InsaneJournal

Life had not been the same since she learned of Tony's death. There was always the chance he could have come back, Hemingway did, before that. After what Loki said sank in, it had taken a month, maybe just a little more for her to explore the cause. Was it something they could fix? Had he needed rescuing? Surely there was something. So she had watched. Watched Infinity War, even though it had killed her inside to watch them go through that. To watch Loki die. To watch them all turn to dust.

Then game Endgame. She cheered as they raced through time. Felt the little zing of hope when she saw Loki grab the tesseract. There was still hope. Of course, he was here, he was fine, even if he was dead. Then came that fight. The fight. The one for their lives and all the lives in the universe. It came so quickly she wasn't sure what she'd seen at first. No matter how painful, she had to rewind it and watch it again. Tony. Tony had saved them all. At the greatest cost anyone could have made. There was no saving him.

That had been a month ago. She'd silently born her battle with grief all over again. She went through the stages again. Not letting on to children or spouses that there was anything wrong. But every night she went on a prowl. Tonight her prowl led her to the front of the memorial. And she knew why she was there. Acceptance. A farewell, into the universe.

She left a nose print beside his name. Even if it meant getting up on her rear paws.

Maryanne was still 'standing' there when she heard someone ears perked up. And she made a little purring chirp sound, as she looked around.