Tony Stark gripped the building as he was scanning through the of the Stark Tower. He wasn't alone. Scott Lang was with him as he was shrunk down on Stark's shoulder. In this position,  Scott Lang had a chance to take a good look at the aftermath of Loki's Odinson's invasion. Dead Leviathans layed on the top of the building, some of them experiencing massive destruction, some of them don't. The streets were filled with destroyed vehicles, trees, and many other things. Scott may have heard about the Battle of New York, and had seen some photos and videos from this day where the Avengers saved the Earth, but seeing it by his very own eyes made his day even more disturbing to him.

The other Avengers were readying themselves to take the two stones that were in this building at this moment as well. Steve Rogers was already in the Stark Tower and in position. Garnet was in her position as well, waiting in the place where she was going to met up with Captain America after the first Avenger will retrieve the scepter with the Mind Stone. Azurite and Peridot were in their position as well, on the ground floor of the tower, right in the main lobby of the building, both of them changed their clothes into S.H.I.E.L.D armor.

Stark zoomed forward and was able to take a look at the moment when he along with the past version of his fellow Avengers confronted the God of Mischief in defeated and beaten state. After the portal was blown and Tony had blown up the Chitauri that were going through it, all they had to was to get Loki and hand him over to Thor who was going to take him to Asgard, where he'd receive a proper punishment for his actions.

''Got to hustle, Cap. Things look like they're just about wrapped up here." Tony told Captain America through his comms.

"Got it. I'm approaching the elevator now." Steve Rogers' response sounded in Stark's ears.

"Are you in position, three eyes?" Tony then called over to Garnet to be sure if the fusion was in the position or not.

"I am." Garnet responded.

"Peri, Az?" Tony called over to the last members of his team.

Azurite quickly answered, "We're in." 

"We're waiting for you two come down here with the briefcase." Peridot added.

Tony nodded his head to everyone's confirmations of being in the positions they were assigned to in their missions as he dropped off the building he was holding into and flied over to the shattered window of the Stark Tower. The moment he set his foot in the building, he pressed his Arc Reactor and his armor disappeared from his body in just a matter of a second. Taking the cover behind the nearest wall, Stark was observed how the past version of him and other five Avengers confronted Loki.

The God of Mischief weakly pushed himself up the ground and stared up at all six Avengers, weakly declaring, ''If it's all the same to you... I'll have that drink now."

The Incredible Hulk grunted to Loki's comment as the past version of Tony Stark broke off from the rest of the group, heading towards the elevator in his heavilly damaged Iron Man suit, "All right, get him on his feet. We can all stand around posing up a storm later. By the way, feel free to clean up."

Stark watched how Thor slapped a pair of Asgardian cuffs on his brothers wrists before pulling him back to his feet, before smirking, when he eyes went over to Captain America and went lower, ''Uh, Mr. Rogers. I almost forgot that that suit did nothing for your ass."

Steve's answer to Tony's statement quickly came in the comms, "No one asked you to look, Tony."

''It's ridiculous." Tony stated, shaking his head a little, his eyes still on Cap's lower 

"I think you look great captain. As far as I'm concerned, that's America's ass." Scott said as he rised up on Stark's shoulder, giving a salute.

"Okay, can we stop talking about Steve's beautiful ass and just focus on the mission?" Azurite asked, but didn't got any answer from everyone the in team, which obviously confused him, "What?"

"Az, did you just admitted that Steve has beautiful ass?" Tony asked him.

Stark could imagine how Azurite's eyes shot open in realization at what he just said, "No! I didn't!"

"Yes, you did." Peridot spoke up, clearly grinning up at the male gem as they were still waiting for Stark, Scott and everyone else on the ground floor, "Did you forget that I'm standing right next to you?"

Everyone in their team could hear Azurite letting out an annoyed sigh, as Peridot added, "You should feel lucky that Shi'ra went with Rhodey and Nebula. I can already imagine her reminding you about it just to annoy you."

"Oh, be quiet, Peridot." Azurite shushed her as Garnet could be heard letting out a small laugh.

Tony's attention quickly shifted when he spotted Natasha Romanoff carying Loki's scepter in her hand, asking, "Uhh, magic wand?

