TW: Thank you.
Lord Chronus: Why thank you very much. I'm glad you're enjoying the story. We are in the Endgame, the story will go through the fight with Thanos and then we'll have a couple chapters to wrap things up. Yep, HA!
Asgard
Morning
It had been a few days since the Guardians had arrived on Asgard, and in that time, Gamora, Quill and Drax had been in meetings with Thor, Steve, Loki and Sif, all of them trying to come up with a strategy to defeat Thanos.
Currently, they were in a room with a projection of the areas where Thanos had been sighted most recently.
"He'll be here, in three days' time," Gamora said, pointing to a planet on the outer edge of the system Thanos had been seen most recently.
"How can you be sure?" Thor asked.
"It's his pattern. After he goes to a planet and wipes out half their population, he'll spend the next three months looking for the Infinity Stones, then he selects the closest, most populated planet and goes there to half the population, and then his strategy starts all over again. It's been almost three months since he did this. That'll be the next planet he targets," Gamora said with certainty.
"Then we have our plan of attack. I will reach out to the leader of the planet, warn them. Loki, Sif, ready our armies," Thor ordered before glancing at Steve. "Cap-"
"I'll head back to Earth, get the Avengers ready. We'll meet here in two days," Steve said, glancing at the planet Thanos would arrive at in three days. "Let's go get this son of a bitch."
Earth, Avenger's Compound
Later that day
"So the time has to come to face Thanos," T'Challa noted, in holographic form as he and Natasha talked.
"Almost. Steve should be getting back from Asgard any time now, and then we'll know what the plan is," Natasha explained. "We understand you have a duty to your country-"
"But I also have a duty to do what is right. When the time comes, I will stand with you as you face Thanos," T'Challa vowed, surprising Natasha. "I will make the arrangements for my absence before I depart for the Compound."
"T'Challa…this isn't a fight you're guaranteed to walk away from," Natasha said gently.
"I know. But I would regret it if I stayed out of this fight. I shall see you all soon," T'Challa said before ending the message and his hologram faded.
Outside, Bucky was standing on the grass, looking around like it was the 8th wonder of the world.
"You realize it's just grass, Bucky," Wanda said as she stepped up beside him.
I haven't been on grass – American grass, that is – since I remembered who I was. The vision you showed me in my dream doesn't count," Bucky said as Wanda opened her mouth. "It's…it's like being home after years away. It probably sounds stupid."
"No, it doesn't. I'd feel the same way about being back at Sokovia. Sam always says that home is home, no matter where you are," Wanda said and it was silent as Wanda reached out, taking his hand. "Welcome home."
It was silent for a moment, the two of them merely holding hands, taking in each other's company. Then, they heard a jet engine. They looked up, seeing a Quinjet in the sky. It landed a few feet away, wind blowing both their hair before the ramp lowered and Clint walked down the ramp.
"Clint," Wanda said in surprise.
"Hey kid, Barnes," Clint greeted pleasantly, pausing as he noticed they were holding hands.
Which they immediately realized, dropping hands and looking away like two teenagers caught kissing. Clint fought the urge to burst out laughing. It was kind of cute, to be honest.
"What are you doing here? Thought you'd be back at the farm," Wanda noted as she walked over, exchanging a hug with the man.
"I was, got Laura and the kids settled back in, fixed up the mess Rumlow left. Now, I'm here for the fight," Clint said just before a loud boom was heard a few feet away from the Quinjet.
Startled, the three looked over s a Bifrost beam faded, leaving Steve standing on top the ruined grass.
"Cap," Clint greeted as Steve looked up.
"Clint. Welcome back," Steve said with a nod.
"I'm not the one who went to another planet. How was it?" Clint asked curiously.
"Not like anything we've ever seen before," Steve acknowledged and it was quiet. "Let's get the rest of the team here. Time to get ready."
Stark Mansion
Same time
Tony was on his lab, working on his latest suit when FRIDAY spoke.
"Boss, Captain Rogers is calling," FRIDAY said and Tony looked up from his work.
"Cap's back? Patch him though," Tony said and a beat passed as FRIDAY did so. "Hey, Cap. Welcome back to Earth. How was Asgard?"
"I don't think any words can do it justice. But you'll see it soon enough. I need you at the Compound, I'm holding a meeting," Steve said.
