"Where did he end up?"
"In with Tony and Pepper." Natasha shrugged. "He looked alright, though, when I spoke with him at breakfast. I think he's more worried about them than he's afraid for himself, this time."
"He has reason to be afraid," Strange said. "This Thanos certainly sounds like a threat. But he's incredibly powerful, really, so I can understand why he'd be more worried about them worrying about him and wanting to be with them."
"We've seen that before," Natasha agreed.
They fell silent when they walked into the gym, joining the others who were waiting for them. Stephen, in particular, since he was the one who was going to be creating the portal that brought T'Challa, Shuri and Okoye to the compound.
"Good morning," Tony said, walking over to join him and Romanoff in the center of the room. Tucked under one arm, Ironpig was wearing a maroon sweater and clearly enjoying the attention. "Are you ready?"
Strange nodded, looking at the small group waiting. The guardians were all there, clearly curious to see who was coming. As well as the way they were going to be brought in which was new to all of them.
Drax had been fairly scornful of the idea of someone using magic, and even though he was the most vocal – by far – the others were looking fairly skeptical, as well.
Peter was there, as well, with Nutmeg in his arm to keep the kitten from getting underfoot, otherwise, and the boy was talking to Steve and Clint, who were flanked by a couple of SHIELD agents acting as security.
"I'm ready. Are the Wakandans?"
"They're waiting for word."
Strange nodded, stepping to the space in the center of the room that had been left clear for him, and the room went silent as he lifted his hand. Peter walked over to stand beside Tony, smiling over at his dad, and unable to hide the fact that he was excited to see Shuri, despite the serious reason for her visit.
A moment later, Mantis gasped as the fiery ring appeared in midair, widened and grew until it was larger than man-sized, and then grew a bit more. A moment later, T'Challa walked into the gym, with Okoye and Shuri flanking him. Shuri was pushing a mag lift cart in front of her and it was piled high with assorted containers. Almost certainly everything that she thought would be needed to start the task of securing the compound against the threat that she still didn't have full disclosure on.
The girl smiled at Peter, but maintained her position by her brother as the portal closed behind them, and Tony stepped up to make the formal greetings that were always required.
"Where is your lovely wife?" The king of Wakanda asked, smiling. "I was looking forward to seeing her."
"She'll catch up to us at lunch," Tony told him. "She had a few things that needed to be taken care of."
What she was doing was actually spending the morning in Tony's workroom, starting to work with Friday on learning as much as she could about the suit that was already taking shape in the manufacturing tube.
T'Challa nodded his acceptance of that, and turned to Peter, offering his hand to the boy, as well.
"Peter, it is good to see you. You are well?"
"Yeah. Thanks. You?"
"I am fine. I understand we have a new threat to dispatch?"
Peter nodded, looking over at Tony, and then Gamora before he looked back at T'Challa.
"Yeah. Sorry."
"This one isn't on Peter," Tony pointed out. "I'll catch you up on what's going on, and Peter can tell Shuri."
It was obvious that Tony was in a hurry for the shield to get started, and Shuri looked over at Peter, who nodded, smiling at the thought of working with her – even if it was such a serious reason.
"Yeah."
"Use the workroom off my quarters," Tony told him – since Pepper had the main workroom, and there was no way in hell he was going to allow the boy and the princess to go as far as the tower to use the workroom there.
"Alright." Peter stepped forward and offered to push the cart that she'd brought with her.
"I am groot?"
Peter looked at Tony.
"He wants to come with us."
The billionaire hesitated, but then shrugged.
"If you don't mind, I don't care."
It wasn't like the tree was going to be able to add to the conversation for either group, but he was unobtrusive, and not likely to be in the way.
Peter looked at Shuri, who was staring at Groot, her expression an amusing hodgepodge of amazement, curiosity and maybe a little fear.
"Do you mind if he comes?"
"No."
Groot stepped forward, gesturing to the cart and clearly offering to push it. Shuri relinquished the handle and the three were soon heading for the door, Groot pushing the mag lift cart and Shuri cuddling Nutmeg in her arms.
