𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 — genius, billionaire, philanthropist

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 𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 was well and truly shell shocked.

 From learning his mind had been dormant within the Hulk for over two years, to finding Thor, allying himself with Loki, the destruction of Asgard... And Then Thanos? Watching Thor's people die within mere seconds at the hands of Thanos and his so-called children; and now, to find himself standing beside his old friend after so many years...

 He had found that during alone times within the lab, or even whilst he and Tony would rant and rave over chemicals and elements, his mind would somehow find Emilia again. She had been the very first person to look into The Hulk's eyes without a single shred of fear, even now, after being deemed a hero by so many, fear would always stare holes into his greenified skin.

 He'd been beyond himself when he'd heard the news of her parents passing, of the building that had been torn to the ground in a wave of flickering flames; she'd already been through so much. Bruce had abandoned his research, he'd tossed aside his findings and progressions the moment the news had crackled on his old and battered television.

 Her house had been empty, abandoned by the time he'd arrived. Her car was nowhere to be seen, and neither was she. He could barely recall just how many years ago that had all been, and yet somehow the worry and sadness that had etched away at his younger face, still felt just as fresh as the moment it had happened.

 Now here she stood. Her face had aged, more predominant features, a sculpted face compared to the young, round one he once knew. Her eyes still held the same spark they once had, though he could see that wherever Emilia believed herself to be free of peering eyes, that light flickered, it wavered.

 "Emilia?" He'd coughed, clearing dust from his airway as he watched the woman peer over him with worry in her eyes, "You're okay?"

 A short sigh had fallen from her downturned lips and she had nodded softly, "I'm okay..." Her words had trailed off as she scanned him, her arm hastily finding its way behind his back to help him stand. He had teetered, falling into her for a moment, yet her stance didn't wobble as she looked to the men peering down at them in curiosity, "Help me."

 Emilia felt guilt settle into the pit of her stomach at the mere sight of her former lab partner; she had disappeared without a single call or note, leaving no trace of herself behind. It was for his own safety, she would repeat in her head like a mantra, but even that hadn't quelled the guilt.

 Stephen and Wong had reached out their hands, swiftly pulling Bruce out of the hole before assisting Emilia who had scrambled closer to her former friend, "Are you alright?"

 "Emilia," Bruce had started before pausing. He had so many questions for her; he wanted to know everything she had been through, everything she had done. He had questions for the people she was with; did they help her? He'd need to thank them... But then that face appeared in his mind. Thanos. A shiver wracked at his spine, and it felt as though even The Hulk cringed at the thought. There was no time for him to question them all, no time to catch even even though he desired nothing more. Earth was in danger, everybody was."I have so much to ask you, but... Thanos."

 The terror that had settled into his eyes and blown them wide was enough for Emilia to straighten her back. Bruce's breathing had become laboured, heavy wheezing puffs of air spluttering out as he gripped at his greying hair.

 That feeling swarmed her skin again, the feeling of something terrible. Something, no, someone, Thanos was coming.

 Bruce had snapped his head up, a visible gulp shifting his throat, "We need Tony."

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 Bruce had told them everything.

 Emilia had seated herself beside the man, offering every ounce of comfort she could possibly provide for her old friend. She had missed him, of course she had and seeing him with nothing other than utter terror in his eyes, eyes that had once held nothing but the desire to prance around in a lab... It was heartbreaking.

 Emilia's heart had thudded faster and more furiously with every word that Bruce had spilled to them; Thanos' plans to murder half of all living creatures. She had never seen him, and yet even the mere mention of his name had sent a shiver to wrack her spine.

 Her stomach twisted as she closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall. The mahogany seat she was perched upon was cold and uncomfortable, and yet with the swirling feeling of dread that swarmed her stomach, she could barely feel it.

 Stephen had gone to fetch Stark, and Bruce had followed swiftly after him, leaving both Emilia and Wong in silence as the amber and golden sparks of Stephens portal crawled on the ground. Wong had been muttering to himself as he wrung his hands together; a trait he'd picked up.

