Tony spat as he stared at Stryfe, trying with all his might to snap that mutant out of existence. He screamed when he bent his arm back, sneering in his face. He crushed the metal of his suit with disturbing ease.

"TONY," Steve shouted, tossing his shield and running to aid him. Bucky and Natasha were right behind him, but the telepath repelled them with ease. Tony groaned, staring hatefully at the silver haired man. Natasha was on her feet first, guns cocked as she prepared to try again. Steve reached up from the ground and caught his shield.

"Sucks, doesn't it?" Stryfe taunted, his grip on Tony's arm vice-like. "All of you are weak." Tony grinned, winking before bringing the fingers of his suit together. Every Avenger watched breathlessly to see what happened as a result. A bright light began to shine, emanating from Tony and the gauntlet. It illuminated the whole sky. But it began to shrink as soon as it appeared, the white armored man holding a fist over Tony.

"Fuck you," He breathed, struggling with all his might to overpower him.

"He's containing the snap..." Natasha observed breathlessly. 'It'll kill him!' Tony yelled as all the power channeled back into his suit, then into him. The blast sent both of them flying violently away. Thor and Steve begin running before Tony even lands, Bucky, Clint, Natasha, and Bruce running to assault the downed Stryfe. He was singed, half of his armor blasted off. He was panting, but the Infinity Gauntlet was on his hand.

Bruce jumped up with a feral roar and tried to slam his fists on Stryfe. All he had to do was hold up the gauntlet and he was repelled feet away, dragging his body through concrete. Clint fired an incendiary arrow at him, but Stryfe turned it around, sending him diving out of the way of the blast. Natasha whipped out her twin pistols, but Stryfe lifted his hand, a telekinetic hold around her throat. Natasha flailed in the air before he tossed her at Bucky.

The telepath chuckled, amused by the collective efforts. "When I am done, you'll wish you had Apocalypse to deal with." He declared smugly. 'But, that blast did hurt me. I need to retreat and rest. But it doesn't matter, because I got it. What my father schemed so hard for.' He grinned, slowly fading away into nothing.

"NO," Scott shouted, hurling himself after him. He ripped his visor off and shot a full strength blast but he just missed. Just like that, the sky cleared up and they were gone. Madelyn as well. Scott looked around him helplessly, all of the heroes standing around with nothing to do. The city was in ruins around them, pipes leaking water and concrete jutting everywhere. "No... That can't be it." He said to himself. He turned when he heard a sniffle, his red sight landing on Logan. He was hovered over Rogue, his face blank.

Piotr, Amara, and Ororo were all watching solemnly as Emma and Logan worked on her. He stumbled forward numbly as Bobby rubbed ice blocks on the girl's sweat mopped forehead. "She's burnin' up," Logan growled as Laura watched behind him. He patted her face, a vein jutting from his neck. "Marie, He shook her hard when she was unresponsive. 'C'mon...' He thought.

"Let her touch me to heal," She insisted, watching Logan's reaction carefully. Emma shook her head.

"She's not stable enough yet, there's no telling what it could do." She explained, her blue eyes on the girl.

"Ororo," Logan called out, and the weather goddess leaned down without anymore provocation. Logan's fingers were resting on Rogue's chin, but nothing was happening. She charged her fingers quickly with a determined look on her face. This wouldn't have been the first time she used her powers for life saving efforts. She pressed her hand to Rogue's chest and the shock surged through her. She watched carefully, but Logan shook his head. Making a sound indicative of effort, she repeated the action frantically and touched Rogue's chest.

Scott tore through Amara and Piotr and knelt to Rogue's side, his teeth clenched together. He didn't know who Stryfe was, but he was as much an enemy of Scott's as Apocalypse had been. Natasha watched silently as they scrambled to save their friend.

Steve tore to Tony as fast as he could, the sun reemerging above him. He fell hard on his knees, his breaths tumbling out. Tony was laying slumped up against rubble, staring off in the distance. Sweat and blood dripped down his face. His eyes were glossy and his face slack. The right arm of his suit was eroded and black, a gnarled chunk of metal where the most innovative tech in the world used to be. He had been overloaded from the mere attempt at a snap.

The soot extended up the man's neck, showing how injured he really was. He grabbed him carefully, forcing him to look at him. "Tony," He began, patting his face. "Tony, wake up. Come on." He shook him harder, his face screwed up in anguish. They had too much to talk about, too much to fix. He couldn't let him die without them fixing their relationship. "Tony, I order you."

