As the sun came up in Asgard, Loki realised he had fallen asleep with his book on his chest. He checked the time and saw that he had very little time to sneak to the passage to Midgard if Thor was not successful in persuading Odin to let him travel to the funeral. He carefully bathed and dressed, combing back his hair and slinging his satchel on his back. He met Thor in the hallway.
"Brother, you are leaving?"
"If I am to make the funeral, yes."
"Father wishes to speak to us both."
"I cannot miss this, Thor."
"You will not."
Loki sighed, "He had best be quick."
Meanwhile, Grace and Steve had made breakfast for the guests in Stark Tower. Everyone dressed for the funeral and met in the lobby, Doctor Carter bringing a simple silver urn to the Tower. No one spoke much. Two black limousines arrived and they entered the cars, the urn resting on Grace's lap.
Thor and Loki stood before Odin's thorne, "Loki. You seem to be ready to travel without my permission. You gave up the right to travel off-realm in exchange for seeing your Midgardian friend in Asgard every year."
"Respectfully, I will not let my friend suffer this loss alone, whether or not I have your blessing. I would prefer to travel with Thor so that I will not be punished for it when I return, but I am prepared to do what I must."
Odin sighed, "You are an impulsive boy, but for once I can say that it may be because your heart is in the right place. If I grant this, I ask that you do one thing- learn from her pain."
"I will do my best. My focus, though, will be on her, not on myself."
Odin turned to Thor, "You are responsible for him. If he is unable to behave himself, you will both be brought back here and you will be held accountable for your inability to keep him under control."
"Loki will not give me any trouble, Father. He has one reason for this visit and only one."
"I wish, my son, I could have as much faith in him as you do."
Loki looked anxious, "May we leave soon? I do not want to be late for Mr Stark's funeral."
Odin dismissed them and they quickly walked to Heimdall's control station. When they arrived at Stark Tower, it was eerily quiet. They rode down the elevator to the lobby, Thor asking JARVIS as they travelled just where everyone was. JARVIS told them that they had departed only a few moments before.
Loki's heart sank as they stepped into the lobby, "How will we find them, Thor?"
"I do not know. I am thinking."
"Think faster."
A black car pulled up to the front of the building and a man in a suit jumped out and strode to the front door.
"Son of Coul!"
"Just Phil, Thor. Have they left yet?"
"JARVIS has informed us that it has only been about five minutes, but yes, they have."
"JARVIS, which cemetery are they headed to? Can you tell my GPS where to go?" JARVIS confirmed that he could and Phil turned to them, "Well come on. Let's go. But your brother still makes me nervous- you're both sitting in the back seat so you can keep an eye on him."
They sped away from the Tower; Thor watched as the lights turned green as they approached, "How fortuitous that we do not seem to be impeded by the traffic signals!"
Phil patted a little black box on his dashboard, "S.H.I.E.L.D. tech...we have this little baby to thank for all the green lights. We shouldn't be worried about traffic the entire way."
Loki fiddled with the strap of his satchel, "I do hope we make it in time."
"We'll do the best we can. There's not much more I can do- we're moving as fast as we can and using all the tricks we've got, unless you're willing to magic us there."
"Unfortunately, that option is no longer open to me."
At the cemetery, Grace stepped out of the car and walked the familiar path to Howard and Maria Stark's graves, only this time, there was a chaplain beside the grave and a hole open in the earth ready to take Tony's ashes. Grace stopped, unable to continue forward. Pepper was sobbing, leaning on Steve as he brought her to the graveside. Bruce caught Grace's arm and gently urged her forward. She took a deep breath and put one foot in front of the other, barely able to comprehend just what was happening. As they all stood beside the grave, the chaplain began to speak.
"I am Father Francis, and like you, I am here today to mourn the passing of Anthony Stark, a dear friend to those who spent the time getting to know him and a man faithful to his beliefs. I have only known Tony for a few years. His friend, James, recommended he speak to he when he learned his body was failing him. He was initially hesitant to talk to a chaplain, his religious beliefs firmly rooted in ambivalence. As his heart weakened, however, he began to ask the more difficult questions about the end of one's life and he came to speak to me more regularly. I never told him what to believe, and I do not know what his beliefs were at the end of his life. I do not think the specifics are important, though. I think what is important is that he took some comfort from our conversations and was able to mull on these questions without feeling pressured to have an answer. I learned something from Tony as well- I learned now much a man could change. I remember when he was only the party boy in public- the arms dealer who could not honestly care any less about what his fortune did to others. I watched him become a caring man with a different goal in life- to have his name only be used to better the lives of those in the world, not to destroy those lives. And so let us remember how he changed our lives as we place his urn in the earth."
