Tears of an Angel

Natasha looked around as they arrived back in there time. They did it. They actually did it!

"Did we get them all?" Bruce asked in a mixture of awe and hopefulness. Natasha's smile grew.

"You're telling me this'll actually work?" Rhodey asked excitedly.

This was going to work. They're getting them back. Her family: Laura, Cooper, Lila, Nate. Her friends: Tony, Wanda, Bucky, Sam.  They were all coming home.

Natasha looked over at a sword clatter. Payton was on her knees sobbing, an arrow through her left shoulder, the sword on the ground in front of her. Clint's bow strapped to her back.

"Payton!" Harley rushed to her side, Flash a couple of steps behind.

Why was Clint's bow- Her eyes scanned the room again. No. Clint was supposed to be here. She felt her eyes sting. He was supposed to hold Laura again, teach the kids archery.

"Where's Clint?" Natasha quietly asked her voice cracking as Payton sobbed harder shaking her head. "Payton, where's Clint?"

When she didn't answer, Natasha's hand flew to her stomach. A strange nausea climbing up her throat. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't- It wasn't supposed to be this way.  

*******

Bruce, Payton, Steve, Thor, Natasha and Harley were out on the deck. Rhodey had gone to call Pepper. Nebula, Rocket and Flash were wandering the Compound.

"I couldn't save him." Payton said again after explaining what happened. Harley had finished wrapping her shoulder and sat next to her on a bench, an arm carefully wrapped around her.

"What?" Thor asked stepping forward.

Harley stood between her and Thor. "She's just-"

"Yeah." Thor cut Harley off. "You're acting like he's dead. Why are we acting like he's dead? We have the stones, right? As long as we have the stones we can bring him back, isn't that right?" He looked to Payton, an encouragingly look in his eyes. "So stop this shit. We're the Avengers, get it together."

"We can't get him back." Payton spat. He wasn't understanding.

"Wha– what?"

"It can't be undone." Payton's voice grew thick, tears threatening to spill again.

Thor huffed out a laugh. "I'm sorry. No offense, but you're a very earthly being. Okay? We're talking about space magic." Payton glared up at him.  "And "can't" seems very definitive don't you think?"

"DON'T talk to me like I'm stupid." Payton tried to keep her emotions at bay. "I know that magic isn't exactly my forte. But I'm not stupid. Look around. He still isn't here, is he?"

"No, that's my point–"

Payton rose to her feet. "It can't be undone! Or at least that's what the wraith like guy had to say." She stalked towards him. "But by all means, you try! GO! GRAB YOUR HAMMER, AND YOU GO FLY AND TALK TO HIM!"

Payton released a small hiccup as she walked away from him, looking out towards the lake. "It wasn't supposed to be him. He sacrificed his life for that stupid rock when he was supposed to stay for-" She was standing in front of four head stones, the other headstone was in a different graveyard. "It should've been me."

Payton flinched at the hand on her shoulder, but let it turn her around to face Natasha.

"This was Clint's choice." Nat said softly. "He's not coming back. We have to make it worth it." She hugged Payton, Payton desperately grabbing onto the back of her shirt, burying her face into her shoulder. "We have to."

"We will." Steve said softly.

Payton leaned away as her phone began to ring. "I got to take this." She looked at Harley and Bruce. "Get started. I'll be there soon." She paused looking at Natasha before handing her the bow. "You and I both know he'd want you to have this."

Not waiting for a response, Payton walked away, bringing her phone to her ear. "Hey, how'd your mission go?"

"Payton." Johnny said relief evident in his tone. "Wait- Forget the mission, it was fine. I just got your messages. Are you alright?"

"I don't know." Payton whispered as she walked inside the building.

"What do you mean?" His voice raised a notch, bordering on frantic. "What happened?"

"You know how I said we found a way to bring them back?" Payton didn't wait for a response. "We went back in time to get the Infinity Stones."

"Went back in time? Like time travel? Wait- The Infinity Stones? They're here? In our time?"

"Yeah." Payton cleared her throat as she leaned against a wall. "But to get the Soul Stone..." She swallowed hard. "But to get the Soul Stone we had to-" She released a small breath. "A soul for a soul."

"Oh my gosh." Johnny said softly. "Who- Who did we-?"

"Clint." Payton answered after a moment of silence, "He sacrificed himself. He wouldn't let me-"

"There was no scenario he would let you die instead of him." Johnny sighed. "So now what?"

"Now we make our own Gauntlet, snap our fingers, and bring everyone back."

"Is there anything you need me to do?"

"Can you come over?" Payton asked softly. "I- I need you."

