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Iris would've appreciated space's beauty if it weren't so damn terrifying. That, and the fact they were on a timer, if the three of them didn't get back to breathable oxygen in the morning, they wouldn't breathe oxygen again. 

That was a sobering thought. 

But Carol made good on her promise. Iris watched as space flew by at a stupidly fast pace. She had no idea how Carol was doing, but all that mattered was that she was. She had a few theories, of which she'd taken up with Tony (She was running out of conversation starters) and they agreed on none. 

Iris' favorite was that Carol was pushing the ship herself, flying it through the expanse of space with her powers. Damn the engines not working, she could do it herself. 

Tony's personal favorite, on the other hand, was that there were dozens of mini-Carols flying the ship. 

Iris had burst out laughing when Tony suggested it, and he cracked a grin too until she started coughing violently. 

He nearly jumped out of his chair, shouting for Nebula, who scampered into the room. Iris waved one of her hands, shooing them away, try to tell them she was fine. 

But when she moved away from the arm she'd coughed into, there was a streak of crimson, it contrasted sharply with her sickly, white skin. 

She looked up, a little taken aback. Tony looked back in shock and immense concern. "You need medical attention, now." 

"I suppose you can direct me to the nearest hospital?" 

Tony rolled his eyes, gritting his teeth as he rose from his chair. "Cm' here, I need to make sure your lung isn't punctured." 

"Oh, so you're a doctor now?" 

Tony looked furious, and Nebule watched close by, in case one of them collapsed again. 

"Not the time to joke, Supergirl. If you die on this ship, I'm gonna be ticked." Tony didn't say he'd be heartbroken, but Iris could hear it in his tone. 

So there was Tony and Nebula, hovering around her, making sure she didn't pass out on a whim or start coughing up a fit. 

"Do your ribs hurt? At all?" 

"Other than the fact they're sore like the rest of my body, no." 

"Any stabbing pain?" 

"No, sir." 

Tony rolled his eyes at that last comment. "Any pain when I press here?" He touched her right side 

"Nope." 

"And here?" He reached to her left, pressing two of his fingers gently about halfway up her rib cage. 

Iris hissed and jumped back when a bolt of pain ripped through her rib. It was like someone had inserted a hot, iron pole. And it hurt. A lot. 

Tony sat back in his seat, satisfied he had found something. "Probably just a cracked rib." 

"Best case scenario?" 

"Yeah, that's it. Worst case," He paused. "You've broken it, and it's punctured your lung, but I don't think that's the situation." 

"It better not be, I'm not going down because of a stupid broken rib." 

"Uh, you kinda need those." 

"Oh stop it." They grinned again, watching the window as a sphere came into view. 

Iris assumed it was Earth, she hopped it was Earth, or else they'd be in trouble.  

Her suspicions were confirmed when they drew close enough to make out the green and blue of a certain, oxygen-producing planet. 

Iris breathed a huge sigh of relief, and she heard Tony next to her do the same. He visibly relaxed in his chair, closing his eyes and muttering something under his breath. 

Nebula walked between them, putting an arm on each of their chairs. "I have never been to Earth, is it... nice?" 

Iris laughed again, watching as the planet drew closer. She could make out the clouds on the surface, some swirling into storms, others like streaks of paint. "It's better than being stuck in space, that's for sure." 

Iris looked again, expecting to see more lights of cities on the continents, but she saw almost none. New York should've been visible from the sky, but the only was Iris knew it really was New York City was because of eighth-grade geography. It didn't shine like she'd seen on satellite images, twinkling in the darkness, but it was dull. 

Iris looked at Tony, and he seemed to have come to the same conclusion. "Do you think- do you think anyone's alive down there?" 

"I do, I just don't know who." 

"Someone you know?" 

"I hope."  

"So do I." They looked back out of the window, watching as the atmosphere drew close. 

Iris watched wide-eyed and mouth slightly ajar as they flew through clouds. Milky white and gray filled the window completely, and for a moment, she could see nothing but that. 

Then they broke through the clouds, and the city stretched below them, dark and unmoving. 

Iris straight in her seat, eyes widening in horror. "Oh my God, he did it." 

Tony didn't say a word, only looked dejected at the ruin beneath them. 

It was a barren city, that's all Iris could describe it as. Only a few lights in selective buildings were on, and the rest of the city was dark. 

The streets were empty, and trash blew in the wind. 

Iris had no words, she only stared wordlessly, and so did the others. 

The Milano moved slower now, cruising gently over the roof of houses and apartments and skyscrapers. 

The Avengers Compound Iris had only seen in the news came into view, and like all the other buildings in the city, only a few lights were on. 

"The landing gear, you might want to let it down." Nebula nodded, walking out of the room. Iris could dimly hear the sound of buttons being pushed, and machinery coming to life. Somehow, someway, the landing gear still worked after the ordeal the ship had been through.  

She could make out four people on the grass beneath them, all stepping back to make room for the ship to land. A fifth was running out of the building, and all were looking up at the ship in awe. 

When the ship finally landed, thudded to the ground, IRis and Tony jolted in their seats. Iris felt another pang of fire spring through her rib-cage, and she did her best to ignore it. 

Another hiss of machinery and the landing ramp lowered. The scent of fresh air whipped through the cabin, and Iris gasped for breath. The air they'd been breathing had been stale, stuffy, and not at all pleasant.  

Nebula reached for Tony, holding out her hand. He grabbed it, and she swung his arm around her shoulders, taking most of his weight as she dragged them both toward the exit. 

Iris tried to stand up on her own and ended up falling back onto the chair with a grunt. She had half a mind to call Nebula back into the cabin to help her when Carol walked in, fist held high and alight with energy. "You need some help?" 

"Erm, yes actually, I can't-"  

"No need to explain, I understand." Carol let the energy fade from her hand, and she reached both arms down the hull Iris out of her seat, maneuvering her the same way Nebula had with Tony. 

Iris nodded in thanks, wincing as the supposed cracked rob throbbed. Carol didn't answer, she didn't need to.  

The trip down the ramp was a bit difficult, Tony was already the bottom with Nebula. He was hugging a red-headed woman tightly, and she was sitting on the ground was a raccoon. 

Iris didn't question that one, she was too tired. 

Carol helped her down the ramp and onto the cool grass, waiting for her to give the 'okay' and let her go. 

Iris reached out to grip the side of the ship with her hand that wasn't wrapped around Carol's shoulders for support and nodded. The blonde slowly let her down on her full weight, and Iris trembled for a minute but regained her bearings as quickly as she could. 

Because a tall, blonde and very muscular man was walking toward her, and he looked an awful lot like Captain America. 

A/N: sksksksksks 2,000 reads and 100 votes I am shook 

can't wait for this book I'm so ready ya'll are gonna quake when I kill off the sister ehehehehe 

who's backstory do we want published first? Or do we want something completely different and just take a break like say a Loki fanfiction or Hela of Sherlock??? let me know 

This may be published at a weird time because I have a thing tonight, and can't update via computer, only phone and I have no wifi oopsy 

Thanks for reading, ya'll are really too good to me 

Stay not dead, 

~Kelly~