Steve never left Anthony's side.
They eventually made it to camp, where the refugees settled far away from Paris.
Thanos may have run off, but that does not mean he was not still a threat.
As the hours ticked by, Steve held his hand, talked to him, prayed over him...practically begged him to live.
"Please...please, hasn't he suffered enough?" Steve cried. "Heal him, Father..."
A hand squeezed his shoulder, and he straightened in surprise.
"Steve..." Bucky sat down on the floor. "You gotta try to eat something..."
Steve sighed. "I can't...I can't relax, I can't sleep, I can't eat...not until I know he's going to be ok..."
"I know, man..." He put a small loaf of bread into Steve's hand. "But do it for him..."
Steve did not watch his friend leave, he just kept staring at a beaten chest, barely rising and falling.
Carol winced as Thor cleaned all of her scrapes and bruises.
"I'm sorry..." He paused every time it hurt.
"How come, every time we have a moment, one of us ends up bleeding?" She smiled.
Thor could not help but laugh, but it did not reach his eyes.
"Hey..." She reached up to his cheek. "I'm ok...I was just, scared..." Inwardly, she was still screaming...this horrible man, stalking her...
I am a merciful man, gypsy...
One. Last. Chance.
"Carol?" Thor took her shaking hands in between his. "I will run with you to the ends of the earth to keep you safe..."
She finally made eye contact with him again, and a tear fell.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore."
Carol snuggled up in his arms and he held her there through the night, barely able to sleep himself, keeping an eye on the tiny gap in their tent for any unwanted guest. Before dawn, Paris will be nothing but a distant memory.
His home.
Thor thought back on all of the good things...when his father and mother and brother were still alive. When everything seemed to always work out. But the war tore them from him, and stayed vigilant, despite his pain. He won countless battles, defeated hundreds of enemies for his country, or family, he did not care. It was just a good outlet for his suffering.
Thanos threw his life upside down yet again. A different war had begun...for the very souls of Paris, from the loyal citizen to the weary traveler.
He prayed silently for peace, and he prayed silently for Anthony to wake with renewed strength.
Carol shot up, wide awake and breathing rapidly.
"You're safe...it's alright..." Thor gently convinced her. "It was just a dream."
"Every time I close my eyes...I see him..." She stood up and paced back and forth. "I can't get him out of my head...I..." She could not hold back the tears any longer.
"Don't talk about him anymore...please...just think of tomorrow. The sun will rise, the birds will sing, and I can finally join you and your friends on your journey around the world. What a wonderful life you must live."
As Thor went on, Carol started to relax a little.
How could I deserve someone like you?
Anthony gasped, finding it painful to breathe still.
"Anthony?" Steve became alert and assured him he was safe. "Talk to me..."
"I...I feel like a horse is sitting on me..." He tried to steady his breathing, as much as it still hurt.
"Natasha made this special mix for you. It has lots of herbs and such for healing she says..." Steve poured some into a cup and offered it to Anthony.
He sniffed it, then made a face. "Well, its reputation does proceed it." Wanting to just get it down so the healing can begin, he made for a gulp, but Steve pulled it down.
"Slowly..." He softly scolded.
"Yes, mother..." Anthony teased. After a few minutes of silence, he started thinking. "You know, I've always wondered, why me? Why did my parents have to die? Why did I have to be 'kept safe' locked up like some circus freak..."
"Don't-"
"Why me?" He stared at Steve. "Why did you choose me?"
"Love has a funny way of revealing itself." Steve traced Anthony's scar. "I got really lucky running into you...you saving my life and all."
"You're not so bad yourself..."
Fury gazed over the horizon. Clint and Natasha were standing on either side of him.
"Not a word to anyone. Be quick about it."
They went off in pursuit of the Minister of Justice. They would not return until they had his head on a platter.
Thanos failed to realize...when one messes with one of Fury's, one will receive fury that one could hardly imagine.
"You fucked with the wrong man..." He watched the pair ride off into the sunrise, hopeful for the right kind of justice this city deserved.