Tony blinked, his dark eyes struggling to focus on the captain. "Cap," He rasped, causing the blonde haired man to jump in excitement. He reached out weakly, his finger grazing Steve's suit. He gripped the man's dirty hand tight. Thor and Bucky landed beside him in concern.

"Stark!" Thor exclaimed, letting out a panicked cry. He grabbed onto his limp arm. "Say something, please! I am sorry I called you an annoying tin man..." Tony burst into laughter, which then turned to coughing. "Just please be okay. We don't need to lose anything else..."

"When'd you say that?" He struggled to ask, his eyes twinkling at Thor. Bucky looked at him seriously, his eyes shining.

"You're gonna be fine." He asserted, locking his eyes with his own. Tony nodded, trying to move his nerves to grip Bucky back.

"I know," He mouthed, nodding at him. He blinked as he tried to get his eyes to focus. Bruce was still transformed as the Hulk but he tore over to where everyone was gathered Tony. When saw what condition he was in he began to yell and scream in distress, pounding the fractured ground at his feet. Natasha moved beside him as Clint ran to Tony's side.

"He's gonna be okay," She assured, tears welling in her own eyes. 'He has to be...'

Logan smiled as Rogue's heart began beating. Kurt leaned his head on Scott in relief, collapsing with sobs to hear that Rogue could be moved. "Let's get her to Hank," Logan ordered, his voice shaking. "The sooner, the better." Scott nodded in agreement, his arm around Kurt as they moved. Emma and Ororo watched as the Avengers gathered around Tony's downed form.

"He'll have a heart attack, Emma." Ororo began. Their compound was closer, but Scott considered the Avengers enemies. He never let anyone forget.

"We're still X-Men, Ororo." Emma countered, wondering when she used to speak like this. "At least, I think we are." She approached the superheroes tentatively, Scott watching stoically in the distance. "Our facilities are closer," She informed them tensely. "At least I think they are. Follow us." Her face is tired, and strained. Steve slowly realized one of them nearly died too. 'And they still extend help to us...'

He stood suddenly, his eyes shining. "T-Thank you. The gauntlet really injured Tony." He explained breathlessly. "We expected a lot of power, but we didn't expect that." He looked back at his friend worriedly.

She nodded sympathetically. "Rogue's been badly poisoned. That's all we know so far." She motioned for Piotr and he gingerly picked up Tony's broken body. Thor followed closely behind as they watched. "We have a great doctor on the institute." She continued.

Steve gestured to Hulk who was panting like a bull. "Yeah, he's a doctor two when he's not... Green." She nodded unsurely.

"Well, you're welcome. No matter what anybody else says," She smiled at him mischievously. "I'm basically headmaster now." Steve gave a small, tired smile.

"Thanks. And... I understand his desire to protect his people." His face became serious. "We want the same." They shared a look before continuing towards the planes. 'We don't have time to play games. The world is in more danger than it would've been if Apocalypse had that gauntlet. We need a plan.' She sent Scott a warning look as they sheepishly followed after her.

"Not now." She pressed, he was projecting a lot of unsavory feelings, especially with Rogue critically injured. But nobody had time to let their personal feelings get in the way of things. Emma sure didn't. She placed a pleading arm on his hand. "Don't make things worse, please."

He heaved a long sigh before turning to follow the rest of the team. She studied the back of his head in secret as they boarded the X-Jet.

Connecticut S.H.I.E.L.D Compound, Feb 10th 7:28 pm

Natasha tried not to stare at the tender-handed mutant who was treating her and the other Avenger's wounds. He had deep, blue fur and claws almost like a feline. But she had never seen anyone else with such delicate or nimble hands. Or a softer touch. "Miss Romanoff," He purred. "You will tell me if I'm too rough or cause you discomfort, won't you?" He asked politely.

She blushed when she realized he could probably tell she was staring. "N-No..." She stammered. "I've never had my wounds treated... So softly." He cut a bandage and stepped back, grinning widely at his handiwork.

"Then, I believe we're done." She stood up and stretched gingerly.

"I can't thank you enough." He stare wandered to the rooms where the more seriously injured we being taken care of. Where Tony and the mutant known as Rogue were.