 Emilia couldn't blame the nerves that crawled over Wong's features, for it was settled deep into her bones. Every trickle of a breeze that drifted over her skin had begun to feel like a thousand bugs tittering away. Every breath of air felt like an iron poker deep in her lungs; Thanos was coming, and they had to drive him away... If such a thing were possible.

 The power of Infinity Stones was already in his grasp, and with each one he grew more powerful.

 Emilia's eyes snapped open as the sound of sparks, as well as their golden glow, faded from her senses. Stephen had taken his place beside Wong, the familiar stern features that her fingers had so often traced, were set in a line just as they always were around strangers.

 Wong nodded in greeting to their newcomer whilst Bruce trailed behind Stark like a lost puppy. The man with a green, dangerously strong alter ego stuttered as he spoke his story, as he spoke of their new threat.

 Tony played his role well; nonchalance was written on his face. His lips sat straight, the left side tugging down just ever so slightly. His oak eyes glossed over his surroundings as though assessing a threat; he was jittery. It was barely noticeable but Emilia caught it; the anxiety.

 His chest was puffing out barely even breaths. His fingers curled into his palms, knuckles bleeding into a pale white as his grip tightened with each of Bruce's words.

 She met his eyes, and it was like staring into a mirror. A tidal wave of fear sat behind his cocky facade, his shield was tight and well-formed — Probably due to the years he'd donned the mantle of Iron Man, Earth's protector, an Avenger — but there were cracks that she could so easily peer into.

 Her head teetered forward, a light, tight nod sent his way as she shuffled to the right, allowing room for Stark to take a seat and to gather his faltering barings.

 Tony swallowed, a visible gulp trudging down his throat as he spun on his heel and allowed himself to slump on the seat. His head was a mess. 

 After a night filled with dreams that had made his heart swell, to a morning of such dreams being brushed away, he was finally brought to reality. It was the first time in a long time that Tony Stark actually wished he could drift back to sleep; for so long his nightmares plagued him, even to this day, they still did... And even so, after seeing the urgency within the Wizards eyes, after seeing the mixture of complete relief and utter horror in Bruce's face... Perhaps the false reality of his nightmares would be better than the reality that was soon to come.

 Emilia had paid little attention to Wong's explanation of the stones, of their history; but the moment the air sound them had shifted and exploded with the colours of galaxies and stars, her attention snapped back.

 "From the dawn of the universe, there was nothing," Wong explained as he lightly waved his arms in the air, fingers twitching around the image he created. An illusion was cast before them, five stones floating, glowing against their intergalactic backdrop. "Then, boom. The Big Bang sent six elemental crystals hurdling across the virgin universe."

 Each of the stones shifted, their colours almost intertwining with the others. "Space. Reality. Power. Soul. Mind..." Stephen listed off as Wong settled into silence. Each stone jostled as their name was called, the light around them growing brighter. Stephen sighed lightly, his eyes meeting Emilia's before they drifted to the artefact hanging around his neck. His trembling hands grasped it, his touch as light as a feather before he connected his thumbs to his middle fingers and activated the Eye of Agamotto; emerald shone from the artefact as the stone was brought to light, "... And Time."

 Tony's leg bounced, his fingers were entangled in a nervous knot as he leaned forward. A harsh breath was forced from his lips before he shot his head up, eyes fixated on Bruce, "Tell me his name again."

 "Thanos." Bruce breathed; warm air caressing his face as his body shuddered, "He's a plague, Tony; he invades planets, he takes what he wants, he wipes out half the population. He sent Loki," Bruce took a breath as Tony cocked his head, his jaw tense, "The attack on New York, that was him!"

 Emilia understood the look on his face. His nightmares, no, the thing that created his nightmares was coming for him, "This is it..." He whispered before steeling his voice and looking back to Bruce, "What's our timeline?"

 Tony jumped from his seat beside Emilia, and the woman simply sighed as she dragged a hand down her face and moved to follow. Her eyes caught Stephens, and a look was shared; fear, resolve, determination. They all flickered through their eyes in a single moment, and then everything resumed.

