Wow! Might not be much to some but 10 reviews, I'm seriously blown away! Thank you so much for the kind words and support, it really means a lot.
My goal was to just get a few reviews a chapter, and for a story that has some real emotional experience poured into- well, ya'll are really making my day. Your comments, questions, and concerns are all appreciated!
As a reminder, Peter's story is the more direct, 'current' timeline portion while Tony and company's should be considered to start before May's death and eventually catching up to Peter. You'll clearly know when Tony's segments are catching up based on the cross over between story lines so until that happens, consider this all to be in the past or building up to May's death.
This chapter is a bit of a test for me, playing additional characters for the first time and trying to get their personalities correct, hopefully I do well enough but I'm interested in any feedback you have, as I'm using this to 'spring board' some characters in future chapters and knowing what I could improve will only make for a stronger story.
Slightly smaller story covering the key parts of the team and their current situations sans Thanos.
Steve Rogers closed the flip phone after Tony ended the call staring at the little device for a moment.
Tony. He sighed.
"Man…what the hell are you doing up?" he glanced over his shoulder to see Sam Wilson approaching. The other man pointed a finger at him before he could reply, "And don't you dare 'language' me." He warned, smirking a second later at the wise crack.
It drew a smile from Steve, even if it was a tired one, tired from all that had happened…and because it was four in the morning Wakanda time. Stark either didn't know where they were or realized what time it was when he called. No, scratch that. Tony probably knew exactly where they were, and exactly what time he was calling. Somehow that fact warmed his heart- twisted logic that it was.
"Stark called." He answered, Wilson's demeanor changed slightly, "Rhodey's doing okay." He offered first, knowing it was the unasked question Sam would have.
"And Stark?" Was asked with a gruff tone, as if trying to play it off that he didn't so much care. Steve sighed again. "That bad huh?" Sam deadpanned.
"What is that bad at this hour?" Came the accented voice of King T'Challa, those who had sought refuge in Wakanda had been honored with quarters (in Sam's opinion ridiculously) close to the King.
"Nothing. Spoke with Stark, I think he's starting to see the Accords do more harm than good. Sorry for waking you." Which he assumed he'd done with his call in the common area between rooms.
T'Challa waved him off at the apology before nodding, "My father supported the Accords, but that was a different time." If not long ago, "I have consulted with my ancestors and changed. Realized that while we are not perfect, if we have these powers and skills and try to do good, even if we fail, we are far better to have tried- without oversight." When any one of them could simply turn evil and the UN could do nothing to stop it. T'Challa had in a way, shifted his mindset, it was why he offered a place for Steve and his team after learning the truth. "If Tony Stark is as smart as he claims, he will see this too."
"He is." Steve admitted as Sam snorted. "And I hope you're right."
T'Challa tilted his head slightly, "Now that that's settled, since we are awake, how about a run to the border and back?" He questioned with a bit of a smile.
Sam held up his hands in a surrender motion, "You two nut jobs enjoy yourself with that. Imma go back to bed like any sane person at this hour." And with sarcasm given he turned to do just that, leaving the enhanced pair to their mind clearing run.
"Brother do you honestly believe you'll be able to hail Midgar this time?" Loki wondered, ever frustrated and with good reason.
"We have grown closer than my last attempt and Tony Stark is a brilliant man. He will be listening for my call." Thor stated, as confident as ever with his complete blind faith.
Loki pinched the bridge of his slender nose, "Yes but you've said that, and you've tried that. Perhaps you should allow for more than an hour between attempts."
Thor's features pulled slightly with a head tilt, "Why? The sooner we contact Earth the sooner we can plan the help our people will need when we arrive. Why wouldn't I continue trying?"
"For my sanity to start with." Was quipped out, "Your incessant 'are we there yet' attempts to establish communication are going to be the reason you get murdered in your sleep. " Thor rolled his one remaining eye at that.
Theirs was a strange relationship and having had the chance to now watch up close Bruce was beginning to see. They were Gods, well and truly Gods. Thor had told the story of Loki turning into a snake to stab him, that was one of many times the pale God had tried to kill his brother. Thor had spoken almost fondly of that event and even now treated the death threat as if mere joking around. Because, Bruce realized, to them it was. He'd learned so much of their age, of their wars, their quests. The death tolls those missions brought with them and for how long they'd been at one another's side. Thor saw Loki as little more than a bratty little brother. His attack on New York while something Thor had punished Loki for, seemed to have been considered a childish rebellion despite the dark-haired God appearing an adult in every way.
Bruce wasn't exactly at the point of complete forgiveness, but he had to admit, Loki had in many ways redeemed himself, for now.
"Besides that, you're making everyone nervous each time we get no response and it drains on the limited energy resources of this ship." See like that. Loki claimed his personal reasons- being annoyed, but also cited intelligent ones as well.
"Loki is right." Heimdall commented, speaking up for the first time and reminding the others he was there. "But I see that our message will ring true to Earth this time."
Loki was scoffing and muttering that Heimdall should have stopped Thor all the other times if he and his all-seeingness knew that they weren't going to work. Thor merely smirked and attempted again, they weren't sure what frequencies, so he sent out the blast across every means he could manage, hoping someone picked up.
The Cauldron of the Cosmos, for the most part, sat as an unused art piece at the bottom of the New York Sanctum stairs. Well it did until voices from it drew Strange from one of the libraries. He from one on the upper lever and Wong from the kitchen left Strange at the top of the stairs looking down with confusion and Wong merely shrugging.
