Jinero: Thank you for that. Yeah, they'll be pretty pissed about that. I haven't seen him in enough to honestly have an opinion on him. I'm really not familiar with the band, so I can't say.
Agent N: Yeah, I've seen it. I really don't care TBH. Sam becoming the next Cap felt like an earned moment, but that would be like if they just brought Natasha back with a different face, it would be stupid and an attempt to mooch off the Black Widow name. I think I heard somewhere that Natasha was supposed to be in at least one more movie but I could be wrong. Oh no kidding, the only good things about it were part four and Brandon Routh's Superman. No kidding on Kevin Conroy. You as well.
Watson Smith: It really is. Glad to hear it.
Tiger-Fury: I will at some point, just not sure when yet.
Loki: Not a big Frozen fan and what I heard about it didn't exactly make me want to go see it.
Mili: Why thank you.
Guest 1: Well I, as the writer, respectfully disagree.
Guest 2: The Russos still had lots of creative input, they could have done something.
Guest 3: He still would have remembered that it would have happened, as you don't just not notice a raging green monster coming into the room and roaring to everyone.
Guest 4: Yeah, they have, although they screwed Civil War up quite a bit.
Guest 5: Glad the comedy and Thor were great.
Guest 6: Yes, I'm going to end with Endgame.
Guest 7: I'm aware Tony has evolved as a character. But even if he'd never read a single word of The Accords, which I'm skeptical of, I can't see tony signing on with a document that even the guy trying to sell it admits would only allow him to help people if it was approved by the UN, who aren't known for speedy decisions. Tony may have been guilty, but he wasn't stupid. I also think you need to rewatch Age of Ultron. Wanda did not put anything in Tony's head, Ultron was a plan Tony admits to developing years beforehand. She showed him a vision yes, but at no point does she whisper in his ear 'hey, plug unknown alien tech into the internet'. A case can also be made that using the scepter might have been Tony's plan all along. It just feels like you're trying to minimize Tony's involvement by pushing all the blame on Wanda when Tony is just as responsible.
On Sanctuary II, Ebony Maw was accessing Nebula's memory drives after Thanos put a machine on her head. Nebula screamed in pain as Maw said her memory drive was entangled with another and was sharing consciousness with another network.
"That bastard," Clint sneered as they all glared at the screen. "He kills one daughter and tortures the other."
"He is a monster," Thor said in disgust.
"Yeah, I think we figured that out Point Break," Tony spat.
"She's more robot than person," Peter said in astonishment.
"Thanos' way of improving her, replacing her organic body with cybernetics," Parker sad disgusted and the past Avengers felt sick to their stomachs.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Wanda said, looking green.
"Join the club," Scott said pale.
Maw realized there was another Nebula, to Thanos' shock. Maw said the duplicate carried a time stamp from 9 years in the future.
"He's putting it together," Sam said alarmed as they all tensed.
Thanos asked where the other Nebula was and Maw said in their Solar System in Morag. Thanos asked to access her and Maw did, searching the duplicate's memories for Infinity Stones on Thanos' orders. And then they saw a holographic memory of the Avengers discussing their time heist.
"Shit, now he's gonna find out everything," Rhodey said as they all paled.
Gamora recognized them as Terrans. "Avengers," Thanos growled. "Unruly wretches."
"I'm sorry; did he just call us unruly wrenches?" Tony asked angrily.
"I believe he did Stark," Thor said with a growl in the back of his throat.
"Thanos' ego made him underestimate you. Big mistake," Parker said with a smirk.
Then he noticed a reflection and made Maw amplify it, finding another Nebula. Gamora was shocked there were 2 Nebulas but Thanos said it was the same one from two different timelines. He asked to plot a course to Morag and scan the duplicate's memories as he needed to see everything.
"Shit shit shit," Clint swore as the past Avengers paled.
"Now he's going to find out everything," Steve said grimly.
"And he's headed to where Nebula and I are," Rhode said worriedly.
"Perfect. Can anything else go wrong?!" Tony cried to the universe.
