A GODS WEAKNESS [l.laufeyson]

FORTY NINE

     It had been a few days now since the group arrived home with the stones and since learning about Natasha's death, and currently the Avengers were playing the waiting game. Tony was still working on the stones and the gauntlet. Everyone was sat impatiently in complete silence. This was the moment they were waiting for, they had the gauntlet and they had the stones. Now they were waiting to see if it would work.

Astrid was leaning against Thor by the window after some training on her own. She was just drifting off to sleep after exhausting herself. In the five years of suffering, she didn't do much training. But now there was hope, she pushed herself more and more. She pushed herself so much that her hands were slightly charred from her powers and ended up wrapping her hands in bandages. It was because she never pushed herself before that she couldn't save Loki. If she took her powers more seriously, maybe he'd still be alive.

"Have you finished it already?" Clint asks as everyone sees Tony walk in and jumps up from their seats expecting good news.

"Almost... I needed to take a break." You could hear everyone in the room release a big sigh after getting their hopes up. "Hey Powerhouse! Come with me I want to show you something."

Astrid looks to Thor wondering if he knows what Tony wants. He only nods at her telling her it will be okay and follows Tony out the door.

There was a small silence at first, neither one of them knowing what to say after losing not just a friend, but a family member.

"How are you doing kid?" Tony finally spoke up.

"What?" Astrid was in her own little world again that she didn't hear him.

"I know you and Natasha were close, so just wondered how you were coping?"

"You were close with her too though."

"Yeah, she was part of the family." Tony clicked his tongue as he opened a door to a room Astrid didn't recognise. "F.R.I.D.A.Y open up 23A!"

Astrid looks ahead of the room as the lights turn on to see another door opening revealing an outfit of some sort.

"Go take a look." Tony urged her on towards the outfit. She walked forwards reaching out for the fine masterpiece. "I hope you like it."

"You didn't-"

"You're part of the team now powerhouse. Your current combat gear isn't really going to protect you against anything big now is it? You took a lot of damage back five years ago, and maybe if you had something like this then..." Tony took a pause realising what he would say could upset her. He was going to say that maybe if she had something more appropriate for fighting then maybe the amount of damage her body took could've been prevented. "Anyway, as I was saying. I didn't do anything too high tech in your suit, seeing you're from Asgard and all you're probably not used to it. I have however, installed some high tech gloves to help with your training."

Astrid looked at her bandaged hands, remembering the damage she had taken from training.

"Don't think I didn't notice..." Astrid looked back up to Tony who continued to explain. "Hopefully these tech gloves will help reduce the damage so you can use your powers to its full extent. I hope you like the colour."

Astrid noticed that they were his colours. "Thank you, Tony." She hugged him, she had never truly thanked him for all he and Pepper had done for her.

"I know you and Loki didn't always see eye to eye but, please... just know that he would truly appreciate everything you have done for me."

~

After trying on her new gear, Astrid had gone back to the training rooms to see how much she could push herself before heading back to Thor and the others. With her new suit protecting her, she felt double the power she had from before. Anything could come after her now and she was more than ready. Meanwhile, Tony had made his way back to the gauntlet to fix the last of the stones onto it.

"Woah! Look at you sister!" Thor looked amazed as Astrid entered.

"Did you know Tony made this for me?"

"Nope. Honestly, these days I have no idea what his plans are." Thor chuckles which earns a smile from Astrid. To him, she looked more comfortable being in Loki's colours. It was like he was a part of her again.

Everyone's attention was pulled away from the transformed girl when Tony entered back in the room with Rocket and Bruce. This time, he had one of his robots follow him with the gauntlet on a table.

"It's ready!"

~

The group stands around the gauntlet eyeing it, taking in the work they have all done.

"All right. The glove's ready. Question is, who's gonna snap their freaking fingers?" Rocket questions as the group look around at each other. Thor eagerly steps forward reaching out for the gauntlet.

"I'll do it." Thor speaks up and Astrid looks to him, shocked.

"Whoa, whoa, what are you doing?" Tony steps in front of him trying to hold him back.

"Thor, we haven't decided who's putting it on yet." Astrid stands next to Tony with her hands on Thor's chest pushing him back a few steps.

"Well, were all of you just waiting for the right opportunity?"

"We should at least discuss it-" Scott interjected.

"Staring at that thing isn't going to bring everyone back, is it? Look, I'm the strongest avenger. It's my responsibility. Fate wills it so... Let me do this. Let me do something good, something right-" Astrid turns to the gauntlet and feels herself being drawn to it. She's not sure what but something is telling her that she should be the one to put it on.

"That thing is channelling enough energy to light up a continent. You're in no condition-"

"What do you think is coursing through my veins right now?"

"Cheez whizz?" Rhodey butts in and Astrid shoots him a 'really' look.

"Lightning."

Astrid was about to volunteer herself as Bruce stepped forward. "Lighting won't help you pal, it's gotta be me. The radiations mostly gamma. It's like I was made for this..."

~

Everyone stands around Bruce, shielding themselves. Steve steps forward with his shield on his arm. Scott deploys his helmet. Rhodey readies his repulsors. Rocket hides behind Thor and Astrid as the two stand ready. Tony armours up and nanos a shield to protect Clint beside him. He also orders F.R.I.D.A.Y to activate the barn door protocol, shutting all doors and windows from the outside would around them.

As Bruce puts the gauntlet on, he suddenly spasms, taking in the power like Thanos did. He struggles as a burning sensation is shooting you his arm and into his body. He cries out in agony and Astrid puts a hand over her mouth as she cringes at the sight of the green beast. Thor puts a arm out in front of her to protect her the best he can as he shouts out for Bruce to take the gauntlet off.

"Talk to me, Banner!" Tony calls for his friend who is still struggling at the power of the gauntlet.

"I'm... okay." Bruce comes to his senses and is suddenly able to snap his fingers...

The stones flare and a bright surge of energy races up his arm before falling on the floor.

Astrid is one of the first to reach Bruce who is now unconscious on the floor. "He did it."