In Your Eyes // Steve Rogers

Together Again

News spread across the battlefield that Tony had died and one by one, our comrades stepped in front of he and Pepper to pay their respects to him.

It was Strange, Wong, and I who used portals to transport everyone back to their normal lives, to enjoy the return of their families and friends. I thanked everyone who stepped through my portals for fighting alongside us.

It was Steve who carried Tony's body off the battlefield. I took he and Pepper through a portal to a nearby hospital. I remember watching as Steve set his body down on a bed and stood for a moment, holding Tony's shoulder, saying his own goodbye to his friend.

"Pepper, if you need anything--" said Steve quietly.

Pepper nodded. She put her hand on Steve's arm. He said nothing more and stepped through the portal back to my side. I closed it.

Sam found us and wrapped his arms around our shoulders. We cried together. It was in our love for each other that we found comfort. The two men I had began this journey with, I had ended it with. We survived together.

"Nat's not here, is she?" mumbled Sam as we hugged.

"She died for the Stone," Steve said quietly.

Sam didn't say anything. He gripped us tighter. He and Steve shared a look. I watched them replay the two years they spent underground together in their own heads. I watched them miss her all over again.

A low howl caught our attention. Limping to greet us was Kona, covered in ash, her head lowered, but her tail still wagging.

Steve and I lowered ourselves to hug her. With her between our arms, our family back, and our eyes locked, we knew the world was at peace. We knew, we too, could rest.

• • • • • •

Tony's funeral was the next time I saw the rest of the Avengers. We were meant to gather at the Stark Household in Upstate New York.

Because Wanda, Sam, and Bucky were staying at our house, we agreed to meet in the living room to use a portal to the funeral. Wanda and Sam joined Steve and I, all of us dressed in a respectful color pallet of black.

"Where's Bucky?" asked Steve.

Sam shrugged. "He said he didn't feel like he had a right to go."

I opened a portal for them. "You guys go. I'll be there with him in a minute."

Steve raised his brow. "He's stubborn."

"So are you," I said, smiling. I ushered them through.

I traveled to the spare room at the back of our house. I knocked gently on the door, Bucky mumbled an agreement, and I opened the door. I leaned on the doorframe.

Bucky was sitting at the windowsill. A book was in his lap. His hair was tied into a bun at the back of his head. "I can't go," he told me.

"Why's that?"

"You know why, Clara."

"What, because you killed his parents when you were brainwashed?" I asked him. He lowered his head. "You killed mine, too. You would show up to my funeral, I would hope."

"You forgave me, Clara. Tony never forgave me for what I did to him. I can't go. I respect him for what he's done. But it doesn't feel right for me to be there, with you all," said Bucky. He shook his head. "He wouldn't want me there."

I sat down on his bed. "He would. I believe Tony would want everyone there who fought alongside him," I disagreed. I put my finger underneath his chin and tilted Bucky's head so he would look at me. "Doing the right thing is to pay our respects to the man who saved the Universe, who helped to bring you back to us."