Chapter Text
Avengers Tower, 2016
Late Morning
Tony appeared in his lab, the Quantum Suit vanishing moments after his arrival back in the past. For a few moments, Tony wondered whether he had imagined all, if it had been a dream. Then, Tony looked down and saw the Avenger phone in his hand, knowing it had been real.
“FRIDAY, find me everything you can on Adrian Toomes,” Tony said after a moment.
“On it Boss,” FRIDAY said.
Barton Farm
Same time
Clint appeared in his barn, where he had been days earlier. No, not days, moments, Clint thought to himself as he pulled the Avenger phone out of his pocket. He stared at it for a few moments before pocketing it.
After removing the Quantum Suit, Clint headed towards his house. Never had the walk from the barn to the house felt so long Clint mused. As he entered the house, he saw his eldest son and daughter sitting down on the couch. Cooper had his headphones plugged into his MP3, listening to music while Lila was reading a book. And Clint just took a moment to stare at his children.
It was amazing how you could take something for granted and not realize its significance until it was taken from you. Clint loved his family more than anything else in the world, but part of him felt like he had taken them for granted since retiring. Never again, he thought to himself firmly.
“Dad?” Lila asked as she looked up and saw him. “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine,” Clint said as he walked over, ruffling her hair.
Clint laughed as his daughter made a sound of protest before making his way into the kitchen. Laura was putting something in the oven, likely making dinner when he walked in. As she took off her oven mites, Laura suddenly found herself pressed against the fridge, her husband’s arms around her as he kissed her fiercely.
“Clint, Clint,” Laura said breathlessly as she reluctantly broke the kiss, putting her hands on either side of his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Can’t I just kiss my wife?” Clint asked nonchalantly.
“You can. But you haven’t kissed me like that since you got back from New York, after Loki,” Laura pointed out. “What’s wrong Clint?”
Clint nearly came undone, nearly told her everything right there and then. But he held himself together. Not with the kids around, he told himself.
“After the kids go to bed,” Clint promised, wondering how he was going to explain everything to her. “There is…a lot I need to tell you.”
Asgard
Same time
Skurge was admiring the guns he had taken from ‘Texass’ when Thor appeared in his Quantum Suit. Skurge almost jumped as the suit vanished.
“Skurge,” Thor greeted.
“Well, look who it is? Bifrost is too good for you now? You have to find another way of transportation?” Skurge asked indignantly.
“Did you know about Loki?” Thor asked bluntly, taking Skurge back.
“He died years ago, what about him?” Skurge asked confused and Thor smiled tightly.
“Escort me to the palace. I believe my father told you to announce my presence.”
In the throne room, Odin sat on his throne, staring down at Sif.
“You are hereby banished from Asgard,” Odin declared.
“On what grounds?” Sif demanded incredulously.
“On the grounds that I declare it so! Away with you!” Odin snarled.
Before Sif could react, the doors to the throne room burst open.
“Behold! Thor Odinson, Prince of Asgard has returned!” Skurge announced as he and Thor entered the room.
Odin paled as he saw Thor while Sif turned to her friend and secret love.
“Thor,” she called out.
Thor ignored her, walking right passed her and over to the throne.
“Thor, my son, welcome home,” Odin said seeming happy to see him.
“Father,” Thor said dryly, throwing Mjolnir.
It stopped near Odin’s head before Thor summoned it back. Sif and Skurge both watched, bewildered by Thor’s behavior.
“So it’s um, back to Misgard for you then?” Odin asked.
“Nope,” Thor said shortly. “You’re really gonna make me do it?”
“Do what?” Odin said innocently.
Thor walked up beside his father before throwing Mjolnir. It soared passed Sif and Skurge and out the throne room doors.
“Nothing will stop it from returning to me. Not even your face,” Thor said as, to Sif and Skurge’s shock, he jump up, grabbed Odin and forced him out of the chair, holding Odin’s face by the back of his head.
“Thor!” Sif exclaimed but he ignored her.
“You’ve gone mad! I could execute you for this!” Odin exclaimed.
“Then I’ll see you on the other side, brother,” Thor said calmly as they saw Mjolnir soaring back towards them.
