The Bridge Between Land and Sea
Tony woke up on the bottom of the ocean.
"What in the world !"
He stood up, he had no idea where this place is.
"Mera ?"
He turned around, but there was no sign of Mera. Or of anyone.
"Where am I ?"
"Where you will be." A sudden voice said.
It was a male, and he had very ...big voice.
But Tony saw no one.
"So, this is the true decendent of Atlan ?"
"Who...are you ?"
"I am the one that has guarded Atlantis for a long time....hm yes. You have that flare on you as well."
"I'm sorry but what are you..."
"We will meet soon. In this place you will learn the truth of all of this questions."
Suddenly, two giant shining blue eyes appeared in front of him.
"Now wake up."
Tony woke up quickly.
"What in the world was that ?"
He looked again, and noticed he once again, he has no idea where he is.
"Is this another dream....ow ! Felt the pinch, not a dream."
Tony looked where he was. A boat. In the middle of the sea where there was no land in sight.
And a very very beautiful music coming from the front.
"What the ?"
He was in a boat, the suit was besides him.
He quickly made it retreat back to its small form. And held it on his pocket.
"And what is this ?"
He had algae on his wounds.
It looks like they absorbed all the blood.
"Wow." His wounds were clear. He only had scratches, and no pain.
"And where the hell did this boat came from.....she didn't, right ?"
He then went to the front of the boat.
He saw Mera playing a flute, it was honestly beautiful.
Tony didn't want to make her stop.
But he had an important question.
"Ehem."
Mera stopped playing and looked at him.
"Did you still a boat ?"
"Aren't the boats on the marine not for public use ?"
"No, those belong to people."
"Huh."
He saw Mera had a thinking look, before it turned michevious.
"Relax, I didn't steal it, someone gave it to us, a man that wanted to help you."
That made Tony remember that he exposed himself in Sicily.
"So people know I am missing, great."
"No."
"No what ?"
"The people of the town, they agreed to help you stay hidden, nobody will tell anyone where we went."
"What ?"
"In their own words, you have helped them many times, it was their turn to help you."
Tony was speechless, he never thought civilians would do that.
"Seems like being a hero has payed off."
"It has. Though it is bound to come out on the news."
"Even so, no one will tell where you are now. Not that they even know where we are heading. No surface person knows this place."
"Yeah, I guess there's that."
"Those where Orm's commandos, but the guy that lead them, he wasn't Atlantean, I have never seen him before."
"Yeah well I have, he and his father were pirates, worked for Hydra. I met them once when they attacked a submarine. His father died there, and he blames me for it."
"They chose a dangerous live, not to mention the organization they follow. It's not your fault."
"It doesn't feel like that to me. I had a choice. I could have saved him and I didn't, now one of my mistakes has made me another enemy. And he could have hurt you, he could have killed someone, and it would be my fault."
"No, you where saving innocent from them, his father chose his fate. And you never provoked him, you never attacked him. That thing on the submarine was his own fault, he was the one that started it and payed the price. Same if anything happened in Sicily, it would have been his fault, not yours."
It was the first time in his life someone openly said that he had no fault for the actions of one of his enemies. Not even Rhodey and Pepper did that. Mera was doing the impossible and surpassed them on his circle of trust.
Mera gave him a small smile. She then turned serious.
"He is behind us now, it was wait us ahead that should concern us."
She looked....afraid.
"The chartered path leads to the Kingdom of the Trench."
Tony felt cold.
"Those were the creatures that killed my mother ?"
"Yes, it's a place of death. No one has come out of there alive."
So now he had to face his mother's real killers. At least they won't lie to him like Rogers.
Could Tony really do this, he failed in the accords issue. And here he was trying to save the world. Orm kicked his but, and he barely defeated Black Manta. Now he must fight the Trench, and he has to fight Orm again.
"We should turn back, we can still warn the surface, join the Avengers and try to stop what's coming."
"Turn back ?"
"Look, this past weeks I have gotten my ass kicked multiple times. My team leaves me, Rogers almost kills me, granted I held back, and leaves me stranded, Orm destroys me, and I barely defeat Black Manta. I'm not a king, nor I'm the hero that can stop a war. I don't think I can do it, I'm not worthy."
He turned to look at Mera and was surprised with what he saw.
A look full of trust.
"You think you're not worthy because you are of two worlds. Because you have failed at somethings. But that is exactly what makes you worthy. You are the bridge between the land and sea. The hero that belongs to both nations and is fighting to save them both. Orm wants his war. Rogers wants the world to see him as a hero. Those things don't make them worthy. You just want to help everyone, that is what makes you a king and a hero. I can see that now, the question is, can you ?"
