It Was Always You (Universe 163,729)

Chapter 5

Steve watches the car get closer. It stops in front of him, rolls down the window, and Tony appears.

"Why the long face? Let me guess: He turned into a baby."

"Among other things, yeah. What are you doing here?"

Tony gets out of the car and walks towards the trunk. He opens it and grabs Steve's shield.

"That's the EPR Paradox. Instead of pushing Lang through time, you might've wound up pushing time through Lang. It's tricky. Dangerous. Somebody shoulda cautioned you against it."

"You did."

"Oh, did I? Thank God I'm here. Regardless, I fixed it. A fully functioning Time-Space GPS. I just want peace. Turns out, resentment is corrosive, and I hate it."

"Me too."

"We got a shot at getting these stones, but I gotta tell you my priorities: Bring back what we lost? I hope, yes. Keep what I got? I have to, at all costs. And... maybe not die trying will be nice."

"Sounds like a deal."

He hands Steve his shield, but Steve hesitates.

"Tony..."

"Why? He made it for you. Plus, honestly I have to get it out of the garage before Morgan takes it sledding."

"Thank you, Tony."

"Will you keep that a little quiet? Didn't bring one for the whole team. We are getting the whole team, yeah?"

"We're working on that right now."

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Scott watched the Benatar land on the front lawn, while eating a taco.

"Hey, homie! Where's Big Green?"

"Uh, Kitchen, I think."

"Rhodey, careful on re-entry. There's an idiot on the landing zone."

Rhodes lands right next to Scott, spilling his taco all over.

"Oh, God!"

"What's up, regular sized man?"

Rhodes walks away, and Bruce gives Scott two tacos.

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Part of the Avengers are in a truck going to New Asgard to get Thor. Bruce is sitting in the back because he is too big to fit in the passengers seat. They stop and meet Valkyrie.

"Kind of a step down from a from a golden palace for an Avenger highness and whatnot."

"Hey, have a little compassion, pal. First they've lost Asgard, then half the people. They're probably just happy to have a home."

"You shouldn't have come!"

"Ah, Valkyrie! Great to see you, Angry Girl."

"I think I liked you better either of the other ways."

"This is Rocket."

She stares at Rocket for a moment.

"He won't see you."

"That bad, huh?"

"We only see him once a month, when he comes for... supplies."

"It's that bad."

"Yeah."

Bruce and Rocket walk up to Thor's house, preparing to see a depressed Thor. They opened the door, and Bruce walks in.