Chapter Text
“The world is celebrating today as we have learned that the initial reports of the death of billionaire and superhero, Tony Stark, were falsified. Over the past week, the team now once again known as the Avengers have been clearing up everything that has happened in the past year. The organization known as HYDRA is responsible for not only the attack on the Avengers facility but also the false reports on Mr. Stark as well as those on Wanda Maximoff.
“The Sokovian national has been cleared of all charged against her in the investigation into the attack on Stark and the remaining Avengers. Personal accounts of witnesses and suspects taken into custody all confirm that Wanda Maximoff was never a hostile force. It was all an elaborate plan to corrupt the young woman in hopes of her returning to HYDRA and aiding the hostile artificial intelligence known as Ultron. Through their heroic efforts, the Avengers were able to defeat Ultron once again and it seems that we are never going to be able to thank them enough. Even when the world has turned their backs on them, they have kept their promise.
“As for the members that were wanted, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, and Sam Wilson have all received pardons as well as Clint Barton and Scott Lang. The whereabouts of Sargeant James Barnes are still unknown, though he has been granted one as well. A thorough investigation with the help of multiple agencies has revealed that Secretary of State, Thaddeus Ross, had a part to play in the attack on the Avengers. He will face incarceration as well as further charges of conspiracy. His trial is expected to begin at the end of the month.
“I am also glad to report that Pepper Potts, Colonel James Rhodes, and Happy Hogan have all safely returned and are unharmed. For now, I believe that the Avengers deserve some much-needed breathing room and personally, I think we may all owe them an apology.”
“Well, that was something,” Tony said as he was stretched out on the couch. Pepper was pressed into his side, while Peter leaned into his other. After the battle, once they had been rescued by the Coast Guard, everything moved at lightspeed. Steve got in contact with Everett Ross and the clean up began.
Sam was rushed into surgery while the entire team, Spider-Man included, waited in the waiting room all bruised and barely able to stand up straight. Cap, Natasha, and Tony spoke to every government agent that arrived at the hospital. Halfway through Sam’s surgery, Maria Hill had shown up with the news that the UN was already drafting the pardons. It put everyone at ease.
By the time, Sam was stable enough to move, Tony had him transferred back upstate to their own facility where S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were waiting to continue his care. When they had arrived back home hours later, Pepper was already there with Rhodey and Happy. She had run to Tony the second he was in her view and he hadn’t let go since.
Happy had fussed over Peter, afraid he was hurt and that he still never listened to him. Peter had rolled his eyes, but Tony had watched the interaction with love in his eyes for the two of them. He really did have the best family.
As for Diana, she was taken into custody by the United Nations and will be living out her days in cell courtesy of Nick Fury. Tony was also able to code a matrix that eradicated Ultron from any tech worldwide just to be safe. The vibranium core had been lost in the river, but Tony was certain that without the matrix, it was useless. He only hoped that he was right.
As soon as everyone was patched up, the team took a few days to recharge. Peter had gone home for a bit to be with May while the rest of the team did absolutely nothing. Occasionally, they had to answer a few questions for Agent Ross, but in the end, Everett left them alone as much as possible. Wanda stuck close to Tony and the two of them often found themselves sitting together on the roof late at night when neither of them could sleep. Vision and Pepper would find them fast asleep hours later and help them to bed.
Cap and Tony had also been together as much as possible. After almost losing each other, they spent a lot of time working through everything the past year had brought them. Fighting ensued, but it never lasted long, especially when Natasha was there to break up their arguments. Nat almost seemed to glow brighter as she was once again surrounded by her family, especially when Hill brought the Bartons upstate and she was reunited with her niece and nephews.
Sam’s recovery was going well and Rhodey was beginning his physical therapy to get him back on his feet with help from Steve. Now, the entire team sat around the living room watching the news reports on the battle and political occurrences. It felt great to just do nothing and Tony hoped it would last a lot longer this time, but he would still be ready to suit up when the time came.
“How do you think the public will react?” Wanda said from her spot in front of Tony on the floor. Vision sat next to her, his hand in hers.
“According to Hill, the reaction is pretty good,” Steve said with a yawn. “They even like Natasha again.” Nat threw a pillow at him.
“Thanks, Rogers,” Nat said and he winked at her.
“I think I’d be pretty pissed if they still hated us,” Tony said. “Then again, we could all die in a fiery explosion and people will still find ways to tarnish our name.”
“You always do look on the brighter side, don’t you honey?” Pepper asked, with a roll of her eyes. Tony grinned and kissed the top of her head.
“So, what do we do now?” Sam asked. “I can’t see us going back to normal as if nothing had happened.”
“I don’t think anyone will buy that regardless,” Clint said. “It’ll take time.”
“As long as I don’t have to go near the Hudson again, I’m good,” Wanda said. Most of the team ended up getting sick after their excursion in the New York City river. Tetanus shots were also given just in case. They all decided then that rivers would never again be a battlefield if they could help it.
“I think we can manage that,” Vision said.
“Oh,” Natasha began, “my room got busted by HYDRA so we’re going to need to do some major home improvement.”
“Just moving right back in, aren’t you?” Tony joked. Natasha winked at him.
“Living on a quinjet can be fun, but it’s not home.”
“No it is not,” Tony said, throwing his arms around both Pepper and Peter. “It’s good to be home.”
Later that day, Tony found Peter on the balcony of the teen’s bedroom.
“Overthinking?” Tony asked as he approached Peter. Parker turned and hopped up on the railing, easily balancing.
“Is it that obvious?” Peter asked. Tony shook his head.
