Avengers Compound
Afternoon
For a moment, it was dead silent in the room as everyone stared at Freya in shock, the weight of her words hitting them all like a ton of bricks.
"W-what?" Clint asked, hoping he had misheard.
"On this day, Eobard Thawne destroyed our family," Freya said sadly with a sigh. "I don't know a whole lot about what happened; I didn't even know it was today. No one ever talked about it when I was growing up and I learned not to ask. But I know that Thawne killed them all."
"Why? What did my family do to him?!" Clint exploded as he stalked over but Barry stopped him.
"That's enough Clint," Steve said as Natasha pulled him back.
"Hey, I know how you feel, okay? But you losing it won't help anyone," Natasha snapped at him and Clint took a breath, calming himself after allowing his emotions to get control of him.
"I'm sorry," Clint said and Freya nodded. "Why didn't you tell us this before?"
"I didn't know I had to. No one told me it was happening today," Freya said with an angry look at Fate. "I thought we had more time to stop him and Thanos."
"Why is Thawne going after them?" Barry asked his daughter, although he already had a good idea.
"To break you, to break all of you," Fate said as they all looked over at him. "Eobard Thawne wants to make Barry and those closest to him suffer. He is by far the most sadistic enemy you will ever face."
"Why didn't you tell us before, we could've gotten them somewhere safe by now?!" Barry exploded.
"Any attempt to intervene before now would only have resulted in the deaths of Joe and Wally West and Mr. Barton's family," Fate said, stunning them all. "This helmet allows me to see into the future, into every possible future. There is only on in which we defeat Thanos and they remain alive."
"You are as helpful as the last guy," Tony said snarkily.
"Stephen Strange saw what needed to happen. It's why he gave up the Time Stone to save your life, he knew you were needed for the survival of the universe," Fate said as Tony stiffened at the reminder. "We're in the endgame now."
"That's what Strange said after he gave the stone to Thanos," Tony remembered.
"And he was right," Freya said as they looked back at her. "What we do right now determines what kind of future my time will have. I came back to make sure Thanos and Thawne didn't win. I need your help to do it. Please…help me."
Earth-1
Later in the afternoon
Wally groaned as he woke up, feeling like he'd been in a fight with a bull. As he opened his eyes, it all came back to him, Joe, Thawne. He sat up and found his hands were tied behind his back. He also noticed that there was some collar around his neck.
"Wally."
Wally looked up to see his dad and the Bartons were there as well, all of them having their hands tied behind their backs.
"You alright?" Joe asked concerned.
"My head hurts a little but I'll be fine. What happened?" Wally asked and Joe sighed.
"Thawne came into the house last night, took me and the kids," Laura started.
"Then he called me and made me steal some tachyons from Star Labs or he'd hurt them. I knew he wouldn't let them go, no matter what he said. I used my panic button but, well, you know how that went," Joe sighed and it was silent for a minute.
"Where's Freya?" Wally asked as he realized the toddler wasn't there.
"We don't know," Cooper said. "Thawne took her somewhere when we got here."
Wally frowned as they all glanced at each other, fearful of what Thawne might have planned for Freya.
"Can't you phase out?" Lila asked Wally and he shook his head.
"Been trying, must be a power dampening collar around my neck," Wally said with a glance down at his neck.
"What does he want?" Lila asked frightened.
"To hurt Barry," Laura said, remembering Thawne's words and Joe nodded.
"It's what he lives for," Joe said grimly.
Avengers Compound, Earth-66
Same time
Barry was in what had once been his room, looking for something as Freya walked in.
"Dad…what are you doing?" Freya asked as her father pulled his head out from under the bed.
"Well, my suit kind of got scratched up in Wakanda. I thought I might have a spare here, but I guess Tony cleaned it out after The Accords situation," Barry sighed.
"Oh, I guess I forgot," Freya said and Barry looked over at her as she reached into her jacket. "I meant to give this to you but I guess with everything that's happen, it slipped my mind."
Freya pulled something out of her jacket pocket and handed it to him. Barry took it, looking down at the object in question. It was a golden ring with a lightning bolt on it.
"Is this Thawne's ring?" Barry asked surprised but Freya shook her head.
"No dad, it's yours," Freya said taking Barry back. "Tony made it for you a few years after Thanos, just before…"
"Oh," Barry said awkwardly and Freya nodded.
"Yeah, your suits inside, there's a button. Just put it on and clench a fist and the suit will come out," Freya said, turning around and starting to walk out the door.
"What happens to me?" Barry asked and Freya froze. "You've mentioned Clint a few times but…you never mention me. What happened?"
