Well guys, this is the last chapter before the big battle commences. I cannot believe we are finally here, it has been one hell of a journey so far, but they still have the worst to come. Enjoy this relative peace while it lasts.
Previously.
The countdown is on. The big day is approaching.
After everything the team has been through, things finally seem to be falling into place. The progress Tony has made with the CAEB powers has been incredibly promising and after finally opening up to the Avengers about all the sordid details of his past, the team are closer than ever, and Tony is finally in a place of relative stability.
They have weapons, they have a plan and they have the CAEB at full strength thanks to Frigga's wisdom, but they are still lacking perhaps the most important part of their defence, the machine to close the portals.
Frigga has enlightened Thor, that the beings they are facing were once Asgardian… Millennia old and enhanced beyond belief, the gravity of the threat they are facing has finally sunk in.
It is a race against time, to complete the machine, to finalize their plans and to prepare for what is to come.
Chapter 37- The Last Days of Silence
3 days 4 hours 27 mins and 15 seconds
14 seconds
13 seconds
12 seconds
"There is widespread panic across America this evening as a citywide evacuation has been ordered on the Island of Manhattan and in the wider city of New York. Sources say it is being orchestrated by the National Guard along with SHIELD personnel and that fully facilitated refugee camps have been established in upstate New York, apparently under orders of the President. The armed forces appear to be setting up a perimeter and there are reports of all Barracks across the country being on standby for some sort of attack."
The streets of New York were littered with people and bags. Soldiers lined the intersections, directing people into Buses and Cars, many with plates from a different state. It looked like a war zone without the rubble. They had seen images like this 1000 times before, from Syria, Afghanistan, Israel… war torn countries with desperate refugee's, crying children, panic. But never had they expected to see this in America. Never in New York.
'Momentum labs, owned by the Roxxon corporation, have given a statement that they have been detecting energy signatures within the city which are very similar to those created by the portal that opened above the city nearly 12 months ago. Everything is pointing to an imminent alien threat, yet so far no statement has been issued by SHIELD, the government or the Avenger's themselves, but witnesses have said that they have been present and aiding in the evacuations.'
Flashing images of the battle they had faced all those months ago crossed the screen. A video of Natasha and Steve on the street outside Stark Tower, talking heatedly with Shield personnel. That had been shot mere hours ago, but they couldn't remember what they had been arguing about.
'Despite the apparent threat, there are some refusing to leave their homes and there have been riots breaking out across the country, many fearing for their loved ones in the city and the possibility that the threat will not be contained solely to New York.'
Then came the chaos. The protestors, the non-believers, people locking and slamming the door, refusing to leave, images from mass riots in 8 different cities. Fireworks, Gun fire, loud and angry protesters clashing with police, battering each other in the streets. So much was destroyed, so much was burning, and these people were not even in the city. It was anarchy.
'The measures being taken demonstrate some level of foresight and planning, which leave many questions unanswered and is only adding to the nationwide chaos. What is the threat we are facing? When will the attack take place? And most interestingly, how long have the authorities known and why have we been kept in the dark? Public officials are demanding answers from the White House and the involved authorities, but for now all we can do is watch and wait and pray that our heroes will once again protect us.'
"It's starting." Steve breathed out.
They couldn't believe what they were seeing. The reality of what was to come suddenly hit home and it hit hard.
"I was expecting panic, but this, this is chaos!" Clint whispered.
"The country is falling apart." Nat acknowledged.
"Shouldn't we tell them, surely not knowing is worse?"
"The President is going to make an announcement tomorrow. They expect the evacuation to be finished by this evening." Steve informed them.
"Then we'll have 2 days to play with." Bruce nodded.
"When are the Asgardians arriving?" Steve asked. He knew they'd been through this a thousand times, but his head felt like a sieve from lack of sleep and worry. He was usually so level headed before a mission, but this time… well he almost wondered if Tony was projecting his anxiety onto them subconsciously in the same way he'd been picking up on theirs for months. Or maybe this was just bigger than anything they'd faced before… which was a horrendous understatement.
"Tomorrow, when the quadrant around the tower has been evacuated." Nat nodded.
"This is insane." Clint breathed out. "This is really, really insane."
"I know Clint." Natasha put a hand on his shoulder. "We're all scared."
"I'm not scared Natasha." Clint said sincerely. "I'm fucking terrified. I've said it before. We're spies not soldiers."
"We're Avengers Clint. Not soldiers or spies or superheroes. We're not anything but a team." Steve stepped in. "And we'll be there for each other. This is going to be ok Clint, one way or another, its going to be ok."
"Where's Tony?" Nat asked breaking the conversation.
"Take a guess." Bruce sighed.
"That machine still not working?" Steve asked, half worried and half in disbelief.
"He says he's close." Clint shrugged.
"He's painfully close." Bruce confirmed. "But we just can't figure out why it keeps misfiring just before it puts out the energy pulse."
"He'll do it." Clint nodded adamantly. "He's got us this far, he'll finish it in time."
"Of course, he will." Steve said certainly.
"When's this damn briefing." Clint grumbled. Settling back into the chair and muting the chaos on the news.
"Pepper, Rhodey and Coulson are bringing them up to speed with the important details of the CAEB and what Tony has been through since New York at the moment. We are just waiting for the call and then Tony is talking us through the plan."
"Tony's leading the briefing? This should be fun." Bruce gave a wry smile.
"Hang on, I thought we had a plan?" Clint shrugged.
"I mean a specific plan other than attack the enemy and hope for the best." Nat sighed.
"And hope that Tony can wipe these shits off the face of the earth you mean." He threw back
"Clint, I know you're nervous. But can we cut out the snide remarks for a while, before we all go insane."
"Sure." Clint sighed. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok Clint. We understand." Bruce smiled. "We're just the suffer in silence types and you and Tony and the ones who like to talk everyone's ears off. It doesn't mix."
"Can I go talk Tony's ear off then, because I don't think I'm physically capable of shutting up?"
"Just sit tight till the briefing. It won't be long." Nat sighed, holding herself together. She was used to dealing with nervous Clint, but this was nervous Clint, this was panicked Clint and she wasn't even sure she'd met this side of the archer before.
"Avengers, your presence had been requested by Miss Potts. The second part of the briefing will commence in 15 minutes." Jarvis broke into the conversation.
"Right on cue." Steve nodded and stood up with a quiet exhalation. "Come on Team, let's go."
"Don't start with the Captain corny Steve, I am far too anxious to deal with it." Clint huffed.
"Where's Thor?" Bruce asked, before anyone could reply to Steve.
"Doesn't matter. Jarvis will have notified him. Come on."
….
The meeting room was full of government officials, SHIELD high ups, the world security council and military generals, yet the number of people being allowed in on what was happening was less than 40 in total, including the Avengers. It was an alien environment to the Avengers as they gathered in their seats. They were glad to see the friendly faces of Pepper, Rhodey, Coulson and Fitzsimmons enter the room after their break from the first part of the briefing, but as the clocked ticked by, there was no sign of the 6th Avenger.
Tony pushed in 23 minutes late. Steve supposed this was actually fairly on time for him. The conversation in the room suddenly began to hush and Tony leaned across to Pepper and started whispering something. They seemed to have a short and lively debate about something written down on a piece of paper before Tony seemed to nod in understanding, but the way his jaw was fixed in tension showed he was one jolt away from losing his cool.
"Tony you look like shit, when did you last sleep." Nat said bluntly.
Even the several thousand-dollar Italian suit could not disguise the raggedness of the engineer. Steve hadn't seen him this tired in a long time and he dreaded to think how long Tony had been in that lab. The frustration was written in the lines of his face and the slight tremor in his hands. Nat couldn't have missed it, so Steve frowned wondering why the hell she would have been so confrontational. At least it seemed he'd had a shower before he dragged himself up here, Steve could see his hair was still damp and a cufflink was undone. This was not the usual face Tony presented to the world, then again, this wasn't the world he was talking too.
"Fair, but rude Nat. It's not like the world is ending in 3 days." Tony growled.
"Wow, ever the optimist." Clint hissed across the table.
