#Wanda let herself get possessed by a demon and that’s what made her so strong

[musclesandhammering]

But like…. once again for the people in the back. You can’t excuse Wanda’s actions in MoM by saying “but that wasn’t her, that was the influence of the Darkhold demon!!” and then turn around and brag about her huge power boost.

Cause like… that wasn’t her, that was the influence of the Darkhold demon.

[diaryofabeautyfiend]

This is a WIP. I love Marvel’s Witches and doing some writing exercises to hopefully create a series. My bags are packed on this one and I’m ready to go. Just trying to fill in the middle. I hope you enjoy. Feedback is encouraged. Sharing is caring. Please don’t try to pass off my work as your own.(for real it’s not that great)

Small Time Witch

Nick Fury likes secret weapons. He hid them all over SHIELD for a rainy day. Some were physical weapons like the Glock 43 he kept under his desk or the switchblade he kept holstered to his thigh. He also liked to keep people with special abilities hidden in the secretarial pool, IT, accounting.

One of those people was you. You worked in accounting. You were good with numbers and a quick learner. You handled payroll for the Avengers. That was Fury’s way of keeping you familiar with the team so it would be easy to install you once your abilities were needed.

When SHIELD acquired you, you were living in the Catskills with your coven. It was peaceful. You all possessed great power but your ability to disrupt electrical equipment was particularly interesting to him. There wasn’t a security system or electrical grid that you couldn’t dismantle.

Fury did not fully understand the breadth of your powers. He didn’t know you were an empath who could also control emotions. Your coven hated that power. They always felt manipulated. Sometimes you weren’t even aware you were doing it. Before they were all killed, you and your mother were working on controlling it. Since that day, you were having a really hard time. You had nightmares every time you closed your eyes.

A very powerful family, the Kales got wind that your coven was growing more and more powerful. Fearing they would be overtaken, they unleashed a demon onto the grounds. Your whole coven was obliterated. You managed to cloak yourself inside of a warded safe room. You tried to pull your mother inside when she heard the demon screeching through the halls. She pushed you in, pressed the shut down button and you never saw her again. Once everything felt clear, you emerged furious and afraid. You found their bodies with their eyes still open. Even in death they looked terrified. You worked a spell your mother had given you in case of a tragedy such as this. The spell allowed you to absorb all of their powers. Once they all converged a blast emanated through you leveling the grounds and turning their bodies to piles of ash. The blast was felt for miles alerting SHIELD. That’s how Fury found you.

He offered you a home, a job and a seat at his very secret table. You knew there were others like you but he kept their names to himself.

You were happy in your office running payroll. No one bothered you. You didn’t have to feel anything. Even when you secretly went on missions, you were miles away. At times, though, there was no amount of distance you could put in between you and the tension of a fight.

You would feel it all. Fear. Hate. Pain. So much pain. You thought sometimes the heroes forgot the bad guys were capable of feeling anything. You could feel the pain when they watched their friends die in front of them. The pain they felt taking their final breaths wishing they could say goodbye to their loved ones. So much pain. It was blinding for you. Fury could see some times were far too intense for you though he wasn’t sure why. He thought maybe introducing you to some other witches would be helpful.

He first introduced you to Wanda. She was warm and thoughtful. You felt calm around her. She helped you as much as she could but was still learning herself. Next he introduced you to Loki. When Fury suggested you two meet, he said you would have to keep it to yourself. He was not always wanted by the Avengers after his attack on New York. They solicited his help when absolutely necessary. Loki, however, was one of the secret weapons he liked to keep around...for a rainy day.

Wanda went with you to the training facility. You asked that she come as back up. From what you knew of Loki he could be temperamental. You could feel her nerves which made you more nervous. This was one of those times you wished you had control at least over yourself.

He was waiting perched precariously on a chair regarding you both with silent amusement. You and Wanda were holding hands. You may as well have been clutching one another like scared children. The tension was palpable. He stood to greet you. Each movement was graceful and cool as hell. That’s how you would always describe him. Cool as hell.

He was dressed in, what you thought, was as close to casual as Loki would wear. He wore a sweater in his signature deep emerald, black slacks and shiny black dress shoes. A simple gold watch peaked out of the cuff on his left wrist.

He held out a hand long fingers caressing your palms snaking around you. With a firm grip he shook it gently. “Pleasure to meet you. You must be Y/N. Director Fury has told me precious little about you. But, if you are here with me, you must have something he wants desperately.”

You started to calm down. He didn’t seem like he was as bad as everyone made him out to be. Wanda was still on guard. “Nice to meet you too.” You said. It came out more confident than you intended.

He smiled at Wanda who perked up a little. They had a few run ins in the past. Most of them pleasant. They were not really friends but understood one another.

When Loki was in the compound he was very much an outsider. Mortals apparently held grudges. It’s not like he destroyed the entire planet....only Midtown Manhattan. After all, he was burdened with a glorious purpose to destroy anything his brother loved. Even still, the Avengers used him on certain missions and called upon him when they needed intel on every manner of intergalactic evil. Wanda Maximoff was the only one of them who did not treat him like he was evil incarnate. She was treated like she was part of the family but they feared her abilities. None of them wanted to admit that she was stronger than all of them.

“So” Loki said clapping his hands, “Would you like to show me?”

