Almost there, but Lyanna and Steve still won't meet in this chapter. ;)

Before the chapter: I think my mutants are suck, but I really couldn't come up with better idea. And because I'm a music teacher, I naturally know nothing about the medical stuffs. When I write something medical thing, I like to search on the internet, but I'm not sure, this time this part of the chapter will be real. But hey, this is a fan-fiction, so, if it's completely stupid, please forgive me. Or tell me, how I suppose to rewrite these sentence, and I'll fix them.

Now to the eleventh chapter:

ACROSS THE WORLDS

Main pairs: Steve Rogers/OC, Tony Stark/Pepper Potts, Natasha Romanoff/Clint Barton

Other characters: Bruce Banner, Thor, Nick Fury, Maria Hill, OC

Everything, which Marvel, isn't belong to me, but my OCs (characters and places) are my own imagination.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

There was a shout through their earpiece, then came the captain's well-known voice.

"I'm fucking sick of them!"

The Iron Man's flight came to a halt for a second before he flew again. Any other times Tony would definitely remark the old man's slip – since the super soldier always warned them if they cursed –, but now, he just got worried hearing this. Because Steve never cursed, he was incredibly polite.

"J, check the captain's vital signs," he said to Jarvis, while he spotted a few mutants running through the streets below him. The answer came, after he knocked down the three men.

"The captain is in pain, sir, and his pain is continuously growing."

The only person, who also knew, that something is wrong with their friend, was currently raving somewhere like a big, green torpedo, and wasn't aware of anything. And maybe Thor, who was somewhere, damn knows where – when they left the tower a few days ago, Steve informed them, that Thor left to Asgard. But the others, especially Barton, immediately commented the blonde's outburst.

"Someone is really sullen."

The captain didn't answer, and this just deepened Tony's concern. While he searched for another target over the streets, he addressed his question to the soldier.

"Are you all right, Cap?" Tony tried to hide in his voice the fear for his friend, and it was damn difficult, but he somehow managed it. The other two members of the team didn't know about Steve's heart problem, at least Barton for certain. He wasn't sure in Natasha, because that woman was scary as hell with her knowing looks at times. So to avoid any suspicious questions, he quickly continued with his usual banter. "You know, I can go there, and pull your dear mutant friends' nose, if you want." Tony dropped down to the asphalt, then hit several mutants with a car using his hand repulsors. The Audi span over the men a few times before it stopped, becoming slightly damaged – Tony didn't feel any pang of conscience. "I'm bored anyway. My mutants give up too easily."

"Sometimes I marvel your ego," came a sardonic reply from Hawkeye, and Tony by-passed it, waiting for another, which he got a few seconds later.

"Thanks, Tony, but you don't have to."

Through the comm was clearly audible his team-mate's fight. There were several blasts, which were certainly Clint's work, shots by Natasha, loud blows, definitely with the captain's shield and he could hear Hulk's roar from at long distant. And there were shouts and screams with a lot of other noises, but they were used to it, and they could filter out the not important sounds. Iron Man walked forwards looking down the knocked out mutants. They were annoying, and this strained his patience. They have to find eventually some resort against them, but he couldn't come up with any with Jarvis' scans.

"You're sure, Cap?" he asked, while he continued his path towards the nearest crossroad.

"I'm fine, Shellhead."

Steve's sigh was hardly audible between the noises, after he answered gritting his teeth, but Tony still could hear it. And he didn't like it. His friend wasn't fine, not at all. He kept down his own sigh, and wished for their fight's end, when he can look at the soldier again. He just wanted to lock himself in his workshop in the tower, or in the labs, until he can find the cure. He certainly won't let anything to happen to his friend. Steve can't die. His thoughts turned darker, so he started to speak, just to avert his mind.

"All right, if you're absolutely sure. I can really…" Tony couldn't finish his sentence, because suddenly a damn mutant jumped at him, and an electric shock ran through the armour hitting his body also. He shouted loudly. "Shit!"