"Are you volunteering to put on a monkey suit and do a dance for all these assholes, so I can go back and do something actually useful?"
"Tony keep your voice down!" Pepper scolded in a whisper.
"Hey, hey just cool it everyone." Steve huffed, pushing them all back into silence. "Are you ok Tony?" Steve asked sincerely.
"Is that your way of saying I don't look up to this, because if it is…" Tony glowered.
"Tony, take a breath." Rhodey stepped in.
"No one is doubting at you, we're just worried." Pepper took his hand.
"I'm ok." Tony sighed. "Sorry. It's been a shitty day."
"We know." Pepper smiled. "But we're all behind you."
"I know it feels like we're feeding you to the wolves again Tony, because you are better at this than all of us put together, but you're not alone, ok?"
Tony sighed in acceptance. "Thanks Steve."
"We won't let them eat you, Stark." Clint chuckled. "They'll have to go through us first."
"We're family." Bruce smiled.
"Oh, for crying out loud don't turn this into a chick flick." Tony groaned. "Let's get this shit show on the road, before this gets any more sappy."
"Tony Cufflink." Steve pointed out, to the engineer's confusion. "Your cufflink is undone." He clarified.
"Thanks, Capsicle." Tony gave him a thumbs up, fixing it, before moving to the front of the room.
"First things first." Tony started, and the room was instantly silent. "I am not here to debate the validity of any intel, or to answer questions about how I know what I know. Nor am I going to waste time proving anything to any of you. You have been briefed, you know what's coming and when, I'm here to tell you what has been done about it."
Tony let the room sit for a moment in a contemplative silence.
"Good. Now the interdimensional space continuum is fragile around New York, because of the event last summer. The enemy has the means to force open the weakest points and I have predicted the location of all the breeches that will open. The time and location for each breech is listed in your information pack. We are expecting a large army of hostile alien forces, of more than one species. Of those we have faced, the Makluhk and the highly advanced combat aircraft are our greatest threats. A summary of the species we have encountered, their strengths, weaknesses and otherwise is again in your information pack."
Tony took a breath.
"I have created a large arsenal of weapons designed specifically for taking down these creatures, and guess what? You can find all this listed in your information pack. Read it once, read it twice, memorise every goddamn syllable because it will probably save your life if things don't go to plan."
Clint smiled wryly at that. Tony wasn't taking any shit today and he liked it. He hated people like this, the ones surrounding them in the room, they were opiniated, arrogant and more likely to get people killed than offer any real help, but unfortunately, they had to know, if there was going to be any semblance of democracy or order after this battle was over.
Tony pulled up a holographic model of the weapons hubs he had created.
"These weapons hubs will be positioned in the airspace around the city. They contain replacement ammunitions and arms for both the Avengers and the allied forces of Asgard and Vanaheim who have agreed to come to our aid. They will be arriving when phase 3 of the city evacuation is complete and we are to expect around 3million warriors, is that correct Thor?"
"Yes Stark. That is indeed correct."
"Thank you."
"Excuse me Mr. Stark, how are we to be sure that these aliens are our allies?"
Thor stood up in offense and turned around to the young female army officer while the hands of Steve and Natasha pulled him back into his seat.
"I'm not going to grace that with an answer." Tony sighed and shook his head. "Now if I could continue without further interruptions?" He asked the room, leaving a moment for the silence to answer his question.
"Good." He turned back the hologram. "The hubs are camouflaged with retroreflective panels and will deliver replacement weapons and ammunitions to the ground forces within seconds of their requirement. It is run by an advanced AI I developed specifically for the task. But as vital as they are, the hubs are also vulnerable and then there is the matter of the rather large number of civilians refusing to leave the city, so I have created the iron legion. An army of 300 drones utilising the same technology as my Iron Man armours and controlled by my personal AI. Their primary directive is to protect the hubs and any humans on the ground."
He glanced at the Avengers as he left out the part that they were also there to protect his friends. The room would not see that as a priority; soldiers were a casualty of war, but to Tony that was not an acceptable risk.
"And Speaking of humans, your jobs are to man the boundary of the war zone and to keep the evacuated population safe. You are the last defence. Should all go to plan, no human lives will be risked, other than the Avenger's themselves and those stupid enough to stay behind."
There was a murmur of shock and outrage in the room.
"I don't understand, what role exactly are the military playing in this?" A faceless voice from the back of the room called out over the heated voices.
"Crowd control." Tony said simply.
"Excuse me?" A rather weathered looking general stood up in outrage.
"You want us on crowd control?" The man asked in disbelief.
"I am not underestimating or disrespecting the abilities of any of our armed forces, but the enemy we are facing, is not something humans are equipped to fight. Military weapons are effectively useless and the human physiology is nowhere near strong enough to fight these creatures. My directive is to minimise human casualty. I put you in the field and you will die needlessly, but outside the battle zone, you can be helpful."
Tony brought up another hologram. "This Shield is the same technology that Asgard uses to protect their city in emergencies. It is nigh on impenetrable. Once the portals have opened and as many of the civilians who have stayed behind as possible are out of harms way we will deploy the Shield, confining the enemy to the battlefield and protecting the outside world."
Tony left a gap for anymore outbursts, but the room seemed too stunned to respond for now, so he continued.
"We do not know the size of the enemy forces, so the next stage will be for me to deploy my space-time continuum stabiliser. This machine should be able to close the portals and that way we can restrict the size of the enemy army. These beings who are controlling the Makluhk and other creatures, are omnipotent. The CAEB's power is the only thing that can destroy them, while I cannot take down the entire enemy army at once, it will be down to me to put an end to their generals."
"So, we can close the portals trap them here and pick them off… That sounds a little too easy Mr. Stark."
"If you read the information pack you will see that the enemy we face is not to be taken so lightly. Just because we have the means to limit their numbers and trap them here, it is no guarantee of our victory."
"But what if you cannot kill these creatures… what if you lose and they kill all the allied forces. How long will the barrier hold, how does earth defend itself should they escape?"
"I, of course, have a contingency. Whilst the city is encased in the Asgardian Shield, so will the blast from any weapon detonated. Should it come to it, the machine I have created to close the portals can be modified to emit an impulse capable of vaporising the entire city… thus ending the threat."
"And killing anyone left standing!" Someone protested.
"That is why it is a last resort, acceptable only under the circumstances of a completely certain defeat and will not be deployed for any other reason."
"Blowing up the city is your answer! And you almost had us convinced you had cut your ties with being the merchant of death, Stark." Tony recognised that man from the research he had done after the 'incident' in New York and he almost snorted in amusement.
"I would not be so quick in your disdain for this plan Mr. Malick and in fact I find your accusations more than a little hypocritical since it was you and your council, if I remember correctly, who ordered the nuclear strike on New York in the last battle. This was despite the large civilian population present and the fact the battle was far from lost at that time. The fact I nearly lost my life clearing up your mess is the precise reason we are all here today so why don't you sit down and shut up."
Clint sniggered quietly, but it was far too loud considering the quiet in the room and Natasha elbowed him sharply.
"But the machine isn't ready." Steve said quietly to Natasha. The rest of the room did not hear, but Tony clearly did.
"No, Captain Rogers indeed it isn't." He answered clearly, for the whole crowd to hear.
Steve sat up straight.
'What are you doing!' He ranted in his head. Had Tony gone mad? Telling everyone that the machine wasn't ready was perhaps the stupidest thing he could think of doing right about now.
'Relax Steve, they need to know. I'll deal with it.' Came the reply, but Steve just looked at Bruce and Natasha in disbelief as they shrugged and shook their heads.
"For the benefit of you all what Captain Rogers just pointed out, is that the machine to close the portals is not yet ready."
And now there was uproar.
"Your whole plan hinges on closing the portals, yet now, 2 days from the battle, the machine you need to achieve this is not ready!"
"It will be." Tony said simply.
"How can you know that?"
"Because I'm Tony goddamn Stark, now are there any other stupid questions?"
Clint couldn't help but laugh out loud to that.
"Something funny agent Barton?"
"Yeah." He scoffed. "You idiots."
"Excuse me?"