"We're doing what we can. He's been left very fragile due to his pre-existing heart condition." Hank explained. "But I think he will pull through." Natasha blinked back tears. She found herself usually at odds with Tony, but he was her friend. One of her closest. The first person she ever tried to recruit for the Avengers, and look at them now. Despite how she acted she knew they'd all be lost without him.

"Thank you, Dr. McCoy." He nodded as he shook her hand firmly.

"Please, Natasha. Hank." She smiled at him as she flowed awkwardly back into the waiting room of the compound. Steve placed a hand on her shoulder and searched her face for any more news on Tony.

"He's the same. Just trying to recuperate." She informed, sensing the anxiety easily. He nodded, trying to quiet his thoughts. He looked down into the woman's face.

"You look tired." He commented. "We may be here a while, why don't you try to get some rest?" She sighed and sat down in a love seat.

"Don't feel much like sleeping these days." She answered, Clint nodding beside her. Bucky dropped his head, hoping he and Tony could have some sort of relationship before he died. Steve nodded in defeat, knowing all too well what she meant. Deeper inside the infirmary, Logan was staring deeply into Laura's eyes. Scott, Kurt, and Kitty were all at Rogue's bedside, but they were off to the side.

"I want to talk to you," He asked solemnly. "Rogue's in bad shape. I know... I know you know she's important to me. To all of us. And you want to help." He looked into dark eyes, always so intense. "And I appreciate that. But, Rogue's powers... They're unpredictable, Laura. Even more unpredictable than ours. She put the first person she kissed into a coma, and every time you touch her like this, you roll the dice." Her stare hardened but she didn't flinch.

He took his own glove off and held his hand out for emphasis. "I've done it for her enough times, I would know. So," He looked back towards the bed. "If you touch her, if you want to help... Do it because you want to. Not because you want to please me, or even because you care about me. This is bigger than that, Laura. You're bigger than that, you mean more to me, than..." His voice cut off.

He couldn't quantify his specific and very different care for each of the students. It hurt to see Rogue hurt, but he couldn't sooner ask Laura to hurt for her. When it was his healing factor, it was never a question. Subjecting Laura to her powers was a different story. She grabbed his hand, a slight frown on her face. "Blood of my blood. I'm capable of liking people other than you." She answered after a moment, prompting him to smile. "She never treated me different. She never got jealous when you started to give me attention and brought me here. I want to touch her because I want to touch her, not just for you."

He nodded firmly, proud of the girl who trusted no one learning how to love others. He dragged the girl to him in a hug, despite her squirming. 'Thank you, Laura.' He would never ask her to, but she'd saved him just as much as Rogue.

Scott's lip trembled as he tucked some of Rogue's hair out of her face. It was hard to see her so fragile, it reminded him of what a failure he'd been. She was still, tubes up her nose to help her fragile lungs breathe. She was the strongest person Scott had ever met, it was too painful to see confined to an infirmary bed when she was so full of life.

Laura nodded towards Hank, her face set. "I'm pretty sure I'll be able to create something that can help all of us if I engineer the reaction from you giving Rogue your healing factor." He explained warmly. She nodded, her eyes on the girl in the bed. She slinked her hand out of a glove. When Hank nodded, she grabbed out and touched Rogue's forearm.

She hissed in pain as her mutation slowly began to work, draining her of her life force and mutation. She held on for as long as she could, her veins began to pop out. She groaned as she let go, wavering on her feet. She swayed backwards into both Logan and Scott's arms. Hank extracted a sample of blood from Rogue as everyone watched anxiously. Logan swung the girl bridal style as Hank motioned to a bed. He stared down in her tanned face with worry.

"She'll be normal in a couple of hours, Logan." He nodded, watching as he set her comfortably in the hospital bed. Kitty gasped in relief as the color slowly began to return to Rogue's face.

"I-It's working." She sighed, watching as her eyelids began to flutter. She took in a deep breath, and then another.

"Rogue," Kurt uttered, watching as she slowly opened grey eyes.

"Kurt?" She rasped, her voice completely gone. Kitty sat up straight as Scott threw his head back and said a prayer. "Kit. Scott..." He leaned down and kissed her head when she said his name, so relieved to hear her voice. "Nnnngh, why can't I breathe-" She growled in discomfort. Kitty and Kurt held their hands out.

"Easy," Kurt cried in surprise.