Grace knelt down and gently set the urn in the small grave; Father Francis asked if she would like to speak. She nodded, but first took a moment of silence.
As Grace knelt and placed Tony in the earth, Loki and Thor walked with Phil to the gravesite. Clint heard someone coming and turned, noticing only Loki at first, and moved to intercept him. Thor stepped in his path and gently shook his head as Loki walked with Phil to stand beside the other mourners.
Grace spoke, "I...I very literally owe Tony my life. I was a street kid in Detroit without a hope in the world of pulling myself out of it- I was 13. He took me in and believed, even when I challenged everything he did, that I was somebody special. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Tony. For everything he told me I could do. For everything he told me I could be. And for every time he pushed me to figure things out on my own and not to just let money solve my problems. I thought it was funny when he said that because it was exactly what he was doing...but that was Tony. He wanted better for me. And I was so happy when he finally wanted better for himself, too. When he sat down with that burger and had a press conference in which he shook the roots of the company and told the world he was changing his life, I was so proud of him for that. And I was even more proud of him when he decided that Iron Man was about so much more than just him. I knew I'd lose him early. And he knew I'd be able to do this. He told me I'd be OK, that I'd keep pushing forward...and I will. Because he taught me I can." She stopped to breathe and reached down to the urn, brushing her fingers on the silver lid, "I miss you already, honey. I love you so goddamned much." She reached over to the pile of dirt sitting beside the grave and cupped her hands around a scoop of it that she then sprinkled over the urn. She started crying when the soil partially obscured the silver.
Father Francis gave her a moment and looked at the others, "Does anyone else have something they would like to say?"
Loki noticed the uneasy glances people were trading as they tried to decide if they could interrupt Grace at the graveside; he slowly walked over to her and crouched down, whispering, "Come, Miss Grace." He took her by the arm and gently helped her to stand, escorting her back to the others, his hand resting on her back.
James Rhodes spoke briefly on watching Tony change through the years. Pepper sobbed through a few sentences about how proud she was of him and of all he had done in his life. Steve spoke of the glue that Tony was to the Avengers and his hopes that they would keep working for the greater good together even without him, possibly in memory of him. Even Natasha spoke very briefly about his bravery and his willingness to step up and sacrifice himself during the battle of New York.
She was the last to speak, tossing a handful of dirt on his urn saying, "I'm going to miss you, you crazy bastard."
Father Francis said a brief prayer for Tony to rest peacefully and then Bruce helped him to finish burying the urn. The limousines left not long after the service. Thor, Loki, Phil, and Grace were left behind. Phil returned to his car with Thor while Loki stayed with Grace as she stared at the grave.
Father Francis stepped over to her, "You spoke beautifully, miss. I am sorry for your loss. Your brother was a very unique person and I admire his willingness to change his values when he saw they hurt others and to stand up for them in the many ways he did, taking great risks in doing so. Tony left a better world in his wake. Take comfort in that."
"I will. Thank you. The service was lovely."
"Tony asked for me to keep things simple. He also requested that I do the public memorial, so if you decide to attend that, I will see you again. I hope to do him justice in that ceremony as well. It will be a bit more formal, but I think he knew that there would be a need for such a thing even if it was not what he wished for his family."
Grace gave him a small smile, "Maybe I'll get there, then. I was going to skip it, but if you're doing it, I might be able to handle it."
"If you need anyone to talk to, please, don't hesitate to call. JARVIS knows how to get in touch with me."
She thanked him again and he left the graveside- she stood motionless as Loki wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder as they both looked at the grave, "I hope Harold and Maria are proud of him."
"I am certain they are, Miss Grace."
"I'm going to be the last Stark. Pepper's older than me. No kids between us, no crazy cousins out there...just me."
"And does that bother you?"
"Yes and no." She paused. "I'm really really glad you made it. I thought Odin didn't want you travelling."
"He does not, but Thor convinced him I would better learn the value of family by watching someone go through the loss of it."
"Ah. So this is a learning opportunity to him."
"I also told Thor I was coming to Mr Stark's funeral with our without permission and, when called to the throne this morning to discuss the possibility of travel, I had my satchel packed and over my shoulder. He knew I would be leaving, blessing or no."