"Clint!" Natasha growled as Tony rubbed his forehead in frustration.
"All of you, you're so high and mighty yet if the protection of the world was left you we'll all be dead…"
"That's enough Clint." Steve sat him down.
"Sorry Tony." Clint grumbled quietly as he settled back into his seat.
"No thanks birdbrain, but maybe let me take it from here." Tony said quietly. "Ok, where was I… Yes. Strategy for the front lines will be left to the individual units. Asgardians are a race with millennia of experience in war and strategy, I think I can safely say they will be able to a better job at planning their attack than we could do. However, I do have a direct line linking all the major generals in the field, so communication will not be an issue."
"A direct line? How secure is this?"
"I can talk to people inside their heads. It's pretty secure."
"And why do you, of all people have this CAEB power, surely Captain Rogers is more equipped for such responsibility."
Clint face palmed, and Steve looked around at the general angrily. Tony had done all this preparation and they were treating them with such disrespect.
"Where you asleep earlier general?" Fury's voice came from the back of the room and Tony felt himself tense and the whole team's eyes trailed on him to see his reaction, before turning back to the man in distaste. "Because I'm fairly sure this was explained only an hour ago." The director continued.
"Nothing was explained Director Fury, only stated in brief. The information you gave us had gaps the size of the Grand Canyon. Stark apparently has the power of a nuclear weapon inside him and only a handful of people are allowed to know about it!" Another familiar face stepped in.
"You are wrong Secretary Pierce." Fury continued. "Stark doesn't have the power of a nuclear weapon he has 50 times that and regards to the gaps in your briefing, you know everything you need to. All we really need you for, is to stand outside the shield like a good little soliders and look good for the press. Now sit down."
The General and Pierce looked fit to explode, but was the former was tugged down into his seat by the man next to him.
"Well if that's everything…" Tony started.
"No, it's not everything." Steve stood up abruptly. "Sorry to interrupt Tony, but this needs to be said."
The Captain turned to face the room while the Avengers looked on with interest.
"I am quite frankly appalled by the disrespect you have all shown Stark, not only today but in the past. Yes, you may not like him, you may not approve of his lifestyle or behaviour in public, but quite frankly its irrelevant. You all sing praise for Iron man when he puts his life on the line for this country, for the world, yet you seem to forget that Tony Stark is Iron Man. He has proved himself time and time again. In New York he sacrificed himself for all of you and you cannot even imagine the suffering he has endured since then because of it. And despite the way you have treated him and slandered him in the press, he has gone above and beyond to protect you again."
Steve took a breath.
"Without the preparations that Tony has just outlined to you, which he orchestrated almost single-handedly, in three days' time after a short resistance everyone in this room would be dead and, in a week, this planet would burn. So, you need to get your attitude in check and realise who the real hero in the room is."
Steve looked pointedly at Tony who had an amused look of gratitude on his face.
"That's all." Steve sat down, and the room remained silent until Tony stepped back into the line of sight.
"Well thank you Steve I love you too." He said jokingly and there was a small chuckle from the Avengers and the few un- arrogant people in the room. "Right… Questions?"
The young woman who had spoken earlier raised her hand.
"Sensible questions?" He corrected.
"How have you got all this manufactured in time?"
"I have contacts… for the hubs I got Boeing and Airbus in on the take. They are supremely efficient at churning out items of this size. I threw a fair bit of cash at them too which always helps."
"How much cash?" One of them scoffed in amusement.
"Well let's just say, with everything all the preparations made, my own personal funds are nearly empty and Stark Enterprises will be in the red for a good year, but with the stock increase when we win this fight we should pull through."
"Jesus Christ." Someone exclaimed.
"Yep, it was that, or a go fund me page, but I think that would have caused more panic than revenue." Tony state in a blasé tone.
"When we win this fight?" Another man, with scoff.
"Well, I've not done all this for us to lose. These alien fuckers need to learn their lesson and leave this damn planet alone."
"Well I think we can all drink to that." Someone laughed and the room all cheered.
"Yep, the end of the world bar is open at the back, go get hammered." Tony announced and with that everyone started to move the back of the room.
"Cheers Tony, they'll be no alcohol left by the time we get in!" Clint moaned.
Tony slid a bottle of scotch across the desk and it came to a halt in front of Bruce.
"Saved for a special occasion." Tony winked.
"Tony is this the…" Pepper protested.
"The Dalamore 64 Trinitas? Yes."
"Tony there's only three bottles of that in the world." Pepper protested.
"Well there might be no world next week, so what's the point in saving it." Tony winked at Clint, who was definitely all for opening it. "Besides, I have the other two upstairs."
"Since when?" Pepper said, outraged.
"Since I bought them." Tony shrugged.
"And how much did that cost?"
Tony quickly opened the bottle with practised fingers and grabbed a couple of glasses so they all had one each. "Lighten up Pepper and have a drink."
"I can't drink this." Pepper shook her head.
"Yes, you can." Tony said simply. "To the end of the world." Tony offered.
"To winning this damn thing." Nat corrected. "I aint dying for this shit."
"Suit yourself." Tony smirked and they all clinked their glasses.
"There's none of that Asgardian stuff in this is there." Steve asked suspiciously.
"Relax Captain. It would be a cruel prank to play and I would imagine there will be none left on Asgard after the feast they will have this eve."
"You should be with them Thor." Natasha said.
"I can send you back tonight." Tony nodded. "I'm the Universe's smoothest teleport I'll have you know."
"Quit bragging Stark" Clint teased.
"I would like that very much." Thor beamed.
"Now I really hope I don't have to remind you all wear your fucking under armour." Tony addressed the Avengers bluntly.
"Tony, I've been wearing it all week in case they caught us off guard." Nat smiled. "And I never said thank you, but well, I'm saying it now. Thank you. It really is amazing stuff."
"I'm glad. If there's any modifications, you want before…"
"Tony." Natasha chuckled. "It's perfect."
"Stark, the efforts you have gone to, to protect us all, even my people, it has not gone unnoticed." Thor said, sincerely.
"Well if your guys are willing to put their necks on the line for some backward little planet like ours then I think it's only fair."
"Nevertheless, it is greatly appreciated."
"Thanks, pointbreak."
"Bruce have you and Fitzsimmons got the Asgardian shield technology working?" Tony turned to the scientist in the corner, but he was at that moment sipping his drink.
"Yes. When the portals open and we are sure of the exclusion zone we need to set up, all we have to do is get the right position and input the radius." Gemma answered.
"And this will keep all the aliens in?" Natasha asked for clarification.
"And all the civilians out." Tony nodded.
"So…" Clint sighed. "We're as ready as we can be."
"Looks like."
"Minus my goddamn machine, which I'm about to go tinker with again." Tony sighed, undoing his top button and tugging at his tie.
"Tony, you need to rest. You've been at it for days, just take a breather." Steve implored.
"Steve, it's not like we have all the time in the world." Tony reminded him.
"I understand that Tony, but you need to be at your strongest come Wednesday. For the CAEB's sake."
"Granted." Tony sighed. "I'll take a few hours." He conceded.
"Thank you."
"Speaking of, is there anything we can help with, CAEB wise?" Steve asked.
"I have reinforced the implant to give me all the help I can get, I have the exoskeleton which will help me channel stuff and with Frigga's advice, I think I ready to do anything."
"Is your army ready Thor?"
"Yes, we are ready, they will arrive with a day to spare."
"That's great news…"
"Wait… they can't." Tony cut Steve off, a horrified expression on his face as realisation dawned.
"What?" Clint blurted out.
"What do you mean Stark?" Thor asked, confused and worried.
"You'll be using the tesseract… I'm not strong enough to teleport a whole army! You cannot bring an infinity stone anywhere near these assholes. The risk is huge… If Kairon and his assholes get their hands on it…."
Thor laughed out loud and everyone looked at him in confusion. "Relax Stark." Thor patted the billionaire on the shoulder. "The Bifrost repairs were completed just last night. There will be no need for the tesseract."
"Talk about timing." Clint smiled.
"Bit convenient." Steve chipped in.
"It has been broken for nearly two years, once we knew of the threat to Earth, our workers have been tolling night and day to finish the repairs. It is no coincidence." Thor explained.
