#does it make the reunion with bruce less bittersweet?

[boughkeeperdain]

Consider Jason Todd winter soldier au

Just consider it

The resurrection goes mostly the same, what with digging himself out of his own grave and canon seems to proceed as normal (with alight changes to the actions/motives of the league of assassins) up until the events of under the red hood

The red hood comes to gotham and is just significantly less talkative than he was originally. Word spreads about a new crime boss in the arra so obviously batman goes to check it out. There's less stuff targeted at Bruce himself but still enough.

The confrontation goes mostly the same, Bruce and Jason on a rooftop in the rain. The cowl comes off. Bruce has his suspicions about who is under the mask but nothing concrete up until that point.

"Let's make it even," the red hood reaches up to his helmet and unlatches it. Leaving only a boy in his domino mask, face now being soaked by the rain that is pouring. Black hair falling down the sides of his face.

"Jason..."

"Who the hell is Jason," there's nothing behind his eyes. No unchecked rage, no intentional apathy, no lingering fondness for the man who took him in. Nothing.

Bruce then proceeds to break a teeny bit there and everything is disrupted. There was never an attack on Tim because as opposed to canon Jason at this time, the pit madness is held at bay for the brainwashing (conditioning?)

[theimaginesyouneveraskedfor]

What Remains

A commissions written for the lovely @hobbitofrohan221

WARNING: INFINITY WAR SPOILERS! Do not read if you have not seen Infinity War or do not want spoilers.

As a courtesy the story is below the cut.

You had thought Thor was dead but this was worse. Seeing him alive but defeated. Your own loss was heavy in your heart but his sorrow cut deeper. He might as well have died at the hands of Thanos for how absent he was. He always seemed to be somewhere else; the past, reliving all that had led to this endless despair.

When you had met Thor in Sakaar, you had felt as he did now. Lost, abandon, hopeless. You were forced to fight for your life and every night was promised as your last. You had come to a grim acceptance, that each second could be terminal. Even now, you could not believe that you had left that cursed stadium behind, no longer forced to be a spectacle for ruthless crowds.

And it was all due to that bright-eyed Asgardian, though his gaze had lost some luster. Even the artificial eye given him by the grifting raccoon lacked purpose and when he looked at you, he did not seem to see you. Not as he had for those months spent together during the evacuation.

Isolated in the hull of the ship, you had been forced together, the lighthearted god chasing away your well-honed cynicism. Every smile fueled your own until finally, blushing and reluctant, you let your lips curled and shared the joy which shone from him so naturally. That first smile, that first laugh, that was the moment you knew.

One who could bring down Sakaar and withstand the loss of his homeland as Thor had and not falter, was special. He was special. He was the one you had been waiting for. The man you had thought a farce, a wives tale, a fanciful girlhood dream. He was everything you had lost faith in during your years in Sakaar but now you were back where you had begun, watching all hope slip away.

You sighed. You had finally managed to fall asleep but not an hour later, you awoke to find yourself alone. Thor’s pillow was cold and the blanket folded back. You pulled on your robe and tied it at the waist. Thor had not touched you in days, so enraptured in his grief, though you did not resent him for it. Even so, you wore little to bed in the warm Wakanda nights.

As you crept through the dark, you nearly tripped over a small vase. You sidestepped it only to have it do the same, holding in your scream as your vision cleared and you realized the raccoon had been leaning against the wall. Rocket, or ‘Rabbit’ as Thor called him, grumbled at you to watch it and you kept your retort to yourself. He had lost as much as any, if not more.

“Have you seen Thor?” You asked instead, trying not to stoop as you spoke. The last time you had done so, he had taken offense and nearly bitten you.

“Down there,” He pointed over his shoulder, “Sulking majestically in the moonlight, as he does.”

“Have you talked to him?” You ventured only to receive a scoff in return, “I didn’t figure. He’s not said much since--Nevermind. I know you don’t care.”

“About him, yes,” The raccoon countered, “For all I know, he’s all I have left to care about. Even if I don’t know him that well. The big man...he’s lost a lot.”

“Sorry,” You kept your voice low, “Thanks.”

“Not at all, lady,” He said in his blunt way, “I’m an ass but I’m still a captain. Gotta do my captain-ly duties.”

Thor had not told you what had happened in the time between your separation and reunion. You had found yourself streamed to Earth on Heimdall’s last call with Bruce, deprived your chance to say goodbye. Thus it had been a bittersweet surprise to have the god you had accepted to be dead appear before you, lighting and vengeance raining down in bolts around him.

