Till the End|MCU|3

seven

   "It's been twenty-three days since Thanos came to Earth."  Colonel Rhodes informs everyone gathered.  Holographic photos of everyone taken by the snap flashes in front of us.  

   "World governments are in pieces."  Agent Romanoff adds.  "The parts that are still working are trying to take a census and it looks like he did..." She pauses as her voice begins to shake.  "He did exactly what he said he was going to do.  Thanos wiped out fifty percent of all living creatures."  

   I walk up next to Anthony Stark, a glass in my hand.  He sits in a wheelchair as an IV hangs next to him.  They waited till the morning when he was strong enough before filling him in on what has happened while he was gone.  

   Stark lowers his head as the photo of a boy flashes on the screen.  He's cute, around Shuri's age, with big brown eyes.  The name Peter Parker flashes underneath the photo, along with the words MISSING.  

   Stark must have known him.  

   As soon as it appears, it's replaced by a photo of Shuri.  Then that one is replaced by a photo of T'Challa.  Both identified as MISSING.  

   Now I lower my head as I bite my lower lip.  Sadness bubbles in my chest as I'm reminded of my loss.  My eyes are then drawn to the glass in my hands, reminding me why I'm in here and not in another part of the compound getting some much-needed sleep.  

   "Drink this," I order Stark as I place the class in front of him.  His head swivels to the glass before turning to me.  

   "What is this?"  He asks, his finger pushing the glass away shakily.  He then turns and points to me.  "And more importantly, who are you?"  

   "It's a Wakandan herbal mix.  It will help bring back your strength."  I explain as I push the glass back in front of him.  "It was given to me when I was found.  Drink it, it's good and it will help."  

   "Tony, this is Kidara.  She's the adopted sister of T'Challa."  Captain Rogers explains as he gestures to me.  

   Stark pulls the glass closer to his face and takes a sniff.  His eyes watch me as I walk around the table towards Rocket and Steven.  Rocket stands protectively over Steven, who is in the process of gnawing on a bright green bouncy ball.  

   Finally, he takes a sip.  "I thought T'Challa's sister was-"  

   "That's Shuri," I interrupt, crossing my arms over my chest.  "I'm his adopted sister, one of Wakanda's many secrets."  

   Stark just shrugs as he takes another sip.  "So where is he now?  Where?"  Stark asks, returning to the main topic.  He glances over at Captain Rogers, waiting for an answer.

   "We don't know."   Captain Rogers admits, crossing his arms over his chest.  "He opened a portal and walked through."  

   Stark scuffs as he leans forward.  He glances around before noticing Thor sitting by himself in the courtyard.  "What's wrong with him?"  Stark asks as he points to the god of thunder.  

   "He's pissed."  Rocket explains, holding Steven's arm as he stands and starts to lightly pat Rockets snout.  "He thinks he failed.  Which of course he did, but you know there's a lot of that going around, ain't there?"  

   "Honestly, at this exact second, I thought you were a talking Build-A-Bear," Stark comments, staring down at Rocket in amazement.  

   "Maybe I am."  Rocket says with a shrug.  He glances at me before murmuring, "What's a Build-A-Bear?"  

   "I don't know.  I wasn't raised in America."  I hiss back.  I hold my arms out to Steven who instantly reaches up for me.  I can see the tiredness in his eyes.  God, it must be like five in the morning and he's up.  I'm a horrible guardian.  

   No one tell social services!  

   "Is that a baby?"  Stark asks as he watches me lift my nephew.  I nod my head as I balance Steven on my hip.  

   "We've been hunting Thanos for three weeks now."  Captain Rogers interrupts, bringing us back to the topic, again.  "Deep space scans and satellites, we got nothing.  Tony, you fought him-"

   "Who told you that?"  Stark barks, turning to Captain Rogers.  "I fought him?  No, he wiped my face with a planet while the Bleaker Street magician gave away the stone."  

   My head perks up at this.  I glance down to Rocket before mouthing, Bleaker Street Magician?  Rocket just shrugs his shoulders, wearing the same confused look I probably have.  

   Meanwhile, Stark continues, not noticing us.  "That's what happened, there was no fight-"  

   "Okay."  Captain Rogers mutters.  

   "-because he's unbeatable."  Stark continues, his voice rising slightly.  

   "Did he give you any clues?  Any coordinates, anything?"  Captain Rogers continues to try and get something out of the man. 

   I try not to wonder why someone would tell their enemies where he was going once he had won.  It's not my place to mention it.  

   But Stark just makes a noise before saluting Captain Rogers.  "I saw this coming a few years ago.  I had a vision; I didn't want to believe it... thought I was dreaming."  

   "Tony, I'm going to need you to focus."  

   "And I needed you!"  Stark snaps back.  "As in past tense.  That trumps what you need.  It's too late buddy.  Sorry.  You know what I need?"  Stark continues as he swipes an arm out at the bowl of food in front of him, knocking it over along with the drink I gave him.  

   I gasp as the glass crashes to the floor.  Lil' Steve gives off a little shriek as everyone else flinches back in shock at his outburst.  

   "I need a shave."  Stark continues, unbothered by the mess he created.  "And I believe remember telling-" Stark stands on shaky legs as he rips the IV from his arm.  

   "Tony, Tony!"  Colonel Rhodes protests as he steps forward.  

   "-you otherwise."  Stark continues.  "That what we needed was a suit of armor around the world.  Remember that?  Whether it impacted our precious freedom or not, that's what we needed!"  

   "Well that didn't work out, did it?"  Steve says calmly, trying not the shove Stark over the edge he's teetering on.  

   "I said we'd lose."  Stark continues, getting everything off his chest.  "You said, 'We'll do that together, too'.  Well, guess what, Cap?  We lost.  You weren't there.  But that's what we do, right?   Our best work after the fact?"  Colonel Rhodes moves closer to Stark as he begins to wobble more on shaky legs.  "We're the Avengers.  We're the A-vengers!  Not the Pre-vengers."  

   "Okay, you made your point."  Colonel Rhodes says firmly as he tries to guide Stark back to the wheelchair.  I feel Rocket shifts uncomfortably next to me, watching all this unfold in front of us.  I feel a little awkward watching all this and have little to no clue what they're talking about.  "Just sit down."  

   But Stark keeps going.  "Okay, here's my point."  He points to Captain Danvers as Colonel Rhodes tries to push him into his wheelchair.  "She's great by the way."  His finger swerves over to me as he continues.  "And you, I haven't seen what you can do, but I bet it's pretty good if you're here.  We need you two, you're both new blood.  We're a bunch of tired old mules."  

   Breaking from Colonel Rhodes' grasp, Stark stalks up to Captain Rogers.  "I got nothing for you, Cap.  I got no coordinates, no clues, no strategies, no options.  Zero.  Zip.  Nada.  No trust, you liar."  

   Grabbing a hold of the machinery on his chest, Stark rips it off.  He slaps it down into Captain Rogers' hand.  "Here, you take this.  You find him and put that on."  

   Suddenly he falls to his knees, making everyone launch forward.  "I'm fine... I-" He slurs before passing out.