"Speaking of timing, I hate to ask…" Steve gritted his teeth.
"The machine." Tony sighed. "I say this tentatively… but I had a bit of a breakthrough yesterday."
"The simulation completed?" Bruce said hopefully.
"Not quite. I jumped from 94.26% to 97.43% and well, it allowed me to eliminate 156 possibilities and left me with only 3. With a bit of intuition, I picked one and… let's just say I'm 80% certain I've got it right this time."
"How long will the simulation need to run for?" Bruce asked.
Tony looked at his watch. "It's 12hours in, so maybe another 9 if its successful."
"9?" Steve said in disbelief.
"I'm using a goddamn supercomputer I can't make it go any faster."
"We know Tony and that's great news. Worse comes to worst and there's only two more combinations to try, right?"
"Yes. So, even if it's the last option I test, barring any unforeseen complications, it will be ready."
"That's amazing Tony. Truly amazing." Bruce smiled.
"Well, you know I am amazing. So, pour me another glass."
….
"Stark."
Tony sighed and considered pretending not to hear the voice that was pursuing him down the corridor.
"Thanks for jumping in, in there and all Nick, but I really don't want to hear any more from you today… or any day for that matter."
"Stark, please, I am here to apologise." The director grabbed his arm to stop the billionaire and Tony's eyes lit up blue in warning.
"I'd let go if I were you Nick."
"I'm sorry Tony." Fury shook his head and backed up, half in fear and half looking like a kicked puppy. "I am not here to start a fight, but seeing as though there are only days until the battle and this may well be my last chance I need you to hear me out."
Tony sighed and took a step away from the Director, folding his arms.
"You have 2 minutes." Tony said looking at his watch.
"There are not words Stark. I brought you all together hoping you could be something more, I underestimated and misjudged you from the beginning and even after New York I did not give you the respect you deserve."
"Yeah I think Steve pretty much covered that so…"
"I know Stark and it struck a chord. I put my trust in all of you to deal with New York and you proved yourself a thousand times over. Yet when I got the call from Steve, I forgot that trust. Yes, you were a danger, but you are a human being and… we were maybe even friends once. The second I got that call, I stopped seeing you as a human and saw you only as a threat. What I did was unforgiveable."
"Yet here you are asking forgiveness." Tony said, his voice emotionless.
"No Tony, that's not why I'm here. I'm here to apologise, because all that's I can offer you. An apology and my thanks. I took Steve's word as law when he rang me that night, I ignored the fact that he was scared and emotional, I ignored the fact that the rest of my team had kept it hidden from me and that they must have had a reason. I didn't try to find out the full story or get to the facts, which isn't like me. I regret everything whole heartedly and I would hate for us to part without you knowing that given my time again, I would have done things very differently."
"You know, don't you?" Tony said with a sigh. "Was it Coulson?"
"I haven't spoken to Coulson since that day on the bus. I know because I know you Tony. I worked with your father, I watched you grow up and I've seen you talk waltz around the press a thousand times. You aren't planning to get out of this fight alive. I've seen the look so many times, though you are better than hiding it than most."
"The visions are conclusive."
"I'm sorry."
"You mean that." Tony said in confusion, reading Fury's face. He looked deeper and opened up the emotional switch he'd turned off with Thor on that random planet and Fury was sincere and sad and everything he had said was the truth. There was so much regret and pain radiating from him that Tony quickly turned the switch off again.
"You may not believe it, but I care about you Stark. I always have. I didn't know conclusively what Howard was like towards you, but I watched him change as time went by and I watched you. I saw the damage, the personality you adopted."
"It's ancient history." Tony huffed.
"But its not. The fact is, call it irrational, but I felt responsible for what you became. I should have done something, but I didn't want to lose Howard as a friend, but he stopped being that man I once called a friend long before he died. I thought he'd damaged you beyond repair, so when you became Iron Man I was blown away. If I am honest, when I took you to the bus I didn't treat you like I did because I hated you or saw you as a threat… I was desperate to save you."
"Save me?" Tony snorted. "Funny way of going about it."
"I thought this CAEB was possessing you, so I treated it as the hostile. I wouldn't allow myself to believe a word you said, because I didn't think you were you."
Tony pondered that for a moment. "Are you saying you were misinformed?"
"I was scared and ignorant… and a little bit misinformed. But at the end of the day it was my fault. I take responsibility, but you deserve to know my thought process."
"Well, whether that's true or not Nick… I don't want to have any regrets, any grudges… any unfinished business when I step out onto that battlefield."
"Does this mean you're calling a truce?" Nick asked.
"Not a truce…" Tony turned around to face Fury and the man looked at him concernedly. "Nick Fury I forgive you."
Fury looked at Tony in shock and honestly, Tony was a little shocked at the words that had just come out of his mouth.
"Tony, honestly that means the world. If there is anything I can do…"
"Come upstairs. Make your peace with Phil and the others. The world will need you when this is all over and you all need to be on good terms."
"I will Stark. I will, but will you do something for me?"
"Go on?"
"Don't give up. Don't just accept your fate, if you find another way you take it."
Tony scoffed.
"What?" Fury asked.
"Nick, I'm not giving up. I have way too much to live for. I will fight till the bitter end, but I know that as fate would have it I will die on Wednesday and if that's how it has to be I'm ok with that, but if you think I'm just going to check out you are way off."
"The Tony Stark of a year ago wouldn't have had that attitude. In fact, that same Tony Stark took a nuke through a wormhole knowing he wouldn't come back."
Tony shrugged, neither acknowledging or denying what Fury had just inferred.
"I'm happy for you Tony. I am so pleased you have found happiness at last, you have waited long enough for it and I hope you get the time you deserve to enjoy it."
"Yeah me too." Tony smiled weakly. "But if I'm going to get that, I have a machine to finish."
"Of course. I'll leave you to it. Thank you for listening."
…
"Yes, Yes, yes, Yes, YESS!"
Everyone jumped to their feet in alarm. It was the first quiet half hour they had had all day and Tony had to go and interrupt it by dancing through the common room yelling like a 5-year-old at Christmas.
"Tony what the hell man!" Clint protested, but the look on the Billionaire's face had them all on the edge of their seats.
"I am up. Me. I'm your fucking God right now feathers, because I've only gone and done it."
"Done what?" Steve asked, wondering what the hell all the commotion was about.
"No!" Bruce's face lit up.
"Yes." Tony smiled opening his arms wide in triumph.
Bruce leapt to his feet and approached Tony with a massive grin. "Tony you beautiful fucking Genius you!" Bruce leapt into Tony's arms and the two hugged ecstatically.
"Gay!" Clint shouted out and received a whack from Natasha, who also got to her feet and joined in the hug. There was a really wide smile on her face, one that unusually reached her eyes and was nothing but genuine.
"Tony Stark, you are utterly incredible." She whispered into his ear as she wrapped her arms over him and Bruce.
"Thanks Tash." Tony whispered, in a tone that definitely wasn't him tearing up.
"What are we celebrating?" Clint asked, baffled.
"The machine your dumb ass!" Natasha yelled.
"Simulation… Successful!" Tony's cry of triumph was muffled by the bear hug he was currently enveloped in by Bruce and Natasha and suddenly Thor and Steve had joined the fun too.
"No goddamn way!" Clint rugby tackled the cuddle ball and they all collapsed to the floor with a grunt of triumphant laughter.
"What on Earth is going on?" Pepper asked as she, Rhodey, Coulson and Fitzsimmons entered the room, with a befuddled and taken aback Fury in tow.
"Tony fixed the machine!" Bruce announced with a huge smile.
Rhodey joined the pile with a roar of happiness. Tony, who had only just managed to dig himself out from the bottom of the pile, when he was tackled back the floor by his best friend.
"Ughhh, Rhodey get off!" Tony chuckled.
"Who's the biggest genius in the galaxy?"
"Tony Goddamn Stark. That's who." Tony chuckled.
"Damn straight. So proud of you my man."
"I couldn't have done it without you guys. Thank you. Thank you for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. Thank you for being the first people who have stayed, despite everything. I love you guys, I love all of you."
