Chapter Text
It takes one long, grueling month. As far as they knew Thanos only had one or two of the Infinity Stones in his possession, having wreaked havoc in Asgard and in the Nova Empire. But he was coming for the others. There were six total, with an unknown amount of them present on earth.
Darkseid, on his part, sent lackeys to wreak havoc wherever they could, a precursor of what was to come, testing the limits of earth and its defenses. Testing the limits of earth's heroes...
Between helping to combat these attacks and their search for the right Stones, Bucky and Clark were able to locate the Soul Stone and the Time Stone, but not easily. Ancient texts, knowledge from Vision… It had taken some convincing of Doctor Stephen Strange to hand over the Soul Stone. But, in their surprising luck, the Sorcerer Supreme gave them a bead on the Time Stone.
This particular Stone had been protected by an ancient sect of monks entrenched deep in the Himalayas. It hadn’t been so easy to convince them, but the intention and almost pure hopefulness of bringing an integral hero back from the dead at earth's darkest time somehow worked in their favor. They’d been read and deemed worthy of the Stone.
Steve’s body had been interred in Arlington Cemetery. Though the Avengers, mainly Bucky, fought to have him buried with his parents, the government would not release his body. Instead, the captain was buried near the rest of the Howling Commandos, a fact that Steve wouldn’t have minded; honestly be honored, no doubt.
Wreaths were forever placed at the foot of the grave marker, from admirers and Avengers alike. To many, despite his stance on the Accords and being branded a terrorist, he was still a hero, always would be, fighting for the underdog.
It is with the ideal of the greater good on their side that Clark, Bucky, Rhodey and Sam stole by cover of night into the cemetery. It didn’t take long to dig up the coffin; still rather shiny and lacquered even after an entire year in the ground.
The suspense and anticipation were almost suffocating within Clark. Fate had kept them apart, and now fate may bring them back together again…
In respect to Steve, they kept the coffin closed as they brought it into Tony’s labs in Avengers’ Tower.
Vision was prepared, had been doing so since Bucky and Clark had set out on their quest. As Vision was “powered” by the Mind Stone, he would be their best bet as to having the knowledge on how to work the Soul and Time Stone. The android had explained it thus: the Soul Stone was a way to harness and steal someone’s soul, it would be used to call back Steve’s from the Hereafter; the Time Stone would reverse whatever effects of decomposition that had taken hold on Steve’s corporeal form. The plan wasn’t fool proof, but it was worth a chance.
Clark stayed present the entire time. It took hours and it was good Vision didn’t need sleep. Another wave of attacks from Darkseid came, but Clark refused to leave. It was difficult enough to convince Bucky to go… to fight. He only left on the promise that Clark would remain; that he would be here for if—when Steve awoke.
Clark could feel the raw power in the room; such was the might of three Infinity Stones in one space. It was electric, suffocating, unstable… if he and Vision had been anyone else, an alien and an android, they sure would have perished. If this was how it felt with half… Clark couldn’t imagine all six Stones united for ultimate power; whether for good or evil.
It was as if a maelstrom had formed in the middle of the lab. Papers were flying everywhere, machinery and computers were rattling where they sat. The transparent cloud enveloped the coffin, wood creaking as though it would crack. It was all Clark could do to stay back, hands curling into fists, that feeling of helplessness nearly choking, every prayer he could send up and out to whomever may be listening. He wanted this to work… needed this to work…
When the whirlwind died, there was complete and utter silence. And for a moment, Clark thought it hadn't worked..
Thud, thud, thud against the sides of the coffin.
Clark was across the room in a blink, wrenching the lid open so quickly that the top portion was ripped from its hinges, flying across the room into some (probably expensive) lab equipment.
What was revealed was the most beautiful sight Clark had ever seen…
Steve lay, clothed in a pristine, fresh Captain America uniform, blinking against the sudden onslaught of light. His baby blue gaze was unfocused, pupils dilated. Clark could empathize, having experienced this sudden wrenching back into reality. Steve strained as though to move, but limbs were uncooperative.
“It’s okay, Steve.” Clark said, breathlessly, excited, as he ripped open the bottom part of the lid as well, to keep the captain from feeling enclosed. Clark remembered that particular fear of Steve’s, probably from seventy years of being frozen. Clark was the only person that Steve had ever admitted that there were times he was sure he was alert during those long, cold years…
Vision stood back, slumping into a chair, no doubt exhausted from the exertion.
“Where am I?” Steve asked frantically, arm strength returning, hands flailing outward for purchase. “Where am I?”
You’re in Avengers’ Tower,” Clark replied, reaching in to pull Steve up and out of the box. “In New York. You’re safe. It’s—It’s me… Clark…”
A few more blinks and Steve’s eyes finally came into focus, pupils retracting and dilating, adjusting to the meager light in the room. “C-Clark?” his voice was breathless as well, rough and cracking from ill use. “Yo-You’re alive! H-How?”
Clark couldn’t help but grin, a little breathy laughter, yanking the blonde out of the coffin and into a bone-crushing hug. Fingers sifted into soft, flaxen hair, taking in the solid, still slightly chilled line of Steve’s body against his.
“It’s a long story, I’ll tell it to you later.” Clark murmured, before burying his face into the crook of Steve’s neck, familiar scent still clinging to the captain’s body. Smells of home. Of belonging. Of love. “You had another long nap, old man. Now it’s time to go to work.”
Steve could barely stand, but he didn’t need to, Clark had a strong hold on him. The only thing that he could process in that moment was Clark’s body against his. Very real, very much alive, Steve's ear hovering over a strong beating heart. Steve wished he knew what higher power he had pleased, because he owed Them as much tribute in thanks as he could manage. Later, he would think on what he remembered about where he had been, but now… now he would revel about being in Clark’s safe arms.
Long adjustment periods be damned. His Steve was ready to do his job, to help save and protect all of mankind… As was his Clark, that shining beacon of hope...
Finally reunited, Captain America and Superman took on the enemies of the world, invincible together. Steve had been the much-needed strong leader the Avengers and Justice League had lacked, uniting the two teams with a rousing speech that had Clark puffing out his chest with pride. The teams together defeated Thanos and Darkseid, through much trial and tribulation and a moment when all hope had seemed lost, more help came in the form of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
There had been no time to celebrate their reunion, what with having to throw themselves into what they both did best. But when the dust had cleared and they had all come out victorious? Oh, how they celebrated…