"Of course." Johnny said eagerly. "Of course. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thank you. I- I'll see you soon."

"See you." Johnny said before they hung up.

Payton sighed again leaning back against the wall. Clint was such an idiot. How could he abandon his kids? And for her? They needed him! Payton whirled, punching the wall. She watched as pieces of the wall fell to the ground. These barely sounded like anything.

"You mourn him?" Payton turned around to see Nebula was also in the room. How long had she been there?

"Of course." She said taking a shaky breath, quickly brushing off her hand that had pieces of dust on it. Her skin was thick enough to not bleed.

"Why?"

"I know." Payton plainly started. "We had a tenuous relationship. But-" She sighed. "You know he would purposely come back to New York at least once a year? Wade told me, that Clint made an effort to come to New York. There was no other pattern to his movements though. And I know New York has a lot of crime, but not so much that he'd come back. He was looking out for me. And I couldn't protect him..."

She looked to Nebula. "I know that Thanos was a horrible father. He wouldn't sacrifice any of himself for you." Nebula stood taller at that. "Clint's sacrifice... That was all for his children. That's what true fatherly love looks like."

"I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like that before." Nebula said after a moment.

Payton put a hand on her shoulder. "Now it's up to us to make sure it wasn't in vain. Who knows maybe his children would like to hang out with you too? Morgan loves hanging out with you, why not them."

Nebula moved away. "Shouldn't you be helping the others?"

"Right." Payton wiped her cheeks of any residual tears. "You want to help?"

"I don't think I'd be much use." Nebula said after a moment.

"You sure?" Nebula gave her a blank look. "Alright. I'll see you later than."

Payton stalked down the halls, pausing in front of the Armory.

"17-A." She walked over to the display case. Tony's last gift to her.

'Mr. Stark, it smells like a new car in here!'

She chuckled at her memory. He was always looking out for her.

"Was wondering where you went." She turned to see Nat had followed her.

"I'm sorry." Payton couldn't help but say again.

"It was his choice." Nat said shakily. "Was he afraid?"

"No." Payton said softly. "He almost seemed at peace with his choice."

"Why doesn't that make me feel better?" Nat said mostly to herself.

"When we get his family back, I want to have a funeral for him. The best anyone's ever seen."

"He'd prefer something simple."

"We can do that then." Payton looked toward her mentor. "What are you going to do after this?"

"After everyone comes back?" Nat clarified. "I've been so focused on getting them back, I hadn't even thought about it."

"Promise me you won't retreat into yourself."

"Right back at you." Natasha said, swallowing hard. "Are you going to take it?"

"I don't even know if it even fits anymore." Payton admitted with a soft laugh.

"I think out of everything that's happened these last few years," Nat said a teasing smile on her lips. "Tony might be a little upset that you didn't use this more. And that he might have five years of updates to do on it."

Payton chuckled softly. "He'll get over it."

*******

After Payton left, the others also dispersed, save for her and Steve.

Natasha sat down on a bench, bringing her hands to her face as she squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn't even be there for him. After everything he had done for her and she couldn't-

She looked up as Steve put a hand on her shoulder. "You alright?"

Natasha shook her head. "No." She scoffed. "There was no way I would be alright. No matter who it was that took the fall."

"Maybe we should've listened to Payton in the first place." Steve sat next to her. "Maybe we shouldn't have done this."

"Then no one would come home." Natasha tried to reason with herself. "And I wouldn't have had a chance to talk to him again." She looked to him. "Why haven't you gone inside yet with the others?"

"I didn't want you to be alone." Steve said simply.

Natasha smiled at the memory of a situation where the roles were reversed what felt like a lifetime ago. She couldn't stop herself, she hugged Steve tightly grabbing onto the back of his shirt, like Payton had done to her. Steve lightly held her back, cupping the back of her head.

She wished she could say the Accords were the last time they were a real team. But if she was being honest, it was probably with Ultron. After Bruce and Thor left for space. but yesterday, things felt right for the first time in a long time. It felt right to have so many people in the Compound again. And soon there'd be more.

"I don't think we're ever really alone." Natasha reasoned as they separated. "Especially not with all these kids running around."

Steve sighed tiredly, a fond smile growing on his face. "You know, I never felt so old until these kids started running around."

"Oh Steve, You've always been old."

She laughed slightly at Steve's face. "Laugh it up."

*******

After a couple of hours, the gauntlet was completed. It was made out of nanotech, and currently housed the Infinity Stones. Almost everyone was in the room with them. Natasha had Clint's sword now too.