"We love you too Tony." Natasha pecked him on the cheek and Clint pulled him into hug.
"We're family. Come what may." Steve smiled, holding Tony's shoulder as Clint pulled away, he gave Tony a quick one armed hugged and patted the man on the back.
"Come what may." He smiled back.
"It's us who need to thank you Tony. The entire planet needs to thank you. You've just saved us all."
"Thanks Phil. But let's not speak too soon."
"You remembered my name." Phil smiled jokingly.
"Phil's your middle name, right? We all know your first name in Agent."
"Ha, ha, very funny."
"Congratulations Mr. Stark."
"For the last time Fitz, it's Tony and a handshake seriously? Come on there's enough hugs for everyone!" Tony pulled a shocked Fitz in without warning. "Come on Gemma, you too." He ordered, and Gemma shyly made her way over for a hug, before the pair were sandwiched in by Coulson.
"You two little geniuses." Tony said fondly. "We could not be here without the work you've done. Don't for a second think the part you played in this was small. You were incredible. You are Avenger's, both of you, everyone in this room is an Avenger."
"Even Fury?" Coulson asked sceptically, glancing over his shoulder at the director, who was busy watching the scene.
"Yeah I suppose. I mean, we wouldn't be here without him and he gave me a pretty good apology earlier, so I guess in the spirit of the end of the world, I should forgive him… and maybe you should too Phil." Tony patted him on the shoulder.
"I'm going to have a hard time doing that. You didn't see yourself when I dragged you out of the interrogation room on the bus."
"No but I lived it Coulson. If I can forgive him, I think you can."
"I'll try."
"That's all I ask. Mend fences don't burn bridges."
"When did you become so diplomatic?" Coulson chuckled.
"I'm in an alarmingly good mood." Tony shrugged. "Borderline sentimental. I might need to see a doctor, I'm probably sick."
"Well for once Stark, I think you couldn't be more wrong." Coulson said fondly.
The man in question, Nick Fury looked down at the team and smiled. He may not have done everything right, he may have made some huge mistakes and he was more than sorry for what he had put that genius man through; but despite all his shortcomings he was responsible for bringing these people together. He may not have made them a team, but he gave them that push, the push they needed, even if they didn't know it.
The whole point of a team is to bring the best out of each other and the people he saw in front of him had put their differences aside, their opinions to bed and come through some truly horrible things and learnt to love each other. They had learnt to see beyond the mask of a man who had been broken for nearly as long as he'd been alive, they had carried him through some of the worst experiences imaginable and most important of all, they had helped him find the strength to put himself together again; To trust again, love again and most of all, to have hope again. And because of that, this man, this brilliant, unbelievable man, had achieved the impossible. This team had already saved the world, it had saved it twice. Once from the Chitauri but their biggest achievement, was that had saved Tony Stark.
Fury smiled. They had saved Tony Stark and now those fuckers from the other dimension had better be very afraid.
….
Pepper watched on with a heart filled with joy. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The man she was looking at was Tony, her Tony, but over the last few days he had changed so immensely she could hardly believe it. Despite the lines of age and the bags of exhaustion under his eyes, Tony looked like he was 20 years old again. There was a spark behind his eyes, glowing so brightly she could tell it was never going out. She had seen glimpses of it in the past, tiny glimpses in his best moments but they had always been fleeting. But not anymore.
The man who stood before her, having dug himself out of the pile of ecstatic bodies, was the real Tony Stark, not the mask, not the act, not the tabloid stereotype. Pepper felt like shaking hands with him, telling him it was 'nice to meet you', because in a way, that's what it felt like. She was meeting the real Tony Stark for the first time.
"Well done baby." She smiled as he buried his face in her neck.
Tony just sighed contentedly, and she felt a few tears wet her shoulder as she realised they were both crying, in relief and happiness.
He pulled away and looked her in the eye for a long moment before she felt Rhodey at her shoulder. Unexpectedly, the airman's eyes were also filled with tears and a look that spoke volumes. He was looking into the face of a man he hadn't seen since they were teenagers and as they embraced again Pepper realised that these were two old friends, brothers even, reuniting, having been separated for nearly 4 decades.
"It's so good to have you back Tones."
"I was always there Rhodey. I didn't realise it until just now, but I was always there. I just got lost somewhere along the way."
"I know." Rhodey sniffed. "I can't believe I've got you back after all this time."
Tony nearly sobbed but turned it into laughter as he pulled Rhodey back into the embrace.
"Look at us. Pair of ninnies crying like girls."
"Fuck it. Real men cry." Tony laughed and finally the two broke contact.
Over the next half hour there was singing and dancing and pillow fights. There was a group of ordinary people, extraordinary friends enjoying themselves and celebrating, without a thought of what was to come. Tony took it in with a feeling of great joy, but also a twang of sadness. He regretted that he wouldn't have long to enjoy this, because there was one thing that had not changed throughout this. The vision was still the same. He was to die to save the world and maybe some of them would die too. Part of him wished that he had lived his whole life like this, happy and carefree and amongst family. Surrounded by love. But he knew that this, right here right now was perfect for one reason and one reason only. He had earned this. With every fibre of his being, he had suffered and toiled and never given up and come back from places so dark that the light had almost been forgotten entirely.
He had earned this perfect, beautiful moment and if it was the one and only moment of such he got to enjoy that didn't matter. He was happy. He achieved everything he had ever wanted to achieve, and he was content. For the first time in 30 years he didn't want to die, for the first time in 30 years he had something to live for and yet for the first time in his life dying was ok.
"You should all come to Asgard tonight with me for the celebration. I would love to introduce you to my family and friends on Asgard."
"Party on another planet!" Clint exclaimed. "Count me in."
"We're all in!" Gemma announced, to everyone's (especially Fitz's) surprise.
There was a collective cheer as Tony chuckled to himself and raised his glass.
"What are you thinking about?" Pepper asked him, pulling him into a tender kiss.
"How perfect this is." He said with a smile, glancing around the room.
"How about we make it more perfect?" Pepper raised her brow suggestively.
Tony gave a seductive smile and whispered lowly into her ear, his voice rough and husky. "Lead the way Miss Potts."
Pepper smiled broadly and planted another kiss to his lips before walking over to the elevator and stepping in. Tony finished his drink and put in down on the table before starting to follow.
"Where you off to Stark?" Clint asked as the engineer went to make his exit. "Not leaving the party early I hope."
"The only way to top end of the world group hugs is end of the world sex!" Tony announced loudly.
Nat covered her face in exasperation, Pepper blushed a little, but just smiled and laughed.
"Ew, get out of here." Steve through a pillow in their direction.
"Don't expect us to save any booze." Bruce called after them.
"Don't worry Bruce they'll be back in 15minutes!" Clint said loudly and the whole room burst into laughter, including Tony.
"Just because you're jealous bird brain!"
"That's no comeback Stark." Clint protested, wanting a fight, but Tony had other things on his mind.
He listened the conversation as Pepper pressed the button to close the doors and then he heard Fitz moaning about the canapes.
"Why did they make it so small!" He said, loud enough for the whole room to hear.
Tony jammed the doors open button and yelled back into the room. "That's what Clint's wife says!"
"Screw you Stark!" Clint yelled as everyone else laughed at his expense.
"No, I'm the one doing the screwing, you on the other hand aren't getting any unless your seductive chicken dance can woo any of the pigeons on the balcony."
Clint threw a very well-aimed pillow at the elevator doors, but Tony had no trouble in anticipating and avoiding it.
"You don't shut up and close these doors you aint getting any either." Pepper warned, teasingly and Tony frantically made the motion for zipping his lips.
"Don't go to Asgard without me!" Tony called as the elevator doors closed.
"We can't you idiot. You're the damn transport!" Bruce threw back and Tony chuckled as he and Pepper were finally alone.
…..
"Woah dude, that was awesome!" Clint cheered as they materialised on a different planet.
"You did not drain yourself too much I trust Stark?" Thor asked. It had to have been quite a step… from struggling to teleport himself across a continent, to teleporting himself and 10 passengers across the galaxy.
