Chapter Text
It had been a year and a half since Tony almost fucking died.
He remembered the feeling of dread, that death was coming for him.
At the hands of fucking Steve Rogers of all people. A man he used to think of as a friend, but now knows what he truly is. A liar and a selfish person that only cares for himself, or for Bucky Barnes.
However, it seemed life didn't think it was his time yet. Because the moment he closed his eyes, and thought it was over. He actually opened them again, in a hospital room, with Vision at his side.
"How are you feeling Mr. Stark ?"
"Vis...where I am ?"
"You are in New York sir. On the hospital."
"New York...but how did I get here from Siberia ?"
"King T'Challa had followed you to get Barnes and offer back up. After he apprehended Zemo, he came back looking for you, and found you in time." Vision shook his head. "We were very lucky. The King actually encountered Rogers and he told him you were just cooling off. The King however knew better to believe Mr. Rogers, and still went looking."
Oh shit.
Thank god.
He didn't know what to think of T'Challa before. He let his grief consume him, but Tony understood the sudden pressure he must have felt. Now he owns the man his life.
"He delivered you to Moscow hospital where you were stabilized. Afterwards you were taken to New York where Doctors, Helen Cho and Christine Palmer managed to fully safe you. You've been in a coma for 4 weeks sir. I...We were all very worried."
"Wait...what happened to Rhodey ?"
"Colonel Rhodes is still healing from his fall." Vision said guilty. "He hasn't been able to come. But he has been monitoring your progress from there. Ms. Potts was actually here an hour ago, but she had to leave for a meeting. I should mention to you that Mr. Parker also visited you under the Spiderman suit."
"I see....So they are all well ?"
"Yes they are."
"What about Rogers, do we know where he is." Tony was healing, but once he did, the bastard was gonna pay.
"He broke his teammates out of the Raft with Ms. Romanoff's help, after that, we got no leads on any of them."
"Hm, so now I assume the world thinks I am the bad guy. For hurting the great Captain America."
Vision smirked. "Actually, I think you should see what the world thinks yourself."
Vision turned the TV on, and....Tony was greatly surprised.
There were protests, AGAINST Rogers. All calling for him to face justice, and condemning him and his team.
At the same time, people were laying flowers on the tower, and he had a lot of get better cards.
"I believe the world has chosen a side." Vision said. "And it's not Rogers's sir. It's yours."
Tony was discharged a week later by Dr. Palmer. Pepper and Happy were waiting for him and took him to the tower. To home.
Vision, Rhodes, and Peter waited for him there, and they all had a great reunion.
"I bet Ross wants my ass for not being there for the Raft break out."
"Not really. The man is in a lot of trouble after all." Rhodey smiled.
"What...what the hell did you all do."
"Pep worked with T'Challa to expose all of his corrupt ways and his anti enchanced agenda while you were gone. We even discovered he was the one that actually gave Rogers and Wilson their gear back. Having an agent use a face mask to look like Sharon Carter so that Rogers would take the bait. Speaking of you should call her. She's been nuts when she learned of what happened."
"Of course. The real Sharon was hurt when the Winter Soldier was triggered in Berlin."
"Anyway." Pepper continued. "Ross wanted, incited the fight on the airport, so super heroes were looked even more badly, and he would gain enough power to get control of all of you, or capture you. Now he is on a jail cell, waiting for trial for all of his questionable actions, staring for his actions against Bruce, to the accords issue."
Good, finally justice for Bruce. Wherever he is, Tony hopes Bruce can finally know it.
"Say Tony. I got a call from the Director of SHIELD some days ago." Pepper said.
"Hum. I don't want to do anything with Fury again. I am done with him, Hill, or those bastards."
"Of course, and we will bring them down again. However, this wasn't Fury. He wants to meet with you, and I think you should do. Something tell me SHIELD is now lead by an actual good man. One that those care about others more than power."
"Well, if you say so Pep. I'll meet with this new guy. Do you know his name ?"
"I'm gonna leave it as a surprise."
Afterwards, Rhodey explained what happened with the accords.
