#how did she manage to hold all the infinity stones?

[navybrat817]

What if...The writers of "What If...?" focused on a character besides Peggy Carter?

[wandamaximoffsbadgirl]

Let's Talk About That

Love of my life, would you lie? (8)

Psychiatrist!Avenger!fem!Reader x Wanda Maximoff

Summary: The team discusses what to do about Thanos

Word Count: 3.1K

Warning: Mostly angst, but some fluff too!

A/N: Writing through Infinity War has been a hell of a journey and I still have more to do!

"Hello secretary." Steve said to the hologram of secretary Ross as we entered the compound. You held Natasha’s hand with Wanda and Vision behind you.

"You have some nerve coming here." Secretary Ross spoke.

"Looks like you could use some of that right about now." Natasha stated bluntly.

"The world's on fire and you think all's forgiven?" Ross asks Steve.

"I'm not looking for forgiveness and I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost her best defender so we're here to fight and if you want to stand in our way then we can fight you too." Steve stated to Ross who turned his attention to Rhodey.

"Aresst them." Ross said.

"Will do." Rhodey pushed the holograms effectively ending the virtual call.

"That sounded like a court marshal." Rhodey stated flatly before smiling. "It's good to see you Cap." Holding out his hand which Cap shook. Then Natasha let go of your hand giving Rhodey a hug.

"Well you guys all look like crap." Rhodey jokes and you let out a chuckle.

"You should have seen the other guys. I got there and they ran with their tails between their legs." You told him a big smile on your face.

"Went all power stone on then didn't you?" You nodded, earning a hair ruffle from Rhodey.

"Of course they were hurting people I care about." You looked back at Wanda and Vision with a smile. "No one gets away with hurting the people I care about."

"I think you guys look great." You hear as you turn your head to the familiar voice of Bruce. Natasha doesn't move, but you do, running up to hug him.

"Missed you big guy. Both of you." You say as he picks you up.

"Missed you little lady."

"Hi Bruce." Natasha speaks and you let go looking back at her. The faintest smile in the corners of her lips.

"Nat." He does a nod of his head.

You run back over to Tasha. "Go." You whisper through your teeth. She shakes her head ever so slightly. "If I did it you can do it. Go." You move behind her and push her. Making her stumble forward, Bruce catching her as you move back next to Wanda and sigh. "Young love...or old...I'm not quite sure anymore with those two." You state to the now red head, last you had seen her Wanda still had brunette hair.

As you glanced back at Natasha and Bruce, a sense of hope flickered within you, a reminder that even amidst chaos and uncertainty, love and connection could endure, serving as a beacon of light in the darkness.

When Vision is taken by Bruce to be examined and Nat talks with Steve, Rhodey, and Sam, Wanda pulls you away into the compound. You trail behind her, relishing in the way her hand feels in yours. You had missed how it felt; almost forgot how it felt actually.

You don't realize it until she opens the door that she's taken you to your office. She looked back at you and gave a small smile as she sat on the couch like she always used to. You walk to your desk, seeing everything as you had left it. Your notebook for Wanda sitting there. You smile, picking it up along with the red pen you always used for her notes, testing the pen to make sure it still works.

You move back over sitting across from her, clicking your pen as you look at her over your glasses.

"Are you happier with her?" Wanda asks, making your throat dry up instantly. It felt hard to swallow, hard to breath.

"Don't make me answer that." You manage to say.

"Why? 'Cause it's true?"

"You know it's not. I love Natasha. Truly I do, but I'm not happier with her. The only thing that makes me happier is knowing she's made me a better person for you if you can ever give me a second chance and if not. I'll settle for her." You tell her flat out, putting your feelings out there. "My heart has always been yours."

"Does she know that?"

"Of course she does. She's not stupid." You respond with a slight bite to your words as you write in your note book.

Feeling a need to lay bare the depth of your feelings, you flipped through the pages of the notebook, searching for a particular entry. As you found the right page, you turned the notebook toward Wanda, revealing a love note you had penned after she returned from Lagos, a moment etched in my memory where she broke down, finding solace in your arms.

The emotions spilled across the page, a raw expression of love, hurt, and comfort. You saw the reflection of those sentiments in Wanda's eyes as tears glistened, capturing the spectrum of her feelings in a poignant dance of colors. The room held a heavy silence, interrupted only by the quiet sobs that reverberated between the two of you, bridging the gap between past and present.

"You took my hurt away...?" Wanda's voice was soft, laced with disbelief and a hint of wonder. You nodded solemnly, feeling the weight of your actions settle heavily on your shoulders.

"I know I said I'd never do it without your permission, but I had to take some of it. I could see it overtaking you. It was bitter and tasted like bile," You explained, a shiver coursing through you at the memory. "You know I don't like eating emotions, especially negative ones."

Wanda nodded in understanding before rising from her seat, crossing the space between you until your knees touched. Her touch was gentle as she cupped your cheek, coaxing you to meet her gaze. You hesitated, but her commanding tone compelled you to look into her deep green eyes, the same eyes you had always found solace in.

"Hey. Look at me," she urged softly, her voice carrying a mixture of warmth and familiarity. You met her gaze, feeling a sense of calm wash over you as your eyes locked.

"I missed the fuck out of you. I was upset with you about that jealous outburst, but you were just a kid still, and I forgot that along the way because you're you and so smart and mature," she confessed, her words washing over you like a soothing balm. You leaned into her touch, finally allowing yourself to relax in her presence.

"I'm sorry for what happened to us two years ago, Y/N," Wanda apologized, her voice laced with genuine remorse. You smiled softly and pressed a kiss to her hand in response.

"I'm sorry too, Wanda. If it hadn't been for those stupid accords..."

"We don't know what could have or would have happened, Y/N, and we shouldn't dwell on that. All we can do is move forward and see where that takes us," she reassured you, her words resonating deeply within you.

You nodded in agreement, pulling her into a tight hug, reveling in the familiar warmth of her embrace. As you buried your face in her neck, you breathed in her intoxicating scent of vanilla, feeling a sense of peace wash over you. Opening your eyes, you saw the telltale red aura surrounding her, a manifestation of love and passion that stirred something deep within you. With a smile, you allowed yourself to fully embrace the moment, knowing that your journey forward held endless possibilities.

"Vision and I have a connection through the mind stone, and I do love him just like how I know you love Nat. What you and I had, I will always hold close, but I can't just leave Vision," Wanda's words cut through you like a knife, each syllable piercing deeper into your heart.

You struggled to find a response, your mind reeling with a mix of emotions—heartache, disappointment, and a lingering sense of resignation. Before you could gather your thoughts to form a coherent reply, Tasha's voice interrupted the heavy silence, drawing your attention to the doorway where she stood.

"Figured I'd find you two here. Time for a meeting on what we're going to be doing," Tasha announced, her presence offering a temporary respite from the weight of the conversation.

You stood up at Tasha's words, leaving Wanda behind in the office. Tasha pulled you close, her kiss on your cheek a fleeting reassurance amidst the turmoil brewing inside you. Her whispered question echoed in your ear, and you offered only a small shrug in response as she wrapped an arm around your shoulders.

"We'll talk later, okay?" You assured Tasha, and she simply nodded in understanding as Wanda joined you, her presence feeling like a heavy weight on your shoulders. You didn't pay much attention to her, but you noticed Tasha's subtle glance back at Wanda, a silent warning simmering beneath the surface of her gaze. If looks could kill, Wanda would be dead from whatever Tasha had conveyed in that single glance.

"So we gotta assume they're coming back, right?" Bruce asks, his tone laced with concern as he scans the room for answers.

"And they can clearly find us," Wanda reminds the group, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.

"We need all hands on deck. Where's Clint?" Bruce inquires, his gaze sweeping the room for any sign of the absent Avenger.

"After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal. It was too tough on their families. They're on house arrest," Nat explains to Bruce, filling him in on the latest developments.

"Who's Scott?" Bruce's confusion is palpable as he seeks clarification.

"Ant-Man," Cap offers, providing the missing link.

"There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man?" Bruce's incredulity is evident as he processes the information.

"Look, Thanos has the biggest army in the universe... and he is not gonna stop until he gets..." Bruce's voice trails off, his gaze shifting between Vision and you, hesitating to voice his next words. "Till he gets those stones," he finally concludes, pointing at the two of you.

You feel a surge of anxiety grip you as Bruce's words sink in. Tasha, sensing your unease, moves closer to Bruce, her protective instincts kicking in.

"Well then, we have to protect them," Tasha declares firmly, her eyes darting between Bruce and you, a silent vow of defense.

"No, we have to destroy them," Vision interjects, his tone resolute and unwavering.

You can't help but chuckle at Vision's suggestion, though the humor quickly fades as the gravity of his words settles over you.

"Ha! No. Hell fucking no. I don't plan on dying, or did you forget I said that? I will die without the stone," You retort, your defiance clear to everyone in the room, especially Vision.

"I've given this a great deal of thought, Y/N. I do not say it lightly, but if he does get his hands on these stones... especially yours, he'll be unstoppable," Vision insists, meeting your gaze with a solemn intensity that sends a shiver down your spine.

You struggle to catch my breath, the weight of Vision's words bearing down on you like a suffocating blanket. Your hand instinctively reaches for your chest, as if seeking reassurance from the stone that rests within you.

"I've thought about the nature of my stone, along with yours and some of the last words you said while we were allies. Knowing what your stone is capable of. We must destroy them and I think if they were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source," Vision explains, his voice tinged with determination as he approaches Wanda.

You rise from your spot, brushing off Tasha's attempt to stop you, and step closer, feeling Wanda's eyes flicker to you before returning to Vision, who gently places his hands on her arms. "Something very similar to their own signature perhaps," he continues, his touch reminiscent of the way you used to hold her, though his hands are much larger than your own. "Its molecular integrity could fail."

"Yeah, and both of you with it," Wanda responds, her gaze shifting between Vision and you. "We aren't having this discussion. It's too high a price to lose both of you," she declares firmly, trying to contain her frustration.

Vision's hands move to Wanda's cheeks, holding her gently, but she steps away from him, her resolve evident. You move closer to her, feeling the tension in the air thickening.

"Y/N, don't," You hear the tremor in her voice, the raw emotion threatening to spill over.

