ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT || REWRITE IS BEING POSTED AT DEAR MR FANTASY

A Foreword to A Painful Reunion

First, I want to say I rarely call a movie a masterpiece, but Infinity War took my breath away. I applaud Marvel and the Russo brothers for their patience and courage, and the cast and crew for spending a decade on this beloved franchise. It falls in accord with Endgame since I consider Infinity War and Endgame Part 1 and Part 2. Endgame took us to unexpected places and looking at the reality of our world and how people deal with loss, I appreciate it for doing something that no franchise has ever gone before. I won't get much into Endgame spoilers, but I left the theater more depressed then I left the theater for Infinity War, I was literally crying while driving home from the theater. The MCU will never be the same after Endgame and I'm not sure how I feel about that because I hate change and some of the characters I grew up with won't be coming back. I think Endgame ended beautifully and I also think there was no better way for some characters to go out the way they did, but nevertheless, I'm still coping.

I started this story right after Infinity War came out and even after Endgame I plan on finishing it, along with a few other Avengers stories I'd like to write. So, these stories are here to help people cope and find a next or a "new journey" after what seemed like the end after Endgame, but it's not a fix it story.

NOT A FIX IT STORY

This story is going through a renovations/revamp, so I can edit and fix up the story to make it the best I can and smooth things out considering creative choices.

This is why I'm posting the original story, in case people want to come back and read it. The revamped version is currently in writing and is now titled Dear Mr Fantasy for those new to this story that would like to see the new version.

Please, enjoy.

warning for angsty, intense, graphic descriptions in future chapters

A Painful Reunion

1 of ?

Home

TITAN

Dust blew across the desolate corpse of Titan, the wasteland moaning in agony under the setting sun. Tony sat there, holding his hands over his face as tears settled in his eyes. Never before had he felt demolished of hope and so full of guilt and grief. Of course, he could think about being stuck in that cave with Yinsen, but not even that could compare to this. They almost had the gauntlet and they failed, they lost and now he was alone, trapped on this planet far from home. Why couldn't it have been him instead of Peter, Tony should have made sure he made it back to Earth. In fact, he should be dead.

Reaching down to his abdomen, he held the grisly stab wound left by the sword; it was temporarily closed from the binding agent he used. Tony took a few deep, harrowing breaths as the pain remained. The binding agent helped to numb it slightly, but it wasn't enough. It was a miracle he was still alive, but it was temporary and it wouldn't last long. Tony needed to get home. He needed to see if Pepper...what if she was dead? What if Bruce...or even...Steve? Tony felt his chest tightening at the horrific thought that they could all be dead, just as Peter (Parker), Strange, Quill and his people turned to ash. His breaths grew labored in panic. How was he going to get home?

With effort, Tony tried getting to his feet, but stumbled with a great wince and fell to his knee. "You might not want to do that," said the female voice. Tony looked over his shoulder at the blue woman. He had seen too much too fast, with hardly the time to absorb the idea that he was in space, on another planet, with people from other worlds, but differences were quickly thrown aside in the shared motivation to kill Thanos. This woman seemed to be made of mechanical parts, and despite her assassin stature, she was sitting as he was, with a mournful look on her face.

"You, what's...your name?" Tony asked forcefully as he tried to get back up, but failed. Instead, he shifted on his knee to sit back down. He felt pain, exhaustion, he lost blood, and he was emotionally and mentally defeated and desperate.

"Nebula," she responded quietly.

For a few moments, they both sat there in silence, listening to the thunder in the distance. "Did you know them? Quill and..." he trailed off; it was taking much more energy to talk then Tony had thought. It hurt and it left him exhausted.

"They weren't friends, but my sister was with them. Gamora," Nebula swallowed, looking down at her hands before gazing out at the horizon. "Thanos took both her and my homeworlds and took us to be his daughters," she glanced at Tony who sat there sympathetically. "He traded her life for the Soul Stone. And she did that so he'd stop torturing me." A single tear nearly ran down her cheek as guilt captured in her eyes.

The billionaire exchanged an understanding look with Nebula. Guilt riddled Tony, aching in his bones and weeping, knowing that half the universe was dead because Strange traded the Time Stone for is life. He begged Strange not to, he shouldn't have, he should've let Thanos kill him...Breaking the moment, Tony glanced at the ground. He felt so lost, he didn't know what to say or do...it was all over. He could still taste the blood in his mouth and immediately was thirsty. "Do you..know how to get off this..planet?" He hoped Nebula would because he had no idea how to get home.

