Epilogue
This shouldn't have ended like this.
Steve thought he would defeat Atlantis, gain the world's respect again. Get his position back as leader. And find Tony, get him to apologize and make him fix everything.
And they could finally get together, as they are meant to be.
But none of those things happened.
The war that was suppose to get Steve his glory back never happened. His statement that wars should not be stopped before they started was universally mocked. Spiderman released the footage of him saying that.
Tony was gone from the Avengers, he was on Atlantis, a place Steve can't find.
Not only does Tony lie about what he is, but the people agree that he had every right to hide it, that it was a secret that involved him alone, no one else.
It was unfair. Why did Tony get to keep secrets, while everyone got angry at Steve for keeping his secret. He had to protect Bucky ! And hell ! Maria Stark is alive ! Steve thought that was something that would make Tony realize that he got angry for nothing. But Tony was still mad from Siberia.
In the end, the tsunamis were written as an accident, a strange natural fenonemon. Atlantis was to remain hidden for the time being. It was safer for both worlds, until Tony could find a way to unite them.
Steve didn't like it, he wanted to tell the people the truth. He was going to but...
"You tell someone, and I'll kill you." Sharon Carter told him, when Steve was determined to speak to the people.
"Sharon ?" Steve asked betrayed.
"You hear me Rogers, you mess this for my cousin, and I'm blowing your brains out." Sharon said, deadly serious.
"Cousin..." Steve didn't understand. How did that happen ?
"You knew." Natasha said. "You knew Tony's truth."
"Yeah because you actually don't know everything, isn't that right Natasha ?"
Natasha froze at the new comer.
"Yelena ?"
"Hey sister."
"And you keep your hands out of my girlfriend Romanoff." Sharon said.
At that moment, Steve could see the Peggy side on her, and felt another pang of sadness.
Rhodes and Coulson (how the hell was he still alive !) soon found out, and make it clear to Steve that he was not to say anything. If he did, not only will he not be believed, he would be putting people in danger, and his pardon would be scrapped.
Tony barely came to the surface now. Steve tried to track him when he came, but he always left before he could even know where he was. Not even Nat was able to find him. To the rest of the world, Tony Stark is still missing, and until the man wants to reappear, that's how it's gonna stay.
Sam was still with the team, but he never once again followed Steve's leadership. He was loyal to Rhodes, and the new structure. Steve didn't know how to fix that.
Clint and Scott went back to their families.
Thor kept his word and he never joined his team with the Avengers, they remained as a separate team. They also managed to get Loki a pardon, as long as the man stayed with his brother if he was outside New Asgard, he was free. Bruce also moved in to New Asgard. He had began a relationship with the Valkyrie, and wished to be at her side.
New members came in, all of the ignored Steve, they made it clear that they won't follow him.
Nat and Wanda also had their position on their floor. Nat was branded as a liar and nobody believed what she said. Wanda was seen as unstable and people tried to be as far from her as possible.
Now Steve is stuck in a team that wasn't what it's supposed to be. His status as leader, ripped from him. With no Tony, there was no Stark tech or money to make things easer for him. Every respect that once belonged to Captain America, was completly gone. It was all different. It wasn't supposed to be this way.
But Steve will not give up.
Tony might be gone, but Steve will do whatever it takes to get the Avengers back. And once he did that, he was sure Tony was gonna comeback.
He won't stop trying no matter what.
He will get the team to how it was before, he will make sure the Accords are scrapped, and he will get Tony.
No matter what it takes.
Tony and Mera watched as Vulko hid the ancient maps on his chamber.
Vulko came in.
"Impressive you managed to make Gojira follow you so easly. Even King Atlan had trouble with that."
"Really, as soon as I held the trident, he was very calm about following me."
"It seems that all this years made him more pasicif. I do wonder if you would also be able to gain the trust of King Atlan's second monster."
"Wait, he had two ?"
"Yes, legends say this one protected the skies. I believed he called her, Mosura."
"So Mothra is real as well, good to know."
"How do you even know about them ?" Mera asked him.