"Dad…" Freya almost pleaded as she turned around.
"I need to know Freya, please," Barry begged and Freya sighed.
"When I was fourteen, you were fighting this guy, Magneto. He was gonna activate some machine that would give people powers but would also kill them. You and he fought and you stopped him…but you didn't make it," Freya said softly, her voice cracking on the last two words and it was quiet for a few moments as Barry processed this.
"Thank you for telling me," Barry said and she nodded. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to see you grow up."
"Me to. Hopefully in this new timeline, you will be," Freya said softly.
Freya turned and walked out, passing Caitlin on her way.
"Everything okay?" Caitlin asked, seeing that Barry was upset.
"Not really," Barry said with a sigh, sitting down on his bed. "This is so screwed up. Thawne is back…and it's my fault."
"Barry, this isn't on you," Caitlin started.
"Yes it is!" Barry snapped as he got to his feet. "You heard Fate, Thawne is back because I created Flashpoint! This is all my fault Cait!"
"Okay, maybe it is, but does it really matter?" Caitlin asked, taking Barry back. "Thawne is back, all that really matters is stopping him."
"I guess you've got a point," Barry said with a sigh as he looked up at her. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me. But I did come here to talk to you about something," Caitlin said and Barry raised an eyebrow. "Barry…we've come a long way, haven't we?"
"Since the first time you yelled at me and Cisco about rushing in without thinking," Barry said with a smile that Caitlin returned.
"I thought you were reckless, but as I got to know you…I got it. Everything you did, every reckless, stupid thing you did, you were just trying to help people. I didn't always see that, but now I do. You have such a big heart Barry, its why you inspire people. But if were gonna survive this, you also need to use this," Caitlin said as she put a finger on the side of Barry's head.
"I got you for that," Barry said, only half joking.
"Not for long. Even if we win…this is the end for us. I took your advice," Caitlin said and it took Barry a moment to get it.
"Oh. Well…I'm happy for you," Barry said as he got to his feet, taking her hand. "Steve better know how lucky he is."
"I'll miss you. Just…heart and head," Caitlin told him.
"Heart and head," Barry repeated softly as he pulled her into a hug, which she returned.
In a bathroom, Bruce was washing his face before he looked into the mirror.
"Okay big guy, we need to have a talk. Hulk, we need to talk, now," Bruce told the empty room.
Bruce closed his eyes and, when he opened them, he stared into the mirror. Rather than seeing his own reflection, he saw the Hulk staring back at him.
"So that's what you look like up close," Bruce muttered.
"Hulk no want to talk. Banner hate Hulk," Hulk told him gruffly.
"I don't hate you," Bruce said honestly, surprising Hulk. "I never hated you, I hated that I couldn't control when I transformed into you, that I didn't know what you'd do, if you would hurt anyone. This whole time, I've been treating you like the disease, but…you're a part of me. Maybe you're not the disease, but the cure."
"Hulk and Banner no fight?" Hulk inquired curiously.
"We don't have to. We can work together, help our friends. We can do this, together, if we try," Bruce said and Hulk stared back at him for a moment.
"Together," Hulk agreed before the mirror only showed Bruce.
Tony was in the lab, dusting of an old suit as Steve walked in, lingering in the doorway.
"You wanted to see me?" Steve asked and Tony nodded.
"Yeah, I've got something for you," Tony said, digging around until he found what he was looking for. "Here we go."
Steve stared in surprise as Tony pulled out his old shield, which had been repaired from when T'Challa had scratched it over two years ago, during the fight at the airport.
"Tony, I don't know," Steve hedged.
"Why, he made it for you. Besides, I've gotta get this out of the lab, its taking up too much space," Tony joked but Steve still looked hesitant. "Do you trust me?"
"I do," Steve said without hesitation.
"Then trust yourself Cap," Tony said and Steve finally accepted the shield. "Wish I could."
"Things not going well?" Steve inquired.
"Since Pepper…I wonder what I'm doing here, you know? I mean, no Pepper, no Avengers, what am I doing here? A guy, he needs to have a purpose. I don't know what mine is," Tony admitted. "Not anymore, not without Pepper."
"I know the feeling," Steve said, remembering how lost he'd felt when he'd come out of the ice.
"I know you do," Tony said, catching on to Steve's thoughts. "Any words of wisdom Cap?"
"Try and find a purpose, go out, see the world once all this is done. Take a break," Steve said simply.
"Might just do that. If we live through this, that is," Tony noted.
"This is gonna work Tony. It has to," Steve insisted.
"Good. Not sure what I'll do if it doesn't," Tony said with a tired sigh.
"That makes two of us," Steve acknowledged.