“Show you what exactly?” You were being coy. You wiggled your fingers and all of the lights went out.

He scoffed, “Come on, darling. Don’t hold back. I can feel your power surging.” You cocked an eyebrow, closed your eyes and every light bulb shattered. Sparks and glass rained down. Wanda held her hands up releasing a shield to stop the three of you from being shredded.

“Not bad. Not bad at all. What else can you do?” Feeling over confident you took his hand. Closing your eyes once more you felt a strong vibration roll through your body into Loki. When you opened your eyes he was openly sobbing.

“Stop it!” he begged. “You stop this now, mortal.” You let him go both of you breathing hard. Loki regained his composure looking on to Wanda who was smiling.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to...it was too much.”

“Y/N, don’t apologize. He asked you to show him.” Wanda was running her hand over your shoulders.

“She’s right, pet. Never apologize. I don’t think you even have a full understanding of your powers. I feel more in you than you might be aware of.”

“I don’t know how to control it. It’s too much to feel everything all the time.”

He gave you a knowing smile. Fury was right, you were hiding something. Loki wasn’t ready to share with him. Not just yet. He liked puzzles and you were an interesting one. “I can help you. I’ve had centuries of practice. I can help you both.”

Wanda was a little uneasy again. You could tell she was seriously mulling it over in her head. “I shouldn’t. Steve and Nat wouldn’t approve.”

Loki’s eyes narrowed “Ah yes. I forget. Tell me, Miss Maximoff, do you ever get tired of being caged like you are? First with Hydra now the Avengers. Never truly living up to your fullest potential. It must be exhausting controlling all of that power when, with a flick of your wrist, you could end them all.”

“Control is truly my super power. It’s what makes me strong.” Wanda was clenching her fists. Red sparks fell from her hands. Her eyes glowed as she inched closer to Loki. All of this was terribly amusing to him. “What would happen if you really unleashed what was inside of you?”

Wanda smiled and cocked her head to the side. For a moment you thought they were going to kiss. “This planet would turn to ash. That’s why I vow to defend it. I straddle a fine line between total annihilation and world peace. I guess it just depends on my mood.”

“What a pair we’d make.” The tension was palpable. You watched as they stared each other down. You thought of trying to lighten the mood but, in the state you were in, it wouldn’t likely work. Luckily Wanda relented first. “It’s always good to see you Loki.” she said with a sweet smile.

“The feeling is quite mutual, Miss Maximoff.” His smile was warm and sincere.

“Ready to go, Y/N?”

“Uh. Yeah I guess.”

Loki kissed your knuckles, “Until we meet again, darling.” And with that he vanished.

Wanda was quiet on the ride back to the compound. When you pulled in she let out a heavy sigh. She was aching to ask you something but wasn’t brave enough to get out the words. It was rare that she was put in charge of anything much less a new recruit. “Just say what you want to say, Wanda. You’ll feel better.”

“Damn it. Ok. Fury asked me to invite you in for dinner. He wants you to meet the rest of the team. Also, not a word of this Loki business to anyone. Understand?”

“And if I say no to dinner?”

Her eyes locked on yours. “Not really a request.”

“Noted.” You took a deep breath “It might be nice to meet everyone. Maybe. I need a damned helmet or something to block it all out.”

“Don’t stress. You’ll get there. If it’s too much say so and I’ll come up with an excuse to walk you out. Deal?”

“Deal.”

You held her hand as you entered the front door. You were trying to feed off of her. You did relax a little. When you saw the crew your anxiety got the best of you. “Don’t worry,” she said squeezing your fingers “you’ll be great.”

The first person you met was Steve. His smile lit up his whole face. He extended his hand to you. You all but leapt into his arms. “Y/N welcome aboard. We’re all friends here. I’m sure you’re nervous but you have no reason to be.”

“Captain Rogers, it’s great to finally meet you.”

He waved you off. “Please. Call me Steve. Come on, let me introduce you to the rest of the group.”

You never let go of Wanda’s hand. It was like she was tethering you to the ground. You were so overwhelmed you thought you might cry. You gave her a taste of what you were feeling. She squeezed your hand tighter. “I have you ok? Just say the word.” You nodded and followed him into the dining area. Everyone was very nice. Some of them looked a bit confused. You said hello as Steve introduced you around. You got little waves and smiles. Thor was already stuffing his face. He said hello with a mouth full of mashed potatoes. You giggled to yourself. Slowly you were letting Wanda go moving ever so closer to Steve. Honestly the man felt like a warm summer day.

You were just about to relax when you heard the syrupy smooth baritone voice intrude your space. “Honestly, brother. You are a king. Show some decorum.” Loki took your hand and leaned in to speak so only you could hear him, “I thought this might be a good place for our first lesson.” You shrank a little at his touch. Wanda raised her hands ready to let him have it when he winked at her. You gave her a look letting her know you were ok. You really felt more at ease with him there.

“What’s my lesson?” You whispered back. “Control, pet. You’re practically swooning over the Captain. Everyone can feel it. Deep breaths. Reign it in.” You blushed and did as he said. You let your heart rate slow and calmed yourself. You focused on Loki and Wanda who helped you ground yourself. The three of you seemed almost plugged in to one another. This is the first time you’ve felt yourself since you were last with your coven.

“Oh who invited Elsa?” Tony groaned

“I did” Thor chimed in “I want to keep an eye on him.”

