My Dad, the Boy (*Man) Who Lives

April 1st 2012
STARK Tower
5.25 PM

As he looked outside at the carnage, big alien whales and alien soldiers along with the sound of weapons fired, Howard Stark retraced his steps back down the memory lane from the point where he started his way right to this moment where an alien invasion became his reality.

Life was very simple, once upon a time. With one girl on each arm years after years before his eyes settled on the most beautiful young woman he’s ever seen. Build his empire of business up and tried to build a family with the love of his life.

Show your true self to your family and faced the world under the spotlight behind your showman mask. Then adopt two sons whom he loved very much. Finding about magic changed his life. His world wasn’t all about business, family and spies anymore. Magic has included itself in it.

And now, alien is real. Howard would be lying if he said he never thought about the possibility of alien existence. Once, magic was only legend and fantasy, which turned out to be real. So, why not alien?

Call him naïve or whatever. He once thought that if he ever encountered alien or one of their kind, they would learn from one another about their species and way of life, like a culture exchange or something. Like in ET or in Star Trek.

Now, looking at all the destruction outside from his son’s glass tower, he learnt how wrong he was. Maybe there are good alien, but the ones visiting them right now are down right evil.

The former CEO turned his head around to look at the body lying on the couch and all he felt was loss.

He didn’t know the man, at least not until an hour ago. The old billionaire didn’t even know about the deceased existence until last hour. The man who was once called Dr. Strange is now a body lying on the couch in a stasis charm, to delay the time it would go rigid and colder as white marble.

In stasis, the sorcerer looked as if he was only resting his eyes. The only sign that he was lifeless was the fact that his chest didn’t rise or fall and the visible sight of the gaping hole filled with dry blood on his chest.

When Teddy suddenly appeared with James in the living room, they were relieved. That was until he saw who James held in his arms. It was Steven Strange with his head lying between James’ chest and neck. He didn’t look well at all. Or even breathing.

Not until Teddy asked Pepper to get the kids inside the bedroom that Howard was hit with the realization that the doctor was indeed lifeless. As Pepper ushered the kids inside, James carefully walked towards the couch and laid the body down gently.

For the first time since he came back in 1991, James acted so gently, petting Strange's head and kissed him on the forehead softly. Howard could have sworn he heard the softly spoken words of,” He will pay. I promise, Vince. I’ll avenge you.”

It was a heartbreaking scene. Howard couldn’t help but held Maria in his arms tightly. His wife has started to sob and Jane Foster looked shock as she felt on the chair with her hand on her mouth.

He knew Strange was James’ boyfriend. It was surprising that he has a lover but if someone deserved to be happy, it was James. After all the torture he endured, he deserved all the happiness in the world. If that joy of love came from an ex surgeon turned Sorcerer Supreme then be it.

But now, looking at his oldest friend, caressing the face of the man that he once adored, broke Howard’s heart. His friend has finally found someone whom he guessed might have loved him, who he loved back. And it was taken from him forcefully through murder.

Why? This shouldn’t have happened to anybody. Much less James. He endured a lot of hardship. He should be rewarded, not this…

Howard was frustrated and despair filled him as he watched his friend stood up as gracefully as a cat like the time he hunt those HYDRA scums. When he turned around, the old genius could see the transformation of the quiet aloof photographer into the coldest most infamous Winter Soldier. Whoever did this to his lover would guarantee himself to be listed on the first front row seat to Hell.

James has left with Teddy a shy of five minutes ago. Howard was left standing facing the window as he prayed for the invasion to be over and his sons’ safety guaranteed. He didn’t forget to cross his fingers for James’ vengeance.

May he get the sweet vengeance he deserved.

***

The battle was exhausting and if not for his magic combined with the arc reactor, he would run out of juice minutes ago. But with these many aliens, his suit would be dead in the next half hour. Especially when not 15 minutes ago, the weird looking spaceship has dispatched hundreds or possibly thousands of its soldiers. They looked like a swarm of bugs.

Thank Isold, his family was saved inside the tower. Nothing could penetrate the building, not even nuclear bomb.

As he flew around, firing repulsors at the enemy, he noticed Hawkbrain needed a lift and began flying towards the agent.

“Catch me, metal man!” Clint smirked and the crazy married guy jumped down as he noticed ironman coming closer.

When he caught the agent, Tony yelled at him, “ I know you’re a badass agent but I never picked you for crazy, Barton. What were you thinking?! If you got splat on the ground below, what would I have tell Laura?! Don’t do that again!”

“Naw, “ he grinned, hanging onto Tony’s suit’s arms. “You wouldn’t want to make your god daughter cry, would you Tones?”

“Well, I bet Laura would defend me in front of Lila. After all, she knows how reckless you are, “ he retorted back, “ and still brave enough to give her finger for you to put a ring on it.”

Before they could continue their banter, suddenly the sky grew distorted and clouds began swirling around on one spot. Then a ray of light was beamed down on Central Park.