She glanced at the damaged pod she crashed into Thanos with. It was broken beyond repair, which made her look over her shoulder at the Milano, which remained in the distance. "Quill's ship," Nebula said, gesturing with her head to the slick orange and blue spaceship.

Grimacing, Tony gradually inched closer to Nebula. "Do you know Earth?" He pressed, panting, but all he received from her was a confused look. "Okay...what about Midgard? Where Quill was..from originally?"

"You mean Terra? Midgard is what Asgardians call it," she answered.

"It's called Earth," he returned.

"We call it Terra," Nebula replied, slightly bitter.

Tony looked at her, usually, he'd throw some sarcastic banter, but it was gone. Sadness crept across his face as he complied with a heavy heart, "That beautiful blue world..is called Earth...Can you help me..get home?"

"Why should I care, I don't even know you," Nebula said roughly.

"Why shouldn't..you?" Tony countered, agitated yet straining to be calm. "Where're you going..to go? We're both..tra- please, I have people...I need to get back to. If you have nowhere to go...come with me. Please, I need your help..." Achingly, he pulled up the bloodstained zip-hood, to show the mortal wound. The incision was still bloody, although held together by the binding agent from the suit. "That's..temporary, but it won't last. Please," he winced, almost with a mixture of desperation and fear as blood trickled down his torso, "This isn't about one person...or one race anymore, this is about..all of us now...Don't..leave me here."

Nebula shifted her eyes from the wound to Tony's eyes as he pulled his clothes back over the injury. "Fine. I've never been to Earth, but I know where it's located," she reciprocated.

Inhaling and exhaling a few heavy breaths, Tony rested on a piece of debris, feeling a sliver of hope and relief. "I'm Tony..by the way," he moaned in pain, looking at her with acknowledgment.

"Stay here, I'll bring the ship closer," Nebula said with a depressed demeanor, but she got up and headed towards the ship.

Tony did as told, leaning back and breathing shallow breaths. Gazing up at the darkening sky, Tony winced, remembering Peter grabbing onto him. Tony told him it was okay, but that was a lie...That kid, why did it have to be the kid. If they'd just done one thing differently, they could have beat Thanos. The more he thought about it, the more he felt a lump growing in his throat. He felt sick to his stomach and found himself dazing as if he was dead inside until his eyelids became heavy. He tilted his head towards the direction he was stabbed and saw the sword still laying there where he pulled it out. One thought came to his head...Pepper. He wanted her so badly right now. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." he whispered, hearing Pepper's voice echoing in his head when she learned he was on the ship. That crippled his heart, realizing that he may not make it home...and she knew that.

The dust around him started to scatter as Nebula landed the ship about thirty feet away. He lifted his head seeing the impressive spacecraft, quite glad that she didn't leave him stranded. With painful groans, Tony used the debris to pull himself to his feet as the ramp to the ship opened. As he staggered towards the ship, Tony stopped over the bloodied sword and stared at it soullessly, thinking to when Thanos impaled him with it. Hesitantly, he reached down and dragged it behind him to the ship, where he angrily dropped it on the floor. Weakly lowering onto a seat, Tony sighed in agony. He struggled to stay awake, but he had to, so he kept his thoughts with Pepper as Nebula led their escape from Titan.

WAKANDA

The Earth was tainted quiet, silently weeping in accord to the tragedy that struck. Any speck of hope had been sucked into a realm unreachable to the haunted souls that survived. The Avengers sat there in a large lounging quarter overlooking the beautiful, yet suffering land of Wakanda which now laid under spilled blood. Unbearable anguish flooded the halls as the Wakandans took care of their wounded and dead, the ones who hadn't crippled to ash. Shuri was kind enough to send healers to take care of any injuries the Avengers had received during the battle, but she soon needed to rest and grieve with Okoye over their dead King and her mother.

Steve, Natasha, Bruce, Rhodey, and Thor, in their moments of despair, didn't speak any words. They sat there together, feeling nothing but death in their grasp. It didn't matter how strong they were or how strong they pretended to be; tears welled in their eyes. A hole rested in their hearts, and it was something far more significant than they'd ever felt. Not even the worst of the past could level the catastrophe and misery that had disintegrated all happiness, laughter, and light. Never had they lost before, and it was a living hell. Sam, Bucky, Wanda, and Vision were gone... and the only thing they had was Vision's cold and colorless corpse lying under a sheet. When it was over, they'd spent a long time trying to call everyone they knew, in a frenzy to see what more people they lost. But the phones were quiet now, and there was nothing more to do...it was over.

