Tony, Steve, Natasha, Rhodes, and General Ross gathered in the private infirmary on sub-basement level one.
Rintrah, Wanda, and Illyana were all on a hospital bed, the exhaustion catching up with them as they passed out even through all the treatments and check-ups done for their injuries.
They looked completely spent from whatever battle they had just come from, which the Avengers were still wrapping their heads up on. While Wanda and Rintrah were out cold, Illyana was restless, twisting and turning in her sleep.
General Ross wasn't interested in them, however. He paced the room, looking at the monitors and then back at the Avengers.
"Who are these people?" Ross demanded, pointing at Rintrah's massive, green-furred frame. "Why is there an alien in this facility that isn't on any of our records? I want answers, Steve. Stark, you're the one who let them in here. What is this?"
"They're students, Ross," Tony said, rubbing his face. "We don't know much about Rintrah."
"Another 'we don't know'? You sure have a lot of those, but I'm not deaf, I know what I heard." Ross scoffed. Though, his mind was already filling in some things from what he'd heard earlier. "They're students of Satoru Gojo, and judging by the alien's words earlier, the man might be an alien too. It seems like you guys really were hiding him."
Before anyone could answer, the door burst open.
A blur of white and blue streaked into the room, sending papers flying off the desks. Pietro Maximoff came to a dead stop, panting hard. Sam Wilson followed right behind him, looking equally worried.
Pietro's eyes went straight to Wanda. He saw the bruises on her face and her messy, singed hair. His expression immediately turned from panic to anger.
He looked like he was about to vibrate out of his own skin.
"What happened?" Pietro hissed with a low and dangerous tone as he approached Wanda's bed. He looked at Tony and Steve with eyes full of accusation. "Where is Gojo? He was supposed to be watching her. Why did they show up here like this?"
"We're working on it, kid," Rhodes said softly.
"We don't have the full story yet, Pietro," Steve said, trying to keep his voice calm and assuring. "We're waiting for them to wake up."
Pietro didn't look convinced. He grabbed Wanda's hand, his gaze shifting to Illyana, who was still muttering in her sleep then at Rintrah who was breathing hard even when unconscious.
Wanda's eyelids fluttered before they slowly opened. Her vision was blurry at first, catching the sterile white lights of the ceiling. As she tried to sit up, a sharp pain shot through her side, making her grunt and fall back against the pillow.
"Wanda! Stay down," Pietro said, his voice instantly losing its edge as he leaned over her. He looked relieved but his hands were still shaking.
Wanda blinked, her eyes finally focusing on her brother's face. "Pietro?" she whispered with a rough voice. She looked around the room, seeing the familiar faces of the Avengers and the unfamiliar of General Ross.
Memory came rushing back — the explosion at Kamar-Taj, Mordo's magic that was eerily similar to her own yet denser, and the sight of Belasco. She suddenly sat up with a jolt, ignoring the pain this time. Her eyes went wide with panic.
"Kamar-Taj… the Ancient One!" Wanda gasped, her hands sparking with a flickering red energy instinctively. "We have to go back. They're still there!"
"Who is there, Wanda?" Steve asked, stepping closer to the bed. "Take a breath. Tell us what happened."
Wanda grabbed Pietro's arm so hard her knuckles turned white. "Mordo betrayed us," When she saw their confused looks, she briefed. "A master of Kamar-Taj, like Master Gojo. He brought something back — a demon. We were fighting them, the three of us and the other masters. The last thing I recall was the Ancient One…"
When she got to this point, she stared desperately at Pietro. "Brother, we need to help her!"
Tony, who was quietly listening in along with the others, finally spoke up. "Rintrah already told us that Satoru's not on Earth. I have an idea of where he is," he said.
General Ross immediately shot him a disgusted, accusing look, but Tony ignored him. "We're willing to help," Tony added, his voice serious.
The other Avengers nodded in agreement. They all felt they owed Satoru for his help in Sokovia, but they weren't stupid. If this Mordo was a master on the same level as Gojo, they were in way over their heads.
