Trick 109: Tough way to Live, Fulfilling life to have.

Ace returned to the Quinjet, sitting on the girl's chest as he looked up at Hermione, asking "Did they move?" Hermione shook her head and looked at Ace, asking "Master, why do we have to be here?"

Ace smiled and said "Would you rather be studying, little one?" Hermione nodded and Ace replied while shaking his head, "You will never grow through study. You must have experience. If I'm always here to take care of you, what will happen if I leave?"

Hermione frowned "What do you mean?" Ace tilted his head, replying "Maybe I'll die, will you die with me? I don't want that." as he shook his head, adding "Or what if I disappear one day? Will you break down and panic? You have to be ready to handle any situation, Hermione."

He flicked his tail and continued "This is not school anymore. The enemies you had before… They can't compare to what you will cross paths with in this world. Voldemort is breakfast to most people you don't even know about. In the infinite multiverse there are threats beyond your comprehension."

Hermione questioned, "But why would they want our world?" Ace rebuffed, "Why not?" Hermione was stunned and muttered "Why not?"

Ace nodded and went on, "Why do they need a reason? When you step on an ant, do you even think about the ant's life? Why did you step on the ant?" Hermione frowned "But we're not ants…" Ace chuckled and replied "We're not?"

Hermione froze and looked at Ace in shock, he grinned and said "Forget what you think you know, the threats to the universe or even just this Earth are unfathomable. I remember telling you this. Let me explain a bit better."

A line appeared between them and Ace said "This is the flow of time in the universe. Your life lives on this line. You start in one place and end along the line. However…" multiple speckles appeared all around the line, but not on it as Ace continued "Some beings are so powerful that time no longer affects them."

Hermione froze and Ace continued "Immortality brings an unquenchable thirst for motive. Some find peace to be their calling, others… do not. Conquest and power are their driving force. They consume and conquer anything and everything in their way. Should they meet resistance, they step on them like ants."

The diagram disappeared and Ace looked at her tilting his head as he smiled "So in fact, yes. We are ants. They don't mean to step on us. We are just one of the many ants in their way. It's not that they come for us specifically, it's that they are simply doing what they've always done."

Hermione said in slight panic "So what do we do?!" Ace placed a paw on her leg, smiling gently, "Little one, we do what we always have. We defend our planet. The Guardians of the Earth prepare and practice every single day for the potential threats. If a boot comes, we destroy the boot."

Ace flicked his tail and jumped to her lap, looking up as he added "Remember, little one. We are the only wall in front of Billions of innocent people. Us, the Avengers, etc. Only us. We have the power therefore we hold the burden of responsibility to protect the weak."

Hermione looked at Ace in a daze as he continued heroically "If I must die to protect the people, I will. Because that's my duty. Because I have the power to make a difference. Remember, Little one… We are not gods, we are not better than the people we protect. We were simply lucky to be chosen for this task."

He jumped off and flicked his tail behind him, smiling "And perhaps, if we're lucky enough, we may even die a meaningful death. WE are the Martyrs. WE are the ones who step out of the crowd to fight when others hide in fear!"

He stamped his paw and added "We are the Heroes! Never forget that. Ever." before jumping out of the Quinjet, strutting towards the yard as Hermione watched him go. She hugged her book and felt a shiver go down her spine, as she sighed "You're my hero, Master…"

Not noticing that the man's eyes were open, staring at the roof of the Quinjet. He had heard the entire conversation.

A while later

Ace was laying on the grass in between Tony and Steve as they chopped wood. Tony looked at Steve as he asked "Thor didn't say where he was going?" Steve chopped a log and sighed, "Sometimes my teammates don't tell me where they're going."

Ace flicked his tail and defended himself, "I'm usually on a different planet." Steve looked at him replying "I'm not talking about you, Wizard." Tony chopped a log and added "Still not used to a cat talking, kinda spooky to be honest."

Ace yawned and laid his head on his paws, smiling "It's not that weird. Magic is fun." as he turned into a Sabertooth tiger instead. Steve and Tony looked at him before turning back to their conversation, as Steve said "I was kinda hoping Thor would be an exception."

Tony picked up a log, putting it down as he said "Yeah, give him time. We don't know what the Maximoff kid showed him." Steve chopped another log and snorted sarcastically, "'Earth's Mightiest Heroes'... Pulled us apart like cotton candy." Tony chopped the log and looked at Steve, remarking "Seems like you walked away all right."