But Loki was not with him and you could guess at his fate. And that of the rest of the Asgardians. His odd companions, a tree and the raccoon, were unexpected and Thor seemed to stand alone. The loss had made him weary of attachment.

You carried on, nodding your farewell to the rodent who seemed intent on spending his misery alone. You followed the moonlight streaming across the floor and onto the open balcony , overlooking the tundra’s of the African Atlantis. Thor’s broad shoulders were limned in silver, his head hung as he sat silent and unmoving, staring into the night.

You neared and sat beside him, hanging your legs over the edge as he did. You reached over and took his hand in yours, pulling it onto your lap without resistance. He surrendered to your affection and even squeezed your hand in his. He raised his head slowly and looked over at you, a smile flickering but quickly dying on his lips.

“I’m sorry I’ve been so distant,” He leaned in, putting his forehead against yours in a moment of comfort before pulling away once more, “I can’t sleep. I try but I can’t.”

“And you don’t eat. You barely talk. You can barely breathe without trembling or turning to stone. You cannot see me when I stand in front of you or hear me when I speak,” Your frustration flowed from you in a bitter stream, “I know you are mourning, we all are, but don’t push away the only person left to you...for you’re all I have, Thor.”

“I wasn’t--I never meant to,” He sniffed and you saw the tear form in the corner of his eye, illuminated in the moonlight, “I could have saved them; Heimdall, Loki, everyone. I watched my brother die and could do nothing. I fought to avenge him and could not do even that.” He released your hand and wiped away his tears, ���And now I sit here and weep. Much good that will do, less good than I’ve done.”

You touched his arm gently, cooing to him as he fought back tears. You thought of the look in his eyes, the sheer defeat back on the battlefield. When faced with Thanos, he had not retreated and he nearly killed him. Nearly. Though none had taken the loss so heavily as him. “You should have gone for the head,” The Titan had taunted and Thor had floundered. The unbreakable god was broken.

“He was right,” Thor said as if reading your thoughts, “I should have aimed higher. I was cocky and careless. My own lust for vengeance cost half the universe. I’ve forsaken millions for my own self-indulgence.”

“You fought as hard as we all did. You did as much as any, if not more,” You took his hand back again, this time he tried to resist but your forced him to twine his fingers with yours. You looked at him and he raised his eyes, startled by the strength in your touch and face, “Thanos killed Loki. He killed Heimdall. He killed everyone else. You did not do that, do you understand?”

He nodded meekly and you lowered your brow, steadying your voice, “It wasn’t your fault. Say it.”

Thor stared at you, he gulped as more tears rose and inhaled deeply. “It--” He began but his voice cracked and he cleared his throat, “It was not my fault…” He reached over to touch your cheek, the warmth of his fingers softening you, “But it still hurts. It still feels like I could have done more.”

“We cannot change what is already done,” You assured him, lifting his hand to kiss it softly, “We can only keep fighting. And we always were good at that, you more than me I’d say.”

“I don’t know if I can,” At last the tears spilled down his cheeks, “I’m so tired of fighting. I fear it’s not the answer I need...if Loki had not kept fighting, he’d still be here.”

“Or Thanos would’ve killed him anyway. He never did need an excuse to do so,” You untangled your fingers from his and wiped his cheeks with the sleeves of your robe, “But you are tired, I can see it. And you need sleep. I do too. But I can’t sleep alone. Not anymore.”

The tension drained from him and he nestled closer, hugging you to him as he buried his face in your neck. He inhaled your scent and sighed, sitting back as he kept one arm around you. “You’re right,” He surrendered, “I guess I haven’t lost everything.”

He rescinded his arm and pulled his legs back from the edge, standing and offering his hand to help you to your feet. You held onto him as you guided him back through the corridors, making certain not to step on any unseen raccoons. You found your chamber and detached yourself, hanging your robe as Thor sat on the bed, running his hands over the sheets as if uncertain.

“Come,” You climbed onto the other side of the bed, tugging on his arm, “Lay.”

You laid back and waited for Thor to join you. He slowly brought his legs up, angling himself towards you and resting his head on your chest. You could smell the dried sweat in his hair as he stretched his arm across your torso, clinging to you like a child. You ran your fingers through his short blond hair, your breathing in sync with his.