"After you....well you know. The accords gained a lot of momentum both from governments, and the public. 154 countries have signed them already, and there are more coming. Of course, with Romanoff breaking the contract, only you, Vis, T'Challa, and I are the only signees at the moment. The question is what to do about the Avengers now ?"
"Simple. We do what I do when an experiment fails. We rebuild. Take the working parts and put them back, and replace the broken ones with brand new ones."
The next day the Director of SHIELD visited him, and like Pepper said. He was in for a big suprise.
"Holly shit, you're alive !" In front of him, stood Phil Coulson.
"It's been a long time Tony."
"Wow....what happened to you, not only are you not dead you are the director now !"
"Well, it's actually a very long story."
Phil told him how Fury and Hill used a very painful (and illegal) process to bring him back to life with alien blood. How he had amnesia for almost two years, and wasn't able to remember many things. How he was constantly watched so that he would not contact the Avengers in any shape or form. Then SHIELD fell, and Fury made him director, hoping to bring it back.
"Then I decided it was time to do some...changes."
No more was the secrecy and the hope to gain power. He had a inner purge to get all of those people out of SHIELD, so that those who were left, where the ones that actually cared for the safety of the world. Tony even learned that Phil had been the one to send the helicarger to Sokovia, not Fury.
"I wished to reveal myself sooner, but Ward made it impossible."
"Ward ?"
"An Agent of Hydra. Who made it his mission to bring down SHIELD. And when we finally killed him, and alien parasite came and took over his body, and became even more dangerous."
Phil also told him of the new head SHIELD team. All made of trusty people. Including a woman Phil had essentially adopted as his daughter.
"She's not in the best state of mind right now. Her boyfriend died on the battle with Hive, and....well she is not feet for duty. She already agreed to sign the accords when she is ready."
"I see, that's understandable."
Seeing this new team, an actual family that Phil made, made him feel more determined to build the Avengers like that.
They spoke of SHIELD's new rule under the accords, and about what the New Avengers could be.
"I think. That the Avengers do need a Captain. Not Steve Rogers, but an actual Captain."
He handled him a pager.
"With this, you will get in contact with Captain Carol Danvers. She was the person that inspired the Avengers in the first place. I had a friend...take it from Fury. A very..furry friend. Anyway, I say talk to her. She could be very useful."
He called Captain Danvers and she told him she would be there in 3 days. Aperiantly...she's in space. Weird.
During that time, Tony called T'Challa to thank him for saving me.
"Thank you your Highness. I own you my life."
"There is no need for that Dr. Stark. I knew Mr. Rogers couldn't be trusted, and I had to check to see if his words were true. Speaking of him, I am afraid I got to talk to you about him. I got some news."
"Really, what is it ?"
"He showed up in Wakanda yesterday. With the rest of his team."
"He did....what ?"
"I believe I informed Colonel Rhodes before hand my intention of helping Barnes getting free of the triggers, so he could safely face trial. Mr. Rogers left him here when he went to break his team out of the Raft. However, he thought that my offer was for all of his team, and not just for Barnes."
"Yeah, that's Rogers for you. Thinks everyone owns him something."
"Indeed. I informed him that my offer was not for him, and he started this.....delusional talk. It gave me a head ache for days. After a while the message at they weren't welcome finally got to their heads, and left. My country is currently in no state to hold them, and we are dealing with the aftermath of my father's death. There was one exception though. Scott Lang. He decided to turn himself in, so I allowed him to be here while the authorities pick him up."
"I see. Good for the guy. Being with Rogers would have made his situation worst."
"Indeed. I believe that Mr. Lang was just a pawn of all of this, as he had a very vague idea on what was actually happening, and he informed us that he didn't feel...safe, being there. Reagrthess Mr. Lang has already declared his intention of pleading guilty to all charges against him."
They disussed about partnerships between SI and Wakanda, and the Black Panther's role as a reserve Avengers. He said his duties as King came first, which Tony understood.
Afterwards, Tony came out of the meeting with a new teammate, and a new friend.
Finally, Carol Danvers arrived.
Happy opened the door for her.
"Captain Danvers."
"Dr. Stark." She shook his hand. "I must say I was suprised when I got called by Coulson and not Fury. It seems a lot has changed while I was gone."