"Welcome back," Kitty said with a sigh, wiping at her eye. "I was beginning to worry." Logan approached the bed with a smile, his hand on Kitty's shoulder. "See what happens when I don't come on missions?" She joked with a laugh. Rogue smiled, feeling relieved that she'd somehow survived her destruction. 'But for how long...' Both Kurt and Kitty frowned when her face became serious.

"What's wrong, Stripes?" Logan murmured, catching the look with ease. Rogue shook it off, forcing a smile.

"Sorry, woke up a little hazy. Is,"

"She'll be fine in a couple of hours." Hank filled in with a smile, carrying the tests to his lab. Rogue nodded. She looked back at Logan and Scott.

"We lost, didn't we?" She asked, her face glum. Scott's brow furrowed.

"Rogue, you almost died." He cut in, his voice hard. "Can you just take one second and recover before you get back to worrying? Let me handle it." He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, the images of her poisoned hauntingly similar to when Jean died. He clutches her a little too hard when he makes the parallel.

"Scott,"

"I just want to see you get better. Let those of us who aren't in the infirmary worry about what happened." He insisted. Kurt, Kitty, and Logan nodded behind him.

"Yeah, let us handle some of the load. You've been like the energizer bunny lately. You have to be tired. " Kurt pressed, eyeing her anxiously. Rogue chuckled and tried not to seem bothered.

"Okay, fine. I do feel fine though, I think I could maybe get settled in m-" Logan shook his head no.

"Not before Hank runs some more tests. We don't know what you were poisoned with, or if Laura's healing factor fully healed it." His eyes were hard again as he remembered thinking she was going to die. "No buts, we're not playing around." She could tell from looking his his face that he was troubled by a lot that happened. Apocalypse had been killed like it was seemingly an easy feat, and now the Infinity Gauntlet was in the hands of a madman.

Rogue leaned back in defeat. "Okay, okay. Fine." Kitty looked around.

"But we can give you a little space, maybe some peace and quiet?" She suggested, looking at the men around her. Logan nodded, ushering them all out.

"Okay, okay. Hear ya loud and clear." He said, leaving her and Scott alone. He grabbed her face, her hair protecting his hands from her skin.

"I'm okay, Scott." She promised. He nodded, wishing it would make him feel better. "Really."

"I don't want to lose you." He told her, his voice trembling. She nodded.

"You won't." He dropped his hands from her suddenly, looking at him seriously.

"Then you have to be more careful, Rogue. What were you thinking? Taking something like that on?" He regretted his reprimanding when he saw the look on her tired face. She tucked some of her short hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorry," She relented. "T-That mutant... Stryfe." She looked up fearfully into Scott's face. He sat down on the edge of her bed. "You know how the professor had visions after Apocalypse?" His posture stiffened.

"Well, I've had some too. And Stryfe was in them." He exhaled. "When I saw him I was scared, scared he was gonna hurt someone. Kill one of us." Scott pulled the girl close to him, his eyes shut.

"You have to let me know what goes on in your head sometimes. I'm begging you," He told her seriously. "I can't do any of this without you." It explained her behavior, but it didn't make him feel much better. 'What have you seen, Rogue...' He felt like his intensity might be too much for the girl after what she'd been through. He kissed her on the top of her head. "I'll let you get some rest, okay? I love you, you know that, right?"

She looked up and imagined his blue eyes. "Of course. I love you, Scott." He disappeared out of the room, leaving Rogue alone. She got up as soon as she was certain he was gone, her knuckles itching. She looked back at Tony and Laura in the infirmary. She slipped on gloves and ventured into the hall, and right into Remy. She froze, all her thoughts caught in her mind.

She was so glad to see him, but so disgusted by him. She felt so bad for him but she hated him. Then she was him. The surge of feelings made her feel crazy. She stumbled, shaking her head. He gazed down at her in concern. "Rogue, dey said you got poisoned." He breathed, terrified. She looked fine now, and he was glad for that. She stiffened up, crossing her arms.

"I was. Laura fixed me up." He smiled.

"Good girl, minou." He murmured softly. "Remy glad y'okay. Ya gotta be more careful." He told her. He reached out for her but she shrank from his touch, her eyes anchored on his face. She was mad. He jammed his hands in his pockets. "Remy deserve dat." He conceded. Rogue scoffed.

"Trust me, Swamp Rat, ya don't wanna know what you deserve." Before she thought better of it, she slapped him. The force sent him knocking into the wall. He stared at her in shock before he closed his mouth.

