Chapter Text
“Thank you Captain” the Ancient One replied, using her powers to float the Time Stone from the soldier’s hand and back into the Eye of Agamotto.
Steve nodded stiffly, his body tense and reluctant to leave just yet, but he turned away none-the-less.
“You're not going to ask me what it is that you want to ask?” the Ancient One inquired, causing Steve to pause abruptly in his stride.
“If you already know what I want to ask then why aren't you stopping me?” Steve curiously retorted in kind, his muscles tight in case the wizard did decide to strike out at him.
“You already know why I cannot” she stated knowingly, eyeing the cases in his hand.
His grip on the remaining Stones tightened.
He did.
He had intentionally planned it that way so that she couldn't stop him.
“Dr. Banner assured me that each of the Stones would be returned to the exact moment in time to when they were taken...But you're not Dr. Banner” the Ancient One pointedly declared, just on the edge of accusing.
Steve said nothing.
“Are you prepared to face the consequences of your choice?” she asked him gravely, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop him.
“Will it work?” Steve asked instead, pointedly ignoring her question.
“...At a great cost” the Ancient One replied disappointedly.
That's all he needed to know.
“And it's one that I'm prepared to pay” Steve exclaimed resolutely.
“And yet it is never you that does” the Ancient One pointed out, her tone soft yet sharp.
“So was I”
“I...am...Iron Man”
Steve shook himself out of his memories...And the guilt-laden grief that came with them.
“We're done here. Thank you for your help” Steve clipped, walking off of the rooftop once more. No need to spend any more time here than he already had.
Despite the Ancient One's warnings his mind was already made up.
He was going to do this.
And it was going to work.
Tony had called him The Man with the Plan.
And he was going to fix this.
He was going to fix everything.
He never let the fear of consequences stop him from doing what it was that he wanted before.
And he wasn't about to let them stop him now.
“Whatever it takes” he thought, the resolution in his eyes ready to burn anything in their path in order to do so.