acta, non verba
avengers: endgame: part ii
summary: you’re entering into the fight of your life, and you aren’t tolerating casualties.
wordcount: 10k
warnings: death, violence, arguing, a theme of not being able to move on, cussing, interviewers being lowkey misogynistic, fluff and a happy ending
series masterlist
“What. The. Fuck.” Your first words after waking up were as explicit as ever, and as you watched people reappear in the Wakandan field, you narrowed your eyes. Were you tripping balls? The last thing you remembered, you were turning to dust in your best friend’s hands, and now you were stumbling along the edge of the woods, very confused and pretty sure that that tree wasn’t there the last time you’d seen it.
Then someone began materializing right in front of you. You quickly recognized the brunet hair, the tall figure, and the metal arm.
“Bucky!” You scanned him for any injuries as he stared at you confused.
“What the hell happened?” Before you could answer, a glowing orange circle formed nearby. A few Wakandan soldiers along with T’Challa, Sam, and the tree alien walked over, watching curiously as a man in a red cape stepped out.
“You need to come with me. It’s been five years, and they need us.”
It’d been what? You froze, turning to exchange a horrified glance with Barnes. It hadn’t been some weird hallucination. You’d died for five years, and now, by some twist of fate, you’d returned from the dead.
The man introduced himself as Stephen Strange and gave everyone a short while to prepare. He explained that Thanos had returned from another time, the Avengers had traveled in time to get the stones and bring everyone back, and now you were heading into the fight of your lives. It was a lot to absorb.
Shuri sped down the hill on a hoverbike, brand-new shoes clean and ready for battle. You chuckled as she showed them off, T’Challa rolling his eyes as his little sister.
“Hey, can you help me pull my hair up?” Bucky asked. This had become sort of a habit between you two. His old, HYDRA-made arm pinched his hair, and by the time he’d gotten the new one you’d both grown used to you doing his hair. You nodded, carefully pulling the bothersome strands from his face and tying them up in a bun.
“Will you be alright?” the cloaked man asked. You nodded. He stepped aside, making circular motions with his arms. Orange sparks flew as Sam connected to a comm.
“Cap. Cap, can you hear me?” He smirked at you, stifling a laugh. “On your left.”
When the portal fully opened, your eyes widened at the wreckage. Your past home, destroyed. The compound was nothing but rubble as you stared out onto the battlefield. From the looks of it, the team has gotten separated, leaving Steve alone to fend off an army.
A short ways away, Tony sat up. His hair had grown more grey, but his smile lines were deeper. Good. Thor, on the other hand, looked completely different. In his defense, though, the added bulk and messy beard made him look truly like a Viking berserker.
Another portal opened, revealing Strange along with a few aliens and a bearded man. Then, Peter swung through in his new suit, causing you to sigh in relief and wave at him.
As Stephen continued to open countless portals, you watched in awe. It was an intimidating sight; holes opening between space to coalesce into a massive army, rivaling Thanos’s itself.
“Avengers!”
Steve held out his hand, and you screamed in excitement as Mjolnir flew into his hand. You knew it. You whooped and cheered across the crackling and shuffling surrounding the area.
“Assemble.”
You had never had more fun kicking ass. The alien enemy was relatively flimsy, their only strength in numbers. They fell with a few strikes.
The Leviathans that had once caused so many problems during the Battle of New York were now felled easily by Scott, who towered above the battlefield. Brutes that stood well over any human were taken out with ease, even Shuri was racking up kills like no one’s business.
The new additions to the team also provided more fun. You were tugged from a mass of enemies by a gorgeous woman on a pegasus -a goddamn flying horse. You were sure you’d seen everything this world had to give- who dropped you near Tony and Pepper, the latter of which was donned in a royal blue suit.
“Stark!”
“(Y/N)!” He sprinted towards you best he could in his suit, yanking you into a hug. “Holy shit, I’m so happy to see you. I can’t wait for you to meet my daughter.” You were sure your heart got stuck in your throat.
“You have a daughter?” you asked, teary-eyed
He laughed and Pepper smiled at you from beside him. “Yeah, her name is Morgan. After-“
“After Pepper’s senile uncle?” you half-blubbered. They laughed and shoved you.
“Save the tears, hon,” Pepper said, ushering you back into the fray. You playfully saluted before sprinting off, making it your mission to have a get-together with your friends in the midst of a battle for the universe.
You spotted Wanda a short while later, power coursing through her as she furiously crushed droves of aliens with little effort. They never stood a chance against her, a few scrambling away when they saw the expression on the witch’s face. Her eyes glowed red with energy.
You ran past her, throwing her a sympathetic smile as she wiped out a few space dogs behind you, always watching your back. As you continued your trek, you gripped a modified gun in your hand, blasting at anything that moved while your sword swung in your other, slashing and stabbing at anything that got too close. You fell into your mind as you blasted a hole through a giant alien’s head. You didn’t even look back as his body crumbled.
It was easy to return to this rhythm, you thought as you flowed like water through the field. You slipped between fighting pairs, surveying your allies to watch carefully for anyone becoming overpowered. They were all holding their own.
Steve and Thor exchanged Mjolnir and the battle ax -which you’d later learn was called Stormbreaker- as if they were playing catch. You were tempted to try and pick one up, but you pushed down the impulse. There was no time for that.
“(Y/N)! Duck!” You didn’t have any time to search for the voice before you quickly obeyed, a large fist barely missing your head. You shot at the thing’s knees (You thought they were knees? Alien anatomy was way out of your field of expertise) before sliding out of the way, watching as Sam flew in to stab the alien with his wings. The sight had you shuddering and gagging, imagining the deep-cleaning he’d have to do on the tech.
“Cap!” Clint’s voice rang through your earpiece, barely noticeable over the sounds of battle. “What do you want me to do with this damn thing?” You guessed he was talking about the new gauntlet Tony had made, but his lack of specificity had you sighing.
Your suspicions were confirmed when Steve shouted his response. “Get those stones as far away as possible!” he yelled.
“No,” Bruce called back. “We need to get ‘em back where they came from.”
“No way to get ‘em back, Thanos destroyed the quantum tunnel,” Tony said. This wrinkly-ass grape truly was the source of all of your problems. Knowing that you couldn’t land a hit on the titan quite yet, you instead took out your anger on the nearest enemy, spearing it on your sword to yank it closer before shooting it.
