[Locked text to Noh-Varr +Action]

[tookthename]

[TEXT]

Now that things have quieted down we need to talk, meet me at the New Brew coffee shop in 20 minutes.

[ACTION]

[Carol's actually sitting at New Brew when she sends the text out. She'd been having problems concentrating on the kids all day despite the fact that things were getting back to normal after the last incident. As soon as her last class of the day got out she flew over in full uniform, ordered something with entirely too much caffeine and shot Noh the text.

Only thing to do now is sit and wait. And try not to seethe. Hank told him to stay away from Earth, but she knew Noh-Varr didn't have any control over coming here. She knew that but the sting of him betraying them and trying to take the Phoenix still stung.

They trusted him.

Yeah, if there's any way to drink coffee angrily Carol's doing it.]

Comments

[acclimate]

[He knew it was coming. In fact, he's surprised that it's happening now—as in, "now" and not "sooner." He knows how good Stark's Tech is, even if Tony always wanted to advance it with Kree technology. But it was good tech. So, even if Noh-Varr knew that his tech was advanced, far more advanced than Stark's, he had a feeling someday—

Well, it doesn't matter much now, does it?

Noh-Varr's lips turn downward at the message. That is a public place, and his previous private tense conversations with Carol had never gone particularly well. With good reason, he supposes, given his string of mistakes that he can line up on a wall. Trust the wrong person again and again ... only now he's put his trust in Kate Bishop and the other younger Avengers. He isn't sure he would trust the older ones—in that they would not trust him, with good reason—but Kate and the others ... perhaps there is something there.

Or perhaps he is desperate for a chance to protect, to ensure that what the Supreme Intelligence wanted does not come to pass.

Or perhaps he just loves Earth, and it's something he cannot deny. Explaining that so freely, though—that's the hard part.

Still, he does not pass up the opportunity to visit and have coffee, a drink that he still wants to learn to appreciate. Annie first started him down that path (with both coffee and tea), and he imagines it is only fitting to continue.

Noh-Varr is not late as he strides in. He makes eye contact with her before going to order a latte (extra foam), and then he settles down in front of her with it in hand, hand covering the top.]

[tookthename]

[Carol drains the last half of her drink--seriously there had to be at least ten shots of espresso in that thing--before setting the cup on the table with a bit more force than was entirely necessary. Still glaring at him she begins]

Okay, I'm not happy that you're here, but I know you didn't have any control over that so I won't try to throw you into the sun.

You did some good work the other day so I'm willing to hear you out for the moment. You have one minute.

[She holds up her phone that has a stop watch displaying 1:00 on it. ]

Go. [She presses the start button.]

[acclimate]

[How much can he tell? How much will become obvious before long? Plus, there's what he chose to share over the network. A full five seconds passes before he opens his mouth to speak.]

I am fighting with Kate Bishop and her team in the future.

[There is a purposeful pause.]

I made a mistake in trusting the Supreme Intelligence and betraying the Avengers. I intended to stay away ...

[His head lowers and a small smile plays over his lips.]

But it is not as simple as that. You've tried the coffee. Isn't it good?

[There are things left unspoken. Mar-Vell once saw it as his obligation to protect Earth and that it was something he had to do. Noh-Varr once took on a similar obligation ... but being directed to do something and choosing to do that. That's different.]

[tookthename]

So you did return to earth at some point? I take it no one but the Young Avengers know yet.

[She can't say she's surprised. He did seem to like earth, before the whole betrayal part.

She stands up]

I'm going to get another cup and then we're going to go on a walk somewhere we can talk with a bit more privacy.

[acclimate]

Yes. My tech made it difficult to track me.

[And he wonders if Tony Stark has been busy. For all his visits down to acquire coffee, tea, posters, a DVD player ... a stereo set ... yes, he has been returning a number of times.]

I will wait outside.

[tookthename]

[Yeah, things have been a little busy for everyone as of late.

Carl comes out of the shop with another large, steaming drink in her hands.]

Come on, lets head to the beach.

[Once they start walking Carol asks another question]

Expand a bit on what the Supreme Intelligence wanted from you.

[acclimate]

To acquire the Phoenix Force at any cost and return it to the Empire.

[He sounds a strange mixture of methodical and sullen when he explains it. Even if he's working with Kate and the others, he hasn't had to explain this at length yet. But his feelings regarding it haven't changed.]

That included betraying the Avengers. The Supreme Intelligence then viewed Earth as a threat, as that is the cause for the Force heading there ... multiple times. So it was time to destroy it. That is when I realized my mistake.

[tookthename]

So you're honestly going to tell me you had absolutely no idea that the Supreme Intelligence might have wanted Earth out of the way and that it's intentions with the Phoenix Force were hostile in any way?

[Really?]

[acclimate]

The Supreme Intelligence made me the Protector.

[So. Yes.]

[tookthename]

What did you think he wanted to do with it? Keep it as a pet?

[acclimate]

To protect it from Earth. It posed a threat, and it would be better if a higher intelligence had it instead.

[tookthename]

[Carol sighs and takes a large gulp of the steaming coffee before speaking again.]

Okay, let's say I believe you. What happened after we left Hala?

[acclimate]

I became a fugitive.

[tookthename]

Right. [She finishes off the cup and tosses it into a nearby trashcan as they pass]

You're stuck here same as us. As long as you don't cause any trouble I won't hunt you down. Got it?