 Bruce stammered, words caught in his throat as the lines beside his eyes deepened, "No telling." He cleared his throat, shaking his head as Tony paced before the grand staircase that loomed over them, "He already 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..."

 Emilia paused by Stephen's side, grateful for the sentient material that was wound around his shoulders as it lightly brushed her hand; a gesture of comfort, and Stephen soon copied its actions. A single scarred finger trailed over her skin before falling back to his side.

 Stephen rolled his eyes as Tony leaned his body against the Cauldron of the Cosmos, stretching as though their conversation was merely to make the decision of what to have for lunch; as though the entire universe wasn't hanging by a single, thin thread, "He could destroy life on a scale hitherto undreamt of."

 Tony almost snorted as he continued to stretch against the cauldron, purposely ignoring the incredulous look that Emilia sent his way, "Did you seriously just say 'hitherto undreamt of'?"

 "Are you seriously leaning against the Cauldron of the Cosmos?"

 "Is that what this is? —" Tony stumbled back, somewhat surprised at the smack that had most certainly grazed his ass, though if anything, he was more offended, "I'm going to allow that."

 Emilia sucked in a breath; whether it to quell the amusement that stemmed from the fact that Tony had no idea it was the Cloak that had slapped him and not Stephen, or if it was to simply instil patience within her. Stephen and Tony were far too alike, and Stephen... Whilst yes, he had changed... He still held arrogance and ego that rivalled Stark himself.

 She just knew that for however long they were within one another's company, it'd just be a long — and tiring — pissing contest.

 "— If Thanos needs all six, why don't we just stick this one," Tony fleetingly waved a hand towards Stephen, "Down the garbage disposal?"

 The three who were far more acquainted with the Time Stone all shared a look. They couldn't possibly remove the Time Stone from the equation, for many reasons; it was a device to protect the world, the multiverse. It was, at least to their knowledge, impossible to destroy it.

 "We can't." Emilia finally breathed, quickly cutting Stephen off from saying something that would have certainly spurred Stark to offer an unwanted sarcastic comment. "We all swore to protect the Time Stone with our lives."

 Stark shrugged his shoulders, an 'eh' slipping from his lips as he did so, "And I swore off dairy, but then Ben and Jerry's named a flavour after me, so..."

 "Stark Raving Hazelnuts." Emilia nodded without missing a beat. Wong, though his stern features and dead-stare might have made one think otherwise, was quite the sweet tooth. The sorcerer had made a short trip to the store and had somehow returned with six new flavours of ice cream; one named after each Avenger... Complete with a shoddy, cartoon drawing of said Avenger.

 Emilia had to admit, they weren't all too bad.

 "It's not bad." Tony almost grinned, pointing a finger towards Emilia who offered a lacklustre shrug.

 Wong shook his head at the Avenger before shooting a glance to Stephen, "A Hunka-Hulka Burning Fudge is our favourite." The sorcerer then brought his gaze to Emilia whose face was contorted into a grimace at the mere thought of the sticky, sickly dessert, "Emilia is quite taken with Black Widow's Bubblegum Burst, or Cap's Cookie Crumble, herself."

 Emilia's lips parted, for a second she debated on adding to the pointless conversation. She did love Black Widow's Bubblegum Burst, it was a tub of creamy blue and purple ice cream, in the centre a red, spider-shaped dollop of berry sauce; popping candy was littered throughout and according to the label, the candy was to 'simulate her electrifying Widow Bites'... Whatever that meant. As for Cap's Cookie Crumble... Well, that was the standard; it was nothing special, just plain vanilla ice cream with chunks of cookie dough, but it was delightful.

 "Can we —" Emilia paused, her tongue darting to wet her lips as she shook her head at the men around her, "Can we please, maybe just, get back to the subject of a titan coming to invade our home?"

