𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 || 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘜𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥

   THE CURRENTS RAGED ON EVEN BEFORE CARTER WOKE UP. The sheer force of it all made him shudder. His eyes squint under the bright red glow cast towards the sky that wore a dark crimson blanket. A void of what once was the afternoon blues, with the beautiful puffy white clouds floating beneath it all. Now, it stood as something close to a blood-soaked sky. But beneath it, all stood the ruins of homes, crumbled to the ground by one person who stood on a large hill. Red glowing wisps danced around her as a beam shot into the sky.

And it took Carter a moment to remember what had exactly happened, and when he did his eyes flickered around him. A panic rose in his stomach as the palms of his hands and knees dug into the harsh rocks and ash beneath him. Nausea rose in his empty stomach with bile threatening to force itself out. Harshly reminding him that his reality still stood and it would continue to rage on as long as he lived.

A ripped plaid shirt flapping in the wind forced him to suppress his thoughts and sensations. His mind kicked into overdrive when he saw the green, white, and black of the fabric. The knowledge of who it belonged to and who wore it only a short while ago. A wince slipped past his lips as he crawled across the dirt, the pounding of a headache cracking against his skull with the rocks digging into his rough flesh.

"Drew?"

There was no response as Carter grasped a handful of her shirt yanking himself towards his sister. His eyes welled up with tears from the sight of a sizable hole in her chest where her heart once rested. His hands cupped her face, lifting her head and being met with the dull blue eyes that always once gleamed with excitement and happiness. Now nothing more than what once was.

"Drew, come on," he whispered. "Come on, wake up. I'm here. Wake up."

A sob racked through his large frame, vision glass as he took her head and rested it against his shoulder. Face pushed into her hair, smelling nothing but smoke and the faintest hint of pine. Something about that calmed him down, holding her tighter against him.

He should've been prepared for this. After all, he'd watched his parents be killed in front of him. The difference now is that Drew wasn't holding him, allowing her shirt to soak up the tears that plunged from the corners of his eyes. Everything was different now, and he was left alone. Alone with the person that took everything from him. The person he loved more than himself.

Carter sniffled as he cradled his little sister's body in his arms. Brushing off the dirt that stuck to Drew's skin. The blood that seeped through the cut along her hairline, the strands of loose hair becoming stuck together. He couldn't help pressing a kiss to Drew's forehead, whimpering as he closed her eyes. Fingers pulled her eyelids shut carefully before cupping her cheek. "I'm so sorry."

Looking up towards the hill, the end times were coming soon. Everything that was left of this world became nothing but hell on earth. All caused by the woman he loved, the woman who had lost just as much as him. The Avengers. Perhaps Ultron had been correct in his assumption long ago. Maybe they had been the ticking bomb to finally go off and bring this world to its doom. Bringing the Extinction Entity to life and tearing our world right in half. After all, they killed the Witch's brother.

Nothing could change what happened, only what happened next. Carter and the Witch were all that was left on this planet, the final two strands connected. Bound together as if fate had brought them together on mere chance. Unbowed to the warnings that were given to them. Now, it was all a waiting game. Waiting for the tension to finally snap them apart and either keep them apart or burn one or the other. Time was ticking down, and Carter had one ounce of mercy that could be given to the woman he loved.

Laying his sister down on the cold rubble of brick and concrete, he gave her a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'm so sorry." He whispered before pulling away.

Hand falling from Drew and towards the rubble, fingers curling around a broken piece of metal. He stood to his feet as he squinted at the burning red in the sky as he marched forward. Carter had no plan in mind. All he had was what was left of his strength. And that would be enough. It had to be. No one else was alive to stop this. Only him and him alone.

His shirt bellowed behind him as he clambered up the hill. The waves of energy pushed him back a few inches before he reclaimed them. Tears clinging to his flushed cheeks, squinted eyes fixated on the faint figure of her.

"It's true love," is what she always had told Carter. Reading his mind with her powers and hearing his doubts and fears. And for a while, he believed her. He laid down his arms for her and opened himself completely to the idea that, maybe, just maybe, this was what she said. True love.

