Chapter Text
After five long years Tony and Bruce figured out a way to bring their friends and families back home. The remained Avengers stood in front of a gauntlet made by Tony. All Infinity Stones were placed and someone just needed to try the gauntlet on and to snap the finger.
„Who is going to do it?“ Scott was the first one to ask the question. He didn’t know that much about the Infinity Stones and their powers but it couldn’t be that easy, if all the others stood there, silently watching the gauntlet.
„I’ll do it“.
Steve was already reaching for the gauntlet. He would bring their family back. Whatever it takes. He promised Natasha and he would not fail her. Never again. But Tony took his arm away.
„Steve, this is going to kill you. The amount of gamma radiation will burn every cell in your body“
Steve shook Tony’s hand off and got his determined Captain America look. If this is what it would take, he would gladly pay the price. How could he live when Natasha, Bucky, Sam, Wanda and all the others weren’t? Out of the corner of his eyes he saw first Clint reaching for it and then Bruce. With his right hand the professor hit the archer hard in the chest to let him stagger backwards and took the gauntlet with his left hand.
„I’ll do it. Tony is right. The gamma radiation will kill all of you. I can do this. The Hulk will survive.“ Bruce held the gauntlet a bit too hard. He didn’t know the outcome. He didn’t know if he was strong enough. He didn’t know if he would survive or if it would ironically be his death, when he actually had come to peace with the other guy. But he did know that he had to try, for their friends, for Natasha and for himself. Bruce watched his teammates and smiled assuringly.
„It is going to be fine!“
And Bruce put the gauntlet on and snapped his finger.
While the boys were occupied with the Infinity Stones, Nebula had her own mission. After everyone except the Black Widow came back trough the quantum realm, they felt devastated by their teammate’s death, so Thanos daughter had an easy game to hide her true motivations. She was sent to the future to open a time portal for her father and his army. But Thanos didn’t want just some time portal. After he had understood, what will happen in the future and how the Avengers will try to beat his plan, Thanos told Nebula, that he would be patient. That he would wait till 2018 when he will have all stones except the mindstone together, so he could hit the remaining Avengers with the full force of his army and end them for good. Then he would take the mindstone and redo the snap. Maybe in 2018 or maybe in 2023 or maybe even twice. So Thanos didn't want just some time portal, he wanted Nebula to create a connection between the current timeline and Thanos future self in 2018.
Blinded by her father’s perspective of good and evil, Nebula did exactly what he asked her to.
After Bruce collapsed with a pained cry, there was death silence for only a moment. Suddenly there were birds twittering as if they showed up out of nowhere and while the team surrounded their hurt friend, they just knew deep down that it had worked. The dam broke lose when Clint’s phone started to ring and the archer pressed the button to take the call. The moment Clint heard his wife’s voice he started to cry uncontrollably. Tony who got a hold on Bruce blinked away some tears. Rocket stared still a bit unconvinced. Scott started to laugh while crying and Thor started to cry while laughing. And Steve felt as if a burden the size of a mountain was lifted from his shoulders. He could finally breath again. They did it. Thanks to Natasha they did it.
The moment of pure joy however didn't last.
All of a sudden there was a loud hissing noise followed by a thunderous impact and the ceiling came down. More hissing noises and more thunderous impacts pervaded their surroundings.
„Holy shit! What the fuck is happening?“ Scott jumped out of the way when a broken piece of the ceiling nearly crashed on top of him. As Scott turned around, he got a nice view through the broken wall and he caught sight of a smiling Thanos. „Holy shit! I thought you said, you killed that purple alien?!“
„That is not the same one!“
Scott watched the Captain with big eyes. What was going on? „What do you mean?“
„If we can travel through the time, then that son of a bitch can as well!“. Steve felt the anger rise inside of him. That bastard took everything from him and now had the disrespect to show up and destroy Natasha’s home! He would make him pay. With a determined glare he went to take his shield.
„Captain, your orders?“ Tony stood strong as well and seemed ready to activate his suit. That purple asshole wouldn’t live another day. He would make sure of it. He was Iron Man after all!