“Okay I yield!” ‘Odin’ exclaimed, jumping out of the way, dropping his glamor and revealing Loki’s form as Mjolnir returned to Thor’s hand.
“You vile Trickster!” Sif snarled, drawing her sword as she marched towards Loki.
“Stand down Sif,” Thor commanded and Sif looked at him incredulously.
“But he-”
“I know what he has done. But, at the moment, I am acting king. So you will stand down,” Thor ordered and, after a moment, Sif placed her sword back in its sheath.
“As you command,” Sif said, wondering why Thor was acting so short with her.
“Skurge, announce to the people that all those that Odin has declared as traitors over the last few years are now pardoned, including Heimdall,” Thor ordered and Skurge nodded once he overcame his shock.
“As you wish,” Skurge said before turning around and heading towards the exit.
“And as for you,” Thor said as he turned to Loki, who looked like a deer caught in the headlights. “It is good to see you brother.”
“Um…it’s good to see you to?” Loki said confused, thrown by Thor’s reaction.
“Leave us,” Thor told Sif, who looked at him shocked.
“What? But Thor!”
“My brother and I have much to discus,” Thor said simply. “Now leave us.”
Confused and bewildered by Thor’s actions, Sif turned and walked briskly out of the throne room, closing the doors behind her.
“Now,” Thor said, setting Mjolnir down. “We have much to discuss Loki.”
“About father?” Loki said dryly.
“Father…and Thanos,” Thor said and Loki started.
“You know about Thanos?” Loki asked shocked and Thor nodded grimly.
“And I know what he plans to do next. And I will need your help to stop him,” Thor said grimly.
Wakanda
Same time
In the royal dining room, T’Chaka, Shuri, and Ramonda were eating a late lunch. Silently, T’Challa entered, taking a moment to stop and stare at his family. Particularly at his father, his feelings of love, disgust and anger at T’Chaka warring inside him.
“T’Challa, you’re late,” his mother told him as they looked up at him.
“I am sorry mother. I was…held up,” T’Challa said as he stared at his father.
“Are you alright my son? You have not looked so gutted since the day Nakia left,” T’Chaka said and T’Challa was silent for several moments.
“Brother? Are you alright?” Shuri asked as they were all greatly considered by T’Challa’s behavior.
“I know Baba. I know about Uncle,” T’Challa finally said.
The effect of these words was almost instant. T’Chaka’s skin paled several shades as he stared at his son with a nauseated look on his face while Ramonda and Shuri looked back and forth between them in confusion. For a few moments, the room was silent.
“My love, Shuri…leave us,” T’Chaka commanded in a tone that left no room to argue.
Silently, Ramonda rose to her feet, giving Shuri a look. Even Shuri realized whatever was happening was not the time for her to be a smartass. Mother and daughter exited the room, closing the doors behind them.
“You’ve been talking to Zuri,” T’Chaka said once they were alone.
“No, he did not betray you,” T’Challa assured him. “It does not matter how I know.”
“I suppose not,” T’Chaka acknowledged.
“Why?” T’Challa asked.
“I acted to save Zuri’s life,” T’Chaka said simply.
“And kept it a secret,” T’Challa pointed out and his father looked ashamed. “You lied to everyone. And the boy…you left him there. Do you know what he has become?”
“I chose our people. I chose Wakanda,” T’Chaka said fiercely and T’Challa looked at him in disappointment.
“No…that is how you have justified it to yourself. You chose yourself,” T’Challa said and T’Chaka looked at him in shock. “You could not face yourself in the mirror…so you left the boy so you could pretend it never happened. But it happened. The boy is a man now…and he wants revenge on all of us. He is a monster of your making Baba. He intends to make you answer for what you have done. And I am not entirely sure he is wrong on that account.”
“T’Challa-” T’Chaka said but T’Challa held up a hand.
“I will stop him father. But for Wakanda, not for you. They do not deserve to suffer for your sins, nor does the rest of the world,” T’Challa said as he lowered his hand. “I love you Baba, I always will. But you were wrong to abandon the boy. Wrong to turn your back on the rest of the world, as our ancestors did. The world has changed Baba. We can no longer ignore the suffering of the world. I will not. My king.”
T’Challa bowed his head slightly before turning and walking out, leaving T’Chaka staring after him in shock, pain and a bit of pride.