Hello,

Before you ask, yes, i have seen Endgame, and yup, it broken me. It broke me more than I thought it would. No Spoilers from me, but this is why we have fanfiction.

I had wanted to get it out earlier, but you know, Endgame killed me. Need time to heal.

But let me know what you think! I love reviews.

Chapter 3:

Step AHHHH

There would always be a part of Tony that thought he was dreaming, though he would wake up back on that planet with that Blue Alien Chick—a name he should really figure out instead of calling her Blue Alien Chick. He didn't know what was worse: facing a future that could possibly end up exactly the same way and having to relive everything, or waking back up on that planet and seeing Peter's dust in flying in the wind… Oh, wasn't that a pretty picture? The idea of which sent a cold chill down his spine and through his body. Man, up, he told himself. He didn't have time for this crap.

Right now, he had to deal with the matter at hand. The area had come alive with activity as the Wakandans started to disembark from their jets below and board the decaying ship. The action below didn't concern him as this was his goal from the get-go. Though, his curiosity got the better of him for a second, and Tony glanced at them for a second before turning his attention back to the three people in front of him. In this timeline, this was the first time that he had met these people, but he knew T'Challa from before. He vaguely remembered one of the ladies. She had threated—surprisingly still alive if you ask Tony—Natasha when she was wanted to speak to the Prince that one time. The other one, Tony didn't know at all.

Granted, that wasn't what caught Tony's attention. He knew Wakanda was big in tradition, but it was another thing to see them decked out in their cultural garb. It was inspiring to say the least, but he couldn't spend too long on that as they were staring at Tony like he kicked a puppy. The two woman, Ayo and Okoye he soon learned, were ready to fight an army for their Prince, which included him if needed, and they stationed the Prince between them, acting like a shield to the world. Though, Tony wondered how necessary that was. Being the Black Panther, T'Challa could handle himself with ease. No, don't go there, Tony yelled at himself, as his mind tried to flash back to the image of Rogers and Barnes standing over him.

There were, also, a few additional Wakandans on the jet, but Tony paid very little attention to them. Being on edge (for reasons he wished to ignore), he only tracked them as they made their way to Klaue, who was spouting off at the mouth. That man was not going quietly, and he was promising Tony all kind of things if he changed his mind and helped him. That was a hard no. Though, Tony had wondered if Klaue had gone crazy, but he didn't allow himself too much time to ponder that, as T'Challa had a pointed look directed at him. Tony needed to figure out what he was going to say, because the prince wasn't going to go without a conversion, not that Tony wanted the man to go.

"Howdy," Tony waved, putting on a large smile. "You had me worried. I thought you would leave me hanging. Worried I would be stood up for the first time ever."

With a stiff expression, the Prince didn't say anything at first, just eyeing Tony like a hawk eyeing a mouse. He, painfully quiet, gave Tony a once over as if he expected Tony to explode. Granted, Okoye and Ayo looked like they wanted to set him on fire with those glares they were spotting. It made Tony wonder how their ride over was. Did they disagree to this little meeting? "I find it quite intriguing that you would hunt down Klaue just to turn him over to us. Did you not want the Vibranium for yourself? I can imagine the upgrades you could make to your Iron Man Armor."

That was everyone's questioned it seemed, and it was a good question, but Tony made it pretty far without it, and he didn't need it now. Yes, his genius mind was already thinking of ways he could use it, but it served a greater purpose as a bargaining tool. Besides, Tony wasn't sure if he trusted himself with it. "That would be cheating! Like I got a toy that no one else has," he replied. "Granted, we all know you hide your advancement for a reason. We live in a cruel world." Though, it was still better than Thanos wiping out half.

T'Challa's expression changed slightly. "I am also curious to where you got your information."

There was something about accents in general, but T'Challa's accent was something else. Tony could listen to this man for ages, and he would totally support changing out Rogers for T'Challa any day of the week. It also didn't hurt that the prince had an army. Again, that was something Tony would like. Maybe, he could figure out how to get one that did not result in an army of murder bot… Though, it was that desire that created the murder bots in the first place, so he should probably bury that idea. He did not need to recreate Ultron again, especially when he was trying to change the future.

Uncontrollably and excruciatingly, Peter popped into his mind like a jackhammer, and pain flooded through him like a wound that would not heal. It may feel like he had taken a step forward with the capturing of Klaue, but Peter still haunted him like a ghost, angry that he was dead. No, Tony never wanted to forget Peter, a boy who was more like a son than anything—any idea that still blew him away. No matter the time, Tony wanted to protect and save his memories of the young man, because they meant the world to him; however, it hurt. It hurt to remember the pain and fright in Peter's eyes, knowing his death was coming. Tony could live a hundred years and never forget that devastated look.

"Mr. Stark?" T'Challa called, noticing the distanced look in Tony's eyes. Again, his expression changed. Was that pity in his eyes?

Shaking his head, Tony took a deep breath. He was being too damn emotional right now, and it was annoying him. He didn't have time for it. "Oh, T'Challa. Can I call you that? Or is that too informal? Do you refer Prince T'Challa?" he asked, glancing to the jets on the ground. They were hard at work.

Okoye looked like she wanted to say something, but T'Challa held up a hand to silence her. With a light shake of the head, he stood there. There was something regal about T'Challa that could never be taken from the man. Even if the title was taken from him, this man would always be a King in Tony's eyes. "T'Challa is fine," he replied. "Now, tell me, Mr. Stark. What's your objective?" He asked, waving to the ship around them.