The man was shorter than him, so he easily threw down him after a brief encounter, simply shooting at his head, then leant on his knees. His whole body throbbed so painfully, that he could barely breathe.

"Language!"

The archer's retort didn't help him, especially because usually this came from another man, who didn't acknowledge his curse this time. It was actually very alarming.

"You're lucky Barton," Tony forced out his response through his teeth, while he still panted and shook from the hot pain, which just slowly faded away. "We're in the same team, otherwise you will be in a big trouble. And it's fucking painful!" He kind of shouted the last sentence, and didn't wait any reaction from his blonde team-mate, he immediately turned his attention towards his AI. "Jarvis, scan."

"The electric shock hit mostly your nervous system, sir, this explains your tremble. In the next half an hour you might have some issues with your movement. You should need some tests at the tower within a few hours."

"Make some calculating, J." Since there weren't any threat near at him, Iron Man remained, where he was previously, and tried shoot his every anger at the dead man before him. "These mutants are a real pain in the ass. We have to find something."

"Starting, sir."

While he waited, Black Widow started to speak in his ear. Some gun shots came through the comm as well.

"Can you detect with your sensors some information about them?"

Jarvis didn't finish yet, so Tony gave the most valuable answer.

"Kill 'em, and you won't have a problem."

"Your sensors are dead or what? It was your most ridiculous advice of the week," came back Clint's voice, and Tony sighed.

"Actually, if you insist to know, Birdboy, I blew off his face. And my sensors states, that he's pretty much dead. That's all. And it isn't a pretty sight."

After a few minutes finally Tony could move normally, if a little bit slowly at first. He tore away his eyes from the ground, and carefully he straightened. The body of the mutant was bloody without a head, which burst, when it was hit by the powerful shot. Its remains were now on the asphalt in lots of pieces. Tony looked around. The street was silent, and the Avengers' fight came low from somewhere. He knew, that he have to find them. But he still couldn't move perfectly.

"J, take me to Cap." He decided, that at that moment he wants to give helping hand to his soldier friend.

"Right away, sir."

In the next moment Iron Man lifted off from the ground up in the air.

The pain became worse and worse, but at least he was on his feet. In the past few days from Mexico through Houston they somehow got to Richmond. These days were hard, and Steve actually didn't know, how he managed to cope with everything. In the last hour he constantly gritted his teeth, because otherwise he would scream at the top of his lung. He couldn't even concentrate normally to his team-mates, and he didn't have any more energy to keep up the conversation between them. He just listened their banter.

A mutant appeared before him at the end of the street. He currently made his way towards there, so he threw away his shield. When it hit the man in the face, and he fell down, five more jumped in. Steve called back his shield, what he caught in the air with a groan.

"Please, burn in hell," he murmured after a long sigh.

"I hope, you don't want to leave me out from the party?"

Steve didn't turn his eyes away from the mutants, but he still could cast a sidelong glance toward the red and gold armour, which dropped down the ground one second before. During their fight he kind of expected this. Tony was his friend, and the man definitely worried for him – he recognized this after their short conversation through the comm, even if his friend covered it skill-fully.

"Are you all right, Shellhead?" He asked after a brief moment, while they glared at the men. The mutants didn't attack, possibly just waited for the best opportunity.

"I should ask this question, Cap, don't you think?"

Steve didn't react, instead of started to jog forwards. He knew, that Tony cared for him, but in the middle of their fight, they didn't have time to dwell on his condition. He couldn't allow this. Maybe his friend could guess his thoughts, because Tony didn't force the subject. He silently followed him, and engaged in their little encounter without any question. Actually it gave Steve a nice and warm feeling, that he could count on his friend any time, especially, when he was so much pain. The pain was the reason, why his attention skipped, and the two seconds was enough for the mutant before him to jump on him. He hit the man on the head, but it was already late. Electric shock ran through him, and his pain rose to an unbearable level, so he simply couldn't hold back his cry. This happened for the umpteenth time in the past hour – after the fifth time he lost track in counting –, and the shocks slowly took effect. He couldn't feel his body, he just assumed, that he fell down to the ground.