Scott’s voice rang from above you and in your ear. “Hold on! That wasn’t our only time machine.” A faint tune carried over the terrain. What the fuck? Was that “La Cucaracha”?
“Anyone see an ugly brown van out there?” Cap asked. You ran through the field, scanning the area for a rusty car amidst the chaos.
“Yes!” A woman yelled over comms. “But you’re not gonna like where it’s parked!”
“Scott, how long you need to get that thing working?” Tony asked.
“Uh, maybe 10 minutes.” Great.
Steve’s voice crackled. “Get it started. We’ll get the stones to you.” You groaned, flinging your own hand to your earpiece.
“Let’s hot potato this shit, folks.”
As you sped past Dr. Strange doing some cultish magic, you managed to spot Clint running with the gauntlet. It appeared Thanos saw him too. T’Challa reached him before you did, knocking back an incoming horde.
“Clint! Give it to me,” he said. As they traded off the glove, you struck down aliens that made moves to take it, most of them too distracted to see you sneak around them. The prince made it a ways across the rocky terrain before he was struck by Thanos’s double-sided sword.
Hm, you’d never fought another sword-weilder. You ran forward to take a crack before Wanda landed in front of you, stopping you in your tracks.
“You took everything from me,” she growled, and you watched from your spot several paces away from her.
“I don’t even know who you are,” Thanos said. Wrong choice of words.
Wanda rolled her shoulders back and tilted her head, smug in her posture. “You will.” Her hands glowed red as she lifted chunks of earth and rubble, flinging them at the titan. She managed to get up close before he brought the sword down, which she caught effortlessly, pushing it back and snapping the blade in half.
She wrapped tendrils around Thanos, and as you watched her flick her hand, you realized what she was doing. The witch was tearing him limb from limb. You gaped as you saw ligaments straining under the force, his face wrenching up in pain.
“Rain fire!” He shouted. Followed shortly by, “Just do it!” If you weren’t so focused on getting Wanda to safety you would’ve cracked a joke. She threw a forcefield around the both of you as blasts of energy rained onto the teams. Many sorcerers blanketed the field in energy shields that glowed a bright orange, each one showcasing intricate designs and patterns.
“Uh, is anyone else seeing this?” Pepper asked over her earpiece. What was it with people and not specifying things? These were comms, not a facetime call. Evidently, the problem was solved and not something you had to worry about. You focused instead on making your way to Thanos.
He had retrieved his broken sword, and once he made eye contact with you, leveled it at your approaching figure. You mimicked him, vibranium blade shimmering in the setting sun. A smirk crept its way across your face as you stalked closer.
You had to distract him so they could get the gauntlet to Scott. Charging forward, you swung. His blade quivered under the blow, Wanda’s strike already weakening the integrity of the metal.
You continued to strike, barely giving the alien a moment to think. He dodged the best he could, parrying your strikes with growing panic. Bingo.
As soon as he took a shaky step back, you wrenched a knife from your belt. Hoping that his sword was weak enough, you stabbed the knife clean through the massive blade. As he took a second step back in confusion, you spun, slamming the hilt of your prized sword against the hilt of the knife. The sword shattered.
“Haha, motherfucker!” you screeched, reeling back when he punched you. You went tumbling, still laughing when you rolled to a stop before cradling your jaw.
You braved for another strike, but you were instead met by a streak across the sky. Like a comet far too close to the ground. It shot straight through Thanos’s ship, exploding the interior and powering down the guns.
“Danvers, we need an assist here,” Steve said. So the comet had a name.
You grunted as you stood, wiping the dust and rubble from your sword and watched as a new group of aliens spilled from the wreckage. “Yeah, you’re cool and all,” you muttered into your earpiece. “but we’ve got another wave incoming. We need to start wiping them out in bigger chunks.”
“How many have you taken out, (L/N)? 10?” Strange asked, slightly patronizing.
“73, for your information, Stephen. But I’m also not one of the ones that glows and can fly, so…” you snarked. “I’m literally just out here with a pointy stick, but hey, the pointy stick’s the reason nutsack-chin man doesn’t have a sword anymore.”
“Alright, enough,” Tony chided. You watched as Thor and Steve tag-teamed Thanos, both using Stormbreaker and Mjolnir in tandem. He shrugged them off before landing a powerful blow to Steve’s head.
The comet shot past, gauntlet in hand. Well, until the titan snatched it from her. She and Thanos duked it out, with her tanking a direct punch from him before he yanked the Power Stone from its place and sent her flying back.
He dove for the gauntlet, putting it on as you and Tony both ran toward him. You leapt up, wrapping a cord around his neck as the Iron Man went for the glove. Glancing down at your friend, you raised an eyebrow. His suit was changing, the right hand morphing and the tech rearranging as he wrestled.
“Tony…” you hissed, wrenching Thanos’s head further back with a harsh tug. You were sure the cord was cutting into his neck, but you didn’t pay a moment of attention to him. You were trying to figure out Tony’s plan. Trying to slip into the mind of the genius billionaire.
While you were still stuck in your mind, Thanos managed to get a hold of your neck, throwing you at the same time as he kneed Tony away.
“I am inevitable,” he said.
You prepared to waste away. At least you would die trying. Go down fighting and all that bullshit army recruiters used to wrangle in young folks to die in war.
But then he snapped, and nothing happened.
Tony rose to his knees beside you, and you weren’t sure whether to laugh or cry because the stones were in his hand, and as they fell into place on the gauntlet the suit had fully formed, you felt the power surge from his body. It made you flinch away.
He threw you a sideways grin, similar to the one he’d given when you first met him, before turning back to Thanos.
“And I… Am… Iron Man.”
You got tunnel vision once he snapped, running toward him to help him rest against a random pile of rubble. Still unsure of what he did, but with one mission in mind. Keep Tony Stark alive.
The right side of his body was charred and burnt, but you managed to ignore the smell of burning flesh as you yelled for help.
Rhodey was the first to land. He knelt beside you both, not saying a word.