“No, I’ve just picked up on things you do. Staring out over the horizon all by yourself tells me you have a lot on your mind,” Tony said, joining him at the railing. “What’s going on?”
“It’s going to be different now, isn’t it?” Peter asked. Tony furrowed his brow and looked up at him.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s just, the team is back together. You’ll be gone more, off on missions, you know? It will be like before Leipzig,” Peter said with a shrug. Tony shook his head.
“No, Peter. It won't be the same. I think all of us are way too different for it to be the way it once was. Besides, why are you acting like I’ll be doing this on my own? Are you planning on retiring already?” Peter slowly turned and looked at Tony, his eyes wide.
“You want me to come with you on missions?” He asked, completely in shock. Tony snorted.
“Pete, how many times do I have to tell you that you’re not a child anymore. I think you’ve proven yourself enough when it comes to being Spider-Man. Do I need to bring out a sword and knight you? You’re an Avenger now, Parker,” Tony said, a smile of stretching across his stubbled face. “If that’s okay with you, of course.” Peter nodded enthusiastically.
“Definitely,” Peter said. “Thank you.” Tony reached out his arm and Peter jumped down and hugged Stark.
“You’re one of the good ones, Peter,” Tony told him. “Never forget who you are, no matter what.”
“I promise,” Peter said as he tightened his hold on Tony. The two heroes stayed on the balcony and talked for hours, enjoying each other’s company. Tony had needed this. Just to be with his kid without impending doom or anything else dire. Just to be with Peter.
A little later Tony had found himself walking through the residences when he ran into Clint. Barton was carrying Nathaniel who had fallen asleep. Tony smiled at his friend who gripped his son as he passed. As Tony wandered through the Compound, he noticed more of these smaller moments. Steve at Sam’s side, helping him walk across the grounds; Natasha and Rhodey laughing on a couch in one of the many living rooms; Vision, Happy, and Wanda watching TV. It was almost surreal to think that he had this all back.
Just a few months ago, right before Wanda had shown up on his doorstep, he was in a rut. He was only ever happy when Peter was around and any time he looked around his home, he was reminded of the team that had left him, his family. And now, when he looked, he didn’t feel despair or grief, he saw love and he saw home.
They had all come together again even after being shattered. No matter what it took, Tony would continue to fix things, starting with one thing in particular. Tony found Steve a bit later in the kitchen. He placed a datapad in front of Cap and Steve stared down at it in confusion.
“A flight plan?” Steve asked. “Are you planning a vacation?” Tony shook his head.
“It’s not a departure, it’s an arrival,” Tony explained. “One-way ticket to this facility from Wakanda.” Cap looked at Tony in shock. “He gets here at the end of the week. Shuri, T’Challa’s sister, wants to run just a few more tests, but she’s confident that Bucky is back to his own brooding self. No HYDRA left in his blended brain. I’ve even heard she made him a new arm. It’s Vibranium, very state-of-the-art.”
“Tony, you didn’t have to do this,” Steve said, overwhelmed with emotion.
“I know, but I did,” Tony said. “Peter reminded me that I had promised that everyone comes home. And as much as it’s going to take me a while to get used to him being here, Barnes deserves a home as well. I forgave Wanda, I forgave Clint when he was brainwashed, and I can work on doing it for Barnes. I may need your help, though.”
“Anything you need,” Steve said. “Thank you, Tony.”
“What are friends for?” Tony asked.
As the sun set, Tony went to find Wanda.
“Come take a walk with me,” he said as she opened her bedroom door. Confused, she grabbed her coat and followed him. The two of them walked through the grounds. They had cleaned up since the battle to take their home back, but it would take a while to completely remove HYDRA’s stain. Tony took her to the front of the facility where a large tree stood tall and proud, shading a large area of the grounds.
Wanda stumbled as she beheld the newest addition to the entranceway. “Tony…” she whispered as tears sprung up behind her eyes.
“It was long overdue and I’m sorry it took so long,” he said softly, taking her hand and leading her to the large marble memorial that had been erected for her brother, Pietro Maximoff. The large slab of stone was a brilliant white and silver piece with a metal etching of his face at the center. Below, engraved in the stone. was a small message:
“Heroes are made by the path they choose not the powers they are graced with.”
Pietro Maximoff
Brother. Son. Friend. Avenger. Hero of Sokovia.
Wanda’s tears flowed as she placed her hand against the stone and fell to her knees. “Everything you did,” Tony continued, “it was for him. He’d be so proud of you, Wanda. I only knew him for a little while, but you could see how much he loved you.” Wanda nodded, her shoulders shaking. “This is where he’ll be remembered and if someone tears it down, I’ll build a bigger one. Never will his sacrifice be forgotten, I swear to you.” Wanda got to her feet and turned to him.
“I don’t know what to say,” she choked out. “It’s beautiful.” Wanda walked forward and embraced Tony, her tears flowing more and more. “Thank you, Tony. Thank you so much.” Tony hugged her back, trying to hold back his own tears.
“We’re going to be okay, Wanda,” he told her softly. “This is just the beginning. You have so much to show the world and if I could bring him back to have him run at your side, I would. I need you to know that.” Wanda nodded in his shoulder.
“I know,” she whispered. Wanda pulled back and Tony wiped her tears.
“Who would have thought that this is where the two of us would end up,” Tony said. Wanda looped her arm through his, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“Life has a funny way of surprising us but in the end, it always works out,” she said softly. Tony pulled her close just as the clouds above them split open and the sun shone down on the Compound. The storm had passed, bringing this new chapter of their story into the light and it was all the mechanic and the witch could ask for.
The End.