"Guess Remy deserve dat, too..." He grumbled, rubbing his stinging face.

"How could ya... How could ya do it, how could ya not tell us..." She looked away, shaking her head in anger. "To Ororo, To Logan... To me." He dropped his eyes, his face like a dog who got into the trash.

"Only t'ing Remy know is he sorry, Rogue. And ever since he came to the professor beggin', he been straight. Swear on my momma's grave." She avoided his red and black eyes. She wasn't in the mood for his promises.

"Unfortunately, thats not the timeframe in question." She reminded him. He couldn't help but smirk a little. She was that same suspicious, negative teenager from back then. It wasn't like he could blame her, all she needed was the dark makeup.

"You got Remy in yo' head." He reminded her. "Unfortunately, I'm sure. Ya know Remy came here t'try n' make it right." He urged. She sighed, too tired to contest.

"Yeah, yeah. Ah know. That's the only reason I stuck up for you." She looked him up and down for a moment. "That you're kind of pathetic." She continued around him deeper into the halls of the compound. Remy watched after, his a grin hanging off his face.

Thor carefully slipped around Tony, hating to see him so fragile. Hank frowned as the Avengers gathered near the exit. "Thanks Doc," Tony said, standing up straight. "I'm def stable enough to go home, now." He insisted, the bags under his eyes dark. Hank didn't necessarily agree, but he could see why they'd be anxious to leave. He was as hospitable of a host as he could be, but that wouldn't go far with Scott skulking around.

"You're all welcome to stay." Hank began, but Natasha shook her head.

"You've been very generous..." She thanked. "We'll always be indebted to you."

"But Scott's made it very clear we aren't welcome here, and we should give Rogue the space to heal." Steve told him with a bow. Hank sighed, wondering when Scott became so ornery.

"Certainly. May we meet soon under some better circumstances." He watched as the boarded their own plane and took off to D.C. "God help us all..." He murmured, turning back into their temporary housing. He returned back inside to see Rogue's empty. He shook his head but he wasn't surprised. The girl never spent a moment longer there than she had to.

xxx

After wandering aimlessly around the compound that was more of a maze, Rogue found the X-Men's leader on the roof. She never remembered Scott being so broody when he was a teenager. It was freezing but the cold felt good against her clammy skin. She was healed, but she found herself clumsy on her feet, like a newborn deer. She made her way beside him silently, staring out into the horizon. He sighed and dropped his gaze after a while.

"I'm sorry." He told her, his voice quiet. Rogue remembered what he made her do to Remy. Her stare hardened.

"For that shit you pulled with Remy?" She asked, her voice even.

"For everything." She met his stare finally. "I let you down. Over and over. Sorry isn't enough, but I'm sorry." Rogue forgot she was mad at him anymore. She spent so much time being kidnapped and controlled missing him. Begging for one more chance to see his face. Now she was back, and she was choosing to be angry. Choosing to waste time she knew they didn't have.

"You've never let me down." She countered quickly, studying his face.

"I let Sinister get to you. I let Apocalypse get to you..." He squeezed her bicep tightly. "I didn't protect you. I failed." She shook her head vehemently.

"Scott, this isn't your fault. We are up against things we don't understand. Infinity Stones, Apocalypse... It's happening to us, it's not your fault." She told him firmly, her voice choking up. Things had been different when they all knew Jean was flying around in space, transcending being a human and becoming one with the universe. She was never far away, always watching over and with them.

But watching her die (again) took something away from Scott. From all of them. Rogue slowly watched the light disappear from his eyes and it was killing her. With the professor gone too, she had to wonder if she ever would a certain look on his face. Peace. Scott hadn't looked at peace in years.

She touched his face, a thin power inhibiting bracelet on her wrist. "You've never failed me, Scott." She whispered, searching for his eyes. He dropped them.

"That's a lie." She pulled him close to her and just held him, a million things racing in her mind. 'Don't you understand none of this matters? Especially if my visions are true...' She clutched him tightly.

"Don't you get it? Ah could only hang on because Ah knew you would never forget me! Ah knew you would come and save me, Scott." He looked down at her, his fingers dragging through her chopped locks. She chuckled sadly. "You hate it, don't you?" She said, remembering how shocked and pleased everyone had been with her grown out hair. He shook his head, a smile on his face. She bit her lip, struggling not to cry.