In Asgard 2013, Frigga sent her maidens away and sensed a presence. 2023 Thor was hidden nearby behind a column when he turned to see her and screamed like a girl while she screamed too before saying he should leave the sneaking to his brother.
"You should. You're really bad at it," Tony cracked.
Thor did not respond, completely absorbed in the recording. His chest tightened as he watched his mother emotionally. Everyone was silent as they realized how hard this must be for him as they remembered his words to T'Challa yesterday.
He said he was going for a walk as she noted what he was wearing. Thor lied it was his favorite as she noticed the cybernetic eye and he reminded of being hit on the face with a broadsword during the Battle of Harokin. "You're not the Thor I know at all, are you?" Frigga asked.
"How the hell did she know?!" Scott exclaimed shocked.
"She is the wisest person on Asgard, I would be foolish to think I could fool her," Thor said as he smiled weakly, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
Thor lied he was when she said the future hadn't been kind to him and on hearing his shocked reaction reminded, "I was raised by witches, boy. I see with more than eyes, you know that." Breaking down, Thor hugged her, "Yes, I'm totally, totally from the future!" "Yes you are," She said as she hugged back and he said he needed to talk to her.
Thor clenched his hands tightly around his pant legs, eyes closed as he struggled not to cry and everyone looked at him sadly. Tactfully, they didn't say anything, understanding just how difficult this was for him.
In Jane's room, she woke up and walked around when Rocket popped up with the device and struck.
"Waking up to be attacked by a talking raccoon. That either the beginning of a joke or a really weird dream," Clint mused as they all laughed, even Thor managed a chuckle.
Thor was telling Frigga about killing Thanos, saying now it didn't matter as it was too late and he was just an idiot with an ax. She told him he wasn't an idiot as he was seeking counsel from the wisest person in Asgard. "Idiot? No. A failure? Absolutely," She said.
"Well that's a bit harsh," Thor frowned.
Thor said it was a bit harsh.
"Repeat yourself much Point Break?" Tony joked.
Frigga sat next to him and said, "You do know what that makes you? Just like everyone else." Thor said he wasn't supposed to be like everyone else but she said everyone failed at who they were supposed to be. "The measure of a person, of a hero is how well they succeed at being who they are."
"She's not wrong," Steve noted.
"Oh mom," Thor said emotionally, remembering how she used to counsel him, especially after Loki had fallen from the Bifrost. "I miss you."
"You never stop missing your mom," Tony said softly, a faraway look in his eyes as he thought of his own mother.
"Never," Steve agreed gently as he thought of his mother.
"I really missed you, Mum," Thor said as they brought their heads together before Rocket was shown running on all fours, saying he had it while the guards chased him, calling him Rabbit.
Everyone burst out laughing, the abrupt change in scene and tone providing some levity to the room.
"Haven't Asgardians ever seen a raccoon before?" Natasha wondered.
"I do not believe so," Thor mused.
Thor said he had to tell Frigga something but she said, "You're here to repair your future, not mine." "But this is about your future," He argued. "It's none of my business," She said.
"You wanted to save her," Vision noted and Thor did not respond, simply stared at the screen emotionally.
"We get it Thor," Tony said as he thought of his own parents.
"But some moments in time are fixed, they can't be changed," Scarlet said gently.
"Which mom would have known," Thor said with a sigh.
Rocket then burst in and greeted her as Thor hugged Frigga and said, "I wish we had more time." "No this was a gift," She assured. "And you're going to be the man you're meant to be." She then told him to eat a salad.
"Mom, always trying to take care of me," Thor said thickly with a sad smile.
"It's what mothers do," Scarlet said warmly as she thought of Stevie.
Rocket was about to go when Thor stopped him and raised his hand, confusing Rocket. Frigga said it took a second at times. Then Mjolnir came flying into Thor's hand and he laughed happily. "I'm still worthy!"
"I'm still worthy," Thor said in complete disbelief. "I don't believe it."
"You fell, but you picked yourself back up again. Deep down, you were still the same person, you just needed a reminder of that," Parker told him.
"Kind of expected you to lose the fat when you got the hammer back," Tony mused.1
"What happens if past Thor tries to call the hammer?" Peter wondered.
