Avengers Compound
Night
"Why the hell would you want to make another?!" Thor exploded once he had gotten over his shock.
"Because the stones are the only way to bring everyone back," Freya explained.
"Yeah, we know that already," Rhodey said.
"What you do not know is that, when Thanos wiped out half of all life in the universe, the energy of the stones was almost too much for the gauntlet to bear," Fate said and they all looked over at him. "The gauntlet was damaged. One more use of the stones would surely destroy it."
"And that's bad…because?" Tony deadpanned.
"It's bad because it would cause an explosion that would not only destroy the stones, but kill the person using them and take out everyone and everything within a one mile radius," Freya said grimly.
"Yeah, let's try and avoid that," Coulson said after a moment.
"I'm guessing you know this from experience?" Steve asked and Freya winced.
"I wasn't there; I was only a few years older than I am in this time. But we figured out that we could create our own gauntlet, we didn't have to steal his. Just the stones. The Fitz from my time was designing a new gauntlet but he needed something to stabilize it. A unique material to make sure it could focus the energy of the stones better than the first gauntlet. Luckily, Wakanda was full of what he needed," Freya explained and everyone understood then.
"Vibranium," Barry said and his daughter nodded.
"Unfortunately, Thanos caught wind of our plan. He showed up in Wakanda, there was a fight. He used the stones to destroy all Vibranium in the universe. The resulting explosion killed Steve, Natasha, Caitlin, and Tony, as well as mortally wounded Thor," Freya said to their horror. "With no Vibranium and no stones, nothing more could be done. And the second snap also destroyed the Inter-Dimensional Extrapolators. I guess they were similar enough to Vibranium that the stones couldn't tell the difference. No Cisco and no extrapolator stranded dad and me here."
"God, I think I'm gonna throw up," Caitlin said, putting a hand to her mouth.
"Shit, this is a God damn nightmare," Frank muttered.
"For you it's a nightmare, for me it's my life," Freya said grimly. "Which is why we need this gauntlet. And you're the only one who can make it Fitz."
"And you've got the wrong man," Fitz insisted. "You've got Tony Stark, he can make it."
"It has to be you. No one else is capable of creating this gauntlet," Fate shot back.
"You're wrong!" Fitz shouted making those who knew him look at him in surprise. "Whatever it is you're seeing, it's wrong. Everything I make…destroys. Find someone else."
Fitz then turned and walked out, leaving Mack and Coulson staring after him sadly while Bobbi was confused.
"What does he mean everything he touches destroys? What did I miss?" Bobbi asked confused.
"The Framework," Mack said grimly and Coulson sighed.
"Holden Radcliffe, a scientist, created a virtual reality where one regret was removed for each of us. Fitz was a very…different person there," Coulson explained.
"How different?" Bobbi asked wearily.
"He was the head of Hydra," Mack said to the shock of everyone. "He killed, he tortured, he was ruthless. Fitz...he's had a hard time coming to terms with that."
"Well he needs to," Freya said firmly but kindly. "He's the only one capable of making the gauntlet. Without him, we'll lose."
"Let me talk to him," Coulson volunteered. "I know a bit about what he's going through right now."
As Coulson walked out after Fitz, Freya glanced over at Fate. At his subtle nod, she smiled. This was it. This was what Coulson was meant to do before he died.
"So, you can really see the future?" Bruce asked as he looked over at Fate.
"I see all your fates. Doctor Banner. You will resolve the conflict within between yourself and the beast," Fate said before turning to look at Matt. "Mathew Murdock. You will soon find what makes you whole again."
While Bruce looked hopeful and Matt looked puzzled, Fate turned to Barry.
"Barry Allen. The Flash. As Captain Rogers leads this earth's heroes, you will lead the heroes of your own. And although Eobard Thawne is your greatest enemy, you will triumph over him," Fate said, causing both Barry and Caitlin to start.
