The Merchant

by LunasWufei

Notes:

Disclaimer: Same as all my other fics, I own nothing except the plot. 

Reading various stories gives inspiration, also… not working does that too. I have seen various forms of this idea, this is my take. Liberties, as always, are taken. 

Chapter 1

 

Tony Stark rubbed his face, and then grumbled as he scratched around his scarred chest. Sure, the element powered arc reactor kept him alive, but he didn’t really have to like it. It also let him power his suits, which was… awesome, but still, heart shrapnel was not a party favor he wanted to keep forever. 

He slapped his face a few times, before he stood up and stretched, a yawn leaving his lips. “J, save all my progress, will you? If I don’t get at least a few hours of sleep, Pepper is going to put me there permanently.” He said, and there was a gentle hum from the speakers around him. 

“If I had the capabilities, I would be threatening the same, Sir.” JARVIS said, making Tony snort before said man went to go try and get some kind of sleep. He thankfully did not take long to drop into sleep, he’d chalk it up to his exhaustion, plain and simple. 

He ‘woke’ to a seemingly endless void, but a few blinks had him realizing it was like he was sitting on a dead planet, space above him vast and bright. He sighed gently, smiling at all of this. Sure, he was much more of a terrestrial man, his flights notwithstanding, but he could appreciate the beauty of space. 

“Most people who enter my domain come with an invitation, Anthony Edward.” A voice said, smooth and cultured, from behind him. He turned, arms up on instinct as if he was in his suit. He cursed as the woman approaching him smirked ever so gently, teasingly so. “Your lovely creations do not come with you into the afterlife, Anthony.” She said, and then he really got a good look at her. 

She was tall, taller than when Pepper was in her Jimmy Choo’s, and had some weird Harley Quinn thing going on. Half of her body was stark (Ha!) white, and the other was black. She stopped when she was arm length from him, and he took a gentle step back. Her ensemble was a dull, but not decrepit bit of leather, and though not his style, he could see the allure behind it for some people. 

“Please, Tony will do fine, Ms. creepy dream lady.” Tony said, extending a hand for her. It was a dream, what was going to happen? She took his hand and shook it, and he felt a jolt. He shuddered at it, and then his hand was turned over in hers, and caressed the top of said hand. When she let go, there was a small symbol, and he frowned. “Hey now, tattoos mean I cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery.” He said with a little snark, and she chuckled gently, and it was almost eerie in how nice it sounded. 

“You amuse me, My Merchant.” The lady said, starting to walk around him. “It takes quite a bit to draw my attention, in the positive sense that is.” She said softly, and he did not hold in a shudder as she touched his shoulder again. Though, once again it felt like a jolt. “I will visit you again, Anthony, know this.” She said… and then he was shoved from behind, but instead of falling or stumbling, he was gasping for breath in the waking world. 

“We’ve got a pulse! Go!” He heard, eyes unfocussed as he looked around. He gave a small, almost drunk grin to Pepper who had her hands over her mouth, tears in her eyes. He then blinked again and looked at his right hand, seeing that the tattoo remained. Huh.

~TM~

Tony apparently had face planted on his bed, and then promptly flatlined. There had been a screwdriver from an earlier project, and his reactor did not take kindly to being introduced to it. It dislodged something, but Pepper had been quick to readjust it, as Jarvis called the paramedics. Now, he was in his hospital room, which was a completely tacky white ( gross ), while he was being monitored. 

He had spent a few hours just staring at the tattoo on his hand, though at some point he had shuddered when he touched it after feeling his whole body tingle from something else. He was not being sedated, he was not about to be that vulnerable. Pepper had barely left his side, mostly just to deal with the business fallout of him being as he was, you know… in the hospital and all. 

He glanced up when the door opened, and he froze as the woman from his literal dreams walked in. the door shut behind her, and then vanished as she came over to sit beside him. Her ensemble this time was much more modern, like a shark of a business woman. He loved Pepper, but this woman had a different style that was definitely something he could get behind. 

“Who’s your tailor? I think Pepper would love a few in that style.” Tony said as a way of greeting. His reward was a smile, and a gentle pat to his hand, where his tattoo was. 

“It would suit her, My Merchant.” The woman said, and he was about to ask about that, when she spoke once more. “I have been impossibly rude, Anthony.” She said, before she took his hand and kissed it gently, stroking the mark. “I am Hel, Goddess of Death.” She said with a low purr, and he shuddered again. 

“That’s nice, lady, but could you… wait, what kind of death?” Tony said with a frown, taking his hand back. “Like, the black death? Or caffeinated death? I don’t believe that second one exists, honestly. I stopped boozing, too, not good for the ol’ ticker.” He tapped his reactor, and she looked at it with a frown. 

“Death in all forms is my domain, Anthony.” Hel said softly, and then her eyes went back to his. “I can remove that for you, restore what was taken.” She reached out and caressed his exposed chest, and he shuddered, but this time it was in the good way. A glance down showed that a few of his scars were gone. 

“Are you… a mutant?” Tony asked in awe, with only a slight bit of wary fear. “Not that there's anything wrong with that. Evolution is crazy.” He said, and he was rewarded with her soft laugh and gentle smile. 

“I am Death, Anthony.” Hel said once again, and he could hear the capital in that word, it also felt a little heavy. “I can cause, or reverse it. I control the afterlife, both Helheim and Valhalla. The hells and heavens of all pantheons are mine to hold.” She said, and a softer tone came from her. “Would you have me restore you?” She asked, and he looked at her with a calculating look. 

She waited, it wasn’t like she didn’t have eons of patience for it. Though, it didn’t take long, as he had a mind that ran hundreds of miles an hour. “What’s the catch?” He asked, and she smiled brighter, but the tone was the same. 