"Allow me to fill you in Captain."
He told her how the Avengers came to be. Loki's invasion.
"Wait, why didn't Fury call me ? I mean, I know how to handle alien invasions."
"Trust me, the pirate and all of the SHIELD agents you met, except for Coulson, changed for the worst."
"Heh. I can see that now. Tell me more, I am intrigued."
Carol was intrigued by Thor and the Hulk. She was however, not impressed by Captain America.
"I was never a fan of his."
"Trust me, he is not what the comics portrayed him to be."
He told her of the fall of SHIELD, Ultron, and the accords.
"Wait, those documents aren't a bad thing. I mean they do take control, which is exactly what it was needed. "
"Right. But he insisted that the best hands where his own, and that only he could make choices."
"Goodnes what and asshole. Is that the guy Maria admired. Fuck it."
"Rogers is used to get what he wants. This time, he didn't get it. So he and his team went rouge. The reiparance of the Winter Soldier made thinks even worst, as he is the only guy Rogers truly cares about. He and his team went in a rampage on Europe, and sent my best friend and myself to the hospital."
Finally, the question came.
"I didn't stay on Earth, because many planets had no defense. Now though, now that's not the case. A new team called the Guardians of the Galaxy has saved the universe twice already. The Galaxy is much more protected now. I think it's time to get back home."
"So, do we have deal Captain ?"
"Where do I sign ?"
With Carol on the team. The New Avengers started operating officially. Despite her having actual experience, she didn't want to be the leader, as she was a bit outdated on Earth. It was soon decided that Rhodey is the perfect leader.
They went to a lot of mission. Some with Phil's team, and the Black Panther joined them twice. They also had to help T'Challa get rid of his asshole cousin.
Then, another suprise came in. An alien ship came and landed near the now unused compound.
The New Avengers came in a, and to his big suprise. Thor and Bruce where there.
"My friend !" Thor said while crushing Tony in a hug.
"Hey buddy...its nice to see you, to se you both. But...what the hell is this ?"
Turns out Thor and Bruce had been threw their own hell.
It did make him feel better to know that Bruce had not abandoned him willingly, but rather that he had been trapped on an alien planet without any way to escape. Though he wasn't happy at all that that happened to his friend.
"So you had an older sister than Odin never told you about."
"Yes, and trust me. She is evil"
"Huh. I'm sorry for you big guy. Evil brother and sister ?"
"I wouldn't call myself evil Anthony."
"BAH ! What in the world.....You're alive !" He pointed at Loki, who had come out of nowhere.
"Yeah, that's part of the story as well." Thor said.
Turns out Loki had been possing as Odin since his "death" and...turns out he actually changed Asgard for the better.
"My brother actually did wonders too Asgard. I do intend to keep the changes he made." It seems whatever issues Thor and Loki had, where now gone.
Thor told them how his evil sister came just after Odin died. He and Loki were sent to the planet where Bruce was trapped, and after Thor and Hulk fought (who won is a conflicted statement) they teamed up with Bruce's new friend, the badass Valkyrie, and escaped back to Asgard, where they fought Hela. In the end, Thor had to fulfill a prophecy and free a fire demon that destroyed Asgard in a suicidal attack, killing Hela in the process.
Afterwards Thor took the remaining Asgard survivors, and hopes they can resettle on Earth.
Then Tony started his own story, explaining what had happened.
"HE INVITED MAXIMOFF ON THE TEAM !" Bruce yelled, turning a bit green.
"He said she deserved a second chance, and that I was being cruel because I didn't want to confront my mistakes for Ultron. Even though the courts cleared me from it."
"Of course. I told him it had been the Mind Stone, not you. Why did he keep blaming you ?" Thor asked.
"Well, Rogers had a motive to keep me off the Avengers."
Tony told them of the Civil War, the Accords, and Rogers' lies.
There was nothing to do after that. The Hulk had to come out to express his own feelings. Valkyrie took him away to calm down. It seems she had taken over Romanoff, but unlike her, she actually did care for Bruce. Bruce deserves someone like that.