“Is that…?”

“That’s the strange anomaly, “ Barton answered with joy. “Cavalries are here. Let me down here.”

With that, Tony dropped bird brain safely on another roof and flew to Central Park, where he met battalions of soldiers, possibly a thousand of Asgardian soldiers and like Thor, they seemed fierce and strong enough to squash three chitauris at once.

The Asgardian soldiers have formed a giant circle with the two first rounds fighting against the Chiaturi who strayed closer to them to scout the newcomers. When the Asgardians saw him flying towards them, they prepared and aimed their spears at him. The wizard touched down on the grassy field and put both of his hands up with his faceplate up. “I come in peace.”

“Who are you?” One of the good-looking blonde man asked, not letting down his weapon.

“I’m iron man. A friend, “ he answered.

Not a second after, Thor touched down next to him. “Fandral, my good friend. This is Tony, son of Potter. He is a warrior and seidrmaster, just like his father.”

“The Midgardian healer?”

“Yes, and this is his son. He is a magnificent warrior, “ the God of Thunder grinned, clasping his hand on Tony’s shoulder. Then his face turned thunderous, pun unintended. “It is time for war my friend.”

“Big guy, tell them about our plan.”

“Certainly, Anthony son of Potter,” he cleared his throat and with a booming voice said,” We will be helped by a group of fierce battle mages as we battle our foes with mighty prowess. They will come soon. The enemies are the Chitauris. The Midgardians are our allies.”

“Tell them about the Hulk,” Tony whispered quietly beside him.

“And if you have the fortune to be in the presence of a green giant,” Thor narrowed his eyes at them. “ Do not attack. He is a friend.”

A fierce brunette lady asked the god,” Green giant?”

Before Thor could answer, Tony informed her,” You will know when you see him. Just don’t attack him. He’s a friend and doesn’t take kindly to being harm. Even if he couldn’t be harm.”

He mumbled at the last one as Thor continued his speech,”Shield brothers, our fight would be sung throughout history as we defeated Thanos, the Mad Titan. We shall defend MIDGARD! In the name of Asgard, the protector of the nine realms. Protect Midgard! ASGARD!”

And as one, all the soldiers shouted, “ ASGARD!”

Then they all followed their leaders, who seemed to be five people including Thor. Well, the chitauri would be focusing their attacks on the Asgardians as they awaited for the big guns. After all, the Asgardian soldiers were the bait.

Probably with this, uncle James could easily find Ebony Maw without many hindrance. Morgana helped James find that SOB.

***

The sun has almost went down when Harry arrived. Curiously, that was only on the outside of the auror’s barrier. Inside the barrier, Manhattan still looked as if it was mid-day. This is probably Thanos doing with reality stone in his hand. The sky was bright and the battles were seen everywhere. With the Asgardians help, the aliens seemed to lessen but not enough to win the war. Hopefully with the wizards that he brought, they would be on the winning side.

It was not easy to gather all the wizards and Aurors willing to defend New York alongside of him. Certainly not because of their unwillingness, but more on the wizengamot reluctance to cooperate and gave their permission to recruit volunteers to fight in other country’s war. Thank Merlin, he has Loki with him. The title of Silver-tongue truly described the God of Mischief very well. He charmed the wizengamots and ministry with his speech and they all eat it up. Of course Harry’s position as the savior and his role in Greenwich has helped as well.

There were quite a lot of veterans from the Battle of Hogwarts who volunteered to help the Americans from being invaded. After all, if they taken over New York, London probably would be the next Greenwich in the alien’s list. Nobody wants that.

With Strange’s sorcerers help, they managed to transport most of the wizard by the time it was 5.45 PM. If the Wizengamot didn’t argue between each other to take votes, they would be arriving sooner. Then it was the matter of recruiting said wizards, which took some time as well. The invasion could be stop earlier. Alas, as Gandalf said, ‘ A wizard is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.’

Or in this case, a hundred of capable able wizards and witches.

Loki has all but teleported himself away, probably into the middle of the battlefield when he exited before Harry. For a God who fiercely denied being a typical Asgardian, he sure was as war-thirsty as Thor.

As the healer was the last one to exit the portal, he was the last to see the destruction everywhere and horrified by their lateness. As much as he wished Kingsley was here, the man couldn’t come. The older wizard was the Minister of Magic, which meant that he needed to stay on his post. Without him, the ministry would be topsy-turvy.

But he got Neville by his side, and he grew up as the Sorting Hat had once intended him for the House of the Brave. Long bottom now married to Hannah Brown has become the father of three and the doting grandfather of two. Much as Harry himself, he has become the Lord of House Longbottom. Still, nobody could pried him away from his greenhouse when he got some exotic plants to nurture.

“So, Harry, “ Neville smiled nervously, otherwise excited as he saw the aliens, “ just like old times?”