“No tricks tonight, Loki. I mean it.” Steve said through a clenched jaw. Loki morphed into a clone of Steve. “I mean it” he mocked wagging his finger at everyone “I just do not understand how you fit through the door. Your head is so big full of self righteousness.”

“Hey! Jack Frost! Thin ice, buddy.” Steve said as he planted his hands on his hips.

“Loki behave” Thor pleaded.

He was showing off for you. It was kind of cute. Loki laughed holding his hands in surrender, “No more tricks. Just here to have dinner and chat with the lovely new recruit.”

He pulled out your chair when you came back with your plate. Your hands trembled a bit. He placed his hand on your knee and squeezed. “You ok, darling?”

“I think so. Steve does not like you.” You giggled to yourself.

“I don’t think you need special abilities to see that, dear.” Wanda laughed too. She was across the table but could hear what you were saying.

Steve sat next to Wanda so he could get to know you better. “So, Y/N. Accounting. That must be fun.”

“Actually it is. I like numbers. They are predictable when the rest of the world isn’t.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Tony added.

“Director Fury tells us that’s not your only talent.” Your cheeks warmed. Wanda tuned into your conversation in case you needed a quick interruption. You pressed your leg against Loki’s looking for your tether again. He reciprocated.

“I’m not sure exactly what Fury told you...”

“That you can knock out power grids and security systems. Saves us a lot of trouble” Natasha said before she took a gulp of wine.

“Oh. That. Yes. I do possess the power of Electrokinesis.”

“So you’re like Wanda and Loki but with a back up plan.” Rhodey added

“I suppose that’s true.” You cleared your throat noticing the side conversations stopped and more eyes were on you. They all had so many questions. Some of them, including Steve, were wondering just how powerful you were. “Can someone show me to the rest room?” Steve stood up but Wanda jumped up too. ���Sit down, Steve. I’ll show her.”

You were holding your breath. “You ok?”

“Yeah. I just needed to get out of there for a minute. You splashed cold water on your face and took some deep breaths “I feel like I’m being interrogated.” Wanda rubbed your back and shoulders. “Want to go?”

“No. I’m ok. Will the two of you stay close?” By two you meant her and Loki.

“I can but Loki shouldn’t. They’ll think he’s up to something. I’m sure he won’t be far though.” You nodded, took one more deep breath and geared up for round two of more questions. When you turned the corner Steve was leaning against the door waiting for you.

“Hey. Are you ok? We can be a lot.” Steve was genuinely concerned which made you feel better. “Wanda can you give us a minute?” He asked.

“Y/N, I won’t be far.” She gave your hand a final squeeze and went back into the dining room. You looked down at your shoes and picked at your nails. You had butterflies in your stomach and a lump forming in your throat.

“I just thought you could talk to me for a little while without anyone else chiming in.”

“Sure. What do you want to know?”

“How much are you like Wanda?”

“You mean how how powerful am I?” Steve blushed at the question. “I’m powerful enough, Captain Rogers. Please, make no mistake, I am not part of this team. As far as you are all concerned, I print your paychecks.” You didn’t know where this new found confidence was coming from but you decided to ride it out.

“Wait. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just like to know who I’m getting into bed with. I’ve been burned in the past.”

You gave him a weak smile before walking away. “Haven’t we all?”

You could feel his eyes on you as you walked away. You found Wanda and let her know you were leaving. She hugged you goodbye. “I’ll see you soon?”

“Yeah. Can you say goodbye to everyone else for me? I’m just overwhelmed.”

“Of course. Text me when you get home.”

You hurried out of the compound to the garage when you felt a presence. You smiled. “Loki it’s not nice to sneak up on people.”

“Sorry, pet. I hope you weren’t going leave without saying goodbye.” He pouted.

“I assumed I’d see you soon since we’re ’training’ now.” He moved closer to you. Your breath caught in your chest and you stammered, “Do you need a ride?”

“No. Thank you. I am staying with Thor tonight. I know all of this is a lot. My mother was like you. An Empath. She felt everything. She learned to not let it consume her. I hope I can help you to do the same. It won’t be easy. I’ll push you and you’ll hate me for it. But, I will help you to take control.” You didn’t know why but you trusted him.

“Thank you. I appreciate you doing this. I’m sure you have better things to do with your time.” He smiled at you making you feel warm.

“Nothing I’d honestly rather do than help you.” You hugged him. At first his whole body was stiff but then he relaxed and wrapped his arms around you. Without another word you got into your car and drove away.

Back at work the next morning you were happy to slip back into your isolated routine. You popped in your earbuds and turned on your computer. A message popped up from Fury’s office simply stating “Training room B 30 minutes”. You let out a deep sigh took a swig of your too hot coffee and kissed your life of solitude goodbye.

[floosies]

lovely: The Story of Adelasia

pairing: possessed!oc x mcu!au x romantic!bucky barnes

summary: the near death experience of the young witch proved necessary for her growth and his understanding. This is not the aftermath, this is the beginning.

warnings: cursing, past violence, smut, horror themes (sometimes), mentions of depression

Please read with discretion. 18+ content.

A/N: The first nine chapters are the backstory to who she was. These are last nine will focus on the beginning of her new life as her true self. Again I was inspired by billie eilish’s song lovely. if someone you know is dealing with mental health issues please turn to these hotlines.