“The catch, as you say, is that you live out a mortal life on this planet.” Hel started. “And when your body fails, through natural causes, you become my Hand in the Multiverse. Go where death is needed, or not. Fix what should be fixed, act in a capacity I cannot.” She said, and he leaned back, looking at her and idly tapping his chest. 

She continued to speak, when she saw him with an intrigue in his gaze. “I can be everywhere, and in a sense I am. However, to have Death approach a planet, it would immediately send things into chaos. The Hand of Death, though? That is different. You are more… approachable, easier on the eyes, too.” She said with a grin, and he smirked softly at that. “You’d not always be working, there are definitely eons of time where balance is kept, but when I needed you?” She spread her hands, as if to say ‘well, there you are’. He nodded and closed his eyes to think. “Should you wish to take me up on my offer, simply think of me and caress your hand. I shall arrive shortly after.” She said, and he nodded, and in the next instant he knew he was alone, the door restored with Pepper coming in.

~TM~

 

“Hold up. No. I am not doing this, at all.” Tony said, holding a hand up as Steve Rogers was in his face, glaring at him. He took a step to the side and looked at Fury, who was glaring. “There is a difference between getting weapons tested, and making them before you realize what the fuck you’re dealing with! I have lived a lot of my life making weapons. I know the deal.” He took a deep breath, and then turned to Thor. 

“Does the name Hel strike that golden head of yours?” He asked, and Thor stepped back in surprise. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Tony said, before he ran his thumb over the tattoo, and muttered her name while closing his eyes. Due to  his eyes being closed, he did not see Thor’s complexion pale, but when he opened his eyes everything was down to an incredible crawl. 

Hel took a step out from nowhere, and smiled as she saw him. She stopped for a moment when she saw Thor, and huffed. “So Asgard sends their buffoon of a prince.” She mumbled, but then came to Tony, taking his hands and kissing them softly, then his cheeks. “What can I do for you, My Merchant?” She asked softly, and he smiled in return. 

“I don’t know if you would think this a terrible choice at this time, but I think I am ready to be your Hand.” Tony said, as it would definitely help him protect this world. Help him keep from idiots doing such things. Instead of asking him if he was sure, she simply smiled. 

“As you wish, my sweet Anthony.” Hel said, and with a gentle kiss to his lips he felt his whole body change and shudder. The reactor was gone from his chest, bones mended, scars vanished. His body was in pristine shape, and he felt… powerful . The glow from the reactor remained, and he thought for a moment and it was gone. 

“Huh…” Tony said, and she chuckled softly. 

“It is part of you, My Merchant. When your power manifests, when you are using what I have given you, it shall show. Otherwise, it is hidden.” She said, and then dropped his hands. “You are now my Hand, and though your responsibility will be greater… treat yourself as if you were still mortal. Live your life, and I will claim you when your hair is grey and eyes a pale comparison to what they are now.” She said, and he nodded before she was gone. He took a soft breath, and in the next instant time was back to it’s normal speed. 

“What the fuck was that, Stark?!” Fury asked, asking about the hand gesture, not what he had been frozen for. There was then a cacophony of voices, yelling and raised voices all the same.

“BE SILENT!” Came the booming voice of Thor, startling everyone, Tony included. “You stand in the presence of the Hand of Death! Your disrespect is a foolish act, and I will not see myself turned to ash for being in your presence.” He said with a low hiss, bowing his head when Tony put a hand on his arm. 

He looked at Tony, who smiled a genuine smile. “Thanks Point Break, but they don’t get it.” Tony said, patting his arm gently. “Now, let's see about talking to your brother, shall we?” He asked, and Thor nodded as they walked out of the room they had been scanning in. It took a second or two, but soon they were being followed on the way to the holding cell. 

 

~TM~

They never made it to the cell, at least not Tony. The helicarrier was attacked, and they had to get their shit together. Tony was first to his penthouse, where of course Loki was having his grand display of dramatics. The blue eyed Asgardian snarled when he saw Tony come into his penthouse without his armor. In another time, Tony would have been wary, fearful of what the confrontation could be, but he was a different being now. 

“Don’t tell me you’re going to appeal to my humanity.” Loki said with a sarcastic drawl, and Tony tilted his head as he went to get a drink, because… well, he could totally do that again, which was nice. 

He took a soft sip and sighed, shaking his head. “No, not at all. Would you mind answering a question, though? Aside from the one I just asked, of course.” The previously mortal being asked, and that threw Loki for a loop. 

“You’re stalling, it won’t work.” 

 

“I’m really not. So, would you?”


“Fine, ask your question, Mortal.” Loki said with disdain, and Tony grinned. 

“What does the term ‘Death’s Hand’ mean to you, Loki of Asgard?” Tony asked, with a small grin, though it dropped as Loki seemed more agitated. 

“Nothing. Are you done then?” Loki asked, and then Tony Looked. His eyes flashed for the barest of moments, before he was closing the distance between him and the god. 

Loki, for his part, was definitely surprised. So much in fact that he was not able to stop the open palmed strike from Tony right to his head. It didn’t make him flinch, or even stumble. In fact, it made him involuntarily summersault, tumbling into the ground and backwards towards the wall. He groaned heavily when he came to a halt, shaking his head and looking up. 

“How about now, rock of ages?” Tony asked, crouching beside the prone god, who was slowly getting up.

Loki took a soft breath, his now startling green eyes looking at Tony’s brown ones. “I am in your debt, Hand of Death. You have freed me from his grasp.” He said with sincerity, and Tony smiled and helped him up. “The portal cannot be closed by mortal means…” He said after a moment of silence, and Tony hummed in thought. 

“Take us up there, will you? I’ll take care of it.” Tony said, and Loki nodded. In the next instant, with a wave of green magic, they were both on top of the roof. Tony moved from the god, and approached the tesseract and the device that was using it to open a portal. Tony frowned and approached it, feeling the power coming off of it, and when he placed his hand on the barrier? He felt his hand momentarily wash in pain. 

