Little Avenger

2e

And that's exactly what they did, five years ago.

2023

~~

Now, Tony, Steve, Scott, and Bruce are traveling to New York in the year 2012. The others are traveling to different places in different groups but, were gonna focus on these four.

"Alright, we all have our assignment." Steve starts. "Two stones uptown, one stone down. Stay low. Keep an eye on the clock."

Steve is interrupted by old Hulk going crazy on a simple car before running off with a shout.

"Maybe smash a few things along the way." Steve suggests.

"I think it's gratuitous but, whatever." Bruce tears off his shirt.

He tries his best to look scary but, just makes a fool of himself.

-

"Better hustle, Cap." Tony suggests. "Things look like they're just about wrapped up here."

"Got it. I'm approaching the elevator now."

Tony lands quietly inside the Stark Tower, moving to hide behind a wall, still being able to see the 2012 Avengers. Lily included.

"If it's all the same to you..." Loki starts. "I'll have that drink now."

"Alright, get him on his feet." Old Tony orders.

Hulk and Old Tony move out of the way, giving Tony the perfect view of ten year-old Lilys excited smile. He sighs and shakes his head, trying his best to keep himself from getting too distracted. The elevator dings and he hurriedly moves to the other end of the wall, still seeing everything that's happening.

Little Lily turns around, Tony quickly moving back. He closes his eyes with a nervous and sad sigh, opening them to be met with a confused Lily.

"Shit." Tony hisses quietly.

"Wh-"

"No, no, no." He whispers as he places his hands on her shoulders. "I need you to stay quiet."

"Okay." She worriedly whispers. "You don't look like you, Tony."

"I'm not. Well, I am. I'm just not the me you know yet."

"Did you invent time travel in the future?" She squints her eyes.

"Damnit, I forgot how smart you were." He smiles. "Yes, I did. But, you must keep it a secret and you need to go back to what you were doing before. You see? I'm on a mission. Need to keep a low profile so, go back over there and act as if I wasn't even here."

"Okay." She smiles.

He smiles sadly at her and pulls her into a quick hug, making her even more excited before sending her back to the old Avengers and getting back to work.

-

"Did we get 'em all?" Bruce asks as they appear back in 2023.

"Are you telling me this actually worked?" Rhodey smiles.

Clint falls to his knees with an emotionless face, everyone turning with concern.

"Clint, where's Nat?" Bruce asks.

They get no answer as the tears form in everyones eyes.

-

Tony, Steve, Thor, Clint, and Bruce stand on the dock outside the compound.

"Do we know if she had family?" Tony asks.

"Yeah." Steve answers. "Us."

"What?" Thor asks.

"Huh?" Tony looks at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Just asked him a question."

"Yeah, no, you're acting like she's dead. Why are we acting like she's dead? We have the stones, right? As long as we have the stones, Cap, we can bring her back. Isn't that right? So, stop this shit. We're the Avengers. Get it together."

"Can't get her back." Clint states.

"What's he... What?"

"It can't be undone. It can't."

"Look, I'm sorry, no offense but, you're a very earthly being, okay? And we're talking about space magic. And 'can't' seems very definitive. Don't you think?"

"Yeah, look, I know that I'm way outside my pay grade here. But, she still isn't here, is she?"

"No, that's my point."

"It can't be undone. Or that's at least what the red, floating guy had to say. Maybe you wanna go talk to him, okay? Go grab your hammer and you go fly and you talk to him!.. It was supposed to be me. She sacrificed her life for that goddamn stone. She bet her life on it."

Bruce grunts before picking up a bench and throwing it all the way across the lake, slowly turning to the others.

"She's not coming back. We have to make it worth it. We have to."

"We will." Steve stands.