Tags: @indecisivedolly​

Series Masterlist

Part 13: Aftermath

It dawned on them in the morning that there was no more denying it. They were bonded, and though it stlll scared Bucky, he also felt these sense of calm wash over him. Still early morning, they stayed in bed whispering secrets about their pasts, fears, and hopes. Whatever he held against her was fizzling away.

Eventually they had to get up, as the AI alerted Adelasia that she was going to be needed for a briefing. Little did Bucky know, that she had already predicted this, and she could feel the fear coming off him. She knew better than to confirm his fears or feed into them, she smiled the whole way through acting like she had no idea what the mission was going to be.

Whether or not Bucky believed her, she couldn’t tell as he was acting like he didn’t know a thing. A part of her hoped things wouldn’t always be like this, that the fear would subside with time, then again she wasn’t being honest with him out of fear herself. She hated being a hypocrite, but she didn’t know how he would react if he found out that she had already known.

From her divination, she felt that the mission was going to be heavy. There was a kind of darkness that loomed. An uneasy state fell in the pit of her as she entered the briefing room. Wanda could feel it too, and it didn’t help that only people in the room were those considered as highly powerful or dangerous. 

Carol and the guardians were on the hologram lines, their faces looked in absolute disarray. For a moment the room was quiet, but the sense of fear was present. It was Strange who broke the horrid silence, “what is it?” Breaking from their trance Carol spoke, “this is something terrifying. You may want to sit before I explain.”

A planet two or three jumps away from earth had sent a signal to the guardians asking for help. Some demonic underworld creature had began brainwashing the people of this planet to destroy themselves. By the time the guardians and Carol arrived there was carnage everywhere. The creature was still on the planet though and it was getting stronger as more civilians continued to kill each other. Because this demonic thing was sourced in magic, it continued to return every time they killed it. 

Without a second thought Adelasia agreed to be on the first craft out to the planet. She had a good idea of what creature this was and why it was attacking the innocent. Of course Wanda waited no time in volunteering herself as well. Thor nodded in agreement, and with a sigh Strange agreed. Adelasia knew that  Stephen was a skeptic at heart, he always needed answers before heading into something. However, she had explained herself enough through her thoughts for him to understand the severity of this mission. 

This mission was a secret of sorts, Carol would take care of the paperwork. She didn’t want word to spread about the atrocities that had occurred as they would be too vile for anyone reading the documents to stomach. The collective would leave within the hour after the briefing ended. 

Quickly as she could, she headed to her room to gather somethings and reassure Bucky she would be back soon. What she wasn’t expecting was to see him already prepared with her things, “I think we both knew this was coming. Please just be safe,” his voice was quiet. She knew he was aching and if he could have he would have begged her to stay, but he couldn’t. With a kiss she promised him that they would have the world and then some when she got back.

He watched her leave, fear in his mind and soul. “My dear boy, you underestimate her strength. She’s lived before you and fought many a battles. You forget I will be besides her too,” a frown became a scowl, “then go and do that. I just got her in my life, I can’t lose her.” He spoke into her empty room, “we’ll have a talk about manners when she returns.” Tenebrae sneered.

Perhaps this was the test needed to prove how strong their souls were. Maybe it was the universe giving them a cruel joke. It didn’t matter to Bucky, he would wait. There was no time to wait for Adelasia, her hands trembled a bit as she prepared to face a real life horror movie. The guardians had advised them not to eat before getting there, and to keep a rational mind.

Even with the preparations, nothing could have prepared a pure hearted witch for what she was now witnessing. There were so many, no one, not even children were spared from the violence. The bodies lay splayed out in every which way around empty fields of grasses and trees. “There’s no time to stand here and grieve, that monster is around somewhere continuing it’s reign of terror. Let’s go.” Stephen said with a shakiness, but an anger in her refused her from leaving so quickly.

Kneeling next to the carcass of a child she whispered a prayer for their souls to travel safely into the next life. Tears welted in her eyes, and she knew she would kill the bastard creature. Thor had noticed this gesture and waited for her, he felt her actions admirable.

Meanwhile they searched for the creature, on earth Bucky stayed in her room. He’d become invested in knowing her past as a means to understand her better. In a drawer, he found old newspaper clippings dating to the 1800′s, pictures of her in clothing pertaining to the victorian and edwardian era. Dried flowers and vials of sweet scented concoctions. Underneath all this, he found an old journal, one with a lock and key. 

His heart raced, he knew it wasn’t right, but he was eager to know what she had written. Had she only just began this journal? Had this been from her past life?  The key laid beneath a bed of dried flowers, with great care he opened the book and began to read.

The group of mystics and magic had found the bastard creature. Tenebrae made it’s presence known as Adelasia soon became enveloped in a drape of darkness, her eyes turning all fully black and her voice carrying a loom over it, so that all could hear. The creature was seeking revenge for being held in chains as a toy for a lord from the underworld. It wished to kill anything in it’s path as it searched for its ultimate goal, the palace of said lord. 

It was on path to another village of people. The group could begin to hear the cries of agony and fear. The witch’s soul felt utterly weak as they could hear pleas from more children as well as slashes and violent acts. They had reached the dreaded thing though and it would pay for the massacre. 