Now, that was the million-dollar question, wasn't it? How could Wakanda help him, besides taking the Vibranium back "I just want Wakanda as an ally." Tony answered, honestly.

"So that's why you captured Klaue and return Vibranium just to gain favor from a third world country?" Ayo asked, her eyes glancing to T'Challa. "Seems foolish."

Were they still playing that game? Tony's glance jumped to the Wakandan jet before letting out a chuckling smile. "I think we're past that trickery, don't you?" The Iron Man suit stood a few feet behind Tony, acting like his own guard. "I just want us to be friends. Is that all too much to ask?"

"The Marchant of Death? Not likely," Okoye utters, glancing at her Prince.

"Okoye." T'Challa held his hand up to her again as he took a step forward. In that second, his expression looked human, emotional before his shield popped up. "Is that why you're handing over Klaue and the Vibranium, Mr. Stark? To Trade for favors." He paused for a second. "And you didn't keep any Vibranium for yourself?"

Tony was tempted to roll his eyes. Wasn't this already addressed? Again, Tony would be lying if he said the thought hadn't past his mind. He was human after all, but it didn't do him well to lie to Wakanda. That did not build trust. "I did not take any. Granted, I don't know if Klaue sold any, so I cannot attest that it's all there." He shrugged as he exhaled. "Besides, I'm not trading anything. Whether you trust me or not. Whether you help me or not, it's yours."

T'Challa didn't answer right away, drinking it all in. "Very well. For that, I must thank you. My country owes you a great debt," he replied, spotting a sound smile. "Granted, the question still remains what can we do for you."

This was where the fumble happened for Tony. He wasn't exactly sure what he wanted from Wakanda apart from saving the King from dying and stopping the accords. However, he would be lying if he said counting them as his friends didn't seem like huge win. Just being Allies could turn the tide. So in the end, the truth could set him free. "I want an audience with your father, King T'Chaka."

The idea seemed to insult Okoye and Ayo, but T'Challa seemed neutral? The now Prince seemed confused by the request. "You think I would bring you to my father just because you wish it?"

Tony knew that was going to be a hard sell, especially with his reputation. It also didn't help that they mistrusted all outsiders, not that he could blame them. It didn't take much to see why. "I have information that your father might want." Though the idea of putting on an act didn't bring Tony any joy, he put on a smile. "You think this is all I know?" he asked as he waved to the air around him. "I'll have your head spinning." He paused for a second for a dramatic pause. "For one, I know you walk around in a Black Panther outfit, much like your father did before you. Super human strength and all that fun stuff. I'm jealous. I feel like they give it out like candy, and no one wanted to share with me."

The sun was slowly drowned out by the darkness that stretched across the land like a plague. There was a chill in the air that wasn't there before, sending a shiver down Tony's back. "I also know this isn't the only Vibranium you have." There was only so much info that he could juice the carrot with before he ran out. Unless Rogers, Tony had never been to the golden country. "Another lie you portray the world. What a web you make, but hey, that's none of my business."

With a conflicted look, T'Challa's narrowed his eyes at Tony. "Very well. I will grant you an audience."

Before Tony could reply, Okoye turned to T'Challa, spouting something off to the prince that Tony could not understand. It was a different language Tony's mind supplies after a few seconds of listening, but that was all he could tell, though he could make out his name here and there. "Geez, if you're going to talk about me in front of me, you might as well speak in English. Don't be rude."

Okoye turned to Tony, giving a harsh look. If looks could kill, Tony would be dead as she held him with her glare. "Leave your Iron Man armor and any communication device that you might have."

Though Tony understood why they were requesting this, the idea that he would be without his tech didn't sit well with him. Even in his semi-retirement, he was never without a suit, but if this was the only way he could see the T'Chaka, he would do it. "Very well," Tony replied, turning to his Iron Man suit. Reaching into his pockets, he pulled put two devices and handed them to the JARVIS controlled Iron Man suit. "Takes these and intercept Rhodey for me. I don't want him to be worried." After taking the item, the Suit didn't take to the air just yet, as it seemed JARVIS was not pleased with the idea either. "Happy?" Tony asked as he spun slowly.

Okoye turned to Ayo and waved her forward. "Check him." Without saying a word, Ayo cross to Tony and proceeded to pat him down. She was not gentle in the least, but she was thorough, checking every itch of him.

"I feel like you need to buy me dinner now," said Tony, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "And you'll have to give me a ride home. It's the noble thing to do."

"You're not my type," Ayo replied, sternly. There wasn't even a hint of a smile on her face. If Tony didn't know any better, he would have thought she was about to go off to war. That was a shot to the ego, though he wasn't even sure why he cared. He wasn't interested in anyway.

T'Challa let out a small chuckle. "Don't worry, Mr. Stark. We will make sure you make it home in one piece."

Again, Tony didn't like the idea of being separated from his suit, but if he had to do it to see the King, he would. He refused to let the future happen, even if he was fighting every nerve in his body. He turned to the Suit and waved it off. "JARVIS, you can go now."

"Very well, Sir," JARVIS replied as it took off into the air. If there was hesitation in the AI, Tony didn't hear it.

"Okay, lets get the show on the road," said Tony, his focus returning to the Prince.