You bite the inside of my cheek, grappling with the gravity of the situation. "Wanda," You address her firmly, reaching out to grasp her shoulder. "If you refuse... I will take Vision's stone out of his head because I know I can, and I will personally crush it, and then my own if that is our last resort," You declare, your tone unyielding. "And I will do it in front of you," You add, squeezing her shoulder for emphasis. "I don't say this lightly because I'd rather not die. I personally think that between the three of us we can take him down, but if you won't do it, I will," You assert, speaking with a deadly seriousness before returning to your spot, your heart heavy with the weight of your words.

"I won't entertain the idea of trading lives," Cap asserts firmly.

"Seventy years ago, you laid down your life to save how many millions of people?" Vision responds, his voice carrying a weight of history. You tune out their exchange, feeling a sense of unease settling over you. You lean forward, pulling Tasha back to you, seeking comfort in her presence. Wrapping your arms around her waist, you settle her between your legs, resting your chin on her shoulder as you gaze at Wanda. Regret and guilt weigh heavy on your heart, and you grip Tasha tighter until she makes a small noise of discomfort. Quickly, you release your hold, whispering an apology.

"Sorry..." You murmur softly, your voice barely audible.

Tasha responds with a gentle pat on your arm, understanding in her touch. "It's okay, Y/N," she whispers back.

As Bruce delves into an explanation about Vision's complex composition, your brows furrow in confusion. "What?" You whisper, turning to Bruce. "How did I not know there's parts of me in him?" You ask, bewildered by the revelation.

"Tony put everything of you that Jarvis collected over the years of your sessions," Bruce explains matter-of-factly.

"Good to know my sessions were private," You mutter sarcastically against Tasha's shoulder.

"You're saying Vision isn't just the stone?" Wanda interjects, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

"I'm saying that if we take out the stone, there is still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts," Bruce elaborates, prompting a moment of contemplative silence.

"What about me?" You inquire, releasing Tasha and standing up once more, your emotions bubbling to the surface. "You told me years ago that this stone is attached. It's wrapped around my lungs and my heart. If we take it out of me..." Your voice cracks, tears spilling down your cheeks. "I will die," You confess, your vulnerability laid bare for all to see.

Bruce places his hands on your shoulders, offering reassurance as you struggle to maintain composure. "I've thought about it a lot over the years, and I was thinking maybe, similar to Tony, we could do an open-heart surgery. Open you up and basically cut away the tendrils that the stone has put around your heart and lungs. Take the stone out and put an arc reactor in its place to keep you going," he suggests, his words hanging heavy in the air.

"D-do you think we can do that?" Tasha's voice quivers with fear and concern.

"Not me. Not here," Bruce replies solemnly, withdrawing his hands as you retreat back to Tasha's embrace.

"Well, you better find someone and somewhere fast," Rhodes interjects, breaking the somber atmosphere with a practical reminder.

"I know somewhere," Cap offers, his voice cutting through the tension with a sense of urgency.

As you holed yourself away in the small room of the Quinjet, facing the wall to hide your tears, the weight of your emotions overwhelmed you. Sobs wracked your body, your throat burning with the effort to contain your grief. In moments like these, you longed for the ability to numb your own emotions, to escape the pain that threatened to consume you.

A knock at the door startled you, and you called out for whoever it was to go away. Despite your plea, the door opened, and you tensed, expecting Tasha's presence. Yet, as the cot beside you shifted, you realized it was someone else. you didn't dare look, even when I felt soft lips press against the back of your shoulder, and tears dampened your shirt.

"I can't lose you," came the whispered confession, confirming your suspicion that it was Wanda behind you.

"Why not? You have Vision," you replied, your voice strained and cracked from crying.

"I do, but I don't want to lose you. You're too important. I meant what I said," Wanda insisted, her arm tightening around you as she pulled you closer.

"It's too high a price," she added, sending a shiver down your spine. You reached out, placing your hand over hers, and then turned to face her, allowing her to pull you into her embrace.

"Come here," You whispered, giving in to the flood of emotions as you cried in her arms. "Wands, I don't want to die... I know we're Avengers, but I'm terrified of death," You confessed, your tears flowing freely as she rubbed your back in a comforting gesture, mirroring the care you had shown her countless times before.

"I won't let that happen. I promise," Wanda whispered soothingly. "Just rest for now. We'll be in Wakanda soon enough, and I don't want you thinking about it anymore."

Looking up at her, you found the courage to ask something you had never asked before, a desperate plea born out of fear and desperation. "Can you take it away? Can you make me forget it?"

Wanda cupped your cheek, her touch gentle yet determined as she searched through your thoughts, sensing the depth of your distress. With a nod, she moved her fingers to your temples, her crimson tendrils reaching out as you closed your eyes, surrendering to her power.

"Shhhh, don't worry anymore, Detka... rest now," were the last words you heard, and you swore you felt her lips brush against yours before sleep claimed you, offering temporary respite from the weight of your fears.

[pinkthick]

Doctor Strange Supreme

Okay, so let’s talk about Doctor Strange Supreme from “What if?”. He really had a good start with his story, becoming Master of the Mystic Arts after losing Christine Palmer instead of losing the usage of his hands. (Since Christine is more important to him than his career in that universe). We all know how episode 4 from season 1 went, where he absorbed various interdimensional beings in order to attain enough power to alter the past and resurrect her. He succeeded even if others tried to warn him of the consequences and as soon as he resurrected Christine, the universe was falling on itself.

(Mind you, he managed to delay the collapsing universe with his powers for some good minutes. He even created a pocket dimension. 💀)

He realized his mistakes (even if it was too late) and more consequently, he regrets his actions.

“The world shouldn’t pay for my arrogance.”

“Punish me. Not the world. Not Christine.”

He has been left alone in that void for God knows how long and while he could have gotten out, he didn’t. He stayed there, making the pocket dimension his own prison. (Probably thinking of every single mistake he had done.)

Now let’s talk about episode 9 from season 1, where he literally went toe to toe with Infinity Ultron. (When the Watcher tried to fight him, he was literally losing but Doctor Strange Supreme managed to hold his ground and literally defeat Infinity Ultron).

But what I really want to talk about is when Killmonger tried to persuade Stephen into taking the infinity stones so that he could remake his universe and have Christine back. He could have easily taken them and just make his wish.

But he didn’t. He accepted his ‘punishment’ to guard the pocket dimension he made for Infinity Ultron and Killmonger, stating that it wasn’t really a punishment since he didn’t have to lose anything anymore. (He called the Watcher a friend too😭). But basically what I’m trying to get to, he said that he moved on. He had his redemption arc.

Now we’re back with episode 9 from season 2. Like what the actual hell. Why would he go through all that trouble when he could have gotten the infinity stones in the first place like..make it make sense. And don’t get me started on Peggy Carter and Kahhori. How did they even defeat Doctor Strange Supreme (what in the plot armour was this) like come on? Stephen fought Infinity Ultron and didn’t lose, but lost to Peggy Carter when she had the stones? She even punched him while he was in his monster form. 🙃

Yeah and about Kahhori. She is powerful but not that powerful.

To be honest, they should have left him have that ending from the season 1 finale if they didn’t have ideas for him anymore. Not literally make him the villain and kill him off.💀💀

But that’s Marvel for all of you.

[blindtaleteller]

thank you for previous explain. It was so long and detailed. I had now another question. About lady's life in Asgard. Sigyn x Loki for me. And Sigyn is not warrior, but typical lady. Can you write something about it?

Honestly if you're looking for an example of that in canon MCU, much of Frigga's character and especially her surroundings as expressed on screen does have quite a few examples.

In fact, we aren't even given the idea she can still fight until she absolutely has to in The Dark World.

And, it's in Dark World (and a little of both Ragnarok [geh] and Endgame if you take both the premise of the Valkyries and the time travel scenes in it seriously) that we are given those examples.

Remember, whether they are fighters themselves or not: if they're Asgardian, they're still raised as a part of that previously mentioned warmongering imperialist society: and that would be (as also told to us in their dialogue about Jane and Sif, and their King Odin's expectations) even more strictly observed by someone like a lady in that kind of royalist/imperialist hierarchy, rather than a warrior.

That is why I say 'much' of Frigga's character and surroundings.. but not all. It's not the fighting you need to look at, though that can help. It's her mannerisms, her rooms (look at TDW including the fight with Malekith), her maids, and more. Frigga is, as Queen and even without the fight or ability itself: the top and more importantly leading example of what to expect of a lady of the royal court: as she should be in that kin of society.

And that's also VERY probably why she doesn't fight in any of THor 2011 on screen: even when Laufey shows up, regardless of her being nearer to the main palace then, than she was in TDW: where she was shown being in a separate side palace at least a few miles away when Algrim/Kurse broke out of the dungeon: all the way up until her life, and Jane's, are in immediate danger after having left that portion of the palace during the attack that Kurse opened the shields to manage.

(Which side note was REEEEALLY questionable at the time with a human housing an infinity stone in tow at the time, but is neither here nor there with other things taken into account... just a very dangerous for Jane choice, given what enemies they did have even without the elves being taken into account.. but eh, it is canon and it does fit the flavors of Asgard's, Odin's, and Frigga's own arrogance and ignorance in regards to Asgard's 'impervious' mindset state, as far as the upper echelons of their society seems to be concerned as portrayed on screen.)

In a way, it's made pretty clear that while Frigga still retains much of her skills as a fighter and mage/witch (Or the daughter of three witches at least as we also now know through canon dialogue:) the things she does and doesn't do, while also comparing that to someone like Brunhilde (aka Valkyrie) and how they were clearly recieved during and well after their term as an active female-only fighting force, the canon makes it pretty clear that unless they do retain that fighter status, women (perhaps including the queen) either do not tend to hold as much sway or dignity in other pursuits outside the household.

In other words and as an canon example.. even as the other ruler on the throne and his adoptive mother; Frigga is easily able to set aside the throne and any responsibility for doing so even in that situation. Regardless of, the fact that; at that point the situation is that Jotunheim had declared war in response to Thor's treasonous invasion, and regardless of being closest to Loki (we know this through the words of every character in the family: Thor says it repeatedly, Odin goads and attempts to guilt trip him with that close relationship too, and Frigga does the same with her own wierdness during her conversation with him in TDW's dungeon cell scene) knowing full well not only what she was asking of Loki, but also what Loki was going through in having just recently discovered that he wasn't only not of the same species: but on top of that was Laufey's biological son AND Jotunheim's only known of prince. Whom, Odin admitted he had taken to 'forge a permanent peace.'