Then came Peter. “Mr. Stark? Hey!” His breaths shook. “Mr. Stark. Can you hear me?” You thought you heard Tony wheeze a response, but your ears were ringing and your eyes were watering so you weren’t too sure. The kid kept trying to reach his mentor.
“It’s Peter. Hey. We won, Mr. Stark. We won, Mr. Stark. We won! You did it, sir, you did it.” Pepper knelt beside the boy as he began to sob. “I’m sorry. Tony,” he held on like maybe he could save him, but Pepper gently pulled his hands away.
“Hey,” she whispered.
And he finally reacted to someone. “Hey, Pep.” He laid a hand across hers where it sat atop the glowing arc reactor.
“FRIDAY?” she asked.
“Life functions critical.” Even the AI sounded dejected.
He gave her a teary smile, unsaid words passing between the couple as you frantically wracked your brain for any solution to this.
“Tony? Look at me.” He obeyed with a weak groan. “We’re gonna be okay.” And all you could hear was you saying that to Nat five years ago, and now you couldn’t even find her now. You had to do something.
“No, hey. No going to sleep just yet, Stark.” A few people murmured behind you, and you heard Steve whisper, “Someone get her, please.” You carefully took the glove, watching Tony’s eyes as they followed your movements.
“You’ve still got a life ahead of you, Tony. Keep that heart beating for just a little longer.” You were aware that you were gambling your best friend’s life on a hunch, but hey. You had a history of being right.
Once you found what you were looking for, you manage to yank the Soul Stone from the glove. Every other stone had powers. Why wouldn’t this one?
You clasped it in your hand, waiting for the energy to flow through you. When it did, you laid your hand on Tony’s chest, praying for the first time in your life and hoping that he would live.
You kept your eyes wrenched shut, not wanting to even entertain the possibility of failure. When nothing happened, you choked out a sob.
Then a hand took yours.
“You just have to have it your way, huh, kid?”
His voice was still weak, body still battered and burnt. But his breaths were stronger. His vitals were rising.
Pepper gasped from beside you and tugged her husband close as you stood, Soul Stone still in hand. Your head spun as you stumbled, reaching out for someone to hold on to.
As sure as you’d made sure Tony was stable, you sighed in relief. Then everything went black.
———————————————————————
You woke up in the Avengers’ Tower lounge in someone else’s clothes. A henley and a very large pair of sweats. The room swarmed with action. However, the moment you groaned slightly and moved an inch, you were immediately surrounded by a slew of concerned superheroes.
“Hey, Ms. (L/N). Are you alright?” Peter.
“Oh my God, (Y/N), they have bad news.” Wanda. She was crying.
“Hey, welcome back to the land of the living.” Sam.
“Shut up, she wasn’t dead.” Bucky.
You sat up all the way, head spinning. “What? I… Is Tony okay?” Steve approached from behind.
“He’s at the hospital. He’s gonna make it but they might have to amputate his arm,” he said, swallowing hard. “They said that he’s not in much pain; the energy burnt off his nerve endings.”
“Oh, that’s… that’s good.” You turned to Bucky, half-heartedly tapping him on the side of his metal arm. “You two will match,” you said. He chuckled nervously.
Wanda was still sniffling. “You said there was bad news, Wands?” Your question had her crying again, even harder than before. You looked around the room in mild panic, searching for answers.
Steve sat next to you, taking a few deep inhales. “It’s Nat.”
———————————————————————
Nat’s funeral was held a few days later. You tried to reach out to her family, but all contact led nowhere.
Tony was dismissed from the hospital a day before, with his right arm amputated and a new slew of jokes in his arsenal. He was particularly interested in picking on Bucky, who had attempted several times to get you to make him stop, though unsuccessful. You were enjoying the teasing. It was a ray of light amidst the somber scene.
Nat had left you a few letters in the drawers in your room, luckily at the Tower. You read through each one with Wanda, who had a set of her own. It ended with a lot of tears and wine.
As you got ready for the funeral, you put on a black silk dress. It felt a bit extra, but you knew she would’ve loved it. You wiped under your eyes as a knock sounded on the guest bedroom door. Pepper had invited you to stay at their lake house before the funeral, and you’d spent all of your time learning all you could about Morgan (Y/N) Stark. That’s right. You’d nearly sobbed when the little girl had told you her middle name.
“Hey.” Bucky cautiously leaned through the doorway and peeked his head inside. You gave him a small smile, fiddling with a necklace she’d given you as a gift for your birthday one year. She’d claimed it was because she felt guilty for getting you stranded in the middle of Texas for a week, but you knew she’d seen you eyeing it in a store.
Your hands were shaking as you tried to open the clasp without chipping your nail polish. A minuscule scratch formed and you wanted to just give up then and there. A small, pathetic sound escaped your lips.
“Here, c’mon doll,” he muttered, taking the necklace and, after making sure the small bird charm was facing the right way, gently clasped it. You turned around and rested your head against his chest, trying your best to forget that you weren’t about to go to your friend’s funeral. If you tried hard enough, you could pretend that you were back at the compound, five years hadn’t passed, and you weren’t missing a piece. Maybe your dress was some pretty shade of pale blue instead of sleek black and you were about to go on a date with the super-soldier you were leaning against.
But the new voices outside shattered your fantasy. You could hear the new group -the Guardians of the Galaxy or some bullshit that you weren’t ready to care for yet- muttering about Earth traditions and whatnot outside your window.
Taking a calming breath, you shook your hands out, trying your best to chase off the odd tingling that hadn’t quite left ever since you’d wielded the Soul Stone. “So, what’s it like coming back from the dead twice?” you asked him. He chuckled.
“Weird. I feel like, just as I caught up to the modern world, I got set back again.”
You nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah. That’s okay. We’ll learn together.” Bucky looked mildly hopeful at that, but his eyes quickly clouded over with some hidden emotion. You frowned.
“Hey. What’s up?” You tapped his nose before turning back to the bag you’d packed, rifling through it to retrieve a few pairs of earrings that matched your outfit. You plucked out a knife that had once been Nat’s, reminiscing about when she’d given it to you. The Battle of New York. Tugging a holder up your thigh, you slipped the blade into it.
He wiped his face with his flesh hand, checking the door to make sure no one was listening. “It’s Stevie, he’s going back in time to return the stones?” he said, asking to make sure you knew. You nodded before he continued. “He wants to stay back there with Peggy.”
