Author's Note: Have to get this one finished up here, doing a little bit of divergence, start working on a Clint and Bruce story. Do want to get this one finished up though think I've left it hanging long enough two more chapters to go.
Redemption
Chapter 9 – It's done
Across the city Iron Man landed beside Captain America, unable to shake a nagging suspicion. "Steve," he said over the comm as he blasted another of the bizarre machines out of the air. Grunting the man tossed his shield catching it again, "Doesn't this seem like it would have only needed three of us at most to handle?"
They didn't speak for a moment, taking down several more. "You're right, I think we where set up," Steve admitted quietly.
"Set up?" Clint picked up over the chatter.
"Stark wanted us out of the party," Tony's voice was tight, strained. "I'm going back."
Steve caught his shield, "Me too, the others can handle this."
Thor landed nearby swinging his hammer, "Indeed friends, we shall see you soon."
Grabbing Steve Tony blasted off, both men silent and worried.
-#-#-#-
He had never taken pleasure in killing; it had become a cruel necessity in his life. Stark was however willing to make an exception tonight.
The aliens had panicked; their grand plan collapsing around them as they looked to their leader. But the woman was at a loss, and Stark was on them.
He shot three in succession as they leveled guns at him, dropping them where they stood. Four more rushed him, fist cocked; he obliged. Their bones snapping like kindling. Undeterred he bore down on his real target, Eva trying to get away. Using the others as shields she tried to get out the doors.
Stark put an end to the last of her group, ten in all. Leaving just him and the bitch. Terrified she pressed her back against the barred exit, cowering, as he got closer.
"Please," she begged, her voice lithing unusually, "Mercy!" she looked at him wide eyed, as he hunkered down before her.
"Mercy? Really? Were you planning to show any of these innocent people mercy tonight? Are you planning to show mercy when your entire civilization attacks my planet?" Her already unnaturally large eyes went wider. She worked her mouth, before slamming it shut.
"How you know?" she managed, disbelieving.
He shrugged, "Why? Why do all this? Why take Earth?" She looked at him steadily, as if judging her options.
"Water," she finally said looking away angry. "Avengers only threat…kill myth, kill hope." Realizing her impending death she turned ugly sneering and hate filled, "They come, and you die."
Stark was inches from her face, "We'll see about that bitch." Reaching out he gripped her head in his hands, staring into her big eyes for a long moment. Grip tightening he gave a quick jerk snapping her neck watching dispassionately as her lifeless body sliding to the floor.
Tony Stark stood slowly, panting, adrenaline pounding as he surveyed his handy work; the truth slow to set in. The only dead in the ballroom Eva and her minions. Not walls covered in blood, no mutilated bodies of what had once been Earth's diplomats. No mass slaughter.
Blinking slowly he turned to his dead hallucination. Steve staring silently back at him, clouded eyes just as unfathomable as always.
At the far end of the room the door burst inward Iron Man and Captain America appearing ready for battle. Dazedly he turned to them, just as they lowered their guard, "Stark you ok?" Steve called glancing around at the carnage.
"It's done," he whispered. The truth finally colliding with him full force. His chest seemed to cave inwards, his hands and knees beginning to shake uncontrollably.
"I…I.." he managed three steps before his traitorous legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor.
Sinking to his knees he could hear the others calling to him, but their voices sounded like they where miles away. "It's done, I stopped it," he gasped for air.
"You did love, you did," He hadn't cried since Steve had died. Didn't think he had any more tears left to cry. But as he clutched at his arc, dead companion beside him, the tidal wave of emotion flattened him. All the guilt, the sorrow, the pain he'd been carrying…that monumental burden was lightening. Sobbing raggedly his tried to get himself together but it seemed almost impossible; he was drowning.
Steve reached him first worried the man from the future had been injured he dropped to his knees before him reaching out. Suddenly he was looking into a familiar dark eye, and an unfamiliar glowing red orb. Strong hands where on his arms, his metal one squeezing painfully.
"I did it!" he hissed, Steve didn't move. He could see tears tracking from his good eye, but something told the big man Stark wasn't really seeing him.
He smiled hopefully at the dead men before him, blue eyes set in that unnaturally pale face, but those bloodless lips would not smile back at him. He clutched at the strong arms desperately, "I did it, don't you see, I stopped it from happening." He blinked frowning when Steve seemed to split, one so very much alive the other...he shook his head trying to clear his muddled mind. His eye alerted him to the man carefully beginning to rise behind them. One of the aliens was going to try and shoot him in the back.