"Steve!" he heard Tony's shout, then something blew up. He didn't have strength for look after it. His whole body trembled, and even the breathing was difficult. "Cap?" He was carefully moved, then he found himself in a sitting position next to a building, his back against the wall. There was silence around them, just his gasping was audible, then he realized, that Tony is speaking to him. "Hey, Steve. Are you all right? Please say something. J, make some scan!"

Steve knew, that he should calm his frantic friend. Iron Man's helmet was up, so he could see Tony's anxious expression. But everything hurt. He needed at least several minutes to collect himself for a simply sentence.

"I'm fine, Tony."

It was a lie of course, and the next second Tony proved, that he didn't believe it.

"No Steve, you're fucking not fine!" There were hands on him, which evidently searched for any injuries on his body. Steve didn't feel enough energy to protest. Then Tony continued to speak. After a brief second, he realized, this time not to him. "Nick, it's Stark. I don't know, where you are, but I need a jet. Cap is getting off the party."

"What?!" At first Steve could just glare at his friend flabbergasted, but after a few seconds, he found his voice again. "Tony you can't do this! I need to be here!"

"No." Tony shook his head, clearly didn't like Steve's response. "You'll be a good soldier, and you're going to go home."

Steve couldn't believe, that his friend would be up to send him New York. Certainly he had some health problems, but he was Captain America, even the others looked at him as their leader. He couldn't leave. But Tony's eyes were determined, and didn't seem, that he would give in, however Steve tried again anyway.

"Tony, I'm fine."

"No. Stop this, Steve. You're not fine," stated the other man firmly. "And I can't let you get yourself killed." There was a long sigh, then Iron Man stood up, and before he could even blink once, the man hoisted up him too. "Come on, Winghead, let's find some quiet place, where you can wait for your taxi."

Steve felt himself moved, after Tony put his shield onto his back, but they hardly took a few steps, when suddenly a lightning blinded them. Because it wasn't raining, it meant only one thing.

"Tony, Steve!" they heard their god friend's howling voice, before they caught sight of the man. Thor walked towards them with long steps – his cape floated behind him, as he got closer –, and only stopped, when he was only one meter away. His face was lit up with enthusiasm – probably thanks to the battle around them –, however it never reached his eyes. Then he looked at the captain, and the excitement immediately vanished from his face. "Are you all right, Steve?"

"No, Lightning-boy, he's not all right," answered Tony instead of Steve with a serious and determined voice, while the Iron Man helmet opened – Steve actually didn't remember, when it closed. His worried glance turned to the blonde soldier for a moment, before he looked back at the asgardian. "This is, why he's going home. Now."

This time Steve didn't even try to disagree with his friend, because it was certain, that Tony won't give in. If he decided, that Steve has to go home, he can't do anything. And maybe a little part of him, which still throbbed from the pain, really wanted to submit. However Thor thought otherwise.

"Tony, he can't go home, he has to stay here."

For a second, Iron Man was speechless, while he gawked at the other blonde.

"Are you crazy, Thor?" he asked later, and actually thought, that the god left his brain in Asgard. Why he would say something so stupid, like that Steve has to stay in the middle of a fight? Bullshit! "Don't you see, how Steve looks like? He hardly can stand on his own feet!"

Thor sighed, then shook his head.

"You don't understand, Tony."

"You're right, I don't understand!" retorted Tony instantly, and the silence around them quickly became heavy. This let them to hear the Hulk's roar somewhere, as the various sounds of the fight. It seemed as they were in a bubble, where the battle avoided them.

The quiet stillness lasted at least for a few minutes, while Thor and Iron Man glared at each other. Neither of them wanted to back down from this strange mute contest. Steve didn't know, what to do with the situation, and what to say to prevent a possible duel between the two Avanger. He just wanted the day's end, because he was in pain, and couldn't think properly.

"Steve's soulmate is coming. He can't leave."

