General
Back on Earth, heroes were climbing the mountains of Wakanda, and flying through the thick clouds left by Thanos’ ships.
The strange creatures which fought for Thanos continued to hiss and claw their way through smaller and smaller groups of people until they, too, crumbled into the air. She heard the cries of battle. She stared at the space her King had once occupied.
Her hand was still warm from the King’s grasp.
“Up, General! This is no place to die.”
The newcomers were talking to themselves. The bearded man- the King addressed him as Captain America- sat on the ground, breathing heavily. She wasn’t sure if he was panicking, or if he too was leaving them.
It seemed all of the strong leaders were dying.
Her breath shook on the way out, soft and uncertain. She frowned at her own movement. Okoye was many things, but soft? Never. She was a warrior, a protector of her beloved country. But... but the King- what would they do without... without King T’Challa?
She wouldn’t have believed his death had she not seen it with her own eyes. His final words were to her, words of comfort and encouragement. She could think of no better way to remember his spirit, but she did not want to remember their great King as if he were an ancient relic.
She wanted him to be here, to rule with a kind hand and a strong mind.
Perhaps Okoye’s mind was more firm than the King’s, if somewhat more militaristic. But she would follow- she would have followed him to the ends of the earth. Her cheeks were wet with pain and fear.
“General?”
She raised her head. Her expression was fierce- she had to protect the civilians- but her pride, her confidence, it had faded away like the King of Wakanda. Was that it?
Had M’baku brought King T’Challa back only to lose him to a foreigner? Shuri’s efforts, she and Nakia- how would she tell Nakia? How would she tell Shuri her brother had died in front of her? What would the Queen Mother say? Were they even alive? Or had they too crumbled into the wind; had all of their strength and honor left nothing more than a trail of dust as a remembrance?
“General,” Dr. Banner said again, his eyes filled with warmth.
She was the General, the General of Wakanda’s armies. And she had failed her king, worse, she had failed her country and with it the world. They had said this battle crossed over the lives of trillions.
“Y-Yes, Doctor?” She cleared her throat, embarrassed by her her stutter.
The white haired woman, Dr. Banner, the lightning god, Captain America, and the man in the silver armor all stared at her. It was wrong to find joy in the discontent of others, but Okoye would be lying if she said it didn’t make her feel better to see they, too, were without answers. She felt, strangely... uncertain.
The only thing which frightened her more had been watching the King fade to ashes in front of her.
“What is it, Doctor Banner?”
“Your... your medical team, can you contact them?” He, too, seemed weary.
He sighed, eyes darting across the jungle. The white haired woman laid a hand on his red and gold armor, looking up at him. Okoye dare not interrupt their expressions with her half answers.
The man and woman held something strong, something unspeakably certain between them. She was glad someone had something to hold to, someone to- W’kabi.
No. She would not spend her days questioning the life of everyone on this planet, not even the life of her love. She had a duty to Wakanda and all those within it. These people needed her.
Okoye nodded firmly. “Of course, Dr. Banner. We must gather the remaining fighters.”
*
Soldiers slumped over the battlefield, their blood drying under the harsh sun.
Flies buzzed in large groups, their small, black bodies thinning out over the land. A woman lay on the ground, her eyes forever open. A fly landed on one of her unblinking eyes, it’s legs twitching atop her right eyeball.
The general closed her eyes, offering the fallen solider her respect.
Her nose was filled with the thick smell of hot blood and sweat. Sweat ran down her own skin as the sun beat upon her head. Her jaw tightened with her resolve.
“Wakandans!” She called into the air.
The others followed her, intently shouting for any stragglers. They screamed until their throats and eyes burned. Yet it was far too quiet.
“We need to call someone,” Dr. Bruce said, panting.
The doctor stood tall in his red and bronze suit of armor. The general heard him offer it to the white haired woman. She politely declined.
“I need to stay on my feet,” she said.
The man in the silver armor spoke out loud.