His younger version answer was, ''STRIKE team's coming to secure it."

Iron Man's eyes shot open when he heard a noise coming from an elevator behind him, as he quickly turned around towards it and saw the door opening itself. He quickly went off to hide himself away from their sight in order to avoid getting caught. The entrance of the elevator opened and out stepped Agent Brock Rumlow and Agent Jasper Sitwell, followed by eight more agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. behind them.

They carried two briefcases with them. One was already containing the Tesseract and the Space Stone while the other empty one was much longer and rectangular in shape. A perfect fit for the the scepter Natasha Romanoff was holding.

When they approached all six Avengers and Loki, Sitwell came over to Black Widow, asking her to hand the scepter, "We can take that off your hands."

After handing him Loki's scepter, Natasha turned away from the agent of S.H.I.E.L.D and walked over to Clint Barton who was pouring himself and herself some whiskey from the bottle he found laying around, "By all means. Careful with that thing."

Clint handed his best friend a glass filled with the liquor before they looked over at Sitwell, "Unless you want your mind erased. And not in a fun way."

Tony and Scott proceeded to watch the scene from their hiding place, the first recalling every moment that was happening now. Sitwell eyed the scepter for a second as he walked over to Rumlow who opened the rectangular briefcase, allowing him to place the scepter containing the Mind Stone in it.

''Who are these guys?" Scott asked him, his attention focused on Rumlow and Sitwell.

"They are S.H.I.E.L.D..." Tony paused for a second, "Well, actually Hydra. But, we didn't know that yet."

"Seriously, you didn't?" Ant-Man asked, gesturing towards Sitwell and Rumlow, watching how the latter agent closed the briefcase, "I mean...they look like bad guys."

''You're small, but you're talking loud." Tony stated, sending Scott a quick glance.

"It sounds like someone we know, very well, right?" Garnet asked, referring to a certain green gem.

Everyone realized to who she was referring to. Peridot let out an annoyed "Hey!" in response to the fusion words.

"Why are you so angry about it, Peri?" Tony asked the small green gem through the comms, "You know it's the truth."

The 2012 version of Steve Rogers walked past Loki and Thor, saying to his earpiece, "On my way down to coordinate search and rescue."

Green color quickly overcame Loki's body as he turned himself into Captain America, "On my way down to coordinate search and rescue!..." He quickly transformed himself back into normal self, adding, "I mean, honestly! How do you think you'll be..."

"Shut." Thor cut his brother off, slapping a mouthpiece on his mouth to make him quiet, "Up."

Everyone began heading off to their next tasks as The God of Thunder grabbed his adopted brother by his shoulder and began leading him into the elevator, along the Hulk who grabbed Loki's other hand while Tony's and Scott's eyes were focused on the past self of Iron Man that was in the process of closing the briefcase with the Tesseract.

"All right, you're up, little buddy." Stark said, his eyes not leaving the briefcase with the Tesseract, "There's our stone."

Scott nodded his head to that, "Alright. Flick me.''

Tony instantly reacted to his words. He lifted his finger and flicked Ant-Man off his shoulder towards his younger self and the Tesseract. Scott landed right in the middle of the briefcase as he jumped onto the arm of the younger Iron Man and climbed up while the older Tony quickly made his escape from the room through the shattered window, his suit overcoming his entire body the moment he jumped through it.

The Hulk made his way over to the elevator, walking behind Thor and Loki. After Tony took his seat on the briefcase that contained the Space Stone, he, Thor and the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D that were with them in the elevator extended their hands forward, preventing the Hulk from entering the elevator.

"Whoa, whoa. Hey! Buddy. What do you think?" Tony asked the Hulk, as the green Avenger gave him, Thor,  Loki and the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D a glare that would burn an entire forest, "Maximum occupancy has been reached."

"Take the stairs." Thor added, gesturing to the flight with the stairs.

"Yeah." Tony agreed with him as the elevator doors began closing. Loki waved playfully to the Hulk before the latter one roared and drew his fist forward at the closing door, "Stop! Stop!..."

The last thing that the Hulk did before the elevator doors closed completely was sending a punch towards it, making a dent in it.  Black Widow and Hawkeye watched him from the side of the room while they were enjoying their drinks.