Then, just like that, his body took on a soft glow. The glow of the arc reactor, his chest brightening as well as he accessed his power for the second time in so many minutes. His hand reached into the barrier, as if he was slipping it into a full tub of water, and he grasped the cube. It sparked and sputtered in protest, before the stone within realized just who was touching it. In the next moment or so, Tony took the cube out, and the portal closed. 

Immediately after, all of the Chitauri that had just managed to come through the barely opened portal, fell from the sky. They dropped like dead weight, and with a wave of his free hand, Tony turned their bodies to ash. He heard a soft chuckle in his ear from his new mistress, and he shrugged. “I’ll still try to live mortally.” He mumbled, and there was a scoff in his ear. 

“Live any way you like, My Hand.” He heard in his ear, a gentle whisper on the wind, a caress to his cheek. “It’s incredibly entertaining.” And then her presence was gone. He turned and the Tesseract shifted, turning into a rather lovely looking watch on his wrist, before he turned to look at Loki. 

“So! Want a drink?” Tony asked, and just as Loki was to speak, Thor dropped from the sky. He looked about ready to start bellowing, when he saw that Tony was in his other form, and he bowed his head gently. “Come on, Point break, we’re getting drinks!” He said with a bright enthusiasm, and then the three of them were in his penthouse, with Tony walking to the bar. 

“Have you the tesseract, Your highness?” Thor asked, after thanking Tony for the drink. Tony took a sip, just as Loki did, and tapped the blue tinged watch. Tony then caught up with the rest of the question, and his nose wrinkled. 

“Oh, no. Don’t do that. Tony is fine, really. Unless it's like, really formal Death’s Hand stuff. ” The engineer said, and then he tapped his earpiece. “J, let everyone know I got it taken care of, yeah?” He said, before he looked seriously at Thor. “Loki was not acting of his own accord. His mind was warped, thoughts clouded. This is the word of Death’s Hand.” He said formally, and then shook his head. That would take getting used to. 

“I will tell my father this, Friend Anthony.” The thunderer said, and Tony nodded, before taking another sip. The three of them talked for a little bit, before the elevator opened and the rest of the Avengers walked in. Clint was quick to nock an arrow, but Tony spoke before he could let loose with the dangerous projectile. 

“He was just as controlled as you were, Barton. Took me hitting him in the head really hard to dislodge it.” Tony said, and the arrow was lowered, but not put away. “And no, Natashalie, I am not compromised, and neither is Thor.” He continued on, before his eyes found Bruce. 

“Green bean!” Tony said, coming up to the disheveled man, and giving him a pat on the arm. “You look like you could use a soak in a hot tub, and some chunky monkey.” He said, and Bruce chuckled but nodded softly. He knew Tony was eccentric, they had known each other for a few years now. He'd helped him with Ross being an all around pain in the ass. 

The two of them walked back to the bar, and after making Bruce a cocktail (A green monster), they chatted with the two gods. Hulk growled in content, knowing instinctively that Tony was incredibly capable of dishing out the smashing if needed. Fury wasn't the happiest, but Tony couldn't care less, honestly. 

~TM~

 

The next year or so was kind of nice, relaxing. He had a little bit of trouble with a bio-terrorist, but thanks to his new being, it was a little easier to deal with. Bruce stuck around, and one Jane Foster had shown up with her two person entourage to do more science as well. It was a regular Disney world for science, and Tony was just the happiest. 

Then he felt a twinge, his role letting him know something was amiss. He sighed and rubbed his face, giving his sweet Pep a kiss on the cheek as he got out of bed. A gentle voice message left with Jarvis, and then he took a step forward, arriving in Asgard in the next moment. He shuddered softly at the senseless death around him, this would not do. A warrior, clad in black with a mad gleam in his eye, came towards him in an animalistic fervor. A glance had him turning into ash, and Tony kept walking. 

Another small step had him appearing into the palace of the Asgardian royalty, just in time to halt a blade aiming for the queen. That gave Thor enough time to arrive and slam his hammer into the offending attacker, with his mother stumbling back from all that was going on. “What’s all this about, point break?” Tony asked, and though he wasn’t being overly formal, Thor was a different story. 

“Mighty Hand of Death, the dark elves have returned, and they seek the Aether.” Thor said, and as he did so, Jane came out of the nearby closet. 

“I thought you went to London, chipmunk.” Tony said, her nickname deriving from her love chattering along when she was really into her topic of conversation. It was definitely an endearing nickname, instead of meaning to be insulting. 

“I did, and then...” Jane went into the whole deal of what was going on, though eventually she gasped and her eyes went a deep crimson, before the Aether leapt out of her and into Tony’s hand when he opened it. She gasped softly, Thor catching her before she could fall. 

“Well, that works.” Tony said, and the Reality stone turned into a nice, tasteful thumb ring. “At this rate I am going to end up looking like some kind of sultan.” He said with a chuckle, and then Odin came slamming into the room, before he paused and really looked at Tony, who turned. “Yes, Pirate Daddy?” He asked flippantly, and Odin blinked before giving a respectful bow. 

“I thank you for your assistance, Death’s Hand, it was indeed well needed.” Odin said formally, and Tony waved it off, before he narrowed his eyes and gave Odin a hard stare. When Odin looked up into that gaze, he took a step back. 

“Release her.” The shorter, but much more powerful male, said. Odin faltered for a moment, before he nodded. In the next moment a green and black portal opened, and out stepped a woman who was definitely a mix of Odin and Frigga. A blade appeared in her hand, and just as she was about to use it on Odin, it turned into ash. She turned with a snarl, and looked at the small male… that just radiated dominant power. 