"Somehow I doubt he would have taken that well."
"Especially not since I gave up travelling off-realm for the rest of my life in order to secure your visits every year."
She turned around in his arms and hugged him tightly, "However you managed to get here, thank you. This means the world to me." She kissed his cheek and he kissed hers in return. They walked back to the car and Thor opened the doors for them.
As Phil drove, Thor handed back a tablet, "Grace- it is good to see you, though I wish the circumstances were more favourable. The man from Stark Industries is about to speak."
"Oh, the press conference. I forgot about that. Let's see what he has to say." She turned up the volume on the tablet.
"Don't turn it up too loud- the tablet's tied to the car speakers."
She turned it back down as the vice-CEO began to speak, "I have sad news. Mr Anthony Stark passed away very early this morning at his home in Stark Tower surrounded by family and friends and was interred this morning beside his parents. He left us a statement to read in the event of his death.
"'Those who have hated me the world over are probably pretty happy about this news, but I'm not really worried about them. I'm worried about the people Stark Industries has hurt. I'm worried about the people our energy tech could really help but we haven't reached yet. And I'm worried about the friends and family I leave behind- they've got one hell of a legacy to carry on. And I know they will. When my will goes public, you'll see that I've done everything I can to make sure the future of Stark Industries stays on track with helping people and making up for the decades of hurt we've caused. You'll also see that I've made sure the people who I care about are able to work on their projects to make this world a little brighter without ever worrying about begging for grant funding again. And you'll see that I'm not the only guy making a difference in the world- each of the projects I'm using part of the family fortune to fund is something that, to quote a great movement of geeks changing the world, 'reduces world suck'. I'm just Iron Man- Tony Stark- a guy with a suit and a lot of money. There are people out there changing the world every day just by existing and I intend to make sure you start to learn about them- something I wanted to do while living but neglected for one reason or another. Well now I don't have a reason to not do it- I'm dead, it's not like I've got a lot to distract me. So hang in there. And for those of you who need to mourn publicly, there's going to be a funeral coming up and an after-party that will be in true Tony Stark style. It'll be fun, kids, so be good and remember that you're life could end from something stupid at any minute- whether that stupid is a bad decision or because you forgot while out flying in your super suit that your body could only take so much abuse. So make it count- you don't have to be Iron Man to change the world.'
"And so ends Mr Stark's statement. We at Stark Industries would like to also take a moment to let all of you know that we remain committed to Mr Stark's research into clean energy and arc reactor technology. We do not want to see all he fought so hard to change the company into go to waste, nor will we be resuming weapons manufacturing at any time. Miss Potts will still be our CEO so long as she wishes to remain at the company helm. We believe that by building on his legacy, we will not only make him proud, but we will also truly honour the memories of his parents, Howard and Maria, who we believe would be quite proud of their son for the direction he took Stark Industries. We will announce the time and date for the public funeral later this week, as well as the time the after-party will begin. Until then, we thank you for your support and Tony asks that you grant his family privacy as they cope with this loss."
Grace handed the tablet back up to Thor and Phil had him turn it off, "That was nice- are you still OK, Grace?"
"Yeah. I will be. Thanks, Phil." Grace had her legs tucked to the side and was leaning against Loki as he gently held her. She was as calm as she could be, given the circumstances, and from his vantage point in the front seat, Thor thought they both looked as comfortable as two people could be attempting to snuggle in the back seat of a vehicle.
When they arrived at Stark Tower, there were press vans surrounding the building. Grace directed Phil to the parking garage and gave him her key card so they could park without having to go through the press.
Grace brushed off her jacket and trousers, "Well, the reorters are going to be all over the lobby and that's how we get to the lift and the stairs."
Phil nodded, "I'll do my best to keep you under wraps, but they're probably going to see you. You are, after all, Grace Stark."
"Then I guess we just need to go in and get this over with."
They entered the lobby and Grace cringed at all the news reporters trying to interview anyone who walked by, including the security staff, about their memories of Tony. She took a deep breath and stepped forward clutching Loki's hand. They skirted the edge of the room, hoping they could minimise being seen, but there were shortly a flock of reporters descending on them. Phil stepped between Grace and the interview microphones and kept walking until they could no longer move.
He turned to Grace, "Are you willing to speak to them or am I sticking to the well-rehearsed 'no comment' line?"
"I'll say something. But you three are responsible for pulling me back if it gets really sarcastic or stupid."
