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𝑺𝑼𝑹𝑽𝑰𝑽𝑶𝑹
-𝒔𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏
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nineteen.
disintegrate
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⋆

ROCKET and Ana fire up at a Leviathan as it flies at the two. They turn away as it dives down, shielding themselves with their arms. Before the thing can kill the two, it suddenly disappears. Rocket and Anastasia exchange looks of confusion before they look around, finding it completely gone.

Slowly, one by one, all of Thanos' army starts to disintegrate. Steve pants in exhaustion as he looks around as well, noticing that they've finally won.

T'Challa, Quill and Lexi watch in silence too, surprised at the sudden end to their battle.

Steve does a double take at Thanos, watching him slowly sit himself on a boulder. Thanos meets Steve's gaze, who only stares on in silence.

Thanos blinks in shock, letting out a small gasp. He blinks a few times, eyes fixed on the ground as he mourns as much as he can. His shoulder starts to drift up in ashes.

Finally, Thanos bows his head as he disintegrates from existence and a crack of thunder ripples across the sky.

Tony stumbles forward after Thanos and his army are gone, leaving his right arm fatally injured. He uses his left hand to balance him on a piece of broken concrete; his right arm completely numb. Tony allows himself to collapses against it, falling to the ground to sit.

Rhodey suddenly flies in, face falling at the sight of Tony. Crouching in front of Tony, he bows his head, knowing there's no going back from the damage of the gauntlet and the Stones.

Lucy is first to stumble up to Tony, falling to her knees and scraping them; but she barely notices as her vision blurs with tears. "M-Mr. Stark? I-It's me, Lucy. D-Do you remember me?"

Peter is close behind her, landing beside Tony and taking in his state. He bends to meet Tony's eyes. "Mr. Stark? Hey, Mr. Stark? Can you hear me? It's Peter." his voice breaks. "W-We won and you did it, sir. You did it."

When Tony is unresponsive to him, he's gently pulled away with Lucy by Rhodey. Lucy glances over her shoulder at their mentor before she collapses to the ground and starts to sob uncontrollably.

Pepper then sits herself in front of Tony, a warm smile on her lips. "Hey,"

Tony is barely able to move his head, but manages to look up at Pepper. "Hey, Pep." he greets back, his voice only a whisper.

Lexi is slow to approach the pair, shrinking behind Pepper and letting the two have their moment. Her hand moves up to cover her mouth as her body shakes with silent sobs. Pepper gives a quick glance at her before looking at Tony with a gentle expression.

Placing her hand on Tony's Arc reactor, Tony moves his left hand to cover hers.

"FRIDAY?" Pepper asks.

"Life functions critical."

Tony offers a weak smile to his wife.

"Tony, look at me." Pepper asks, her tone still gentle and sweet. Tony stares at her for a long moment before Pepper nods at him. "We're going to be okay." she watches his head turn away with slack as he allows himself to stop fighting for consciousness. "You can rest now."

Tony slowly gives Pepper a single nod before his reactor flickers. After a seconds, it suddenly fades away for good. His hand slowly slides off hers and falls to the ground.

Steve, Thor and Amber all watched a few yards away, shedding their own tears of grief.

Leaning her head up, Pepper presses a long kiss to Tony's cheek.

Tony is dead...

A moment of silence passes before Pepper's facade crumbles. Her face twists with anguish and grief. She leans her head down, resting it on Tony's shoulder. Lexi watches her shoulders shake.

After a few long minutes, Lexi gently grabs her shoulders, pulling her into her body and allowing Pepper to cry into her side.

To the two, they didn't Steve lowering to one knee in respect. One after another, everyone lowered to one knee in due of Tony's ultimate sacrifice.

"EVERYONE wants a happy ending, right? But it doesn't always roll that way." Tony's voice is heard by the small gathered crowd. "Maybe this time. I'm hoping if you play this back, it's in celebration. I hope families are reunited...I hope we get it back, and something like a normal version of the planet has been restored."

Lucy and Peter return to school. They stand close together as many students pass by them without acknowledgment. Peter grips his backpack close as Lucy's face flushes with anxiety. School felt...foreign to her. She hugged her arms to herself. At the same time, they turn their heads and meet gazes with Ned. Their shoulders relax as the three meet up.

"If there ever was such a thing. 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-I wouldn't have been surprised. But come on, you know?"

Cassie, Scott and Christina all watch fireworks in the sky. Scott and Christina smile at one another before they lean in to kiss one another.

"That epic forces of darkness 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."

Back in Wakanda, T'Challa hugs Aretta closely to his side. Standing on his other side, Ramonda and Shuri all gaze over the balcony at their flourishing city.

"So I thought I'd probably better record a little greeting... In the case of an untimely death on my part. Not that, death in any time isn't untimely. This time travel thing that we're gonna try and pull off tomorrow, it's...it's got me scratching my head about the survivability of it all."

In Tony and Pepper's home, a small group is gathered; Pepper, Morgan, Rhodey, Lexi, Happy and a few others. Rhodey glanced at Pepper, tears staining his cheeks. Pepper smiles at the hologram of her husband, a bittersweet feeling in her chest.

Lexi reached up, rubbing Rhodey's back in a circular motion. She pressed a tissue that was crumbled in her hand up to her nose, wiping it.

"But then again, that's the hero gig. Part of the journey is the end."

Everyone watches Tony get up from the chair he was seated in a move towards his helmet. "Uh, what am I even trippin' for? Everything's gonna work out exactly the way it's supposed to."

Bending down to switch the recording off, he suddenly looks up, straight at Morgan. He smiles warmly.