"I wouldn't have offered otherwise. Big day tomorrow."
"Indeed. But that is what we are here to forget." Thor slapped him on the shoulder, a little too enthusiastically but he let it slide. The Prince walked ahead of them, showing them the sights and explaining the history. By the look on the other's faces it was going straight over their heads. They were too busy gawping at the spectacle around them. It was their first time on another planet. Another world. It was almost beyond belief.
Tony looked up and the golden city, remembering he discomfort he had felt the last time he was here with Thor and Frigga and the horrors of the time before that. He knew that he would likely see Odin tonight, and that Loki rested below the city in the dungeons… yet despite all this he felt at ease. He was surrounded by his friends, his family and whatever happened he could deal with it. Whatever they threw his way, tonight, tomorrow in any day to come he was ready. He had channelled the grid to teleport them here and it had felt easy. Frigga's lessons had paid off. They had barely been walking a minute and he had already analysed all the possible energy sources he could channel in this place. For the first time he really appreciated the power in his hands, he could do almost anything and what he could feel, the energy, the way everything buzzed with life… It was incredible.
"You ok Tony?"
Tony smiled broadly, and it was more than genuine. She hadn't wanted to come, this really wasn't her thing, but Tony had convinced her. It may well be the last time they got to spends together, though neither of them had mentioned that fact. They didn't need to bother with all that saying goodbye crap. They both knew what the other had to say.
"I am Pep. I'm more than ok."
Inside the great hall they were met with a wall of noise and energy.
"Now this is a party!" Clint headed off into the crowd almost the moment they entered the room. The others may be shy about partying with a room full of aliens, who their ancestors called God's, but the archer certainly wasn't.
"Whatever you do Clint, do not drink anything!" Steve called after him.
"There are less aged drinks and all have been instructed not to let you humans consume Asgardian liquor.
"Just relax guys, don't worry, whatever goes wrong I'll heal him afterwards." Tony rolled his eyes. "Enjoy tonight for God's sake, you're on another world and you're at a party!"
"Fine Tony, fine." Steve chuckled.
It took a while for them all to relax, but once they did they were having a great time. Bruce, Fitz and Gemma seemed to have found some scientists to talk to. Thor had dragged Steve and Rhodey over to his group of friends, the warriors three; Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg. Tony had made it a priority to learn their names seeing as they would be risking their lives for him, for all of humanity tomorrow.
Evidently, they had missed Odin's speech and the King was somewhere at the far end of the hall. They were all glad for this. Tony had come to terms with it however the others were still unbelievably angry.
Coulson and Natasha seemed to be sticking together. They looked happy enough, but they clearly weren't the party type. He was hoping that the little spider would let loose at some point in the evening, she was always so tightly wound and on her guard; he wanted to see her relax, really relax, just once before it was all over.
Tony just sat close to Pepper, watching the events unfold contently, nursing a bottle of scotch. There was quite a ruckus occurring off to their left at the wall. A crowd had gathered, and he watched intrigued as everyone seemed to gravitate towards them. There was a cheer of triumph and Tony smirked as his curiosity got the better of him. He took Pepper's hand and moved towards the crowd.
Evidently, they were having a shooting tournament. Tony chuckled as he saw Clint stood in line. There were a few shots very close to the bullseye, then came a roar as Hogun hit the centre of the target. Clint didn't look phased, despite the fact they weren't taking the arrows off the board.
The archer stood on the line and drew the Asgardian bow… they hadn't brought their weapons to a party of course, but Clint seemed to have got one from somewhere. He barely took aim before he was releasing the string. Clint's arrow split Hogun's and the room erupted.
It was down to a shoot off.
But after 3 rounds, they had both shot consistent bullseyes, Clint in his element, putting on a show for the crowd, yawning, looking away, covering his eyes. All Tony could do was watch and chuckle. It was decided that they would change to knife throwing since they could not be separated on archery.
Clint's aim was just as true with knives at it was arrows, but apparently Hogun's was not. Clint hit three strikes on bullseye, Hogun hit two. The earth archer was raised on Asgardian shoulders to cheers and jubilation and paraded around the room ceremoniously. Thor handed him up a drink and he swigged from the bottle raising his arms in triumph.
It was a perfect night.
Natasha watched as Clint was paraded the room with a mixture of embarrassment and fondness.
"Ughhh Men!" She groaned to herself, rolling her eyes and rubbing her face in exasperation.
"Men indeed." An amused voice came from behind her. "You must be Natasha. Thor speaks highly of you." She smiled.
"Sif, I assume?" Nat smiled.
"How do you know me?" Sif asked intrigued.
"Thor mentioned you on our way here, it was an easy assumption to reach."
"How so?"
"Not many women fighters round here." Tash observed.
"No there is not. It is a rare and difficult path for a woman to choose."
"You have to work 10x harder to gain even the smallest slither of respect." Natasha agreed.
"You know?" Sif hummed in amusement.
"It seems prejudice is universal."
"That saddens me." Sif sighed.
"It sucks, but it makes it all the more satisfying when you can beat them."
"The satisfaction of defeating men in battle, especially those who are most arrogant, it is the most wonderful thing to be experienced."
"Now isn't that the truth." Natasha smiled and they both shared a laugh.
"You say the issue is universal, but the way Thor talks… Your earth Comrades, they respect you, No?"
"Yes, they do. They know not to mess with me." Nat chuckled. "They may be my friends, but I still scare the crap out of them. Tony and Clint especially. They like to play pranks, but they will rarely involve me. They know the consequences."
"We cannot afford to show weakness, even once we have proven ourselves."
"In most of the world, yes, but it is different with the team. I can be myself with them and they would never lose respect for me."
"That is good to hear." Sif smiled.
"Is it not the same for you, with Thor?" Natasha frowned.
"I faced much resistance as I trained to be a warrior, the naysayers were plentiful, but Thor and the warriors 3 were not so."
"They had your back."
"Most of the time." Sif sighed. "Thor though, when he was younger, oh how prideful he was. He has always been an exceptional warrior and It is tradition to retell stories of battle amongst friends, but men so often twist the truth. I remember several occasions where his arrogance almost cost him his life and I had to save him from himself. He always failed to mention that in his recollections, being saved by a woman is not something he wanted known."
"He didn't respect you?"
"He did always thank me. Alone he was a different Man than he was with his comrades. Pride always was his greatest flaw, but he is much changed since his first trip to Earth."
"Men stay children a lot longer than we do."
"I can attest that." Sif smiled.
"I wondered where I may find you Sif, and the lady Natasha."
"My queen." Sif took the knee at the sight of Frigga who had approached out of their line of sight.
"How many times Sif, we are friends, stand."
Sif stood with a smile.
"Are you enjoying yourself Lady Natasha?" Frigga asked.
"I am. But it's just Natasha, I'm no lady."
"As you wish." Frigga smiled.
"You wish to speak with me?" Sif asked.
"More to escape my pompous husband." Frigga laughed. "We are far outnumbered by men in this room and it has become stifling."
"It has indeed." Sif agreed. "It was in fact the topic of our conversation."
"Who is the lady with Mr. Stark?" Frigga asked.
"Pepper." Natasha smiled. "She keeps him in line."
"He never mentioned a wife." Frigga frowned.
"Oh, they aren't married." Natasha clarified. "Stark's not the marrying type… Well, he wasn't anyway."
"He looks different since we last met." Frigga noticed.
"He is." Natasha smiled. "In so many ways."
Tony had noticed Frigga's eyes trailed onto him from the small group of women gathered in the corner and was conscious that Pepper had been glued to his side all night.
"Come on, I have someone I need to introduce you to." He whispered into her ear and guided her towards the other women in the room.
"Tony." Frigga smiled as they have approached. "It is good to see you again. You are well I trust?"
"Yes, I am." He smiled. "Pepper, this is Frigga, Queen of Asgard."
"I hear we have much to thank you for your highness." Pepper smiled.
"You need not thank me for doing what is right." Frigga smiled. "Now, would you mind awfully if I borrow your man for a moment?"
"Not at all." Pepper smiled, looking fondly at Tony, but she also had a hint of trepidation in her eye.