Tony walked up to her, and extended a hand in greeting. She tentatively gripped it and he shook her hand, a smile on his face. “Congratulations on no longer being imprisoned. Try not to take it out on your siblings and mother, will you? Also, the people… you know, innocents.” He said, before he turned and vanished, going to take care of the rest of the elves who would bother Asgard. He was getting the hang of this!

~TM~

Tony was humming along to some AC/DC when he got a call, Jarvis patching it through when he asked. "Talk to me." He said, still working on his latest suit, but he paused when he heard the voice. 

"Stark, this is Hill. We have a problem we could use your technological expertise with." Maria Hill said, and he hummed in affirmation, and also for her to go on. "Hydra survived, and Rogers and Romanov have decided that everything needs to be slammed onto the internet." She said bluntly, and he slammed his head on his table. 

"This is why we can't have nice things." Tony mumbled, before he sighed and nodded. "Jay, Fri, Omar." He started, getting three different voices of confirmation. "Hit the SHIELD servers, stop everything, I'm going to be at this all night." He said, hearing three voices of confirmation once again, before Hill spoke again.

"Thank you, Stark, I have no idea what those two were thinking." Hill said, before she told him about the helicarriers, before he found out too late. Again, she heard his head hit the table, but he didn't pause much more than that. As he worked he basically screamed about idiots, and about divine retribution on a certain super soldier, honeypot, and pirate spy. Hill almost felt sorry for them. 

 

Almost. 

Chapter 2: Pt. 2

Notes:

Disclaimer: Same as chapter one.

 

So, I don’t do this… like, at all. The last time I did this was, years ago, maybe at least 4 or 5? Yeah. Either way, the muse came back, Idk how long for, but she is. I am basically going to be running through the MCU, cherry picking here and there. As always, and I will never not post this, Liberties are taken as I see fit. Either way, here we go!

Tony hummed gently as he was working on his latest suit, his music blaring in the workshop when he felt that call again. “Come on, seriously? It’s been what… two months?” He said into the air, and he got an apologetic caress to his cheek, which caused him to nod. “Well, I guess I’m helping, right?” He asked, and another caress to his cheek, and an invisible kiss to the other one. 

“Sir?” JARVIS asked, and Tony grumbled and tapped his chest where the reactor used to rest. “Ah, very good sir. I shall inform Ms. Potts.” He said, and Tony nodded before he took on his signature glow, and vanished from sight. He reappeared on another planet, Xandar, in the next moment. His eyes adjusted to the light of the day, and his body to the gravity that was a little heavier than earth. 

There was desolation around him, not nearly as much as could have been, but a lot. He then twitched as he felt the Power stone being activated and used, and then it was shut. He turned and was then standing in front of a man, well… he definitely looked human. His eyes were red, with blood from exertion, and he was covered in wounds. 

“What in the ever loving shit is happening here?” Tony said in exasperation, arms crossed, but he was still glowing heavily. He then saw some rather nasty looking outlaw type folks approach the man who had taken a step back. 

“Gimme the orb, boy.” The man, with blue skin, red eyes and a red, artificial mohawk, said. His hand was out expectantly, and the man was hesitant. 

“Oh, yeah, no… not happening.” Tony said, snapping his fingers, the orb coming to him incredibly fast. He opened it up, taking out the stone, looking at it. “Why are you all such a pain in the ass?” He asked, and the stone seemed to pulse in response, and he huffed. “Don’t you try that puppy dog nonsense with me.” He said, before the stone shifted and turned into a ring much like Reality had. 

“I don’t know who you are, sonny, but you’re going to be giving me that stone.” The blue man said, whistling gently, and a rather deadly looking arrow appeared, seemingly ready to strike. 

Tony was not only unimpressed, he was entirely fearless about this. Instead, he walked up to the earth looking guy, and looked him over. “So, you look like you’re from earth, what’s up with that?” He asked, and then caught the arrow after a sharp whistle was heard, snapping it in half without so much as a blink. 

Said man blinked, and looked at Tony up and down, before clearing his throat. “Uh, I was born in Missouri, not Earth.” He said, and Tony rubbed his face softly. 

“That’s on Earth, genius.” Tony said, then looked at the group surrounding him. “Which one of you is the smart one?” He asked, getting a soft grunt from the… raccoon? Sure, why not. He got no answer, and was then approached by a rather official looking woman, the medals and stature gave it away really. 

“I am Irani Rael, of the Nova Corps, to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to?” Irani asked, and Tony turned to her with a bright grin. He didn’t get too close, but he did give a respectful bow. 

 

“Ah, military! My best friend is a military man. Anyway, Tony Stark, of Stark Industries, at your service.” Tony said, and with a little more pomp, he added onto it. “You may also refer to me as the Hand of Death.” He said, and there was a soft, almost imperceptible gasp from the green woman. He gave her a glance, and she stepped back, before he looked back at the woman. 

“I see… well, I assume the stone will be staying with you, then?” Irani asked, having been briefed on the way over. He nodded and she sighed softly. “I suppose it will keep it out of harm's way, especially as you seem to be more than capable of handing yourself.” She said, and he shrugged before he frowned.


“I apologize, however.” Tony started. “Deaths caused by the stones, I cannot reverse, law of the cosmos and all that.” He said regretfully, and she nodded with her own visual sadness, before she thanked him and started giving orders. He turned just to see the woman approaching.

“Gamora!” The earth man shouted, and he gave him a glare before she stopped in front of him. 

“Can I help you, jolly green?” Tony asked, his smile disarming and genuine. 

“You are the Hand of Death?” The alien, Gamora, asked. He nodded and she sighed. “Then the stone will indeed be safe with you.” She said, and he chuckled softly. 