Holding down the horrid creature without being possessed was a draining task. It was necessary though. Wanda and Stephen used their strength to hold the damned thing down, using Adelasia’s sword Thor made a deep large gash on the horrid demon’s body. Using her incantations and power, she then ripped it in two as Carol had tried before. She then summoned the underworld lord that had created the monster, the lord swore to contain its creatures with more caution and promised only take in the souls which had been destined from birth to the underworld. There was no way to bring back any of the killed though, it was out of the dark lord’s powers.

They’d killed the beast, they’d ensured that no one else would get hurt, but none of them could bring them back. Sure, she had prayed for their souls, a part of her still clung to a hope that they would be revived. It was a stoic, quiet, and scarring ways back to earth. All of the mystics felt one another’s pains, they’d all been burdened with heavy responsibilities, with abilities just as powerful and without remorse of condemning.

Bucky continued in her room reading through the yellowed pages of paper that held stories which pieced her past together. Unlike him, she never had her memory wiped, she lived with every awful, sinister deed done against her. He wished nothing more than to rip the book to shreds and demand to know why she kept these horrors with her. 

Word came quickly that they had returned from the trip. Of course he waited at the landing gate, however he was welcomed to nothing. “She’s at the medic bay old boy,” Tenebrae whispered to him. A sense of fear filled him and he ran without concern to the medical department of the compound. He wasn’t sure what he was to expect, but then he saw them. Their eyes looked soulless and their bodies pale, their shoes covered in blood and some of them covered in a dark substance. There were doctors everywhere and he heard words that had once being used on him, words to coax them back from something. 

Her eyes, the ones green like a lush forest were now rimmed red and tired. Her gaze fell upon him. Then suddenly she released her pent anger, sadness, and disappointment in a horrible cry. The doctors looked to see him stood there, their glaring gazes neared him pushing out of the room, “you must leave now Mr. Barnes.” The doors shut on his face as he continued to hear her cries. What had happened? What did they see? What more did she have to suffer with? His soul felt the pain she did, he could feel her hurt. It was a burning ache like bones collapsing into one’s self. He needed to help her, he needed to be there.

A hand fell on his shoulder, “Bucky I know why you’re here. Carol has the explanation, c’mon I promise they’ll all be okay.” It was Steve, his old pal, the kid who he’d helped once was now trying to help him. When the briefing ended and they saw the recordings the pain was understood.With the same anger in his soul Bucky went into his room and destroyed anything he had. How cruel could the universe be, how unforgiving, “hasn’t she suffered enough?! Haven’t we suffered enough!” He yelled at the ceiling before falling to his knees in tears. 

He didn’t remember how or when he fell asleep, but he woke to her holding him tightly. They were on the floor of his room. She looked like an angel when she slept, she looked so young and careless. His movements must have woken her, “we’re okay Bucky. We’re safe.” Adelasia then nuzzled herself into him, no sadness in her voice or raspy from the cries he heard earlier. Their souls were entwined though, he could still feel the dull ache of something she was holding out from him. This wasn’t the time though, for the while he was just glad to hold her.

[master-sass-blast]

Strong as Stone --Part Forty

Okay, full disclosure, this isn’t edited. It’s 3AM, I’m exhausted, and my depression is killing me. Don’t @ me.

Last time: Infinity War Part Three.

This time: The conclusion.

(Look at all the fucks I don’t give. LOOK AT THEM.)

Rating: M for injuries and death.

Pairings: Okoye x M’Baku and Shuri x OC.

@the-last-hair-bender, @skysynclair19

There are going to be times when you’ll be exhausted. When your limbs will ache, and your body will be heavy, and you’ll feel like you can’t take another step.

Keep your eyes on the goal ahead, my dears, and don’t stop moving until you reach it.

“We’re not sure how long we can keep the portal open for, so you’re going to have to be fast. Retrieve essential persons only, and then get the hell back here.”

Okoye nodded grimly as she eyed the portal Loki, Wong, and Dr. Strange were working on making.

The plan was simple, admittedly. Sneak into the realm of the Soul Stone, find their missing team members by tracking the vital signs from T’Challa’s kimoyo beads, and bring them back to Wakanda so they could take on Thanos with as full a team as possible.

The execution, however, was going to be infinitely --heh--more difficult. According to the experts at hand --Wong, Strange, and Loki--the realm was patrolled by various demons and monsters to ensure that any of the captives there didn’t escape eventual consumption.

Because the stone itself, apparently, had an active hunger for souls. Which meant, at any point, they could be devoured as well.

Not to mention the fact that Thanos was in possession of the Mind Stone --the yellow gem that had powered Vision--which meant that he was probably already aware of their plan and was devising a way to stop them.

A worthy long shot, if we can get our people back, Okoye decided as she watched the portal spark to life in the center of Shuri’s lab.

“Our communications probably won’t work once you crossover,” Shuri added as she fiddled nervously with one of her display interfaces. “And that could mean with each other, too. Make sure you stay close to one another.”

“Yes, my Queen.”

“We’re ready,” Wong announced. “We need to leave now.”

Okoye checked to make sure she had her weapons with her one last time, then walked towards the platform the portal was hovering over with Gamora, Wong, Rocket, Bucky, and a handful of the remaining Dora Milaje.

“Be careful,” Shuri added quickly, before any of them could step over.