Now thinking about it, Carter laughed at that. No, true love was far different. True love didn't include the idea of killing your lover's family. It was a feeling of freedom. Of safety from the rest of the world. A place where you can rely on your significant other for the comfort they need. This wasn't true love, and it wasn't even close to love. But if this was true love, it shouldn't be this complicated or painful.

But perhaps this is what he got for falling in love with the Scarlett Witch. The woman who'd been able to sway everything he did. Make him the happiest man alive from just her smile. He was whipped every moment since they met and shared words. Even now, with his family gone and the rest of the planet dead, he still loved her. That was true love. He still wasn't sure if he hated himself for that.

When he reached the precipice, the winds howled in his ears. Lifting a hand in hopes to give a moment of sight. It didn't matter as he could see Wanda amidst the tendrils of red. If the situation wasn't so dire, he would say she looked angelic like this. A true example of what angels should look like.

"Wanda!" He called out desperately. Afraid his words would be swept away with the wind whistling around him. "Wanda, stop this!"

The woman's crimson eyes slowly found his. A tiny smile formed on her lips as she slowly floated down the ground. "Carter," she said softly. "We are free now. No more people to hurt the ones we love."

"You killed my family, Wanda," Carter countered. "You killed, Drew."

"I know, and I'm sorry," she told him sympathetically. "But they supported the Avengers. They let Pietro die. They didn't support me."

"You killing billions of people hasn't helped plead your case," he spat. "Stop this before it's too late."

He marched closer to her and took her hand. She welcomed it and stepped closer to him. Carter didn't regret her touch as she reached up and cupped his cheek. "You'll stand with me, right?" She asked.

As Carter stared into those beautiful red eyes, he found nothing but pain. It hurt him to know that the woman he loved was only driven by the sorrow of her loss. He wished to take it all away, travel back in time and do something to change this outcome. Do some good with the knowledge he has.

But as he dove deeper into those eyes, he knew there wasn't anything he could do. Destiny had charted its course and the woman he loved with his entire being was gone. Parted ways with the docks of ultimatum, and when those sails caught the hook of wind, there was no way to stop it.

It felt like everyone he cared for died because of him. He wasn't gifted with powers like Wanda, he was a regular man. A man connected to the protectors of Earth. But he'd made himself a responsibility that he would protect his loved ones just the same. Now, all the people he loved were buried six feet under, because he couldn't protect his lover's brother. And there was no way he could make up for those mistakes.

Cupping her cheek, Carter pressed a kiss to her lips. Wanda melted in his touch. Arms wrapping around his neck to deepen it. Reluctantly, Carter clenched his jaw. "I'll always be with you."

A gasp escaped Wanda as a pinch of pain erupted across her stomach. She took a step back and found a piece of metal stabbed into her stomach. Following the hand holding it, her eyes found Carter's which were brimmed with tears.

She let out a shaky exhale before her legs gave out. Carter carefully lowered her to the ground as she inhaled shakily. The red energy still danced around them and towards the sky. Casting a blanket over them as the two lovers stared at one another.

"I never wanted this." Carter's lips trembled as he shook his head. "You made me do this!"

Wanda could only let out stuttered breaths. The pain swarmed her body in unimaginable ways. Sinking deep into her bloodstream and eating away at her from the inside. In no way did she blame Carter for his decision. The love she had for him was extraordinarily large, and that wouldn't change.

The only response she could spare was the tiny sparkles of tears that brimmed in her eyes. Her hand came up to cup his cheek as she saw the horror in his eyes. His gaze constantly flickering down to the metal impaled into her gut. Hands trembling as the hand that was clenched around it was bleeding. The laceration spread across the expanse of his palm.

"I love you." Wanda's bottom lip wobbled as she sniffled. Carter looked back up at her and smiled shakily.

Brushing a few strands from her face as he pulled her closer. "I love you too."

Tendrils swarmed the pair and enveloped them completely. A perfect fog enveloped them as Carter rocked Wanda side to side. Tears are soaked up by the brunette's hair. He inhaled deeply pulling away softly, and pressed a soft kiss to Wanda's forehead. She shifted slightly as she grabbed a handful of his shirt.

"Don't let this happen again, Carter," she whispered. "I am...your sadness."