Before Tony or Steve could blink, Stark was up, snagging the shield off the Cap's back he turned firing it off with an ease that Steve himself didn't think he possessed. It arched perfectly, catching the injured man square in the chest, dropping him for good. Ricocheting off it returned to the man who had thrown it. He caught it easily with his metal arm half crouched. Ready to throw again if needed.
"Wow that was amazing!" Clint, Tasha, Thor, and the Hulk had returned just in time to see the throw.
Embarrassed Stark quickly returned the shield, "Sorry," he mumbled.
Steve accepted it looking thoughtful. "You've had some practice," he shrugged then, looking away, eyes landing on the large green man.
Stark smiled widely, moving towards the far end of the room, "Hulk," he said approaching the angry green man without fear. Growling he turned eyes narrowed fist raised. The future man didn't back down, and much to everyone's surprise, the Hulk did not hit.
They stared at one another, something unspoken passing between them. The big guy actually chuckling before he patted the other; a motion that would have creamed a lesser man.
"What the hell was that about?" Clint muttered glancing at the others. Stark was carefully shrugging back into his uniform jacket, tugging his hat back on as he buttoned up smoothing the material.
Trying to mask the trembling in his right hand as he tried not to pay attention to the others. The Avengers where murmuring together, a dazed looking Bruce now among them, "Probably talking about me," he muttered.
"Since when does the world revolve around you?"
He laughed loudly, "Love it when you belittle me."
"You love the abuse,"
"I do, I really do," he mumbled hesitating to join the little group looking at one another solemnly, as they spoke in low tones. It made his chest ache terribly, a more ragtag bunch he'd never known…and never loved so much. Friends like that…he couldn't have asked for better.
"You're getting eccentric in your old age," the dead Captain said, standing beside him, awkwardly outside the others.
"If I am I'm entitled."
Just then Steve turned to him, beautifully, wonderful Steve, "Stark you ok?" slowly, carefully he moved to stand before him smiling softly.
His eye telling him how healthy he the perfect man was, "Not yet, but I'm getting there."
-#-#-#-
"You called me an old man all the time,"
"You where an old man,"
"I didn't wander around dressed like that,"
"What is it with you and my cardigan? I'm one hundred and thirty-eight years old." He defiantly tugged it closer about his scarred body, waiting for his coffee to percolate.
"It's not the sweater…" cloudy blue eyes dropped to his feet, currently sporting, monstrously pink bunny slippers.
"Ok I'll give you that one…but they are warm," sniffing he picked up his cup mustering what little dignity he had left before heading out to the common area.
The Tower was remarkably quite today, the Avengers off attending to various missions and assignments. Not that Stark minded, it was nice to just be able to relax, not constantly having to be on the defensive.
It had been two days since the night of the gala, and if the timeline held, in three days the invasion would commence. So far everything was going a hell of a lot better then he had anticipated.
Stark headed towards his room, contemplating a nap, it would be a shame not to make use of the fantastically luxurious bed. An actual bed. Sipping his coffee he set the cup on the nightstand shuffling around the room tidying up.
"You think they are still going to attack?"
"She said they where coming." Stark paused his brilliant mind kicking something around, "I wonder…" he mumbled moving to his bag rooting around in the duffle frown knitting his brow. Hearing the crackle of paper he tugged out a small stack of articles.
"I know that look you're onto something," Steve sat on the bed watching him with those vacant dead eyes.
"I…maybe," he muttered absently looked over the headline of the first article. The one that had at one time reported the tragic news of an American hero's death. Now it heralded the triumphant victory of the Avengers lead by Captain America.
Excited he hurried over to the imaginary companion, "Look the article changed," gleefully he held it up. The next had been about the gala, now instead of 'Massacre at Stark Gala' it was, 'Attempted Assassination Thwarted.' It was tangible proof that he was changing things that terrible bleak future was slowly dissipating.
"If the newspaper clippings are changing…then why aren't you?" sometimes he wished his hallucination wasn't so perceptive.
"No idea love, perhaps it has something to do with the uncertainty of the future? I haven't stopped the invasion yet, so the future hadn't fully changed. " Chuckling he flipped to the next article, "I could also be making shit up too…" he trailed off eyes widening, as he read the next headline.
Instead of another clipping about the gala this one talked about the untimely death of billionaire Antony Stark, "Oh shit…"
"What?" he ignored the question for the moment, quickly reading the article, detailing the assassination of the man as he got out of his car and as headed inside the Tower. A madman was going to run him down with a car.
His good eye flickered to the date; "Fuck!" he hissed it was today. "Oh give me a time," he begged but the article didn't say. Mind racing he adapted, "JARVIS where is Tony now?' Stark already running.
"On his way to the tower sir," cursing a blue streak he rounded the stairs dashing towards the elevators.
"ETA?"
There was a pause, "Five minutes sir."