It wasn’t long before he began to snore; at first softly and then furiously. The rumble was comforting, a sound you had come to know and love. Thor was as lively asleep as he was awake. The passion never stopped burning in him but seeing him so close to extinguished unsettled you. He had been the unyielding stone to your storm of madness.

You hoped a night’s sleep would restore him; revive him. You hoped it would help you. Your eyelids began to thicken and you yawned, shifting as Thor hugged you closer. His warmth spread through you and drew you nearer to sleep.

There would be the morning, and as long as you had breath in you and a god at your side, there was hope. Of anything, Thor had taught you to never give up.

[aion-rsa]

Does a Chris Evans Captain America Return Undermine the Avengers: Endgame Finale?

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This article contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame and several Marvel Comics storylines.

Few big screen superheroes ever get perfect endings. Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne got one in The Dark Knight Rises, albeit one fans weren’t particularly pleased with. Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark went out in heroic fashion during Avengers: Endgame, but it was bittersweet and at the cost of his life. Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine got a haunting sendoff in Logan. And Chris Evans, the most successful actor to bring Steve Rogers to life on screen, also got a perfect moment to put an end to Captain America’s story, traveling back in time to live out his life with his soulmate, and handing off his shield to Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson.

It’s such a perfect moment in fact, that Kevin Feige and company chose Steve’s reunion with Peggy Carter as the final shot of a movie that wrapped up 11 years of storytelling. Sure, even an ending like that leaves the door open for all kinds of time traveling or multiversal shenanigans, but Cap earned his rest, and it was even more satisfying because his character pined for his lost love in virtually every film he appeared in. Heroes are usually expected to go out in a blaze of glory, but it’s rare that they get to pass on their legacy to someone they trust and get their heart’s desire out of the deal.

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Which is why Deadline’s report that Evans is in early talks with Marvel Studios to reprise his role as Captain America is so puzzling. Evans is apparently set to return in “at least one Marvel property with the door open for a second film.” The word “property” is key here, as it would seem to mean that Evans could pop up in one of the many MCU Disney+ TV shows, as well as on the big screen. In any case, these wouldn’t be Captain America solo films, and his role would likely be more akin to how Downey continued to appear in Marvel projects after the Iron Man film trilogy wrapped up.

It’s not that anyone TRULY expected one of the most popular screen superheroes of recent years to stay off screen forever, especially when played by a star as bankable as Evans. It’s simply that we’re less than two years removed from Cap’s big exit, and only two months away from the premiere of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, a Disney+ MCU show that’s supposed to pick up on how Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes and Mackie’s Sam Wilson deal with Steve’s legacy, as well as Wilson’s journey to wielding the shield as the new Captain America (both men at various points have assumed the role in the comics).

If the hope is to position Sam as the new Captain America, it’s hard not to feel that this revelation would be overshadowed by Evans’ return to the role. There are, of course, other ways this can go. Steve Rogers remained quite active in Marvel Comics when Sam was wearing the red, white, and blue and carrying the shield. There’s no reason that can’t happen in the MCU, as well.

But Mackie has recently tempered expectations of whether he’ll take over the Captain America mantle in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Speaking on The Jesse Cagle Show Mackie remarked that “we don’t know” whether Sam will choose to become Captain America or not.

“The idea of the show is basically, you know, and at the end of Avengers: Endgame, Cap decided he was going into retirement and he asked me if I would take up the shield, but at no point in time, did I agree to or say that I would be Captain America,” he explained. “So [The Falcon and the Winter Soldier] walks the line of who is going to take up the shield and who’s going to be Captain America if Steve isn’t coming back.”

There are also other projects on the horizon at Marvel that could hint at when, why, and how Evans’ Rogers could return, potentially as a different version of Cap. Notably, Sam Raimi’s looming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a movie which is likely to open up the endless possibilities of the multiverse to the MCU. There’s also Secret Invasion, a Disney+ TV series that will feature Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury fighting alongside Ben Mendehlsohn’s friendly Skrull, Talos, as the shape-shifting alien race begin to infiltrate humanity for their own ends. It’s easy to see how Evans could return as an imposter Cap.

In any case, Evans’ return isn’t so imminent that we’ll see him in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which hits Disney+ in March. Audiences (including this writer) would certainly love to see Steve Rogers on the screen again. But when Marvel has been making such great strides to introduce new characters, and create a legacy for the Captain America character, news of his return, coming just months before a TV series meant to deal with his absence, feels like strange timing. Will audiences remain as invested in Sam’s quest for the shield when they know Steve is waiting in the wings once again? We’ll find out soon enough.

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