Tony smiled back at her, kissing her gently on the temple. "I'll be gone only for a few minutes, you'll be fine. You know Nat, just relax, enjoy yourself."
"I don't fit in here Tony. I'm no warrior..." She said softly.
"Pepper Potts you are one of the strongest people I know, man, woman or alien. You fit here perfectly." He pressed a kiss to her lips before backing away to follow Frigga. "I'll be back in minute."
"Your woman seems nervous." Frigga noted as they stepped outside into the fresh air to the see the stars sparkling in the night sky.
"She hates these sorts of thing. Charity balls, public speaking… I mean she's brilliant at it, but she feels like she's putting on an act the whole time and she doesn't like it."
"You on the other hand are much more comfortable wearing such a mask."
"It doesn't fit as well as it used to." Tony shrugged.
"And that is no bad thing." Frigga smiled. "There is someone I think you will wish to see."
Tony turned to see the tall dark, gold-clad figure of Heimdall stood approaching from their right.
"I will leave you a moment." Frigga said and Tony nodded thankfully.
"Heimdall, right?"
"That is correct."
"I wanted to say thank you back when you broke me out of Asgard, but you disappeared before I woke up."
"I could not stay. What I did was treason."
"Yes, and I appreciate that immensely. Thor says you are all seeing."
"I have the vision. I am not all-seeing, but there isn't much that escapes my watch."
"Do you have visions of the battle to come… of how it will end?"
"My skill more involves the present, but I have seen your nightmares Stark, your visions. I do not wish to seem intrusive, but I have watched you for some time."
"I get it. I needed keeping an eye on." Tony chuckled.
"I do not underestimate your burden Stark…"
"I don't need your sympathy… and I don't mean to sound offensive, the point is, I need your help."
"What with?"
"You've seen my dreams, visions, whatever they are. You know how they end and I… I can't have that."
"Stark if you are asking whether there is a way out of your death…"
"Not my death, theirs."
"Your friends. I understand."
"So… what can I do about it? Can I do anything about it?"
"Visions are difficult and dangerous things Stark. I have seen it often. Here on Asgard the Well of Wisdom grants such visions. I have seen it drive countless people mad. Often those who have been granted the power of foresight, driven by desperation to change the future have done nothing but compound that future with their actions."
"Essentially by trying to change the future you actually make that future happen." Tony sighed.
"Indeed."
"Great, just like all the movies."
"But, Stark, the future is never set in stone. Every decision you make shapes it, there is no such thing as destiny, nor fate."
"So freewill does exist." Tony scoffed.
"Very much Stark. I say what I did only as a warning that you must proceed with caution. The future you have seen, although it bears a heavy cost, is still a victory against the enemy."
"So, I go messing and try to change things and we could lose."
"Yes, or the price may be heavier."
"I get that. I do. I know what's at stake believe me…"
"I have no doubt in you Stark."
"I… I appreciate that. I really do. But any future where my friends get hurt, or die, that's not a win for me."
"Stark, you are seeking answers I can not give. You have wisdom and intelligence far beyond that of others on your planet and I would encourage you to seek the best possible outcome for your friends and yourself. I do trust however that if the time should come where you have an impossible choice, that you will chose the fate of the planet and the galaxy above that of a few friends, however dear to you they may be."
"That I will." Tony sighed. "However much I don't want I will always choose earth over a handful of lives.
"Trust in yourself Stark. And know that your friends, your family trust in you also. I will be there with you in battle, as will our Queen."
"What?"
"I would appreciate that this stay between us for now." Frigga stepped back into the conversation. "Neither my husband or my son would be best pleased to hear this news and I do not want to spend our remaining time fighting."
"Frigga, you are the queen…"
"And perfectly capable of handling myself in battle."
"I don't doubt that." Tony smiled. "Not an inch, but the risk… why?"
"You will need help Stark. Once the CAEB is revealed you will be a target."
"So, what… you're going to be my personal bodyguards or something, I can't… I won't ask that of you."
"You have not asked, we offer, and we will not be by your side every second. You have a firm grasp on your powers now, but should you require help and I am worlds away, it could be the difference between victory and defeat."
"I suppose so." Tony sighed. "Thank you."
"It is our pleasure. Now go and re-join the festivities. Put this from your mind until the time is right."
When they returned to the party Pepper was still with Sif and Natasha and Gemma had joined them. She seemed genuinely relaxed and at ease, which brought a smiled to his lips. The four were laughing and joking, the odd finger pointed to someone in the crowd and a joke was shared. Frigga joined them, and Tony sought out Rhodey who was still now with a very drunk Clint, who seemed to have acquired a crown at some time during the night.
Tony tried to enjoy himself, he really did, but flashes of memory kept haunting him as he caught each of his friends in the corner of his vision.
Clint whooping and raising his whiskey filled chalice. The building collapsing, Natasha's cry of horror as she realised. The archer had been on the ground floor. The archer was dead. So was everyone else in the structure.
Thor sparring playfully with his friends, wrapping Volstagg in a headlock, drink spilling from his cup. Edraskil had Thor by the throat and held his hammer in the other hand. Edraskil had the hammer! And he was laughing. Asgardian troops started rushing into the square. Thor screamed.
Steve clapping as he watched them, a smile broad on his face and the rare sound of his laugh echoing in the room. Then growls and roars met his ears as he was wrenched off his feet. He heard a strangled desperate cry, the sound of unimaginable agony and of flesh being torn from bone. Steve!
Natasha talking with the woman, her posture bent strangely as she imitated Clint. He recognised the memory she was reliving, from a few days ago. The incident with the Asgardian liquor.
"Clint!" Natasha screamed. Her voice released in a primal howl of pain. "Natasha NO!" Steve yelled. Tony whipped round but it was too late, he tried to throw a shield up to stop Natasha on her warpath, but the orange energy got there first. He saw the red headed assassin lifted into the air. There was a resounding snap. Her neck was broken.
Tony suddenly turned and ran for the door. He pushed out into the fresh air, panting as he tried to push the memories away.
"Tony?" A concerned voice called. It was Steve… The sound of unimaginable agony and of flesh being torn from bone.
Tony doubled over without warning, foul tasting bile spilling onto the paving. He retched again but managed to swallow, forcing himself to breath, to calm down and focus on the hands on his back which were rubbing up and down soothingly.
"You ok Tony?" Rhodey asked, his hands didn't leave the billionaire as he stood up straight in case he swayed.
"I think someone's had enough." Tony slurred deliberately, and Steve chuckled, patting him on the back. "Sober up Stark, I'll see you back inside."
"Will do Cap." Tony breathed out slowly.
"Tony drop the act. I've been watching you all night you barely drunk anything. What's wrong?" Rhodey asked.
"Nothing Rhodey its ok."
"Don't start this again. You talk to us now, remember? We share our problems so, what's wrong?"
"I look at them and I keep… I keep seeing them die Rhodey. I have to stop it." Tony said, tearing his fingers through his hair
"I don't know what to say Tony… I don't know how these visions work, if anyone can stop it its you but if you can't…"
"That's not an option Rhodey!" Tony yelled. "That's not… I can't…"
Only felt himself pulled into Rhodey's chest and he held on to his best friend for dear life as he shook and tried to hold himself together.
"Let it go Tony. It's ok to let it go."
Tony buried his face into the Rhodey's shoulder and let the tears flow.
"Tony? Steve said you were…" Pepper saw the pair of them hugging and the pained look on Rhodey's face and she ran over. Her arm wrapped around Tony's back and with the other she ran her fingers through his hair.
"It's going to be ok Tony. I don't know how, but I do. It's all going to be ok." And she meant it. It was the first time she had felt it, but somehow, she knew. It was going to be fine.
…..
"That was the best night ever. Absolutely legendary. The best…"
"Ok Clint, we get the picture." Natasha chuckled. "But it was amazing, thank you Thor for inviting us."
"I am glad you enjoyed yourself. Truly it would not have been the same without you all there."
"Where's Tony?" Clint asked with a slight slur. "I'm going to need a hangover cure in the morning."
"He's just checking a few things in the lab I think." Bruce shrugged.