“I’m not really sure that’s an option anymore,” Rocket muttered as he crossed over into the Soul Stone realm.

Okoye grimaced and followed the raccoon. He might be right.

The realm of the Soul Stone, admittedly, didn’t look all that much different from how Okoye had expected a magical dimension contained within a supernatural-type gemstone that actively hungered for souls to look. It was a desolate, barren place, with massive outcroppings of rock that twisted and stabbed into the air in jagged spirals. The sky was a stark shade of scarlet, and ghostly, gray beings floated through the air at random, fading in and out of view at random.

“They are the guardians of the realm,” Loki explained in a quiet whisper. “They’re attracted to soul energy. We shouldn’t be all that noticeable right now--”

“But that’ll change once we save the others,” Okoye surmised. When the demigod nodded, she sighed. “We need to keep moving. The sooner we get this done, the better.”

“We’re getting close,” Rocket hissed as he looked at their position relative to the coordinates where T’Challa’s kimoyo beads were still transmitting his vital signs.

Okoye eyed the sanguine sky warily as countless ‘guardians’ flew overhead. They won’t notice us when we’re in the midst of all the other souls here... but once we’re separated again...

“It’s just up ahead! Past that ridge!”

Okoye darted ahead, careful to stay concealed by various outcroppings of rock, and peered over the edge of the ledge.

Thousands of glowing cells lined the crater below them, each of which housed an individual person or alien.

“Shit,” Gamora hissed. “It’ll take days to find everyone.”

Okoye pursed her lips as she assessed the situation. “Then we don’t find everyone. We find our most essential fighters --the King, M’Baku, your sister, anyone we need to make the strongest team possible in the shortest amount of time.” She pointed to the screen on the tablet-like device Rocket was holding. “That’s where T’Challa is. We start there. With any luck, the others will be nearby.”

Gamora nodded, then winced when a ‘guardian’ let out eerie shrieking noise. “Let’s move.”

Winding their ways through the cells was tricky business. Aside from the ghostly ‘guardian’ creatures, there were also multi-limbed, skeletal looking creatures standing sentry amidst the prison-scape. Many of the most direct paths were completely unusable, cut off by some sort of monster or demon in their way.

“We aren’t going to be able to get enough people in enough time if we stay together,” Rocket grumbled as they dodged being seen by another sentry. He tapped at his tablet, whacked it against the ground when it didn’t do what he wanted to, and let out a satisfied huff when it pinged. “Alright, I sent the King’s coordinates to everyone’s stuff. We’ll use him to meet back up in ten minutes, and then we’re getting out, regardless of who we have or don’t.”

“Teams of two,” Okoye added. “No divisions past that.” She nodded at Bucky. “We’ll go find the King.” She crept down a row of cells, motioning for the various captees inside to stay silent as they moved towards the coordinates where T’Challa’s vital signs were.

“Get down,” Bucky whispered, gripping her shoulder to pull her into a crouch as another sentry walked past.

She adjusted her grip on her spear, glaring at the back of the monster until it loped out of sight. “We’re close,” she hissed as they started stalking forward again. “Only a few meters now.” She started counting down the cells, looking for any sign of her King--

T’Challa looked up when they reached his cell, moving from leaning against the back wall of the cell to standing by the door. “General.”

She bowed her head, then lifted her spear and drove it through the chains holding the door on his cell shut, snapping them into pieces. “Let’s get you out of here, your Majesty.”

There were a few other snapping sounds, and then Bucky was helping Steve and Thor out of their cells. “I don’t see anyone else that was with us--”

“Okoye!”

She darted past them and found Aneka, pressing her face against one of the cell doors further down. She broke the chains on the door, then pulled her friend into a crushing hug. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too. Where’s Ayo? Is she--”

“She’s in Wakanda, waiting for us to get back.”

Aneka let out a sigh of relief as she stepped back. “Okay. Okay. What’s the plan? How do we get out of here?”

Okoye turned around as she heard several footsteps against the ground and saw the others running into view with most --almost all, actually--of their missing team.

And M’Baku.

Okoye felt her heart stop for a moment --felt everything freeze inside her--and then she was sprinting towards him.

He caught her in his arms, crushing her against his chest as he hugged her. “It’s good to see you, ‘koye.”

“We need to go,” Gamora said. “We had to kill one of the sentries, but they managed to send off a flare before we took them down.”

As if to punctuate the severity of the situation, another skeletal being dropped out of the sky mere inches from Aneka’s arm with a metallic sounding screech.

Wanda stepped forward and lifted her hands, tearing the creature to shreds before it could do anything else. “Come on!”

As Okoye had predicted, the journey back to the portal from the cells was far more difficult than their journey in. They managed to escape the prison area without too much trouble, but the guardian creatures noticed the presence of too many souls outside the prison area before they’d even made it twenty feet away from the ridge.

“Keep moving!” Rocket shouted from where he’d opted to hitch a ride on Steve’s shoulder. “Come on!”

“If you haven’t noticed,” Okoye snapped, stopping long enough to ram her spear through the chest of one of the guardians, making it dissolve into a cloud of ash, “we’re a little busy!”

“Well, I offered to help, but someone didn’t want to give me a gun!”

“I am Groot!” Groot added as he caught an errant sentry with a vine-like extension from his arm and whipped it about like a rag doll.