Nobody has shown Tony that kind of trust.
And Tony is postive that once again, he has fallen in love. This time with this Princess.
He was positive he loves Mera, more than he loved Pepper.
He didn't know she has fallen for him to.
He smiled at her, wanting to enjoy this last moments before they had to fight again.
"The town's people also gave me food." She handled him a bag full of fruit, bread, and ham.
"Oh yes, I am starving."
"By the way. That rose....it wasn't food right ?"
"Eh, no, that rose was not food."
"And you didn't think of telling me because ?"
"Well you were enjoying it so much I didn't want to ruin your fun."
"Hmm."
"Besides, I ate too, and almost chocked on a spine mind you."
"Fine, I'll let it pass. Besides...that didn't taste so bad."
"Hahaha, you looked so happy eating it, I didn't want to ruin your fun."
Bruce sat down on a chair besides his hut at New Asgard tired of all the work.
"Man, Loki wasn't kidding, some Asgardians are too dump."
"Yeah, one of the reasons I was in no rush to return."
Valkyrie walked besides him and sat down. A bottle of beer at her hand.
"How the hell do you drink so much ?"
"Skills." Was all she said.
"Huh ?"
"Not that I complain. Cause I prefer you over blondie and laky. But I thought you would be on your home now, seeing someone you missed during your time in Sakaar."
"No I...I really have no one to return to."
Bruce has no family left besides Jeniffer. Perhaps he could visit her, but they have talked very little for years, maybe she doesn't want to be with the Hulk.
He and Betty were completely over. Sure a part of Bruce will always love her, but reality is that he is over her. He has moved past that relationship.
The only person he could really think of is his science bro Tony. Alongside Thor, Tony is the best friend Bruce has, but thanks to fucking Rogers, he hasn't been seen for a long time.
Meaning all of the close people Bruce has, are all here. Val, Thor, and even Loki, who he is fond to now.
"Don't you have a little girlfriend to return too ? Or have you even have one ?"
"Currently, I'm single and happy. But well I did have Betty. She was great but...it didn't work out. It was mutual the decision to end it. I wish her the best."
"Thor also mentioned you had something with that red haired that sided with the idiot."
"Oh no. The thing with Natasha...I thought it was real, but most likely she was just using me and Hulk. That's what I think she did. It's what she does, gets what you want from you, and then stabs you on the back."
"Yeah she didn't strike me like the trusting type. You know, just make the call, and I'll stab her on the back, for real."
"Don't give poor Thor a problem."
"More than Loki does ?....I also had a girlfriend back then. On my days serving Odin."
"Oh, a fellow warrior ?"
"Yes. She died when Odin sent us to stop Hela. I guess that is what made me vanish to Sakaar. To forget about her."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. It's been a long time. Like you I am happy single but....well I won't complain if someone comes."
She gave Bruce a little smile.
And Bruce couldn't help but get lost on those beautiful eyes.
He had to admit, Val beats Betty and Natasha on beauty.
"Well time to get to work. Are you coming ?"
"Yes, let's go Val..."
"Oh yeah. About that. Between you and I. My real name is not Valkyrie. Is Brunnhilde. But I prefer for most to call me Valkyrie."
"Brunnhilde.."
"Just keep it between us."
She winked and let Bruce alone.
Dam it, he had just claimed he was happy single.
But now he is falling in love again !
Orm was looking at the window.
"Just the Brine left. And then, finally, Atlantis will rule the planet. And our home will be safe."
He hasn't gotten an update from Murk. He wondered if they had caught Tony and Mera, or if they escaped. He wouldn't be surprised if they did.
Then, Nerus and two guards came to him.
"Your highness, there is a surface ship just above us."
He turned to them, a bit shocked.
"A surface ship, we are way to deep, we wouldn't notice unless it was a..."
"Wakandian ship." Nerus finished him.
"Oh."
So Wakanda was trying to stop them.
Orm remembered his father story on their war against them, how they crushed them.
They where on open sea, no one's territory.
"There is something wrong though. Our scanners detect that it comes from them, but there are no Wakandians on it."
"Is it remotely piloted ?"
"No, there are people inside. Though One of them is wearing a suit..similar to the one of your brother."
And Orm finally got the clue.
It's the Avengers.
Those surface "heroes" were trying to stop him, and now they here right on his camp.
Perfect.
"Well well, looks like the surface's heroes have come for us. It would make a good message to, defeat them, so the surface knows they have no chance."
He grabbed his trident. Ready for the battle.
"Get the ship close to the surface, we can use a warm up before we reach the Brine."