*O*O*

If Tony thought Ayo and Okoye would warm up to him once they were on the jet, he was sadly mistaken. They were just as cold as they were on the ship. If this was anyone else, he would've thought he was flying to his death, which didn't sit well with him. He was itchy without his suit, and he was restless. No matter what he did, he couldn't get comfortable, though their stare did not help. No wonder, retirement didn't stick to well. He would probably die in the suit. Stop being so depressing, Tony chastised himself.

While Okoye sat in the pilot seat with T'Challa, Ayo stared at him with a 'don't even think about it' look at any attempt to move or get out of his seat (the furthest from the front). It was like he was chained down but without the chains. It had left Tony wondering if he was a prisoner like Klaue, who was silently laughing at him. Granted, he knew he was letting his mind run amok, always going to the worse spot. He knew they were just trying to protect their home, protect it from someone who might do it harm. He just wished he wasn't the person who they were worried about.

*O*O*

As soon as the Jet landed, Okoye led Tony away as quickly as she could. Klaue, on the other hand, was put on show, giving entertainment to those who came to see the criminal attacked their home. Tony didn't mind the hush hush, considering he came here for two things. The first was to get Vibranium off the board, which he did, and the second was to make sure T'Chaka didn't die. Sure, that didn't mean everything still wouldn't go to hell; Tony had seen enough time traveling moves to know that. T'Chaka wasn't the final key that twisted the lock on the accords, though he pushed for it. It was Ultron that sparked flame and set the world ablaze. It could still happen. Tony wasn't stupid, and now that he was changing the past, he couldn't be sure of the future anymore.

Taking a deep breath and shaking his head, Tony headed toward the large window in what he assumed was the throne room. Well, he hoped it was the throne room or else T'Chaka would have to explain his obsession with strange chairs. Or, he would need to get his ego in checked, because no one needed more than one Throne room. However, the view from the window was amazing, and even if Tony didn't want to admit, it was more breathtaking than the view from his tower. Yet, that could be because he had seen that view over a hundred times, and this was the first time he was seeing this. Nevertheless, Wakanda was breath taking. It was the perfect mixture of culture and technology. It-

"I thought someone said there was a white boy in here, but I didn't believe it."

Tony, with a raised eye brow, turned around slowly. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he did not expect to see a little girl… Okay, she wasn't little. She was 12ish? He didn't know, considering he was horrible with ages, but that wasn't what he was focused on. That wasn't what struck him. It was the fact that she reminded him of Peter, which dumbfound Tony. She looked nothing like Peter, not even the same gender, but that expression of her screamed Peter, and like some kind of hell made especially for Tony, Peter's petrified face flashed before his eyes. When was he not going to flash to Peter's innocent face? He supposed he could visit the Young Peter to right his mind, but that would just a tad creepy, and he wasn't ready to go there yet. "It has been awhile since someone has called me a boy," he replied, doing his best to put on his smile.

The brave young girl, with her hands on her hips, gave him a once over, narrowing her eyes at him. She was looking at him like he was something she brought and didn't like. "I bet I'm smarter than you."

This was not new for Tony, who had faced insults and jests from all kinds of people. It was just odd to be smack talked by a girl not even half his age, but something told him this girl was more than just a 12-year-old, especially growing up in Wakanda. In an advance city like this, he would hope that they were smarter. "And I bet you are. I'm just old," he replied, with a chuckle. He had no interest in fighting her, not with Peter dancing in his head. Anyone else would have received a witty comeback.

"I expected more from Tony Stark."

"Agreed," he replied with a smile. "They always say not to meet your idols in real life. They're never like what they seem in real life." Right now, it almost felt like someone had killed him, and he was someone else entirely. He had no clue who that was, but he did know that he felt walled off from the rest of the world. Maybe, it was the curse of knowing the future, or maybe, having Peter die in his arms was enough to open his eyes. It was—

"Shuri!" Ayo called, looking just as happy as the last time Tony had seen her. "What did I tell you?"

With a devilish smirk, Shuri was a spunky preteen, who would probably get along with Peter. "I wanted to see the famous Iron Man and challenge him. I would've won too, as he got nothing one me, but you ruined it, Ayo," she pouted as she headed for the door. "You're no fun!"

Even as Shuri stomped out in an over the top fashion, Tony couldn't help but chuckle. Okay, he needed like 5 of her, but not in the creepy… Yup, he ruined that thought. "Oh, she's cute."

Ayo turned to him, giving him a look that screamed 'Are you an idiot?' "I wouldn't call her that, especially not to her face. She might blast you for it," she replied. Was that a hint of a smile in her voice?

Before Tony could respond, T'Chaka stepped into the room, and like his son, he had a presence to him that could draw everyone to him. He could take over a room without speaking. "I see you met my daughter, Shuri. I apologize for anything that she might've said. She has yet to understand how that mouth of hers can get her into trouble."

That was something Tony understood a great deal. That was something he struggled. "Nothing I can't handle," he replied, softly. "Besides, a child should never apologize for being a child." That was something he had learned from years under his father's watch. It was what learned from Peter, a child who taken a hold of his heart and refused to let go.

"You speak as if you have a child," spoke T'Chaka.

The three of them were the only one in the room (Ayo not moving from her King), though it still felt overwhelming. Being haunted by the excruciating future was crushing, and Tony found it challenging to think or even breathe. "I do not," he stated, slowly. He didn't know why it was so hard to answer, but Peter kept popping in his head.

T'Chaka narrowed his eyes, taking the man in fully. "You speak as if you do not know."