Phil stepped aside and one of the closest reporters shouted above the others, "Miss Stark, Miss Stark- can we have a word? How are you feeling?"
Grace took a deep breath and calmed herself before trying to answer, other voices interrupting her answer, "Well for the love of shit, if your colleagues would shut the hell up I'd be glad to give you an answer." The reporters fell silent, some reaching boom mics over the reporters in front to get their sound bite, "You asked how I'm feeling? I feel like my heart's been ripped out. I buried my brother this morning. How would you feel? Would you be happy, or would you want everyone to back the hell off so you can figure out what you're going to do with your life with this hole in it?"
Another reporter asked, "So what are your plans now that the Stark family fortune goes to you?"
"Your biggest question is what I'm going to do with the money? I'm going to leave it alone and live the same way I have been. I'm going to keep on not dating and not trying to make a whole lot of friends because all that people see when you've got a name like Stark is dollar signs. So I'm going to probably disappear somewhere for a while and stay out of the public eye. I'm going to make sure our friends are OK. And I'm going to probably do a lot of reading, because books are awesome and they don't judge you if you start crying at stupid things. Anybody else have a question?"
"Miss Stark! Miss Stark! I take it this means you're still single?"
Grace looked for the source of the question, "Which one of you asked that one? Raise your hand." A hand went up in the back, "Firstly, it's not really any of your damn business if I'm dating anyone. Secondly, as I said before, I've just buried my only living relative. I'm not going to be jumping to find a mate. And really? That's the best question you've got? I've never dated in the public eye, I don't plan on starting, and you're a jackass for asking. Anyone else?"
"Miss Stark, did you know about Tony's prepared statement in advance?"
"No. He didn't tell anyone about his funeral plans who did not absolutely need to know. I am really grateful for that. He told me the night before he died that all I had to do was be where I wanted to be and he had already taken care of the rest. I'm proud of him for handling all this. He talked to a chaplain and he arranged for his funerals and his after-party. It has made it so we can just focus on grieving together and remembering the love we all had for Tony. Thank you for asking a decent question and not a dumb one. Next?"
"Is there anything you'd like the world to remember about Mr Stark that they might forget with all the focus on Iron Man?"
"Another good question. I'd like everyone to remember that he was my brother- a real, living person who just happened to have a really high profile job. He's not just a figurehead or a celebrity you can all speculate on or make into an idol you want to worship or dissect now that he's dead. We're in mourning and we ask the same courtesy for our family that you would give to your own family or friends if they had this kind of loss. Remember that he was brilliant, even when he was misguided. Remember that he did his best when he figured out what he wanted in his life to work hard to get there. Remember that he loved, that he cared, that he was, to us, not just a hero or a villain or Iron Man. He was just Tony. And now, though I'm sure some of you have some delightful questions about my love life, family fortune, or speculations on what Tony's will might contain (and no, I don't know), I need to get back to the family. I ask that you leave us to each other right now. You'll have your chance to mourn with us at the public funeral and to drink your cares away at the after-party."
Phil took back up his post as her guard and escorted her to the elevator with Thor and Loki close beside. The minute the lift doors slid shut, Grace sighed in relief. She hit the button for her floor.
"I need a little quiet time- Phil, Thor- can you two go up to the commons and make sure things are OK up there while I take some time with Loki?"
"Of course, Grace. Phil and I shall let you know if your presence is required. Otherwise, take all the time you wish."
"Check on Pepper, too- she's probably a mess right now. This has been a tough day and we haven't even had lunch. Make sure she tries to eat at least some fruit or something, OK?"
The lift chimed at her floor and she took Loki's hand. Grace's head was swimming and she was having difficulty keeping her emotions under control as she entered the apartment. She let go of Loki's hand and went to the bedroom, stripping off her suitcoat as she walked, undoing the buttons of her blouse as she opened the bedroom door. Loki set his satchel down beside the couch and went to the kitchen, himself quite hungry. He rummaged through her refrigerator and found a pot of leftover stew. He then looked at the stove and pondered just how it worked. As he was attempting to decide just how one would light the cooking flame, Grace entered, brushing out her short hair, her clothes considerably more comfortable. She smiled and showed him how the knobs triggered the lighting of the burners and he put the stew pot over the flame, careful to centre it precisely. Grace returned to the living room and tossed herself on the couch. Loki realised that the apartment was far too empty, the furniture bare-bones and the little things that had given it personality were gone. He did not ask why, but sat down silently beside her and patiently waited for her to speak. She did not. He went to stir the stew and was momentarily distracted by the spice rack, selecting and smelling a few before tasting the stew and adding a few shakes of the spices he had chosen. When he returned to the couch, Grace was still sitting exactly where he had left her. She did not move until the stew was finished, her eyes fixed on a spot in the floor until he called her into the kitchen to eat. She sat down at the table and found the places set very neatly, Loki ladling the hot stew into bowls. He carefully sat one in front of her and at his place as well before also serving glasses of orange juice and then settling into his own seat.