"I can't believe y'all finished this so fast." Flash said in awe.

"When will you learn to stop underestimating people." Payton teased.

"Alright." Rocket said. "The glove's ready. Question is, who's gonna snap their freaking fingers?"

Thor immediately started moving forward. "I'll do it."

"Excuse me?" Scott said as Thor walked past him.

"It's okay."

"Wait." Payton said as she and everyone else moved forward, trying to stop Thor.

"Stop. Wait a sec. Hey, hey–"

"Wait, wait," Steve stood in front of him. "Thor, just wait. We haven't decided who's gonna put that on yet."

"I'm sorry. What, we're just sitting around waiting for the right opportunity?"

"We should at least discuss it." Scott reasoned.

"No, no, sitting here staring at that thing is not gonna bring everybody back. I'm the strongest Avenger, okay? So this responsibility falls upon me. It's my duty."

"It's not about that–" Harley tried.

"It's not that– Stop it! Just let me!" Thor took a deep breath, looking borderline desperate. "Just let me do it. Just let me do something good. Something right."

"Look– " Flash said gently. "It's not just the fact that that glove is channeling enough energy to light up a continent, I'm telling you, you're in no condition."

"What do you– What do you think is coursing through my veins right now?"

Rhodey shrugged. "Cheez Whiz?"

"Lightning!"

"Lightning won't help you, pal. It's gotta be me." Bruce said walking towards the Gauntlet. "You saw what those stones did to Thanos. It almost killed him. None of you could survive."

"How do we know you will?" Steve asked as Harley leaned in to whisper to her.

"What did the stones do to Thanos?"

"Not sure." Payton whispered back.

"We don't." Bruce said. "But the radiation's mostly gamma." He stared at the gauntlet. "It's like...I was made for this."

"Bruce are you sure about this?" Payton asked walking forward, placing a hand on the gauntlet before he could put it on. "You know I can probably-"

"No." Bruce said gently. "I can do it."

Payton hesitated but nodded stepping back. Harley placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You're just brining back everyone Thanos snapped away five years ago and just bringing them back to now, today. Don't change anything from the last five years."

Bruce nodded. "Got it."

Rhodey and Harley activated their suits. Scott's helmet came up. Steve raised his shield, pulling Natasha close to him. Venom emerged from Flash, pushing Rocket behind him softly as he put on his goggles, Thor tensing besides them.

"FRIDAY." Payton stepped close to Harley, half behind us suit. "Do me a favor and activate Barn Door Protocol. Will you?"

"Yes." FRIDAY complied as she activated the lockdown procedure, metallic walls covering all of the windows.

"Everybody comes home." Bruce whispered as the gauntlet expanded to Bruce's size. He then slid the Gauntlet on- Only to burst into screams.

"Take it off!" Thor frantically yelled as lightning travelled up Bruce's arm. "Take it off!"

Payton moved to rush towards him, only for Steve to grab her arm. "No, wait." He then looked over to Bruce who had fallen to his knees. "Bruce, are you okay?"

"I'm okay." Bruce panted. "I'm okay."

Bruce let out a scream as different colored lightning bolts raced up and down his arm, Payton's senses screaming at her as he lifted his arm.

Danger! Her senses seemed to yell. Danger! Move!

Then he snapped with a burst of white light. The second the light dissipated,  Bruce let out a small sigh, fainting, falling to the ground as the gauntlet slid off revealing a charred arm.

"Bruce!" Harley yelled as they all rushed forward, Natasha kicking the gauntlet away. Flash, no longer Venom, moved besides him. "Don't move him."

Harley then lifted his hand releasing an antibiotic spray. Bruce muttered softly as he slowly blinked open his eyes.

"Did it work?" Bruce panted as he held onto Steve with his good hand.

"I don't know yet." The hair on the back of Payton's neck stood up. She lifted her head, Flash having a similar look in his eyes as FRIDAY opened up the window panels.

"Guys," Scott said in awe as a shadow loomed over them through the skylights. "I think it-"

"Look out!" Flash yelled, seconds before the room exploded.

There was a seemingly endless array of missiles undoubtedly destroying the Compound. The ground gave out under her.

Payton jumped, clinging onto the crumbling walls, trying to get to higher ground. The wall gave in seconds after she clung on sending her lower. She looked up to see more rubble about to fall on to her. Payton curled into herself, trying to protect herself from the rubble.

Payton panted as the explosions stopped.

Help! I'm down here! I'm stuck!

NO! She snapped herself out of those thoughts, panting heavily. You are not helpless. Find the others! Figure out what happened!

