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[shield]

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[shield]

[ The suddenness of the message stuns Steve, a thousand questions running through his mind as he stares back at the screen. Why now? What for? How long? Does she know what's coming if she goes back? He hasn't talked about it, but he's not the only one who knows.

He can't let her leave without warning her. ]

Are you sure?

[chernyy]

[ Clint knew. And had told her. Kind of hard to ignore it after that point. ]

As sure as I can be. I don't want to see it play out like that but maybe I can change something. Prevent something. I don't know. It's worth trying, right?

[shield]

That's what I came here for. They said they'd send me back so I could make it right.

[ He doesn't even know what he'll do when the time comes, how he'll turn things around, but it's like Natasha said — he has to try. ]

Will it help if I tell you what I know? You don't have to go in blind.

[chernyy]

Yeah, that sounds like something you'd do.

And it's okay. Clint filled me in.

[ She adds, ]

I'll be back. Have a promise to keep.

[shield]

Okay, good. I thought he would.

For what it's worth, I think you had the right idea all along. Maybe things could turn out better if we all followed your lead instead of mine. [ Or Tony's, but Steve doesn't talk about all that if he can help it. ]

I guess what I'm trying to say is, trust your instincts. We'll miss you here, but the team needs you more than they know.

[chernyy]

You're too stubborn for that. And I don't doubt you thought you were doing the right thing.

[ Because that's how Steve is. He wouldn't be like that for no reason. ]

Could I ask you a small favor?

[shield]

Of course. Whatever you need.

[chernyy]

Could you keep an eye on Matt for me?

[ She knows he's a grown man that can take care of himself but still. She doesn't want him to become a hermit while she's away. ]