The Avengers Whump & Bromance Anthology

The Titan's Trade

Whumptober 2020

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Quill's blasts knocked Thanos off balance, but he regained his footing quickly. Before Dr. Strange or Peter could do anything but cry out Tony's name, the titan disappeared through the blue portal not just with the newly acquitted Time Stone and the other Infinity Stones, but with the skewered Tony Stark as well. A blink later and they were on earth. Tony found himself in Wakanda, looking back at the wide eyes of the other Avengers. He found brief joy at the sight of their faces – even Cap and Nat's. But then he saw Vision at the back of the group, and he remembered why they were there. Tony gathered himself and took a swing at Thanos' massive chin, but the titan easily dodged it and served Tony a punch right where he'd stabbed him minutes before. Tony yelped and folded forward. He dropped to one knee and blood poured from the front and back of his wound. Steve cried out his name.

Suddenly, Thanos grasped Tony by the throat and held him high like a trophy. "The wizard just gave up a Stone to save this one's life," Thanos announced loud enough for the whole forest to hear. "He must be precious to you earthlings, so I'll make this offer, but only once: give me the Mind Stone, and I'll give you Tony Stark."

Blackness crept in from the corners of Tony's eyes. His body shuddered, every inch of it straining for breath. With the last air he had, Tony shouted to his friends, "Don't!"

Steve and Tony made eye contact. An unspoken conversation happened in two mute seconds. I'm sorry. I've missed you. I have to do what I have to do. I know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. With just a hint of reluctance, Cap ordered the team, "Eyes up! Stay sharp!" and the Avengers advanced.

A frustrated Thanos tossed Tony aside. Tony collided with a tree, rolled down the trunk and came to a stop in a pile of his own limbs, gasping. Some ghost version of the Hulkbuster suddenly floated over him before rock enveloped it. Steve went sailing past. One by one, Thanos was taking the Avengers down on his warpath to Vision. Grunting, Tony managed to climb to his feet. He limped, swaying a bit, over to the Hulkbuster and grabbed onto its remaining hand. "Release it!" he ordered whoever was inside.

Banner folded the visor down and got a good look at his friend. "Tony, you're hurt! Sit this one out!"

"Bruce, the universe is at stake here. Give me the damn gauntlet!" Banner hesitated, but obeyed. The weight of the gauntlet nearly pulled Tony to the ground, and he yelped from pain. He opted to drag the weapon, and he turned and inched his way towards Thanos' back. Falcon crashed down. Rhodey crumpled like an aluminum can. Was he delirious or was that a tree? While the tree distracted Thanos, Tony crept up behind him. He squeezed his right hand into the gauntlet, used the left to aim it, and activated the repulsor. He hit Thanos square in the back of the neck.

Thanos roared. He whirled around and struck Tony with his fist. Stark flew head-over-heels backwards. He would've collided with the same rock Bruce was stuck in, but far softer hands connected to a much softer body grabbed him out of midair. "Gotcha," a disheveled, bleeding Steve Rogers gasped as he gently lowered Tony to the ground, cradling him.

Blackness crept in from the corners of Tony's eyes. He ordered himself to hang on. He couldn't pass out yet. "I couldn't stop him," Tony gasped in a voice that begged for forgiveness.

"We will," Steve declared. He made sure Tony was comfortable, and then he ran back to Thanos. The titan ripped his shields off, then punched down. Cap intercepted the gauntlet, and he may have even held it for another second if Thanos hadn't punched him with his opposite hand. Cap hit the ground hard. He didn't move.

Tony, groaning, crawled to him. "Cap," he croaked. He reached out and shook the soldier's shoulder. "Steve! Steve, get up!" Cap remained still. Tony couldn't take it anymore. The pain and the weight of their inevitable failure overwhelmed him, and he passed out.

Steve fought through a dark fog and woke up. He found Tony's pale, bleeding face in front of his. "Stark?" Steve whispered. Tony was unconscious. Steve raised his head an looked around. Wanda and Thanos were battling and Steve begged, "Come on, girl."

Then Vision exploded, and the shockwave knocked trees over and sent Tony and Steve rolling half a dozen feet. Tony groaned. Steve saw the wound, then, and the blood – there was so much of it. "Tony?" He shook his friend's shoulder. "Tony, please stay awake."

Tony did, but only long enough to see Thanos reverse time and yank the Mind Stone out of Vision's head.

He passed out.


"Oh, God," Steve said from his spot sitting beside Vision's hollow dead body. And then he said, "Oh, God, Tony!" Cap leapt to his feet and sprinted deeper into the forest. With all that happened so quickly – Thor, Bucky disappearing, everything – he'd all but forgotten about his friend, and hated himself for it in that moment. Relief replaced everything when he saw that Tony was still there. He hadn't disintegrated, but was his heart beating? Steve pressed trembling fingers to Tony's neck and found a pulse. Then he gulped. The emotion of the day collected in his chest and threatened to burst out. He allowed a little to leak out – one tear – and then he put his face down on Tony's chest and let a single sob wreck him.

A trembling hand touched the back of his head. Steve looked up. Tony's eyes were closed, but his tongue was licking his lips. "Did we win?" Tony whispered.

Steve put his head back down. Another tear leaked out… And a thousand followed it.

The End