The Strongest Avenger
It worked. The Avengers had successfully retrieved the remaining stones and made it back safely. No one died, and Nebula wasn’t there to inadvertently tip off Thanos.
When they returned Tony and Bruce set about the finishing touches to the glove which would hold them. The only question left was as to who would wear it.
In the end Bruce won out. Thor fought to be the one to do it—as an Asgardian his body being inherently stronger—but it was decided Bruce had more objectivity. His body had survived unfathomable levels of gamma radiation and he felt certain he could withstand the physical stress.
When everything was ready, they gathered in the lab while Tony fitted the glove properly to his friend. Tony wore special gloves similar to those in his suit as he carefully added the stones. Pausing between each one he monitored Bruce’s vitals using medical electrodes attached to his chest.
He noticed that each stone seemed to compound the others, as if they were reacting to one another. After three Steve tried to stop Tony from going further, but Bruce insisted he could handle it and they continued.
Once five were placed Bruce was visibly suffering, but he refused to turn back. His vitals were strained, but they had not quite reached the level he and Tony had negotiated as their stopping point.
Natasha worried her lip tensely as Steve paced. Thor stood by Bruce for support like a wrestler waiting to be tagged in, while Scott perched on a chair biting his nail while his knee jumped with nervous energy.
Tony stopped several times to yell at Scott to cut it out, eventually telling Steve to stop pacing as well. Steve gave Tony a disapproving look but moved to sit beside Scott, patting him on the shoulder in reassurance to stop his anxious jitters.
When they finally came to the last stone Natasha walked over to Bruce and took his other hand. He opened his eyes which he had unconsciously closed under the strain and smiled gratefully at her.
“Thanks Natasha,” he said weakly as his body surged with energy.
“Okay, here we go… Nat, might wanna stand back—this could cause an energy surge—like closing a circuit,” Tony warned her and she stepped back releasing his hand reluctantly.
“It’s okay, Nat,” Bruce reassured her with a tired smile.
“I’m still here… we all are,” she said softly trying not to let emotion fill her voice as it cracked.
“Three… two… one!” Tony brought the last stone close and the energy of the other five pulled it in like a magnet.
Energy surged through the glove and Bruce groaned in pain as it coursed through him.
“Tony, get it off him—!” Steve jumped to his feet.
“No… no!” Bruce waved them off weakly with his other hand, “I’ve got this… just… one second… ah, okay… here goes nothin’…”
Bruce concentrated on returning those they’d lost, but not losing what they’d gained. The stones needed to be destroyed as well, so he only had one shot.
For Tony’s sake Bruce focused on the people he missed, but he also thought of Morgan. He snapped his fingers and the energy crackled, the stones glowing brightly before burning out like dying stars.
“Bruce, you okay?” Steve asked with concern and the man nodded with exhaustion.
“Did it work…?” Natasha asked cautiously.
Scott got up and walked over to the window, noticing that there seemed to be twice as many birds outside. After a few minutes his phone started to ring in his pocket and he nervously pulled it out.
The screen displayed a picture of Hope above her name and he answered it tentatively.
“H-hello… Hope?” He paused looking terrified then his face suddenly split into an enormous grin, “oh my God I can’t believe it worked, I’m so happy to hear your voice, you have no idea!”
Scott turned to the group and gave them an eager and excited thumbs up while he beamed with joy.
“I guess it worked,” Natasha smirked and moved to help Tony remove the glove from Bruce. “You did it, big guy, you saved half the planet.”
Bruce let out a heavy exhale, “Thank God, cause I am not doing that again.”
Thor and Steve moved Bruce to the recovery bay so Tony could run some tests and Scott hastily said his goodbyes before heading to the airport.
Steve and Thor congratulated Bruce on his accomplishment but were ultimately shooed off by Tony while he worked. Natasha sat with Bruce as he recovered and Tony let her be, knowing her presence comforted his friend and that she would stay out of the way.
After numerous calls from confused foreign governments and private agencies, Tony just made a public announcement that he would hold a press conference the next day.
Steve arranged a meeting in two days time with those who’d vanished while they fought in Wakanda, grateful to T’Challa for agreeing to host them.
Once everything had settled the team sat down together for a well deserved meal. Tony let Bruce pick after having done the hardest part, but was unable to resist reminding him what a good post battle meal the shawarma had been.
The food arrived and they tucked in, swapping stories and laughing together like they hadn’t done in years. They were so engrossed that they didn’t notice the orange flickering circle which appeared near the back wall, opening a portal from Bleeker St as Dr Stephen Strange stepped through.
