Chapter 6: Tony

The van pulled over opposite the towering form of the Shard. Tony looked out the window at the massive glass and steel structure. His tower was definitely nicer, he decided.

He piled out of the van with the others, his Iron Man suitcase in one hand. He'd made some improvements to the original design of the Mark V model to make it stronger and capable of flight. Hopefully this suit would get him through whatever lay ahead.

"So where exactly is the portal you've found?" Banner asked Jane as they looked up at the Shard.

"It's, uh, level with the fortieth floor on the west side," she replied.

Tony could have sworn Banner paled slightly. "Oh, that'll be fun," the scientist muttered, in a voice that said the very opposite.

"This portal could be our best chance of getting to Asgard without the Bifrost," Thor added.

"Yeah…" Banner shook his head. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

"What can you tell us about the portal?" Cap asked Jane.

"It's small," she replied. "Erik and I only found it a month ago. It seems relatively stable, and based on the energy signature we think it'll take you straight to Svartalfheim. From there you're one wormhole away from Asgard."

"Why can't we see it?" Pietro asked.

"The entrance faces upwards and it's pretty much invisible," Jane replied. "Your best shot of getting in is by jumping off the Shard. The portal's gravitational pull will suck you through. Hopefully."

Cap looked as un-thrilled by that as Tony felt. "Well, I guess we'll find out," the soldier said. He turned to face the team. "Alright. We need to get on top of that tower." He gestured at the Shard. "If you can fly, grab a partner and get up there fast. Security's gonna have a field day when they realize what's happening."

"Roger that, Cap." Danvers grabbed Wanda and the two shot into the air. Thor followed with Pietro, flying up the side of the Shard. Tony could only imagine what the people inside would be thinking.

Cap turned to Fury. "Where will you be?"

"I'm staying on Earth to deal with that field day you mentioned," Fury replied. "Foster and I will handle everything at this end. Just try to come back alive, okay? I enjoy directing you crazy people." There was genuine sincerity in his voice as he said the last bit.

Steve nodded. "Will do." He turned to Tony. "Time to suit up."

"Uh-huh." Tony pressed his thumb to the fingerprint scanner on the suitcase's handle and then set it on the sidewalk. The suit unfolded and locked around his ankles first before rising up to encase Tony's entire body in the red-and-gold Iron Man armor. He shut his visor and the HUD blinked into life.

Tony took a breath. It was the first time he'd worn a suit since the night Rhodey died. Being in it once more brought all those memories back, but he pushed them aside, focusing on the mission. "Done," he told Rogers.

Police car sirens wailed in the distance. Tony had no doubt as to who they were for. "Time to go," he said, moving to wrap his metal-clad arms around Rogers' chest.

"Good luck," Jane said.

"Thanks," Cap replied.

Then Tony took off and flew for the roof of the Shard, leaving the concerned, hopeful expressions of Fury and Foster far behind. He landed lightly on the roof and set Rogers down.

There was a brisk breeze blowing over one thousand feet above the city streets. Tony had to admit the view was amazing. He moved with Cap to the western edge of the tower, where the others were gathered, and looked down.

The portal was barely visible – a circular patch of sky ten floors below. The ground underneath appeared blurry, like something seen through a heatwave. Tony took a slow breath. "Well, there it is." He turned to Steve. "This is suicidal. You know that right?"

"Says the man who can fly," Banner said. He was standing well back from the edge. He continued as the group turned to face him, addressing Cap. "Tony's right though. We don't know for sure what's on the other side. We don't even know if that portal is stable enough for human travel." He paused. "Even if we survive, you'll probably have the Other Guy to deal with."

"It's a risk we have to take," Rogers said simply.

Tony would have put the Captain's stoic determination down to his old-times military background, but for all his skepticism, Tony felt the same way. They had to get to Asgard and confront Loki once more. It was the only way forward, the only way to avenge all that they'd lost. He had to do this for Rhodey, and he guessed Steve felt the same about Barnes.

Banner nodded reluctant acceptance of Steve's words.

That was all the permission the super-soldier needed. He gave a nod, took several steps back from the edge, and paused. He glanced at the team. "See you there." Then he ran forward and jumped off the roof.

Tony moved forward with the others, and together they watched their leader freefall down the side of the Shard. Then Steve reached the wormhole and vanished. Tony breathed a small sigh of relief. At least the portal worked as far as not falling to one's messy death on the London sidewalk was concerned.

"I'm next!" Danvers declared, cocky as ever, and she jumped. Thor followed close behind.

Pietro took Wanda's hand. "Ready?" he asked.

"No." She started running and together they jumped, hand-in-hand.

Banner stepped up to the edge beside Tony. He watched the twins vanish with a queasy expression, like he might be sick. "This is a terrible plan."

"What's new?" Natasha flashed Banner a quick smile and launched herself into the air, somersaulting twice before she fell and vanished.

Banner's breathing sped up. "I can't do this," he told Tony.

Tony was acutely aware that security could show up at any minute. "Let me help," he told Banner, giving him a firm push.

The scientist teetered on the edge for a moment, then plummeted over the side with a startled, "Nooo!"

"Sorry, Banner," Tony muttered. Then he flew off the roof down into the portal.

It was like flying into a hurricane.

The London cityscape vanished, replaced by a tunnel of blueish energy. It pulled Tony along with a force he couldn't fight, tumbling him every which way. The G-force was enough to make him feel sick, eclipsing his suit's protection.

A roaring, rushing sound drowned out JARVIS' crackling voice and then everything went black.