Avengers Drabbles

One Last Time (Infinity War)

(Don't read if you haven't seen it)

Steve looked into the fields of Wakanda. He knew something would have to happen. Either someone would sacrifice themselves, or half of the universe would pay the price. And he knew what he'd choose. He also knew that he'd promised Vision that they didn't trade lives. But he never said that he wouldn't trade his own.

He reached up to his com unit and paged Vision, asking him to report to his position. When he got there, Vision looked reedy for battle, and seemed a bit disappointed when there were no enemies to fight.

"Captain, you called for me?" Vision asked, landing onto the ground. Steve sighed, knowing that what he was about to tell Vision would change so much.

Mister President, you asked to see me

"I know that this must be hard for you, being the reason that they're here. But I want you to know, we'll never let it get to that. Them taking the stone from you." Steve said.

I know you're busy

"Are you alright Captain Rogers? Would you like for me to send for Agent Romanoff?" Vision asked, now concerned about the Captain's health.

What do you need, sir? Sir?

"Vision I need you to do something for me." Steve explained. "I need you to tell the others something."

I wanna give you a word of warning
I need you to draft an address

"Captain Rogers, whatever you're planning, it can't be a good idea!" Vision protested. He knew that when it came down to it, Steve would always be the one to lay down on the wire, and let the other man walk over him.

As far as the people are concerned
You have to serve, you could continue to serve

"Vision, tell Bruce that there will always be hope for him. That no matter how much of a monster that he thinks he is, he'll always do the right thing in the end. Tell T'Challa that even though we haven't known each other for that long, that I'm grateful for everything he's done for me, and the team. Tell Wanda that, I loved her, and I wish I could've been the father she needed me to be." Steve told Vision.

Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors. I shall also carry with me

"Captain Rogers, you can't possibly be thinking of..." Vision began, but Steve cut him off.

"Tell Clint and Scott that just because some don't value their abilities, that doesn't make them any less valuable to our team. Tell Bucky and Sam that they were the best friends a guy could ever have asked for. Tell Tony, that I really am sorry. I'm sorry that we couldn't work out our issues. But that he truly did live up, even went past, the legacy his father left. And I want you to tell one more person something."

The hope that my country will view them with indulgence and that
After forty-five years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal
The faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion,
As I myself must soon be to the mansions of rest
I anticipate with pleasing expectation that retreat in which I promise myself to realize the sweet enjoyment of partaking,
In the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws under a free government,
The ever-favorite object of my heart, and the happy reward, as I trust
Of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers

He leaned in and whispered the final request into Vision's ear. The artificial man gasped, and realized that the Captain was really thinking of giving up his own life for the rest of the universe.

"How will you even do it?"

....

"Captain are you sure about this?" Shuri asked, handing Steve the faux Mind Stone.

"It'll work." He said. "With the vibranium it should have enough power to fool him until the snap, but by then, hopefully Tony will have gotten the other stones."

"And I promise you, I won't tell anyone." Shuri said.

"I know you won't." Steve said, shaking her hand.

....

So Steve pulled the fake stone out of his pocket, and offered it to Proxima Midnight in return for the safety of Wakanda and the safety of his team. The next thing they knew, he was gone, the army was gone, and so was the "infinity stone".

"We lost." Bruce said, falling to the ground.

"No we didn't." Vision said, coming out from hiding. He carried out the requests that Steve told him to their respective persons, and felt badly as he saw their different reactions. T'Challa was bowing his head out of respect, Wanda was on the verge of sobbing, tears sparkling in her eyes. Bucky was on the ground, constantly running his good hand through his hair. Sam had turned away, unable to face Vision, or the team. Bruce had his hands on the back of his neck and was trying to contemplate what he'd just heard. Vision knew he had to tell one more person something.

"Agent Romanoff" the second her name was uttered from his mouth, she looked up.

"No, God please no." She knew that Steve had told Vision to save her for last on purpose.

"Natasha, he said that if it came down to it, he'd without a doubt trust you with his life. He said that he'd lied in the car on the way to New Jersey. It was his first kiss since 1945, and he said it was incredible. He wanted you to know that he loved you, so much, and that you were worth so much to him, he'd rather die than see you unhappy another day. He wanted you to know that you've spent the last 7 years wiping red out of your ledge, and that he could tell it was as white as snow. And that your life is one of the reasons he wanted to be a better man for you. He said 'I'll always love you Tasha, don't you ever forget that, alright Romanoff?'" Vision told her. For the last part, her used a recording for her to hear his voice.

....

On the planet Titian, Thanos had Steve held up by the neck. Tony looked like he was frozen, shocked at what Steve had done.

"Lying to me was a foolish act Rogers." Thanos said, grasping the man's throat tighter and as Steve took his last breath, the images of his team flashed in his mind. But most of all, he thought of Nat, and how much of her life she had ahead of her.

"It's worth it." Steve said "Now Tony!" The next thing the Titan lord knew, he'd been stabbed twice. One through the heart, the other, through the wrist. His hand was officially useless. The other one, wasn't as the snapped the Captain's neck in one swift motion, his last living act as Thanos fell to the ground, dead, with a corpse in his hand.