"Ughhh, can't he just leave it for one night." Clint protested.
"Relax feathers, it was just housework." Tony smiled, but it looked weaker and more forced than it had been earlier.
"You don't know what housework is." Clint protested.
Tony chuckled and settled on the sofa. "True."
"We should all get to bed." Steve said, and everyone groaned.
"Way to be a buzzkill capsicle." Tony rolled his eyes.
"Just trying to be sensible, and Mr. archery champion is going it have a very sore head in the morning."
"Not if tony cures me."
"Who said I'm going to cure you?" Tony teased. "Are you ever going to take that crown off."
"No. Can you put some magnets into it or something, so it stays on my head in the battle?"
"Not unless your skull is made of iron… but then again with your IQ I wouldn't be surprised if it was."
"You're just jealous you didn't get a crown."
"I don't need a crown, I'm perfect as I am." Tony shrugged.
"Ok boy's, I think Cap is right. We all need our rest." Natasha said with a smile.
"Yes Mam." Tony saluted, standing up and tapping Clint on the head as he passed. Natasha noticed the flash of blue in his eyes and he joined him in the elevator just before the doors slid
"What did you do?" She said, non-accusatorily.
"Made sure Clint won't have a hangover tomorrow."
"You should have let him suffer." She said with a smirk.
"Yeah well, I was feeling nice."
"You ok? You look like something's on your mind?" She asked gently.
"The world is Tash. It's not something anyone can help with, it's just... It is what it is."
"I get it Tony but we're with you. You don't have to shoulder this alone."
"I know."
"You aren't going to bed, are you?"
"You know me so well."
"Isn't everything done?"
"I do need to check on the iron legion production, it should be done by morning. But I want to go over the battle plan one last time, there's something I think I can maybe do better."
"This is about us all dying isn't it? The vision you had. Steve said you threw up earlier and Pepper and Rhodey looked upset… you looked upset."
"Am I that transparent?"
"Tony, none of us want to die, but we are giving our lives willingly and if any of us get hurt or die, that's not on you. You know that, right? You didn't start this fight, they started it. It's on them."
"Yes, I know. Thanks Tash."
"Do what you need to do Tony, for your piece of mind, but know when to draw the line. Know when you've prepared the best you can and just enjoy this last bit of time you have. Give yourself that. God knows you deserve it."
"I will. See you in the morning."
"Yeah." She smiled. "Goodnight."
Natasha stepped out of the elevator and Tony overrode it to take him back down to the lab.
….
The figure in silver stood in the center of the open square. Edraskil. And he had chosen to rain down terror upon the city. People were running, screaming as a petrol tanker was carried into the air by a prickling orange energy. Tony had craft on his tail, he deployed his weapons and watched as they were blown away into oblivion.
A building exploded, shockwaves pulsing through the air and knocking his flight off balance. The structure didn't stand a chance as the petrol tanker erupted at its base, dust exploded into the air as rubble rained down into the street.
"Clint!" Natasha screamed. Her voice released in a primal howl of pain as Jarvis confirmed it too late. Clint had been on the ground floor. The archer was dead. So was everyone else in the structure.
The sound of air being beaten whipped through the square. Thor flew into view and hit the silver clad figure full force. The pair smashed into the statue, rolling onto the concrete, struggling to regain their feet. Tony touched down; barely taking his eyes off the enemy, he saw Steve gesturing to him. He understood the signal; Tony gave covering fire while Steve got the surviving civilians to safety.
"Natasha NO!" Steve yelled. Tony whipped round but it was too late, he tried to throw a shield up to stop Natasha on her warpath, but the orange energy got there first. He felt his skull burn as the CAEB was hit with something just as powerful, maybe more so and then he saw the red headed assassin lifted into the air.
There was a resounding snap.
Her neck was broken.
She was dropped to the pavement limp and lifeless, her eyes still open and filled with tears.
Tony couldn't move, gripped with horror at the sight he was unable to stop. He was forced to his knees by the burning in his skull yelping in agony.
Edraskil had Thor by the throat and held his hammer in the other hand. Edraskil had the hammer! And he was laughing. Asgardian troops started rushing into the square. Thor screamed. Then growls and roars met his ears as he was wrenched off his feet. Sharp teeth started tearing at his armor, he heard a strangled desperate cry, the sound of unimaginable agony and of flesh being torn from bone. Steve!
Tony gasped awake and growled in annoyance. Really, another bloody nightmare? How many times was he going to be forced to live something that hadn't even happened yet?
He sat up in his chair. Falling asleep at his desk was a lifelong habit of his, but he regretted it every time he woke up.
"Any luck J?"
"I have run 14,000 possible combinations of that event, but with so many unknown variables in terms of the assailant's strengths and weaknesses when matched with the suit and the CAEB, it is impossible to determine any likely outcomes."
So, it was a bust. He had been trying to find a way of keeping them all safe while he took down Edraskil, but Jarvis was right. It had been a long shot and there weren't enough variables. He had done all he could. Everything was ready. Tomorrow the Asgardians would arrive and the final preparations would begin.
It was time to draw the line.
"Ok let's call it a night."
"Very wise Sir."
Tony trudged up to bed and was pleased to see Pepper already snuggled in, asleep. He tucked himself in next to her and she stirred, mumbling happily and moving closer to him.
"Love you Pep." He whispered, pressing a kiss onto the top of her head.
"Love you too Tony."
Tony fell asleep quickly and slept soundly. The nightmares left him alone. He was at peace.
….
Clint stood on the balcony looking out over the empty streets. Well, he said empty… now directly under the tower the forces of Asgard and Vanaheim were starting to arrive, the Bifrost streaking down from the sky every few minutes as the next wave of soldiers arrived.
This was happening. In a little over 24 hours the portals would open, and all hell would break loose. Despite the fact there was so long to wait, everyone was already battle ready. There was always the chance things would happen sooner. The current plan was to be positioned and ready with 5 hours to go, but Tony was closely monitoring the energy signatures around New York for any sign of early portal activity just in case, but apparently, he could sense them. Some other CAEB upside… or downside depending on which way you saw it.
All the news all over the globe was focused on one place. New York. The TV babbled in the background and Clint could still make out what was being said.
"… All flights nationally have been grounded. Over 1200 square miles have been evacuated in the New York area and the entire troops from all over the country have been brought in. Airforce one was seen landing at JFK 3 hours ago, but there is now strict no fly zone in place."
"There is hysteria in the refugee camps, millions of people feeling their homes, and no one is entirely sure why? Though the speculation of an imminent alien invasion seems to be gaining more and more validity with every passing hour. There are thousands still in the city and we are getting reports of a bright light blasting down from the sky and thousands upon thousands of soldiers arriving below Stark tower. No one is being allowed into the city, but reporter Jessica Milton stayed behind and has been sending us updates on her phone one of which we will show you in just a moment."
"Jarvis mute." A tired sounding voice snapped Clint out of his day dream.
"Stark." Clint greeted.
"Come away Clint. Staring isn't going to help your nerves."
"I know, I'm just keeping watch. You know… in case."
"I get it Hawkeye, but trust me, I can see much more than you can and everything's ok. Well, ok enough for now." He corrected.
"What do you see Tony. I never asked… what is it like?"
Tony pondered for a moment. "It's like having an extra 8 senses. Everything is on supercharge. If I let myself, I can hear every voice in the city, feel all the fear, the confusion, the sadness… I can see the places where the wall between the worlds are weak. Right now, as I look outside I can see it slowly unravelling, it's going to happen on schedule."
"You and your schedule." Clint scoffed.
"Can't help it I'm afraid." Tony shrugged.
"We're very grateful for it, really, its just really, really annoying."
"Trust me, I know." Tony chuckled. "Come on Steve wants to have team meeting number 3052."
"Sure thing. I'll be there... I just need a few more minutes."
"No sweat, take your time. I'll cover for you."
"Thank you, Tony. For everything."
There was a silent look of understanding between the two men, before Tony offered a sad smile and returned inside.
….
So, I wanted this chapter to be a nice one (mostly). After all, we all know what is coming. So, get ready, because we only have 5 to go