You dropped a small pair of gold studs in shock. He scooped them up for you and held them as you put in gold hoops to the bottom piercings. “He’s trying to do what?” you whisper yelled, wincing when you accidentally stabbed a bit too hard. “That’s -shit, ow- actually really inconsiderate to you, Bucky.”
He shrugged, frown still stuck on his face. “Well, I mean… it’s the happy ending he always wanted right? If he’s happier back then… I can’t make him stay.” He sounded unsure of himself.
You gingerly took the gold studs from him, putting them on before sitting up on the dresser. “You deserve a happy ending too, you know?”
Bucky stared at you as if you were the first person to tell him that. You sincerely hoped you weren’t.
You both jumped when the door opened, revealing Steve, who cast a suspicious glance between the two of you. His eyes were slightly red.
“Hey, it’s- it’s starting.”
The ceremony was quiet. No public allowed; too much of a security risk and far too personal. Tony pulled you into a gentle hug, carefully avoiding his right arm, which was now replaced by a nanotech arm similar to his suit.
There wasn’t even a body to bury. Or cremate, as she had preferred.
So instead, you buried stories. Some last memories of the assassin. You told them about how she would buy the most frivolous trinkets on missions, just because the money was given by SHIELD. How she never quite got over the habit of nicking small things from stores. Hell, you weren’t 100% sure if the necklace you were wearing was stolen or not.
Hours passed, and tears were shed. The new team members listened intently, soaking up the stories of one of the original Avengers. When everyone dispersed before dinner, you followed Steve as he headed to a platform where Bruce manned the controls. Time travel, made possible by quantum mechanics.
All you knew was that the stones had to be returned to their time, otherwise those timelines would split into a branch reality, spelling disaster to all in that timeline. And it appeared Steve was up for the task.
You grabbed his hand, yanking him a bit harsher than you meant to.
“(Y/N)?” For just a moment, his face morphed into one of surprise and confusion before he schooled it back to normal. Many of your team members still looked shocked to see you, as if you were a ghost.
“Is it true? You’re staying in the 40’s with Peggy?” He stared down at you, and you could see his heart crack. You bit the inside of your mouth, pushing down the rising bile.
“Buck told you?” So he confessed. You weakly punched his chest, tears welling up.
“You weren’t even going to say goodbye? I was going to lose a sister and a brother all in one day? You were going to leave your best friend behind, who still needs you?” Steve had the sense to look mildly guilty at that, exchanging glances with Bucky and Sam, who had followed.
You punched his chest again, harder this time. “You don’t get to do that, Steve! Fucking hell!” Even as they reached for you, you slipped past them grabbing a small device from Bruce.
“Is this an extra suit?” The mixture of Hulk and man nodded.
“Why? Did something-“
“I’m going instead of Steve,” you announced, your tone leaving no room for argument. Said man ran up behind you, trying his best to persuade you from making a rash decision and possibly get lost in space-time.
He managed to snatch your arm as you activated the suit, which formed perfectly to your body. Nanotech was so cool. “(Y/N), please. I wasn’t sure if I was going for sure, I just-“
You raised your hand as you grabbed an extra suit and a few extra Pym Particles, small red vials that seemed to power the suit.
“Why did you-“
“Save it. Bruce, send me back.” The scientist shot a few nervous glances at you and Steve, before nodding.
“See you in a minute,” you waved to them, gone before you could hear Steve’s gasp.
———————————————————————
Morag, 2014: Power Stone
With a quiet shout, you popped out of the quantum realm and onto an alien planet. The suit immediately disappeared, leaving you in your dress. Not exactly up to dress code for a mission. Especially one to space.
You checked the directions on a pop-up screen, strolling toward a large temple a ways away. The 2014 version of Peter Quill was passed out on the ground, but you simply sidestepped him on your way.
Once you made it inside the building, you gently set the stone back in its case on the platform, watching as lasers shot up around it.
Easy. You reactivated the suit and put in the next location. Asgard.
———————————————————————
Asgard, 2013: Reality Stone.
This was one of the weirder ones. After successfully re-stabbing Jane Foster with the Aether, you were in the middle of sneaking away when a woman stopped you. Her posture was tall, regal. She was definitely nobility.
“Who are you?” she questioned, eyeing your outfit. You stammered, not sure what to say as recognition crossed her face.
She smiled. “You’re one of Thor’s friends? He just left. I’m his mother, Frigga.”
You nodded as she placed a gentle hand on your arm. “So, I take it that whatever his plan was, it was successful?”
“Yeah, actually. Just dropping these back off.” You held up the case of Infinity Stones. The kind woman checked behind her for any guards or passerby before leaning in.
“Please tell him to eat a salad, dear,” she said as you readied for another jump. You saluted, smiling as you disappeared into nothingness.
———————————————————————
New Jersey, 1970: Space Stone.
When you arrived in a dusty basement, you were immediately met with an unbearable humming of machinery. Letting FRIDAY scan the room, you rushed to return the Space Stone to its container before a door opening caught you off guard.
In walked Peggy Carter, founder of SHIELD and one of your biggest role models. In your panic, you froze on the spot as she narrowed her eyes.
“Who are you?”
“Uh… (Y/N).” You furiously searched your mind for a surname. “(L/N)…” All of your years of training, flown out the window. She nodded, still suspicious.
“Are you related to the (L/N)’s that had a baby a while back? Donovan, I think his name is. Cute kid.” You shook your head.
“Never met them,” you shrugged. She pointed to your dress.
“I’m guessing that’s not dress code?” she asked, her voice lilting. You laughed nervously, backing up as she tilted her head.
“I’ve gotta go!” you chirped, slamming the button and zooming to your next destination.
———————————————————————
New York, 2012: Time and Mind Stones.
You reappeared on a rooftop, a bald woman in yellow robes casting magic towards an incoming Chitauri. You supposed she was another sorcerer.
“Ah, Ms. (L/N).” Woah.
“That’s me,” you said, shoving through the case to retrieve the green stone. “I think this is yours.”
She gratefully took it before returning it to its rightful place in the eye-shaped necklace she wore. “I’m guessing you’ll need a boost to get to the Avenger’s Tower to return the other stone?” You nodded, deciding to roll with the fact that she apparently saw the future.