A peace that, probably wouldn't have happened anyway if he and it had been handled just as poorly as well, it was.

Think about that for a little bit; really think about it: and the fact that she did so, while playing the part and claiming she was closest to him and cared about him the most.

That canonically casts some seriously gross and awkward truths into the realm of how their their relationship actually is versus how Frigga and the rest of them tried to paint it. As well as touching her own guilt evasion there too: and is something that both in the first Thor and the second film both: Frigga absolutely side steps taking any responsibility for, as the mother, the mentor, and the lady who raised him with that lie: regardless of their supposed closeness.

And, why that's important? Is because, under that king, husband and society as it goes: she is not just allowed to do that without complaint from any of the above, their society OR the foster-brother that she raised and lied to right next to him: she's allowed to thrive and remain in her position STILL without that question or any apparent explanation of ANY of those nuances or her part in putting him in charge in taht mental and emotional state; well after the fact and into 2013 two years later.

When she refers to that massive erasure of not just who but WHAT he is? Frigga almost always shifts that blame fully onto Odin in her dialogue; and steers as hard as she can away from words reminding the viewer that, she was Odin's wife and partner: through all of that. Instead, it's always 'your father' or 'he' rather than 'we' or 'he and I.'

Which is very blatantly another portion of Loki's response in this same scene when asked 'And am I not your mother..?' because, he's right in every form of the answer.

It's -possible- that she was being honest about her relationship with Loki, at least later on? But it's -not- very -probable-, or believable at that stage.. and her lack of self awareness and ownership of her part even when alone with him in Thor 2011 (not to mention carrying that on a year later in Dark World) makes that very hard to miss as a thing in truth: especially with the given facts being that this went on for over a thousand years.. and still over all that time she didn't have enough regard, respect, or love for her supposed favorite son, to even hint at any of his origins even after she taught him to shapeshift or cast illusions herself, to change the outcome.

And again.. no one raised a question as to why. Or held her accountable. No one questioned the one person in the royal family who was capable of taking Loki's place on the throne back in 2011 either.

Given how little we see women in honored fighting positions in Asgardian culture, and are given the very blatant information between the films that it's been literal centuries since even since a female fighting force has been a thing, PLUS the literal views we've been given with Sif as the only woman in the training yard in modern eras...?

It's pretty likely that raised-in bit of social ugly is pretty well dug into their society as well.

Again and that said: figuring out how a lady rather than a fighter might run her life, or fit in at those upper tiers without picking up a weapon: has been put on some display.

Asgard has a very wonky, heavy half ren/medieval approach to their upper heirarchy on display, complete with ladies in waiting (which Tony takes a little off jab at in GROUNDED too lol,) and healers especially seeming to be a majorly female profession.

There wasn't a single dude in that scene with Jane that wasn't either royalty or a guard, if you look at it again. Every single one of the healers is a woman.)

That mentioned, another place to look for examples, are again: Frigga's personal surroundings. And Dark World gives us a good look at those.

One thing to note, is that besides the healers: pretty much every Asgardian lady has armor in some portion of their wardrobe. Whether that's a breastplate, vanbraces (wrist/forearm,) gorgets (neck guard, like Loki's) or something else to accompany their dresses.

Vanbraces (Thor 2011)

Vanbraces and Archer's breastplate (Dark World Dungeon Scene)

Vanbraces, Pauldron, and partial Chestplate (Dark World, final scene)

There are moments when we see her and them without armor pieces (or in some scenes with even fewer of them at least, like teh carefully disguised set in the top gif) but for the most part those outfits are reserved for really important parties that are the equivalent of formal-dress parties: in which case we can see that even Sif doesn't escape from the expectation of wearing a literal dress: though even then.. hers is the odd one out of the others shown/on display in the room as far as style:

Which tells us a couple of things, but first and foremost and something that makes sense in their culture: is that even if they're not mainline fighters, and having been invaded enough to need and upkeep those shields in the first place?

Other than fancy events/celebrations and or coronations? The armor pieces are definitely as much local every day cultural fashion thing, as they are functional in some cases.

It's pretty likely that even the ladies of the court at least know and are expected to upkeep at least minor skills in self defense, if not the defense of their own homes: and are probably taught to do so from a very young age. They're not going to be as good at it outside of their own personal territory, or a territory they know well like say the Valkyrie were supposed to be, as the equivalent of a special forces military task unit: but they probably are expected.

Another side note..? This above, is ultimately; also among the forgiving reasons I don't question why Frigga went to the main palace outside of her taking Jane with her when she went. As Queen and lady of the house under that form of society, it absolutely passes without Jane in tow. However.. without Jane in tow, there's also the bit she couldn't have known at the time; that the writers did of course .. the fact that any of the elves were even alive and kicking. [And gee; thanks for that again Bor, lol! like father like son, I guess? Bor, his son, and said son's wife DO seem to have a habit of -not- telling their kids about world and universe ending enemies being alive after the fact, don't they? coughcoughHELAcoughcough.. XD]

There is one other bit, besides that: that we do get about the society from all that too though. At least about the surviving upper echelons of the ruling class: and that is?

That Odin had a really tight reign on the upper royals and his fighting forces surviving the Great Wars as King.. lips and all: unless amongst the entirety of their armies, council, other generals (besides Hela, which HOO is that a whole conversation unto itself Loki and Laufey related when you look at that timeline with Hela in it omg..) and pretty much every lady in waiting, servants .. or just other lords and ladies? Just didn't notice a surprise baby that the Queen -didn't- give birth to, was randomly being presented as a new baby prince to the Asgardian Empire. Which.. is next to impossible; especially when you take into account that this wasn't another country he took this kid from, or a society unfamiliar with magic: he took Loki from an entirely differing species and PLANET elsewhere in the universe in the middle of the last battle of one of the largest and bloodiest wars in their generation: and forced passing him off as his own.

Even if, he did manage that; maybe sequestering his wife and passing Loki off as a twin or some shizz? Someone if not a whole lot of someones probably knew.. but especially the healer or healers who would have treated any wounds throughout Loki's lifetime.

We could, almost say that they could have presented him as an adopted Asgardian kid.. and maybe he and Frigga did, to some of them on the sly to help keep it under wraps.. but that doesn't fit how their relationship is depicted, shown or talked about prior to or even after the reveal of his species and bloodline at all, either.

And that still wouldn't pass the first time this kid hurt himself, or was injured in battle under the scrutiny of an uninformed healer's ability in that society, with magic and high tech and more very much at their fingertips and in their alliances and enemies too, to be recognized.

Meaning, at least a portion of the populace closest to the crown, and especially those types old enough to have taken part in the last of the Great Wars or tending Loki as he grew and fought and more as a captive prince: were either just as complacent or, shut up by either if not both portions of the crown house really damned fast and really efficiently likely through threat, exile or worse. Keep in mind, the Great Wars and especially that one was still freshly finished, and they made a great show of making sure we knew there would be problems having the future ruler of the enemy they had been killing for an un-foretold length of time next to the crown in how even mention of Jotnar was allowed to form in Asgardian society: through Loki's words, through Thor's reactions and words, through Odin and through Frigga too.

The hate was strong enough even a thousand years plus of Odin's rule with Loki as prince later, that Thor thought it was A-Okay to go ahead and invade the planet and restart that war, against the literal warnings not just from every single person around him before he did it: and not just warned but told outright by his father and the King 'don't you fuckin' dare' well before even that.

That.. is the kind of society and expectations, an Asgardian Lady would have been raised into and led by along with the rest.

All that said, this is getting long; and there are metas rather than canon they come from that I could mention regarding Vanaheim as the most prevalent colony of Asgardians/partial Asgardians too, but.. we don't get a whole lot of them or their off world society other than to know that Odin doesn't care about them NEARLY as much: or at least not enough to even provide them defensive cannons or other defenses that Asgard otherwise VERY clearly has and has had for literal ages as put on display in the Dark World.

Being a woman in that society would probably be a very, well...

Probably, brainwashed to accept a lowered expectation of self worth over all, without the ability to fight on a greater tier than just home and self defense. And those who don't fall into those already asserted social standards would definitely be outliers if not outcasts. We have Loki himself and how Frigga's skills are viewed and worded even by her own family, as example of that.

So.. that's a lot to keep in mind but.. yeah. It is there, and more that; I probably haven't touched or missed while in the process of going on and explaining that.

For Sigyn though, for me: I do have some planned for her but as she doesn't exist in the MCU and adapting her would for me have to take all of that in mind: that is being approached very back burner for late Vestibule 2 (after Mixology) and Vestibule 3 as what ultimately boils down to an OC version of her. In part because I like that character in real life lore, and Skadi's character: and when I do write for them both.. I want to try and convert them to fit into the MCU base in a way that feels right to me.

Which is going to be rough when getting into more detailed versions of stuff like the very brief mentions of Skadi's tale and others I've already done in fics like Simon Says/Bail: given the MCU is twice removed from actual Norse Mythos; being Asgard in the MCU is more loose in being based off of Marvel, which in turn is then just as loose in the comics' basing their characters from that Norse Mythos.

Also, am tired .. is eleven PM lol sorry for not continuing, and getting extra rambly. But will add more pretty pictures to make up for it a lil bit? lol

If you have more questions or want some elaboration on anything, by all means feel free to send me asks just like this one.

I generally try to answer pretty quickly when I see them lol.

[nicole-tivan123]

Taneleer Tivan x reader

[if y’all want more, just let me know! This takes place right after the destruction of the collectors collection. Also sorry if it’s bad, this is my first time writing a fanfic so if you have any advice to make it better, let me know✨]

It’s another day in knowhere, you were just minding your own business walking along the dark and dangerous streets of knowhere. All of a sudden you hear and see an explosion coming from the collectors museum, you rush over to the museum and see rocket, groot, star lord and gamora who was carrying a shiny looking orb. You wondered to yourself if it was that thing that caused all the commotion. You then make your way inside of the museum to see if Taneleer is ok.

you have had a crush on Taneleer for years but never got the courage to approach him about it. He was always friendly to you when he saw you, you and him were friends. You both became friends after his brother En dwi Gast showed you to him, you were also friends with En dwi as you both enjoyed games and competing in those games. Taneleer saw how En dwi trusted you which made Taneleer trust you too.

