
"Hard no."
Bruce winced.
"You've been through enough."
Pietro pushed back his chair.
"We are not helpless."
Before anyone could stop him—
He vanished.
The air popped, a gust of wind rattled the silverware, and suddenly Pietro was standing behind Tony, already back in his seat by the time Stark turned around.
"—Okay," Tony admitted.
"That was impressive."
Wanda lifted her hand, hesitant but determined.
The cutlery on the table rose, trembling, wrapped in a red glow that felt… wrong, in a way that made the hairs on Clint's arms stand up.
Forks, knives, plates—hovering. Controlled.
She lowered them gently.
Silence.
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I hate it when teenagers make a good point."
Clint leaned back, arms crossed, decision firm.
"Still no."
Pietro opened his mouth to argue—
"Training," Tony cut in.
"You train first. And you pass Captain America's test."
Wanda blinked.
"Captain America… has a test?"
"He does, I'm sure it's in every high school right now. But yours will be tougher." Tony said confidently.
"I'll make one up for him if I have to, just to make you realize you're both not ready for this."
Pietro grinned, sharp and bright.
"That's it?"
Clint frowned.
"You realize that's not a game, right?"
Wanda smiled—small, but real.
"We know."
They looked… happy.
Too happy.
Like kids who'd just been told they could join the team.
Clint sighed.
"I hate this already. They're basically still teenagers who should be at school. "
He pushed back his chair and stood.
"Speaking of plans—today, I've got some business to take care of."
Tony raised a brow.
"Business business?"
"Food business," Clint corrected.
"I'm visiting someone."
He glanced at the twins.
"You two ever heard of Mercer's Hearth?"
Wanda shook her head.
Pietro shrugged.
"Is it… safe?"
Clint smirked.
"Safer than most places we've been."
Tony waved a hand.
"Fine. I'll handle the paperwork. Bruce does his boyfriend thing. You play babysitter."
"Hey," Clint said.
"They're teenagers. Not kids that needs babysitting."
Everyone gave him the look.
Bruh...
Pietro grinned.
"He's still babysitting."
Bruce chuckled as he stood, grabbing his jacket.
"I'll be back before things explode. Probably."
The plan settled into place and everyone went their separate ways.
.
.
.
Mercer's Hearth was alive in its usual, quiet way.
The low hum of conversation mixed with the clink of cups and the warm scent of bread and stew.
It was the kind of place that made people forget, just for a moment, that aliens had invaded the city not long ago.
Clint noticed him immediately.
Elias stood near one of the long tables, leaning casually against it, listening to a kid who was talking a mile in a minute.
"No, see, that's why Empire is better," Peter Parker insisted, hands moving wildly.
"Because it lets the bad guys win. That's, like, bold storytelling."
Elias laughed, genuinely amused.
"I'll give you that. Vader's reveal still hits harder than most plot twists today."
From across the room, Wanda tilted her head.
Pietro smirked.
"…Is he talking about Star Wars?" Pietro whispered.
Before Elias could reply, a firm but fond voice cut through the moment.
"Peter."
May Parker appeared as if summoned by instinct alone.
One look at Clint, then at the two unfamiliar teenagers beside him, and her expression shifted into polite concern.
"We were just leaving," she said smoothly, already pulling Peter back by the shoulder.
"Come on. Homework waits for no one."
"But May..."
"No buts."
She paused only long enough to look back at Elias.
"You're welcome to visit sometime, once you're free, and not longer working."
Elias smiled, softer now.
"I'd like that. I'll stop by."
May nodded, satisfied, and steered Peter toward the door.
Peter shot Elias a last excited wave, as if saying you promised, before disappearing outside.
Clint watched them go, then looked back at Elias.
"You haven't changed at all." he said.
Elias turned, already aware of who'd entered.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Elias's gaze shifted to the twins.
He took them in with a single glance—not invasive, not judging.
Just… attentive.
Clint gestured.
"Elias, these are Wanda and Pietro Maximoff."
Elias stepped forward and held out his hand.
"Elias Mercer, It's good to meet you both." he said simply.
Wanda hesitated for half a heartbeat, then shook his hand.
Pietro followed, firmer, testing.
Elias met both grips easily, unbothered.
"Welcome to Mercer's Hearth."
Something in his tone made the words feel real.
Before the twins could say anything else, one of Elias's employees, Rhea, appeared at his side as if on cue.
"Something warm for our guests," Elias said while smiling at the twins.
"Whatever they like, it'll be on the house for today."
Rhea nodded and guided Wanda and Pietro toward an open table, already talking options.
Pietro glanced back once, curious.
Wanda did too—thoughtful.
Clint waited until they were out of earshot.
"You got a private corner?" he asked.
Elias turned toward the back of the shop.
"Sure."
They moved away from the noise, into a quieter section partitioned by shelves and hanging plants.
The warmth didn't fade—but the air sharpened, just a little.
Elias folded his arms.