“That’d be great, please.” She opened a portal, easily fending off blasts with her other hand. You slid through, dusting off the silk dress. So, your options were to either confront the past versions of your teammates or sneak around. Hm.
You trotted through the halls, searching for a passed-out Captain America. Steve had told you all about his fight with himself, each detail making you laugh harder.
“Loki.” There he was. Next to him stood Nat, who apparently had woken him up from the Scepter’s control. You were so focused on seeing your friend alive again you didn’t notice her gun aimed at you until she jolted it. You held your hands up.
“I’m not Loki. Didn’t you just do this whole song and dance with Steve?” They both stared at you, confused. “Listen, I really don’t wanna deal with this whole argument thing, so just take the goddamn glowing rock.” You chucked the Mind Stone at them, punching in your final location.
Nat caught it, rolling it between her hands before nodding. “That’s not Loki. It’s some… different version of (Y/N).”
“Oh, yeah,” you said, not quite paying attention. “I’m from 2023.”
“What?”
You waved with only your fingers, disappearing once again. “Have fun with the next few years! And keep an eye on SHIELD!” You weren’t too sure if telling them things about the future would affect much, but it was worth it to see the shock on their faces.
———————————————————————
Vormir, 2014: Soul Stone.
The last stone to drop off was going to be the hardest. The icy wind whirled around you, spinning in a spiral around the tall mountain you arrived on. Your dress did little to drive back the chill.
A ghostly figure cloaked in black floated towards you, and you unsheathed your knife and pointed it towards it. When it got closer, you caught its face. The Red Skull. Founder of HYDRA and, you know, a Nazi.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” you asked, still wielding the knife. He sighed, as if he’d been through this multiple times.
“(Y/N), daughter of Donovan. I am the guide of all who seek the Soul Stone. You, however, are too late. Another-“
“Yeah, yeah, Clifford. I got it right here.” You held up the stone. “But I’m here to strike a deal.”
He looked surprised at that, as if your proposition was a new event in his seemingly endless time on this desert planet. “Yes?”
“Natasha Romanoff just died here, right?” You tried to push down the fact that her body was probably still bleeding out on the rocks below the spire.
The Red Skull held up a hand. “You cannot bring her back. It is an everlasting exchange. A soul for a soul.”
“Yeah,” you said, once again waving around the orange rock. “A Soul-“ you pointed at it, to which it glowed brighter. “-for a soul.” You gestured to the rocks below. “Everlasting and all that fun shit.”
He thought it over, considering the rules of exchange. He held out a skeletal hand. “I will try.”
As you handed off the last stone, the mountain began to glow, and you faded from the peak. When you awoke, you were laying in a puddle of water, floating face up.
You jumped up, going to wring water from your clothes and hair when you realized it simply slid off, as if it wasn’t quite soaking it. You tilted your head and began shaking it to remove the water in your ears when a voice behind you startled you.
“So you wore the dress?”
Spinning around, you saw your best friend. Her hair had grown out in the five years since you’d last seen her, but the ends remained blonde. It looked good.
“Oh my god, you’re okay.” You hugged her, sighing in relief. “That Spirit Halloween decoration actually did something right in his miserable life.” She laughed, loud and boisterous as it echoed around the quiet planet.
You grabbed the extra suit and Pym Particles, handing them to her and typing in the coordinates.
“Did you know Steve was gonna try and spend his life in the 40’s with Peggy? Go talk some sense into him, for fuck’s sake.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Did they even kiss? Or, ya know, know each other for longer than a few months?”
“I don’t think so, I think he’s just batshit. Oh!” You perked up as you finished readying her suit. “Tony almost died wielding the Infinity Stones, but I saved him.”
“Oh, really? Seems like I’m gonna have to yell at him and Steve.” You laughed, smiling at her. She was different. It was like this was the first time she’d truly breathed since you’d seen her last.
“Alright, ready to go?” You both pressed the buttons at the same time, ready to return home.
———————————————————————
Earth, 2023.
When Natasha Romanoff returned on the platform, Steve and Bruce were still arguing.
“Why did you let her go? She didn’t even have a weapon!” Steve yelled as Sam tried to calm him down.
“Man, she was trying to keep you from making a dumb mistake,” the latter said, not even noticing the redhead.
She rolled her eyes. “Back from the dead and the first thing I hear is Steve yelling. Great welcome home gift,” she joked, watching as they gasped.
After they got over their excitement and called over everyone else (which led to Clint and Wanda full-on sobbing) they noticed someone missing.
“Where’s (Y/N)?”
———————————————————————
Earth, 2004.
You thought you were prepared when you logged in the date and location for your true final stop, but seeing the hustle and bustle in your childhood home still took you aback. The windows were open as usual, since Vivian insisted that you all have “fresh air” for her houseplants. You could hear your mother chasing Jacob in a futile attempt to make him take allergy medicine and see your father cooking dinner.
When you made it to the door on shaky legs, you gathered your strength. You knocked. In all honesty, it was barely even a tap. But the door swung open anyway.
“Who are you?” your mom asked, staring with suspicion. You were at a loss for words.
“I-“ Your voice was all she needed.
“(Y/N)? Honey, you look… older… Don! Vivian, Jacob! Come here!” she yelled into the house. As the other three made their way to the door, your eyes watered.
“Hi,” you whispered.
“Come in, and explain what’s going on,” your dad said, still slightly suspicious. Jacob seemed to not quite recognize you yet, still confused.
They led you to the kitchen table, letting you sit in your usual seat. Your dad set a plate of roast in front of you, and your heart ached.
They all sat down around the table before your mom spoke up. “So… what’s happening here?”
“I’m (Y/N), just from the future. 2023.” There was no point in sugarcoating it. While Vivi and Jacob stared in shock, your parents just nodded. They’d seen crazier.
“A lot has happened in the past years, but I need to tell you something. You all need to stay safe, because I-“ Your father shushed you.
“You don’t need to tell us anything about our futures,” he said, sipping wine from a plastic cup. You’d forgotten about that habit of his.
“But-“
“Listen to your father, hon,” your mom murmured behind a mouthful of food.
