VII
Steve was woken up suddenly from his sleep.
Tony.
Something was coming. He could feel it and he knew that it must have something to do with Tony. The gut feeling was so strong that it made him nauseated. His breathing was fast, along with his heartbeat. He couldn’t stop thinking about Tony and a tear slipped from his eye as he closed them, trying to block the image of a smiling happy Tony.
“Don’t bullshit me, Rogers. Did you know?”
He recalled the last time they met face-to-face. They were on the opposite sides then, and today, they were on the same side, even though he had not spoken or seen the man. He had to admit, he was excited to reunite with Tony again, to fight as a team again, but now, he didn’t even know if the man was still alive.
Different emotion were coursing through his soul, crushing his spirit, just like the moment when he saw Bucky vanish into thin air. He kept thinking about the both of them, for months, he couldn’t sleep well as his mind kept wandering to the beautiful moments he shared with the two most important people in his life after his stint in ice.
Tony, wherever you are, if you are still here, come back home. We need you.
I… need you.
Steve fell back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling before closing his eyes, letting another tear drop and hoping sleep would finally claim him.
-PAGE BREAK-
A pair of eyes snapped open, brown irises squinted slightly, adjusting to the light in the room. As he got his breathing under control, Tony sat up on his bed. Slowly, he stared up at the far ceiling, sighing as he thought of Steve and the others.
Why would he suddenly thought of Steve? He hadn’t seen the guy for two years. Why now?
I... need you.
A voice rang in his head, catching him off guard as he found himself looking around in the room.
I must’ve been hallucinating.
Sighing again, he got up and went to the piece of shiny metal hanging in his room that he used as a pathetic substitute for a mirror. He stared at himself, the much younger face, the place where his goatee used to be looked a bit plain, and wrinkles were less visible.
He then took off his shirt, lean yet defined muscles wrapped around his body, making him looked slightly larger than when he was older. He then traced his mechanical fingers along the scars littered around the body, comforted but he fact that he can still feel the cold metal touching his scarred skin, telling himself that he was still alive, still human.
He paused when he turned slightly, seeing the huge welts on his back, held together by shiny white organic metal. The welts now served as a housing for the synthetic metal that would form his armour. How ironic, he thought.
Typical Thanos.
He was brought back into reality by a silent knock on his door.
“Anthony?”
He opened the door, only to be greeted by Nebula.
“How are you?” Nebula seemed genuinely concerned.
“Could be better. Do you want to come in?” He led her to the bed and sat her down, opting to stand by the table.
“I heard that the mission was a success.”
“Yes... I guess it was.” Tony looked down momentarily before meeting her eyes again.
Nebula merely stared at the man intently, lips pursed into a thin line.
“You’re lying.” It was almost as soft as a whisper but it shook Tony so much that he started to tremble slightly, eyes snapping shut.
“Anthony, we have to fight him.”
“I, I can’t go back anymore.”
“You can. You did it once, you can do it again.” Nebula stood up and walked towards her brother.
“I’ve killed so many. I’ve become just like him.”
“Ant......”
Nebula was interrupted by Thanos opening the door.
“My children. Nice seeing the both of you spending time together.” Thanos smiled warmly and walked over to where Nebula was standing.
He placed his arm over Tony and held Nebula’s hand.
“I am glad to know that you have each other. If only Gamora was here, it would’ve been perfect.”
Tony and Nebula looked at each other intently, before both glancing up, meeting the Titan’s gentle gaze.
“Together, the universe will finally see change.”
-PAGE BREAK-
Steve barely dodged the low kick delivered by Okoye as he took two steps backwards in surprise.
“What was that Captain.” Okoye stopped and all the other Avengers in the training room snapped up.
“Just, haven’t been sleeping well lately.”
This time it was Natasha who spoke, after swiftly making her way over to Steve.
“Steve, are you ok?”
“I have a feeling that something big is coming. I don’t know what but I know that it’s coming.” Steve didn’t want to admit it but he found it ironic that after years of Tony trying to tell him that something big is coming, it’s now himself who thought that way instead.
Everyone was silent for a moment before Rhodey spoke up.
“And we will prepare for it. Tony would’ve and we will.”
“Yes, we will.” Steve agreed.
They would not wait until the threat presents itself. They will be ready for it, just like how Tony would’ve. He had to do this, for Tony and everyone whom they had lost.
-PAGE BREAK-
It was barely dawn when the alarm around the Kingdom of Wakanda blared. The Avengers were woken up and immediately got ready for battle. As they made their way into the command centre, Shuri had checked for the specifics of the alert.
“An unknown aircraft, with similar readings to the Chitauris had penetrated the Earth’s atmosphere. From the datas, it looks to be heading towards New York.”
“Avengers, you know what to do. We’ll take the Quinjet there. Thor, War Machine, you guys make a headstart, secure the location.”
Thor swung his hammer in the clearing and left, with Rhodey hot on his heels.
When Steve and the others arrived at the scene, the aircraft had landed in the middle of a park. For safety, Steve had still made Rhodey clear out any civilians nearby.
Steve stood at the front, beside him were Natasha and Thor.
Rocket, Clint and Okoye stood slightly behind, but ready for combat nonetheless. Bruce watched on on the quinjet and Shuri was on standby in Wakanda.
They tensed when the pod opened up and a dark purplish portal appeared in front of them. Thanos walked out with his head held high and soon two figures flanked him on either side, emerging from the aircraft.
“Nebula! I should’ve know you would be with this madman!” Rocket yelled as he took a few steps forward, ready to lunge at the humanoid, only to be held back by Thor.
“Not as happy a reunion as expected, I see.” Thanos smirked slightly.
Steve finally focused on the other figure to the titan’s right. That familiar built, the uncanny semblance of a suit.
No, too white to be Tony.
When Thanos gave him an encouraging nod, the man in silver white armour walked forward, the minimal head armour retracting, revealing the all too familiar face.
Almost all of the Avengers gasped.
“Tony.”