You managed to make your way through all the broken glass and rubble, you then saw Taneleer struggling and whimpering to get up off the ground, he was holding his hand on his forehead, he removed it to which you saw a big deep cut of his head where he had been his in the explosion.

“Taneleer…TANELEER ARE YOU OK?” You yelled as you make your way through more rubble. He turned to your direction, recognising your voice. “Yes…I mean no… I mean…kinda” he said still struggling to get up off the floor. You then finally make your way over to him and slowly and gently helped him up onto a nearby chair.

“What happened?” You asked as you look around for a medical kit. “Gamora and her new friends or whoever they are came in to give me an orb containing an infinity stone” he said looking at you with his hand on his head to stop the blood from dripping all over the place. You turned and looked at him surprised knowing how rare and valuable they are and that Taneleer already contained the reality stone. “An infinity stone?! Did you get it?…” you asked curiously. “No…my assistant went to grab it to take for herself… she clearly wasn’t strong enough to handle the power of the stone and then… well you see the aftermath…” he said looking down, clearly upset about his whole collection being destroyed.

You find a med kit and get out some bandages and a few other items to bandage up the collectors head wound. “Let me see the wound” you said gently moving his hand out the way. You wiped his wound with some sterile wipes to which he winced at and grabbed your arm tightly. “Sorry” he said letting go of your arm. “It’s ok, you can grip on as hard as you want as long as it makes you feel any better” you said in a soft voice before giving him a reassuring smile to which he gave a small smile back to you. You then managed to bandage his head up then go over to the bar in his museum to get him and yourself a drink.

“Hey… thank you for bandaging me up (y/n)” he said while getting up off the chair and walking over to you. “It’s ok, I worry about you every day you know? With your collecting job, I worried something like this would happen eventually, your just lucky I was in the area and not on sakkar today” you said handing over his drink to him. “ I know you worry about me (y/n), but this is my job… it’s who I am, it’s dangerous I know but that’s the thrill of it” he said giving a little chuckle at the end and exchanged a smirk. “I’m serious Taneleer… I don’t want you getting hurt… I like you a lot you know” you said quietly while looking down at your drink.

Taneleer puts his hand under your chin and gently lifts it up to which you then both make eye contact. “ I know you like me… En told me…” he said before kissing your forehead. “Goddammit En! That was our secret!” You said annoyed to yourself. Taneleer thought it was cute how angry you was at his brother, he smiled at you before gently pulling you in closer to him. “ I knew for a long time you liked me but… with it being my brother who told me I didn’t know whether to believe him… I kinda always had a crush on you too but was too nervous to say anything…” he said before kissing your head again. You blush and look down at your drink before putting it aside and wrapping your arms around his neck. You both look at each other before kissing each other on the lips, he winced as he has a cut on his lip but didn’t want to ruin the moment between you both so said nothing. He then gets his fluffy cape and wrapped it around you to have you closer to him. His cape was soft and warm you could almost fall asleep to how comfy it was.

You both then stop and look at each other, Taneleer taking his gloves off and putting them aside before putting his hand on your cheek and smiling at you. His hands were warm and you enjoyed the feel of his skin on yours. “ shouldn’t we get started on rebuilding your collection Taneleer?” You asked him while leaning your head in his hand. “ that can wait… you are my most important priority right now” he then brought you closer to him for another kiss. “ I’m serious Taneleer I don’t want to be kissing you with broken glass and rubble everywhere, it’s dangerous” you then giggled to which he did the same. You both then got to work together to rebuild his collection, with you by his side every step of the way.

(Hope you guys enjoyed reading, if there is any way to improve my writing just let me know so I can do better in the future)

[toaverse]

Hear me out, Guardian of the Galaxy/Encanto crossover.

After running away from home after being bullied by the village kids for being the "giftless" Madrigal. When she wonders out of the Encanto she stumbles into a strange building where she thought she could cry a little. However it turned out that building was actually the Guardians spaceship and now they have a child to take care of

Aaaahh! Thank you!

Note: This takes place after the first 2 Guardians films, but before Infinity War...

Enjoy!

After her gift ceremony, Mirabel got treated quite badly by the family….

Alma saw her as a burden. Pepa would snap at the child often for just being there, seeing Mira as a giftless annoyance to deal with while Félix turned a blind eye. Julieta, Agustín and Luisa were too busy helping the town to make time for Mira. Isabela and Camilo avoid her like the plague (which Mira is in their eyes), and Dolores was too busy with her own problems and struggles. They'd all later regret this...

And it didn’t help that the town saw the girl as useless as well, the townships bullying her while the adults turn a blind eye…

It made Mira sad. She just wanted her family to love her and be nice to her, but they weren’t…

It all came to ahead one day when Mira got picked on by the towns kids again, taunting and insulting her for not having a gift. The adults, including some of the Madrigals, heard all of this, but didn't do anything, turning a blind eye while they're busy with their own chores/problems.

5 year old Mira asked the kids to stop, ready to burst into tears. But they didn't stop, instead insulting her even more and throwing stones at her...

Mira ran away, trying to avoid the stones being thrown at her while the kids chase her.

The 5 year old girl ran out of town, managing to lose the bullies but still having been hit by a few stones.

Being on the verge of tears, Mira saw a strange looking building, and went inside, hiding behind a crate to finally cry while no-one would see her, hiding from everyone.

Finally, the girl could cry, cry about her family ignoring and despising her, and the townspeople bullying her...

But she didn't hear the "building's" door close, she didn't hear an engine starting to run, and she didn't hear the "building" rising up and fly.

What she did hear was...music? it was in a different language, but it sounded fun.

"I am Groot?" Mira suddenly heard a small voice ask. She looked down, and saw a small talking...tree??

Mira didn't understand it, but she was still flabbergasted non the less.

“Hola…” the girl simply said, her voice still trembling.

“I am Groot!” the talking tree said again.

“What do you mean there’s-“ another voice talked, that belonged to talking…cat? It looked like a cat. The “cat” in question looked just as Mira herself was though. “Oh…”

-

Well shit, Rocket didn’t expect a Terran kid to have snuck on the ship. Great…

The rest of the guardians quickly heard about the whole ordeal as well. While Peter wasn’t all that surprised that a kid was here (she could’ve mistaken it for a building somehow), the others sure were.

“She feels…sad, hurt.” Mantis said, gently holding the girl’s hand in an attempt to comfort her. "She's upset..."

"Than let's bring her back to Terra!" Rocket suggested. Unfortunately, they were too far away from Terra and have made several jumps.

So, the guardians decided that they would bring the girl with them for one mission, and then they would return to Terra to drop her off.

That plan was soon thrown out of the window.

While the guardians were on their way to their mission, Peter tried to talk to the girl. turned out she couldn't understand English. Well, that'd make sense since she came from Colombia, and they were just there as well.

So, Peter gave the girl a translator, hoping that that would help with communication.

It helped, and it didn't take long for the poor kid to break down and tell him how she got on the ship. Turned out she literally got chased out of town by bullies who threw rocks at her, while those assholes that were her “family” simply stood by and didn’t do shit to stop it.

But what hit Peter the most was that that asshole family neglected the girl, yelling at her and telling her she’s “in the way”.

The rest of the guardians heard the whole conversation as well through their own translators, and were utterly baffled at the thought of a family abandoning one of their own simply because she wasn’t “good enough” for them…

Well, you know what? Fuck those assholes! If they didn’t want to raise a “giftless” kid, than the guardians of the galaxy would! And they’d make sure that she’d grow up more talented than those losers would ever be!

Basically, Peter and Gamora became parents while the rest of the guardians became uncle and aunt-figures to the kid (Mirabel, her name was Mirabel). It wasn’t like they didn’t have experience with kids being on the ship and with them on missions.

Groot was quite happy to have a cousin. He wasn’t the only kid on the ship now! :D

Peter would be a good dad who’d teach Mira about the galaxy, defending herself, and music! And he’d definitely tell stories about Yondu!

Gamora however would try to distance herself from the girl, worrying that she wouldn’t be a good mom, tho she and Mira would bond eventually. Gamora didn’t have the best parental figure, after all…

Drax would be a fun uncle who babysat both Groot and Mira often. Tho he did accidentally destroy Mira’s glasses (or “eye shields” as he called them).

While Rocket wasn’t allowed to babysit alone anymore after teaching Mira 45 different swear words, he’d teach her how to use different types of guns and tech in general.

Mantis would be an amazing aunty who’d comfort Mira whenever she felt sad about her (former) family not liking her or something else. :D

Mira would learn English through Peter’s music, tho she’d still use the translator to understand the other guardians.

She’d unfortunately end up becoming a kleptomaniac tho. :/

As time went on, Mira would only vaguely remember the Madrigal family, and not in a good way. If anything, it kinda became unresolved trauma…

Overall, Mira was more than happy out in space with her adoptive family!

But uhm, than we get to Infinity War…

[bluemoonperegrine]

Five Simple Tips

@oddbunny comes up with great writing prompts! This silly bit of Werewolf by Night fluff was inspired by her reaction to a real-life set of tips.

This wee fic is set in the MCU crossover universe I've been constructing. All you need to know to follow this is:

1. Elsa and Jack have been mated for about five months. 2. Jack has a younger sister named Lissa, and the two are close.

I've posted this to ao3 as well. Kudos and comments are welcome and appreciated!

Ninety percent of the time Jack was fine with being the subject of his mate Elsa’s or sister Lissa’s teasing. It was only right considering how much he dished it out himself. All three of them had endured enough bizarre and often dangerous situations to not take themselves and life in general too seriously. If they had, they’d likely be preppers living in a remote compound fortified with mechanical and magical booby traps. Jack had figured out how to manage his lycanthropy and more recently had found a mate. He was going to live and poke fun at anything even remotely absurd, including himself.

Jack had nothing in particular to poke fun at on the day before Thanksgiving at his sister’s and brother-in-law’s house in Bel Air, California. He and Elsa had arrived the previous day, and his werewolf-vampire niece Nina would join them sometime that evening. Jack looked forward to seeing her and introducing Elsa. Considering the trials he and Elsa had survived that summer, they truly were giving thanks for family and friends.

