Steve Rogers was pounding the punching bags when he suddenly felt weird. A hollowness that began in his chest before spreading to the rest of his body. An expanding hole that swallowed up the very essence of his being. Grief unlike any he'd ever known shook him to the core.
Tony Stark was tinkering in his workshop before the wave of depression and emptiness hit. He lowered his tools and slumped in his chair.
Natasha Romanoff lay curled by Bucky's side. The worthlessness, pointless feeling consumed them as they reached for each other's hands and bowed their heads in regret and sorrow.
Clint Barton kissed his wife on the head as he took in a deep breath. It was released in a long suffering sigh. He hung his bow on the hook on the wall before gathering his family into his arms.
Bruce Banner helped the last little girl before his skin rippled green. The hulk emerged but held no anger, the spark had gone. Instead he cradled himself and whispered to Bruce, asking him to chase away the loneliness. Finally he accepted his fate and curled into a hulking ball, one last attempt to protect Puny Banner.
Thor Odinson, even on Asgard felt the shift that pulled everyone into despair. He dropped his hammer and weeped. His sly brother joined him and they shed tears thick as marbles as the sorrow came to pass.
Throughout the whole world of superheroes and villains everyone stopped and wept. The emptiness inside them yawned and completely consumed them. With heavy hearts and bowed heads they understood their time had come as they whispered their goodbyes.
The last creator had died, therefor they did too. A ripple of grief ripped apart their universe and swallowed up everything in its path. Bucky and Natasha embraced for the last time, as did the Barton family. Tony Stark cast a final glance at all his unfinished inventions and Steve Rogers clung to the punching bag he'd never split.
This was it. Truly the end of an era.
A/N A tribute to Stan Lee.
