CHAPTER TWO » ❝ I think a hero is any person
really intent on making this a better
place for all people. . . ❞

╰ CHAPTER TWO ╮

╰ N E W    Y O R K S A N C T U M ╮

" From the dawn of the universe, there was nothing. Then, boom! The Big Bang sent six elemental crystals, hurtling across the virgin universe. These Infinity Stones each control an essential aspect of existence." Explained Wong as he used magic to show the universe and five out of the six Infinity Stones.

" Space. Reality. Power. Soul. Mind. And Time." Called out Doctor Stephen Strange as they stones show up. Each of the single Infinity Stones lights up as Strange names them off. Dr. Strange opens the Eye of Agamotto, revealing the Time Stone emitting emerald light.

" Tell me his name again." Said Iris as she back looked at her best friend with a rather worried look.

" Thanos. He's a plague, Tony. He invades planets. He takes what he wants. He wipes out half the population. He sent Loki. The attack on New York. That's him." Stated Bruce. Iris paled a little bit at mention of Loki's name. She had temporarily under Loki's mind controlled during the battle of New York. It made her feel little sick and overwhelmed.

" This is it... What's our timeline?" Tony questioned.

" No telling. He has the Power and Space Stones, that already makes him the strongest creature in the whole universe. If he gets his hands, on all six Stones, Tony..." Bruce was cut off by Dr.Strange.

" He can destroy life on a scale hitherto undreamt of." Finished Dr.Strange as he glance over at Tony , who was now leaning against a cauldron, stretching like he's about to go for a run. Iris rolled her eyes at Tony. She knew he wasn't taking this as serious as he should be. She sent him a small glare of annoyance.

 
  " Did you seriously just say 'hitherto undreamt of' ?"

   " Are you seriously leaning on the Cauldron of the Cosmos?" Retorted Dr.Strange questingly. His tone was full of annoyance which just made Iris sigh and shake her head at Tony's ways.

  " Is that what this is...?" He questions as he looks at it. The Cloak of Levitation smacks Tony's arm, surprising him. Tony looked at the Cloak with an offended look. Tony straightened himself out with scruff.

 
     " I'm going to allow that. If Thanos needs all six, why don't we just stick this one down the garbage disposal?"

   " Tony, I don't think it's that easy," retorted Iris as she then shared a side glance with Dr. Strange. 

   " She's right. We can't." Dr.Strange agreed. Wong nodded in agreement.

   " We swore an oath to protect the Time Stone. With our lives."

   " And I swore off dairy, but then, Ben & Jerry's named a two flavors after me and Iris, so..." Tony stated.

   " Stark Raving Hazelnuts, and The Flash expresso."

" It's not bad." Tony said referring to the ice cream. Iris snorted.

" It's a bit chalky." She admitted honestly as she glanced back over at Tony. "But, mine on the other hand is better."

"A Hunka-Hulka Burning Fudge" is our favorite." Wong commented.

" That's a thing?" Bruce suddenly questions with his burrows pushed together in confusion. Iris nodded silently as if to answer his question.

" Whatever. Point is that things change." Said Tony.

    " Our oath to protect the Time Stone cannot change. This Stone may be the best chance we have against Thanos." Stated Dr.Strange yet again.

    " And still conversely, it may also be his best chance against us."

  " Well, if we don't do our jobs."

" What is your job exactly, besides making balloon animals?" Tony questioned with slight condescending tone. Iris let out an exasperated sigh. Bruce glanced over at her with small smile. Somethings just didn't change, and Tony's abilities to not get along with other were one of them.

   " Protecting your reality, douchebag." Stated Dr.Strange in a completely calm and sarcastic manner as he glared at Tony.

   " Okay, guys, could we table this discussion right now? The fact is that we have this Stone. We know where it is. Vision is out there somewhere with the Mind Stone, and we have to find him now."  Bruce interjected as he stepped between both of the men. Iris and Tony went unusually quite. They shared all too knowing glances at one another. Iris didn't quite know how to go about the whole civil war thing. It was still a very sensitive thing for both her and Tony.

   " Umm... about that... that can't really happen." Said Iris as she rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.

   " Speedy, what do you mean?" Asked Bruce in utter confusion as he turned to look at Iris.  She let out a sigh.  Iris looked away with guilty look.  " Iris?"

  " Two weeks ago, Vision turned off his transponder. He's offline." Tony answered for her.

   " What? Tony, you lost another super bot?"

   " I didn't lose him. He's more than that. He's evolving."

   " Who could find Vision, then?" Questioned Dr.Strange.

    " Steve...." Iris said quietly in mumble.  " Steve Rogers could probably find him." She then said more loudly.

  " Oh, great." Muttered Dr.Strange in a exasperated tone.

   " That's huge maybe, Babe " Tony retorted as he looked at his fiancée. She sighed softly and shook her head.

" But it's a huge possibility. I mean, Wanda and Vision were getting pretty close and highly doubt that they leave each other. And Wanda's probably with Steve." She countered as she crossed her arms over her chest.

" Them why don't you guys just call him?" Questioned Bruce.

" It's not that easy. God, we haven't caught up in a spell, have we?" Tony suddenly questioned.

" No." stated Bruce.

" The Avengers broke up. We're toast."

"Broke up? Like a band? Like The Beatles?" Bruce questioned. Iris looks at Bruce sadly. She can tell that he's genuinely surprised, sad, and just generally let-down by the news. She can't help but blame herself. She couldn't help but feel a bit like she could have easily stopped the accords from happening. But, she also knows that she can't have change anything, and should just move on from her past. Tony grabs her hang and squeezed it reassuringly. He knows how much she actually lost during the whole falling out. She had lost the only real family she had. Well, besides Peter, Pepper, and him.

" Cap and I fell out hard. We're not on speaking terms." Tony finally answered after few seconds of silence.

" Tony, listen to me. Thor's gone. Thanos is coming. It doesn't matter who you're talking to or not." Said Bruce in almost pleading tone. He then looked at Iris in hopes that she would see what he's talking about. She sighs, but reluctantly reaches into her back pocket and pulls out her purple flip phone that she only used in emergencies to contact the other avengers. It was rather primitive in comparison to Tony's tech, but it was about the only thing that didn't managed to get caught on fire when she runs at super speed.

Iris hesitates, before pulling out the phone all the way out and flipping it out. She scrolls through her contacts before landing on the username 'Stevie' she then clicked on it, before clicking the "Call" button, she pauses, distracted by an unusual rumbling in the sky. She glanced at the others.

" Say, Doc, you wouldn't happen to be moving your hair, would you?" Tony questioned Dr.Strange.

" Not at the moment, no." He said glancing up at his forelock fluttering about in the air. Tony and Iris both look up at the Hulk-made opening through the ceiling, and sees debris flying by outside. They both instantly move towards the door and exit the Sanctum through the front door. Iris scans the chaotic surroundings, and all the exploding chaos; people were running and screaming in alarm, traffic becoming impossibly tangled, and panic imploding through the streets. A woman falls nearly at Tony's feet and he helps her up.

" You okay?" He questions her.The woman ignores him and runs away. A car crashes in on a pole behind Tony. And Iris instantly flashes him out of the way. Tony then puts on his sunglasses. " F.R.I.D.A.Y., what am I looking at?"

" Not sure, I'm working on it." Said F.R.I.D.A.Y calm voice.

" Hey! You might wanna put that Time Stone in your back pocket, Doc!" Tony shouted. He then looked back at Iris and nodded. " Babe, suit up."