"I do not." He repeated, even though he had found himself thinking about having children. He would be lying if he denied seeing a child in his future (something that still surprised him), but that future was destroyed. Everything was different now. "But I did not come here to speak about my lack of a child."

"And why did you come here?" T'Chaka asked, keeping a good distance between them. "My son may have enlightened me to what you said, but what goal would you have in gaining Wakanda as an ally?"

Gaining them as an ally would be awesome, and he would probably be able to get some sleep finally. "I have two goals, and I completed my first object. I got your Vibranium off the street. That could've caused more harm than good in the wrong hands, which is why I assume you guard this so strongly." He waved toward the window.

"Agreed." T'Chaka followed Tony's glance, studying his every twitch. "And the second?"

How did you tell someone that they were going to die? That they would be murdered simply to be used as a prop? Seriously, how did you go 'hey, you're dead in the future'? Tony wasn't sure, but it would do him no favors if he didn't tell the man the truth. He had to be 100% truthful, even if he looked like an idiot who needed to be in committed. "You. I came for you."

T'Chaka only stared at Tony, not making a move, but that could not be said of Ayo, who had firmly placed herself between them. She was ready to kill if needed. "For what purpose?"

"Your death," Tony answered, though promptly regretting it a second later. If he heard someone say what he had just uttered, he would've blasted them, and it seemed like Ayo was no different. He really should've said it differently, especially if he wanted to live.

Her eyes were piercing the genius, as she held her spear up against his neck, drawing blood. "You made a mistake coming here," she hissed.

No wonder Rogers hated him; Tony hated his own mouth at times. Or maybe, the issue was his mind, firing before he could really think. "That came out wrong," he corrected, quickly. "I want to stop it."

Taking a step forward, T'Chaka took a good look at Tony. "You must not think highly of me if you think that I can be easily killed."

Ayo eyed T'Chaka for a second, communicating with their eyes, before taking a step back, though she still was very much on the defensive. "They would have to get pass me to do so." There was no doubt that Ayo would kill anyone who dared to lay a hand on the any of the royal family. It was more than a duty.

"If I may, let me explain." Tony paused for a second, as his hand flew to his neck. JARVIS and Rhodey wasn't going to like this, the blood dripping down his neck. It also brought back some memories that Tony could do without. He didn't know why his mind went back to Titian, being stabbed a few times. This was not the first time he had ever bleed, but it felt like the first time. There was no ignoring the panic rising up inside of him, and he was pretty sure his poker face was failing.

With a deep breath, he continued, "I'm from the future." Or rather, did he just have future knowledge? It wasn't like there were two Tony's running around, which was probably one more than the world could handle. It was just him in his past body with future knowledge, though how did he explain that. Granted, he could say it like that, but either way, he had to start slow, which was exactly what he did. With his heart beating in his chest, he told the two Wakandans everything, well not everything. He didn't tell them how he went crazy on Barnes after seeing the video of the man murdering his parents. His mind froze for a second as it dawned on him that that video still existed. That was one video that he didn't need to get out, though there was a part of him that wanted to watch it again. What did that make him? Not now, he chastised himself again.

After getting himself back inline, he finished telling them everything; again, he kept a few things to himself. Maybe, he was just worried they wouldn't help. Maybe, he did it because he did not want to relive the pain. Or maybe, he was just ashamed. Nevertheless, he didn't tell them how close Peter and he were, though it was visible in his tone. He didn't tell them how much he wanted to die, though he was pretty sure his voice betrayed him. He didn't tell them how he didn't trust himself enough for this, which was why he needed them. He didn't tell them how his heart felt like a bomb. He couldn't help but wonder if that was a mistake. Maybe with time, he would be able to.

Even with him holding things back, it still felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest, and he could breathe. He didn't realize how heavy it all became, how exhausting it was to keep it all in. He may not have told them how it felt how when Peter turned to dust in his arms, but just telling them how Thanos ripped through them like they were nothing, having someone to finally tell, it felt…amazing? No, it felt like there was a chance, though it made him wonder how those two felt about the burdened placed on them. For him, it felt like there was a future besides pain. It felt like he had a chance, finally getting an ally—or hoping that he would be. "So, that's the cliff notes version." He replied. "Did I pass?"

Ayo's expression told it all, which Tony didn't fault her for. It was her duty. She had to protect her King, which meant mistrusting everyone who came his way. "You expect us to believe that?"

Tony's eyed the spear in her hand for a second, wondering if she was going to stab him. No, don't go there. "How do you think I know what I know about Wakanda?" he asked.

"There are ways. Maybe, you're in league with Klaue?" She countered.

There was a point in his life that Tony almost did do business with said criminal, though some might still say he did. Stane, may he die a million times over, made some dirty deals, and by extension, that meant Tony did. "If I was, you think that I would hand over that Vibranium." He replied, his voice still a little shaky. "I'm trying to extend a branch. If you do not trust me, I don't fault you. I just need you to listen. You can send me on my way if you like." No, that was not the plan, but if T'Chaka heed his warning, Tony was happy. He just needed to stop the King's death. He just needed to stop the accords.

Ayo still didn't look convinced, but that couldn't be said about T'Chaka. "You care about Peter, don't you?" he asked, his voice soft. The father in him was breaking through.

