Chapter 19
Lilith felt the presence of an Infinity Stone in New York before anyone else. And though she was kept updated as to the situation, dealing with her father she could not. There was only one downside to the immortality of death, and that was life. Not in the way one would expect, however. It was an upside of being dead that one could not be affected by the infinity stones. It was an upside of her being dead-while-still-alive that she could not be affected by the infinity stones. It was also at the same time a downside, for as she could not be touched by the stones, she, in turn, could not touch them as well. So when she felt an infinity stone appear only two stories above her, the space stone, she felt, she took 13-year-old teddy and two-year-old Ron, (because while Tony loved calling his son simply junior, everyone else called him by his middle name*) and used their emergency portkey to the Malibu mansion, because apparating that far with two passengers was not recommended.
Ron, it turned out, did not like his first taste of Portkey travel, and immediately had an accidental magic meltdown. There were still times when Lilith wondered if mixing her own bloodline with Tony’s was that good of an idea, but then she saw Ron’s cute smile and realized that yes, through all the stress, yes it was.
When the Avengers were relaxing at Tony’s bar, munching on Shawarma, Loki wrapped up in Thor’s super Asgardian handcuffs and something over his mouth to stop him from doing magic, Tony asked JARVIS, “JARVIS, where is Lilith, the Kid, and Junior?”
“Mrs. Stark said to tell you that they are in the Malibu mansion due to the presence of her allergen.”
“Wait, what? Where?” Tony asked.
“I was not informed of the substance, she said to call once the whole shitshow is done with, her words not mine.”
“Yeah, I know J, Rhodey reprogrammed you to be able to use only G-rated language.”
“Congrats to Rhodes for that,” Natasha said.
“You can shut it Rushman.” Tony snarked, but lightly, not intending any bite.
“You do get that’s not my name?”
“I knew since before you walked in the door, but when you choose a cover name, stick to it.”
“Why would she tell you her cover name?” Barton asked.
“Because that’s the name on your paperwork, and you know all about paperwork, right? You handle mine all day long.” Tony said with a small smirk on his face.
Natasha rubbed her forehead. “Yeah, that.”
“It was kind of a running bet in SHIELD that you’d fire her as soon as you found out she was one of us. I didn’t put any money on it, but a lot of people did.”
“The mission was Level 7 classified,” Natasha said to Clint.
“A lot of Level 7 agents.” Clint clarified. “Last I checked Coulson won that pool, something about knowing you well enough to predict your actions, Garrett lost the worst, though Hill also lost a good amount of money, as did May and Hand. On a government salary, not the best idea.”
“No, he’s just the one that got me to help bail Romanoff out of a maximum-security life term in the Raft, at best, at worst death row.”
“Wait, what?” Bruce asked, spitting out his coke.
“What is the Raft? It sounds very benign and harmless.” Thor said.
“It’s the most secure prison ever, on international waters, the UN runs it. It’s been 3 years since someone was sent there.”
“Who?”
“Melina Vostakoff. For the murder of President Ellis as well as several other murders of SHIELD agents on classified missions and dabbling in mind control to boot.” Bruce said. “I read the news. So what did you do that needed bailing out?”
“Correction, what did she get caught doing that needed bailing out?” Tony said. “She got caught freeing the way for President Brant.”
“Brant? The one whose campaign you’re almost entirely funding?” Steve asked.
“Technically it’s Lilith funding the campaign, but yes. Her.”
“So what did you get caught doing? Being her bodyguard? I don’t see how that’s illegal.”
“Bruce, my man, think for just a second. There are only two ways for a vice president to become president before election day, and Matthew Ellis was certainly not impeached.”
“Wait… Do you mean Vostakoff was actually framed and you’re the one who took the shot? You’re the one who killed Ellis?”
Natasha nodded.
Bruce continued, “I watched the trial, so you mean that one juror, Parker, I think, who said it was all a setup was right all along? And that she really wasn’t guilty? Wait, you were at the witness stand, testifying she tried to frame you. So were you, Tony. Was it all a setup?”
“To be fair, she wasn’t actually innocent, she just wasn’t guilty of that one single shot.” Natasha said. “She’s the one that killed Agent Akela Amador though, which is why Coulson went along with it.”
“Coulson? The guy described as the ultimate good guy SHIELD Agent? Framing someone?”
“Bruce, shit happens, get over it,” Tony said.
“And these are the moments when I’m not sure why you got me out of SHIELD custody in the first place,” Steve said.
“Wait, I’m lost here. I remember when you defrosted Fury yelled at the two agents who ignored his instructions and then tracked them, he's still trying to really get anything good out of those two after he found out they worked for the White Witch's network.” Then Natashas eyes widened. “You work for her too.”
“Rushman, do I look like the type to work for anyone?”
“No, you don't.”