"He'll stand there like an idiot for a while," Natasha joked and they all laughed.
Thor and Frigga bade each other goodbye as Thor and Rocket went off while at Morag, Quill was dancing to 'Come and Get Your Love', lip-syncing by putting the lizard like creature near his lips. Rhodey and Nebula watched him and they couldn't hear the music, only him singing and dancing. "So he's an idiot?" Rhodey asked finally.
"Yeah, he's an idiot," Rhodey said in response to his on screen self as they all laughed.
"He does look stupid," Wanda mused.
"I wonder if that's how you look during your routine," Sam teased Scott, who only groaned.
"Yeah," Nebula said. As Quill slid, Rhodey knocked him out.
Everyone laughed at that.
"Well, so much for that timeline," Parker mused.2
Nebula then took out his tool from his bag and used it to open the door to see the Orb in the beam device. Rhodey stopped her from walking, saying spikes with skeletons on the ends would come out and that booby traps were to be expected in 'The Temple of the Power Stone.'
"Seriously, hasn't she ever seen Indiana Jones?" Tony joked.
"Indiana Jones?" Thor asked confused.
"We really need to catch you up on Earth culture," Scott said as everyone laughed at Thor's confusion.
Nebula still walked and nothing happened. She put her hand through the beam, burning it to Rhodey' shock. She was unaffected as it was cybernetic and took the Orb out at last and then blew at her hand. "I wasn't always like this," She said. "Me either," He told her. "But we work with what we got, right?"
As the past Avengers looked at the screen sadly and Rhodey winced, Scarlet and Parker looked angry and disgusted. Something Wanda picked up. She raised an eyebrow, wondering what she was missing.
Then they synced up as Rhodey wore the Quantum Suit and disappeared. Nebula was about to follow when her head beeped and she fell down as 2014 Nebula screamed while the recording of the Avengers interrogating Thanos after finding him in the Garden played.
"Shit," Tony said as they all paled.
"Damn it, I should have waited," Rhodey groaned.
"The fact that Nebula could be linked to her past self was something no one could have predicted. It's not your fault," Parker said, wondering how Rhodey would take the fact that it really wasn't his fault.
"I used the Stones to destroy the Stones," the recording of 2018 Thanos said. "It nearly killed me. But the work is done. And it always will be. I am inevitable." Gamora asked what Thanos had done to them and 2014 Thanos said nothing yet. They weren't trying to stop him from doing something in this time but undo what he had done in theirs. "The Stones," Gamora realized. "I found them all. I won," He said to her as he stroked her hair. "Tipped the Cosmic scales to balance."
"Even back then he was insane," Scott grumbled as they all glared at the screen.
"He's been insane for a long time, for hundreds of years," Scarlet said grimly.
Gamora kneeled to him as Maw said this was his future and he said it was his destiny. Then 2018 Nebula was heard saying, "My father is many things. But he is not a liar." 2018 Thanos looked at her gratefully and in regret and said, "Thank you daughter. Perhaps I treated you too harshly…." He was cut off when Thor chopped off his head with Stormbreaker with a roar of rage. Gamora gasped in horror but Thanos didn't even flinch. "And that is destiny fulfilled," He said.
"He doesn't even care that he died?" Peter asked surprised.
"He didn't even flinch," Steve said with begrudging respect.
"The only thing that matters to Thanos is his ultimate mission, not even his own life means anything in the long run," Parker said grimly.
Maw telekinetically wrapped a chain around Nebula, saying she was a traitor. She gasped she wasn't when Thanos walked to her, his future self's words causing a change in his attitude to Nebula. He removed the change and told her he knew and she'd have the chance to prove it.
"Oh, so now that she's useful, you care?" Clint sneered, rage bubbling up inside him.
"Thanos isn't like most of the enemies you've faced. Not only is he able to feel love, but his hubris doesn't stop him from learning from his mistakes," Scarlet said gently.
"So he's an ego maniac able to adapt. Great," Tony said sarcastically.
On Morag, 2023 Nebula gasped, "He knows!" She ran to her pod and tried to contact Natasha and Clint, saying Thanos knew but then she saw the Sanctuary II above her as it beamed her up.