This was where Tony could've lied, denied it, but the idea of denying Peter was a stab to the heart. It felt unbearable just thinking about it, and yet, this was the kid that Tony ignore—okay, not ignored. He read all those text messages and emails he got. He just didn't answer them, which he regretted now. He regretted how he left a lot of it to Happy; he should've been more hands on. He failed Peter. "Yes." The word ripped through his throat.

"I believe you," T'Chaka uttered, his voice gentle. "That's pain you cannot fake. Though I have never lost a child…" He paused for a second, as he glanced to the door that Shuri had disappeared through. "There's no greater pain than losing a child. A parent should never have to leave bury their child."

Tony wanted to protest and say that Peter was not his child. He wanted to say that he didn't bury him. He didn't get a chance to, but that just made it worse. "No, there isn't," he replied, his voice betraying him.

T'Chaka, arms folded behind his back, nodded slowly, as he crossed to the large window, standing a few feet from Tony. With a deep breath, he glanced out at his city and just stared. The look on his face was indescribable as it ranged between a strong protective and furiously loyalty look. "If my time is up in two years, so be it. My only job now is to make sure I leave the world in capable hands; however, I will help you. Wakanda cannot stand by and do nothing."

"I knew you could not pass up this smile," Tony replied, grinning. It still felt like a lie.

"My King," Ayo uttered, shock written on her face. "You surely cannot-"

With a hand risen, T'Chaka turned to her. "Whether you believe Mr. Stark or not, I do, and that's all you need. Besides, we cannot do nothing, while the world burns." He took a good look at Tony. "It's time, Ayo."

Tony let his smile fall, as he took in King T'Chaka. He just told the guy he was going to die, and he was worried about everyone else. That spoke more than anything else. "Well, at least you're not throwing me into the loony bin."

"There still may be time for that," he replied, with a chuckle. "But no, Mr. Stark, we have work to do."

*O*O*

As Tony boarded the Wakanda jet home, he spared a second of thought to Rhodey who was probably fuming at the mouth when he was met an empty Iron Man suit. There was no doubt that he was probably going to get an ear full and then some when he returned to the tower. Knowing his best friend well, Tony could see it in your head, but he wasn't too worried. It was odd to not really feeling anything besides contentment, and he wasn't really sure as to why.

On the other hand, he was able to check one item off his list, his ever-growing and evolving list. T'Chaka may not worry about his death, accepting it if it was reality, but he agreed to help, though he could only offer invisible help for the time being. For now, it was best to work in the shadows, which was something Tony couldn't disagree with. The best kind of attacks were the attacks you could not see coming. To do this, they needed to keep up the show, which T'Chaka insisted Tony did. However, that was impossible for the Genius, especially with Peter always at the back of his mind.

Hearing footsteps, Tony's eyes snapped open, still on the edge. When wasn't he on the edge? It felt like he was seconds from a breakdown, and it didn't seem like he would ever be normal again, well not until he ripped off Thanos' head and hug Peter until the kid turned blue. Okay, maybe not until he turned blue. That would defeat the whole purpose of saving the kid. "Look at what we have here?" he asked, watching Ayo as she trailed in.

To say that she looked unhappy was an understatement. "You asked for help, and I'm here to help," she replied, shooting a look at the pilot.

Why did it feel like she coming to babysit him? Urgh, he did not need more babysitters. Rhodey was going to flip. "Oh, I think you're growing on me," he replied with a smile.

Ayo set her bag on the ground and a took a seat across from Tony. "No, I'm here because I don't trust you." She replied, taking a seat. "If you're benefiting from our knowledge, it's only fair that we do the same."

Tony did like the idea of backup, especially one who knew the truth, but he didn't want someone watching his every move. He didn't want or need to be treated as a liar, and he really didn't want to be seen as the Marchant of Death anymore. He hadn't been that man for a while. Though, was that the truth? Was he just lying to himself? Was Rogers correct? Was he playing hero? No, don't go there, he yelled at himself. If he listed to everything everyone had ever said about him, he wouldn't be able to get out of bed, and he wouldn't have any hope in defeating Thanos. "Well, I hope that changes real soon."

"Not likely." Came her replied.

Okay, she was going to be a hard sell, but Tony could do it. He had a smile to die for, though she was glaring at him pretty hard. It wasn't going to be easy, and between her and Jim, he was so dead. "Oh, you're no fun."

"I did not come along to play," she countered, as the jet took off.

T'Chaka agreed to assist in anyway that he could, while keeping Wakanda safe. They were his number one priority. Tony could understand that; in fact, that was probably for the best. It would do no one any good if Wakanda became a target and their Vibranium was stolen and used for evil. That was why he went after Klaue in the first place. In the wrong hand, it was deadly. "Besides babysitting me, can you tell me your plan?" he asked.

Ayo didn't answer Tony, but that enough of a response for Stark. The silence gave him time to think, to replay his plans in his head. With T'Chaka doing a high dive into Hydra, Tony had time to focus on Barnes, which was Tony's next objective. With no fault of his own, Barnes was heavily ensnarled with Hydra, but Tony looked at them as separate or he wanted to. So, while T'Chaka and his troopers mapped the poisonous group, Tony would track down Barnes and…kidnap him? How the hell did you kidnap a master assassin who would stop at nothing to kill you? Yea, that was going to be fun, but hopefully Wakanda would be able to track down that red book. The idea of using that book turned Tony's stomach, but in case they couldn't control the Winter Soldier, they needed it. Plus, it would get it out of Hydra's hands.