“That's why Fury sent you in. To find out the identity of the Winter Soldier and the white witch, why wonder sniper tried to kill off my sister-in-law and her friend, Doctor Jane Foster, and I gotta tell you, all of your suspicions as to those identities are so off the mark it's absurd. Now can we agree to not assassinating each other or really espionage of any sort between friends because otherwise the Avengers really can't work?” Tony finished, and at the end of his mini-monologue leaving Thor glaring daggers, or rather hammers, at Clint, Natasha one step away from squirming uncomfortably, both SHIELD agents doing their best to hide their surprise at Tony's varied and accurate information, Bruce and Steve nodding along wholeheartedly, and Tony smug in the center of it all.
“What do you want from this anyways?” Steve asked, “the Avengers Initiative I mean.”
“I quit, remember? When we agreed we weren't marching to Fury's fife. Iron Man has been me for much longer than any of you, even you Brucie. I fought here to save the world I just so happen to live in, as does my family. The question is, what do we do now?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Bruce was right. We, as a team, off of the battlefield, are an explosion waiting to happen. Sure, we fight well together, but how often would that be needed? I sure have better things to do with my life than becoming SHIELD cannon fodder or fighting whenever I’m not healing, eating, or sleeping.”
“Me too,” Bruce said.
“Same here.” Steve agreed. “The question is, what now? Thor, are you going to come back, or stay one your homeworld or whatever you call it?”
“This last year, I have spent nearly half my time here with my Lady Jane.”
“Well, that solves that. Romanoff, Barton?”
“What?”
“SHIELD or the Avengers?”
“SHIELD created the Avengers.”
“Fury’s Avengers Initiative has failed twice now, the first time because I was the only member and not good enough for him, and now when we walked out and disobeyed all his standing orders. We just took the name, and that was only because I couldn’t think of anything better to use in my monologue while stalling with the Rock of Ages over there. Plus, I know several more people Fury should have invited but didn’t.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, they’re helping out with clean-up right now.”
“Thank you for making my point. Fury should at least have invited the one the whole things as named after.” Rhodey said, walking in from the roof, followed by Rhodey, his arm around her shoulders. “Tones, is the building in one piece?”
“This building has been Junior-proof. Yeah, it’s fine.”
“Junior?” Bruce asked.
“My son. Rhodey, how’s the place? Anyone we need to dig out of rubble ASAP or was it not that bad?”
“The army and emergency services have the digging out of rubble handled, though hospitals are on overload.”
“Good news is I managed to burn away the Leviathans, though it’ll take a bit of work to get rid of the chitauri tech.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Tony said, shooting off a text.
“Who's she?” Barton asked.
“Colonel Carol Danvers. Codename Marvel.” She said, “Also the first enhanced to work for the military.”
“Rhodey, remind me to show you later, your suit got an upgrade.” Tony said.
“Thanks Tones.” he said, as he sat at the bar table, and opened a bottle of beer for himself and for Carol.
“When did you fly in?” Tony asked the two, completely ignoring the other Avengers.
“I got in less than a minute before you fired the nuke, that was pretty badass, and Jim got in a few minutes after me.”
“Yeah, Tones, your tech doesn't exactly measure up to her light blasting.”
“Photon manipulation, officially. Light and heat.”
“Stark, is it like we aren't here at all?” Natasha asked.
He swiveled his bar stool to face her. “I asked you to make a decision. Avengers or SHIELD.”
“Is that even a question?”
“An organization where you shoot at the good guys or a team where you shoot at the bad guys. As much as I disagree with Stark, I'm in.” Steve Rogers said.
“What about your pal the Winter Soldier or the White Witch?”
“The-” Steve started.
“Don't tell them his real name.”
“If I know what's good for him?” Steve asked snidely.
“If you know what's good for him.” Tony said, but the decision wasn't complete when a semi-transparent silvery life-size American horntail dragon materialized in the air. Tony got up to walk toward it, and it stretched out its about to touch his arm reactor, which the rest noticed glowed a bit brighter.
Then, Lilith's voice came from the dragon. “Tony, I have the cleanup of Chitauri technology handled, I've sent out some people to help with cleanup. The good news is that nuke was the WSC's last mess-up. You can relax in the tower, I'll be by with Teddy and Ron in a few minutes, I found a way to get a wrap on the allergy.”
Tony nodded, stepping back and sitting down as the dragon dissipated.
“What was that?” Bruce asked. “It shouldn't be possible, but I could feel the Other Guy calming down inside me, like he's gone into hibernation.”
“That was the most direct method of energy projection. I'm not to that caliber yet but I can sense how it works.” Carol explained.
“That is simply magic, whatever you may call it. And the one who created that is likely well trained.”
“You call it magic, I call it science, we can agree it does the same thing. Moving on. Barton. Romanova. SHIELD or this?”
“What is this?” Barton asked.