"Am I to assume this is about your trip to Asgard?" Tony asked.
"Why ask a question you already know the answer to?" Steve asked and Tony shrugged.
"Touché. I can be there in an hour. See you then. Hope you brought a souvenir from Asgard."
San Francisco
Not long after
It was another long day at Hank's lab. Scott, Hope and Hank were continuing construction on the Quantum Tunnel when there was a ringing sound.
"Sorry, that's me," Scott apologized, pulling out his Avengers Phone. "Be back in a second."
Stepping away without waiting for a response, Scott answered.
"This is Scott."
"Hey, Tic-Tac. How's the Quantum Tunnel going?" Sam asked.
"It's going. It's not like making one of Stark's suits, this takes time. Did you really call me just for that?" Scott asked, having a feeling Sam wouldn't have called him for that.
"No. Can you, Hope and Pym video call us in about an hour? Cap's holding a meeting…about Thanos," Sam said and Scott paused for a long moment. "Tic-Tac?"
"I'm still here. Yeah, we'll be there," Scott promise.
"Okay. See you in an hour," Sam said before he hung up, leaving Scott staring at the phone.
"Scott?" Hope called out and he turned to see her and Hank looking at him in slight concern. "Is everything ok?"
"No. No, it's not," Scott said with a sigh, suddenly feeling much older than he was. "It's time."
Wakanda
Not long after
"I don't understand, my king," The River Tribe Representative said as T'Challa held a meeting. "You cannot leave us now."
"I do not wish to, but I fear I must. Forces conspire against us, to take everything we hold dear. I must ride out to meet this threat," T'Challa said simply.
"Then all of Wakanda will ride with you," M'Baku of all people said.
"I appreciate that, M'Baku, but no. Should I not return, Wakanda must survive. In my absence, I appoint my mother, Lady Ramonda as Queen Regent. I hope to see you all again, but for now, I must prepare for my departure," T'Challa said, rising from his seat and crossing his arms in the symbol of the Black Panther. "Wakanda Forever. Never forget."
Avenger's Compound
Later that day
Exactly an hour after Sam's call to Scott, the Avengers, save Thor and Sif, stood in the conference room. Scott, Hope and Hank's faces were visible via a holographic screen.
"We know where Thanos is going to attack next," Steve began. "In three days, Thor is going to lead Asgard's armies in battle against Thanos, along with Quill and his crew."
"T'Challa told me earlier that he'll be on his way soon, he's prepared to join the fight," Natasha said and Steve nodded at her.
"So this is it then. The big one," Tony noted.
"Yes. Which is why I want each of you to do something for me: Take the rest of the day off," Steve said, surprising them all. " And tomorrow off too. This is the fight of our lives. Not all of us are guaranteed to come out of this alive. Scott, we'll understand if you don't want to join us."
"No, I'm in. This is a fight for the fate of the universe. I don't know how to look myself, much less my daughter in the eye if I don't do this. I'll be there," Scott promised and Steve merely nodded.
"We'll be happy to have you. But for now, take the day off, all of you. Live the next few days as if they were your last. Because they just might be."
San Francisco
Not long after
"Well, it's set in stone then," Hank mused as they cut the call.
"Yeah. No getting out of it now," Scott said and a beat passed. "I need to go. I just…I need to be with Cassie right now."
"We understand, Scott," Hope said gently and he tried to smile but it came out looking more like a grimace.
"If I don't come back…just…could you two tell Cassie that I did this for her? So she got to grow up?" Scott asked slowly, a lump in his throat as he imagined not being there to watch Cassie grow up.
"Yeah, I'll tell her, Scott," Hank said gently.
Scott nodded with a tight smile before he turned, walking out of the room. They waited they heard him exit the building before Hank spoke.
"You're going with him, aren't you?"
"I have to, Dad. Like he said, this is about more than just us. It's about the entire universe. Besides, I don't think I could look Cassie in the eye if her dad died and I wasn't there, doing everything possible to bring him home," Hope admitted and Hank sighed.
"Sometimes, I wish I had never recruited Scott," Hank grumbled.
'No, you don't," Hope said knowingly, a slight smile on her face.
Hank didn't dignify that with a response, instead reaching out and taking her hand. Hope silently squeezed his hand, the gesture saying more than words ever could.
