Interlude - Tony
Tony opened his eyes with a gasp. He sat up and looked around. Everything was white, apart from the glow of six very familiar looking stones hovering in the air above him.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
He cleared his throat before saying, “Hello?”
“Hello Anthony Stark.” They said in unison. Or he assumed that was them. They didn’t exactly have mouths to talk with.
“Am I dead?” he asked them, sort of dreading the answer.
“Indeed you are, Anthony Stark.” The yellow stone, Mind, replied. Tony fell back, leaning on his hands.
“Okay.” he said after a moment, staring at the floor, before lifting his gaze. “What now?”
“Now, we wait.” The blue stone, Space, answered, before falling silent.
“Wait for what? What’s coming?” Tony scrambled up from his position on the floor. Or was it the floor? It could have been the ceiling for all he knew. This place freaked him out.
“All in good time, young one.” Tony stared at the stones for a moment longer, before his shoulders slumped and he sat back down.
“Okay.” he murmured.
He didn’t know how long he sat there for. It could have been hours, or days, he couldn’t tell, before finally, something happened.
The air around him and the stones rippled, before an orange portal opened and someone fell through it and landed next to him. Tony froze as he recognised who it was.
“Nat.” he whispered brokenly before scrambling to her side. He shook her. “Nat!” he exclaimed more urgently.
“She will wake in a moment. She may be overwhelmed, so I would advise you give her some space.”
Tony turned to look at the Soul Stone, which was hovering above Natasha. “Is she okay?” he asked, voice shaking ever so slightly.
“She will be.” the stone replied.
As if on cue, Natasha gasped and sat bolt upright. Tony watched as her eyes flickered around her surroundings, taking everything in. Her gaze moved around to Tony and she froze. She stared at him for a moment, before brokenly whispering, “Antosha?”
Tony felt tears brimming in his eyes. “Talia.” he whispered, and then he was being pulled into a tight hug, face buried in Natasha’s shoulder.
He didnt know how long they were there, curled in each others arms, crying. He didn’t care. She was here. Nothing else mattered.
“Welcome, Natalia Romanova.” Natasha pulled away from Tony to look up at the stones.
“The fuck?” she muttered.
“They’re the infinity stones.” Tony told her gently. She turned to look him.
“I died.” she told him, “I should be dead.”
“We are.” he replied.
“Why are you here?” she asked in confusion. Tony grimaced.
“I used the gauntlet to destroy Thanos’ army. I think it killed me in the process.”
“You are correct, young one. You both died for us, to save the universe.”
“Why are we here then?”
“Patience, our children, all in good time.”
“Why can’t you tell us anything?” Natasha exclaimed, jumping to her feet, “What are you waiting for?”
The stones spoke, in one united voice. “The third.”
Tony was bewildered. “The third wh-“ The air rippled around them, cutting him off mid sentence, and a blue portal opened. A figure was flung through it, landing infront of the duo. They sat there frozen, just staring, as the person groaned and sat up.
They glanced around before their gaze locked on the two Avengers, standing next to the stones. Loki, fucking Loki, staggered to his feet and rasped, “Stark? Widow?”
Tony regained the moment of his mouth. “Loki?” he spun around to glare at the stones. “Of all the people you could have chosen, you chose him?”
“He died at the hands of the Titan, after he took me from Asgard's vault.” Space rumbled, “I can think of no more deserving of this.”
“We don’t even know what this is, because YOU WON’T TELL US!” the last part came out as a frustrated scream.
“We apologise.” the stones said in unison. “The third has arrived. We will now reveal your purpose for being here.”
Tony, Natasha and Loki turned to face the sentient beings. “If you accept this proposition, you will be known as The Guild of the Stones.“ the stones told them.
“And if we do not?” Loki asked.
“You will go to the afterlife.”
“…Continue.”
“You have each been chosen by two of us to guard us and wield our power. Anthony Stark, you have been chosen by Reality and Time, Natalia Romanova, you have been chosen by Soul and Power, and Loki Laufeyson, you have been chosen by Space and Mind.”
Tony blinked, processing this new information, before his eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, ‘wield our power’?”
“You could use our powers, for instance, you would be able to control the flow of time as Time chose you.” Tony stared at the stones, eyes widening, visibly reeling.
“There has to be a catch.” Natasha’s voice pulled him out of his stupor. “You aren’t just going to send us back to 2023.”
“You are correct, young one, you cannot change what has already happened.” Soul spoke.
“But you can stop it before it happens.” added Time. The trio lapsed into silence, staring.
“You are going to send us back in time.” Loki stated, his voice low in awe.
“We are.” replied the stones in unison.
“We will be able to speak with you if you find us.” Power rumbled.
“But you may harness our powers wherever we are.” Mind added. “It is not restricted to contact.”
Then they spoke as one; “Do you accept these terms?” Tony tilted his head, thinking. He had a chance to save everyone he cared about, and be with them again.
“I accept.” Natasha turned to look at him. He could see the conflict in her eyes fading. She turned back to the stones.
“I also accept.” They both turned to look at Loki.
He blinked at their intense stares before he groaned. “Fine! I accept.”
The stones glowed in approval. “Welcome to the Guild.” they chorused. “We wish you luck with your challenge." Time began to glow brighter. "You will now be sent back. I suggest you brace yourself, as it may be quite jarring."
The chosen trio nodded, before their vision was overtaken with green, and they were thrust back in time.