"Thawne? Thawne's dead," Barry said shocked.
"Isn't he?" Caitlin asked uncertainly but Fate did not answer.
West House, Earth-1
Not long after
Joe West was in his living room, going over the last report of a case he was working on. Wally had gone to bed and he was just finishing up his report. He was broken out of his thoughts when his cell phone rang. Pulling it out of his pocket, he saw Laura's face flash across the screen.
"Laura, everything okay?" Joe asked as he answered.
"No Joe, I'm afraid things are very face from alright," a familiar voice that was definitely not Laura said and Joe sat up straighter in his seat.
"Harry?" Joe questioned and 'Harry' chuckled in a way that sent chills down Joe's spine.
"Guess again," Thawne said mockingly and Joe's blood ran cold.
"Thawne," Joe breathed. "But how? You died."
"Death is but an illusion Detective," Thawne mocked.
"Where's Laura? I swear to god if you've hurt her or the kids-" Joe started angrily.
"You'll do what Detective?" Thawne asked mockingly. "We both know you can't stop me. And with Barry off world, we both know your son can't stop me. And if he tries, well, you wouldn't want anything to happen to the Bartons or your granddaughter, would you?"
"What do you want from me?" Joe asked lowly after a moment and Thawne chuckled.
"I thought you'd never ask."
Avengers Compound, Earth-66
Same time
Coulson found Fitz in the lounge. He was sitting in a chair, staring down at a chessboard, deep in thought.
"Must be a pretty interesting chessboard," Coulson said as he sat down in a chair across from Fitz, breaking the engineer out of his thoughts.
"I can't do it sir," Fitz said softly. "Everything I make…it causes chaos and destruction."
"We both know that's not true Fitz. How many missions were a success because you were there, because you had invented something, because you knew exactly what to do at exactly the right time?" Coulson challenged.
"It's different now sir. What I was in The Framework…that came from inside of me. They're looking for the wrong man," Fitz said in self-loathing.
"I said the same thing once when Fury handed me his Toolbox," Coulson said and Fitz looked up at him. "I thought there was no way that I could lead SHIELD, that I could be Director."
"That's different and you know it. I'm a bad person sir, I know I am," Fitz sighed.
"No, you're not," Coulson got to his feet and walked over to Fitz. "Listen to me for a minute. What you did in The Framework was what AIDA made you, what she and your father turned you into. We've all got light and darkness inside us; no one is pure good and pure bad. What matters is the part we choose to act on."
"What if we don't know the part we're acting on? What if we think we're acting on the good part but we're really acting on the bad?" Fitz asked lowly and Coulson was silent for a moment.
"I'm not a parent," Coulson said and Fitz raised an eyebrow, wondering where he was going with this. "But…once we formed the team, once we all came together on the bus, I got a feeling about what that would have been like."
"We all know how you feel about Daisy sir," Fitz said, wondering why he was bringing this up now.
"I wasn't talking about Daisy," Coulson said, taking Fitz back. "Just as I found myself unexpectedly with a daughter, I also found myself unexpectedly with a son. He was more brilliant than I'd ever imagined. Loyal to a fault. But what left me in complete awe of him was how good he was. I'd never known anyone so selfless and caring. Who put the needs of others ahead of his own without hesitation and who would protect his friends, no matter the personal cost to himself. He was beyond anything I could have ever imagined."
"Sir…" Fitz trailed off, not sure what to say.
"You've spent almost every moment of every day since I met you trying to help others. You're not only one of the smartest people I've met, but one of the best. Because you're the best of us Fitz. And I have no doubt that you will be the one to make that gauntlet. You-"
Coulson suddenly stopped, clutching at his chest, appearing in pain. Fitz stood up and managed to catch Coulson as he fell.
"Sir, sir?!" Fitz called panicked.
"Fitz…you're good," Coulson whispered before he seemed to pass out.
"Somebody help!" Fitz shouted in a panic.