However, before he did all of that, he needed to find a place to hide Barnes once he kidnap—stole?—him from Hydra. While T'Chaka agreed to help with Barnes recovery, they both worried about a potential assassin being within Wakanda's borders. In the previous timeline (could he call it that now?), the man was reformed—well, he was aware of his past life and wanted peace. So, the Tower was out of the question, and Avenger Compound didn't exist yet, not that he was willing to hid Barnes there if it did. With Hydra uncheck within SHIELD, there was no telling who he could trust, which made hiding Barnes difficult. Maybe, he could look through his father's old files and find something. Howard had a lot of secrets with equal number of hiding places, and one of those places could come into handy now. If nothing else, Tony could see if there was an off the book/retired S.S.R base he could use.

And after all of that, he had to deal with the infinity stones, and he only knew of 3, though only 2 were currently on Earth. Thor had taken the Tesseract aka the Space stone to space, and there was no way for Tony to get that, unless he found some way to contact Thor. Contacting Thor had never been one of Tony's strong suits, as the jolly Alien always showed up when he was needed without any prayers or whatnots, not when called. He did know that Thor would show up in a few years, so he supposed he could wait, even if it drove him crazy.

With the second infinity stone, Hydra had the Scepter aka the Mind Stone, which T'Chaka was currently tasked with finding. This wasn't as simple, considering there was no telling where it was. With it moving so often, it was difficult to tell where Hydra was keeping it at this or any second, but Tony supposed it wasn't hidden just any old where. While playing find the scepter wasn't ideal, it was doubtful that they knew what they had, which was a plus.

Next was the Eye of Agamotto, which held the time Stone. Tony wasn't sure who had the stone now, considering Dr. Strange was still cutting into people in New York and not a wizard yet. He supposed he could try to find any wizard and demand it, but that would probably not end well for him. Being wizards, they would probably turn him into toad for demanding something they sworn to protect. For reasons unknown, Strange gave up the stone to save him even after saying he wouldn't. He doubted anyone else would do the same.

Now the other 3 infinity stones, Tony had no freaken clue where they were, though he knew they were in Space somewhere. He could probably ask Thor, his only and current Alien friend, if he knew of the others, but he would have to find him first. However, Tony wasn't sure if that really was a problem. Sure, if Thanos got even one, he was unstoppable, but to stop him from decimating half the universe, they only needed to destroy one.

Though the idea did not sit well with him, they could destroy the Mind stone, which meant eliminating Vision, but Tony didn't see much of a choice. Unless, they destroyed the Time Stone, but he doubted the Wizards would be happy about. He might be able to convince them; after all, Thanos was the villain to end all villains. Tony let out a loud groan as he leaned his head back. Once more, he found himself cursing fucken Strange. The fucker. Why couldn't that asshole give him something to go off of? If Tony had to suffer through this, that asshole should be suffering through it as well.

"Are you okay, Stark?" Ayo asked.

Tony let out a deep sigh as he picked his head up and glanced at Ayo. Even in citizen clothes, she still looked like she could kick his ass. Why couldn't T'Chaka have picked a different Babysitter? He would've settled for T'Challa (though he doubted he would send the crowned prince, but SSSHH), as the Prince probably wouldn't be looking at him like he was an idiot. "Peachy, but I'm in the mood for cheeseburger. You think there's a drive through for jets?"

Ayo let out a harsh sign. "Are you a child?" she asked.

"Well, you're my baby sitter. Have to make this a challenge for you."

*O*O*

Ayo hadn't said much since Tony's last comment, though he could still feel her judging him. But, as the jet touched down at Avengers—Stark, he reminded himself—Tower, he wasn't worried about her, though there was the question of how Pepper and Rhodes would react. There was also the fact that Rhodey was going to get lay into him for leaving him out of the loop and going in alone, though Jim couldn't lecture him too hard. He did come back. Besides the small cut on his neck, he was in one piece, which was saying something. He hardly ever come back looking and feeling so good.

"I am surprised glad to see you in one piece, Sir." Came JARVIS's response. Tony could only huff at that one, not having a retort. He was the idiot who went in without backup. Though it all turned out well, he doubted that JARVIS would let him off the hook any time soon, but that was a worry for another time, especially when he had to finished FRIDAY and find a place to hid Barnes.

When the Wakanda jet off, Tony headed to the labs. If Ayo was following, Tony wasn't sure, but he ordered JARVIS to direct her to quarters for the next how many months she decided to stay. Hopefully, she would stop treating him like the enemy soon, as he didn't think he would be able to take much more of it. With the Civil War hanging over his head, he couldn't handle a teammate not trusting him. The idea cuts him more than anything else. Maybe, that was why he didn't want to see Rhodey right now. He couldn't handle the lack of trust he was seeing in his best friend's eyes.

"Did Ayo find the room alright, JARVIS?" he asked, taking a seat at his desk. "Also make sure she has everything she needs."

"Yes, Sir, and she is not in need of anything at this moment," JARVIS answered. "And Colonel Rhodes is on his way up."

"What is his ETA?" Tony asked, letting out a deep sigh. He wasn't getting out of this fight, but that didn't mean he couldn't do two things at once. With renewed energy, he turned his attention back to Friday's coding. As if he was reading a book, he could see her code in his mind's eye, and his fingers were firing before he knew what he was doing. Also, it wasn't like he had to recreate the wheel. JARVIS and FRIDAY's code had simpler beginnings with the only difference being their tone and personality.

