The shadow Hunter

Chapter 59

Tony looked out the window across the lake. He wondered how deep the lake was, deep enough for things to stay hidden under the surface. An hour ago, he had been sitting at his desk, throwing some ideas out to FRIDAY and he had done it. Tony Stark had actually cracked time travel. But now as he stared out at the lake, considering the depth, he wondered if he should lock it up and throw it in, let it sink to the bottom. 

Tony looked back down at the plate he had been washing, gave it one last wipe and placed it on the clean pile. As he did so, something caught his eye, a picture. He lifted the frame from it's spot and brushed off the dust. It was a picture of him and Clara at her 17th birthday party, only a few months after they had met. Oh how far away that seemed. After all it had been 6 and a half years. Tony delved into his back pocket and brought out the pager he had shown to Steve. He always kept it on him just incase she left a message. She never did. The only message was the one she had sent two years ago. He had read it over and over and knew it word for word and still he read it now. 'I'm fine. I'm safe i promise. Tell Morgan I love her.' It was dated May 25th 2021. 

Tony placed it down on the counter and rummaged through his pocket again. His fingers tangled with the chain and he pulled it from his pocket. He held the gold locket out in front of him. Tony had never once seen Evelyn with out this locket and similarly he had never seen Clara with out this locket until he woke up the morning after he left and found it lying on the counter beside the pager. Morgan was curled up on the sofa, silent tears rolling down her face. "I saw her go, from my bedroom window." She had said. Tony had always hoped she would come back, Evelyn's locket was precious to Clara and he hoped it meant one day she would return for it. But he knew she had left it as something for them to remember her by. He flipped open the heart charm and stared at the image inside. Clara must have been 5 in the photo but Evelyn looked just like she had when Tony knew her. Guilt swarmed in his mind, in his heart, his body. 17 years of her life he had missed out on, through his own choice and now she was gone. She wasn't dead but she wasn't the same and she certainly wasn't here. 

Tony was surprised that his eyes stung and he squeezed them tight. He placed the locket and pager back in his pocket and squeezed the bridge of his nose. Finally, he held himself together and put the frame back in it's spot, picking up the one beside it. This photo was of him and Peter. They were both smiling and Peter held his Stark internship certificate proudly. Tony had to do this for them. For Peter, for Clara, for everyone who disappeared that day. He couldn't just drop this to the bottom of the lake. 

Tony placed the cloth down in the sink and wiped his damp hands on the front of his jeans. "What are you reading?" He asked Pepper as he walked into the living room. She was sat with her feet curled up on the sofa and a book in her hand. "just a book on composting." She replied, not looking up from the page. "What's new in composting?" He asked, making light conversation. "Nothing." She groaned, snapping the book shut and dropping it on to the coffee table. "I've cracked it by the way." He announced suddenly. Pepper looked up at him with narrowed eyes. "Cracked what?" She asked skeptically. "Time travel." He stated nonchalantly. 

Pepper's eyes widened and she kicked her legs of the sofa and sat more seriously. "Wow, that's...that's something." She spoke in dismay. "Have you told Steve and Natasha?" She asked. Tony sighed and leant up against the wall. He shook his head and crossed his arms. Pepper sighed and twisted around on the couch to face him. "We got very lucky." She stated. "A lot of people didn't." She stated and Tony murmured in agreement. "And now you have the power to change that." She told him. Tony started to doubt again, his mind became busy with contradiction. "Or not. I could put a pin in it, i could put a pin in it right now and go to bed." Pepper smiled softly and looked down at the ground. "But will you be able to rest?"

                                                                                       * * * * * *

The next day, the soft purr of a sports engine rumbled as Tony drove to the compound. Pepper had been right, he hadn't been able to sleep last night, tossing and turning until he woke this morning and he knew what he had to do. He hadn't visited the compound in 5 years so it felt odd to park his car in front of the building- in his old spot. Steve exited the front door with a confused expression and started to stride towards the car. Tony thought he still had a chance to leave. He could still drive away now if he wanted to but he didn't. He stepped out of the car and nodded at Steve. "What are you doing here?" Steve asked. "Well you said we could change what happened 5 years ago." Tony stated. He held up a metal bracelet-like mechanism. Steve stared at it an waited expectantly. "A full functioning time-space gps." Tony explained. 

Tony leant against the car. "We've got a shot at getting these stones but i gotta tell you my priorities. Bring back what we lost, i hope, yes." He explained. "Keep what i have, i have to at all cost. Morgan was born after the blip and considering we are walking into a void with little knowledge, we don't know what could happen to her." Steve nodded. Tony shrugged and pushed himself off the car. "And you know maybe we could not die trying." Steve stuck out his hand and Tony grasped it. "Sounds like a deal." 

Tony pressed a button on his car keys and the boot popped open. He let go of Steve's hand and circled round to it, reaching in and pulling something from it. Steve's shield. Shiny and looking new as the day it was made. Steve sighed and looked at it. "Tony I don't know." He muttered. "Why?" He questioned. "He made it for you." A small smile spread on Steve's lips. "Plus, honestly i have to get it out of the garage before Morgan takes it sledging." Tony added. He offered it to Steve and he slipped his arm in to the holders. He admired it on him and then looked back up. "Thank you Tony." He spoke. For a short moment the pair stared at each other, remembering the friends they had once been but could maybe be again. "Would you keep that quiet." Tony motioned to the shield. "I didn't bring one for everyone." 

 "Well it's a good job i did!" The pair looked up to see three people approaching them. Natasha smiled at the pair. "And i brought a pretty good shot too." She finished, jabbing her thumb towards Clint on her left. Tony stared at Clara on Natasha's right and the corners of his lips turned up.