The Hulk was obviously angry as he began making his way towards the flight with the stairs, saying angrily to himself, "Take the stairs! Hate the stairs!"

-------

Tony was hovering above the ground in his Iron Man suit in front of the Stark Tower, scanning through the building, trying to locate the current location of Rumlow, Sitwell and the Mind Stone. He finally spotted them in the elevator, as he called out to Captain America to inform him about it, "All right, Cap. I got our scepter in the elevator just passing the 80th floor.''

''On it. Head to the lobby." Steve assured him as he stood in front of the elevator, pressing a button to stop it at the floor he was currently in. 

The elevator doors broke apart, allowing Captain America to enter the elevator. He could feel how gaze of every agent of S.H.I.E.L.D in the elevator went towards him. He took one step inside and pressed the button. The doors behind him closed as the elevator continued it's descent to the ground.

Sitwell eyed him for a moment, "Captain. I thought you were coordinating search and rescue?"

Steve's answer was short and quick, "Change of plans."

The next few seconds in the elevator were quiet. The tense silence filled the entire elevator, until it was broken by Brock Rumlow, who slightly turned his head towards the first Avenger, "Hey, Cap."

Cap nodded his head, turning to him for a second, "Rumlow."

This rather short exchange of the words was followed by another tense silence, only this time, the tension was growing bigger and bigger with every second. One of the agents  even reached for his belt, unlocking his pistol and letting his hand rest on it.

"I just got a call from the Secretary." Steve declared, "I'm gonna be running point on the scepter."

Everyone in the elevator turned towards him. Sitwell turned around himself to fully face Captain America, "Sir? I don't understand."

"We got word there may be an attempt to steal it." Steve informed him.

Rumlow glanced over at him, "Sorry, Cap. I can't give you the scepter."

''I'm gonna have to call the Director." Sitwell stated, reaching over to his phone.

"That's okay. Trust me." Steve assured everyone in the elevator as he slowly leaned in towards Sitwell. Close to his ear. Sitwell just stared at him, curious what he may say to him, but in the million years, a thought that those words will ever ever leave Captain's America's mouth crossed his mind.

"Hail Hydra."

Everyone in the elevator stared at the first Avenger, shock overcoming their facial features as all of them heard what he had just said to Jasper Sitwell. Sitwell and Rumlow shared a look with each other, neither of them knowing what to say, before they turned to the Star Spangled Man. A knowing smile slowly growing on his face.

And with that, Steve Rogers walked out from the elevator a smirk growing on his lips as he turned to the left and was met with Garnet, the fusion smilling at the view of the briefcase in Steve's hands.

"That went well." She told him, as they walked side by side, not having to hear any noise of fight from the elevator.

Steve nodded his head in agreement to her words, relieved that he avoided another fight in the elevator, something he failed to avoid in the past.

---------

Tony, Thor, Loki and agents of S.H.I.E.L.D walked through the elevator and made their way into the main lobby of the Stark Tower, where they were greeted by even more S.H.I.E.L.D agents, all of them armed to the teeth.

Three of those agents stood in the background, trying to stay away from the crowd of people that were in the lobby at his moment. Tony Stark dressed himself into the armor he borrowed from now unconscious agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, or rather he was unconscious when Stark saw him for the last time. He turned around for a second to the other two agents who were no other than Peridot and Azurite, sending a quick nod to the two gems who stood a few metres away from him. Azurite and Peridot nodded their heads back at him.

''Thumbelina, do you copy? I've got eyes on the prize." Tony called over to Scott.

"So have we." Azurite spoke up from his position.

'' It's time." Peridot added.

"Bombs away." Scott said in response to their calls as, sliding down 2012 Tony's face, catching onto his beard. Tony scratched his beard, causing the Ant-Man to fall down into his shirt, allowing him to grip into Stark's Arc Reactor, "Is... is that Axe body spray?"

''Yeah, I had a can just for emergencies." Tony answered, "Relax. Can we focus, please?"

"I'm going inside." Scott informed him and two gems as he shrunk down to even smaller size, allowing him to climb into the insides of Tony's Arc Reactor.