He stared at her as she nodded tiredly as if she was hit with an epiphany. "I see that now, and I am sorry for what I have done," she whispered. "I love you. Just promise me you'll never let this happen again."

Carter was slightly dumbstruck with the idea of him not letting this happen again. What was there to do to change any of this? He couldn't time travel, and he didn't have any powers to change reality. All that there was left was him and the burning strand that was Wanda Maximoff. And that spark was quickly burning each moment that passed. Carter could see it in her eyes. The once haunting, yet, beautiful crimson was fading and returning to their usual green.

Nonetheless, he shook his head, managing a wavering smile. "I won't," he muttered. "I promise I'll make things right. I don't know how, but I will. I love you so much. Just stay with me here for a little while longer."

She smiled softly before using the hand that had his shirt in a hold and pressing it to his temple. In a flash, his mind flared with gold, ink creatures, and multiple dilapidated cities. With the same glowing beam in the sky within each. He felt energy course through his bloodstream. His veins glowed a natural gold with his iris' replacing the brown with gold.

But before he could even comprehend what was happening, his body had disappeared with sparks signifying his departure. Leaving Wanda to stare at the blood-covered sky with a soft smile. The beam slowly disappeared with life in her body being swept away just as fast.

"Go and get 'em, Golden Boy."

"WE'VE GOTTEN A UNNATURAL DISTURBANCE OFF THE NEW YORK BIGHT," Steve announced. "As far as we know, it's not extraterrestrials."

"So, what's the point of us being here?" Clint mused, motioning to himself and Natasha. "I mean, we're talking about this being in the ocean."

Tony turned from the cockpit of the Quinjet and towards the small group. "That's pretty easy to answer." A holographic video appeared in the centre of the loading bay. It was only five seconds long, but the video showed a hooded figure standing on the surface of the ocean. The person seems to notice whatever is filming him, and he flicks his hand. That's when the video feed shuts off and goes black. "You'll be standing on the water."

"Okay, now I'm usually the one to say, screw it," Natasha spoke up. "But you are saying that we should just stand on the water when we don't know if this guy is just using powers?"

"What, it's not that big of a deal," Nova shrugged, the magnetic grips on the back of her chest plate causing her rifle to snap into position. "The worst that happens is you get your feet wet. That ain't a problem, right, Legolas?"

Clint rolled his eyes just as J.A.R.V.I.S. said, "We're approaching the location now, sir."

The team readied themselves as the Quinjet slowly lowered to the ocean surface. When it did, the loading ramp lowered itself and just barely touched the water. The water, unlike the usual blue, was swarmed with black. A resemblance to ink. Not to mention the fog that had fallen over the surrounding area in a matter of seconds.

Natasha took a daring step forward and pressed her foot to the water. Her brows raised when she felt a solid surface. The others closely followed as they rounded the Quinjet and saw the figure not that far from them. And for whatever reason, she felt a stirring in her stomach the closer they got. Maybe it was because she was walking on the ocean surface, and at any moment, she might fall through.

But she kept her mind on the task. Watching the figure glance over their shoulder, doing a double-take. At this distance, she couldn't make out the figure, but she saw the shining gold around their face.

Her inspection was interrupted by the figure's chortle. "Well, it's about time you guys showed up." The person inhaled deeply and let out a hum. "Earth's mightiest heroes. Maybe you should add that you are the latest."

"Okay, enough dress up," Tony announced. "Who are you, and what's your point of being here?"

"Tony Stark," the man chuckled. "As impatient as always. I had hopes you would be different from the others, but you're all the same."

The man sighed as he extended his arms out by his sides before doing a courteous bow. "The name's Carter Locke," he introduced. "The strand that connects this world to the next."

"What is that you want?" Steve Rogers inquired, hands curling into fists.

"The man out of time," Carter laughed, "Steve Rogers. It's been not long enough old friend. How's Bucky doing?" There was a smirk in his voice, taunting the super-soldier.

Hearing that poked at the bear inside its cage, Steve narrowed his eyes. "How do you know him?"