Drax frowned, watching them go, and then turned to Stark, his expression incredulous.
"That's Shuri?"
Tony nodded.
"Yeah."
"She's a little girl. How is she going to be of any assistance to your defense?"
T'Challa started to say something – almost certainly a defense of his sister – and Tony held his hand up to stop him; he was already becoming used to Drax's lack of filter.
"She's brilliant," Tony told him – and the other guardians. "We're lucky to have her."
Looking only slightly mollified, T'Challa and Okoye were introduced to the guardians, who had been coached by Quill what a king was – although he'd never heard of Wakanda, of course.
"Come on," Tony said. "Let's go fill you in on everything we know, so far. Which isn't enough."
"I would appreciate it," T'Challa said, allowing the implied insult to slide.
He definitely wanted to know everything that they could tell him – especially if Shuri was going to be involved – and to find out if there was any other way Wakanda could help.
OOOOO
Shuri couldn't help the sidelong glances at Groot as they walked through the coordinates toward Tony's quarters, but she was a princess and a princess doesn't stare, and isn't rude enough to as a stranger blunt questions.
Peter smiled, though, well aware of what was going through her mind – he didn't even need Alec to tell him.
"You can ask," he finally said, as he opened the door to his parents' rooms and held it for Groot and Shuri. "He won't mind."
"What is he?"
"I am groot."
"He's a plant based organism," Peter told her. "Walking, talking tree."
"His name's Groot?"
"That's what they call him – for obvious reasons – so that's what he answers to, yes."
She smiled at the young tree, who returned the gesture.
"I think he is incredible."
"I am groot."
Peter laughed, and she looked at him, not even surprised that her friend knew what had been said.
"What did he say?"
"He likes you, too."
Shuri looked around the workroom when they entered, and Peter could see the wheels turning in her mind.
"Tell me what you need the shield for," she said, turning to him and sitting on the edge of the work table. "I imagine it must be pretty serious. Tony looks worried."
Peter shrugged.
"Yeah, it's a little scary. Do you want anything to drink?"
Tony had a bar in their quarters and Peter knew that he and Pepper wouldn't care if the teens helped themselves.
"Not yet," she said. "Tell me what's going on."
OOOOOOO
T'Challa shook his head, looking from the screen that was showing the damages that had been recorded by the guardians on Xandar over to those who were watching him.
"I do not know that even the shielding that protects my country would be able to stand against such overwhelming energy."
Tony nodded, his expression bleak – and a match for most of the others.
"We're going to have to stop him before it comes to that," he said. "If this Thanos actually has the stone, Gamora says that he might be the most powerful being in the universe – and definitely the biggest threat."
"The advantage that we have is that we're pretty sure he will be coming looking for Peter," Gamora said. She gave Tony an apologetic look, as if well aware that it wasn't really an advantage as much as it was probably terrifying for him to know someone was after his son. "That means that he won't unleash the power of the stones for fear of destroying him along with the rest of the planet."
"This stone is that powerful?" Okoye asked, skeptically – despite having seen the footage.
"It's called the power stone for a reason," Quill said.
"Our job will be to stop Thanos," Tony said to T'Challa. "And his army. Preferably before he hurts anyone. Including Peter."
"And the rest of you," T'Challa added.
"That's the plan," Tony agreed. "But we don't have confirmation that he has it, yet. We're waiting to hear from Captain Danvers."
"But you feel that he does."
The billionaire nodded, and shrugged.
"Let's just say I'm going to try to prepare for the worst that can come looking for us."
"Then we will help you," T'Challa promised. "Aside from the shield and the pulse cannons that Shuri will help set up, we will keep a large force of our border tribe, Jabari and my own personal guards at the ready at all times – to supplement the warriors you have available."
"Thank you. We accept."
A voice from behind Tony spoke up, then, and he turned, immediately, smiling when Pepper joined them.
"No war rhinos, though," she said, walking over. "I don't trust Peter to not want one."
"Fair enough," T'Challa agreed, also smiling at her.