"They are also legends on the surface."
"Oh."
"Well, we will cross that bridge when we get there. Now come on, the Queen awaits us."
Orm was locked in a tower. His room was a confortable, and he got good food. But he was going to remain here for a long time.
Nerus wanted him gone for breaking his word on not hurting Mera, and The Fisherman Queen wanted revenge for her father. But both conceded to Tony that they keep him here, locked.
He knew his brother wanted to talk to him, but he asked to be left alone for the time. His brother honored the request.
He had to visitors. The first was Murk, he begged him to help him get his status back. It seems Tony discharged him from the captain status, but Orm refused to help him.
The second was his mother, they talked for a long time. She made Orm realize what a war could also had meant for them.
After that Orm wanted to be alone, he had a lot to think.
Tony and Mera where watching the orca pod swim by.
"I never thought I would return here."
"Well, I got my mother back, I wanted you to at least to get your memories with yours back."
She just smiled and gave him a kiss.
Tony just put his arm on her shoulders.
"Thank you by the way."
"You are thanking me ? why ?"
"For believing me, nobody has done that as much as you have."
"I knew you were able to do it. You are a son of the land, and the king of the sea. So if any one was able to protect both worlds, it was you."
"Son of the land, king of the sea, I like that."
"It should be your knew hero mantra."
The orcas made a sound.
"What did the say ?"
"That we should get a room."
"Well then shut up and just watch them with me love."
"Of course."
So the now dating King and Princess just sat there, and watched the orcas swim. Just enjoying each other's company.
4 months later, and Tony was truly happy.
He barely came to the surface, feeling more at home here. Although he did go and greet his friends.
Rhodey was making an excellent leader of the Avengers.
Rogers was still bitter and delusional, he kept trying to get things back to the way they were, but all his attempts failed.
Rhodey told him that he was worried that Rogers would grow so desperate, and make a mistake that would cost lives.
He knew that Rogers was trying to reach him. But Tony refused to even think about him.
He was going to leave the man on his own delusions.
He and Thor did make Atlantis and Asgard close allies. He actually talked regularly to the Revengers. Even if the underwater kingdom was still hidden to the world.
Bruce and Valkyrie started a relationship moths ago, Tony was happy his friend found some one that truly loved him.
As for things back home, they were great.
He actually managed to create a good relationship with King Nerus. The man was letting go of his hate for the surface and was opened to make Atlantis open to them. He helped Tony on what he should say, what should be kept hidden, and made it clear he should not reveal where Atlantis was. Something Tony agreed wholeheartedly. Nerus was also happy with his relationship with Mera.
The Fisherman Queen brought all of their scientists so that they could build better defenses in case of someone crazy tried to do anything.
She and Tony also became close allies.
Even the Brine King joined them in the end. He wanted his people protected, and saw Tony as a good way to make it happen.
Vulko continued to train him and advice him. He was still a great teacher, and a great friend.
Tony and Orm talked a little, but not much. The brothers were slowly getting to know each other. It will take time, but Tony wants to have his brother at his side, maybe he can make that happen on the future. Orm had let go of his wish for war, but was still having trouble adapting to the new peaceful way. He didn't hate his brother any more, and wished him luck in ruling.
Maria reconnected with her son, they spent many hours together. She was always there to help Tony when he needed, she wanted to be the mother she couldn't be for all those years.
His relationship with Mera was great. He was much more connected with her than with any other person he dated. Mera always stood by his side when he had to make important decisions. And she always went to the surface with him. She told him she had two reasons. She wanted to see more of the surface's good side like in Sicily, and she wanted to make sure she was there to make her promise true if Rogers ever approaches him. Tony had grown to love her so much, she was a great girlfriend.
Tony was happy with his new live. He was happy with his girlfriend, his mother, his friends both here and in the surface, and the fact that he truly had a home this time.
As Tony swam around, he felt free, this was the life he really wanted. Not even the weigh of the throne affected him, he had Mera and the others to help him carry that weight.
He had a home, he had a family. Tony was happy under the waves.