"You don't think I was into you for the long hair, do you?" He murmured softly. "I kind of always liked short hair best." Rogue felt a blush break across her face. "It's how I think of you, remember you..." He pulled her in, their noses touching. She touched the side of his face with a gloved hand before pulling him towards the inside.

She took a deep breath and dove, phasing them both through the ceiling into the hallway. Scott watch her with wonder as they made it to his room, which was barely distinguishable from anyone elses. They shut the door, staring at each other for a long moment before meeting in a swarm of kisses. It felt so good to touch each other and be touched. When Rogue hadn't been desperately fighting the Mind Stone she'd thought of him, and whether or not she'd get to hold him again.

Rogue wanted more. She had seen endless pain and destruction. She was a brawler but she was tired of fighting. She just wanted to be with Scott, be near him. She broke apart and shuddered, so overcome with emotion. He frowned.

"What's the matter?" He asked, studying her face. She tried to smile.

"I just... Scott, Ah want this. So bad." She admitted. He tipped her face up to him.

"And you've got it." He said gently, touching her face. She frowned.

"Until somethin' else tears us apart..." He pulled her close again, his brow wrinkled in thought.

"I won't let anything else take you." He promised, his grip tightening. "I mean that."

"I know." Rogue answered quickly. She placed her hands on his head as they began to kiss again. She hovered with him as they made their way to his bed. They made passionate love, as perfect as it was desperate. Scared. Like it would be the last chance they had. When they were done, Rogue was draped in his giant flannel. He gingerly slipped her inhibitor bracelet off, laying it on his dresser.

"You shouldn't leave this on," He nagged, staring at her as she laid there. She smirked.

"I'm tough." She responded, meaning she was used to the sensation of wearing one. The bracelet was supposed to cut down on the discomfort for her, but Scott had worn it to see what it was like. By hour two, it drove him insane with a terrible, pulsing pain. 'I don't know how she puts up with it,' He marveled, wishing he could just cure her. If anyone deserved a normal life, it was her.

He fought the urge to reach out and touch her anyways, she had enough floating in her head. "You're so beautiful..." He murmured. Rogue smiled sadly. Jean's ancient memories showed that he used to gaze at her and pillow talk with her, a long time ago. She smiled.

"No way..."

"Way." He tried to take a picture in his mind, he knew he'd want to look back on this moment someday.

D.C SHIELD Headquarters, Mar 5th 9:19 am

Tony stared in his newly fixed and renovated Iron Man suit hanging in a glass case. Weeks had passed since they lost the Infinity Gauntlet. He was just beginning to feel normal after attempting to use the Infinity Stones. He wasn't ready to use his suit, not unless he had to. And he used to use it for everything. He sighed, rubbing his fingers over the glass before meeting the rest of his teammates, already in a video conference with Fury.

He didn't look happy. Natasha hushed her voice as he came up the stairs, all eyes on him. "This doesn't concern Tony-" Steve began but Fury spoke over hm.

"Yes, it does. It concerns all of you. My bosses, the people who fund me so you as well, they want a meeting." Tony covered his face with his hands. "They have some figures on the damages around the east coast for the past month! They want to know where you are on Project Infinity and what's been going on."

"Can't you... I don't know, come up with something." The exhausted man scrubbed a hand over his face. Tony could tell from the look on Nick Fury's face that he was not happy.

"You'll be lucky if you have any funding or legal purview to continue doing what you're doing after this meeting. Get there, the White House." The transmission cut off suddenly and everyone groaned. Bruce leaned his head on the table.

"We're history. I might as well pack my bags now..." He began, imagining what the committees response would be to their zero progress. Steve frowned.

"Don't give up yet. We may have failed at our overall objective, but if it weren't for us, the world would've been destroyed much sooner. Tony injured Stryfe and drove him into hiding. That's time." Everyone dropped their gazes.

"And what does one do if their government doesn't allow us to do what we've always done?" Thor questioned darkly. He had made it clear he wouldn't stand by and watch another world be destroyed by evil. If this progress report was based on how many stones they recovered, then the Avengers were over. Tony inhaled.

"We'll do it anyway." Tony asserted firmly. "S.H.I.E.L.D and the government do not have the capabilities to face off with what we're up against. They won't let the world end before they allow us to save it." He looked back at the blank screen hanging in front of them. 'I don't want to go to this meeting...'