"You must eat, Miss Grace. At least try a little."
She stirred the stew and sipped a little of the broth from her spoon, "It's good."
"I will not be offended if you eat very little, but please eat something."
Grace took small bites of the stew until she realised just how hungry she was and began to eat in earnest. Loki smiled, proud he had managed to cook something, even if it was only leftovers reheated and reseasoned.
"So where'd you learn to cook?"
"Thor and his adventuring friends would, in better years, take me along on their less dangerous expeditions. Given their predeliction for leaving home without proper cooking supplies, I had to learn very quickly how to feed the five of them on very thin rations or what I could scavenge from near our campsite."
"So that was their way of including the little brother, eh?"
"Yes. I was often left at the campsite when they took off on more foolheardy ventures, but I did my best. I am so much younger than they." Realising that discussing family might not be the wisest while Grace's loss was still so new, Loki turned instead to his stew and waited for Grace to determine where the conversation was going. He did not want to push her to tears or accidentally stop her from eating.
"Were they just trying to be protective?"
"Perhaps. Perhaps they simply did not want me in the way or to see just how far afoul of Odin's rules they went. I do not know. Given what I was included in, I would venture possibly all three, depending on who you asked."
"I hope they all wanted to protect you, at least on some level- and not just because they would get in trouble if you ended up injured and somebody figured out what they were up to."
"It is likely that Thor did, at the least. At that time, I believed him to be the decent sort."
"And now?"
"I think him a fool- a noble fool, but still a fool none the less. While I have not yet returned to openly calling him my brother, I am starting to believe I might some day get to that point."
"Well that's an improvement over 15 years ago when you didn't want anything to do with him."
"That it is."
Grace finished off her stew and sat quietly for a few moments, "Loki?"
"Yes, Miss Grace?"
"I'm never going to make it through this week if I have to stay in New York."
"Where do you want to go?"
"I want to spend a couple days in Chicago, wallowing in my grief late at night in dingy blues bars, without the press anywhere around."
"How might we accomplish this?"
"I figure out how to get the family jet and we fly out tomorrow morning. Gives us the time to pack and drink."
"I do not need time to pack. If you wish, we could leave yet today."
"No. I need a familiar bed tonight. It won't take me long to pack, either- I've been living out of suitcases since I got back here, but still...I just need to be here, in Tony's place, tonight."
"Living out of suitcases? Did you not move back?"
"No. I've only been back a few weeks. I still mostly live in Detroit."
"Home even after all these years?"
"I guess. Wherever Tony was has been home for so long...yeah, the Depot apartment is mine and my own turf, but where he was has always been home...and now he's gone. I'm not even sure what to do at this point."
Loki stood, cleared the dishes, and then stood behind her chair and wrapped his arms around her so he could speak softly, his lips close to her ear, "You will mourn. You will let yourself break. And then you will live. You will move forward. And if you cannot do this for yourself, you will do so in memory of him. And you will find your adventure again and you will thrive and realise that Mr Stark would be so happy to see you stretching your wings, wherever that may be."
Grace bowed her head and crossed her arms over his so she could hold his hands, "I hope you're right."
"I know you well enough, Miss Grace, to say with near certainty that I am."
"And what if you're not?"
"I will do everything in my power to save you from yourself, Miss Grace, and you know this to be true. I not only owe it to you for the time you have spent with me, but as your friend. I will not let you take the path of anger and self destruction I know all too well."
"Can I still get really shit-drunk tonight?"
"Of course. I do not believe there is ever mourning in Asgard that does not involve copious amounts of alcohol. By the standards of that realm, everyone here is far too sober."
Grace smiled and stood, "Well we haven't been upstairs yet. I have no doubt they are well on the way to emptying the bar by now."
"Shall we join them?" He offered her his hand.
She nodded and took it, "Sure, at least for a little while. Like they say, misery loves company."