It was a long silent flight back to Earth. Quill piloting The Benatar. Tony was standing in the back… looking down at Laura's body that was laid on the table. The light from the passing stars at light speed filtering through the windows. He gripped the edge of it and took a deep breath. They took the gauntlet off of her along with her suit. He heard footsteps approaching and turned back to see Quill walking up to him.
"Hey, uh where are we landing on Earth?" he asked. "New York. The Avengers compound where you can land. Keep her away from prying eyes. Your ship will draw enough attention as it is and I need to figure out how to contact King T'Challa." he answered with a sigh. "King who?" Quill frowned.
"Her husband. The King of Wakanda. I just need to figure out how her tech works on her suit to do that…"
They flew back to Earth to see the East Coast under the cover of darkness. The East Coast lit up in the clear sky as they quickly descended onto Upstate New York. Quill landed the ship on the yard in front of the compound and the ramp lowered. Tony carried Laura into the compound and let the Guardians settle in. He walked into the medical wing and opened a room. Carefully placing her on a bed.
Taking her burnt and scarred arms to pace beside her. He grabbed a white sheet from a cupboard to place over her up to her neck. And her head on the pillow. Gripping the edge of the bed and shaking his head.
"Why Laura?" he asked again. Reaching for his phone he took a step back and called Pepper. "Hey Pep…" he began but was interrupted.
"Tony! Oh thank God! Are you back? Are you all right?" she asked with worry. "I'm back Pep. We're up at the compound. Things are going to be messy for a while. There's a lot to explain.." he sighed sadly.
"Is Laura with you? Is she okay? The news reports said she was also missing." she asked concerned. "She is with me but Pep. Pep…" he tried to come up with words but was interrupted.
"I must return to the Sanctum. I will take care of the Stones." Strange said before departing through a portal. Taking the Gauntlet with him. He frowned and slouched back into his chair. Peppers voice began to drown out.
"Tony? Tony? Is Laura okay?" she asked again. "I'm sorry Pep…"
He told Pepper the news and after she said she'd drive up he hanged up. Taking a deep breath but then one of the pieces on her necklace began to beep. He frowned as it continued to beep and reached down to press it. It continued to beep until the "call" went dead. He sighed, letting the silence fill the room but then the alarm went off again. Rubbing his hand through his hair. He was about to respond but his phone began to rang.
He looked down to see "Unknown Number" on the screen but the call answered itself. "What the…" he began but a voice interrupted them.
"Mr. Stark?" he heard T'Challa's voice. "King T'Challa Your Highness. I'm sorry. I was trying to reach you…" he said.
"I have been trying to reach Laura. I saw that you two have returned Is she injured?" T'Challa asked with worry. Tony rubbed his hand through his greying hair. "You saw us return?" he asked confused.
"I saw the news report of the ship landing at The Avenger Compound Is Laura all right? She hasn't contacted me." he asked again. "I'm sorry King T'Challa. There is no easy way to tell you this…"
In Wakanda, it was past three in the morning as T'Challa paced the throne room. The city lights were flowing in the large windows. He had just ended the call with Tony who told him what had happened on Titan. He closed his eyes and brought his hand to his face to fight back a sob. His Laura was dead.
They had successfully fought back the invasion from Thanos' army. Shuri had managed to pry the Mind Stone off of Vision which not only kept the android alive without it but Wanda was able to destroy it. Thor had arrived mid-way through the battle to take care of the rest of the army and destroyed the ships. All of that done with the Avengers in Wakandan territory only for him to receive the news that his wife sacrificed herself to kill Thanos herself.
His knees buckled and he slumped onto the floor in front of the throne… and began to cry when it became too much to bear.
"T'Challa? Are you alright?" he heard Ramonda ask from the entrance. He just shook his head.
"Laura is dead mama." he said with tears streaming down his cheeks. "What?" she gasped.
"She and Mr. Stark went up to space to fight the threat that was brought down here. Stark says she killed it… along with herself." he choked out. "Oh. My son…" she embraced him.
"Where are Asha and Laura?" he asked about Laura's adoptive mom. "Asha is in the nursery, and she is in the one of the guest rooms. Both are sleeping. Should I wake them?" she asked.
"No. I will. It is only fair she knows when I know." he replied, wiping his eyes, and taking a step back. Ramonda nodded. "And the others?" she asked about The Avengers and Shuri but then Shuri came running in.
"Laura has returned! Her location came up in New York! At the compound!" she exclaimed happily but saw the faces on her mother and brother.
"What is it, brother?" she asked with a frown.
T'Challa gathered The Avengers in the Throne Room and told them the grave news. Ramonda and Shuri left to grief together before he told them about Laura. Steve, Nat and Rhodey looked particularly devastated. He left them alone to tell Laura's mom.
Back in New York things were even worse. The Benatar had drawn unwanted attention from the government and the compound was stormed by the army and Ross. The Guardians were detained for questioning and soldiers were going through the entire compound for "evidence."
Pepper had arrived to deal with the for Tony and the two were informed they had no legal recourse to fight them. Pepper had gathered legal to plot their next months and Tony slumped down on his chair at his desk. The office was darkened and quiet. A streak of twilight was showing over the horizon.
Pinching the bridge of his nose he turned on the TV mounted on the wall.
