In Your Eyes // Steve Rogers

Another Reunion

I jumped down to the hole in the Sanctum Staircase to help Bruce pull rubble off of his body. Although his pants remained semi-intact, he was shirtless, and covered in dust.

I reached to shake the debris from his curly black hair when he engulfed me in a hug, clutching onto me for dear life. I squeaked for a moment, unexpectedly, then hugged him back tightly, mumbling soft words to assure him it was okay. He was trembling.

"Bruce, how did you get here?" I asked, glancing up to where Strange and Wong were watching us from above.

Bruce pulled away from me to look between the three of us. "We need to get everyone. I'm not exaggerating, I'm not being dramatic, Clara, we need everyone. All hands on deck."

"What's coming?" asked Strange.

"Who," said Bruce, shaking his head. "His name is Thanos."

I felt a clutch in my chest when the name fell from Bruce's lips. "'Thanos,'" I repeated. "It's him, isn't it? The one causing the stir in the universe?"

"Have you met him?" gasped Bruce, clutching my arm.

"No, I just knew something was happening. Someone, I guess. But that's his name. Thanos," I said, assuring myself softly.

"He's psychotic. And he's set to gather all the Infinity Stones and cleanse the universe, bring balance— he will bring ruin, Clara, you have to help me get everyone we can," begged Bruce.

I patted his arm. "I know, I know. I will," I agreed.

"If what Banner says is true, you need to begin," shouted down Wong.

I opened a portal for Bruce and I to walk through to be on the same level as Strange and Wong.

"Where do we start?" asked Bruce hurriedly.

"At the top," I admitted, sighing. "So, where in the world could Tony Stark be?"

"Central Park," said Wong, nodding in approval, when we had all looked to him. "I keep up with the paparazzi."

"Aggie, you wanna help a girl out?" I whispered to myself.

I held my hands in front of me, took a breath, and twisted my fingers to open a portal. I peaked my head through to confirm it was Central Park, then jumped through. I was greeted by passerby's gawking and whispering, to which I threw up a lazy peace sign, then shouted, "Anyone seen Tony Stark?"

From behind me, I heard his voice. He called my name.

I turned, exhaling a soft sigh.

Tony Stark was standing with Pepper Potts, both dressed in work out gear, with varying concerns of concern as they cast their eyes on me. Pepper was naturally worried for Tony, given her romantic relation to him. Tony was worried for what I could have approached him for, whether it be to wreak havoc on him for what he did to me, or, what message I could possibly have to deliver.

"Tony," I said. I looked serious, and he stood taller to listen to my words. "To put it simply, I need you. It's time to put our emotions, our history aside. There's someone coming. We need everyone— that's not an exaggeration."

Tony's face hardened, his saddened eyes breaking from my own and glancing behind me. I turned to see Strange step over the border of his own portal and join me in Central Park.

"I'm Doctor Steven Strange, and I need you to come with me," he said stoically. "Oh, and, uh, congratulations on the wedding."

"I'm sorry, are you giving out tickets to something?" asked Tony defensively, subtly moving to shield Pepper.

"We need your help," I said again.

Tony looked between Strange and I. "You know him?"

"We're... Friends," I shrugged.

"Look, it's not overselling it to say that the fate of the universe is at stake," reiterated Strange.

"And who's we?" snapped Tony.

Bruce stepped over the portal behind Strange, looking cowardly and sheepish. Afraid. "Hi, Tony," he said softly, and Tony's entire demeanor changed.

"Bruce," he whispered.

Bruce shuffled, dragging his feet along. He met Tony's eyes and shook his head, slowly, then pushed himself against Tony's body. Tony embraced him, looking between Pepper and I.

Again, I said, "We need you."