The rest of the team watched how another group approached younger Tony, Thor, Loki and other agents. Stark sighed when he recognized face of a familiar S.H.I.E.L.D  secretary stopped in front of him to greet his past self.

''May I ask you where you're going?" Alexander Pierce demanded to know.

"To lunch and then Asgard." Thor informed as he eyed Pierce in confusion for a second, not having a chance to met him before, "I'm sorry, you are?"

Tony turned to Thor to explain to the God of Thunder who this man was, "Alexander Pierce. He's the man, one of the folks behind Nick Fury."

''My friends call me Mr. Secretary." Pierce added as he gestured towards Loki behind Thor and Tony, "I'm gonna have to ask you to turn that prisoner over to me."

''Loki will be answering to Odin himself." Thor stated in response, earning a roll of the eyes from Loki.

Pierce however, wasn't going to let go, that easily, "Oh, he's gonna answer to us. Odin can have what's left. And I'm gonna need that case, that's been S.H.I.E.L.D property for over 70 years."

One of the agents stepped forward, reaching his hand towards the brieface with the Tesseract, only for Tony to pull it away, causing the agent to say, "Hand over the case, Stark.''

Tony, Azurite, and Peridot watched the scene unfold before them before Stark turned his gaze away from it for a moment to inform Scott about it, "All right, move it, Stuart Little. Things are getting dicey up here. Let's go."

Scott landed in front of the pin, the part of the the Arc Reactor that was keeping it turned on, asking, "You promise me you won't die?"

''You're only giving me a mild cardiac dysrhythmia." Tony explained to him.

"I'm not an expert in human conditions but it doesn't sound mild to me." Azurite stated.

"That makes us both." Scott agreed with Azurite, as he grabbed the pin, intending to pull it off.

Tony turned his gaze back to the group that was still fighting over the case with the Tesseract, and things were getting... more heated to say the least, Peridot and Azurite didn't failed to noticed it as well.

"I need that case." Pierce said in a demanding tone, gesturing towards the briefcase.

''I know you got a lotta pull. I'm just saying..." Tony didn't had a chance to finish what he was saying as Pierce grabbed his arm, holding it strongly in his grip.

"Okay. Then give me the case." The secretary of S.H.I.E.L.D said, trying to take the briefcace away from Tony, but Stark was refusing to let it go.

"Get your hands off!" He shouted to Pierce.

"Do it!" Peridot said to Scott.

Tony added soon after, "Window's closing. Pull my pin!" 

"...Here it goes!" Scott said as he pulled Tony's pin up, turning Stark's Arc Reactor off.

In a matter of a second, the glowing Arc Reactor underneath Tony Stark's  shirt began to flicker, earning a gasp for life from Iron Man, in shock. He instantly fell on the floor, dropping the briefcase along with him.

"Stark?" Pierce asked the Tony dropped on the floor like a rock thrown into the water. He, and other agents quickly fell on their knees, quickly followed by Thor, who was asking his fellow Avenger what was matter with him. The only answer he got from him was gasping, "Look, he's convulsing. Give him air! Medic!"

"Medic!" Tony called, looking about lazily, "Guy needs help."

"Yeah!" Azurite called out, going along with Tony's cries for help, readying himself to retrieve the briefcase at any moment, "There's someone who need help here!"

"Why is no one coming to help him?!" Peridot added, gesturing towards the younger version of the Avengers.

While Pierce, Thor and agents of S.H.I.E.L.D were trying to figure out how to help Stark, Scott quickly ran out of Tony's shirt and leaped himself forward to the brieface, kicking it over to Tony. Loki who was the only one not paying attention neither Tony or his brother or any of the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D furrowed his brows in confusion as the briefcase moved forward, his eyes following it. As the briefcase landed right before Tony's feet, he kicked it over to Peridot and Azurite. The short green gem extended her hand a bit, using her metal powers to make sure the briefcase would end up right before their feet while Tony was just looking around, as if he hadn't just kicked the briefcase containing the Tesseract over to someone else.

Azurite quickly grabbed the briefcase as he and Peridot started making their way out of the main lobby, "We've got it."

