Chapter Text
Colonel James Rhodes was a soldier, a protector and pissed beyond all belief as he glared at the purple rock on the table. The Guardians of the Galaxy, or whatever they were called, sat tense on the other side of the meeting room. They had immediately protested when Rhodey ordered the Power Stone be revealed, the damn aliens had been chasing it after all so it had to be one of the fucking stones involved, but had shut up when the Colonel attitude dropped and protective older brother Rhodey came out.
Then they sat down and put the stupid rock on the table.
Stephen and Loki were in tense discussion in the corner, the mage having saved the Sorcerer Supreme when the Black Order targeted him upon realising he had the Time Stone. The Hulk had crushed one of them while they'd been distracted, very upset over his Tin Man being swiped up in the chaos. Some unexpected and powerful backup from Frigga who was visiting had turned the battle in their favour while Hawkeye took a Black Order member out entirely with an exploding arrow in an eye socket. Barnes had almost done the same to another with his sniper rifle and they weren't sure how the brute had stayed standing after that shot.
Spider-Man and Quicksilver had focused on protecting the civilians and the Guardians had admittedly helped out a lot. In the end, the remaining members of the Black Order had been forced to retreat with their injured, leaving their dead teammate behind.
That led to them here, Rhodey staring down the damned purple rock that had led them all here.
"Um, why are we in a staring contest with an Infinity Stone?" Quill, or Starlord, tentatively asked.
"You got Tony kidnapped," Rhodey directed at the stone, ignoring them.
"It's not like that was the plan!" Power finally burst out, making the Guardians jump.
"What plan?" Time snapped, the eye around Stephen's neck opening to show the green stone pulsing in anger. "Your impatience screwed everything up!"
"Hey! You guys were already together! It was taking too long to get here."
"It was going to take one more month!"
"Too long!"
Those used to the stones' nonsense rolled their eyes.
"We don't have time for this," Barnes growled, more Winter Soldier than not at the moment. Pietro was pacing, almost vibrating out of sight in the process. Bruce was sitting to the side, still doing calming breathing exercises while Clint stood perfectly still next to the windows.
"What the fuck is going on?" The talking raccoon demanded.
"The fucking Infinity Stones are constant trouble," Rhodey ground out in reply.
"The Infinity Stones are talking?" Gamora asked dubiously.
"They never shut up," Loki said dryly.
"Mine behaves," Stephen pointed out.
"I don't," the hiss underlying the words gave away the wispy, red cat sauntering into the room. "But this isn't my fuck up."
"For once," Mind piped in happily, floating up somewhere by the ceiling.
"They were worried," Peter said sheepishly from the doorway, holding the container that allowed anyone not Tony to carry them. The kid was such a softie.
Space flashed onto the table in a burst of blue light.
"You lost my inventor!" It shrieked at Power, making the stone shout as it was blasted off the table.
"Hey! No fighting!" Peter protested. "That's not going to help Mr Stark."
Moody silence fell among the rocks, Power using a burst of purple energy to fling itself back onto the table.
"Those… those are the Infinity Stones. Almost all of them," Quill said weakly, pointing at the two on the table.
"Yes," Stephen nodded. "And they're all very attached to the man that just got kidnapped. Now, where is Tony?"
Everyone else was also very attached to the genius and the Guardians squirmed under all the glares.
"The Grandmaster," Quill said weakly. "That was his ship."
Loki cursed. "The gladiator planet," he muttered. "Sakaar."
"Gladiator?" Rhodey asked.
"If it makes you feel better," Time spoke up. "Tony is going to have a lot of fun."
Silence stretched for a moment.
"Dammit, we're going to miss it," Mind complained.
"He'll make his way home. So you'll need to handle preparing for the invasion on your own," Time continued.
"Invasion?" Gamora asked dubiously.
"Of course," Time said like it was obvious. "Thanos wants us so he can do that ridiculous snap plan of his."
"I'll pass this time," Reality sighed. "Really wasn't a fan of the after party."
"This time?" Pietro asked in confusion, stopping his pacing to look over.
"We're in the do-over," Space chimed in. "It's going much better this time around."
"Tony's from the future," Rhodey explained to them with a sigh. Looked like the closely guarded secret wasn't so secret anymore. Peter was gaping at him in shock, jaw literally hanging open, and the others not in the know were just as stunned. "He's been making sure Thanos doesn't succeed this time."