[A/N: They don't know Mordo, but they judged Wanda's words and assumed that Mordo — which they're unfamiliar with — held the same capacity as Satoru.]
"But, we need to know more, Wanda. Can you tell us? Is this Mordo person as powerful, or more powerful than Gojo?"
Wanda shook her head, trying to organize her thoughts. "No... he's not like Master Gojo, even though they share similar ranking in the hierarchy. His magic and sorcery are different, very like mine, but stronger and denser. And he has a book that seems to feed him that power." She looked at her hands. "Then there's the demon, Belasco. He's also capable of sorcery and magic, and summons other demons to fight with him, those demons… dare I say, one is even as powerful as the Hulk, and the rest aren't pushovers."
"What!?"
The Avengers, even the most composed members, stared in shock.
Bruce Banner had disappeared after Sokovia, but they still remembered Hulk's strength. If these demons were just summoned pets that matched him in power, the master behind them would most likely be a different level entirely if they have to guess, that gave them a perspective on the threat they faced. And while Mordo might not be Gojo, it was clear he wasn't someone they could just punch out either.
A heavy silence followed until Tony and Steve exchanged a knowing look. They both nodded at the same time.
General Ross saw this and stepped forward, chiming in. "If you're heading to that location, the U.S. government is sending A.T.C.U. forces with you. You aren't doing this alone."
"The hell you are," Tony muttered, already turning to the door. "Steve, gather the team, let's come up with a plan before we go."
Tony paused, glancing at Pietro. "Pietro... make sure General Ross stays put."
Pietro looked at Tony, then at the General. A mischievous smile pulled at his lips. "No hard feelings, General."
In a white and blue streak, Pietro vanished. He circled Ross so fast the wind knocked more papers off the nearby medical trays.
Within a millisecond, he was standing still again.
"What — what are you — hey!" Ross barked, struggling.
He was tied up tightly with several layers of heavy-duty rope. Pietro stood in front of him, casually tossing the General's walkie-talkie and cell phone into the air.
While that was going on, Illyana who was twisting and turning a minute ago, had her eyes open for a while now, unnoticed.
While the Avengers were focused on the fuming General Ross, a cold and sharp voice cut through the room.
"I'm going with you."
The group turned to see Illyana sitting up. She had been awake for a while, unnoticed by everyone. She looked pale and her hands were still trembling, but her eyes were like ice yet filled with resolve.
"Illyana, stay down. You're in no condition—" Steve started, but she cut him off with a look that silenced him.
"Belasco is there because of me," Illyana said, her voice dropping to a heavy tone. "Kamar-Taj... it was the first place in eight years where I didn't have to sleep with a knife under my pillow. It's my home. I won't let him burn it down just to get to me."
"Me too," Wanda added. She pushed herself off the bed, her legs nearly giving out before she caught the edge of a table.
Pietro moved to grab her arm. "Wanda, no, you need to rest. You said it yourself — these things are as strong as the Hulk."
"That's exactly why I have to go," Wanda countered, her eyes flashing with a stubborn red light. "Besides, you need someone to guide you where Kamar-Taj is, Illyana and I know, but none of you do."
Pietro sighed. She's right, arguing more would only make him look stupid.
At first, Kamar-Taj had just been a school for both the women, a place Satoru had invited them to 'fix' them.
But over the months, the temple had become more than just a training ground.
It was the place where they found peace, where they found friends like Rintrah and Wong, and where they got to know the man who made the world feel quiet for the first time in their lives. They couldn't name the feeling they got when Satoru leaned into their space while training or offered a rare word of praise or the ease they felt when around him, but they knew they weren't ready to let that world be destroyed.
Wanda and Illyana exchanged a look. Wanda and Illyana exchanged a look. They remembered Satoru's words the day before he left for Asgard: 'You can't protect the world if you don't even remember what it's like to live in it.'
"We're going," Illyana said, her jaw set. "With or without your permission."