Vivian eyed you from her seat. “Are you really from the future?” You nodded, carefully chewing a carrot.
“It’s crazy. Aliens are real, which is pretty cool. I don’t just mean like, a few, the whole universe is populated. I’m friends with some of them.” You wanted to tell them all you could. Tonight was their last night alive, anyhow.
“There’s superheroes. I guess I’m kind of one.” Jacob’s eyes went wide as he dropped his spoon into his soup.
You laughed at his excitement. The tears were still making their way through. “I’ve gotta go back soon, I just wanted to stop by and say hi to you guys.”
And you ate dinner with your family one last time.
Vivian told you about how freshman year went and how she was still convinced that Sergeant James Barnes is a total hottie and you told her that he was still alive and still looked the same, and was also a total sweetheart. She squealed when you told her you had a crush on him and your parents teased you.
Jacob asked about superheroes, and while you couldn’t spill too much, you told him all about your exploits and just left the names out. You also didn’t mention that half of humanity died for five years, or that the past version of you was headed this way at that very moment, brainwashed and on a mission that would prove fatal to everyone in this home but you.
When they both left to watch TV in a separate room and you were left alone with your parents, the tears finally spilled. They both scooted closer to you and hugged you close as you blubbered your apologies.
“I’m… guessing we won't make it to see you in the future?” your mom asked, rubbing your back. You shook your head into her shoulder, feeling like all you’d done for the past few days was cry.
“It’s my fault,” you whispered . “It's all my fault.”
“No, hon, it’s not,” your dad said. “Whatever happens, happens. We can’t change that.”
You stared at him incredulously. “Yes you could. Just stay vigilant tonight and don’t worry about hurting me because you won’t and even if you do-“ They both shushed you, cutting off your ramblings.
“It’ll all be alright, just breathe.” You tried, hiccuping as you evened out your breaths. Your heart raced as the wind rattled a window.
“Can- can I get something from my room?” you asked. They helped you up, following you as you walked around the bedroom you hadn’t seen in 15 years. Well, 20 now, you guessed.
Carefully, as if it would dissolve in your grip, you tugged a box from under your bed. Inside laid a few USB’s and several stacks of photos. “Can I have this?” you asked.
“Take anything you want, sweetie,” your mom said, helping you fold the cardboard box to keep it tightly shut. You rested it on your hip, hugging them both before walking into the living room where Vivi and Jacob sat.
“I love you both, okay?” you asked, letting them hug you.
“Go get your man,” Vivi whispered not-very-subtly, causing laughter to erupt. Jacob simply hugged you before rushing back to the couch. Typical.
Your mom and dad walked you to the door, giving you one last hug and kiss on the head.
“It’s alright, (Y/N). Whatever happens, you’re gonna be okay,” your dad muttered, giving you a tight squeeze.
You chuckled, all watery and light. “I hope you can forgive me,” you whispered back. Your mother shook her head.
“There’s nothing to forgive. Take care, little bird.” The nickname had you gently touching the necklace you wore, nodding before activating the suit.
“Goodbye.”
———————————————————————
Earth, 2023.
“Well, where the hell is she?” Tony asked, tapping away on the screen with his non-metal hand.
“I don’t know. I don’t think she’d just up and leave,” Nat responded, itching the tactical suit she wore. Maybe you got lost?
Steve nodded in agreement, wincing as he considered how upset you’d been with him. “She wouldn’t.”
Their questions were answered when you reappeared, clutching an unassuming cardboard box with tears in your eyes. You sank to your knees on the platform, allowing the suit to dissipate as you clutched the box to your chest.
A few people ran forward, Sam trying to take the box from your hands. You resisted, curling in on yourself. This was all you had left of them now.
“Where did you go, kid?” Tony asked, wiping your face. “Did… you get food?”
“I went back home. The night of…” you couldn’t finish the sentence, staring off into space. He sighed in realization. Whether the trip would set you back or provide closure was yet to be seen.
“Oh, hon.” Nat hugged you. “Can we take the box and put it inside? What’s in it?” You nodded and handed off the box with a sniffle. “Pictures and videos.”
She grunted under the weight and readjusted her grip. “Holy shit, this is heavy. Can someone help her?”
Bucky stepped up, perhaps too quickly to be casual. He took the box with ease, only using one hand.
“Are you alright?” He asked as you both went inside, leaving the rest of the group to disperse and celebrate Nat’s return. You nodded.
“It hurts, but… I feel lighter? Is that the right word?” He shrugged.
“Probably. I get it, though.” He gently set the box down on the guest bed. “It’s how I felt after they got him out of my head.” Tapping the side of his skull, he plopped onto the bed as you unclipped the thigh holster holding your knife and tossed it haphazardly into your bag.
“Does it get better?” you asked, almost taking back your question when he hesitated.
But then he let out a light sigh. “Yeah. Maybe not great yet, but better.”
You laid down next to the super-soldier, closing your eyes. “Everything is about to go crazy,” you mumbled. You could feel him nod from next to you.
“The original six are talking about retirement,” you added, listening to the conversations outside. He elbowed you gently.
“Are you?”
“Nah,” you sighed. “I’d get too bored.” He hummed an assent. “‘M gonna take a break, though. Preferably not deal with the government anymore.”
He scooted around a bit before turning towards you. “Do you think we can be assholes to them now, since we technically saved the universe?”
“Honestly, I’m so done with caring about the government. No more diplomacy for me, just straight to the facts. What are they gonna do, arrest me? I think the fuck not,” you grumbled. He laughed, unwittingly sending a slew of thoughts spiraling through your head.
Fuck.
You blushed, sitting up. “You ready to head back out there?” He nodded, joining you. Quick footsteps and a door slamming had you both jumping, with Bucky reaching an arm out in front of you. Aww, he was sweet and protective. This man really was-
“Auntie (Y/N)!” Morgan barreled into the room and into your arms, knocking you backwards from the force. “It’s time for dinner,” she whispered aggressively in your ear, shimmying around on your lap and definitely causing your skirt to ride up. You let her tug you off the bed as she grabbed Bucky’s hand as well, swinging in between the two of you.
She led you both outside to where several boxes of pizza sat. Everyone was gathered around, already having dug in. As odd as it was to see a tree and raccoon eating alongside a giant grey man and blue alien, you shrugged it off and grabbed a slice.