"We'll be waiting for you in the alleyway..." Peridot was cut off in the moment when she and Azurite reached the nearest stairwell because from the other side of the door emerged an angered Hulk, and saying that he was angry would be just a gentle way to put it. Azurite and Peridot both collapsed on the floor.

He walked past them, roaring angrily, "NO! STAIRS!"

Surrounding crowds of people split up and screamed, making their escape from Stark Tower as the Hulk proceeded to walk behind them, crashing through the exit doors and roaring to the skies above.

The briefcase fell out of Azurite's hands when he crashed on the floor. It landed a few metres away from him and Peridot, opening upon the impact. The Tesseract spun around the room and landed right between Loki's feet. Before neither Tony and Scott could do something about it, the God of Mischief used the opportunity that was given to him and picked up the Tesseract from the floor, using it to teleport himself away from this place.

''You'll be fine, Stark. Stay with us! I'll try something, okay? I have no idea if it's gonna work." Thor said to Tony, slamming his hammer against Iron Man's Arc Reactor, using it as some sort of defibrillator. The reactor got it's bright blue color in an instant, making Thor cheer, "Yes!"

''That worked a treat. That was so crazy!" Tony gasped, finally having a chance to say something.

"I had no idea if that was gonna work." Thor said, grinning at Iron Man.

"The case?" Tony asked.

Thor took his attention off his fellow Avenger to take a look around about the briefcase current whereabouts, not spotting it anywhere in his sight, his brother was gone too, "It's, uhh... Where's the case? Where's Loki? Loki!"

"Oh, this is bad..." Peridot stated the obvious, lifting her head up to take a glance at now empty briefcase.

Tony came over to these two and helped them to get back on their feet, "We blew it, didn't we?"

"We sure did..." Scott stated.

Azurite slammed his fist against the floor, angrily, realizing what this meant, "Oh no..."

-------

''Guys, is something happening?" Garnet asked, receiving nothing but static from the other comms in response. She and Steve walked through the hallways of the Stark Tower.

"Tell us you found that cube.'' Steve added, the large briefcase that held the scepter was held tight in right hand, while his left one wielding his shield. Shaking his head, he repeated his question, but once again't didn't got any answer from neither Tony, Azurite, Peridot or Scott.

It was when their attention shifted forward towards something else, on man approaching them both, making them stop in their tracks in the center of the glass bridge.

Steve groaned, shaking his head the man that just approached them, "...Oh, you gotta be shitting me."

Garnet and Rogers watched how at the mirror image of Captain America blocked their path, narrowing his eyes at the view of them. 

The retrieval of the scepter went pretty smoothly for them, Steve not having to fight anyone in that elevator, and Garnet not having to help him if Steve's confrontation with the past version of HYDRA agents ended with a fight.

Something just had to happen to make things more difficult for them and their team...

Then, the younger, version of Captain America rose his hand to his ear, " I have eyes on Loki. 14th floor..." He turned his gaze to Garnet, "There is a woman with visiors covering her eyes with him. I don't know if she's with him or not."

Steve put the briefcace down on the ground, his eyes not leaving his younger self, "I'm not Loki, and she was never working with him."

"We don't want to fight you. Just let us walk away." Garnet added.

Captain America, seemingly unfazed by both of them, gritted his teeth and rushed towards them. Steve was the first one to rush forward towards his younger self, as gauntlets appeared on Garnet's fists in an instant as she ran closely behind him. Captain America swung his shield forward as Steve raised his own to use it as an defensive shield from the Captain's blow. The shields connected, making a loud bang that rang around the entire room. The Captain quickly lowered his shield down, swinging his fist, as Steve did his best to avoid every punches and kicks his younger version sent in his way, but unfortunely for him, one kick from the Captain send him skidding across the bridge.

Garnet knew it was her moment to step forward. She rushed forward at the Captain, swinging her fists forward at him. Both of the powerful blows she sent towards the Captain were blocked by his shield, which was followed by another blows which were blocked just like their predecessors, each one of the blocked blows making a loud bang that would make anyone ears hurt. Her opponent lowered his shield after another blocked punch from them fusion before slamming it against her chest. Garnet stumbled backwards a bit, as the Captain made another move, kicking her and sending her skidding across the bridge.