Steve tuned around and saw the same burning determination in Tony’s eye. As Steve looked from Tony to Scott to Thor to Clint to Rocket, all of his friends gave him a strong nod. They would end this here and now. With a strong voice the Captain gave his commands. „Scott and Rocket you take Bruce out of here and then evacuate the surrounding! Clint you try to contact the others! See if they can join and then protect the stones…“ Steve captured Tony’s and Thor’s eyes. „Are you with me?“
As an answer Tony activated his suit and Thor grabbed Stormbreaker and Mjolnir. Both of them stood next to their Captain - one on the left and one on the right side. Together! They would do that together.
What happened next was all a total blur. Iron Man, Thor and Captain America were fighting side by side but they didn’t have any chance against Thanos and his army. First they defeated Thor, then Tony and then there was only Steve left standing and facing a whole army alone. But the soldier only fixed his shield stronger to his arm and stood with pride. If he would die now, then he would die protecting Natasha’s sacrifice. He would die fighting for his friend and the woman who has meant everything to him.Then all of a sudden and before Steve knew what had happened, he held Mjolnir in his hand. Somehow Steve had proofed himself worthy. Without any hesitation the soldier attacked and was ready to face up to Thanos.
The beginning of a merciless fight.
Thor was all beaten up but managed to stand. He was more than proud that his Captain and friend now was able to wield his most beloved weapon. But Steve needed help. He clenched his teeth and got to Tony. He straightened up the armored man and turned both of them to the battlefield. Thor realized that Steve was going to lose. They were going to lose and Thanos would redo his cruel act. Then something truly miraculous happened.
„On your left, Captain!“
Everywhere were portals appearing and as they opened, their friends stepped through them. Nearly forgetting where he was, Steve was overjoyed. Sam took the side on his left and Bucky patted his right shoulder and stepped to his right. Fuck he wanted to cry.
„We got you, Punk!“
Steve turned around and saw that all his lost friends and teammates were standing right behind him. Their determined faces filled him with a power and a strength, he hadn’t felt in a very long time. They were together again and together they would win this battle.
„Avenger assemble!“
With a loud cry the Avengers and their allies moved forward. There were swords clinking, guns firing, fists punching. Ant-Man in giant size walked over the battlefield. The Spider-kid flew over their heads while knocking out Outrider after Outrider. And Scarlet Witch almost managed to win the battle by herself by killing Thanos.
The team coming back together even gave Tony a power boost. He found himself fighting alien after alien and stood suddenly in front of Dr. Strange.
„We won’t win this way!“
The magician’s word put Tony on alert. No, this couldn’t happen. They couldn’t lose again. Out of the corner of his eye, Tony saw one of the Outriders running out of what was left of the Avenger Compound. No! Not again! They had had to kill Hawkeye to get to the stones and Tony was sure the alien was heading right towards Thanos. He had to stop this. It couldn’t end this way. „I have a plan!“
„I know!“ Strange looked him right into Stark’s eyes.
„What will happen, when I do it?“. They hadn’t that much time but Tony had to know.
„You know what will happen. This is Thanos from 2018, if we kill him, the first snap will be undone!“
„Strange this is exactly why we didn’t want just to travel back and kill that bastard, when he was young and without an army. We will change the past for everyone. How is this even an option?!“
„It is the only option we have left. We will deal with it. People will deal with it“. Dr. Strange put on a serious face. He had seen a lot and there was one of a million they could win this. „Why don’t you ask me your particular question?“
With that Tony winced. Yeah, he was a selfish ass and even at the end of the world, all he could think about was his little girl waiting for him to come back home. As he watched Strange again, he saw him smile.
„Stark, there wasn’t even one outcome without a Morgan Stark in it!“
This was all what Tony needed. He closed his eyes for a second, clenching his fists and then he nodded. In front of him was Thanos trying to put on the gauntlet. Captain Marvel started to fight him but Thanos wiped her away with a hard punch. The purple giant was laughing hysterically. Victory was written all over his face. He left his hand and snapped.
Nothing happened. No one was turning into dust. And when Thanos turned his head, he saw his hand armored but without the gauntlet.
„You’re looking for something, asshole?!“ Tony stood behind the giant and was smirking, when he saw Thanos staring. This was it. They would end this right here!
„I'm Iron Man!“ He snapped and everything went white.