A/N: Hey everyone! BATBPhantom here! So, this is my third time to write a fanfic, actually, and hopefully, I can manage to finish this. (I forgot my first account, but there's still stories on them, though I can't finish them anymore.)

So, I just considered myself an Avengers fan, though I already knew them since 2008, but my love for them just grew in times, and now I'm here! I really love them and I'm now a crying mess because I feel like it's already done. Finished. Nada. No more.

I know that there's still more movies coming up, but I'm still going to miss them after the Endgame :(

I'm not fluent in English, but I'm trying okay? If my characters are not like... you know, the same or didn't really match with the character from the movie or their traits, feel free to correct me. I have no beta, so bare with me with limited vocabulary and wrong spellings, grammars, etc. I feel like this fic will have one-shots to support this first one, what do call it? Series? Oh well, I'mma call it a Series. So, this one may turn into a series. I don't know how long this story goes, but I already have a plot. Forgive me if I may seem to miss the accuracy of events in the movie, because it's an AU, so yeah. Enough of me rambling.

So, here's my first Avengers fic, hope y'all like this.

Wardens

by: BATBPhantom

Chapter 1 - Mark of the Warden

New York, 2012

The Battle of New York finally came to an end.

Yet, Stark is still falling from the portal. He decided to make a sacrifice for the whole New York, just to steer away the nuke and directed it to the Chitauri army. He's free-falling, and he's not responding in the comms.

Fear gripped the heart of Captain America, as well as Thor, as they watch their comrade fall from the sky.

"He's not stopping." Steve muttered.

Thor swings his Mjolnir to catch the billionaire from his demise, yet Hulk came to the rescue before Thor could even fly away. As the Hulk caught Tony, Steve rushed forward to check the unconscious man. He took away his face-plate and checked his arc reactor.

It's not glowing.

He cannot be dead. No. He's not dead.

Doubt and fear clouded his mind, and he shook the man lightly as he called his name a numerous times. Hulk roared, it seems like the Big Guy is also anxious to find if Tony is still alive or barely gripping the strands of life. The loud roar made Steve jump, as well as Tony, who finally took a large gulp of air. He's alive.

"Whoa! Huh. What? Where—"

"It's done. We won, Tony. You're safe." Steve reassured Tony.

Tony, a little disoriented, look around and saw Thor with his little smile, Hulk grunting from exhaustion and relief of seeing Tony alive, and Steve leaning down and mumbling reassuring words.

"Please, tell me nobody kissed me?"

Steve chuckled at the man, relieved that the old Tony is back and alive. After a few lingering moment of silence, Tony rambled again.

"Alright. Hey. Alright. Good job, guys. Let's just not come in tomorrow. Let's just take a day. Have you ever tried shawarma? There's a shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don't know what it is, but I wanna try it."

"We're not finished yet." the God replied, looking at the Avengers Tower, regarding Loki's whereabouts.

"And then shawarma after."

Steve shook his head and helped the man to stand up. He pats his shoulder as he gave him a reassuring smile. Thor also helped Tony, and the two guys became a crutch to a weakened Tony as they made their way to the Tower.

Pain.

A lot of pain.

Loki grunted as he felt all the pain that was caused by the green monster he encountered. He felt as if his head are being broken into a million pieces by his brother's hammer. He crawled to the stairs to try and support himself, more like collect a little dignity after being treated like a doll by the Hulk. He winces again as he felt a sharp pain that came from his legs. It's like being punctured by a hundred invisible needles.

He felt someone coming from his behind, and saw shadows forming, and he gulped. He then faces them, the Avengers are pissed, the Hulk is still enrage, Natasha pointed a gun to the trickster, Clint aimed his bow to the head of Loki, Thor ready to swing his hammer, Steve showing his disapproval and annoyed look, and Tony, with his face-plate gone, smirking at the God of Mischief.

Suddenly, a powerful aura was felt, and Loki was shocked that the magical and powerful aura came from the Avengers, knowing that it is impossible to possess such aura since they are human, well, except for Thor. And then he knew it, as he saw the markings of the Warden floating above their heads. It seems like the Avengers are oblivious to what Loki was seeing, and Loki decided to not state the little glimpse of unmatchable power they didn't know they possess.

Loki knew the story of the Wardens of Cosmos, ever since he was a child. He knew the markings very well, and it seems like the stones have finally chose the new Wardens of Cosmos.

"If it's all the same to you. I'll have that drink." Loki said, after gaining his thoughts and tried to push away the little glimpse of power.

"Tony Stark"

Tony grumbled as Fury called him out once again. The Avengers are now being debriefed after the Battle, and he's just so tired. All he wanted right now is to sleep, and he saw that Steve is also trying to battle the unconsciousness.

"Are you even listening?"

"Yes, I'm listening. But I'm not processing it. I'm tired, okay? Capsicle here is also feeling the same way as I do," Tony said, making Steve jerk his head upright, and he almost chuckle at the soldier. "so whatever you're saying is just flying across my head."

"I'm listening" Steve grumbled.

"Yeah, right." Tony muttered as he rolled his eyes.

"If you want this to be done, then sit down, and I'm going to discuss one more thing about your team." Fury said, giving Tony a hard gaze.

"Fine, whatever."

Tony likes to argue, just to push the buttons of people to see how far they can hold before they break. He likes to wind up people, he likes fun. This time, he just wanted to be back on his Tower, rest a little, brew some coffee, and play with his toys again. So now, he's not going to put a fight, yet he's also not gonna listen to whatever bullshit Nick is saying.

"The last thing I wanted to discuss with you, Stark, is the accommodations of your team. The Avengers needed a place to train, grow as a team, and plan out the next missions if the needs arise."

"I'm sorry, Director, but it seems like we are abusing Stark's ability to provide… these things." Steve interjected.

"No, Cap. I'm fine with that. No need to worry." Tony wave off his hands as he spoke.

"No, Tony. We don't want to impose."

"You mean, you don't want to impose. You can't just decide for the decisions of others, now, can you?"

Tony smirked as he saw Steve's annoyed expression. Steve was about to answer, but Fury cut him off to the chase.

"Alright. Stop your bickering. I only wanted to make sure that the team is always ready if ever new threats decided to knock on the door. This accommodation is just sensible, because Avengers will be one-call away. It lessens the time for your team to assemble."

"That's right. Also, I can help you guys in improving your weapons. Isn't that fun?" Tony added, finally interested in this godforsaken debriefing.

Steve is still struggling to process the information. Sure, a good accommodation, yet the fact that Tony will always be there to annoy him? No, thank you. But still, it is a little selfish to disagree with this idea because of that reason. He weighed out the pros and cons of the idea of Avengers living together in one roof. Sighing, he finally relented.

"Fine." Steve grumbled.

"All of those in favor of this idea, raise your hand." Tony announced.

Natasha, Clint, Bruce, Tony, and a reluctant Steve raised their hand. Thor didn't.

"Why, Thor?" Tony asked.

"I still have a duty in Asgard. I still need to bring justice to Loki's actions and I can't just surrender those duties."

"But are you still going to… visit us? You know, just drop by and help us in other missions or just chit-chat?" Tony asked the God.

"Of course, Man of Iron. I will. But, I do need to finish my duty before anything else. Forgive me."

"That's alright."

"So, now that's settled. Dismissed." Fury announced.