"So," he said calmly.
"I'm guessing this isn't just a social visit."
Clint exhaled.
"Yeah. Arthas mentioned you'd already know."
Elias's eyes flicked briefly toward the twins, then back to Clint.
"Let's talk," he said.
.
.
.
The private corner of Mercer's Hearth felt quieter than it should have been.
The noise of the shop faded into a distant murmur, like the world politely giving them space.
Elias didn't sit right away.
He leaned against the table, eyes on Clint, weighing something.
"You deserve the truth," Elias said at last.
"Before I ask anything of you, and even before bestowing thre rewards to you."
Clint didn't joke this time. He could feel it in his bones, whatever Elias was going to say, it wasn't going to be simple.
"I'm listening."
Elias exhaled slowly.
"I wasn't supposed to be this," he began.
"I was a normal guy 4 years ago." Elias continued.
"A shop owner."
"A man who wanted quiet days, regular customers, and maybe a little peace."
"Then, on the day Tony said he was Ironman live, the system showed up."
Clint's jaw tightened at the mention of the system, but he didn't interrupt.
He listened intently.
"It has designated me as a Villain."
Clint frowned, as if he's supposed to realize something but is missing a piece of the puzzle.
"I can still remember the first task it gave me, find your first VICTIM."
"From there, it escalated to an Area in Queens that would one day be known as the judgement Area."
At this, Clint realized. Elias wasn't as innocent as Natasha reported.
Woth everything going on, of course he's read the files and reports, he needed to reviews what happened with Natasha, Tony, Steve and Bruce to have such connections.
And he found out why.
They faced a Zombie Horde test.
And somehow, Elias whom they labeled innocent, is saying he was a Villain?
Was he connected to it all? How?
"Elias... What do you mean you were designated as a villain?"
"Exactly what I mean. The massacre of my designated enemy in prison by the Alien, Xenomorph, the tests to be a General. It is all connected to me."
Clint could not believe what he was hearing. He only encountered Elias a few times since the battle against the Chitauri, and he was certain, Elias could never be him.
But he just heard him say it.
"So Arthas is—" Clint clarifies.
"Me." Elias said plainly.
"When you knelt before Arthas, you've knelt before me."
That landed harder than any reveal Clint had heard all day.
"The system provides objectives a Villain must do. Find Victims, generals, royal guards, even subordinates. Loki bowing before me was also an objective I completed through the system."
"I take it there's punishment when you don't complete what is asked?"
Elias didn't soften it.
"The last time I didn't complete an objective, aliens were sent or even the yautja hunters. Even without my intentions, just a simple thought, and the system does it."
Clint leaned back, rubbing a hand over his face.
"You froze time. You sent my friend and her companions to dangerous worlds. You, fooled us."
"I know, that's why I'm telling you now. Because the reward the system has provided can take over you." Elias's voice dropped.
And Clint shivered, he stepped back on instinct, his hands already in motion to his weapons.
"I never wanted any of this, Clint."
Silence stretched.
Clint finally asked.
"What do you mean the system will take over me? Is it like possession?"
"Worse. Besides taking over your body, it also erases your very own consciousness." Elias said.
"Why are you telling me all this? Is your objective to let me know that I'm going to be erased? Is that it!?" Clint demanded but he didn't shout, he just asked with suppressed anger in his voice.
Fortunately, it wasn't loud enough to attract attention from the others.
"No. I'm telling you this because for you to be not taken over, there is only one way. You're loyalty to me must be genuine."
"If you have to stand by my side, it has to be because you choose to. Knowing exactly who I am."
He straightened.
"And honestly, being loyal to me doesn't mean you can't do things you want to do. As long as it doesn't go against me, you can do whatever you want. You only have to follow my orders when I give it."
"I'll be very honest with you Clint. The one behind Loki's attempt to conquer Earth? He just tested us. Our response. The only reason be hasn't acted yet is because Thor's father, Odin and Earth's sorcerer supreme are still around."
"However, their inevitable end is already around the corner. Once they're gone? Thanos will come. And we are the only ones standing before him and the possible erasure of all life."
Clint studied him for a long moment.
The café noise drifted back in—laughter, plates, life continuing like none of this mattered.
Finally, Clint spoke.
"You're asking me to trust a man who calls himself a villain… and a king of the dead."
Elias nodded once.
"I am."
Clint let out a breath, half a laugh without humor.
"Figures."
He stood.
"I'm not saying no," he said carefully.
"But I can't say yes either. Not yet."
"That's fair."
Elias replied without hesitation.
"I've got a family," Clint went on.
"Kids. A wife who deserves honesty. I need time to decide if standing with you protects them—or puts a bigger target on their backs."
Elias met his gaze, serious but steady.
"Take all the time you need."
Clint turned toward the main room, where Wanda and Pietro were laughing quietly over their food.
"I'll think about it," he said.
"You do that, I'll be waiting."
End of Chapter