Payton then rose to her knees, pushing the rubble off of her. She panted, looking around, stopping when she saw the Iron Spider armor staring at her. She carefully moved closer to the suit. She easily shattered the glass. She reached out towards the suit, the nanobots that made the suit instantly travelled over her, forming over her regular suit.

She began to climb up, pausing as a black hand reached out to her.

"Are you alright?" Venom asked pulling her out of the hole. "When did you change your clothes?"

"I'm fine." Payton assured. "And I landed near the Iron Spider Armor. I think we can agree I'm going to need this. Where are the others?"

"Everywhere." Venom replied looking around. "Buried."

"Not everyone." They looked over to see Thor walking over to them. "Follow me."

The two didn't hesitate, following the older Avenger. Harley was there, hiding behind some rubble. Out in the distance was Thanos sitting on the ground.

"Shit." Payton whispered stumbling back.

"We got to find the others." Harley said looking back to them.

"I'll go look." Venom said immediately running back the way they came.

Payton glanced over spotting the shield on the ground. "You two stay here. I'll be right back." Not waiting for a response, Payton picked up the shield before following the path, seeing Steve unconscious on the ground.

She rushed over. "Hey!" She said roughly shaking him.

Steve gasped, jerking up slightly.

"You alright?" Payton asked searching his face as she pulled him up. Steve nodded. "Good." She handed him the shield. "Lose this again and I'm keeping it."

"What happened?" Steve asked looking around.

"This is the part of the time travel movie where everything goes wrong." Payton explained. "Come on we have a stow away."

Payton led him to Harley and Thor who were still watching Thanos.

"What's he been doing?" Payton asked standing next to them.

"Absolutely nothing." Thor said.

"Flash went to go look for the others." Payton explained

"Where are the stones?" Steve asked.

"Somewhere under all this. All I know is he doesn't have them." Harley added.

"So we keep it that way." Steve said.

"You know it's a trap, right?" Thor questioned, glaring at the titan.

"I don't care." Payton glared.

"Good. Just as long we are all in agreement." Thor stretched out both hands to summon both Stormbreaker and Mjolnir as thunder clapped around them. His clothes transform into his armor and cape. "Let's kill him properly this time.

"That was kinda cool." Harley whispered to her as the four of them walked towards Thanos.

Thanos stayed seated as he began monologuing. "You could not live with your own failure. And where did that bring you? Back to me. I thought by eliminating half of life, the other half would thrive. But you've shown me that's impossible. And -"

"Shut up." Payton spat, her mask less face glaring up at the titan. "You're nothing but a hypocrite. Not being able to live with our own failure? I thought that was you. And that's why you decide to kill half of life. Because you couldn't save your world." Payton's voice softened with a sigh, stepping closer. There may be one chance to end this peacefully. "I understand. I couldn't save the ones I loved. I save who I can. But never through murder. Not by genocide. Would those you lost want this? Would Gamora?"

She didn't see his hand shoot out, wrapping around her neck as he stood.

"They would understand. As will future generations." Thanos said, ignoring as Payton scratched his hands. "Today I will shred this universe down to its last atom. And then– With the stones you've collected for me - create a new one. Teeming with life, but knows not what it has lost but only what it has been given. A grateful universe."

"Born out of blood." Steve spat, he and the others tense, but not yet moved forward.

"They'll never know it. Because you won't be alive to tell them."

Morgan. Johnny. Payton balled her hands into fists before delivering an upper cut to Thanos wrist- The force strong enough to get him to let her go. Payton flipped, kicking him in the chin, the force sending him back several feet as Payton landed on all fours on the ground.

The three men rushed forward each attacking Thanos at once.

Thor banged his hammer and axe together shooting lightning at Thanos as Harley's shoot at him. Thanos twirls his blade really fast to divert the energy. Thanos stalked forward as he twirled, heading towards Harley.

Payton rushed forward, using Thor's back to springboard back off, before flipping over Thanos, shooting twin webs at him, double tapping to electrify him.

Thanos merely grunted before lifting Harley up like a rag doll as Thor grabs Stormbreaker and uses it to bat Mjölnir to hit Thanos. Thanos used Harley as a shield causing him to fly back, away from the fight.

"Harley!" Payton screeched before turning to Thanos. She jumped onto his back, wrapping webs around his neck before pulling. Steve tried to attack Thanos but is easily shielded away by Thanos as he grabbed her by the back of her suit and flinging her away.

Payton gasped as she skidded across the ground. She shakily rose to her knees to see Thor on the ground, Thanos leaning over him, trying to stab him with Stormbreaker.

