AN: The recruitment arc starts here.

  ---

  [3 months ter]

  Three months passed in the blink of an eye. Natasha, as the new Director of the SHIELD, was doing a great job. The Hydra's existence has been completely removed from the face of the Earth thanks to her and the Sentinels that Bruce gave to her. They tracked every single one of them down, no matter where they hid and killed them. There was no mercy for them this time.

  The destruction caused by the previous war and Hydra hunting was massive, but there were enough people left to rebuild. Those corrupt governments tried to interfere with every decision Natasha made, but thanks to her position and power, they soon realized that she was not the person to be reckoned with. They wanted to threaten her with nukes, but Bruce hacked into the system and took control of all the weapon systems. Then to make sure they don't do anything stupid again, Bruce simply told them that he would kill them next time. In the present, they are Natasha's puppets that do whatever she says.

  This time, there will be no more corruption or discrimination in the world. With SHIELD acting as a one-world government, everyone, humans and mutants, will be free from fear. The world will change and become a better pce. However, the reputation of the mutants is super low now because of Magneto's war. But with him dead, that will slowly change as well.

  Proper respect and farewell were given to the fallen heroes. The Earth lost most of its best warriors in this war. Hulk, Scott Lang, The Thing, Reed, The Human Torch, James Rhodes, T'Chal, Professor X, and many other heroes died and some even went missing like Dr. Strange, Captain Marvel, Spider-Woman, Wanda, Janet, and Thor. Their absence left a huge hole in the world, but everyone is sure that they would be remembered for generations to come.

  Natasha built the Avengers Monument in their honor. It was a statue of all the heroes who fought for the Earth.

  Bruce made a public appearance with Tony's face. The return of the Ironman shocked the whole world. After his sudden revetion back at the SHIELD's base, the world was waiting for that press conference. At that conference, he announced the rebuilding of the Avengers initiative. New heroes and talents will rise to protect the Earth and he will be investigating the missing heroes. As for the reason behind his disappearance, he told them he was stuck on another pnet, far away.

  The people accepted it almost instantly. Everyone knew that Tony Stark had no malicious intent, he was a hero through and through. He was an icon of humanity, a hero, and an inspiration. They were just happy to have him back.

  [Present time]

  He stood in the middle of the kitchen, staring down at a cutting board as if it were an ancient battlefield. Her sword had once severed armies in two; now, she struggled to dice an onion without her eyes stinging.

  "Don't chop your fingers off, Ms. Death," Harley teased, leaning casually against the counter, munching on a slice of apple. "Morgan doesn't need you bleeding all over her dinner."

  "I can handle this, clown," He snapped, though her tone cked its usual venom. With a sigh, she resumed her clumsy attempt at dicing the onion.

  Morgan appeared at the doorway, carrying a book under her arm. "Aunt He, are you making spaghetti again?"

  "Yes, child," He replied, her lips twitching into something that almost resembled a smile. "It is the only dish I can prepare without burning down this wretched kitchen."

  "Progress!" Harley excimed dramatically, throwing her hands in the air. "Who'd have thought? The Goddess of Death, a domestic queen in the making."

  "Mock me all you want," He retorted, dropping the knife and inspecting her work critically. "But I have lived for centuries, and if there is one thing I know, it is persistence. This spaghetti will not defeat me."

  Morgan giggled and approached to help. "Here, let me show you a trick to cut onions faster." She gently guided He's hands, demonstrating a proper slicing technique. He watched intently, her pride momentarily set aside.

  Later that evening, He sat by the firepce with Selina, sipping tea. Morgan and Harley were pying a card game on the floor, their ughter filling the room. Bruce was in his study, no doubt working on some world-altering pn.

  He leaned back in her chair, staring into the flickering fmes. 'What is this feeling?' she wondered, her fingers tightening around her teacup. 'Peace? Contentment? How absurd. I was born for war, forged to conquer, yet here I am, tending to meals and sharing tea like some mortal fool.'

  But no matter how much she scoffed at the idea, she couldn't deny the warmth that spread through her chest when Morgan smiled at her earlier. Or the strange sense of pride when Harley praised her spaghetti—albeit with a sarcastic fir.

  'Is this what Odin wanted me to learn?' she mused. 'Not just mercy, but the value of these quiet, mundane moments? The strength it takes to lower one's sword and simply... live?'

  Her eyes wandered to Selina, who was watching her with a knowing smile. "You're thinking about it, aren't you?" Selina asked, breaking the silence.

  "About what?"

  "About how much you've changed," Selina replied, leaning forward. "It's written all over your face."

  He huffed, setting her teacup down. "Don't mistake my actions for sentimentality. I'm merely... adapting to my circumstances."

  "Sure," Selina said, her tone light but her gaze piercing. "Keep telling yourself that."

  The next day, He found herself cleaning the living room. It wasn't a task she'd been assigned; she had simply noticed the mess Morgan and Harley left behind after their game.

  'What am I doing?' she thought, shaking her head. 'I was once the scourge of realms. Now I clean floors like a common servant.'

  Yet, as she gnced up and saw Morgan and Harley sitting on the couch, engrossed in another game, she felt an odd sense of satisfaction. The house felt... lighter, warmer, as though her actions, insignificant as they were, contributed to its harmony.

  Later, Morgan came over and hugged her. "Thanks for cleaning up, Aunt He. You didn't have to."

  The gesture stunned He. She froze, uncertain how to respond. Slowly, awkwardly, she patted Morgan's head. "It was nothing," she muttered.

  That night, He stood on the balcony, gazing at the stars. Bruce joined her, hands in his pockets. "You're adjusting," he said without preamble.

  He didn't turn to face him. "I'm trying."

  "Good," Bruce said simply. "You're doing better than most people would."

  He let out a dry ugh. "Do you think Odin would approve of me now? Reduced to a caretaker and a maid?"

  Bruce smirked. "He didn't send you here to be a maid, He. He sent you here to understand what it means to be human. And maybe, to find strength in something other than fear and power."

  He didn't reply, but his words lingered in her mind long after he left. 'Strength in something other than fear and power? Perhaps there's more to this mortal life than I ever realized.'

  As the stars twinkled above, He felt the faintest glimmer of something she couldn't name. Hope, perhaps. Or maybe, just maybe, the beginnings of mercy.

  [Next day]

  The sun hung low over the training yard, casting long shadows across the lush grass. He stood in the middle of the field, her posture regal despite the simplicity of her attire. Even without her divine powers, her presence radiated authority. Morgan stood a few feet away, her hands glowing faintly with golden energy, a manifestation of the infinite power she struggled to control.

  Harley, twirling a pair of oversized mallets, grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Ready to rumble, kiddo?"

  Morgan gnced nervously at He, who offered a calm nod. "Focus," He said, her voice sharp yet encouraging. "Your energy is boundless, but your control is cking. Harness it. Do not let it dictate your movements."

  Bruce and Selina watched from the balcony overlooking the yard. Selina leaned on the railing, sipping coffee, while Bruce observed with a quiet intensity.

  "You think this is going to work?" Selina asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Bruce smirked faintly. "If anyone can teach Morgan control, it's He. She's as disciplined as they come."

  ---

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  [Reborn as Ironman> 13 chs]