Narrated by Tony:
I was sitting on the bench in front of the gray lake of Wakanda. It was a few minutes after T'Challa's funeral and I just wanted to take a quiet moment.
Next to me were some crutches that the doc had prescribed for me. I had to use them as I had a little "discussion" with a purple madman on an orange planet.
-Tony..." I heard a familiar voice calling behind me. I turned around with difficulty. A bearded, blond, pitiful looking guy approached me. It could have been any homeless guy until I saw a star on his chest. He was Steve.
-Rogers..." I replied, coldly.
-How are you?" asked Steve.
-Well, a purple man hit me with a planet while the Bleeker Street's Wizard was giving him what he wanted," I said
-I'm sorry. Listen, I don't want to take up too much of your time," said Steve, as he reached into his pants pocket for something.
-Tony, Bucky gave me this..." he continued, "He asked me to give it to you..." Steve handed me a photograph of me.
Steve handed me a photograph of my father and me. I hadn't seen it in years. The estrangement with my father made that memory disappear over time. I turned it over to verify the phrase: "A fortune can never buy a second of time."
-It's the same handwriting as my father Barnes gave you this?
-He said it would be special for you.
I stared at it for several seconds. I couldn't believe it. I took a breath and looked back at Steve.
-I told you they'd beat us, Steve. You'll beat us together then," you replied, I reproached him, "What do you think, Cap? They beat us and...
-And I wasn't there," Steve replied, regretfully.
-I'm sorry too. A small part of the blame was mine, if it's any consolation-Steve sat down next to me and we looked at the lake in silence.
-Tony, this won't change anything. I'm still a fugitive and our trust is broken forever," Steve told me. I shut him up and told him to just enjoy the quietness of the place.
-Tell me you saw the talking log and the talking raccoon too," I asked, easing the conversation.
-Yes. Actually, the log snapped his fingers to get us all back safe and sound," Steve replied.
-Thank you, I thought I was going crazy. And how could I not... If you had told me 10 years ago that there were several Universes, alien races, and an absurd amount of superheroes... I would have never imagined it.
We both remained thoughtful.
-For better or for worse, this is the new reality that the new ones will have to learn to live in," I continued.
-The new ones?
-Parker, Strange, Maximoff and the pair of soldiers with wings and metal arms. Along with all the others and those who will join in the future- The Captain looked a little puzzled.
-Please, we're getting old, Cap. You're not Captain America anymore and I don't want to be Iron Man anymore. The forces of good and evil have already clashed. We won... THEY won. This will be a period for ever and ever.
- And what happens if another Thanos or someone more powerful comes back? -
-They gave the warning. The Galaxy... or rather, the Universes are protected by the New Avengers- -We both smiled.
We both smiled. Suddenly, there was a blinding green flash just off the shore of the lake. I grabbed the crutches and we stood up to take a closer look.
An injured woman emerged from a turquoise-green cloud, it appeared to be a portal. The girl was wearing a black suit with yellow details; it was Wasp.
-Who are you?" I asked, uncertainly. She took the air again, exhausted.
-Where's Scott," she asked, worried. Together with Steve we shared a look of confusion. "Lang?" we asked each other at the same time.
-How did you get here?" asked Steve.
-We need to gather them all together," said Wasp.
-Why? What's going on?
-I've come from another time to report an imminent threat approaching. It will endanger mutants, mortals and gods," reported the Wasp.
-Who? Is Thanos back?" asked Tony.
-Even worse..." answers Wasp -GALACTUS-.
END...
