(Stark's POV)
I couldn't stay in the lab for very long, it just reminded me of failure, so instead I went to the place where the industrial cell once was.
Unfortunately, someone doesn't seem to be getting the hint to leave me alone.
"Was he married?" Rogers asks from behind me.
"What?"
"Coulson. Was he married?"
"I dunno. Uh.... No, I don't think so. There was a woman though. A cellist, I think. How am I meant to know?"
"Mm. I'm sorry. He seemed like a good man."
"He was an idiot," I shrug.
"Why? For believing?" he walks closer to me, and I move away.
"No, for trying to take on Loki alone."
"He was doing his job, Stark."
"He was out of his league, Rogers. He should've waited. He should've-"
"Sometimes there isn't a way out. Can't fault him for trying to be a hero."
"Right. And how did that work out for him?"
"Is this the first time you've lost a soldier?"
"We are not soldiers. I will not march to Fury's fife," I insist, furious. How dare he think of us as mindless drones, simply following orders.
I take orders from no-one.
"Neither am I. Right now, he's got the same blood on his hands that Loki does, but we gotta put that behind us and get this done. Now Loki needs a power source, if we can put together a list-"
"Loki made it personal," I say as I look at the dent where Coulson fell.
"That's not the point."
"Except that's exactly the point. He hit us all right where we live. Why?"
"To tear us apart."
"Yeah yeah, divide and conquer is great but..... he knows he has to take us out to win, right? That's what he wants. He wants to beat us, and he wants to be seen doing it. He wants an audience."
"Right. Like his act in Stuttgart."
"Exactly. I mean, that was just one of his previews. This is the opening night. Loki, now he's a full-tail diva. He wants flowers, he wants parades, he wants a monument built to the skies with his name plastered......."
It hits me.
"Oh shit."
"What? What is it?" Rogers looks confused.
"That son of a bitch!" I shout and run out of the room.
"Would you stop just ditching me?" he calls as he chases after me. "Where are we going?"
"Just meet me in the hangar, okay? And suit up!"
He runs in the direction of the locker room, and I run toward the med room, passing the control room as I go. I glance in and see Fury, but I've got no time for him.
I find Romanoff and Barton in the medical room, both looking pretty sombre, but there's no time to be sad either.
"Come on you two, time to go."
"Hmm? Go where?" Romanoff quickly wipes her eyes, and I reckon it's easier for now not to ask about it.
"I'll explain on the way. Can either of you fly one of the jets?"
"I can," Barton stands up.
"Got a suit?"
"Of course."
"Then suit up. It's time to go save the world."
YOU ARE READING
My Avengers (1)
ActionFirst book in the 'My Avengers' collection You've been in hiding for as long as you can remember, running from the HYDRA compound and those within it. Your head was filled with ideas both good and evil. So when the god Loki stakes his claim on the E...