It was at this moment that Rhodes busted into the lab, sporting an angry scowl. "Tony," he uttered, stomping his way over to the Genius. "What do you think you're doing now?"

"Mr. Stark is currently working on what he calls my baby sister," JARVIS answered.

That threw both of them into a loop. For Tony, it sounded like JARVIS was jealous, though Tony wasn't sure why. He wasn't replacing the AI, though he may need a replacement if Vision came to be, but there was no telling if that would happen. If he had to destroy the soul stone, he would… But could Tony do that? He supposed that was a thought for another time. Right now, did he have a jealous AI on his hand? Why would JARVIS be jealous?

For Rhodes, he felt betrayed, as Tony was keeping him out of the loop. "Is this that Project you were working on? Friday?" he asked.

With a deep breath, Tony turned back to the monitor and smiled. "Yes. I just need to get her up and running."

"Why?" Rhodes asked. "Isn't JARVIS good enough?"

In the other timeline, Tony had made quite a AIs, though not using them out until JARVIS was gone. This was not new. It was not out of character for him to be doing this, but if he was honest with himself, he was not the same Tony Stark they remembered. He was a man who lost a child—Yes, Peter was more than just some kid; he was a man who lost. He watched as everyone turned to dust, and that was after half the Avengers turned on him. He wasn't ever going to be the same man they knew. However, Rhodes wasn't going to understand that, because this Rhodey hadn't experienced it with him. He wouldn't understand anything that the genius was going through, but Tony knew he had to give Jim some time to adjust to him. "Hey now, don't be saying those things around JARVIS. We don't want JARVIS to think Daddy doesn't love him. Daddy loves you very much, Buddy."

"As I do you," JARVIS replied.

Jim let out an angry huff as he crossed to Tony. "Will you cut it out and let me what you were thinking? Sending the suit back? Going off with some random people? Acting like it was no big deal? Why are you shutting me out?"

"Didn't we already have this conversion?" Tony asked.

That did not seem to help, only sending Rhodes off into an angry fit. "Yea, we did, but let's recap you broke your promise to me minutes within making it. I'm supposed to be your best friend, not someone you placate. Why aren't you letting me in? What aren't you trusting me?"

If that was what Jim saw, Tony was insulted to his core, but he wasn't going to argue the point. In some sense, Jim was right. "No," he replied, sternly. With a deep breath, he paused for a second, eyeing his best friend. At the moment, there was nothing he couldn't do to right the ship. With a deep exhale, he added, "I'm sorry, Jim. Looking back at it, I shouldn't have left you out of the loop. You're right to be angry, but I need you to trust me. Do trust me?"

"You know I do."

"Then, trust me, and that goes to you too, JARVIS," Tony replied, turning from the monitor. "I know what I'm doing, and you gotta know that, even if I don't tell you everything."

Rhodey looked conflicted, struggling to find the words. "I do, and you're right, but let me in even once and while. I'm starting to feel like Rogers or something. Like you're keeping me at an arm's length on purpose."

Tony couldn't say that Jim was wrong, considering his only goal was to keep his best friend safe. He just kept seeing Rhodes falling to his death before his very eyes. It was torture, and he would do anything to stop it. "Well, let me finish this thing and we can get a drink or something."

"You think you're going to get out of this so easy?" asked Jim, folding his arms across his chest. "You're making me think Rogers is right."

With his angry rushing through him, Tony suddenly stood and kicked the chair out from underneath him. "Well, if you keep bringing up Star Spangle Ass, I'll make it easy," he replied, his tone colder than he intended. Sure, Rogers and he didn't get along in his timeline, though that could be because they really didn't talk to each other. Maybe in time, they could become friends, though Rogers had to like him first. With all those years working together, he didn't even know if the man liked him. Yea, they worked together, even lived together in the tower, but they didn't have to be friends to do that. And now, he didn't know if it was possible. Like a never-ending curse, he had the future hanging over him. Rogers lied to him, kept shit from him, and then there was the nightmare of Barnes and Rogers standing over him ready to kill. Tony didn't think they could come back from that. Did he want to come back from that? He had to, right? To stop Thanos?

Jim's face changed. "Am I missing something? Did something happen between you and Steve?"

Tony let out a deep sigh. No, it would not be fair to judge this Rogers. "No, you-"

"Am I interrupting?" Ayo asked, stepping into the lab. She didn't look as irritated as before, friendly almost, which annoyed Tony. Like really? She picked now?

Jim, his expression morphing into something else, turned to face Ayo. He was in utter disbelief. "Who the hell are you?"

Okay, shit. How did Tony explain Ayo? No matter the explanation, it didn't look good, but at least she was dressed, right? He had caught Tony doing worse things. "Rhodey, this is Ayo. Ayo, this is Rhodey. She'll be staying here awhile."

"Why?"

"Because I need her here." Tony glanced over to the Wakandan, looking for some kind of help, but he got nothing from her. What kind of teamwork was this?

Jim looked like he was about to explode, his face turning all kinds of color. "You better not be fooling around with her, not here."

Tony blinked slowly, as Rhodey's words washed over him. It was like his brain wasn't working. The very idea of cheating on Pepper was mind numbing. It was unthinkable, as Pepper was his everything, though lately they had been off. It had been weird. But no! "No, I'm not cheating on Pepper. Trust me, I'm not her type, though I take insult to that. How am I not everyone's type? Okay, not the point." He still wasn't sure what exactly Ayo meant by that, because they were a few things floating around in his head. However, none of that mattered. "Tell him, Ayo."