“We can’t all stay here,” he said firmly. “Tony is still out there. He could be-“
“He could be dead,” the captain said.
His blue eyes focused on the glass jar in his hands. His mouth formed a soft line and his once bright eyes were dim. His words hung in the air.
The iron soldier turned on him, his eyes filled with anger. The captain was oblivious; he stared into the glass jar as if it held the answers to all of their questions. The other man wore a dark expression, betrayal and fear written across his face.
“No! No one said that and much as you may want to believe that-“
The captain spun around, glaring at the man. He clung the jar to him as he spoke, as if someone would rip it away from him. His eyes shone with anger.
“You think I want him dead, Rhodes?!” The captain shouted. “You think I want Tony to be dead?!”
“I imagine you wouldn’t be too upset about it,” Rhodes said. “Y’know I’ve been working by your side, but I haven’t forgotten what happened.”
The captain glared back at him, his mouth pulling into a grimace as he spoke. He placed the jar beside his feet.
“Because I have? These last two years haven’t exactly been easy for me, Rhodes.”
The man named Rhodes glared at the captain.
“Well, it’s always about you isn’t it?”
Cap’s face twisted into something hurt and hateful. He shouted as he rushed forward, knocking into the soldier before he was shot back by a red blast. Rhodey glared at him.
“I’ve been helping you! I’ve been trying to fix this so I can find my brother!”
With that his anger faded from his face, the silver mask lifting to reveal Rhodes’ concern.
“We lost, Cap,” he said softly.
“No we didn’t, not yet,” the captain said through gritted teeth. “No one else is losing a loved one.”
The general shook her head.
“How can we expect to save anyone with this bickering?” She glared at the two men.
“You are both wasting time. Whatever has caused this animosity must wait. We have work to do.”
Rhodes glared at the group before shaking his head.
“My work here is done.”
Every instinct in him called upon his military training, to stay with the group. The field was empty of bodies, most having escaped back to the center of Wakanda. Rhodey wasn’t needed here.
‘No man left behind,’ he thought.
He blasted into the air as the others called his name. Steve turned away, grabbing the jar resting at its feet. His breathing slowed as he held the glass against his chest.
“Good, everyone’s fighting again,” the white woman said dryly. “And here I was worrying we’d have fun.”
“I shall follow Colonel Rhodes,” the lightning god said calmly.
“He fears he has lost his best friend. And for him and the Man of Iron I see no greater loss.”
“We need to get back to Wakanda,” the general said tersely.
“Of course,” he said.
“As they say on your planet, home is where the cardiac muscle rests most comfortably,” he said, smiling softly.
The general stared back at him.
The white haired woman shook her head. “Thor that’s not...”
“Yeah that’s not- that’s not right,” the doctor said, frowning.
“Well it’s... well it is a little right,” he defended.
“Mm,” the other woman frowned, shaking her head.
“No.”
“That just sounds disgusting,” Cap said, frowning.
“Well, forgive me; I haven’t been on Earth in a few years. Perhaps my information on the planet has been led askew,” Thor said, frowning.
“I haven’t even been introduced to the newest team member.”
The captain frowned. “You already met them-“
“I have heard great things of the mighty Kevin Bacon yet I did not see him on the field,” Thor said, frowning.
The spy frowned. “Did you just say Kevin Bacon?”
Thor raised his eyebrows.
“Yes I... I was told he was one of earth’s mightiest warriors. His heart must be filled with anguish, either that or he was simply too fearful to fight alongside his comrades.”
The doctor smiled, “Kevin Bacon isn’t-“
“Field ready yet,” the woman said, interrupting.
She smiled at the doctor’s confused expression.
“Bacon’s still new to the team,” she said sheepishly. “We didn’t think he’d be ready.”
The captain frowned, looking from person to person in confusion.
He spoke incredulously. “Who... who are we talking about?”
“The lord of dancing,” Thor said, as if it were obvious.
The doctor smiled before looking at the captain.