“Stones. Plural.” Tony said, showing off his watch and his ring, which had her taking a step back in more awe than fear. “They like me… and besides, my Lady wants them back eventually.” He said, and she nodded. “So, what Galaxy are we in? Anyone have a map? I like maps, they help me plan things out.” He said, walking with the small group, the raccoon giving him side glances every now and then. 

This was definitely helping him with his weird-shit-o-meter.

~TM~

Tony nowadays did not need sleep, it wasn’t a necessity for his more powerful form, so it translated to his mortal one. Which was all kinds of awesome, really. That didn’t mean he didn’t like sleep, especially curled up to his sweet Pepper. It also meant he could pick and choose when he wanted to sleep, case in point, right now. He was sitting at the back of a table, where Not-dead Fury was droning on about stuff, with Cap occasionally throwing stuff in. 

Barton was there, along with a new dude, Sam. Bruce was beside him, a Stark tablet in hand, going over equations that only he could understand at the table, seeing as Tony was just enjoying a good nap. Natashalie was eyeing him, and Thor was also half listening. It was like the meetings on Asgard, and he was also distracted by being in the presence of Death’s Hand. 

“STARK!” Fury bellowed, and Tony startled away, looking up at the angry pirate. “Are we boring you?” He asked with a growl, and Bruce rolled his eyes to himself. 

“Yes, actually. I literally have no idea why I am here. I mean, I am a consultant, and even then, that has never really been utilized.” Tony said, a yawn thrown in for good measure. “What are we here for again?” He asked, scratching his nose gently. 

“Loki’s scepter is in the hands of Hydra. We can’t have them holding onto it.” Cap started, causing Tony to lazily draw his gaze to the man. “We were going to ask you and Dr. Banner to help locate it.” He said, and Tony huffed before getting up with a stretch. 

“That’s it? Come on! Why are you wasting my time with a stupid meeting?” Tony said, running a hand over his ever present, apparently pure sapphire watch, which pulsed softly. “I’ll get her.” He said, before a portal opened and he stepped through without so much as a by your leave. He arrived at an underground bunker, well inside the lab of a bunker. He went over to a small pedestal where the scepter rested, before he could reach it, it was gone in a blur. 

“We’ve been waiting for you, Stark.” He heard as he turned, and it was to the sight of a woman clad in red, with a man in muted grey beside her. Her eyes and hands were glowing red, and her expression was vicious. “Stupid of you to not come with your suit.” She said with a growl, and he sighed softly before his glow enveloped him. 

“Okay, let’s not make this any harder than it needs to be. Just give me the scepter, and I’ll be on my merry way, yeah?” Tony asked with a small smile, and her responding growl was enough for him. “Alright, fine.” He said, and then took a step forward, appearing right in front of the man in grey, hand shifting to snag the scepter, but the man moved too quickly. 

“Oh, not so fast, Stark.” The woman said, and red engulfed him… but it didn’t do anything. She looked at her hands, and then him, and tried again. He gave her a sideways look, as if to ask if she was serious, before he made a flicking gesture and she went flying in the opposite direction. He then made another gesture, and the man was hovering in the air, which gave him an easy target to pluck the scepter from his hand. 

“Awesome. Well, that’s taken care of. Come on, sweetheart, wake up.” Tony said, cracking the weapon at the head, and taking the stone from it. Said stone protested for a moment, before it saw that it’s siblings were on Tony, and in a soft flash it turned into a ring. It looked like a wedding band, before Tony snorted. “Sorry, sweetheart, not yet. Me and Pepper aren’t quite at that point.” He said, and the ring pulsed in an apology, before it was on his thumb. “Thanks, Sunrise.” He said, before he looked over at the two whom he had let go. 

“How are you doing this?!” The woman shrieked, before Tony was given all of the info he needed by Mind. “You should be falling to your knees in front of me!” She screamed, sending all manner of objects to Tony, which bounced off of him, and that was even before Reality stepped up to protect his current holder. 

Ventress, because the Reality stone sometimes had the anger of a Sith, leaped into action and grasped the two siblings in front of Tony. In the next instant, both were gasping, though she was screaming in rage, as their powers were stripped from them. They dropped to their knees after a moment, and Tony hummed as Ventress returned to her previous spot. 

“I was just going to leave, that wasn’t even on me.” Tony said, before shrugging, but before he could leave he snapped his fingers. “Ah, one last thing.” He opened a portal and dropped them a few miles away, just as Twilight Sparkle (Power’s little nickname), flared out and laid waste to the Hydra fortification they were in. “Thank you, Twilight.” He said, and there was a gentle pulse of appreciation, before he went through another portal. 

He sat down as soon as he arrived, it hadn’t even been that long, his glow fading. “So, can I go now? I want to get back to my Pepper.” He said, Thor noticing the new ring on his finger, and feeling that power behind it. 

“We really need to talk about all this new shit you can do, Stark.” Fury said, and Tony yawned again before standing once more with a stretch. “You’re not leaving until we find out what the hell is going on.” He growled, and Tony laughed. 

“Oh please, like you could keep me here.” Tony said, glancing at Bruce. “Wanna head back? I hear there is a certain Dr. of biology visiting.” He said with a shrug and a grin, and Bruce was up in a flash. In the next instant they were gone through a portal, with Fury cursing and dismissing everyone else. He didn’t like that he couldn’t control his team, especially as Stark seemed to be some new, unknown powerhouse. 

 

~TM~

Tony blinked as he arrived at his latest destination, looking around at a planet that seemed to be roiling and shifting with power and earthquakes. He moved again, and was inside the apparently kind of hollow planet, and his eyes snapped to the people in front of him. “You guys again? What the fuck!” Tony said, watching as the guy from Missouri was… flying and punching some dude that looked like… Kurt Russel? What the shit? 