Ayo gave him a look but said nothing. It was like she enjoyed Tony getting yelled at by Rhodes.

"Geez!" Tony groaned. He didn't know if he should be insulted. Or if he should take this as a sign that Ayo wanted to watch the world burn. "That's it, you're sleeping on the couch."

This was when Ayo opened her mouth. "If anyone's sleeping on the floor, it's you, Stark." She still was not smiling, but if you look hard enough, there a hint of a grin behind her eyes. It gave Tony hope, because it meant that they could work together once Ayo trusted him. It might take some time, but it was possible. That was all he needed.

"Does Pepper know about this?" Jim asked, snapping the genius back.

Opps. "JARVIS, can you alert Pepper to our house guest. I don't want her to be surprise when she gets home." Tony knew he should call her himself, which was what Jim was glaring at him about, but the idea of talking to her scared the crap out of him, especially after their last fight. He wouldn't be able to tell her the truth as to why Ayo was here. It would cause another fight, which wasn't something he was ready for. That didn't feel right with Tony. How could he be so anxious about starting a fight with a woman that he loved?

"Very well, Sir."

"Tony, are you going to tell me what's going on?" Jim demanded.

"Sure, why don't the three of us sit down and have some coffee?" Tony replied. With him running on very little sleep, it would probably do him good to get some coffee in him. With the idea of sleep still freaking him out, he probably wouldn't be able to rest for a while. Besides the nightmares, there was a part of him that thought this was all a dream. Sure, it hurt like a hell to go through it again, but if he could save the future—save Peter-, he would take on the burden. It was a burden he would take on alone.

*O*O*

"You don't like lying to Colonel Rhodes, do you?"

Tony glanced up at Ayo as she stepped into his lab. "No," he replied, before turning back to the monitor. After coffee with Jim, Tony had retreated to his lab, while Jim headed back to the Air Force. There was a bit of hesitation in his best friend step, but Jim seemed to buy the story that Tony gave him. It wasn't a complete lie, considering Tony wanted the Avengers outside of the Hydra SHIELD's gasps. He just told his best friend that Ayo was a possible Avenger.

"Then why not tell him the truth?" Ayo leaned against the doorframe, eyeing the man. "Surely, it would not hurt."

"Does that mean you believe me now?" he asked, scanning over FRIDAY's code. Having been down here for hours, FRIDAY was finally completed; he just had to make sure she was perfect before letting her out to play. On the plus side, she would have someone to learn from.

Ayo let out a deep sigh. "I don't know what I believe yet, but I know you don't like lying to the Colonel. So, why do you?" she asked. Without another word, she turned and headed out the door.

"Geez, Okay. Thanks for stopping bye." Tony let out a deep sigh as he rolled his eyes. "JARVIS, are you ready to meet your baby Sister?" he asked, refusing to think about Rhodes and the lie that he just told him. It was for his own good. If he told Jim the truth, he would want in and he would get hurt, which Tony refused to let happen. Not Again.

"Are you okay, Sir?" The AI replied, ignoring the question. That did not get past Tony.

Tony almost let out a chuckle. How was JARVIS jealous? That would be interesting to test. "Peachy."

"I have learned, Sir, when you say Peachy, you are not in fact peachy," came JARVIS's reply.

"You know what? Let's me introduce you to your Baby Sister," Tony said, putting on a smile. "You can bug her." Without wasting anymore time, Tony activated FRIDAY with a push of the button. With his heart beating, he stared at her status bar, watching, as she intergraded herself into the tower section by section. JARVIS wasn't too far behind her, running system checks as they went. Seeing everything come back as a success, he leaned forward in his chair with a large smile. "FRIDAY, can you hear me?"

"Yes, Boss, I can hear you," came her smooth voice. It was music to his ears. "How can I help you today?"

"There's my baby girl," Tony said with a smile that took up half his face. "JARVIS, make sure you teach her well."

"Yes, Sir."

Okay, that sounded a bit flat, but that was an issue for another day… well, after he figured out how to deal with two fighting AIs. That was something new and weird, but he had enough love for the both of them. "So my two favorite children- SSH, don't tell anyone-, let's have some fun." Having FRIDAY back was a win in his book, and because of that day, it was like his day had turned for the best, and he could call this day a success. He wasn't so sure about tomorrow.

Author Note:

With that, Friday was reborn. It seemed like that was all Tony needed to turn his day around

I will note that I hope this addressed why Tony is keeping Jim at an arm's length. His fears are getting the better of him, and they will probably still get the better of him for the next few chapters.

And don't worry Ayo won't hate Tony for too much longer. I picked her because I felt like she needed more screen time, and I felt like she made more sense than anyone else.

Again I will leave this here. This does not mean anything, so don't get your panties in a brunch. I am just keeping track of them as I like to see how you think. I am not truly focusing on the pairing right now, anyhow. I will warn you not I am not against any pairing- well kind of pairing. There are some pairing I roll my eyes at like (Thor/Loki or Peter/Tony- which is not happening no matter what), so I am sorry if somewhere in the future, the pairing annoys you.

This is what I have.

Pepper/Tony- 11

Stephen/Tony- 13

Steve/Tony- 1

T'Challa/Tony-4
Tony/Thor- 1

Until next time.