"Shit," Tony swore as they all tensed.
"Why didn't she just use the Pym particles to come home?" Scott wondered.3
"Her mind was jumbled because of Maw going through her memories, she couldn't think straight at first," Parker explained and Scott nodded.
"That makes sense," he mused,
In New York, Steve leapt off the tower with the Scepter in his hand and saw Tony and Scott in a car, saying they had a problem and Scott scoffed.
An action the current Scott mimicked.
"It's not a problem, it's a freaking disaster," Scott grumbled.
Later, they discussed it as Scott said they had shot and missed because it was 6 Stones or nothing and then repeated himself. Tony pointed that out and Scott repeated 'you're repeating yourself' twice. Scott then said how Tony wasn't on board with the time heist and had now ruined it.
"Seriously guys, stop fighting," Wanda groaned.
"Yeah, it's not helping," Sam said as he looked back and force between Scott and Tony.
"Sorry man," Scott said embarrassed. "I just-"
"You're frustrated, I get it," Tony waved him off.
Steve asked if there were any other options and Scott said there were none as they had each one particle left and if they used it, there was no coming back. Steve pointed out if they didn't try, no one else was.
"We're stuck between a rock and a hard place," Natasha noted.
"How do we get out of this one?" Tony wondered.
"I got it," Tony said suddenly with a look of realization on his face as he got out of the car. "There's another way. To retake the Tesseract and acquire new particles." He walked to Steve and said, "We'll stroll down memory lane. Military installation, Garden State."
Tony, Steve, Clint and Natasha's eyes widened in realization as everyone else looked confused.
"It's a trip down memory lane for sure," Natasha said with a glance over at Steve.
"I guess we're going full circle," Steve mused and Tony nodded.
"Guess so," Tony said simply.
"Uh, wanna fill the rest of us in?" Sam asked.
"It'll all make sense in a minute," Parker said with a grin.
"Just sit back and watch," Clint said with a smirk.
Steve asked when they both were there and Tony said he had a vague idea. Steve asked how vague as Scott asked what they were discussing. Steve said they were improvising as Scott asked how. Steve gave him the Scepter, telling him to get it to the Compound.
"Now you're leaving me behind?" Scott asked confused.
"Where we're going, you'd stick out like a sore thumb," Tony said vaguely.
Scott asked what was in New Jersey as Steve and Tony fed the time periods into their Quantum Suits and Scott asked them if they were sure, calling Steve as 'Cap', 'Captain', 'Steve', 'America' and 'Rogers.' Scott said they wouldn't come back if they failed and Tony sarcastically thanked him for the pep talk. "You trust me?" Tony asked Steve. "I do," Steve said.
"Well that's something I thought I'd never see again," Natasha mused as Steve and Tony looked at each other before shrugging.
"I guess we decided to bury the hatchet," Tony said simply.
"Your call," Tony said. "Here we go," Steve said as they put on their Quantum suits and were gone.
In New Jersey, 1970, a car was being driven with rock music playing in it while on the back of it was a sticker saying 'Nuff said.' As it passed by Camp Lehigh, the elderly man inside it said to the soldiers, "Hey man! Make love, not war!" He and the woman next to him happily raised their fingers as they drove away.
"And he's there to," Tony said in surprise.
"Yeah, and this is actually the last time we see him," Parker said and they all looked at him surprised. "For some reason, he just vanishes after this recording."
"Huh, weird. I suddenly feel like I've lost someone very important to me," Scott muttered.
"Yeah, it feels like he somehow connected us all," Sam agreed as it was silent for a moment.
Tony and Steve walked together in disguise as Tony asked if Steve was actually born here and he said the idea of him was.
"Really?" Peter asked and Steve nodded.
"It's where I was trained before the serum," Steve explained.
Tony asked where they would hide the Tesseract and Steve said in plain sight as they noticed Howard Stark and Edwin Jarvis entering a doorway.
Tony stiffened, staring at Howard with an unreadable look on his face as a whirl of emotions went to war inside him and Steve looked at the screen sadly.