Then he felt information being fed to him by Sunrise, and he groaned. This would be his largest act yet, and he was not looking forward to the strain it would put on his body. Ventress promised something to him, and though it wasn’t registering to him right now, he thanked her anyway. He started to glow with an almost blinding light, before he clapped his hands together, and the planet seemed to go dormant. To the point that it was almost dull. The flying Kurt Russel plummeted like a puppet with its strings cut off, and then the other man landed shortly after. Tony, in all of his glory as Death’s Hand, spoke with a voice that was almost too intense. 

“I need an explanation. Now.” He said, and though his tone was heavy, it wasn’t bellowed. The slimmer green lady, with the antennae looked up at him, tilting her head and gasping. Her eyes widened just a bit. 

“You are the Hand of Death. One of the few beings Ego fears.” She said, and then bowed gently. He nodded and stood with his arms crossed. She noticed this and then went into the whole reasoning of all of this. When she was done he sighed and closed his eyes, and then Not-Kurt Russel was standing in front of him, awake. 

 

“Mantis! What Have I told you about…” Ego trailed, looking at the being in front of him. “Well, fuck.” He grumbled out, before Tony glared and took a step closer. Sure, Ego was taller than him physically, but in this instance… he felt like an infant. 

“I felt your idiocy hundreds, of thousands of lightyears away. Unnecessary death throughout the Cosmos.” Tony said, starting to walk around Ego like a stalking predator. “Do you know that I am tasked with keeping things in balance? That I am to act in my Lady’s stead?” He let out a low growl, and Ego shuddered.


“It was simply me overstepping my boundaries. It will not happen again.” Ego said with a low bow, and when he straightened, he realized his mistake in his words. The gleam in the eye of the Hand of Death showing that. “Wait!” 

Tony did not wait, instead he reached out and with a clench of Ego’s chest, the man, and thus the planet, started to crumble. As that was happening, he turned to the ground around him, and opened a portal. “Go, your ship awaits.” 

The Guardians did not need to be told twice, and as soon as they were through, the portal closed. Tony appeared next to them in their ship, and cracked his joints, no longer in his alternate form. “Man, what is it with daddy issues? Is that like a cosmic constant or something? Fuck.” He said, walking up to the group, to get everything settled.

~TM~

“Sir/Boss/Chief.” Came the starting words, one from each of his A.I., startling Tony out of his dough kneading. 

“I know I don’t have a heart condition anymore, kiddos, but a little warning.” Tony said, and after three soft apologies, he smiled. “One at a time.” He said, and there was affirmation before Omar, his youngest A.I., spoke up. 

“Well, chief, the chief of police is asking for Ironman's help. Some kinda huge fire at an old multi-story brownstone.” Omar said, his Boston accent a little thick, but not too much. “Says the firefighters can’t reach everything, with all the rest of the buildings in the way.” He finished, and Tony nodded softly, putting the dough on the counter after rolling it up. 

“This needs to rest at least two hours anyway.” He said, washing his hands while speaking. “Jay, Fri, get the Legion ready. I want six suits for search and rescue, with six more on standby. Also, get Igor out there. Make sure the roads are clear, and there is a perimeter. Omar, call the chief back and give him my eta.” He said, drying his hands as he went to the walkway outside the penthouse, suit starting to form around him. 

It wasn’t long after that for him to be rocketing through the air, until he saw the smoke coming from the building. Just as he was approaching he spoke. “I got structural integrity low, get me Igor out here Jay.” Tony said, dropping just as the much larger suit did the same, startling the police. He spoke loud, though. “Igor, left side of the building, get it settled.” He said, and the large suit nodded to go do just that. Tony then turned to the chief. 

“Thank you, Ironman. We’ve evacuated who we could, but the fire is a bit much for us, even some of the seasoned fighters.” The chief said, and Tony nodded. As he was about to respond, they both saw a flash red and blue streak through the air, and went right into the building. 

“The hell is that?” Tony said, before he saw… webs(?) being thrown out, making a net, and people were being tossed into it. There might be some bruising and minor injuries, but at least whomever this was was helping. Tony shook his head and then went right into the building, helping to clear it out and douse as much fire as he could. The better part of an hour was spent doing this, and as it was going on he had other suits helping out as well. In the end, though, the building was literally toast. 

He had Igor, and Rancor (another large suit), break down the building to help smother the rest of the fire. The suit unfolded and let him out, and he lightly dusted himself off. The man in the red and blue… 

“Are you wearing fucking sweatpants?” Tony asked incredulously, and the man shrugged. He was about to say something else, when Friday said some things into his earpiece, and his eyebrow raised. “Alright, underoos, Stark Tower, tonight at six. Wanna have a chat with Mr. Spider-Man.” He said seriously, and the other superhero nodded, before waving and slinging off. 

“Protégé?” The chief asked, and Tony nodded with a ‘what can you do’ kind of expression. “Well, so long as he is helping, I don’t give a damn. I’ll let the press know he is working with you. You should leave, the hounds are coming.” He said with a grumble, Tony snorting but nodding. In the next moment or so he was wrapped up in his suit, and heading home. A call opened to Pepper, to let them know they’d be having a guest for dinner. 

~TM~

Tony was rubbing the bridge of his nose, as Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross droned on about all of this. Oh, Tony one hundred percent agreed with accountability, but this guy was being a prick. “Something irritating, Stark?” Ross asked, sneered really, and Tony looked up with a cheeky smile. 

“Yeah, you.” Tony said, sitting up and then back with a hum. “You know what. I am tired of you being an overall blight on the world.” He said, making a flicking gesture towards Ross, who was definitely surprised when he went back by an unseen force, into a blue portal. Tony then turned to the rest of the assembled team, sighing. “Look, these accords are good, but they need work. I am trying to get them to where they should be, alright?” He said, getting up. 

“Governments have agendas, Tony.” Steve started, stopping when Tony raised his hand. 