Asgard
Same time
Thor tried not to sigh in frustration as Rocket was brought in by his guards. And from the looks on Quill and Gamora's faces, they were ready to kill him.
"Leave us," Thor ordered and the guards departed the room.
"Thor-" Rocket started.
"That is your highness," Sif said curtly but Thor waved her off.
"It is alright, Sif. Tell me, Rabbit, why did you attempt to break into the Royal Vault?" Thor asked patiently.
"I heard you had lots of stuff down there, valuable stuff," Rocket admitted, seeing he couldn't get away with lying.
"Indeed I do. Perhaps I may take you to see it and, if I am in a gracious mood, allow you to take a valuable of your choosing," Thor said, surprising all of them. "But not if you attempt to steal again. You are here as a guest, you must behave as such."
"I will, I promise," Rocket said eagerly.
"I hope so. I will let you off with a warning, this time. But do not test my patience. We are going to be working together, we must trust each other. That cannot be possible if you steal from us," Thor pointed out and Rocket had the sense to look sheepish.
"Right, yeah. I won't let you down," Rocket said.
"I should hope not," Thor said, turning to Quill and Gamora. "I trust you will keep in him line for the remainder of your stay?"
"I'm not letting him out of my sight," Gamora said, glaring at the suddenly nervous Rocket.
"See that you don't. Last thing we need for morale is to give troops a bad impression of your group," Sif said and Thor nodded his agreement.
"You may go. I need to speak with Lady Sif, privately," Thor said and the three Guardians departed the room.
"My King?" Sif inquired but Thor waved her off.
"Come now, we are long past such formalities. Long before I was your king, we were friends, were we not?" Thor pointed out and Sif nodded after a moment.
"That is true. What is it you wished to talk about?" Sif inquired.
"When we depart to face Thanos…you will remain here," Thor said, stunning Sif.
"Thor…how can you ask me to do such a thing?" Sif asked in shock. "My place is fighting alongside you and our armies."
"Under normal circumstances, yes. But this is not normal circumstances. Thanos is the most dangerous enemy I have ever faced before, either here or with the Avengers. I am not certain I can defeat him," Thor announced, to her shock. "I hope I will survive this battle…but if not, someone must continue on after me."
"Thor…" Sif said softly, her face paling as she realized what Thor was trying to say.
"I do not intend to die, but if that were to happen, the throne would of course pass to Loki. Aside from the fact that my brother is, by his nature, too scheming to be trusted with such power, his state of mind since we returned from Earth will leave him unprepared for such responsibility. As such, I am going to name you my heir," Thor said, shocking Sif.
"Me? Thor, it is against all laws," Sif said in shock.
"Not if you were my wife."
At these words, Sif stared, completely shocked at this turn of events. Thor grimaced, not having intended to phrase it like that or blurt it out, but what was done was done.
"Sif, we have known each other a long time. You are one of my oldest friends. I know how you feel about me," Thor said, smiling slightly at her surprised look. "We spent almost every day together for almost a thousand years. I was not perhaps the wisest of men, but I am not stupid."
"You never said anything," Sif said softly.
"I was waiting for you to come to me. But you never did," Thor noted. "I care about you, very much. You are one of the few people I trust completely."
"So you forgive me?" Sif couldn't help but ask hopefully.
"I may not agree with your decision to keep Son of Coul's survival a secret from me, but I understand that you were only doing what you believed to be right. So yes, I forgive you," Thor assured her." But Sif, I need you to lead our people should I fall in battle to Thanos. Should I survive, I can promise you that I will not ask for more than you are willing to give. I will be as good a husband as I am a warrior. So, Lady Sif, will you marry me?"
Sif was silent for a long moment, and Thor knew her well enough that he could see her going over the proposal from every angle.
"Under the best circumstances, your brother cannot be trusted with this much power, as he proved by usurping your father. And you are right, he seems changed since returning from Earth, unpredictable, even more so than he always was. So yes, Thor, I will marry you."
Not much happened here, but hope you all enjoyed it.
I haven't been able to spend as much time developing Thor and Sif's relationship in this story as I would have liked, but I hope the proposal scene was okay.
Next chapter, we'll get the Avengers all living their last days before the final fight with Thanos begins. I know I said that the fight with Thanos would start next chapter but it just seemed fitting to end it there.