The occasional snickers Jack had heard as he swam laps in his sister’s infinity pool became more frequent, then turned to giggles. Treading water at the deep end of the pool, Jack peered in Elsa’s direction. She had been relaxing in a one-piece swimsuit on a lounge chair on the travertine veranda. Now she and slender, dark-haired Lissa sat shoulder to shoulder and grinning with their attention on one of their phones. His sister, who wore a sleeveless blouse and shorts, had something flat and yellow on her lap. Elsa obscured his view of Lissa, which didn’t bother Jack in the slightest with her lithe curves on display.

“Did James send more Gen-Z tiktoks?” Jack called. Their young sorcerer friend found often funny and always surreal short videos and passed them along at least once each week.

Elsa took a deep breath, sobered slightly, and met Jack’s eyes. “No new ones, amor.” Then Lissa snort-giggled and his mate lost her composure. 

Jack smiled with them; their amusement was contagious. “What?” he asked, then started swimming toward them. 

Something small and bright-colored flew through the air in Jack’s direction. Out of instinct he changed his position in the water, kicking hard to launch himself into the air and intercept the object. After splashing back into the water and surfacing, he found himself holding a yellow frisbee as gales of Elsa’s and Lissa’s laughter carried across Stone Canyon.

Jack felt his face flush; he was the butt of some sort of joke. Elsa wouldn’t meet his eyes, but Lissa did, still laughing. 

After wrestling with self-consciousness and annoyance, Jack decided to get to the bottom of it. He climbed out of the pool as Lissa chortled, “I gotta admit, hermano, that leap was impressive. You should play water polo.”

Grinning, Jack strode to his sister and sat close beside her, soaking some of her clothes in the process. Ignoring Lissa’s half-hearted protests, he bonked her on the head with the frisbee, then said, “Out with it, or I’m throwing you both in the pool.” The frisbee clattered to the ground.

From her seat on Lissa’s other side, Elsa smirked, “I’d like to see you tr—”

Using his supernatural speed, Jack reached behind his sister, grabbed Elsa’s upper arm, and spun her on the lounge chair toward him. After an initial yelp she laughed, quickly breaking his hold with her free hand. She clutched her phone with the other.

Lissa, who’d jumped to her feet to get away from the brief melee, grinned at them. “I swear, you two are made for each other.”

Jack chuckled as he shook his head; pool water was dripping from his hair into his eyes, and getting Lissa and Elsa wet was good-natured revenge. To his surprise, the action renewed the women’s laughter. “What?!” Jack demanded while laughing himself.

“You’re proving the list right!” his sister gasped.

Elsa wiped tears from her eyes with one hand as she handed her phone to Jack with the other. “We had cheese sticks the other day!” she wheezed.

Baffled, Jack turned his attention to his mate’s phone. He scrolled to the top of the page to find the title “5 Tips for Dating a Werewolf” and groaned facetiously. Elsa scooted to sit beside him. Jack slid one arm around her waist as he skimmed the article.

The first tip involved scents, and while clearly tongue-in-cheek, Jack felt himself blush again. Ignoring it, he quipped, “Six days of scent-marking? I consider that a challenge.” The joke sent Elsa into another round of giggles while his sister made a retching noise.

“Gifts of food? Check,” Jack said, again ignoring his flushed face. At least he’d never left a dead rabbit on Elsa’s doorstep. They’d been hand-delivered, thankyouverymuch.

As Jack skimmed tip number three, Lissa said, “After Adam’s done with work this evening, we all should go to Applebee’s. The closest one—”

“No,” Jack said flatly, fixing a mock scowl on his sister. Elsa gave him a quick peck on the cheek, which he appreciated.

The fourth tip got Jack laughing aloud. “Arching a single, devastating eyebrow? That I can do.” So he did, looking Elsa squarely in the eye. This time she blushed, and he pecked her on the cheek.

Lissa bounced on her toes. “Ooh! Read number five. That’s the best one!” Elsa chuckled and shook her head.

The fifth and final tip Jack found amusing until the squeaky ball part and the waffles.

He really liked waffles.

“I’m never going to Waffle House again,” he grumbled semi-seriously.

Elsa bumped his shoulder with hers. “I promise not to tease you, amor.” She added not-quite under her breath, “Much.”

Jack gave her a fond smile. “Eres imposible, mi vida.”

They kissed until motion got Jack’s attention. He pulled back to find the yellow frisbee zooming away from them and Lissa grinning like a loon.

Jack got to his feet while the women laughed. He laughed with them, then scooped up his traitorous sister and headed for the pool.

[paragonrising]

Two green-and-gold-wrapped presents await her in her ship. One box is empty with a note written on the bottom that says 'If there is nothing here, it's escaped!' The other contains a round little crystal swirling with gaseous colour and sparkles that changes when it's sung to - something that has been left for her to discover. One more small gift has been left for Goose, a little gunky ball that shifts into amusing shapes, which might end up being more entertaining for Carol than the flerken.

When did it become Christmas?

She hadn’t noticed how much time passed. World after world, mission after mission… It was just constant fighting, every day of every week. Relly, her only indicator that time had moved at all, was when green and gold presents had appeared on her bed. Carol frowned gently as she sat down and picked up one of the boxes, carefully unwrapping it.

She tilted her head as she read the note inside.

‘If there is nothing here, it’s escaped!’

Oh.

Carol’s gaze lifted; she looked around suspiciously. Loki was joking, she knew he was joking. But… What if he wasn’t? What made it all worse, was she knew he was probably getting a kick out of her inkling of concern.

I would date an omnipotent trickster bound to a magic tree…

“You better be joking,” she spoke to the air, watching as Goose meandered into the room, a small gift in her mouth. “You get somethin’ too?”

Goose hopped up on the bed, dropping the box for Carol to open. When she did, she found a little ball that she tossed towards the flerken. When Goose batted it, it shifted into a star and tumbled onto the floor.

Carol blinked in surprise, Goose bounded off the bed and proceeded to bat the toy, each time making it become a different shape.

“Alright, that’s cool,” she admitted, smiling. Her attention then returned to the final gift. She opened the box carefully and plucked out the crystal ball. It was a pretty little thing, glimmering and filled with strange, swirling clouds of colour.

She admired it, turning it over in her hand.  

“I didn’t think we were doing gifts,” she said, not dwelling on the mystery of if he could hear her or not. “Seeing as you’re off being god at the moment.”

She kept fidgeting with the crystal, trying to ignore how lonely she felt. She reached over and placed it on the bedside table, then made her way back to the canteen. She began to hum the familiar tune of the Christmas song, ‘Santa Baby.’

Carol paused, mulling something over.

“Santa baby...” she murmured, half in tune as she figured something out.

She laughed, “if you ever tell anyone I sang this, I don’t care how important you are to the timelines, I’ll kill you.”

She was joking, mostly. She hurried over to the console. It didn’t take her long to find the instrumentals of the song she wanted. Carol pressed play, and the song began.

“Loki baby, just slip the tempad under the tree, for me,” she sang, smirking at the ridiculousness of it all. “Been an awful good girl.”

She twirled, “Loki baby, so hurry down to my timeline tonight.”

“Loki baby, maybe the tesseract too,” she held up her hand, as if she were holding the infinity stone. There were the faintest threads of magic, managing to form a faint silhouette of the cube. “Light blue.”

Her pale attempt at magic faded as she dropped her arm, “I’ll wait up for you dear.”

“Loki baby, so hurry down to my timeline tonight,” even if he wasn’t aware of how foolish she was being, at least it was fun and got her mind off of how empty the ship felt. She got a devious look on her face as she continued, flopping down into a chair dramatically.

“Think of all the fun I’ve missed,” she purred, “think of all the other gods I haven’t kissed~”

She snatched a datapad off the nearby table and pretended to read it, “next year I could be just as good, if you checked off my Christmas list–”     

Her performance was cut short when a message came in, the communications terminal pinging. Carol could see from where she was sitting it was an emergency, flagged as priority.

Her heart sank a little.

“Merry Christmas,” she whispered, hurrying to check out the dispatch, sparing a glance at Goose who sat nearby with a satisfied look in her eye, holding the shifting toy in her mouth.

“Don’t eat it,” Carol advised, earning an ear flick from the cat.

[bambamramfan]

Year in Review

This year I wrote two LARPs, went on more than a few road trips, started Lexapro, went to one con, and otherwise did not accomplish a lot that can be measured, except for watching a truly absurd number of movies. Fortunately Letterboxd makes it a lot easier to record that.

By my count, I watched 469 movies this year. This does not count rewatches. When this counts television, it is only for an entire series counting as one movie. Many of the movies - basically anything 1.5 stars or less - I did not finish because they weren’t worth my time.

Full movie list here, because it's too large to fit into a Tumblr post.

I would say none of the movies I watched this year were truly great, S-tier movies, compared to last year which had two (EEAAO, and Vengeance.) However, I found this year had a good variety of movies at the A-tier below that (some of which I still need to see.)

But this makes choosing “the best” difficult. Instead I will hand out awards:

The “Hold a Gun to my Head and Threaten Cronenberg Style Violence on Me to Pick 2023’s Best” Award goes to Infinity Pool, by Brendan Cronenberg.

The Studio Ghibli Award for “I Meant to See This but my Theater Stopped Showing It” Award goes to How Do You Live AKA the Boy and the Heron.

The “I Can’t Believe Three Contenders for Best Movie of the Year Were All Released on the Same Day” award goes to Oppenheimer, Barbie, and They Cloned Tyrone.

The “Dogtooth” Award for Yorgos Lanthimos Sure Does Like Fucked Up Sexuality goes to Poor Things. Also a recipient of the “Cruella award for Damn Emma Stone is Fine” Award.

The Don Glover Award for “Black Made Movie that Manages to Hugely Offend the Identity-Left” goes to Antebellum.

The Most French Award goes to Holy Motors.

The First And Only Time Directing Awards are split. The “I Really Want to Be Nicholas Refn and Everyone Hated It” Award goes to Lost River by Ryan Gosling. The “If You All Liked It So Much Why Hasn’t Anyone Hired Me to Make Another Movie” Award goes to Emma. 2020 by Autumn de Wilde. (Though Don Jon by JGL is a runner up.)

The Alice Krige “Borg Queen, Controlling Mother of a Cult Leader, Vengeful Hollywood Witch - What Can’t She do?” Award goes to She Will. 

The Brit Marling “Creates a Cult Following Also a Cult” Award goes to Broadcast Signal Intrusion, by Jacob Gentry.

And finally, the Zack Snyder “Everyone Hates This but C’mon It is Clearly Amazing Camp” Award goes to Saltburn, by Emerald Fenell.