“Sam, was it?” Tony asked, turning to said man. The man nodded and Tony smiled. “First of all, a pleasure really. Haven’t really been introduced.” He shook the man's hand. “Second, do me a favor? Teach this blond idiot about the United Nations, and you know… how much things have fucking changed in the last sixty years? Great, thanks.” He said, before turning to walk out. “It’s a lot more complicated than it was back in Dubya two, alright?” He grumbled and then walked out, going up to the roof to get his suit on. 

He was about to be encased in it, when Reality caught a round heading for his head. He blinked softly and in the next instant he was surrounded by his glowing form. “Thanks, Ventress.” He said with a low growl. “Let’s go find us an idiot.” He said, and then they were gone from sight, suit closing and flying off with a silent word to Jarvis. 

 

He had to give it to the person that shot at him, they were fast. Yet, Tony had the power of not only being Death’s Hand, but four Infinity Stones. It didn’t take long for him to have the person secured to a concrete ceiling. Tony knelt slowly, and took off the man’s mask. It took him a second, but he recognized him. “James Buchanan Barnes.” He said, almost a whisper, the man’s face a stoic mask. 

“Sunrise, if you will.” Tony asked softly, Mind glowing for a moment as he rested his hand on Barnes’s head. There was a series of images transferred to him, and it was only being the Hand of Death that kept him calm. This man, the Winter Soldier, had been responsible for the death of his parents. No. That wasn’t fair. This man had been the unwilling tool of Hydra. Tony sighed and shook his head, standing.


“I am not nearly caffeinated enough for this.” Tony mumbled, before a portal opened and Barnes was dumped into the Hulk room, which he made only because he wanted Green bean to have a nice room to smash if he liked. Right now, though, Bruce was off in Paris, with the lovely Ms. Ross. He’d be back in a week or so, plenty of time to deal with Barnes.

~TM~

He was really getting the hang of this whole new process, being in the right place at the right time. Probably having to do with his new status, which he was alright with. He could adapt, he had been doing it his whole life. He looked around when he appeared, and watched Hong Kong put itself back together by some form of magic? Oh, this was the Time stone. He could feel it from the rest of the stones. 

He stepped in front of the battling sorcerers, and they all stopped at the sight. He was in his glowing form, which had slowly tailored to his new status. Before it had been just him glowing, with the arc reactor glowing under his shirt. Now he had simple slacks, no shirt or shoes, and bright, silver wings protruding from his back. He looked at the frozen magic users, hands in his pockets, and hummed. 

“So, who wants to explain?” Tony asked, a measure of calm over him that he only had when he was in this form. “Chop chop, now, I have shit to do.” He said, and then he did a double take. “Well, hot damn, Dr. Strange?” He asked, coming up to the rapidly blinking man. 

“Dr. Stark?” Strange said, and Tony grinned, both shaking the other’s hand. “I am the new sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj.” He explained, as he could feel the pulsing presence of the being in front of him. 

Tony was about to respond when he felt something, and he let out a deep snarl, and then closed his eyes. “You’re going to have to explain it to me later, Time.” Tony said, his tone formal and deep, the Time stone blinking gently in acquiescence of it. He then turned to Strange. “Go, you have a job to do in the Dark Dimension.” He said, and Strange nodded, before leaving to do just that. 

 

Tony then turned to the rogue Sorcerers, who seemed cowed with him just being there. “I would end you personally, but it is not for me to do. Your fate belongs to another.” Tony said, and they waited a few minutes, before Strange reappeared, and they slowly turned to ash. He then turned to Strange, the man stumbling just a bit, before he held out his hand. The Time stone came to him, and it turned into a necklace, a small green chain around his neck. 

“She is safe with me, Sorcerers. Besides, she has some explaining to do.” Tony said, and they nodded. He was about to leave, when his glow slowly faded, and he spoke normally. “Stephen, don’t be a… stranger.” He said with a smirk, causing the man to groan softly. “And Mordo? Leave, or stay, but don’t cause problems. Because you’ll have to deal with Me .” He said with a pointed glance, before he vanished in the gentle breeze that came through. 

 

~TM~

So, maybe Tony used some of his newfound powers to explore the cosmos a little bit. It wasn’t like Death minded, she actually had told him it was his life to live. He enjoyed exploring new planets, knowing instinctively when to be back home. Which is what brought him to the distant planet of Vormir, that is until he learned that the stones had led him here on purpose. He was on a small mountain, with a sheer cliff that promised death to anyone who took a step off. 

“Anthony Edward Stark, son of Howard.” The guardian of the Soul stone said, neutral and deep. “Know that the stone is out of your grasp.” The figure said, and Tony huffed and looked at him with a cheeky smile. 

“Sure, maybe right now it is.” Tony replied, before the remaining five stones all shimmered and came off of his person, twirling rapidly, until the sixth appeared next to them all. “Oh, you’re definitely a Sunset. Extra gorgeous.” The engineer said, and the guardian of the stones looked on with confused awe. “Yeah, it happens, don’t sweat it.” He waved it off, and then the stones returned to their spots, with Mind turning into a watch similar to Space. He waved at the guardian and then turned, vanishing into thin air, only to appear where his stronger persona had been called to. 

He was on Xandar again, though this time there was an invading army, and the Nova Corps were being overrun. Oh, he wouldn’t have that. In the next instant he was in his alternate form, and his hands slammed together in front of him. He was given a boost by Ventress, Sour Grapes, and Twilight Sparkle, and everything in the current solar system froze. 

“This is the work of one who wishes to court me.” Death said as she appeared, and Tony frowned, before Sunrise provided him the info. “Yes, Him.” She said, and Tony shook his head with a grumble. 

 

“Seriously? You’ve got better things to do then pander to a genocidal idiot.” Tony said, walking with his Lady and fixing things. Mostly repairing, and resurrecting those who should not have been killed. Even the Corps members were returned to life, as though it was their duty, it was unnecessary death. 