Rocket sat far in the distance, by the windows alone. He'd been sitting there for at least as long as they had, maybe even longer. Gazing at his reflection in the glass as the sun disappeared, Rocket tried remembering the last time he felt so much sorrow and alienation. Perhaps being experimented on, but...not knowing whether his friends were alive or not; that cut deep.

Drawing attention to Rocket, Thor looked over his shoulder at the raccoon's small silhouette. Reticently, Thor contemplated for a moment before getting to his feet. His movement made his friends' heads lift, and they watched him as he approached Rocket. "May I sit?" Thor asked gently. Rocket didn't respond, but Thor settled down beside the small friend anyway. "I'm sorry about your tree friend, Groot," he comforted wholeheartedly.

"We lost Groot once before," Rocket started weakly, "He saved me and my friends during a confrontation with Ronan, in attempt to take the Power Stone away from him...I never thought I'd lose him again." He sighed. Empathetic, Thor turned his eyes to where Rocket was looking out the window. "I'm sorry about your family," Rocket finished, knowing Thor knew exactly what he was going through.

"Thank you, Rabb-"

"It's Rocket," he interrupted, anxiously hoping to correct Thor's name for him.

"Rocket," Thor acknowledged as a few Wakandans entered the quarters, bringing hot food and water to the exhausted and mourning Avengers. "Would you like something to eat or drink?" he asked.

"I don't think I have the appetite," Rocket replied.

"I don't think anyone does," Thor said, looking over his shoulder to Steve, Natasha, Bruce, and Rhodey who didn't seem too interested in the food. At this point, full bellies and a good night sleep seemed like something they didn't deserve.

"But, I am a bit thirsty," he admitted.

"Stay here, I'll bring you something," Thor told him before getting up and returning to his friends. Rocket glanced over his shoulder, seeing some of the strangers looking at him. It made his fur prickle...Why the hell did people always have to stare at him?

Thor sat back down next to Natasha, on one of the few couches, but he didn't get comfortable knowing he'd be getting back up soon. A few eyes fell on him and he heard Rhodey asked, "Who is he?" Thor looked at Rhodey, who sat across from him.

With a sigh, Thor quietly answered, "That is Rocket. He was with people, friends who came to the distress signal sent from our ship when Thanos attacked us." Thor temporarily lowered his voice so Rocket couldn't hear the next part. "There used to be a race that illegally experimented on animals. It seems he was a subject...best not mention that around him and don't let that fool you, he's very intelligent." Glancing over his shoulder to look at Rocket once more, he waved a hand at the raccoon, beckoning him to join them. "Rocket," he called softly. Rocket, hesitant, got up and gradually wandered towards them. Steve, Natasha, Bruce, and Rhodey could tell he was nervous, but there was also tremendous grief on his features that mirrored their own. "Rocket, this is Natasha Romanov, Steve Rogers, Rhodey, and Bruce Banner,' Thor introduced for them.

The five of them exchanged mere nods of greeting. After a few moments, Rocket looked at Thor. "Is there a transmitter here somewhere? So I can try contacting Quill. I need to be sure he and the others are safe."

Instead, Natasha answered, "Yeah, we have transmitters."

"Unfortunately, I don't think they can reach anywhere outside of Earth," Bruce imputed.

"Well..." Rocket was almost ready to plant a crude joke, but he realized how damaged everybody was at the moment. "Could I at least check them out? I may be able to alter them to reach the distance I need."

"Will that work?" Steve asked after remaining consistently quiet.

"I'm not sure if that's possible, but feel free to mess around with it," Bruce responded.

Rocket gave a grateful nod to Bruce as Natasha softly pitched in, "Here, I'll take you there." She got up, to which Thor joined the two as they rounded the couch. Advancing on the concessions table that was brought out for them behind the sofa, Rocket scurried up to stand on the back of the sofa, helping himself to a cup of water. As he did, there was suddenly a ringing that came from Rhodey's direction.

Thor and the humans had perked up in hope as Rhodey stood up, answering the call with relief, "Pepper!" Of course, Rocket didn't know who this was, but the name sparked relief among Steve, Natasha, Bruce, and Thor.

Truth be told, Steve didn't care what happened between him and Tony, both Tony and Pepper were still part of their family. Hearing she was on the other end of the line was everything at the moment. They tried calling her earlier, but nobody answered, leaving them in the presumption that Pepper was dead as well. "Rhodey..." Pepper reprieved. Rhodey laid a hand on his forehead, knowing from the sound of her voice she had been crying.

"Where is she?" Steve urged, lifting to his feet as Rhodey paced slightly.

"Pepper, where are you?" Rhodey asked, trying to remain calm, but the emotion was creeping back to him.