As you went to sit down, you bumped into a new kid. Did he have superpowers?
“Oh, hey (Y/N).” Wait, he sounded familiar…
“Are you that kid-“
“From the garage Tony stayed in? Christmas 2012? Yes. My name’s Harley.” You shook his hand, balancing your plate and drink on the other.
“So, are you super powered or…” He shook his head, walking with you as you sat around Tony’s fire pit. The sun was beginning to set and Shuri was pouring a suspicious amount of firestarter on the logs.
You sat in the grass, not quite caring if dirt got on your dress or if the blades made you itch. You were with friends.
Once everyone had their food and was gathered around, Tony and Steve stood to make a toast. Albeit, they were using soda cans instead of champagne flutes, but you all deserved a break after saving the universe.
“So, we did it, folks,” Tony began, causing a few claps to ring out. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m not the best at this speech shit- stuff,” he corrected after Morgan perked up at the curse. “But hey, I can’t be great at everything. I’ll leave the speeches to Rogers over here.”
Steve shook his head in exasperation and stepped forward. “We still have a lot to figure out. Many of us will retire, and many new allies will step up. It’s gonna be a lot of change.” He exchanged a glance with Stark. “But change can be good. It can be what we need to learn and grow past what we thought we could do. Whether that be saving the universe or just getting up in the morning.”
“Many of us fight battles on our own. We feel like we have to shove them down and avoid talking about them because we’re supposed to be the ones that people look up to.” He looked over at you.
“But we’re family. And family helps each other. And you’ll always have a shoulder to lean on or a helping hand so long as we’re around. We stick together, no matter what.”
“To the universe, and to us.”
The small area erupted into cheers and claps, even Fury and Pym offered a few congratulatory remarks. You caught Tony saying to Nat, “Rogers is always good at that shit. I feel like I need to take public speaking lessons from him.” Once Steve sat back down, you nudged him.
“Finally came to your senses?” you asked, no anger in your tone. He nodded, a smile on his face.
“You just had to knock some sense into me.”
“That is my field of expertise,” you joked. Clint carefully lit the fire, Pepper coming out from the house with a bag of marshmallows, chocolate, and some graham crackers in hand. Morgan followed with long, pronged pokers. Why was the child given the sharp sticks?
You rushed forward to let her hand them off to you, covering the ends so as to not poke anyone. As the fire roared, a few people called dibs on the prongs, beginning to cook their marshmallows to their liking. You watched. So much could be learned about someone by how they cooked their s’mores.
Peter meticulously turned his, explaining s’mores to Shuri, who had evidently never had one. The former considered this a crime. His marshmallow was perfectly golden when he removed it from above the flames.
The raccoon ate it straight, not even bothering to heat it up.
You brought a marshmallow on a stick over to Bucky, passing it to him as he watched the teen. Just as you thought he was going to imitate him, he stuck the treat straight in the flames, letting it blacken as you laughed.
He blew out the flame and let you make the s’more before biting off over half of it in one bite. Sam stared before voicing his disgust. Something along the lines of “That’s gonna give you cancer. He’s just eating straight charcoal at this point.”
You ignored his annoyed ramble, turning back to Bucky when you spotted a bit of melted marshmallow stuck by his mouth. What an opportunity.
Leaning forward, you gently scrubbed the spot with your thumb, ignoring the blush that crept up his face. You stayed intently focused on the task until the sugary substance was gone. When you sat back, satisfied with your work, you could hear Steve nudging his friend and harshly whispering to him. No doubt teasing him.
You smirked at Nat from across the fire pit as she raised an eyebrow, flitting her gaze between you and Bucky. He was still flushed, but when you looked over at him, he averted his gaze. You could get lost in those eyes, his voice, his mannerisms. Your mind drifted as you blatantly stared, imagining holding his hand or-
Peter and Shuri’s laughter interrupted your train of thought as they recorded Harley, who had put hand sanitizer on his hand and lit it. “Look! I’m on fire!”
———————————————————————
Even though Tony claimed to be bad at public speaking, he was the one chosen to give the speech that would be broadcasted around the world. Limited information had been given to the public about the means of returning half of the population, but most had been kept under wraps.
The world knew nothing of the time heist, the death of Nat, or your help in reviving both her and Tony. All they knew was that the Avengers had retrieved the Infinity Stones, Thanos had somehow returned, and Tony had snapped.
Simple as that.
The team sat in the front row, surrounded by government officials and civilians, multiple cameras flashing as Tony approached the podium. He cleared his throat and you shot him a thumbs up and encouraging smile.
“Everybody wants a happy ending, right? I know it doesn’t always roll that way, but I’m happy to say that it worked out this time. Amidst all this celebration, I hope families are reunited, I hope we get that back and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored, if there ever was such a thing.” He waved a hand at Clint’s family in the seats in front of him.
“God, what a world. Universe, now. If you told me ten years ago that we weren’t alone, let alone, you know, to this extent, I mean, I wouldn’t have been surprised, but come on. The epic forces of dark and light that have come into play.”
“And for better or worse, that's the reality Morgan's gonna have to find a way to grow up in.” The young girl giggled as he waved to her from the podium where he rested his arms. He looked at her like she was his world. You knew she was.
He rested his chin on his hand before continuing. “I know everyone’s been pretty affected by the untimely deaths of half of our world. I mean, not that death at any time isn't untimely, but there was some extra grief in these past five years. Trying to heal and grow. Then again, that's the hero gig. You gotta roll with the punches.”
“But, sometimes you’re ready to be done with the fight, and I’m excited to announce that a few of us are retiring.” Some reporters shouted and more flashes erupted. “You know, the original ones. Minus (Y/N). She’s sticking around to keep these hooligans under control.” He thrust a thumb at the newbies as laughter echoed around the steps of the courthouse.
“I’ll miss this. I know the others will too. This was probably the best part of our lives. But as a wise person once told me, ‘Part of the journey is the end.’ And she’s always right.” He winked at you. “What am I even tripping for? Everything's gonna work out exactly the way it's supposed to.”
As he stepped back, applause burst forth, almost deafening as you ran forward to give him a hug. “Hope you don’t mind me stealing your weird philosophical shit from 15 years ago, kid.” You shook your head, reassuring him that it was fine.
