[Post Infinity War piece. Any Endgame spoilers must be tagged and minor in comments]

[juststeverogers]

It starts out like a joke of questionable taste. Captain America, Black Widow, Rocket Raccoon, and Thor God of Thunder walk into the Plaza.

What that it were a joking matter. All of them are pale, beaten, and filthy. None of them says much to anyone commenting to them while they wander past people. Natasha's eyes are wide and panicked, her head turning every which way as if she could count and see all of the people passing them by. Her blonde hair is matted with blood and it hangs in clumps with ever jerky turn of her head. Steve's walking slower than Natasha, his beard and hair unkempt mess. Every step drags. His mouth hangs slightly open and moves every now and again like he might have something to say before he looks down at his feet and keeps going. Thor brings up the rear with Rocket sitting in a daze on his right shoulder, silent with a thousand yard stare that's as empty as the rest of his expression. Most of his left arm is missing, replaced by a very ramshackle prosthetic that isn't quite proportionally right for his size. In its metal skeletal fingers he carries an axe that's easily as large as Natasha is. Every now and then there is a sniffle from Rocket before he paws at his eyes and shakes his head.

Wherever these Avengers have been for the last few weeks, they've clearly been busy.

And it doesn't take much guessing to assume they've Lost.

They wander aimlessly. Eventually Rocket hops down and stops them outside a fountain. Somewhere with seating and clean water so they can tend to their injuries if they'd like. It's going to take more than anyone has to do much yet though. But they all sit. Stare. The question hangs between them all unspoken because there are no answers yet to give.

How can they possibly come back from this?

Whatever this is to them.


[This post is meant to bring several MCU muses in the comm up to Post Infinity War status. This post is OPEN TO ALL, not just Marvel characters. This is NOT meant to spoil End Game in any way. Any comments that may even IMPLY Endgame spoilers due to association with post Infinity War MUST BE TAGGED at subject level and you must talk to your OOC partner before posting them. The standard 3 weeks rule is still in effect regarding Endgame.]

Comments

[pirateangelbaby]

Thor does not seem to hear him at first, lost in whatever horrors he sees in his mind's eye. The Titan's sneer, the gauntlet raised, the metallic snap that echoes endlessly in his ears. He finally moves, raising his head just enough to focus a distant eye on the stranger. "No," he says, voice rough and hoarse. "It's over. We lost."

[bronzemeteorologist]

McReady steps back a bit. He doesn't know anything about Thanos or the Snap. Whatever happened hit this man hard, and judging from its effects it was bad. All he can tell is that there was a battle of some kind, presumably with heavy casualties, and that ended in a defeat. "I'll leave you to it. I can't say I know how you feel, but I'm sorry."

[pirateangelbaby]

"I am sorry too," Thor says, voice low and broken with shame and guilt. He does not seem to mean quite the same thing as the stranger, but he takes little notice, the blame weighing heavily on his shoulders. It's all he can think about.

Half the universe dead, because Thor wanted revenge.

You should have gone for the head.