Tony scanned the doorway with his glasses to see an elevator inside and then they walked into it with a dark-skinned woman who was reading a file and looking at them suspiciously. Tony walked out, wishing 'captain' luck on his mission as Steve wished 'doctor' luck on his project.
"Oh yeah, that's not suspicious at all," Clint said sarcastically.
"It's like you're trying to get caught," Rhodey said as Tony and Steve and looked at each other embarrassed.
"Not our best moment," Steve said and Tony nodded.
"Yeah, it's really not," Tony agreed.
The woman asked if Steve was new and he said not exactly as she shot him a weird look and he walked out.
"Didn't I teach you better than that?" Natasha asked in exasperation as Steve grimaced.
Tony ran to where he knew the Tesseract was kept, using his glasses to scan all the containers before eventually finding the Tesseract in one. He used his Gauntlet to laser it open and taking it out, put it in a case.
"And that makes five," Tony said as they all sighed in relief except Scarlet and Parker, who looked grim.
Then Howard Stark spotted him when he arrived to look for Arnim Zola.
"Damn it," Clint said as Tony paled.
"Dad," Tony said in a choked voice.
Rhodey placed a hand on his shoulder as everyone looked at Tony sadly. Tactfully, no one said anything, knowing words wouldn't help this time.
Tony started walking away as Howard said the door was the other way. A flustered Tony walked up to him as Howard asked if he'd seen Dr. Zola and Tony said he hadn't seen a soul. Howard asked if he knew him and Tony said he was a visitor from MIT, showing a fake ID. Howard asked if he'd a name and Tony said his name was Howard. Howard joked it was easy to remember as Tony then added it was Howard Potts.
"Howard Potts, real original," Rhodey said dryly.
"When your dead father shows up in front of you, see how well you do?!" Tony snapped defensively.
Tony shook Howard's hand as Howard told him to shake and not pull. Noticing Tony's expression, Howard said he looked a little green around the gills.
"It's really messing with you," Clint noted and Tony nodded mutely.
Tony said he was fine and just had gone long hours. Howard asked if he wanted to get some air and he said it'd be swell as they started walking out and Howard picked his briefcase for him, giving it to him.
"Yeah, can't forget that," Tony muttered.
Hank Pym was in his lab, working with his Ant-Man helmet next to him when he got a call from 'Captain Stevens' from shipping who said they had the package.
"Captain Stevens, nice Cap," Rhodey said amused and Steve just shrugged.
"Man, Hank looks so young," Scott muttered as he stared at his mentor.
Steve said they couldn't bring the package up as the box was glowing as some men felt sick. Steve told him they had opened it and Hank angrily bolted out of the office, pushing people away.
"Well that was kind of rude," Thor noted.
"For all he knows, people are in danger," Scott said in defense of his mentor and Thor nodded, conceding his point
Steve snuck into the lab and picked up some Pym Particles.
"So that's why you went back there," Peter realized and Steve and Tony nodded.
"Why didn't we think of that earlier?" Scott wondered.
Tony and Howard were in the lift as Tony noted the flower and sauerkraut and asked if Howard had a date and he said his wife was expecting. Tony congratulated him.
"And now I'm congratulating my dad for having…me," Tony said and paused.
"Time travel is filled with a whole bunch of disturbing concepts," Parker said and everyone nodded in agreement.
Tony held the flowers for him as he asked how far along was she and he said she couldn't stand the sound of his chewing now so he'd have to eat in the pantry.
"Yeah, Laura was like that," Clint mused and Scott nodded.
"Maggie was worse," Scott said simply.
"Well, I see what I have to look forward to," Tony said dryly.
Tony said he had a little girl and Howard said a girl would be nice as there was a chance she would turn out less like him.
This surprised Tony. For most of his life, he'd thought Howard had wanted Tony to be just like him. Had he been wrong about his father all this time, Tony wondered.
Tony asked what was so bad about that and Howard said the greater good rarely outweighed his own self-interest.
Tony stared at the screen, stunned. It seemed as if everything he thought he'd known about his father was slowly being washed away, a different Howard Stark replacing the image he'd had of his father all his life. Had he ever really known Howard, Tony wondered.
