Chapter 18: New Suits for New Challenges

The world was still reeling from the Snap, but life had a way of moving forward, even when half of its inhabitants had vanished into dust. In the aftermath of Thanos' victory, Tony had found his footing once again, thanks to the memory of Shuri and the work they had started together. But now, the world needed more than just technological advancements—it needed defenders. The Avengers, what was left of them, needed to be ready for the next confrontation.

Tony's grief had been replaced by a burning sense of purpose. There was no doubt in his mind that Thanos would strike again, and this time, Tony was determined to be prepared. It wasn't just about upgrading his own suit anymore—he was determined to ensure that every Avenger was equipped with the best technology possible. When the time came to face Thanos again, they wouldn't be caught off-guard.

In the weeks following the Snap, Tony had thrown himself into designing new suits. The Mark 90, his own next iteration, was nearly complete. But he had also turned his attention to creating specialized suits for each of the Avengers, knowing they'd need more than their individual skills to survive the next encounter with Thanos.

Captain America's Suit

Tony had started with Steve Rogers, knowing that Cap would be on the front lines of whatever fight came next. Steve's vibranium shield had always been his greatest asset, so Tony had focused on integrating the shield directly into the suit's systems. The result was a suit that could absorb and redirect kinetic energy from the shield, enhancing Cap's already formidable combat abilities.

Tony stood back, admiring the final product. The suit was sleek, a deep blue accented with the vibranium energy lines that connected the shield to the rest of the armor. With a single thought, Steve would be able to charge the shield with energy, turning it into both a defensive and offensive weapon.

"Cap's going to like this," Tony muttered to himself. He could already picture Steve's reaction—grateful, but probably telling him that he didn't need all the extra enhancements. But Tony wasn't taking any chances this time. They needed every advantage they could get.

Black Widow's Suit

Natasha Romanoff had always been one of the most agile members of the Avengers, relying on her speed, stealth, and precision in battle. Her suit enhancements needed to reflect that, so Tony had designed a lightweight, flexible suit that would increase her agility without sacrificing protection.

The new suit featured Wakandan cloaking technology, allowing Natasha to become nearly invisible on the battlefield, blending seamlessly into her surroundings. The suit was also equipped with advanced hand-to-hand combat enhancements, amplifying her strikes with energy pulses that would hit harder and faster than ever before.

Tony smiled as he ran through the suit's diagnostics. Natasha had always been one to keep things simple, relying on her skills rather than technology. But with this new suit, she'd be a ghost on the battlefield—silent, deadly, and untouchable.

Hawkeye's Suit

Clint Barton, though not as tech-savvy as the others, had always been a critical part of the team, using his skills as a marksman to provide precision support from a distance. For Clint's suit, Tony had focused on enhancing his bow, creating new types of arrows that could cause massive damage.

The suit itself was built for mobility, with enhanced reflexes and targeting systems that allowed Clint to track and engage multiple targets at once. Tony had also integrated an advanced heads-up display (HUD) that would give Clint real-time battlefield data, allowing him to calculate trajectories and anticipate enemy movements with even greater accuracy.

"He's going to love this," Tony said as he finished calibrating the new arrows. Each one had a specialized function—explosive, EMP, and vibranium-tipped, just to name a few. Clint would have more firepower at his fingertips than ever before, and Tony knew that the archer would use it wisely.

War Machine's Armor

Rhodey, or War Machine, had always been the powerhouse of the team, his suit bristling with weapons and firepower. But after the Snap, Tony knew that Rhodey would need even more to stand a chance against what was coming. For the new War Machine armor, Tony had doubled down on the heavy artillery.

The new suit, built from a combination of vibranium and advanced Stark tech, was a walking arsenal. It was equipped with heavy plasma cannons, shoulder-mounted missile launchers, and energy disruptors capable of taking down enemy ships in a single shot. But it wasn't just about firepower—Tony had also enhanced the armor's defensive capabilities, making it nearly indestructible.

"You're going to be a tank, Rhodey," Tony muttered as he finished the final calibrations. The suit was bulkier than before, but it moved with surprising agility, thanks to the new energy systems Shuri had helped him develop. Rhodey would be the ultimate line of defense, a one-man army on the battlefield.

Rocket's Armor

Even Rocket, the diminutive but fearless member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, hadn't been left out. Tony knew that Rocket's resourcefulness and ingenuity made him a key asset in any battle, so he had designed a custom suit that would amplify Rocket's abilities while staying true to his unique style.

Rocket's new armor was sleek and light, allowing him to move quickly while packing a surprising amount of firepower. It came equipped with retractable energy weapons, a jetpack for increased mobility, and enhanced sensors that allowed him to scan and hack enemy systems in real time.

Tony smirked as he finished the final touches on Rocket's suit. "He's going to love this. Probably more than he should."

As the new suits came together, Tony felt a sense of accomplishment. He couldn't bring Shuri back, and he couldn't undo the Snap, but he could make sure that when the time came, the Avengers were ready. They would face Thanos again, and this time, they would be stronger than ever before.

The Mark 90, his own suit, was nearly complete as well. It was designed for one thing: survival. Built with vibranium reinforcement, enhanced energy absorption, and quantum-phase capabilities, the Mark 90 could adapt to any environment and withstand almost any force. Tony had designed it with the sole purpose of standing up to the might of Thanos and the Infinity Stones.

As Tony stood in the lab, looking over the array of suits and armor, he felt a flicker of hope. They weren't out of the fight yet. Thanos had taken so much from them, but he hadn't taken their resolve. They would rebuild, they would regroup, and when the time came, they would take the fight to him.

One night, as Tony finished another long session in the lab, he stepped out onto the balcony of the palace and stared up at the stars. The grief and loss still weighed heavily on his shoulders, but for the first time since the Snap, he didn't feel defeated. He felt... ready.

He remembered Shuri's words, the ones that had pulled him out of his despair. "We're not done yet, Stark." And she had been right. They weren't done. Not by a long shot.

As he stood there, gazing up at the stars, he made a silent promise to himself, to Shuri, and to everyone who had been lost. They would come back. They would find a way to fix this.

"We're not done yet," Tony whispered to the night sky.