“Exactly!”

“I can see the portal!” Gamora shouted from the front of the group. “We’re almost there! Come on!”

Okoye clenched her teeth together as she sprinted forward, doing the best she could to ignore the shrieks of the monsters chasing them. Bast, please just let us make it...

They practically slammed into the lab, almost tumbling over each other and different pieces of equipment in an effort to get away from the things chasing them.

“Close the portal!” Okoye shouted once everyone was through. “Hurry!”

Shuri did so, bisecting one of the ghost-creatures as she did.

Okoye drove her spear through its head as it collapsed to the lab floor, just to be on the safe side.

For a moment, everything was silent.

And then everyone was smashing into each other again, exchanging hugs and crying. Sobbing.

Shuri practically tackled T’Challa to the floor, clinging to him like he was her only tether to the world.

T’Challa, though, was hugging her back just as hard. “Bast, I’m so glad you’re alright!”

Ayo found Aneka just as fast, pulling her girlfriend into her arms and not letting go.

Tony and Peter Park. The Guardians and Nebula. Steve and Bucky. Friends, companions, and partners alike, all being reunited with each other.

After all the loss and grief, it was good to see.

Okoye leaned against M’Baku’s side as he put one of his arms around her shoulders --then chuckled when Dewani strutted towards them, looking endlessly pleased with herself as she tossed the Chief’s staff from hand to hand. “Oh, this ought to be good.”

The teen smirked as she stopped a few feet away, leaning against the staff as she eyed her elder brother. “You look good for a dead person.”

M’Baku laughed along with the rest of the room and bowed his head. “My Chief.”

“Hanuman, no.” Dewani handed the staff back to him. “You can deal with the elders and all the politics. That shit is exactly not my speed.”

He took the staff, then stepped away from Okoye to wrap his younger sister in a hug.

Okoye smiled as she watched the two siblings hold onto each other.

“Is there even a point in this?”

Okoye looked over at Jhanvi as she assessed their newly refreshed team of people against the intel they’d gathered on Thanos and his fighting style from Gamora and Nebula. “What do you mean?”

The technopath shrugged. “I mean, if these stones are really supposed to give him all the power in the world, is there a point in trying to fight him? We’re stepping up to get our asses dusted.”

She’s not wrong, Okoye admitted to herself. She shrugged back. “Would you rather go down swinging or sitting?”

“Swinging. Any day.”

“Well, there you go. Do you have anything else to contribute to the actual strategy?”

“Yeah. We should just cut the arm with the gauntlet on it off.”

Okoye blinked, then smirked as she added the idea to their working list. “Yes, yes we should.”

The plan --if it could be called that, really--was simple.

Jump Thanos, cut off his arm, kill him, and reverse the effects of what he’d done in the first fight.

Okay, it wasn’t that simple, but it sure as fuck felt like it in comparison to the millions of missions she’d planned and run before now, where she had piles of tactical data and more than a few hours to make a strategy.

But time was of the essence; the longer they waited, the more the Soul Stone would consume the souls it’d captured, and they were all in agreement that they needed to save as many lives --reunite as many families, friends, and partners--as possible.

Jhanvi, Tony, Bruce, and Shuri were tracking the energy signature from the Mind Stone so they could find Thanos. Once they did, the team would break down into two groups; Loki and Wong would take those who had initially survived the first fight with Thanos to Thanos’s location to distract him and fight him head on, while Thor and Dr. Strange would take those they’d rescued to sneak in behind the Titan and --hopefully--get the jump on him. In the midst of the fight, Thor would use his axe to slice Thanos’s arm off, and then someone would execute the tyrant.

Okoye wasn’t sure how they’d reverse his erasure of the half the universe, though --and judging from the grim looks the science experts had exchanged in Shuri’s lab, no one else was, either.

She let out a shaky breath and braced herself against the top of her desk. Now that she was alone, her doubts were starting to get the better of her. Fuck--

“Hey.”

Her head jerked up and relief coursed through her body when she saw M’Baku walk in. We manged to save our friends. We can save everyone else, too.

“Are you alright?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she practically leaped over her desk and grabbed him by the collar of his chest plate, pulling him down for a bruising, consuming kiss.

He responded with a groan that seemed to travel through his whole body before he practically crushed her against him, just as eager to devour her as she was him.

She wound her arms around his neck, almost deliriously happy as he lifted her and pressed her back against one of the walls--

Her kimoyo beads pinged twice, shattering the moment.

Okoye sighed, then broke the kiss so she could read the message. “They’re ready for us.”

M’Baku sighed, but nodded. “Alright. There’ll be time for this... later.”

“You better survive until later,” Okoye said, pointing a finger at him warningly. “If you don’t, I might just kill you.”

He chuckled and pressed his forehead against hers. “Well, Hanuman knows I would never challenge the orders of the indomitable General Okoye.”

“Damn right you wouldn’t.” She tilted her head up to brush her lips against his, just a little. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Now, come on. We’ve got a world to save.”

“Damn right we do.”

Okoye felt like laughing and vomiting all at once when she stepped through Wong’s portal and saw where Thanos had taken up hiding. A farm. He’s on a damn farm. He destroys half the universe, and then he just walks away from it like it means nothing to him.

She was going to put her spear through his stupid, over-sized purple head.