 Stephen seemingly snapped back into focus. His crooked smile fell and he became rigid once again. His mind swam with the possibilities of what was to come. Would there be a fight? Would they win? Who would they lose? His cerulean eyes blinked, darting to the Eye of Agamotto that was nestled on his chest; the Stone was their best bet to win... But also Thanos' best bet to win.

 "Our oath to protect the Time Stone cannot change," Stephen spoke once more. His voice was akin to stone; cold and unmoving. He was unwilling to hear even the slightest of arguments from the man in front of him, yet he was certain he would nonetheless, "This Stone may be the best chance we have against Thanos."

 A scoff fell from the billionaire's lips as he threw a finger towards Stephen, "And still conversely, it may also be his best chance against us.

"Well, if we don't do our jobs."

 Emilia was growing impatient. Her fingers were ticking by her side, her eyes were constantly darting to and fro between Stephen and Tony as they bickered like a married couple. She was tired of them, of them both; Stephen's arrogance seemed to thrive in the presence of another egocentric person, and from mere looks alone, so did Tony's. They were feeding off one another and Emilia's thread was beginning to snap.

 "What is your job exactly, besides making balloon animals?" Tony bit out, his eyes running over Stephen's attire with a gaze that radiated nothing but his deep imbued smug attitude.

 "Protecting your reality, douchebag —"

 "— Oh my God, enough!" Emilia snapped. Her eyes were blown wide as she looked between the two bickering — adult — men. Her pointed finger rounded on Tony, "For someone barely taller than me, you sure have a lot to say —" Stephen's smothered chuckle brought her wild look to him and he immediately deflated, "And you, Stephen! Don't even get me started."

 They settled into silence. Bruce seemed taken aback; whilst Emilia had always had a strong personality, he had never seen her biting attitude before... Though he chalked that up to the fact that he never bothered her... Wong, on the other hand, had a crooked smile on his lips, ever used to the woman putting Stephen, and now an unfortunate Tony, in their place.

 Tony was bewildered as he narrowed his eyes at the woman who had formerly seemed as meek as a mouse... Her hands were balled into fists, her knuckles a stark white. Pink stained her cheeks, a clear sign of the frustration he, and the wizard, had brought to her... She looked just like Pepper had back when he'd done... Well, almost anything remotely annoying.

 A sharp sigh sounded out as Emilia hummed to herself, finally able to clear her head from the men who argued like a pair of fighting toddlers, "Silence? Good. Thank you. So, if you're done trying to overcompensate, could we perhaps devise some sort of plan before this invasion begins to mirror the one back in twenty-twelve?"

 Stephen and Tony remained silent; both unwilling to be scolded like petulant children once more. It was a breath of fresh air for Bruce... Watching Tony settle into a huff of silence, that is.

 "Right..." Bruce mumbled as his hands scratched at the curled on his head. His hands were shaking as flashes of the Giant flashed through his brain. His eyes screwed shut for a moment before a warm hand lightly patted his arm. Emilia. It was odd, yet familiar, to receive comfort from her once again, "We, uh, we have the Stone." His eyes landed on the Eye of Agamotto, "We know where it is. Vision is out there with the Mind Stone, and we have to find him now."

 Tony turned his back to them as he mindlessly strolled around the entryway of the sanctum. He could feel each set of eyes burning into his back, begging for him to be the solution, "That's the thing..."

 "What do you mean?"

 "Two weeks ago, Vision turned off his transponder. He's offline."

 "What? Tony..." Bruce groaned as he staggered forth, "You lost another super bot?!"

 "I didn't lose him." Tony defended as he spun on his heels to finally meet Bruce's gaze. His mind briefly flashed with the memories of Vision and Wanda walking around the Avengers compound... Laughing, holding hands... Hell, the red witch had even been blushing at the walking toaster, "He's more than that. He's evolving."

 Emilia pondered for a moment. She knew of the events that had transpired between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, just as many did. If Tony, the very man who had provided his time, energy, and his technology to the Avengers, couldn't find the sentient robot... Well, it was obvious who could but it was also a pain in the ass; Tony didn't seem like the kind of man to push a grudge aside so easily. The words weaselled out of her pursed lips nonetheless, "I take it the only person who could find him is..."