"If you're just joining us this is a Breaking news Alert! A second alien spacecraft has been seen! Unconfirmed reports of another spacecraft spotted in Upstate New York! Eyewitness say it is at the Avenger Compound were there is a large government presence at the compound where we have our reporter, Rebecca Chang is live on location!"
"Yes Ben, as you can see behind me this is as far as we are allowed to go. The compound grounds are roped off and whatever is going on there it is clear the government has taken a great interest considering the events in Manhattan yesterday morning. Whether these galactic visitors will be as hostile as the ones yesterday were remain to be…" she said but was interrupted.
"I apologize Rebecca but we had just received confirmation that Laura Watson. Commonly known as The Avenger Black Bird and Queen Laura Udaku of Wakanda is dead…" he said and a graphic of her and birth and death below her headshot April 4, 1985-April 29, 2018, appeared.
"Reports surrounding her death are unknown at this hour but we can confirm that Laura Watson is dead. She was 33. She leaves behind her daughter, Princess Asha…" a knock on the door got his attention and he saw Pepper at the door. With tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Tony." she sped walked to hug him. He turned the TV off and hugged her back. The couple hugged each other in silence but were interrupted once again.
"Stark, we need to talk." Fury said but Tony glared at him.
"No, I don't think we do." "Believe it or not Stark I'm on your side."
As it turned out Fury was telling the truth. He revealed a strange 90's looking pager and activated it. The day dragged on and they got another visitor later that day.
Captain Marvel. She made an even larger scene when she flew down onto the yard. Glowing and in her outfit. Fury told her the recent events and she said she would fly off to find Thanos' armada to destroy it. It was late morning on the clear spring day when a Quinjet landed on the pad.
Carrying the wanted Avengers, T'Challa who was holding Asha, Shuri, Ramonda and Laura W. Tony greeted them but he was shoved aside by the army who quickly arrested Steve and the wanted Avengers. To Steve's surprise Tony fought Ross with the support of Fury to free The Avengers, leaving T'Challa to let Pepper guide him to the room
Asha was being held. The only sound was the tapping of Pepper's heels against the floor. The two walked in silence down the halls to the closed door. "She is right in there. If you need anything let me know." Pepper said softly.
"Thank you Ms. Potts." he nodded and she gave him a sad smile. "I knew Laura for a long time. I'm glad she found a husband who loved her." she said kindly. "I loved her more than anything." he managed to say.
"I can take Asha to one of her grandmothers if you want?" she offered. He nodded and placed a sleeping Asha in her arms. "Thank you Ms. Potts."
"Take as much time as you need. Tony and I will deal with this mess. But I'll take Asha first." she offered, leaving him. T'Challa watched her walk down the hallway before turning the corner.
He opened the door and closed it behind him. He peeled back the blanket to be greeted by the horrible sight of his wife's body. He broke down at the state of it alone. Taking her hand into his and kissed her cheek.
Pepper was walking down the halls, holding Asha in her arms. Looking down at the infant who she noticed took more after her mother as her dark eyes opened.
She brought her to Ramonda, Laura W and Shuri who were gathered in another suite.
The day dragged on and the government reached a probation agreement with the wanted Avengers. With Fury and Tony fighting on their behalf. And the current events overshadowing The Accords. All of them were finally let out of the detention level.
Natasha quickly called Clint to tell him the news but he said he saw the news on what happened to Laura. She walked out of the compound and saw Steve sitting on the bench outside. Looking deep in thought.
She sat behind him and hugged him. He hugged her back. "How are you feeling?" Steve asked her. She gave him a look.
"I know. Stupid question." he said with a small smile. "At least we're not criminals anymore." she said dryly.
"Yeah, we got Stark to help us out in the end." he replied. "Have you seen Asha yet?" she asked and he shook his head no.
"She's cute. Takes after her mother." she smiled. "It's a shame she'll grow up without her."
The rest of the week was just as busy. It was announced that Laura would receive a State funeral in Washington. T'Challa consented and everyone gathered in the nation's capitol. Tributes poured out all around the world.
The blocks around Stark Tower were filled with bouquets of flowers, paintings and drawings of her to the point the filled entire sidewalks and had to be kept off the streets. Unofficial candlelit memorials were held in cities all over and Laura's casket was displayed in the Capitol Rotunda for the day. Draped under an American flag
Everyone was dressed in black as they joined to move Laura to the Quinjet parked outside on the grounds to be transported to Wakanda.
The pallbearers being Tony and Steve, Rhodey and Clint, Bruce and Happy. The procession followed them outside with T'Challa leading them, followed by the President and Vice President, Ramonda, Shuri, Okoye, Laura W who was holding Asha, Natasha, Laura B, Cooper, Lila and Nate, Pepper, Thor, Sam, Scott, Bucky, Wanda, and Vision in his android form without the stone. Peter was joined by his Aunt who were followed by Strange, Wong The Guardians, Carol Danvers, Fury and lastly Secretary Ross.
They walked across the marble floor and outside to the sunny spring day. T'Challa looked down the steps then out to the crowds and wet wide eyed.
As far as he could see he saw the large shoulder packed crowd that was at least one hundred thousand strong. He was truly amazed by Laura's impact on the world. Ramonda grabbed his hand and they began walking down the steps. Ignoring the reporters broadcasting the procession and knowing that all of them… would be okay.