“I must say, My Merchant, your wings are a lovely look on you.” Death said, and Tony grinned up at her. “The colors suit you, and your extra accessories are also a delightful sight.” She said, the stones all pulsing in delight at Death praising them. They spent the rest of the time on the planet doing their job, but before long they were in front of Thanos, frozen in a gesture of attack with his minions. They had been reversed to the point of their landing. 

They both looked at Thanos, and then they were reversing even the landing and the subsequent invasion. They moved until the vessel was just out of the Nova Corps sensor range, before they restored the flow of time to its original speed. 

“Who are you to so brazenly enter my ship?” Thanos said, his generals glaring along with him at the winged man who looked about as concerned as Thanos would to an ant. The titan then saw, and felt, the presence of all of the stones. “Ah, you come with a gift, to be in my service.” He said, and then the gauntlet was given to him, and he approached Tony. “Hand them over, and you shall be rewarded.” He said with a smile, and Tony smirked gently. 

When he spoke, he made Thanos frown, as well as the rest of those around him. “You speak to a being greatly above your station, yet you do not show proper respect.” Tony said, tsk’ing softly, before going on. “I can understand your… ignorance, so I shall correct you. You stand in front of the Hand of Death, bend the knee, and my ire will not be known.” He said formally, arms crossed. Thanos smirked, and then laughed. He laughed at him, before speaking. 

“You amuse me, but your own disrespect will not be tolerated.” The titan said, before moving to strike, with Tony not even moving. He didn’t even move when the blow connected, he just gave Thanos an irritated look. In a movement almost too quick for the eye, Thanos was hit in such a way that he was forced to his knees. His breathing a heated gasping sound, before he was taken by his forearm and thrown like a doll behind Tony. 

The titan snarled and got up, about to turn to Tony, when he saw who was standing in front of him. This time he did kneel, his generals gasping at his words. “My lady.” Thanos muttered, and his head was lifted by a well manicured hand. “Have I pleased you so much that you bring yourself to me?” He asked, reverent yet arrogant in his assumption. 

“My Merchant, come to your Lady.” She said, not looking away from Thanos. Said titan balked softly when Tony appeared, getting a jaunty wave from the man. “His fate is yours to have, and as your Lady, know that anything you decide upon shall be accepted.” She said, and Tony hummed before nodding. 

“Thank you, my lady.” Tony said with a gentle bow, before he put a hand on Thanos’s chest, speaking with a hard glint in his eyes. “You have committed atrocities beyond measure, and should you be allowed to live you would do more. With this, my judgement cannot be negotiated.” He said, before power washed from his hand and into the titan, who hissed in pain, and then started to convulse. He let out a low whine of absolute horror, before he vanished.

“Know this, Children of Thanos, your ‘father’ will never be seen again, though it will take millennia for his torment to be over.” Tony said, before he bowed to The Lady Death, who caressed his cheek like a proud mother. 

“I will wait patiently for the day when you are with me for eternity, my Merchant.” Death said, a purr almost, before she was gone in the next instant. Tony turned and looked at the children of Thanos, and they all stepped back. 

“So, who’s next?” Tony growled out, because there was no way this army, his generals, would be living past this encounter.

~TM~

Tony Stark, age one hundred and three, blinked from his bed at home in his Malibu mansion. He smiled as his great-great-grandchildren were around  him. Taking their hands and kissing them each, before he leaned back with a soft sigh. He was extremely pleased with how his mortal life had gone, to say the very least. Stark Industries was known throughout the galaxy, and a few beyond as well. Earth was part of a few galactic alliances, and people took vacations all over the cosmos. 

Life had treated him so well. He had a loving family, and though he outlived a few of his closest friends, he knew they were well cared for. He would have been lying if he said he hadn’t been heartbroken when Pepper had gone, but he spoke with her often enough. Perks of being the Hand of Death. He opened his eyes after having closed them, and spoke softly. 

“Underoos, Maguna, c’mere.” Tony said, his two children, though still rather old themselves, not hesitating in the slightest. Peter was pushing seventy, but his enhanced status had him closer to his mid fifties. Morgan looked and felt closer to her sixty years of age, but she was still spry enough to get things done. “I think It’s time for me to say goodnight.” The centenarian said, getting soft frowns from the two. 

“Well, I mean… as long as you don’t give mom grey hairs in the afterlife.” Morgan said, and Tony chuckled softly, wheezing gently afterwards. 

“Tell mom we’ll take care of things here, yeah?” Peter said, sniffing softly. They both gave Tony a hug, before he leaned back and sighed. 

“Jarvis, take care of everyone, alright? Make me proud, my son.” Tony mumbled, and as he let himself fade, he heard those four sweet words. 

“For you sir, Always.”

 

It had been weird, walking in an ethereal form out of his body, and seeing his family mourn him, yet he was glad they were not overly sad. Sure, they weren’t jumping for joy, but they knew he had lived a long fulfilling life. He was greeted by his Lady shortly after his mortal body passed, and the stones all leapt to her hand to form rings. He kissed her hand, and in turn she kissed his head. 

“Come, My Merchant, the eternal cosmos awaits.” Lady Death said, taking his arm, as they walked into the vast expanse that was Infinity. 

Notes:

So, there it is. I think I finished it at a nice place, and this is the first time I have done a sequel in many years. I hope it can be enjoyed as much as the first chapter. Thanks as always, for those whom review and enjoy. Read and review please, stay safe and happy, everyone!

Notes:

The muse was going strong, then I started getting ideas for other things. Things that will probably never happen, but they were enough of a distraction that well, this fic ended. Either way, I hope it can be enjoyed, read and review please. Ciao.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 107 of Snippets and Fix-Its