"This time?!" Quill yelped.
"Apparently he pulled it off before," Loki shrugged. "Most of us died."
"I like this timeline more," Mind added. "Not a fan of the purple raisin."
"You're going to need the Guardians," Time spoke again. "Tony was waiting for them. They're a little stupid but they're good people."
"Hey!" Quill yelled in offence, jumping to his feet.
Gamora yanked him back down into his chair while Mantis fretted with her hands and whispered nervously to Drax about how confusing this planet was. The talking tree was looking at the stones in worry now, apparently over the shock already.
"Gamora's got all the brain cells," Mind said cheerfully. "Not that there're many of them to begin with."
"They're fun," Power defended. "You should have seen the dance party. It was awesome."
The Guardians didn't seem to know what to do with that tidbit at all.
Rhodey rubbed his face tiredly.
"So an invasion on the horizon and we don't have Tony."
"He gathered all the pieces," Time said. "You can put them together. He made your lives better, saved you all. It's time to step up and help him this time."
Determination settled over the room like a heavy blanket.
"He went through hell to give us a better future," Rhodey said softly, remembering Afghanistan and the night terrors.
"He saved me, my realm and my mother," Loki said, voice cracking at the end.
Gamora flinched at his voice. She hadn't managed to look at him for long and he'd avoided eye contact as well. Stephen had been keeping himself between them, a supportive hand on Loki's arm.
"He reached out when he didn't have to and helped people who hurt him before," Phil said from the doorway. Rhodey had seen him arrive earlier but didn't call attention to him.
"He forgave when he didn't need to," Clint said and Barnes bowed his head as he understood the gravity of the truth.
Pietro was staring blankly at the wall as he realised the same thing.
"He gave us support, connections and help when we needed it. And had to watch the things he couldn't change happen no matter how it hurt him," Stephen's voice was heavy with understanding.
"He was waiting for us," Peter realised, sounding shaken and awed.
"It's time to step up," Rhodey agreed.
"Quite," JARVIS spoke, drawing their attention. "There are some final pieces to tie up before the final battle. Sir's list wasn't complete yet."
"What's left?" Rhodey asked.
"The military. Captain Marvel AKA Carol Danvers. The magical order. The X-Men. Magneto. Wakanda. Asgard. Eradicate HYDRA."
"I'll brief the military," Rhodey said.
"I can get Captain Marvel," Phil said. "Fury can contact her. I won't give him a choice."
"The Order will be there," Stephen promised without hesitation.
"Jane, Darcy and I can speak to Xavier. We've worked with Hank before. I don't know about Magneto… the Professor might be able to convince him with this news," Bruce suggested.
"HYDRA will he eliminated," Barnes said matter-of-factly, straightening up.
"I have loyal agents who can help with that," Phil told him. "And we can get assistance through the United Nations."
"You'll also have the Iron Legion," JARVIS told him. Rhodey hadn't realised that project was up and running but it would definitely help.
"I'll need to speak to the UN as well," Rhodey said, rubbing his face as he realised the magnitude of the job ahead of them.
"We'll have to work on a plan for Wakanda," Stephen said.
"Why are they important?" Bruce asked in confusion.
"They've got secrets," the sorcerer said with a scowl. "And they'll be difficult to convince."
"I have information to assist with that," JARVIS assured.
"I'll deal with Asgard. And beyond," Loki said quietly.
"Beyond?" Rhodey asked, raising an eyebrow and looking at the mage.
"Asgard isn't the only powerful realm. I have some ideas and contacts to get other allies."
"I'll come with," Stephen said firmly. "I don't trust Asgard when you're involved."
Loki cracked a smile and a meaningful look passed between the two magic users.
"I might know some people," Peter spoke up. "If it's a worldwide threat, the smaller supers should get a chance to help."
"We should put the message out there for anyone that can help," Pietro said softly. "There might be some hidden."
Ideas continued to be thrown around as Tony's list was completed and then expanded on.
They'd make sure Earth was ready when Tony returned. They had his back and it was time they took some of the pressure off his shoulders.
"Colonel," JARVIS spoke again. "There's something else."
"What?"
"Sir swore off weapons, but he is realistic enough to know that they will still be needed in extreme circumstances. He created two to defend Earth.
"What did he make?" Bruce asked curiously.
"A shield and a sword. Ultron and Edith."