[mistrdctr]

Continuing to take in the sight of her, Stephen hums out a low, contemplating sound from somewhere deep inside his chest; All of this, everything she just told him - including her struggles - are a lot of information to take in and he has to let that... settle a bit, so to say, just for an additional moment or two while the thoughts inside his brain go haywire.

His gaze trails along her form, but isn't really focusing much - he tries to figure out where to even begin, how to offer his assistance; The stone - or rather, the magic - she carries within her is unique, and it's extremely powerful on top of that. That, actually, causes Strange to wonder now: is she aware of what that aether actually is? Well, yes, she did call it the reality stone, after all, but---

"So... I guess you've heard of the infinity stones before?" He has to start at some point, after all, so he decides to figure out how informed Jane actually is about... everything. About what has actually settled inside her frame, causing her so many problems.

"Because that thing there-" A scarred finger gestures at her chest, "-Inside you, I mean, is one of those infinity stones. Just that it's not currently a stone - I suppose, at least - and, as you said, it acts like a parasite of sorts right now. I didn't know that the infinity stones even have the power to do that, but - the aether seems to be rather special to begin with."

A breath is taken, voice calm as the sorcerer continues to speak, swallowing before he does, gazing flicking back and forth between her eyes and her body.

"---The infinity stones are incredibly powerful. Whoever manages to get a hold on one will be able to do a lot of - potentially very dangerous - things. Combined, however - in case all infinity stones are brought together... the mentioned power one could have is unfathomable. Said power could, literally, end the Universe."

A pause follows, Strange lifts his brows, shrugs a second later.

"So, uh, congratulations - you are very, very powerful right now and could do a lot of incredible things. However, it perhaps would be a lot safer for all of us if you figured out how to turn your parasite into a... well, non-parasite, actally, I agree with that." ... "---Which, I have to admit, I am unsure how to achieve... I haven't exactly done that before, and you are very much unique, Doctor."

Another breath follows, with Stephen offering a bit of a lopsided half-smirk at his agitated guest; He blinks, allows a second to pass, then---

"Trauma surgeon? Interesting. I used to be a Neurosurgeon but I'm sure you know that already--- anyways, would you like some tea or coffee? The whole of this appears to be a long-term problem, so we might as well get comfortable."

Jane stood patiently, letting Stephen adjust his mind to the improbable story. He remarkably showed much more grace than others while doing so, even with the blinking and changing display of expressions. Her exhaustion cracked into a full smile when he inquired about what branch of medicine she practiced in.

"Trauma surgeon, among other things, but mostly trauma." Hilarious now wasn't it? Jane sighed, remembering when things were much simpler. Now it seemed her life was constantly balanced on the edge of the blade she had wielded with such precision.

"And you are right. I'm here because I can't control this power. I can't even begin to learn how." She chewed on her lower lip glancing down at her hands, that for the time being looked normal even though she felt the pulsing of magic under her skin. Jane's heart sank lower in her chest, fingers clenching when she had to admit he had the wrong impression of her abilities. "I couldn't fight with it. Half the time when people touch me it...reacts on it's own. Volatilely."

Jane released a breath bracing herself against doing one of the things she hated most, revealing incompetence. "The truth is, it's like a parasite. The Aether does what it wants and it feeds on me to do it. I need to be able to command it instead of it commanding me. "

[swan-of-sunrise]

Endgame (Chapter One)

Summary: (Y/N) and Steve struggle to come to terms with their loss as a new ally rescues Tony from space, and the Avengers decide to track the Mad Titan down.

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Reader

Word Count: 4.4k

Warnings/Disclaimers: None

A/N: Hi guys! Hopefully you’ve forgiven me for the way I ended the last book (sorry not sorry lol) because now we’re moving onto Endgame! It’ll be one hell of a roller-coaster, so be ready to experience every emotion a human can possibly experience lol thank you for reading, I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter One June 2018 Avengers Facility, Upstate New York (Previous Book)

“Dear Mister Fantasy, play us a tune, something to make us all happy. Do anything, take us out of this gloom. Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy…”

As (Y/N) listened to the melancholy song blaring at an unhealthy volume through her earbuds, she stared up at the ceiling of hers and Steve’s bedroom and studied the subtle imperfections of the dry paint. The longer she stared at the slight ridges and streaks above her, the more they stopped looking like slight ridges and streaks and started to resemble the handful of faces she was trying her hardest to ignore.

“You are the one who can make us all laugh, but doing that you break out in tears. Please don’t be sad if it was a straight mind you had, we wouldn’t have known you all these years…”

Her throat tightened in grief as Sam’s teasing smile and playful gaze morphed into existence, quickly joined by Wanda’s devastated expression as she destroyed the Mind Stone embedded in Vision’s forehead and Bucky’s friendly but tortured eyes.

“Dear Mister Fantasy, play us a tune, something to make us all happy. Do anything, take us out of this gloom. Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy, yeah…”

T’Challa’s regal and commanding stare materialized beside the others and her own eyes began to well with fresh tears when her old friend Greg’s cheerful face appeared; she didn’t know that her friend and book publisher was among the Vanished until they all returned to the Avengers Compound and began taking a census, the shocking realization bringing with it a fresh wave of pain and anguish at the thought of Mara, Abbie and Leo having to grapple with his sudden disappearance.

“Dear Mister Fantasy, play us a tune, something to make us all happy. Do anything, take us out of this gloom. Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy…”

(Y/N) squeezed her eyes shut when Loki’s face came to mind, but she was unable to stop herself as she thought about the brave and misunderstood friend who offered her protection and support in one of her most desperate hours and who selflessly sacrificed himself while attempting to stop Thanos before it was too late. She struggled to cope with his loss, partially because she hadn’t been there to witness it herself but mostly because out of everyone residing at the Avengers Compound, she was the only one who truly saw the gentle and loyal side of the God of Mischief; Thor did, too, but the God of Thunder adamantly refused to speak or even look into her eyes after their defeat in Wakanda three weeks earlier. She knew that he blamed himself for not killing Thanos before he could use the Infinity Stones and although no one dared to say it out loud, she also knew that he felt responsible for her very personal loss.

“You are the one who can make us all laugh, but doing that you break out in tears. Please don’t be sad if it was a straight mind you had, we wouldn’t have known you all these years…”

Imagining Carina and how the infant looked when they said goodbye to her right before leaving to battle the Black Order and defend Vision – her tear-filled (Y/E/C) eyes and sweet little pout as she looked up at her adoring parents – proved to be the final straw. (Y/N) sat up on the bed and ripped the earbuds out of her ears, switching the old MP3 player off and setting it on the nightstand before wiping away the tears that managed to escape; she managed to hold back the sob that had started building in her chest and took a quivering breath to try calming herself down.

It had been three weeks since Thanos snapped his fingers and used the six Infinity Stones to wipe out half of all life in the universe, three weeks since the Mad Titan walked through a portal and disappeared without a trace, and three weeks since (Y/N) lost her daughter and her friends in the blink of an eye. After everything they’d done since that terrible moment they realized they’d lost – returning to the Avengers Compound, conducting deep space scans to hunt down Thanos, documenting a complete census of the Vanished, becoming acquainted with the cosmic superhero who was summoned back to Earth by Fury before he himself Vanished, and checking in with their surviving friends and family – it still felt as though (Y/N) was trapped in a waking nightmare. Every day for the past twenty-two days, she woke up with thoughts of Carina on her mind and in one heartbreaking moment, she remembered all over again that her daughter was gone and an insurmountable wave of grief would threaten to overtake her.

After taking one final gulp of air, (Y/N) stood and crossed the room to the closed bathroom door, her hand hovering over the doorknob for a brief moment of hesitation before grasping it and slowly opening the door. Steve, who’d been leaning against the sink and staring morosely at his own reflection in the mirror, looked over at her and attempted to smile, but the haunting emptiness in his azure eyes remained; he set the razor he’d used to shave off the physical evidence of his two years on the run down in the sink and ran a hand over his smooth chin. “Yeah, I figured I was overdue for a shave.”

“You were looking a little scruffy.” Stepping into the room, (Y/N) pulled a towel off of the wall rack and carefully wiped away the spots of shaving cream he’d missed. “You and Rocket were beginning to look like twins.”

The super-soldier huffed out a quiet chuckle as his large hands moved to rest on her hips while she continued her methodical task. “Speaking of the talking raccoon, I saw that he disassembled your Bug’s engine; I thought that he was only supposed to be checking your brakes?”

“Well, after he finished with the brakes, he said that he should check out the rest of the car because – and I quote – ‘you humies don’t know jack-shit about machinery.’ He needed a distraction and seems to really enjoy fixing things, so I just let him continue working.” Her movements slowed as she recalled something she’d witnessed earlier that evening and it wasn’t until Steve started running his hands up and down her sides that she finally spoke. “He misses Groot and his friends, the other Guardians of the Galaxy he was telling us about. I saw him sitting in the driver’s seat earlier, listening to one of my old 80’s compilation cassette tapes and staring off at the woods across the lake.”

Steve pursed his lips and nodded. “Thor told Nat that one of the Guardians, a guy named Quill, was originally from Earth and that he loved music as much as you do; she’s been trying to get more intel from both of them to see if Quill’s still got any living family here, but she hasn’t had much luck going off of one name.”

“I can’t say that I blame either of them. They want to forget.” (Y/N) set the towel down on the bathroom sink and lowered her gaze, unable to look at Steve without seeing a hint of their daughter in his features. “I just…” Her lower lip trembled and she blinked back her rapidly-forming tears. “I want to forget, too. Even if it’s just for one night, one moment, I…I-I just want to feel something other than pain.” She mustered up enough courage to glance up and into Steve’s reddened eyes. “Make me forget. Please, sweetheart, make me forget about it all for just one night.”

“We’ll forget together,” Steve promised, a tear trailing down his cheek as he leaned down and captured her lips in a passionate kiss; while she kissed him back with equal vigor, he backed her up against the sink and without warning, he lifted her up by her waist to sit on the bathroom counter and stood between her parted legs. Their kisses were desperate and needy, a far cry from the romantic reconnection she’d spent her entire pregnancy longing for, but their urgency to lose themselves in one another put any thought besides the two of them entirely out of their minds; (Y/N)’s arms wrapped around Steve’s neck and her fingers weaved through his long blonde hair, tugging on the locks and eliciting a sinful groan from Steve. The super-soldier broke their kiss and began to trail his lips down her jawline and along the column of her throat, causing her to tip her head back for easier access and stifle her own satisfied moan.