“Seriously Tony? And Howard didn’t suspect anything?”
“What, like his future son having travelled back in time? Of course not, Cap!”
“I guess that would be quite a stretch, even for him,” Steve smiled and took a sip of his soda, “gotta admit, I do miss the guy from time to time…”
“Me too,” Tony smiled, “it was nice to get to see him bac—”
“Tony Stark. I need a word.”
The group turned suddenly, all looking surprised except Natasha who had noticed him a few minutes earlier and taken the safety off her concealed Glock beneath the table. Tony got to his feet and walked over gesturing to Strange like a child who had interrupted an important business meeting.
“Uh, this is a closed function—original team members only, I’m afraid all probationary Avengers are scheduled for tomorrow’s meet and greet,” Tony said with an air of self aggrandizing.
“I don’t have the time or patience for your idiotic games right now Stark,” Strange said irritably.
“Funny, I thought ‘time’ was your whole deal,” Tony huffed and pulled the napkin from his collar to drop on the table, “honestly Strange, if you’d wanted an invite you could’ve just used the front door, magical B & E’s are generally considered poor form… or did they not teach that at Hogwarts?”
Dr Strange pointedly ignored him in favor of looking over at the table of his fellow Avengers.
“And which one of you do I speak to about the splintering of reality? Thor, I see you’re looking… well…”
“Uh, beg pardon?” Tony asked incredulously, “I believe we just saved your magical floating ass from non existence.”
“Alright Tony, that’s enough,” Steve got up and wiped his hands before walking over to politely offer his hand. “Steve Rogers, we haven’t properly met.”
“Dr Stephen Strange…” he shook his hand gingerly, looking rather unimpressed.
“We are in fact responsible for the big reversal, though most of the credit goes to our own resident doctor, Dr Bruce Banner over here,” he gestured to Bruce with a proud smile.
He looked back at Dr Strange with his self assured and well meaning smile, “If you have an issue, I’m sure we’d all be more than happy to fill you in tomorrow. It’s been a big day and we all could use some rest.”
Dr Strange rolled his eyes impatiently and ignored Steve in favor of walking over to the table.
“Dr Banner, does that mean you are responsible for the instability of time?”
Bruce looked at him uneasily, “uhhh, not to my knowledge…” he stood up still a little shaky but shook the man’s hand nonetheless.
“Bruce Banner, nice ta meet ya,” he said in a placating tone despite the man’s rudeness, “if it’s reality and time fluctuations you’re worried about, you might be better off speaking to Sylvie,” he said a little sheepishly.
“And who pray tell might that be? You?” He turned to Natasha with an imperious air.
“No, I’m not,” Natasha said coolly.
“No, you’re Natasha Romanov—the Black Widow, I know who all of you are, I was merely being facetious,” he said impatiently.
“She’s not here. But she’ll be back tomorrow,” Tony said firmly, stepping up to him, “so this little pow wow is going to have to wait.”
Strange narrowed his eyes at Tony, “Where do I find her?”
Thor stood up brusquely from the table and stepped boldly up to the sorcerer.
“She is away until tomorrow, Strange. I believe Stark made this quite clear. She and my brother shall both return here next morrow, but I must insist you wait to speak with her until then.”
“Your brother…” Strange eyed him suspiciously, “Isn’t he supposed to be dead? Died a rather tragic death as I recall…”
Thor bristled, standing even taller in his agitation, “Take care, wizard, with how you speak of my brother... When last we met you had information which I sought… you now lack any such sway with me,” he said coldly.
Strange stared at Thor as he considered his options. He seemed to come to a decision and finally looked back at Tony.
“I’ll be back. 9am sharp.” He turned on his heel briskly and opened another portal to return to Bleeker St.
“Good talk, Terminator, can’t wait,” Tony said dryly and returned to the table. “That guy is like buzzkill in a bottle, remind me to look into wizard proofing this place.”
Steve exhaled a short laugh, “Not such a friendly customer, I’ll give you that.”
Thor stood still in place from the confrontation watching the place where Strange had disappeared.
“He is powerful—and not to be underestimated. He carries an infinity stone, that much alone should give us pause.”
“Oh big woop, Bruce held six just a couple hours ago. Give it a rest and finish your third gyro before I do,” Tony said to Thor offhandedly but caught the God of Thunder’s attention all the same.
“Heed these words, Stark… touch my gyro, and I shall summon all the strength bestowed upon me by the all father to vanquish thee.”