“Well for one, the source of the dormant force field protecting your place. But really, you'll have to find out.”
“My Lady Jane has told me many a good thing about you, Anthony Howardson, and I will stand with you if Midgard would need me again.” Thor declared.
“I've been in your fold for years, do you not trust me?” Natasha asked.
“Romanova, I've never even given you the location of the compound. The answer is no, especially not enough to trust you as a double agent in SHIELD.”
“You have double agents in SHIELD.”
“You know that. You've known for years since the wonder duo were so excited about their kids fest they got caught. Now, are you getting promoted or hired?”
“Promoted. I'm in. Self preservation has always been a fault of mine, as has siding with the winning side.”
“Nat!” Clint exclaimed. He groaned. “Yeah, I'm in.”
“Great. JARVIS, give them all access to all parts of the compound, it's location, and files on the core folks.”
As JARVIS replied it was done, Lilith apparated in mid-stride, sixteen year old Teddy collapsing on the couch, and three year old Ron jumping out of her arms and running over to Tony, saying, “Daddy! Daddy!”
“Junior!” Tony exclaimed, moving all the alcohol far out of reach, as he lifted up Ron to sit on the counter.
“Tony, the Chitauri techs are gone, responders and the army have it all handled.” Lilith said. “I sent a few grunts to guard the tower from rabid fans.”
“Great. Awesome. Got these,” he jerked his head at the Avengers, “kind people on board, and the Shawarmas ran out.”
“I don't know what you see in that food. Even my pregnancy cravings didn't have me eating food truck meals.”
“It's a deli in Queens.” Tony exclaimed.
“Sure. Ron, come on.” Lilith said, as Ron giggled, and floated back into her arms. “Of course the first baby in human history to have full control of accidental magic would be mine.” She muttered fondly, as she popped away within and then popped back.
“Anyone realize we still have a war criminal in this place?” Steve asked. Lilith daintily sat on the couch by Teddy, waving her hand so that bolts of energy flew in Loki's direction. He was immediately tied up, unconscious, and his spear snapped in half, then glued to his location in the corner of the room and the rope turned to metal chains. “There. Problem solved.”
“Wait... How... What…” Clint stuttered out a few other shocked indecipherable sounds, and then took an added breath and exclaimed, “You're the white witch?!”
“No. Similar talents, but no. Good guess though. Better than guessing Jane Foster at least.”
“That wasn't me, that was Fury!” Clint said.
“Darcy will slap you next time she sees you for that shot, but it's fine. We've all got blood on our hands, a missed shot doesn't change much.”
“Why is a teenager here?” Natasha asked.
“Do you want me not to be a teenager?” Teddy asked, and Lilith sighed, giving him a nod, and she grew, shifted, and his appearance warped as he turned into a carbon copy of Tony, down to switching his clothes to an armani suit with Tony's signature sunglasses (they were actually brand-named as Tony Stark sunglasses).
“Kid, have I ever said how cool it is I'm the first one you choose to imitate?” Tony said, smirking.
Teddy humphed, and shifted to Rhodey, army uninformed with all the right badges included. “You even got the War Machine patch!” Rhodey said.
“How do your clothes shift with you?” Carol asked.
“Special clothing for a metamorphmagus, a specific type of shapeshifter like Teddy.” Lilith said.
“How is it made?” Teddy asked, shifting back, this time shifting his hair to blinding neon yellow.
“I have no clue. It's been passed down by metamorphs, House Black really.”
“That's how you got it?”
“Yeah. Sure, that's how I got it.”
“Lying to spare me? I'll be an adult in 4 months.”
“You're 17 in 4 months,” Tony said.
“Culture gap. 17 years, technically 17 full circles around the sun, it's full magical maturity.”
“That is true universally. On Asgard ‘tis much the same but each full round takes a century to complete.”
“So how old does that make you?” Teddy asked.
For the first time, the group saw Thor nervous. “I have not reached that point yet, I am only fifteen hundred and 24 years of age.”
“So you're basically a teenager!” Teddy exclaimed. “Ha!”
“What about Loki?” Bruce asked, curious.
“He was not born on Asgard, so though he is younger by three years he reached that point several centuries past,” Thor said.
“Well, enough magic talk. We really need to do a press conference, so that's tomorrow before anyone makes their own assumptions, so please, stay in New York, not that any roads are clear enough to leave.”
“Not all of us have our own tower in the center of the city.”
“No, but you have me, and I do. There are guest rooms on this floor, first come first serve. There are about a dozen spares so you should all be good.”
“Tony? I already called a press conference for 11 tomorrow, you can get the whole group settled, run the Stark Tower hotel. I have a wonder duo to meet at the compound.”
“The Winter Soldier and the White Witch?”
She gave a small nod with a Mona-Lisa-level mystery smile before she popped out again.