But just when Steve’s hands were beginning to tug the hem of her shirt upwards, he suddenly stilled against her. “Do you feel that?”

“Hmm?” (Y/N) struggled to regain her breath and comprehend what her fiancé was talking about but moments later, her question was answered when the counter she was seated on began to shake. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she glanced around the bathroom, noticing the mounted makeup mirror quivering and the window pane rattling in its frame, and she pulled away from Steve with her eyes widened in realization. “Oh my God. Do you think that Carol finally found the Benatar?”

Steve nodded as his azure eyes filled with a glimmer of hope. “Let’s go find out.” With a final fleeting kiss, the two of them quickly dressed and hurried outside to where Rhodes, Bruce, Natasha, Rocket and a distraught Pepper were all gathered; the CEO of Stark Industries and Tony’s fiancée had been staying with them at the compound since they’d returned from Wakanda, and she’d spent many sleepless nights analyzing deep space scans in a desperate effort to find Tony and bring him home safely. The super-soldier’s hand squeezed (Y/N)’s tight as they joined the others and they looked up in time to see a massive spacecraft descent from the sky; Carol Danvers, the former U.S. Air Force pilot more commonly known across the galaxy as Captain Marvel, glowed brightly with cosmic energy as she guided the groaning spacecraft to the ground.

“She did it,” Rocket quietly remarked, and there was a hint of fear in his voice. “The glowing chick found ‘em.”

The spacecraft’s steps descended and Pepper stifled a sob in her hands when Tony appeared at the top; a blue-skinned woman was helping the weakened billionaire down the stairs and when he showed signs of unsteadiness, Steve let go of her hand and ran across the lawn to help. (Y/N) watched Pepper and Rhodes share an emotional hug before hurrying to greet Tony, but the small smile she’d managed to muster at their reunion disappeared when she saw that no one else was onboard; at least Rocket isn’t entirely alone, she thought to herself, the hollow feeling in her chest growing as she watched Rocket sit down on the spacecraft’s steps beside the blue-skinned woman and wordlessly take her hand. But the others were gone, either Vanished or murdered by Thanos; the Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Peter Parker…

A familiar hand on her shoulder pulled her out of her silent rumination and Natasha smiled a little when she turned. “Tony’s here, alive and safe. He’ll know where we can find Thanos.” The spy gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze just as Carol walked up to them. “Good work, Danvers.”

“We’re lucky I found ‘em when I did; another few hours out there and your friend would’ve been gone.” (Y/N) shuddered and the captain gave them an apologetic look before continuing. “Their food and water ran out two weeks ago and their ship was dead in the water. Whatever happened out there with Thanos…it wasn’t good.”

(Y/N) nodded, watching the others escort Tony inside as she twirled her engagement ring around her finger. “No, but Nat’s right; if there’s even a sliver of a chance of fixing all this, then we need anything that Tony can give us on that bastard.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Despite what she’d said to Natasha and Carol on the lawn of the Avengers Facility, (Y/N)’s confidence in Tony’s ability to aid them in their search for Thanos all but disappeared by the next morning. Bruce patched up the billionaire’s many battle wounds and inserted an I.V. into his arm to replenish the nutrients he’d lost after so many days without food or water, but Tony appeared almost detached throughout the entire process; he insisted on being briefed as soon as possible, so they reluctantly wheeled him into the common room and worriedly watched him twirl his spoon around his soggy cereal while they booted up the holograms of all their ongoing research. He looks like he’s been through hell, (Y/N) thought as she shared a look of concern with Steve and leaned against the table beside him while Rhodes started speaking.

“It’s been twenty-three days since Thanos came to Earth…”

(Y/N)’s jaw clenched as she averted her eyes from the holograms displaying all the faces of the friends and allies they’d lost; Sam, Wanda, Vision, Bucky, T’Challa, Shuri, Scott Lang, Maria Hill, Nick Fury, Laura Barton and all three Barton children, Sharon Carter, Peter Parker, Stephen Strange, Erik Selving, Jane Foster, Hank Pym, Hope Van Dyne…she wasn’t sure which was worse, being forced to see their faces every single day since they’d gone or not having a picture of her own daughter to display as one of Thanos’ countless victims. The others weren’t immune from the emotional impact of the holograms; Steve crossed his arms tighter across his chest and pointedly looked down, Carol blinked away her tears as Nick Fury’s image faded away and Natasha cleared her throat right before Yelena Belova’s image appeared, still unwilling to accept the news of her younger sister’s loss.

“World governments are in pieces. The parts that are still working are trying to take a census, and it looks like he did…” Natasha paused for a moment to compose herself while Tony looked away from Peter Parker’s school I.D. photograph. “He did exactly what he said he was gonna do. Thanos wiped out fifty percent of all living creatures.”

The silence of the room was finally broken by Tony. “Where is he now? Where?”

“We don’t know,” Steve replied, the forced calmness of his voice wavering when he glanced up at Tony. “He just opened a portal and walked through.”

The billionaire moved to adjust his wheelchair and caught sight of Thor, who was seated alone outside in the courtyard. “And what’s wrong with him?”

“Well, he’s pissed. He thinks he failed.” Rocket’s empty gaze met all theirs and he shrugged. “Which, of course, he did, but you know, there’s a lot of that goin’ around, ain’t there?”

“Honestly, until this exact second I thought you were a Build-A-Bear.”

“Maybe I am.”

Under very different circumstances, (Y/N) would’ve smiled at Tony and Rocket’s exchange, thrilled that the two like-minded geniuses were somehow able to meet one another. But there was only one thing that she cared to focus on, and that was making Thanos pay for what he’d done. “We’ve been hunting Thanos for three weeks – deep space scans, satellites – and we’ve got nothing. Tony, I know that you’ve been through a lot but you fought him-”

“Who told you that?” (Y/N) kept her irritation in check at Tony’s blunt interruption. “I didn’t fight him. No, he wiped my face with a planet while the Bleeker Street magician gave away the store. That’s what happened; there was no fight because he’s not beatable-”

“Okay…” Steve cut through the billionaire’s incoherent rambling, his struggle to maintain his patience evident in the way his fingers dug into the edge of the tabletop behind him. “Did he give you any clues? Any coordinates, anything?”

Tony snorted and flailed his hand in indifference, causing Steve’s grip on the tabletop to tighten in frustration as (Y/N) exchanged a knowing look with Natasha. “I saw this coming a few years back. I had a vision, I didn’t wanna believe it…thought I was dreaming.”

The super-soldier pushed himself the table and took a step forward; (Y/N) anxiously bit her lip when she noticed the divots he’d left in the wood and she felt the tension in the common room grow. “Tony, I’m gonna need you to focus-”

“And I needed you.” The billionaire’s quiet but accusatory words echoed throughout the room and (Y/N) felt herself tense up. “As in past tense. That trumps what you need; it’s too late, buddy. Sorry. You know what I need? I need to shave.” He knocked the bowl of cereal over and it clattered against the table as he stood, making all of them flinch at the harsh sound; ignoring Rhodes protests and attempts to stop him, Tony ripped the I.V. out of his arm and continued addressing the room. “And I believe I remember telling all of you, alive or otherwise, that we needed a suit of armor around the world! Remember that? Whether it impacted our precious freedoms or not, that’s what we needed.”

“Well, that didn’t work out, did it?”

(Y/N) stepped forward and rested a hand on her fiancé’s bicep. “Steve, he’s not well…”

“Nah, I’ve really never felt better, Austen. You remember that day, don’t you? You remember what happened after Ultron, right?” Tony demanded and after she slowly nodded, he turned his attention back to Steve. “I said we’d lose. You said we’d ‘do that together, too.’ But guess what, Cap? We lost, and you weren’t there.” Steve’s muscles flexed beneath her hand but he remained silent, watching with regret in his azure eyes while Rhodes unsuccessfully tried guiding Tony back into his wheelchair. “But that’s what we do, right? Our best work after the fact? We’re the A-vengers, not the Pre-vengers, right?”

“Okay, you made your point, just sit down-”

“Okay, okay,” Tony ignored his best friend’s pleas and pointed at Carol. “She’s great, by the way. We need you, you’re new blood and we’re a bunch of tired old mules!” Pushing past Rhodes, Tony walked right up to Steve and sneered. “I’ve got nothing for you, Cap, I’ve got no coordinates, no clues, no strategies, no options. Zero, zip, nada. No trust. Liar.” He ripped the arc reactor off his emaciated chest and thrust it into Steve’s hand. “Here, take this. You find him, you put that on, you take your family and hide…” He suddenly dropped to his knees and raised a shaking hand as everyone hurried to his aid. “I-I’m fine, I’m fine…”

The billionaire collapsed onto the ground and the others sprang into action; Natasha ran out of the common room to alert Bruce and Pepper of Tony’s condition while Rhodes scooped his best friend up off the ground and Carol helped them to the infirmary. (Y/N)’s gaze met Thor’s as he watched the others scramble to help Tony from his seat in the courtyard, but he quickly averted his eyes and stared down at his clasped hands. Swallowing the lump in her throat, (Y/N) turned away from the window to face Steve; the super-soldier stood rigid as he stared at the spot where Tony fell, his soldier’s composure beginning to falter as his fingers clamped around the arc reactor.

Although (Y/N) still believed that Steve made the right decision when he rejected the Sokovia Accords and went on the run, she knew that everything that transpired in Siberia between him and Tony could’ve been prevented if he’d just been honest with his friend; Tony spent the better part of two years caught between the pain of learning that Steve betrayed his trust and the hope that his friend would someday reach out to him, only for the pain to fester and the hope to slowly dissipate over time. It was a dressing-down that Steve undoubtedly earned through the choices he’d made, but hearing how those choices were the reason why they’d lost everything to Thanos wasn’t what the super-soldier needed to hear. Not after losing our Carina, (Y/N) thought as she took a steadying breath, cautiously stepping forward and allowing a tearful Steve to pull her into a tight embrace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Bruce gave him a sedative,” Rhodes announced to the four of them after stepping out of the infirmary; inside, Tony slept in a hospital bed while Pepper and Bruce shared a hushed conversation at his bedside. “He’s gonna probably be out the rest of the day.”