Carter hummed as he pulled his hands behind his back and took steps towards the group. Each step causes a rippling effect across the water in tiny waves. "I've been here and there," he said enigmatically. "God, I've been all over the fuckin' place if I think about it."

"Where are you from?" Natasha then spoke up, and Carter looked at her. Now, she could see his face. Well, not his real face as he now sported half a golden skull as a mask. With a black balaclava under that intimidating yet, beautifully sculpted mask. She couldn't see his eyes under the lenses of the balaclava, but a faint golden glow was vivid.

"Natasha," he sighed. "You have got to be the only one I tolerate out of this entire team. God, how much I missed you."

"Ok, that's enough," Nova interrupted sharply. "State your business, Locke."

"Always so protective, Nova," Carter teased, sighing. "It looks cute on you."

Of the five, Tony seemed the most annoyed by this mysterious and vague conversation. As he aims his Repulsers at Carter. "Enough talk," he interjected. "Surrender or leave. I won't tell you again."

"Tony, usually how this goes is just between us." Carter points at the man as his eyes flickered to Clint and Natasha. "Bloodied but unbowed. You two never back down to a fight, even if the chips are stacked against you."

"All right," Tony grumbled, "I've had enough of this."

Tony fired his Repulser, but before the blast could reach Carter, he teleported. He left golden sparks in his wake as the group looked around cautiously. Their attention went towards the sound of a sigh. Spotting the man shaking his head slightly in a sign of disappointment.

"Well, shit," he sighed. "I had a special surprise ready and everything, but don't worry." Deattaching the golden mask from his face, he shrugged. "I can always tweak the truth to reality."

Holding the mask over his head, ink from the ocean was elevated towards the mask. A piece of rock emerged from the ocean floor and lifted him into the sky. Albeit only around 6 feet, it still wasn't something any of the Avengers were thinking.

Pointing the mask behind him, the ink from the mask shot outwards and began forming creatures. Dogs, if you will. Their faces were golden with the rest of their body in ink. Two splashed down into the water and stood proudly as Carter laughed.

"They look hungry, you guys," he warned. "If you want answers, all you gotta do is make it out alive. Sound like fun?" Reattaching his mask, he smirked. "'Course it does." With a flicker, he teleported away.

The creatures were massive in scale and had Natasha taking a small step back. And as Tony, Nova, Steve, and Clint went to fight, she stood back for a second. It wasn't fear. No, there was something else wrong with this. Something felt entirely wrong with this situation. I can always tweak the truth of reality.

"Natasha." She spun around to find Carter standing only a mere 2 feet away from her. On instinct, she went to attack, but her feet were restrained. She looked down to find her feet having sunken into the ink-like quicksand. Stopping just above her ankles.

And when she tried to pull them free, she fell forward, and her hands were restrained. Carter clicked his tongue as he crouched down beside her. The sound of fighting and yelling faded out and only the sound of ripples could be heard around her. A dense fog fell over her and Carter. The churning in her stomach not easing as the ink felt like it was sinking into her pores and invading her body.

"You asked me where I'm from," Carter finally spoke up. "I'm not from this universe. No, I'm a loose strand that has been unravelled to its fullest potential."

"What do you want with us?" She mused. "If you know us, why fight us? If we were your friends, why are you doing this?"

Carter let out a chortle. "Easy there, Poppy," he said. "A lot of questions that I don't think you'll be able to comprehend. Just like that girlfriend of yours. I wonder what type of power Nova has this time around. Maybe I'll have to do some testing-"

Natasha thrashed in the ink, attempting to lung at the man with her eyes darkening. "Keep her name out of your mouth or I'll cut your tongue!" Natasha growled, glaring at the man.

He let out a little laugh, raising his hand in surrender. Leaning in and tilting his head, Natasha stared through those lenses into those golden eyes. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "But if you think you're ready, then remember; contents are fragile," he warned in a low tone. "Like the world and everything in it."

The ink that restrained Natasha dissipated, and she scrambled to her feet. Backing away to create some space between her and Carter. He stayed in his position, watching her closely. Carter still remembers the first time they ever met. She was cautious of his presence and was much like she was now. Hell, she was even more cautious now. To be fair, back then, he didn't have powers from Wanda.

