the strongest avenger (2)

twenty one

As the white fades, I smirk and look around as Thanos' army dusts away.

I look back at Thanos as he sits down on a rock, defeated. I walk over and kneel down in front of him.

"So," I smirk. "How does it feel to lose?"

He sneers and leans forward, as if to hit me, but I stop him with a flick of my hand. Freezing him in place.

And then, with satisfaction and true happiness in my heart, I watch as he dusts off along with the rest of his army.

I let out a sigh and turn, freezing as I see Tony with his jaw dropped, next to Steve and Thor.

"I KNEW IT!" Thor suddenly yells. "Loki had warned me and I suspected, but...I never...he was right." Slight sadness is etched onto his face as he mentions his brother, but he smiles through it.

I walk over to dad and lightly shove his shoulder, watching as he looks me up and down, probably confused at why the Infinity Stones circle my head.

"Um...I'll explain. But can we pretty please get some food?"

Tony shakes his head and composes himself. "Uh...yeah. Yeah." I turn and stop as everyone starts to make their way over to us.

"We won," I breathe out as I look over at everyone, ending at my dad. "We did it."

He pulls me into a side hug and sighs. "We did it."

And then, as if a switch turned on, shouts and yells fill the air as we celebrate our win.

People start hugging everyone and I go over to Steve and pull him into a hug and then I run over to Natasha as she breaks through the lines.

"Nat! I told you it would work." She runs over and holds me at arms length.

"I dig the new hair." She says.

"What?" I grab my hair from where it lays against my back as it fell out of my braid and gasp.

It's white.

Like pure, fresh snow.

"What the hell?" I ask while sorting through my new memories. "Oh. It's well...I'll have to explain. I'm sure everyone has questions."

"Oh I could care less, I'm just glad you're okay." She pulls me into a hug, which I greatly appreciate.

"So, what do we do now?"

"I had Friday get us a bus or two." Tony says as he comes up to us. "We'll head over to my place. How's that sound Snow White?"

"That's not accurate," I say. "She had dark hair. Now I look like a fucking ferret." I say while looking down at my white locks.

"I think it's cool." Steve says as he comes over and claps me on the shoulder.

"So...you're gonna transfer the Avengers back to your place in school buses?" I ask dad.

"Well the Compound's destroyed so...yes. And then we can relocate back to the Tower until a new Compound and facility can be rebuilt."

"How have you already thought this through?" Nat asks.

Steve comes around and pulls me to his side, his hand resting on my waist.

"Are you okay?" He whispers to me as we slightly separate ourselves from the group.

"I'm better than ever. I...I know who I am. Who I really am. I finally have the answers to all of my questions, which is refreshing."

"Do we get to know?"

"Yeah, I shall debrief when we get a chance to relax." I tilt my head as I smile up at him.

"I just—why the hell are the stones around your head? I need to know." He asks with a smile.

"I'm an Infinity Witch, and the stones were made by us. So, technically they belong to me, to the Infinity Witches. They're drawn to me, which is why they're doing this. Once we get to dad's place, we can put them in the box and send them back to the past."

Steve just nods along. "Uh huh...this is a lot to process."

"Trust me I know." I sigh and look around at everybody, watching as Wong's warriors head back home through some portals and how most of the Wakandans leave as well.

I stiffen as I feel someone watching me, so I turn and lock gazes with Peter, frowning as his gaze follows Steve's arm. His eyes locking in on the hand on my waist.

"I'll be back." I mutter.

I walk over to Peter and jerk my head, gesturing for him to follow me. We sit down on a nearby chunk of concrete.

"I've missed you so much." I say as I look over his face. "You have no idea."

He just tilts his head, his eyes running over me. "I can't feel you." He whispers.

My heart clenches as I let out a sigh. "When you died...our connection broke."

"Oh. Um...so how have you been?" I internally cringe at out inability to have a non-awkward conversation.

"Honestly? Absolutely awful. I—" I pause and glance around, seeing too many wandering eyes that flit their way over to me and hearing too many curious thoughts. "Can we put a pin in this conversation till we get somewhere more private? Please?"

"Y—yeah. Sure."

***

The buses came and transported most of us back to Tony's house. I sat next to Nat, half listening as she distracted herself by creating a to-do list.

There's so many people here, many of them are outside, soaking in the sunlight while I am currently inside, eating a grilled cheese.

"Here you go." I jump in surprise and turn to see Steve setting down a black case on the table. He opens it and I realize it's for the stones.

I set down my sandwich and look up, plucking each stone from my halo and putting them into the box.

Peter sits over on the couch, playing with Morgan. Tony and Pepper are frantic in the kitchen, trying to make enough food for everyone.

"So," I say as I finish putting the stones in the case. "When are we moving into the Tower?"

"Today. I can't fit everyone here." Dad responds.

"Alright, I think you guys should move in too."

"Tallie!" I look over to see Morgan running towards me with wide arms.

I pick her up and sit her into my lap. "Maguna, what are your thoughts on moving in with the rest of the superheroes?"

"I think we should." She turns and eyes her parents.

I can't help but shake my head at how smart she is. I set her down. "Go play with Pete, we're doing adult stuff."

"You'll tell me later right?" She leans in and whispers.

"Obviously." I whisper back.

She goes back to Peter as I turn towards the door, watching Thor and Nat walk in.

"So..." Nat starts while glancing at me. "We want the full story." I sigh and look at my dad.

"Do you have a private conference room anywhere?"