“I’ll give him credit,” Dewani said. “He’s got his irrigation system rigged up really well.”

“Seriously?” Shuri hissed as they walked towards a cabin that stood in the center of countless fields of alien plants; it was the only building for miles, and since Thanos wasn’t out in the open, it stood to reason that he’d be there.

“What? I’m just saying!”

“Can you just focus on what we’re actually here to do?”

“I am --wait, is he not using fertilizer? No bone meal? Hanuman, what a fucking chump--”

“Dewani,” Okoye said as she fought the urge to grin.

“Right.” Dewani smacked the staff she was holding against the porch of the cabin. “Thanos! Get your ugly purple ass out here!”

There were a set of heavy footsteps from inside the cabin, and then the door opened to reveal the monster himself.

Thanos wasn’t wearing any of his armor, save for the gauntlet on his hand. “You should know that coming here was futile. What’s been done is done. Let it be.”

“Well, then you should know that humans are both tenacious and remarkably petty,” Dewani fired back. “Hand over the gauntlet and we’ll kill you quickly.”

The corner of Thanos’s mouth curled up in a smirk. “Your hubris amuses me. Perhaps I will spare you so you can entertain me.”

“You are, like, exactly not my type, dude.”

Shuri activated her hand cannons and aimed them at Thanos. “You’ve committed unspeakable atrocities against the universe, Thanos. Surrender now, and your death will be swift.”

“You couldn’t defeat me before with an army at your side. What makes you think you can do so now?”

Okoye angled her spear at him. “Because this time, you don’t have any backup to help you.”

There was a loud scream from overhead, and then Thor slammed down onto the roof of Thanos’s cabin, bringing down a massive bolt of lightning with him.

Okoye ducked as the shack exploded into thousands of pieces --most of which bounced harmlessly off shield erected by Wong and Loki--then charged after Thanos. “Come on!”

The oversized alien rolled to his feet with a growl. “I will not tolerate this insolence!” He curled his gauntlet-clad hand into a fist, Infinity Stones glowing in their settings. “You will all die here!”

“Think again,” Tony said as he started firing mini-missiles at Thanos. “Maximoff, now!”

Tendrils of red energy crept across the gauntlet, curling around the stones and effectively halting whatever attack Thanos had planned.

“Hit him with everything you’ve got!” Steve shouted as he darted towards the Titan. “And get him in position for Thor!”

It was over before it started. With Wanda rendering the Infinity Stones useless and with no army to support him, Thanos was no match for the sheer number of fighters bearing down on him.

Okoye jammed her spear through one of his knees, knocking the giant to the ground --

and Thor was there right after, driving his axe through Thanos’s forearm as the Mad Titan let out an anguished scream.

“Oh, that’s nasty,” Peter groaned as Thanos’s hand fell limply out of the gauntlet.

“You know, blood’s actually really good for plants,” Dewani said.

“Are you serious--”

“If I focus on what actually just happened, I’m gonna pass out, Shuri.”

“It’s over,” Tony said, helmet retracting so he could stare Thanos down. He gestured aimlessly with the gauntlet. “Now, tell us how to reverse what you did.”

“I did the universe a favor. I brought balance--”

“You know what? Nevermind. We’ll figure it out without you. Someone kill this guy.”

“Nebula,” Gamora said softly. She jerked her chin at Thanos when her blue-skinned sister shot her a confused look. “He’s yours.”

Okoye looked at Nebula, then at Thanos, then held her spear out to the woman. “Aim for the head.”

Nebula grinned ferally as she took the spear and stalked over to Thanos. She braced her foot on his throat and angled the tip of the spear towards his forehead. “You should’ve killed me when you had the chance.”

Thanos glared up at her, defiant. “It would’ve been a waste of parts.”

Nebula screamed and drove the spear through his head with a sickening crack.

Everything was silent for a moment as Thanos’s body went completely limp.

Dewani gagged. “Oh, Hanuman. I’m really gonna throw up now.”

“Is this gonna work?”

“We’ve been asking that question ever since Thanos arrived in Wakanda to inform us of his plans. I’m not sure there’s even a point in asking it anymore.”

Okoye kept her gaze trained on one of the many monitors in Shuri’s lab as Wanda, Dr. Strange, Wong, and Loki gathered around the gauntlet. “Let me know when they start.”

“Alright, in three... two... one...”

She could almost feel the energy in the room change, but kept her gaze focused on the screen.

At first, nothing happened.

And then, a little counter began pinging rapidly.

“It’s working! It’s working!”

They’d done it. They’d reversed Thanos’s slaughter and restored the universe. News stations were running story after story on the “reverse rapture,” speculating about just what had happened and showcasing different heartwarming stories about families, friends, and couples that had been reunited.

Okoye leaned against the trunk of the tree she was sitting under, exhausted and numb in the wake of everything that had happened, everything they’d done. I feel like I could sleep for a year.

It was done. They’d defeated Thanos and saved the world.

She opened her eyes as she heard a set of footsteps approach.

M’Baku smiled down at her. “Come here often?”

“Not often enough, it seems.” She shifted over on the bench so he could sit next to her, then slumped against his side. “I’m so tired.”

M’Baku pressed his lips against the top of her head as he put his arm around her. “It’s over now, Okoye. You can rest.”

She nuzzled his shoulder. “Believe me. I plan on it.”