But they became friends over time and grew closer. Nothing romantic as he's seen this a total of five times now that she's always fallen for Nova. It wasn't going to change, but he still kept her close. Something about her made it easy for him to talk about his feelings and his plans. And she supported him up until the very end. That end is their Earth being destroyed by Wanda in her tirade.

Natasha sneered at him and marched towards him. "Stop with the–!"

Just as she went to attack, he teleported away. When she spun around, he reappeared. She backed away with his hand extended outwards. His hood was pulled down, and masks now balled into his hand as he smiled hauntingly. Revealing his shaggy blonde locks and grizzly beard.

He looked exhausted. Broken even. His golden eyes gleamed brightly, but the masks seemed to hide away his pain. Natasha may think of this man to be an enigmatic, heartless, cunning asshole, but she could tell he was hurting from something. What that was; she wasn't sure. But if this wasn't the last time they saw one another, she was sure to find out soon enough.

"Five," he said. "There has been a total of five mass extinctions. All caused by the Extinction Entity. I've been there for each one, hoping to stop the cycle from reoccurring and getting my girl back. I'm not about to go through a sixth."

"Who is it?"

Carter just laughed with a shake of his index finger. "No, no, no!" He said. "I did that the first universe I went to. All you did was lock them up and kill the brother. I ain't fallin' for that again."

"Then help us so we can help you," Natasha reasoned. "If you help us, we can make sure that this extinction doesn't happen."

The man shook his head with a groan. "You don't get it, do you?" Natasha couldn't respond as Carter disappeared. She continued to look around in panic. But behind her, Carter's golden mask floated above her.

"She's the strongest human being on this planet, Natalia!" His voice echoed. "Once she's freed, the Extinction Entity, she'll tear your world apart. Brick by brick, bone to bone. There won't be a damn place you can hide."

"Then tell me!" She yelled. "Tell me how and I promise you, on my life, I will stop it! You said you knew me, if you did, then you know I mean my word."

A silence fell over the open ocean as Natasha looked around quickly. The drumming of her heartbeat sounded in her ears. Her hands clenched and unclenched repetitively as she continued to look around. Head beginning to spin the number of times doing so.

But her body was engulfed in warmth when she felt a warm breath fan her neck. "You can either speed this up or slow this down, Natasha," he explained. "But you won't be able to stop it when you guys start it. One of us has to put an end to this rinse-and-repeat bullshit once and for all."

Instead of moving away, Natasha stayed still and inhaled deeply. Doing her best to ease the stuttering of her heart that hammered against her chest. "Will you help us then?" She inquired. "Help us try and stop the Extinction Entity?"

Carter hummed in thought as he rounded the woman and stood in front of her. Mask and hood hiding his identity once more. A part of him was surprised by the lack of fight in her. The last five times, she'd continued to try and beat him to a pulp. And one of those times, he'd gotten so fed up that he never returned. He watched the end come for that Earth and felt not a single piece of regret.

After a moment, Carter gave a short nod and grabbed the dog tags around his neck. Snapping the chain from around his neck and handing it to her. "These are imbued with my essence," he stated. "I'll be able to track you by its scent."

His lips curled into a grin as he patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be close by."

He clapped twice, and Natasha blinked, and she was brought back to reality. The two creatures the rest of the team were fighting dissolved into ink and splashed down into the water. The four glanced at one another, then Natasha. Immediately jumping to conclusions as the woman stared at the dog tags with Carter, who stood beside her.

Carter turned to them and extended his arms out by his sides. "Play time's over, kiddos," he announced. "It was a pleasure seeing you all again."

He then turned to Natasha and cupped her cheek. The action was surprising, but Natasha didn't show it. Only silently obeying as he nodded softly. "You keep 'em on a short leash for me, alright?"

Once again, she wasn't given the chance to respond as he teleported away in a second. Leaving her for the onslaught of worried responses from the three men. But she could only glance down at the dog tags in wonder and curiosity.

For whatever reason, she trusted Carter. She had no reason to, but if he had wanted to, he could've killed her minutes ago. He might've even killed the others, she wasn't sure. But if he wasn't to be trusted, why go out of his way to tell her all this? What was the point?