Thor was also extremely angry. Tony thought he was just gonna jump in and attack Rogers. But he soon learned that the Thor that acted before thinking was long gone. A new wiser Thor that thought every move now stood in front of him.
"I can't believe it....such a disgrace. The Captain is not the man we thought he was."
"And now, the world knows it."
Thor and Bruce agreed with the accords and signed them. Bruce as a full member, but with the condition that the Hulk would only come in case of emergency. Thor however had to sign as a reserve member. As he is now the King of Asgard and needs to be there. Instead, he offered to have Valkyrie sign as a full member, as she is a warrior. Loki was the hardest case. Thor had uncovered evidence that Loki had been under mind control by the true mastermind of the 2012 invasion, but the Accords weren't very confortable with him at the moment. So it was decided that he would become a magical consultant.
The New Avengers gained even more strength now thanks to the return of old friends, and the team was looked upon more.
During this time, Scott Lang's fate was decided. After making a check on the guy, and talking to Hope van Dyne (a future member once her suit is complete) he, Rhodey, Vision, Peter, and T'Challa decided not to press charges against him for the airport battle. Hank Pym didn't charge him with stealing the suit as well. The only charges Lang faced where the illegal entry to Germany, and the property damage. Scott pleaded guilty to both of them and got a plea deal. Two years under house arrest, to be served on San Fransisco on the Pym household. Tony had come to the conclusion that Scott had only been a pawn on all of this, and that the man was a genuinely good guy. He got a letter from Scott, with a sincere apology (unlike certain other letter) on all of what happened. They decided that after his house arrest is over, Ant Man could join the New Avengers.
Of course, he would be the only one that would be given this chance. The rest of the rouges were going down after caught. Tony knows Rogers is waiting for a pardon or anything like that, for the world to bow down to him. But that time is gone, and soon, the man will have to face reality.
A new member also joined them. Stephen Strange, who almost gave Tony a hear attack when he went to a check up with Christine.
"Hello Dr. Stark."
"What the ! Who are you !"
"My name is Doctor Stephen Strange. Sorcerer Supreme. Christine is my wife."
"Ah that's how you know I was here....wait, aren't you the infinite beer wizard Thor talked about ?"
"Ugh."
"You are up late again." Carol said over the lab entrance.
"Science never sleeps."
"But you do. Don't make me carry you Tony."
Over the months, he and Carol had become very close friend. They had similar tastes, and had tendencies of taking young heroes under their wings.
Tony had become Peter's mentor as he got to the age where he could join the Avengers. He also finally convinced Peter to tell May the truth, which she already suspected. May took it surprisingly calm, and said that as long as Peter didn't act alone, she would allow Spiderman to continue.
Carol on the other hand, had kinda taken Phil's kid, Daisy Johnson, under her wing. One could see where that came from. Both of them were experiments of the Kree after all. Daisy wanted to remain with SHILED at the time being, which was fine with them. But Carol taught her things many times.
"I know it. Ok, I am up."
"Good, I was about to set Dumm E on you."
"Please don't. I don't want an extintor on my face."
They stayed like that many nights. Goofing, listening to old music. Making fun of Rhodey of course. And it ended with Carol practically dragging him to the bed.
Until....the time came that Carol did not go back to her bed, and just slept with him.
That same day, Iron Man and Captain Marvel began dating. To the joy of the fans.
It wasn't like romances where a weird thing on the team. Bruce and Valkyrie were now dating as well. So....screw the haters.
With a new girlfriend, old and new friends, and a new team that truly cared for him, Tony finally felt happy.
And then, the time finally came.
"We got them." Carol said, she and Rhodey entering the room.
"What...who ?"
"Rogers." Rhodey said seriously. "They are on Colombia. Fighting what they think it's a terrorist force, but hurting the police as well."
"Sticking their noses where they don't belong. Well then, let's get them."
Rhodey nodded and went to prepare.
"Hey, you are gonna be alright ?" Carol asked. "Those assholes aren't going to hurt you."
"I know that. I know I got a true team at my back."
"Good." She gave him a quick kiss. "Let's go. I look forward on finally punching Rogers on the face."
Yes...the time has finally come for Steve Rogers and his crew to face the consequences for the choices they made.