Steve was sneaking around when he noticed the woman from earlier telling two guards about him and Tony, saying one of them had a hippie beard like Mungo Jerry.
"Mungo Jerry?!" Tony exclaimed indignantly as everyone else laughed.
"She's got a point," Natasha joked and shrugged as Tony looked at her annoyed.
"I hate all of you," Tony grumbled, only making them laugh harder.
Steve hid in an office where he noticed a picture of him before the Super Soldier Serum. He then noticed an older Peggy through the glass talking to someone and he looked at her with sadness on his face.
Steve stared at the screen emotionally as everyone looked at him sadly.
"You still love her, don't you?" Natasha asked gently.
"She was my first love; part of me will always love her. But no, I don't think about what ifs, not anymore. I've made my peace with that part of my life," Steve said confidently.
Scarlet resisted the scoff that threatened to leave her mouth, barely as Parker wondered how Steve would react when he found out what his future self had done.
Tony and Howard walked out as Tony asked where he was with names and Howard said they were thinking Elmonzo for a boy.
"Elmonzo Stark. Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue," Clint said as Tony grimaced.
"Thank you dad," Tony muttered as everyone else snickered.
Howard asked if Tony was nervous when he had a kid and he said wildly. Howard asked if he felt qualified, like if he could operate on that thing.
Tony stared at the screen, realizing more and more that he had never known his father.
Tony said he pieced it together as he went along as Howard said his old man had no problem he couldn't solve with a belt.
"What?" Tony asked startled and Steve grimaced.
"It wasn't exactly uncommon for the time we grew up in," Steve said as Tony stared at the screen in shock. "What's considered abuse today was considered discipline by more parents that I'd like to admit back then."
Tony slumped back in his seat, stunned. For most of his life, he'd thought Howard had hated him. But this piece of information painted an entirely new picture of his father. Not of a man who didn't love his son, but of a man who simply wasn't sure how to be a father. For the first time, Tony felt like he was really seeing his father as he was, not as the cold, calculating man Tony had thought he was.
Tony said he'd thought his dad was tough on him but now he just remembered the good things. Tony noted his dad had occasionally dropped the odd pearl. Howard asked like what and Tony quoted him, ""No amount of money ever bought a second of time.""
"He's not wrong," Steve mused and Tony nodded.
"Yeah," Tony said with a sigh.
Howard said he was a smart guy and Tony said he had done his best. Howard said the kid wasn't even here and there was nothing he wouldn't do for him.
Tony put a hand to his face, overwhelmed with emotion. Rhodey put a hand on his shoulder as everyone looked at Tony, tactfully not saying a word. A few moments passed before Tony gathered emotions.
"I'm good. I'm good," Tony said shakily.
Scarlet eyed him for a moment before unpausing the recording.
Howard then moved to his car as Tony noticed Steve and gestured he had the Tesseract. Howard said it was good to meet him and Tony said everything would be all right before hugging him to his shock, "Thank you for everything...you've done for this country."
"Thank you dad," Tony said, smiling weakly as his eyes shined with tears.
Tony released Howard and walked over to Steve as Howard asked Jarvis if they had met the guy and Jarvis said he met a lot of people. Howard said he looked familiar but the beard was weird.
"What does everyone have against the beard?" Tony asked as everyone laughed.
"For that time period's standards, you're a hippie," Natasha said teasingly and everyone laughed as Tony sputtered.
A lot of you were probably expecting me to finish up the time heist this chapter, but I thought it was better to end the chapter on a lighter note. Because let's be honest, after this scene, the movie was pretty much a downer.
1: Originally, Thor was supposed to be become buff again after getting Mjolnir, but Chris Hemsworth fought against it for some reason.
2: Since they were trying to preserve the timeline, doesn't knocking Quill out kind of ruin that since, without Quill conscious, he doesn't flee Morag with the Power Stone and run into Rocket, Groot and Gamora?
3: It always confused me why Nebula doesn't just use the Pym Particles to head back to the future before she's captured. And she calls Quill an idiot.