“Nat will tell you later,” he said softly.
*
When Thor found Rhodes he was not searching the sky, but speaking into his suit. He stood upon a tall, silver building. The wind pulled at Thor’s cloak, ruffling through his short hair.
Smoke and sound piled up around them. Single cars honked and sputtered, but mostly, it was quiet. Much of the chaos from hours ago had faded away with the dying humans.
It reminded him of Asgard, but his planet had not gone quietly or crumbled with Thanos’ plan. No, they had been stabbed and shot and murdered like animals led to slaughter. Sacrifices, his people had been called.
“Even in death, you have become children of Thanos.”
Colonel Rhodes mumbled something of directions and phone calls. Thor assumed he was contacting Pepper Potts, Tony’s betrothed. He fell silent as Thor approached, his face stoic.
How unfortunate it was, to see the men of iron fall... so human, despite it all.
“Tony’s birthday is tomorrow,” the man said softly.
The wind whistled in response, occupying Thor’s short silence.
“Birthdays are a celebration of life,” the god said. “We must find him so he does not celebrate alone.”
Rhodey looked out at the destroyed city. The overturned vehicles and smoke reminded him of the first time he lost his friend. They were supposed to stay together.
“He already is alone,” Rhodes said.
He sighed. “I should have looked for him. I mean, I didn’t know at first but that’s no excuse. I just thought... I thought Tony would join us.”
Rhodes laughed. “Hell, I thought he would come in blades of glory with AC/DC in the background.”
But he hadn’t, and who knew where Tony was now.
“I knew you guys needed my help. The last time there was a fight this big... well, I couldn’t help.”
Thor nodded, wishing he knew what comfort to bring this man. Rhodes shook his head at Thor’s concern. He couldn’t hear compassion; his mind was too filled by Ross and his angry words. Ross had been a road block for all of them from the start.
“The accords cost us a lot, y’know? Hell, they were still costing me yesterday,” Rhodes said, laughing. “I just wanted to prove it hadn’t taken everything from me, that I could still do my job.”
“So I joined the captain. I followed Vision and I thought I could keep him safe... like I thought I could keep Sam safe.”
The broken streets of this city taunted him, calling out to him as he watched from this skyscraper. The wind blew past Rhodes’ face, carrying the fear of thousands. But so many were now gone.
Was Tony gone?
“I know I need to make a plan. I need to move forward and make a decision. I’m wasting time standing here fearing the unknown.”
Thor nodded as the man continued speaking, voicing his concerns for the first time. Bruce had informed him of the Avengers’ “breaking up” as he’d said, though neither knew why. Still, the tension in the group was noticeable.
It was unlikely Colonel Rhodes had shared his concerns with anyone else.
“And if Sam is missing the way Tony is missing…“ He bit his lip.
Rhodes didn’t want Steve to be right; he didn’t want Steve to win. Not this time. God he was tired of this anger, this fighting. But if what Steve said was true...
“Then they’re probably both-
“Colonel Rhodes, do not blame yourself for what has happened to Tony Stark. He is a strong man, if somewhat... well, really he’s quite reckless not that I- of course I understand he is quite capable and of course that does allow for him-“
Rhodes raised his eyebrows as Thor continued.
“Are you done?”
Thor shrugged. “Unfortunately, rarely am I ever done. Loki says I- my brother says I talk too much.”
He looked at the ground before resting a large, gentle hand on Rhodes’ shoulder.
“Losing a brother is never easy.”
“No it isn’t.”
“But you have not lost Tony Stark yet, and I am determined to assist you in recovering him.”
Rhodes frowned, turning to face the god.
“Don’t you have business with the others to finish? What about your raccoon friend?”
Thor frowned in return, his brow furrowing as he spoke.
“Do you mean Rabbit?”
Thor smiled. “Do not fear my friend, I shall return for him. But you are seeking the return of your fallen friend and family. I can think of no greater and nobler quest to join.”
Rhodes smiled at him.