Steve turned to him and asked "Is that a problem?" Tony shrugged and replied "I don't trust a guy without a dark side." before pointing the ax at Ace, adding "Like the wizard, imagine the dark thoughts going through his head."

Steve looked at Tony and said after a moment, "Well, let's just say you haven't seen it yet." Ace glanced at him and said "Evil Captain America… A scary thought." Tony nodded, "I agree." as he walked to Steve, adding "You know Ultron is trying to tear us apart, right?"

Steve retorted sarcastically, "Well, I guess you'd know. Whether you'd tell us is a bit of a question." Tony snapped back, "Banner and I were doing research." Steve rebuked "That would affect the team." Tony corrected instantly, "That would END the team!"

Steve fell silent and Ace raised his head, looking at them, Tony went on, "Isn't that the mission? Isn't that the 'Why we fight'? So we can end the fight? So we get to go home!?" Steve picked up a log and ripped it in half with his bare hands, retorting "Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die. Every time."

Ace turned to Tony, who looked at him silently before asking Ace, "Wizard, thoughts?" Ace shook his head and replied "Doesn't matter for me. If people are in danger I will help. I have the power to save people and so I save them. Whether the fight ends or not has no effect on my life."

Steve and Tony were silent as Ace laid back down, adding "Plus… There's always a fight, Tony. Whether you know about it or not, the fighting never ends." Tony asked "So you're fine with constantly fighting all the time? Every single time we have to risk our lives and that's okay with you?"

Ace nodded and turned to him, replying "Yes." Tony replied "Sorry, I'm more interested in stopping the fight, than fighting every day." Ace replied "I'm not saying that it's wrong. I'm just saying what I think. You don't have to get so defensive…"

He turned to Steve and then back to Tony saying "I practice and fight, then I train someone to take my place, and fight until I die. Very simple life." Tony looked at him and said seriously "We are not martyrs! We shouldn't have to die!"

Ace laid his head on his paws, retorting "Then we can only disagree." Tony frowned and looked at Steve, saying "Any input? You agree with him?" Steve frowned and said "I don't believe we are martyrs… But we have the responsibility to protect the people. We are the ones who need to fight and win, coming back alive for the next fight."

Tony snorted and smirked, saying "You're a real piece of work. You and the wizard are great! Let's all sacrifice ourselves when someone comes! That may work for you, but I don't want sacrifices!" he poked his chest with his fingers, raising his voice "I don't want casualties! I want peace! I want to wake up in my bed and not have to worry about who the fuck is coming to terrorize the Earth today, okay?!"

Steve fell silent and Tony looked at him and Ace, saying "Out of words now? Touching. You know, sometimes I really wish you could see what I see. Unlike you both, I don't want any of us to die."

The duo were silent as Tony looked at them. However, Laura walked over and said "Um… I'm sorry, Mr. Stark? Clint said you wouldn't mind, but our tractor doesn't seem to want to start at all…"

Tony turned around and she smiled slightly, looking at Steve and Ace, adding "I thought you might be able to…" Tony snorted and smiled, "Yeah, I'll give her a kick." before walking to the barn, glancing at Steve and Ace, adding "Don't take from my pile."

Steve watched him go as Ace closed his eyes, Laura walked back into the house, nodding at the both of them. Steve watched Tony walk into the barn as he asked "You think he's right?"

Ace replied "I don't agree. Last time someone tried world peace I had to lift a helicarrier." Steve snorted and held his hips, saying "I get it, it's just… I don't know what I would do if the fight was over. Go back to normal? I can't do that."

Ace said "Trust me. The fight is never over. There may be peace for 5-10, hell even 20 years, but eventually there will be someone to disturb it. Don't tell me you believe that everybody will hold hands and sing kumbaya?"

Steve rolled his eyes and said "No, obviously not." Ace rolled his eyes, saying "So then?" Steve looked at him and asked "So you'd rather fight your whole life and even die fighting?" Ace replied simply, "Even if I am only saving one person."

Steve sighed and went back to chopping as he replied "Tough way to live." Ace replied softly "Agree to disagree." Steve nodded, "Looks like it."

Ace snorted softly and reverted to a cat.