John led the Avengers from the future through the portal, stepping into his private lounge. The space was sleek, filled with cutting-edge technology and luxurious seating, embodying the essence of the Stark legacy. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of holographic interfaces casting gentle shadows across the polished surfaces.
Seated on one side of a glass table were the four visitors from the future: Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Scott Lang. Their postures ranged from wary to mildly irritated—none more so than the older Tony, who had been silently brooding since their arrival.
On the other side, present-day Tony Stark lounged casually with an easy smirk on his face, mirroring John's relaxed demeanor. However, there was an undeniable tension in the air—a collision of past and future that neither group could fully comprehend just yet.
Future Tony finally broke the silence. "Okay, I've had enough of this. First of all—who the hell are you?" He pointed at John with an accusatory finger. "You keep saying you're my 'brother,' but last I checked, I was an only child."
John, unfazed, leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head. "And yet, here I am. Surprise!"
Present Tony, meanwhile, studied his older self with an expression that hovered between fascination and sheer amusement. "You know, I always figured I'd age like fine wine. Instead, I look like someone who's been through hell and back… which, considering the circumstances, is probably accurate."
Future Tony rolled his eyes. "Glad to see my narcissism survived the time jump."
Present Tony smirked. "Oh, it did more than survive, gramps. Looks like it aged right along with you—except now it's mixed with a delightful dose of cynicism and trauma. Can't say I'm a fan of the whole 'disheveled genius' look, though. What happened? Did I forget to moisturize?"
Future Tony crossed his arms. "Yeah, well, some of us had to deal with a genocidal alien while you were probably busy flirting with reporters and designing overpriced suits."
Present Tony scoffed. "Hey, don't act like you weren't the same. I bet I'm still the life of the party in your timeline—before everything went sideways, at least."
Future Tony sighed. "You have no idea what's coming."
Bruce cleared his throat, stepping in before the Starks could launch into a full-blown battle of egos. "We didn't come here to exchange witty banter. We need to talk."
John nodded, crossing his arms. "Good. Let's talk."
Steve exchanged a glance with his teammates before taking the lead. "We didn't just travel to the past for a casual visit. We came because we need something—something crucial." He hesitated for a moment, then continued, his voice grim. "In our time, the universe suffered an unimaginable loss. A being named Thanos wiped out half of all life."
Present Tony's smirk faltered slightly, but he kept his expression carefully neutral. John, already knowing this from his past life, still acted as if he were listening very seriously.
Scott leaned forward, his voice edged with frustration. "We tried everything. We fought. We lost. And now, we're trying to fix it."
Hulking bruce adjusted his glasses, glancing at present Tony. "Thanos destroyed the Infinity Stones in our timeline. Without them, we can't undo what he did."
Silence followed the statement, the weight of it settling over the room like a heavy shroud.
Present Tony exhaled, rubbing his temple. "So let me get this straight. You came here—into our version of the past—to find the Infinity Stones because yours were turned to dust?"
Steve nodded. "Exactly. We need them to bring everyone back."
John remained quiet, his gaze flickering between them. He could tell the future Avengers were desperate, holding onto a fragile sliver of hope. He knew how this story unfolded, but he also knew that this was the moment of decision.
Present Tony let out a sharp laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Great. Fantastic. Time travel, Infinity Stones, interdimensional crossovers… yep, this is officially the craziest week of my life." He turned to John. "What do you think, genius brother of mine? You're awfully quiet."
John smiled, though his eyes were contemplative. "I think they're telling the truth. And if we want to make sure our world doesn't suffer the same fate, we might need to help them."
Future Tony leaned forward, his expression intense. "So, are you in?"
Present Tony narrowed his eyes. "Hold on, hold on. Let's not rush into things. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I apparently turn into a moody, battle-worn war veteran. Can we just acknowledge that for a second?"
Future Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. "God, I was this insufferable, wasn't I?"
John chuckled. "Still are."
Scott snorted. "Yeah, this is kind of weird for the rest of us too, by the way. Like watching a mirror argue with itself, but one of them looks like he's seen some real messed-up stuff."
Present Tony shrugged. "Well, what can I say? I age like a fine—"
Future Tony cut him off. "Don't say 'fine wine.' I swear, if I hear that one more time—"
John clapped his hands together, bringing the focus back. "Alright, let's focus. They need the Stones. We need to figure out how to get them."
Present Tony sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But let's be clear on one thing: I don't trust you."
Future Tony smirked. "Good. I wouldn't trust me either."
"Alright, then it's decided. Let's not waste any more time. And as a matter of fact, I know where the Stones are." Saying that, John stood up and opened a portal to Kamar-Taj.
Scott, watching John's hand motion and the portal appearing, said softly, "I never get used to this. How does he even do that?"
"It's like he's playing with space, just like Strange," Hulking Bruce said from the side.
"Focus," Captain said while walking into the portal with the others.
After the portal closed, everything returned to normal, and silence fell once again inside the lounge.