Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers, Marvel, or anything like that. Those rights go to Disney.
A/N: Okay, I know that I said that the finale for Fates Rewritten would be out soon, but recent news has obligated me to write this. I'm likely the first, but hopefully not the only, author to write something like this.
In spite of the crisp, sunny, November weather that had taken hold, the city of New York seemed to resonate with the sorrow of its people. And no one knew this better than the Avengers.
They were gathered at the cemetery, alongside King T'Challa and the Wakandan Embassy, Doctor Stephen Strange the Guardians of the Galaxy, several of the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Captain Marvel, Loki, Nick Fury, and others. In addition, some of their adversaries, like Doctor Victor Von Doom, Eddie "Venom" Brock, and Thanos himself stood in mourning. Even Deadpool, who was normally always talking, was surprisingly silent. On any normal day, the people of New York would have been eager to meet these heroes, but today was not a normal day.
Somewhere off to the side, the red-haired Sokovian woman known as Wanda "Scarlet Witch" Maximoff wrapped her hand in that of her lover, the android known as Vision.
The citizens of New York stood in mournful silence, as they stood alongside the heroes of their world. After a few minutes, the man known worldwide as Tony "Iron Man" Stark spoke up. "Does anyone have anything they'd like to say?"
"I do, Mr. Stark." said Peter "Spider-Man" Parker.
Tony turned to his protege and nodded. "Go ahead, kid."
Peter stepped forward. "First," he began. "I'd like to say that it was a great honor to have known him. In a past life, he told me that 'one man can make a difference,' and he embodied that idea to the letter. He was a great guy, with a wonderful talent for making people smile. And he succeeded in doing just that." He turned to face the gathered heroes and villains, as well as his fellow New Yorkers. "Without him, we wouldn't be where we are now. Heck, many of us might not have been here at all without him." He turned back to the gravestone. "So, I guess what I'm trying to say, is thank you. Thank you for giving us the chance we have now. The world, no, the universe, will never be the same without you. You will be missed."
As Peter stepped back to join the crowd, the tree creature known as Groot stepped forward. A wreath of white flowers bloomed from his arm, and he plucked it off. Then, he placed it at the foot of the tombstone. As he too rejoined the crowd, he muttered a quiet "I am Groot."
The sentient raccoon referred to as Rocket placed a sympathetic paw on Groot's leg. "He was a legend," He said, in agreement with Groot's sentiment.
With that, all who were gathered, be they citizens, heroes, villains, and otherwise stood in mourning, in silent tribute to the most important man in any of their lives. For on the tombstone, read the following:
In Loving Memory,
Stanley Martin "Stan Lee" Lieber
December 28, 1922-November 12, 2018
"Excelsior"