"I love you 3000."

The holograph switches off and Pepper lets out a soft breath.

THE property is silent as Pepper leads everyone outside of the house. A wreath is in her hand and Tony's first Arc reactor is placed upon the flowers.

Taking slow strides, Pepper passes everyone who attended. Standing with Morgan on the dock, she bends down to let the wreath sit on the water before it slowly starts to drift away. She stares at the engraved words on the Arc reactor;

Proof that Tony Stark has a heart.

Behind Pepper, stands Rhodey, Happy and Lexi. Happy and Rhodey look at one another before side-hugging one another. Lexi stands by herself, hand covering her mouth to quiet her crying.

Off the dock, Steve, Peter Parker, Astrid, May Parker, Lucy, Thor, Amber, Bruce, Stephen, Wong, Scott, Christina, Hope, Janet, Hank, Peter Quill, Nebula, Rocket, Groot, Drax, Mantis, T'Challa, Okoye, Aretta, Shuri, Clint and his family, Wanda, Bucky, Anastasia, Sam, Harley, Secretary Ross, Maria, Carol, Holly and Nick all stand.

Everyone watches the wreath float away.

"SO, when can we expect you two back?" Valkyrie asks, squinting against the sun as she looks as Amber and Thor. The three stand on a hill, overlooking New Asgard.

"Um, about that..." Thor hesitantly says, glancing at her. His hair was now back to normal and his beard was un-braided.

Amber laced their hands, silent as the death of Iron Man still settled in her chest.

"Thor, your people need a king."

He removes his sunglasses, nodding at Valkyrie. "No, they already have one."

Valkyrie gives him a look. "That's funny." When Thor doesn't respond she blinks. "You're being serious?"

He nods, "It's time for me to be who I am rather than who I'm supposed to be. But you, you're a leader. That's who you are."

Valkyrie surveys the land, "You know I'd make a lot of changes around here."

"I'm counting on it. Your Majesty."

Thor offers his hand, and Valkyrie shakes it.

Next, she hugs Amber farewell. Amber smiles at her. "I know you'll be a great leader here. You have it in you."

Valkyrie glances between the two, "What will you guys do?"

Thor shrugs, "I'm not sure. For the first time in a thousand years, I...I have no path. But I know as long as I have Amber by my side, I'll be okay."

Amber purses her lips. Fighting a smile, she hugs his side.

She gives a light chuckle, "We have no path...but we do have a ride."

They all look over their shoulder to the Benatar sitting at the edge of the cliff. Rocket stands in front of it, arms crossed. "Move it or lose it, you two!" he calls. Bidding Valkyrie one more goodbye, Thor and Amber head for the ship.

"HERE we are!" Thor said proudly as they enter the ship. Seeing Groot, Thor lets go of Amber's hand before pointing at him. "Tree! Good to see you." he places his bag on the table "Well...The Asgardians of the Galaxy, back together again!" he grips Peter's shoulder, giving it a shake.

"Where to first?" Thor asks, tapping the screen to display a map.

"Just so you know, this is my ship still. I'm in charge." Peter said with no emotion, moving the map back to the destination that was previously displayed.

Thor nods at Peter. "I know. I know. Of course, you are. Of course." he touches the map again, changing the location.

"See, you say of course, but then you touch the map. It makes you think that maybe you didn't realize I was in charge."

Amber's eyes narrowed in concern, already sensing the tension building. She glanced at Lexi, who only looked tired of their bickering. Lexi rolled her eyes.

"Quail...you, that—that's..."

"Quail?" Peter spits, offended by the name. Lexi sputters, holding back a sudden laugh. Peter sends her a sharp glare before turning back to Thor.

"...that's your own insecurities in there. Okay? I'm merely trying to be of service. An assistant."

"Quill," Peter corrects over Thor's rambling, brows creasing more.

"That's what I said."

"You should fight one another, for the honor of leadership." Drax suddenly comments and the two men glance at him.

"Sounds fair." Nebula then comments with a nod.

"It's not necessary." Peter shakes his head, looking around at everyone.

"It's not." Thor agrees with him, giving Amber a look. Amber's eyes narrowed further, not trusting Thor in this moment.

"I got some blasters, unless you guys wanna use knives." Rocket offered, to which Mantis smiled excitingly.

"Oh, yes. Please, use knives!"

"Yeah, knives." Drax smiles, joining in on the excitement.

"I am Groot." The tree nods, a smile on his face.

Lexi lifts her hand. "I vote on the knives as well."

"Lexi!" Peter hissed, frowning at her. Lexi snickers, offering a wink to him. Peter frowns further, not appreciating the gesture.

Thor starts to laugh, but Peter quickly joins in, trying to laugh harder than the god. "Not necessary."

"Not nec—there shall be no knifing one another. Everybody knows who's in charge."

"Me, right?" Peter glanced at Thor.

"Yes, you! Of course! Of course." Thor's smile suddenly dropped and his voice lowered an octave. "Of course..."

Amber leaned towards Lexi, "Does this happen a lot...the bickering?"

Lexi rolled her eyes again, shoulders slumping. Her face fell into her hands.

"You have no idea..."

❝ GAME OF SURVIVAL ❞
❛ by -sebstan ❜

author's comments ↴

huge FUCK YOU to the
russo brothers for cutting out
a very emotional scene, so I
decided to add it

also, i wanna do a couple of
'bonus' parts like i did in my
infinity war fic like aesthetics
or something like that, but if you want,
feel free to give some suggestions
on what else to include like bloopers,
or maybe a small q&a (dm me the questions
or something) on the series/other fics,
or other questions :)

let me know!