The god's words just slowly reached Steve's brain, and when they finally gain meaning, his breathing accelerated, and his heart suddenly started to beat in his throat instead of his chest. He's going to meet with his mate! It was exciting and frightening all at once. He wanted to ask Thor a million question. Like when she will arrive? Where? How he can be so sure? Did he speak with his friend in Asgard about her? And so on, but no sounds came from his mouth. He couldn't speak, the strong emotions, which swirled in him, took away his power to form even a single word. Weirdly Tony was speechless too, which was rare. Steve turned towards his genius friend to hold back his laughter in the next second. Tony's face was priceless – he gawked at the god with slightly opened lips, while his eyes were so wide, that they almost fell out from their socket. Because neither of them reacted to Thor's revelation, the blonde asgardian repeated his previous sentence.

"Steve has a mate, who is currently coming here."

"Come again?"

Tony's voice was hoarse, and clearly he still struggled to process the information, and Thor was willing to help him. He said it for the third time.

"Steve has a soulmate."

"Riiiiiiight." Steve dared to swear on his own life, that Tony still couldn't believe, what Thor said. And actually it was absolutely expected, because he couldn't believe it either, when he heard it for the first time. "And this mate thing solves this situation?" Steve was currently watching Iron Man's face, so he could see, as he raised his brow questioningly. The god's answer was short and positive.

"Yes, Tony."

A sound left Tony's mouth between snort and laugh, then he shook his face.

"It's insane." Steve felt Iron Man's gaze shifts towards him, so he looked up to meet with it. The brown eyes silently searched for something, before the next snort could come. "Steve, you don't seem to be surprised." It was a statement, not a question, and Steve didn't try to hide his excitement about the event before them. The thought, that he's going to see the woman in live, made his pain very much bearable. "Okay," Tony huffed briefly, then let go of him, which made him swaying a little, but he quickly collected himself. Meanwhile his friend of course continued to speak. "Let's pretend, that this isn't crazy as shit. Steve you'll stay with me. Thor, you can go now, make some lightning."

For almost a minute Thor didn't move, maybe he couldn't decide, that he should leave his two team-mate alone, or not. At the end he turned over, and walked away, then whirled his hammer, before he vanished into the battle. Steve in the next moment started to run towards the street's end followed closely by Iron Man. They didn't have to search for the enemy for too long, and Steve with renewed strength jumped at them. As the long minutes turned into something blur, he couldn't quite condescend the passing of the time. But one thing was clear, he could feel it in the back of his mind, that he hardly could wait for the woman's arrival.

The searing, hot pain unexpectedly struck down at him, so forcefully, that for a second he couldn't breathe, then he became aware of, that somebodies were shouting. He needed a few seconds to realized, that one of them was himself. Of course Tony appeared at his side at once speaking to him in a hurry, however Steve couldn't understand it, as Natasha and Clint's frantic questions through the comm were also fuzzy. Everything became hazy, but with blurry eyes he could see the mutants, who immediately ran towards them. He fell down on the ground, when the pain hit him, and this was certainly the perfect opportunity for the enemy to attack them. He couldn't let them, so he stood up with set teeth, and continued the fight. Actually he didn't know, how he could still stand, because the pain didn't lessen. And perhaps thanks to this, the mistakes came again and again, and he found himself on the ground more often, than before. Iron Man covered him, but it wasn't enough with the others far away from them. The captain stood up slowly after the last fall. He felt dizzy abruptly, and he couldn't shake off the exhaustion. He felt, that he couldn't stand any longer, couldn't think, and couldn't care.

"Shellhead," he called out with low and weak voice, but Tony heard it anyway.

"Yes, Winghead?"

Iron Man turned towards him, while he shot down the last man. He stood not far from him, the mutants' bodies lay around them, and Steve was very much grateful for the short break.

"I think I'm… gonna faint…"

While he spoke, he felt, that his shield started to slip out from his right hand – he didn't have enough strength to hold it anymore. Everything was consumed by the unbearable pain, by the ache in his heart, and as he felt himself fall towards the ground, he was happy. If he lose his consciousness, he won't feel this agony. From somewhere came Tony's frightened cry, but before his friend's words could reach his mind, he finally blacked out.