“Yes, “ he agreed with a grin, wand on his hand, “ Just like old time.”

With that Harry commandeered his old friends, aurors and volunteers to attack the aliens. The healer has categorized all of them into a group of three. In each team there’s an attacker, a defender and a wizard or witch that acted as a healer. With that everyone went to every direction where the battle ensued.

Harry has his own duty as he appeared himself to the Chrysler building. After he transfigured the top into a viewing box, he casted, “ Expecto Patronum.”

White light shot out of his wand and transformed itself into a see through thestral. When he first casted his patronus after the war, he was scared to find out that it had changed from a deer into mythical undying horse. It all made sense when Death visited him and declared him to be the Master of Death.

As the savior and the owner of a thestral patronus, these days the Magical world of Britain has viewed thestral in a positive light or more neutral. Hagrid has helped as well as he was the caretaker of a herd of them. Thestrals weren’t viewed as signs of bad luck anymore. They were just animals that could be seen by people unfortunate enough to witness death.

Anyway, his sole duty at this moment was to communicate with all the teams and deployed them to every spots that needed help. Wizards were the dark horses in this war and they needed Harry to take the mantle of their commander once more. Most of them refused to accept or voted for another leader. They trusted Harry to guide them in this war and he was honored by their believes.

The man who was once dubbed the boy who lived, has JARVIS on his ear-comm to help him sent his teams of wizards to civilians, SHIELD agents, Sorcerers and Asgardians. If only his son had massively produced his anti-magic ear-comm, he didn’t have to resort to his patronus and sent it left and right.

“Zabini, I need your team east, a couple of blocks away there is a team of agents in need of help,” said Harry.

“Copy that, Potter.”

“Bill. There’s a group of kids trapped in a bus just behind the building to your right.”

“On our way, Harry.”

“Dean, need you on…”

“Follow the green giant?”

“Uhm, yes.”

Times like this when he missed Ron and Hermione’s presence the most. They would have helped him no questions asked. And Ginny would be right by his side to help him along the way. Oh how he missed them so much.

It was only fifteen minutes into the battle, but the sun has gone down outside and they have completely turned the tide over inside. They were winning the battles and on the big picture, winning the war would be within their grasp. JARVIS has reported that James had even managed to track down the alien who killed his beloved.

Harry knew about his death when he was in London. Death whispered of his death to him and as much as he wanted to mourn for his death, the wizard had only met the sorcerer not even a couple hours ago. Therefore, he mourned for James' loss of love.

Being informed about James’ success in getting his revenge was a wonderful news. Especially when he found out that Teddy had helped his father-in-law by distracting the Knob. His godson used his metamorphmagus ability to turn into a chitauri and transfigured his clothes to look like chitauri’s skin.

“Brilliant, Teddy,” he praised the auror.

“Thanks Harry,” Teddy answered. Apparently JARVIS has opened a line between his comm and Teddy’s.

“How is he holding up?”

“He’s winter soldering right now, Har,” Ted sighed. He sounded exhausted and worn out. “I’m afraid when the battle ends, he needs to face the music. I… I don’t know Harry. Uncle James is… I never see him like this. Nat is scared she wouldn’t get her father back.”

“Is she?”

The auror chuckled without any energy behind it from the other line. “She didn’t have to say anything. She left to help Phil and your wife. She couldn’t see James turning full into Winter Soldier mode. It’s too much for her right now. And who can blame her? I can’t even recognize the uncle I know for the past two decades.”

“Teddy, I…”

He didn’t know what to say to that. How could he comfort his godson or his wife; moreover, his friend, a former torture war hero turned brainwashed assassin turned a reserved photographer?

Before he could say anything else, he heard a big ruckus on Teddy’s line and JARVIS immediately informed him,” Sir, they’re in front of the MetLife Building.”

The wizard immediately apparated there since he knew where the building was and appeared on the top steps to the building. Soon he was faced by the scene in front of him, opposite of the buildimg below the steps. Teddy was holding James who was holding his injured shoulder, possibly broken by the look of the arm. Around James’ neck, the healer saw the eye of Agamotto hanging. Around them were the remains of Ebony Maw and about two dozens of Chitauri foot soldiers.

What caught his attention was the purple giant alien with a golden gauntlet, who stood ten feet away from his godson and friend. There were four familiar stones in the knuckles and two missing gems.

The savior of the British Wizarding World immediately identify the alien in front of him as Thanos, the Conqueror of the Worlds, the Mad Titan.

“Thanos.”

He didn’t mean to pronounce his whereabouts but it seemed that he was loud enough for Thanos to turn his head around at his direction. The gruesome looking alien grinned when he noticed Harry.

“My children have failed me, but here I have been granted the presence of the last two stones, “ he announced loud enough for them to hear before holding his gauntlet in front of his face and made a fist. The stones started to glimmer as he said,“ Fine… I’ll do it myself.”

***