Captain America stared at them both, "I can do this all day."

Steve sighed, standing up, as Garnet finally stopped skidding, landing on the path that was leading into the bridge, "Yeah, I know. I know."

Instantly after standing up, Steve threw his shield at his younger self, who did the same after seeing it.  The shields met in the halfway of the distance between the two Caps and deflected each other off the bridge, away from the grasp of either of the them. They rushed at each other, each of them sending  punches and kicks towards each other, but they both managed to either dodge or block every attack from their other self. After spotting an occasion after his younger self hand was in vulnerable position after another avoided punch, he quickly grabbed it and lifted him above his head, and then slammed him down onto the floor of the bridge.

It unfortunely didn't do  much as the Captain quickly got himself back on his feet, wrapping his arms around his arms around his older self. Steve tried to free himself off his grasp by kicking him in the stomach,  but his first kick didn't do much, while the second one actually did something, but it wasn't anything Steve and Garnet would have wanted. His second kick hit the briefcase that happened to be laying right behind them, breaking the glass. Steve  felt himself being hoisted backwards, his back slammed into the bridge and shattering the rest of it. 

The two Captains collapsed down, crashing down a set of stairs crashing to the ground alongside the briefcase. The scepter spilled outwards and clattered against the floor upon the impact. The captain's gaze went to the compass with Peggy's Carter picture that must've fell out of Steve's pocket.

He quickly picked it up, asking, "Where did you get this?"

His question went without an answer and Garnet landed right between him and Steve, her gauntleted hands quickly moving towards the scepter to secure it, and the Captain immediately gave up on trying to find the answer by Steve had the same compass as him. He kicked it away from Garnet's hands, and clashed against her again, this time without a shield, but it didn't changed much. Both he and Garnet were effectively avoiding punches from one other, the first one even managing to catch the hand of the other one, while trying dodge a punch from the fusion, and it didn't took much before he caught Garnet's other hand.

It was when these two faced each other,  both of them looking into each other eyes as the Captain was holding the fusion's hands tightly in his grip. Garnet headbutted him. This would definitely send a normal human being flying away but Captain America wasn't an ordinary human being. He just stood there, barely touched by it.

In response to her headbutt, the Captain kicked her with both of his feets, knocking her away. With her dealt with, at least for now, he turned to Steve who was moving towards the scepter. He quickly made his over over to him, and kicked it away, unaware that it landed just right in front of Garnet and quickly wrapped his hands around Steve's neck, holding him tightly. He slammed himself and his older self agains the floor, choking him while Steve clenched his teeth, trying to free himself from his grasp.

Seeing the situation Steve was in, Garnet quickly got herself back on her feet and picked up the scepter, before moving towards Steve and Captain.

"Which one is ours!" Ruby nervously asked Sapphire inside of Garnet, as the fusion was taking glances between the two captains, the stress caused by the fight making her forget for a second who was who.

"The one with uncovered head!" Sapphire quickly reminded her.

As he proceeded to try to break off his younger self grasp, Steve spotted Garnet heading in his way with the scepter in her hands. It was their chance. Their chance to make his younger self lose his consciousness.

He knew the perfect words for it.

"Bucky... is... alive!"

His younger self immediately reacted to this revelation, he broke the grasp he was holding his younger self in, asking in confusion, "What?"

In response to his question, Steve quickly punched him straight in the face, before crawling away from the Captain, making space for Garnet to use the scepter on him. He quickly pressed the pointy end against his chest. Captain America collapsed on the floor, his eyes closed, sleeping.

She glanced over Steve who slowly got himself back on his feet, making sure to pick his shield and his compass, offering a nod to Garnet who held the scepter.

It was when Garnet turned away from him and started to leave, but stopped when she heard that Steve not moved an inch forward. She turned over to him and saw him looking at the backside of his younger self that was facing them.

Steve sighed, grinning, "That is America's ass." 

Garnet shook her head and smiled at his words before the two of them made their way out of the Stark Tower, before anyone else could spot their presence.

---

Well, the meeting between 2012 Cap and Garnet from his timeline is definitely going to be a very awkward one...