"NO!" Payton screeched as she scrambled to her feet-Mjolnir flies into Thanos, zooms past, stops, and flies back, all of them looked over as Steve caught the hammer.

"I knew it!" Thor whispered seconds before Thanos kicked Thor to the ground and proceed to battle Steve.

Steve charged at Thanos swinging Mjolnir and hitting Thanos in the face knocking him down. Steve throws his shield and Thanos deflects, Steve throws Mjolnir to his shield creating a shockwave and knocking Thanos off his feet.

As that fight continued, Payton rushed to Harley. "Wake up!" She shook him. There was no response. "Don't you dare do this! FRI!"

"He's alive, stable, just unconscious." FRIDAY replied when the hair on the back of Payton's hair stood.

She turned around to see Steve was thrown back, his destroyed shield laying feet from him. Payton rushed forward, shooting a web at Thanos and pulling him back with enough strength, he staggered back.

"You want to fight someone? Fight me!" Payton yelled rushing forward, grabbing Mjolnir as she ran by and hit him in the face. Before Thanos could recover, she hit him a couple of more times, alternating side.

Thanos grabbed her free arm before slamming her to the ground, the hammer fell away several feet. He tried to step on her chest- Only for her to grab his foot and keep it inches away from her.

"Insect." Thanos sneered.

"Arachnid." Payton grunted.

Thanos pressed harder- Only for a burst of fire to hit him in the face, sending him stumbling back several feet as the onslaught continued.

"Stay away from her!" Johnny yelled as he landed between them. He deflamed but his fists held flame balls.

"Johnny." Payton whispered rising to her feet, Steve moved besides them.

"I'm here." He said reassuringly, his right hand losing it's flame to hold her hand.

"In all my years of conquest– violence– slaughter–" Thanos began, his helmet destroyed, but still carried his double sword. "It was never personal. But I'll tell you now– what I'm about to do to your stubborn, annoying little planet– I'm gonna enjoy it. Very, very much."

Thanos' raised his hand, an entire army appeared on the ground Chitauri, Chitauri Gorillas and all kinds of different, menacing looking aliens appeared in front of them.

"Johnny you have to leave." Payton begged as she turned to him, squeezing his hand tighter. "I'm sorry. I didn't know this would happen. But get Morgan and Pepper, get the others and-"

"Hey," Johnny dropped his other flamed hand, lightly holding her face. "Hey, Look at me. We're in this together. And no matter what happens, it was the best decision ever." He leaned his forehead on hers. "Moon of my life."

She chuckled slightly at the Game of Thrones reference. "My sun and stars." Payton leaned forward, kissing him one last time, never letting go of Johnny's right hand. She turned to the approaching army, Steve tightened the strap of his broken shield and Johnny relit his fist.

All she could think of was that scene from Mulan. Where there troop was about to face down the full force of the Hun army.

'If we die, we die with honor.'

Except there were no mountain full of stone or canon to use. This was truly it.

There was a crackling in her ear.

"Hey, Cap, you read me?" Steve paused and looked around. "Cap, it's Sam. Can you hear me?"

Payton released a breathless laugh turning to Johnny, who also heard it.

There was another crackling. Payton turned to see a yellow portal begins to form behind them.

"On your left."

Three figures step through. She immediately recognized Okoye. The two next to her must've been Shuri and Black Panther. Beyond them were more Wakandan warriors, The Falcon soaring above. Dozens of more portals opened up all around the battlefield. Payton could spot one a little distances away revealing Doctor Strange, Drax, Mantis, Star Lord, and Iron Man.

"Oh my gosh." Johnny whispered as Sue, Reed and Ben ran up from behind the portals. "This is..."

Payton recognized even more than the Decimated were appearing. Valkyrie was leading the Asgardians, Wong the Masters of the Mystic Arts and several Ravager ships. She even saw Pepper arrive in the Rescue armor she and Harley had recently completed. Venom arrived with Natasha, a green woman and two Nebulas not to far from the portals. Alright, will worry about that later. Giant-Man emerged from the rubble of the Avengers facility with Bruce, War Machine, and Rocket. She could hear thousands of soldiers, chanting their own battle cries.

Avengers, Guardians, Wakandans, Asgardians, Ravagers and all in between taking battle positions. This was their canon to the mountain.

"You ready?" Payton told Johnny as her mask came back on.

Fire danced in Johnny's eyes as he smiled. "Flame on."

"We're in this together." She looked to Steve encouragingly, who smiled at her before facing the alien army.

"AVENGERS!" Steve shouted as he summoned the hammer. "Assemble!"