Tony sighed, looking at Steve, who gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. But you stay behind us until I say otherwise. I'm not explaining to Gojo why his students are in a casket."
"Let's move," Steve commanded.
As they hurried out of the infirmary, leaving a tied-up Ross screaming about court-martials, Rintrah let out a long, snoring breath in his sleep, still oblivious to the rescue mission beginning around him.
...
[ Nidavellir ]
Eitri finally stepped back from the forge, holding the finished artifact with a pair of gloves. The blindfold was made of Night-Silk that looked like a strip of black shadow, and the Vibranium-Uru brooch at the center was an added artistic finish to the whole thing.
"It is done," Eitri grunted.
Satoru stood up and took the artifact. The material was cool and felt like water against his skin. He didn't put it on yet; instead, he looked at Eitri, who was now turning his gaze toward Thor.
The Giant Dwarf wiped his soot-stained hands on his apron, his expression turning somber.
"Thor," Eitri began, his voice heavy with a mix of gratitude, anger, and lingering grief, because not all the dwarves from the battle earlier were held unscathed. "I must ask... why was Asgard so late to send aid? We sent the signal for assistance hours ago."
Thor's expression fell. He looked Eitri straight in the eye and spoke honestly.
"My father, the King, was aware of your distress," Thor said with shame in his voice. "But I don't know what he was thinking. He refused to send any reinforcements."
Eitri's face twisted into a deep frown. "Why? Has Odin finally gone senile with old age? We've been allies to the throne and under Asgard's protection since the son of Búri sat on it. To ignore our call…"
"I don't have an answer for you, Eitri," Thor admitted, his own brow furrowing. "I'll make sure to speak with my father the moment I return."
Thor had his suspicions — Odin had been acting strange for a long time—but he needed to verify the truth before making any accusations.
Eitri spat to the side, his massive chest heaving. "Hours, Thor. We were being slaughtered for hours while the All-Father sat on his golden chair. If it weren't for this white-haired sorcerer of yours, there would be no Nidavellir left to protect."
Thor's jaw tightened. "I know. And I will get answers, Eitri. You have my word."
Eitri sighed, letting the matter slide, for now. As a king himself, he knew there were matters that might hinder some responsibilities, but he sure as hell would like an explanation. "At first, I thought you were with the Warriors Three, or at least a legion of Einherjar. But, I was surprised and was consumed by despair when I only saw the sorcerer beside you.."
Eitri then looked at Satoru, who was casually spinning the new blindfold around his finger. The dwarf king let out a dry huff. "I realize now that two wasn't too little. For Thanos, two or even he was exactly enough."
Thor laughed.
Satoru, who had been listening silently, finally raised the new blindfold.
But not before saying: "I'll take that as a compliment."
He tied the blindfold securely around his head, the fabric of the Night-Silk feeling as light as air. The moment the Vibranium-Uru brooch pressed against his forehead, he settled the Mind Stone in one of his hands on it.
THUMP!
The moment the brooch touched his forehead, the Mind Stone inside it flared with a brilliant gold light. Satoru's body went rigid for a split second.
With his brain now perfectly partitioned and his Six Eyes stabilized by the stone's psychic depth, Satoru's perception didn't just expand — it exploded.
He let his mind wander unrestrained. He decided to check on his disciples in Kamar-Taj or if he can even with the vast distance.
But what he saw made him pause…
He saw Kamar-Taj, but not the peaceful one he remembered. There was smoke rising from destroyed buildings and rubbles. There were no signs of his disciples, but he saw the Ancient One on her knees and looking down on her was…
"Those two... pieces of shit...!"
Thor and Eitri, who were talking among themselves, flinched at the suddenness of Satoru's cold whisper.
They thought he was speaking about the both of them. But, before they can question him, though. Satoru was already moving.
"Thor," Satoru said, his voice cold and devoid of any humor. The Mind Stone nestled on the brooch was beginning to glow brightly and produced a sharp shiiiiing sound. "My vacation is over."
...
[ Author's Notes ]: Stone me, if you dare.
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