The “Original Seven,” as the press had begun calling the Avengers present for the Battle against New York, were asked to stick around and answer a few questions, much to your chagrin. You reluctantly sat down at a nearby table that they’d set up, all of you crowding on one side.
As soon as the microphones were set up and the cameras of every popular news station were rolling, hands flew up.
“Mr. Barton, there’s rumors you were a makeup artist. Is this true?”
“Captain! Are you involved in a relationship with any of your team members?”
“Ms. Romanoff, what’s your diet?”
You hated PR. After so many years dealing with their bullshit, you figured now was a better time than ever for a new beginning. Clapping your hands into a mic, you waited for them to quiet before clearing your throat. “One at a time, please.”
“Thanks, kid,” Tony mumbled, sipping a coffee he’d hassled Rhodey to buy for him. The billionaire rolled his eyes as many reporters complained. He pointed at one, a curious smirk on his face.
“Christine Everhart-“
“Vanity Fair?” he guessed. She shook her head.
“World News. Will we get a new Captain America? A new Iron Man? Or will the new Avengers be completely different?” Tony turned to you, flinging a hand and getting dangerously close to your face.
“Ask (Y/N).” The blonde looked expectantly at you. You shrugged.
“Fuck if I know. I’m just gonna play it by ear.” A few eyebrows raised at your choice words.
Another reporter stepped up. “Mr. Barton, are you wearing a hearing aid?”
Clint looked up from where he was fiddling with a microphone, not even attempting to conceal his attempts to dismantle it. “Yeah. What about it?”
“Was there an… accident?”
“Nah. Just years of explosions and a few up-close encounters with very loud jet engines,” he explained, unscrewing the cover for the battery compartment with an arrow he’d pulled from nowhere. It let out a screech as he yanked the batteries out, everyone flinching away.
“Yeah. Like that.”
———————————————————————
“Are you gay?” Is the first thing you were asked when you arrive at the tower. Peter and Shuri were vibrating on the spot, eyes wide and clothes smelling faintly of coffee. You shook your head tiredly.
“If someone’s hot, they’re hot.” You dismissed the odd question, trudging to the kitchen to grab a snack. You unbuttoned your blouse and shrugged it off, tossing it over the counter and standing in your tank top. Your muscles ached, each movement straining some new injury you hadn’t been aware of until you almost collapsed from the fatigue.
The fridge was pathetically empty, emptied out from the surplus of residents in the Avengers’ Tower. Luckily, the new additions were beginning to empty out and return to their normal homes, whether that be space or just down the street. You sighed and shut the fridge.
Luckily, your room had remained relatively the same. Nat had been kind enough to keep your plants alive and shelves dusted. Your skincare and haircare products had already been replaced, sheets fresher then they’d ever been. You flung open your closet, grabbing the nearest pair of sweats and a shirt you’d stolen from the dryer.
You were still tying the drawstring when you made it to Bucky’s door, knocking lightly before pushing the door open with your hip. He was on a laptop, surprisingly, perusing a realtor website. You smiled when he jumped up, spotting you leaning against the door frame. Your hair was tied up, a few strands managing to escape your lazy attempt at looking more awake.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
The quiet was unbearable and wonderful at the same time, allowing you to stare while also making you aware of your state. You brushed out wrinkles that weren’t there before straightening up again.
“I was just gonna head to the grocery to grab some more food. They’ve ransacked the fridge.” He took the unsaid invitation, hopping off the bed and closing his laptop.
“Is this an invitation to beat them up or help you with groceries?”
“Both.”
———————————————————————
Bringing Bucky grocery shopping tended to end in chaos. You knew this. But you brought him anyway. Normally, you would both take a cart and split up, the strategic efficiency that had been ingrained in you seeping into your everyday life. Today, however, he stuck beside you, so close you occasionally bumped together.
Not that you minded in the slightest. He helped you reach your favorite tea when you discovered they’d moved it after five years, checked the eggs to make sure they weren’t cracked, and even waited patiently as you perused the makeup, curious to see what trends had changed.
When you managed to check out and hop in the car, you watched as rain started to drizzle. You sat for a while, letting your quiet music fill the air.
“Thanks…” Bucky whispered.
You furrowed your brows. “For making you load the bags?”
“No,” he laughed, poking you. “For talking some sense into Steve.” You nodded, considering your words.
“Yeah, it’s all good.” Mentally slapping yourself at your less-than-poetic choice, you turned around, digging through the bags until you found a bag of plums, passing one to the brunet. “…Are you gonna move out?”
A moment of hesitation. “Yeah, I think so. I think it’d be better for me to try and live on my own.” You knew he was right, but you’d still miss seeing him so often.
“I’ll come and visit you, if that’s what that frown’s about. So long as you help me move in,” he said, causing you to meet his gaze. You held his stare as long as you could before you both looked away, heat rising to your face.
“Why not? Anything for my favorite 106-year-old super soldier.”
The two of you spent longer than intended chatting, discussing where he would move and how long of a walk it would be, his means of transport and income. You offered to buy him any apartment he wanted, but he’d refused to do so.
As he ate the plum, you rambled about a few apartments in Brooklyn that had decent reputations, some even having extra accommodations for soldiers and veterans. He’d listened carefully, jotting down a few notes in a book you recognized to be Steve’s from when he emerged from the ice.
At some point, you’d laid your head against his shoulder, already dozing off again. Your phone lit up with a text and Bucky picked it up, typing in the passcode he knew by heart to open the text from Tony.
“‘Where the hell are you two? Fish emoji,’” he read.
“Is it a tropical fish or a tuna fish?”
He peered at the screen. “…Tuna.”
“It means he’s sad. He’ll be fine.”
You closed your eyes again, sighing when his chin rested atop your head. Then, a thought crossed your mind and you bolted up.
“Shit, we have ice cream.”
a/n:
writing angst in any form: 😬
closing off the infinity saga with some domestic shit and a happy ending for my babies: 😌
hope y’all enjoy, literally shaking w excitement for tfatws. reader’s gonna be on some hot gurl shit 🤍 also tony’s speech at the end is my favorite thing ever so i tried to incorporate it a bit
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