 The billionaire bobbed his head in confirmation as he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. His shoulders fell as he dragged out the moment before finally speaking, "Steve Rogers."

 Stephen rolled his eyes, tempted to throw his hands out as he sighed in utter exasperation, "Oh, great."

 "Maybe. But..."

 Bruce looked between his companions with nothing but confusion etched into the lines of his face. He had absolutely no idea of anything that had happened, "Call him." He said, as though it were the simplest thing in the world.

 "It's not that easy."

 Emilia frowned as she twiddled with the hem of her robe; the fabric was passed between her fingers as she observed Bruce, noting his lack of information. He'd been gone, away on other planets for two whole years, without a single clue of what his friends had gotten up to, of how his team had fallen apart.

 "God, we haven't caught up in a spell, have we?" Tony added as he approached his former lab partner. For a moment Tony stared, taking in the grey that had blossomed within Bruce's hair, the circles beneath his eyes as though he hadn't slept in a week.

 "No." Bruce muttered, brows pulling together.

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

 Bruce practically recoiled, as though Tony had brought a hand to his cheek and slapped him with all the force he could possibly muster. He swallowed, a knot in his throat that struggled to fade, "Broke up? Like a band? Like — Like The Beatles?"

 "Cap and I fell out hard." Tony explained further, though briefly, "We're not on speaking terms."

 Fell out hard. Now that was a light take on the matter. A falling out — as Tony had so meekly put it — was one thing... But a team of Earth's mightiest heroes being divided by the government, by their own actions... That was another thing entirely.

 Even so, Bruce lacked that exact knowledge; his head was clear and devoid of picking sides. "Tony, listen to me. Thor's gone. Thanos is coming. It doesn't matter who you're talking to."

 Emilia watched as Tony split from them again, fishing an item from his pocket... A... Flip phone? But before the man could so much as bring it to his ear, Emilia bristled. Her skin began to crawl, goosebumps erupted all over as her hand shot to grasp Stephen's arm.

 Stephen's gaze immediately snapped to her, his own hand curling around her own in concern, "Emilia?"

 "Do you feel that?" Emilia whispered as she slowly met his eyes.

 Fear was all Stephen could see. Forest green swam with nothing but terror as she huffed out a breath.

 That was when Tony hesitated. The sound of swirling wind caught his ears. He snapped his eyes to Emilia who had muttered beneath her breath. He had caught the words she'd uttered to her wizard moments prior... She had felt something, and now this?

 Emilia swallowed as she met Tony's gaze, slowly tearing her eyes from his as they swiftly settled on the hair that fluttered on his forehead. That feeling in the pit of her stomach had only grown.

 It seemed that Tony had noticed the same thing she had, for he nodded towards Stephen, "Say, Doc, you wouldn't happen to be moving your hair, would you?"

 Stephen's eyes narrowed into slits as he looked up, catching the smallest glimpse of his pesky stray strand of hair fluttering on his forehead. "Not at the moment, no." He then caught sight of Emilia, the way her robes slightly rippled around her knees, the way the strands of stray hair that had escaped her bun began to flutter around her face.

 Emilia's stare gradually lifted from Stephen's fluttering hair to the roof that had been desecrated. Tiles were still trying to stumble down, wooden beams were snapped in half, hanging down and threatening to fall at any given moment. But the sky. The sky had grown substantially darker; a haze obscuring the previously contrasting clouds. Metal, wood and other pieces of debris flew past and breakneck speed. The air whistled as it raced past.

 Tony snapped the flip phone shut. The sound broke each of them out of their stupor, and in a beat, Tony — flanked by Emilia — were the first to rush to the door.

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10-01-2022

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! it all begins to pick up a little more in the following ones!

don't forget to let me know what you think; and remember that i now require a particular number of comments and feedback before i consider releasing the next part (this is just to ensure people remain engaged and supportive, as well as allowing me to see what you all enjoyed most!)