"At home, in New York," she sniffled. "My mom is gone...people just started to vanish." Rhodey rubbed at his eyes; there was no way he could comfort her. In no way was this going to turn out okay. "Please tell me you know what's going on...please tell me you've heard from Tony," her voice cracked.

Rhodey looked down at the floor; he didn't know how to respond as tears collected in his own eyes. "Pepper..."

She knew what the answer was, but she pleaded in denial, "Please, please tell me you've heard from him."

"...I'm sorry...there's been no word from Tony since..." When the others heard of Tony's name, their heads dipped, except for Thor who had not heard this news. Nobody was willing to say it, but they all knew it was likely he was dead.

"I told him...I told him to get off the ship," she struggled with getting the words out. Rhodey could tell by her voice, Pepper was trying to stay calm, but hysteria was slowly dawning. "We might never see him again."

Rhodey's heart shattered when she said that. He wiped the water from his eye, trying to honor what he said next, "I know...he was doing what he thought was right." He paused for a moment, trying to control the overwhelming emotion, "Pepper, I'm going to come and get you, okay? Stay at the house, grab only what you need."

With a few breaths, she replied, "...okay...please get here as soon as possible."

"I will," Rhodey promised, ending the call.

"Stark is missing?" Thor chimed in.

"Strange had the Time Stone. They came for him with a ship and Tony went after them to save Strange..." Bruce trailed off, breaking his eye contact with Thor for a second, swallowing the lump in his throat. "...seems Thanos got the time stone..." he finished in a tone that presented the evidence that both Tony and Strange were gone. There was nothing worse than not knowing what happened, especially having his best friend taken so suddenly moments after they reunited after nearly three years.

Thor remained speechless, wishing he could give them an answer, but trying to find one human in the universe..."There may be a way to track the ship your friend was on," Rocket suddenly said, making everyone's attention shift towards him. "Those giant spikes out in the field should be connected to the mother ship. Through that, there may be a way to detect where each of Thanos' ships are located," the raccoon explained.

"See, I told you he was clever," Thor complimented, yet in no way that lifted their spirits.

"I guess it's worth a shot," Steve supported, not knowing what else to do. Their souls were still branded in grief, and it wasn't going to heal anytime soon. "Can you show us how that works?" Rocket gave a nod to the super soldier's question.

"I'm going with Rhodey to get Pepper," Bruce murmured, rising from the chair he was sitting in.

"Are you bringing her here to Wakanda?" Natasha asked.

"Yeah," Rhodey sighed, before adding, "Alright, we'll see you guys shortly."

"Be careful," Steve said, to which they gave nods of gratitude before going their separate ways.

NEW YORK

The quinjet flew over Tony and Pepper's new mansion that sat on the coast. It was beautiful, with trees covering the property and large glass windows giving gorgeous views of the Atlantic ocean...it used to be until Thanos snapped his fingers. The mansion still stood, but the loss of so many souls left no sun to bare. Hovering over the entrance, the quinjet lowered on the round-a-bout driveway as the door of the jet unfolded. Rhodey and Bruce exited the jet as Pepper came out of the mansion with a backpack. When they met in the middle, her already reddened eyes started filling with tears again as she wrapped her arms around Rhodey with a sob.

"Are you okay?" Rhodey asked her gently.

"Yeah," she mumbled, breaking from Rhodey and hugging Bruce.

"Hey," Bruce said tenderly, embracing the hug comfortingly.

"Who else is with you?" Pepper questioned, wiping her eyes as she took a few steps back from Bruce.

"Natasha, Steve, and Thor," Bruce responded sorrowfully, adding, "We're staying in Wakanda. It's much more secure there."

Absorbing the information with some relief, Pepper nodded. "We need to go, do you have everything you need?" Rhodey inquired, to which Pepper nodded a second time. "Okay, let's go," he continued quietly, leading the three of them back to the quinjet, but Pepper suddenly stopped without them knowing. In hardship, she gazed over her shoulder, back at the mansion she and Tony had built together, where they were supposed to be married.

"Pepper.." she heard Bruce say her name as he took her arm. Pepper looked at him in pain, and after a second of sharing that emotion, they walked up to join Rhodey in the quinjet.

The trip was eerily silent, just as life had now become. It felt like they were being dragged on concrete, slowly and tortuously as if the twenty minutes in the air had turned to twenty years...but then Pepper's phone vibrated.

Immediately, she stood up as she sat next to Bruce, and frantically answered, knowing the caller ID, "Oh my god, oh my god, Tony!"

Both Bruce and Rhodey shot their attention towards her as she ran a hand over her hair, hearing his voice, "Pepper..."

to be continued...