The Doctor would be the one to approach, taking the steps down two at a time just as "Hello. Hello Earth. This is Thor, do not be alarmed."
An eyebrow raised at the voice before he moved his hands allowing an image to draw up out of the Cauldron. "Thor? Why are you contacting me through the Cauldron?" Thor at least at the decency to look confused.
"That wasn't my intent…or was it? Hardly matters. Stark it is good to see you my friend."
Stephen blinked, "I'm not Stark." Did Thor not remember? The blond-haired God seemed to blink his one eye, leaning into whatever viewer they had on his end.
"Are you sure?" He questioned, not sounding confident in the other's comment. "Facial hair is right…"
Strange closed his eyes for a moment. "I'm not Stark. I'm Strange."
"Yes yes, the hair is a bit strange. And the cape? Are you trying to copy me Stark? Loki…Loki come look. It's Tony, I told you we'd make contact!" Without his consent, Loki was dragged into frame, stiff and glaring before blinking.
"That's not Stark." Well, Stephen could see who got the brains in this family.
"No no…I know he looks a bit strange, but it's been some time. Midgardians age differently." Clearly that was why Tony looked a bit different, their ship's screens weren't the best and the image was a bit blurry, it was an honest mistake really.
"No, my dear brother, graced with brawn but not brains. That man is not Tony Stark. He's the…the one who helped us find the Allfather." Loki refused to acknowledge the other wielder of the mystic arts.
It was as if a lightbulb went off and Thor's one blue eye refocused, "Yes! You are the great wizard, filled my glass and kept Loki falling. My apologies!"
Strange simply watched. How was this man one of Earths' mightiest again? "What exactly can I do to assist? I believed we had an agreement when you last left the planet." He reminded the other.
Thor looked a little regretful at that, "Ah yes, that. Yes. Well, you see…I had every intention of holding to my word but then it turns out I have a sister, and she's evil and tried to take over Asgard and then she was going to destroy the nine realms and I had to destroy Asgard to stop her. Well, technically Loki destroyed Asgard. But that stopped her from destroying Midgar and many other planets so in all actuality I believe you owe me a favor now." And there was that grin that Stephen was certain the blond used to get away with murder at times.
"And, exactly, what can I do to repay your…." He couldn't even think of how to respond and just waved his hand to indicate for Thor to continue.
"Before my father died, he mentioned Norway being a place that could be home. I will need you to contact Tony Stark and have him secure lands upon which my people can reside and take refuge."
"How many people are we talking exactly?" When he heard the total was a little over eight hundred his gaze went to the stars for a moment, seeking peace and answers from the cosmos.
Regaining his composure, he answered, "Let me see what I can come up with and if I can contact Stark. I'll be in touch." And with that he waved to end the call- hoping they'd get the picture and wait for him to call back.
"Wong!" He called out as he moved away from the Cauldron, "How would you store 800 Asgardians in Norway?"
Wong tilted his head, "Is this a hypothetical?"
The next few weeks for Tony were interesting to say the least. The billionaire was a genius. He could do just about anything he set his mind to and diving into the Accords, and all the people associated with them, well, it wasn't painting the picture he wanted. Ross- Tony never really liked the man but he'd been a means to an end when panic attacks and nightmares had gotten the better of his conscience. Turns out, his nightmares were far better a companion to be in bed with that the former General turned Secretary of State. Not to mention that but his investigations showed that three of the UN panel members had ties to HYDRA.
HYDRA.
Seriously? Still, this wasn't a matter Iron Man could simply show up and handle. Tony Stark was a public figure and he knew how much the public mattered. He didn't need governmental support, he needed the support from the masses. Any government official worth their salt feared only one thing and Tony would play on that until the world governments came begging at his feet.
How? One might wonder. How would one man cripple the Accords by rallying the masses? Simple, he'd do nothing, well, next to nothing. Nothing on the metaphorical sense.
"Friday what have you got?"
"Two incidents boss." The AI replied.
"On screen." He ordered, looking over the two. A construction site outside Hong Kong had collapsed the resulting domino effect had left the death toll continuing to climb, rescue efforts still underway. The second was a tropical region hit by another pounding hurricane and similarly experiencing mass turmoil. He considered before motioning to one, "Let's go with the act of God. No one to shift the blame to on that one. You know what to do."
"Of course." What Friday would do was send out an algorithm that would create a chain reaction- not for the first time. Social media would be ignited with a smoldering flame. Where were the Avengers. Why weren't they helping. The Accords meant they couldn't. Why didn't the UN let them help?
It would start with simply bots posting, disguised across social media- after all online no one knew if you were a dog or a super advanced AI. Soon activists, the media and everyone's aunt who barely knew how to update her profile picture would be posting and commenting. Friday would ensure the biggest conversations drove in a supportive manner. Iron Man couldn't help or he'd be a criminal, just like Captain America. It was the UN's fault for not sanctioning Avengers aid in this situation, or the others that had come before.
In a way, Tony did feel bad for using the natural disaster in such a political move, but it was a means to an end, one that would hopefully leave him and the other's free in the future to step in, to help when they could, where they could, without some behind closed doors panel deciding who deserved their help.
"Hey Fri. Updates on the kid?" He wondered.
"No media sources indicate that Mr. Parker has in any way gone outside the parameters you have set." He nodded, good. That was good. Of course, hindsight would have him realize he hadn't anticipated the null scenario, hadn't programmed Karen or Friday for it. Both AI's merely looked for any activity that exceeded the guidelines he'd set- neither of them looked for the complete absence of it.
