"Are you even hearing yourself right now? This is why we believe you're fully competent for this initiative. Whatever you've gone through has been training you for these moments. You don't ever stop fighting, there's always another threat. A threat...
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It felt utterly foreign to stand in front of the Avengers compound again. I'd not set sight on the place since the last time we had hope with Tony's return to Earth. Being here again with that same feeling hidden deep within me wasn't the most promising sign. I'd never been the most optimistic person, that role went to Thor but I knew that we had this opportunity here, something greater and more solid than the one we had before and that's not something I can waste away with my incessant, selfish hesitancy.
I took Thor's hand in my own as we followed Bruce and Rocket through the compound. I kept squeezing Thor's hand every so often as we walked through the corridors of the facility, partly for him and partly for me. I surveyed the building around me with wide eyes. The large space with glass panelled windows held a large machine in the making, most probably the time machine. There was a magnificent 'A' hung up on the wall, it held an aura around it, the emotion I used to hold with being an Avenger all those years ago, the sense of pride and security.
Rocket dived off whereas Bruce led us to the conference room. I nibbled anxiously on my bottom lip, wondering what it'd be like to see everyone again after all this time.
"Selene, Thor," a voice called out and I turned to see Steve, Natasha, Clint and Rhodey standing there.
My heart rumbled terribly in my chest, the odd familiarity washing over me. These were people so close to me and yet due to one event and over the span of five years, so much had changed and I hated that. If anything, there was one thing I was glad about, reconnecting with these people who were once a constant in my life.
A pair of arms almost instantly engulfed me and at first I didn't realise it was Natasha until I saw the flock of red. I hugged her back tightly, rubbing her shoulder. She released the hug and shook her head at me. She looked worn, far more fatigued than I had ever seen her. Her short blonde hair had grown out, the red creating a gradient.
"Selene, it's been too long," she greeting, a small smile on her face. I stared into her green eyes and I couldn't help but return her smile, I'd missed her so much.
"Natasha, hi," I said, holding her arm. "It has been...Steve, Clint, Rhodey...it's good to see all of you."
"You too Selene," Steve said, smiling at me, getting off the desk he was leaning against and coming forwards.
"Everyone!" Thor greeted in the complete opposite tone as everyone else and I chuckled softly at him, he always knew how to shake the atmosphere without even trying. "How weird is this, huh?"
"Yeah, weird is the word I'd use," Nat nodded, quirking an eyebrow.
"Weird, nah, I wouldn't say that," Clint waved off. "We're just one big happy family, glad to be together again."
"Oh, yeah. This is just a family reunion," I laughed, shaking my head.
Silence rung out for a second, all of us taking in the fact that we had to come back together as the Avengers again after thinking everything had ended, after failing the universe. The entire situation just felt incredibly alien, stiff even since all of us had gone through so much in the 5 years, hardly keeping in contact with the others, nobody really knowing how the others were.
