Avengers Generations

Chapter 21

Tony stumbled back, no longer able to stand, and fell clumsily onto the couch. He was only vaguely aware of his comrades' mourning - only Pepper's uncontrollable sobbing was able to penetrate his depression.

"Anthony..." Pepper muttered between gasps and tears.

"And Jake is missing?" Clint asked disbelievingly "Do we know know where? Why?"

Steve and Thor, who had just arrived back at Pepper's and told their bad news, stood sadly in the center of a half-circle gathered around them.

"We know not why," Thor responded with pain "But they were last seen in..." He turned to Steve.

"Portland, Oregon." The Captain finished.

"And..." Peter said in a whisper "And Charity's... hands...?"

Everyone sat miserably dwelling in their sorrow - it was as if a poison had invaded their minds, and they could no longer see anything in the world but a sadness. The only sounds in the room were Pepper's sobs and Tony's quick breaths of waning sanity. Peter sat with his hands covering his face - one of the thousands of actions his beautiful Charity would never be able to do again. Clint rolled noiselessly around the room - like he felt trapped and needed to get out, but had nowhere to go, and Loki silently walked to where the two messengers stood solemnly, and put a hand sadly on Thor's shoulder. The three were glad for their own children, but seemed almost ashamed to have their loved ones unscathed.

"We could have stopped this." Tony spoke with difficulty "This is our fault." He was half expecting someone to disagree with him, but no one did. They all knew they could have done more.

"So now what?" Peter asked gloomily "You said you weren't able to bring everyone back because of...?"

"Technology." Steve and Thor growled in unison.

"Ok, well maybe Tony can go back with you this time." Peter said "From what you've told me, it seems like he would be able to handle the science and mechanics."

Tony looked at him incredulously. "You don't get it, do you kid?" He said angrily "This isn't like a video game - its not programmed to be possible. There's no way in."

"There's always a way." Peter said with surprising calmness.

"There isn't!" Tony shouted, standing up "Anthony's dead! Tori and Jake might be too, and your little girlfriend isn't in much better shape!"

"Tony!" Pepper said, aghast at his heartlessness.

Peter sat, shaking a little with anger or sadness - maybe both.

"Stark, leave the kid alone." Steve said, putting a restraining hand on the man's chest.

"Why?" Tony said, shoving the hand down "Because he's lost so much?"

Everyone was silent - they all knew Tony and Pepper had lost more than any of them. Even though what he was saying was hurtful, they all understood.

"Tony-" Pepper started soothingly, but was awkwardly interrupted by Shoot to Thrill ringing out from somewhere.

Everyone looked confusedly at Tony, who shrugged his shoulders defensively. "That's not me." He said, confused as the rest of them.

"Sorry..." Mumbled Clint, pulling his cellphone out of a wheelchair "It's mine, sorry." He glanced at the screen and furrowed his brow.

Is something the matter?" Loki asked.

"Nah, nothing." Clint said, declining the call "I don't recognize the number."

"Tony," Pepper continued "Is there anything you can do? Is there something any of us could do?"

"We have two hopes." Steve said "Out-gun them, or out-smart them."