(Y/N) opened her mouth to ask the others what their next step would be but was interrupted by Carol. “You guys take care of him, and I’ll bring him a bottle of Xorrian elixir when I get back.”

The captain began heading back to the common room and (Y/N)’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Carol, where are you going?”

“To kill Thanos.”

Exchanging matching looks of apprehension, the three of them hurried after Natasha as she caught up with the older woman first. “Hey. You know, we usually work as a team here and between you and me, morale’s a little fragile.”

“We realize that up there’s more your territory,” Steve added. “But this is our fight, too.”

Carol sighed. “Look, you guys did an incredible job and that’s more than what countless planets across the galaxy can say; they’re the ones that Thanos decimated without breaking a sweat, the ones that were the first to suffer by his hand and the ones that I failed to protect. I owe it to them to put an end to Thanos once and for all.”

“And we owe it to our daughter to do whatever it takes to bring her back.” (Y/N)’s voice caught in her throat and an empathetic look crossed the captain’s face. “I don’t even know if that’s possible or not, but the only way we’re going to find out is if we all go after Thanos together.”

Rhodes nodded in agreement from his spot near the doorway. “Do you even know where he is?”

“I know people who might-”

“Don’t bother.” They all looked over at Nebula, the blue-skinned woman who’d gotten off the Benatar alongside Tony and one of the Guardians of the Galaxy; her raspy voice was filled with a heavy emotion as she stepped into the common room. “I can tell you where Thanos is.”

While Natasha left to fetch Bruce and Thor, Rocket switched on the hologram devices and began to input new data and Steve guided (Y/N) off to the side for a moment alone. “Do you really think that there’s a way to bring Carina back? To bring everyone we lost back?”

“Steve, you saw everything that those stones could do; if they could make half the universe disappear in the blink of an eye, then there’s no reason not to believe that they could bring them back.” She wrapped her arms around herself as she looked into Steve’s azure eyes. “But we won’t know unless we try.”

Nodding, Steve’s hand cupped her cheek as he pressed a soft kiss onto her forehead. “And we will, sunshine. Whatever it takes.”

They pulled away from one another as the others filed into the common room; Thor carried his bowl of food over to the dining room table and began picking at it while they turned their attention to Nebula. “Thanos spent a long time trying to…perfect me. When he worked, he talked. About his Great Plan. Even disassembled, I wanted to please him.” Nebula shifted uncomfortably and (Y/N) felt a pang of sympathy, unable to imagine what the warrior’s life had been like under the Mad Titan. “I’d ask, where would we go once his plan was complete? His answer was always the same: ‘To the Garden.’”

Rhodes’ brow rose in surprise. “You’re saying Thanos had a retirement plan?”

“Where is he?”

Standing on the table they encircled, Rocket pressed a button and brought up a holo-map of Earth that showed the planet being engulfed in a wave of energy. “When Thanos snapped his fingers, Earth became Gound Zero for a power surge of ridiculously-cosmic proportions. No one’s seen anything like it…” He shifted the map around to show an orange-colored planet as an identical wave of energy encompassed it. “Until two days ago, on this planet.”

“He used the stones again…” Natasha murmured as she leaned in to take a closer look at the holo-map.

“Hey, hey, hey, we’d be going in shorthanded, you know…”

“And he’s still got the stones…”

“So, let’s get ‘em.” Carol glanced over at (Y/N) with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “We’ll use them to get everyone back.”

Bruce looked unconvinced. “Just like that?”

“Yeah.” Steve nodded. “Just like that.”

“It’s like (Y/N) said, even if there’s a small chance that we can undo this, we owe it to everyone who’s not in this room to try.”

Natasha’s words resonated throughout the entire room, and (Y/N) glanced around to gage her friends’ reactions; Steve, Natasha and Carol looked the most on-board with their fledgling plan, Rocket and Nebula seemed more cautious but ultimately agreeable, and both Bruce and Rhodes’ expressions were filled with apprehension, with the scientist looking slightly worried as he addressed the room. “If we do this, how do we know it’s gonna end any differently than it did before?”

Across the room, Carol gave them a small smile. “Because before you didn’t have me.”

(Y/N) exchanged a knowing look with Natasha while Rhodes heaved a sigh. “Hey, new girl? Everybody in here’s about that superhero life; where’ve you been all this time?”

“There’s a lot of people in the universe, and they didn’t all have you.”

Thor’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood and crossed the common room to stand before Carol; the stoic Asgardian held his hand out and Stormbreaker blew past the captain, ruffling her blonde hair as it swiftly flew into his grasp. When Carol didn’t flinch and even gave him the barest hint of a smile while they sized one another up, Thor looked over at the rest of them and nodded. “I like this one.”

(Y/N) turned to Steve, who was still studying the rotating orange planet at the center of Rocket’s holo-map. After a long, deciding moment, the super-soldier looked up at her with a fierce determination simmering in his azure eyes and she found herself beginning to smile as he finally spoke. “Let’s go get this son of a bitch.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: And here we've arrived at Avengers: Endgame! This'll be just as emotional and amazing as the movie, and I really can’t wait for you to read it! Updates might be a bit more sporadic than usual but I'm hoping for a chapter every other week (still haven't decided which works best with my schedule and mental health), so make sure to stay tuned for more!

Thank you all so much for reading and commenting! I’ve created a Spotify playlist inspired by this series, and I’ll be updating it every time I upload a new chapter. Enjoy!

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5L6MERx3PIydW3FyNPqYvl?si=4b8ad4bbff8d4b2a

Chapter Two

“Endgame” Masterlist

Tagging: @mrs-obrien​​​​​​​​​​ @lahoete​​​​​​​​​​ @awkward117 @cminr​​​​​​​​​​ @natdrunk​​ @momc95​​​​​​​​​​ @savedbystyle​​​​​​​​​​​ @miraculouscloud @awkwardnesshabitat​​​​​​​​​​​ @marinettepotterandplagg​​​​​​​​​​​ @mangosandmimosas​​​​​​​​ @supersouthy @benakenalove​​​​​​​​​​ @brooke0297​​​​​​​​​​ @hufflepeople​​​​​​​​​​ @becausewelie​​​​​​​​​​ @outoftheregular​​​​​​​​​​ @junipermurdock​​​​​​​​​​ @ladydmalfoy​​​​​ @mads-weasley​​​​​​​​​​ @username23345 @crist1216​​​​​​​​​​ @capswife​​​​​​​​​​​ @lilmschild​​​​​​​​​​​ @avngrsinitiative​​​​​​​​​ @crowleysqueenofhell​​​​​​​​​​​ @y-napotat​​​​​​​​​​ @mary1raven​​​​​​​​​​​ @groovy-lady​​​​​​​​​​​ @ljej95​​​​​​​ @innersublimefury​​​​

[nerdasaurus1200]

I just finished the latest WandaVison episode and hooo boy, do I have thoughts

FIRST OF ALL, why the hell did Agatha betray her coven? Gimme the deets on that

I assume that brooch Agatha’s mom was wearing gives the wearer ultimate power of the magic in the coven as well as immortality

I frigging love how Agatha actually takes a shot at Wanda switching back and forth between different accents. If that’s not a fourth wall break I dunno what is

Okay...necromancy spell....so does that mean X Men Quicksilver was already dead?

AGATHA YOU STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM BILLY AND TOMMY

Wanda and Pietro’s parents look so much like them; and lil Wanda and Pietro look so adorable

HOLY FRICK, WANDA USED TO WATCH SITCOMS AS A KID AND THAT’S HOW SHE AND HER FAMILY LEARNED ENGLISH THAT EXPLAINS SO MUCH

THE! FRIGGING! BOMB! I KNEW IT! I KNEW THEY WERE GONNA SHOW THE BOMB “At the end of the episode, it turns out to all be a bad dream��� rip my damn heart out, why don’t you?

So the bomb didn’t go off...because of Wanda?

IT’S HER IT’S HER IT’S HER SHE SAW THE OG SCARLET WITCH WHEN SHE TOUCHED THE MIND STONE!!! DID THANOS KNOW ABOUT THIS? DID LOKI KNOW? HAS A PREVIOUS SCARLET WITCH USED THE MIND STONE BEFORE AND THAT’S WHY WANDA’S CONNECTED TO IT?

How did the mind stone cut out the cameras?

How does Agatha know what an infinity stone is??? Did she research this?

I’m sorry, the Mind Stone amplified what was already there???

Awww, awkward Vision being awkward and adorable and crushing on Wanda

"What is grief, if not love persevering?" again, who said you could rip my heart out?

Serious props to the script writers of this show, the dialogue is so well written, it shines so well in this episode. And props to Elizabeth Olsen’s acting, she’s able to convey so much just from her expressions alone and it makes Wanda feel so much more real.

I wonder if for a split second Wanda thought about using her powers to threaten the guy and that’s why she looked at her hands and smirked

Holy smokes, the look Wanda gives the security camera when she’s at the front desk

Wanda you poor baby you didn’t even get to bury him

“I’m his next of kin” Oh frick she’s right that didn’t even occur to me

Okay, I know Vision is a robot and not actually human but that scene where they’re working on him is still VERY disturbing and creepy. I really felt Wanda’s pain

Also the fact that she didn’t even recognize his body at first

“He’s not yours” FUCK YOU HAYWARD YES HE IS

“I can’t feel you”.......remembers “I just feel you” in Infinity War, the second to last thing he ever said to her

Oh my god....I....they were gonna settle down and move to Westview....

SHE DID THE GODDAMN DROP TO HER KNEES THING LIKE SHE DID WHEN SHE REALIZED PIETRO WAS DEAD

So her grief over losing the life she never got to have with Vision and desire to live that out literally created the whole show....my God, how powerful IS she?

Wait wait wait wait wait hold the fothermucking phone....did she make an illusion of Vision? Did she manage to ressurect him? Whatever she did, she clearly sure as hell didn’t steal his body which either means someone else did and Wanda’s the suspect or (more likely) Hayward’s got beef with Wanda and is lying to take her out...

AGATHA I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM THE KIDS

The way Wanda tries to reassure her sons it’s gonna be okay...she’s such a good mom

“You have no idea how dangerous you are.” Huh? “You’re supposed to be a myth, a being capable of spontaneous creation” Say what now?

“This is Chaos Magic, Wanda. And that makes you...the Scarlet Witch” HOOOOOOOOLLLLYYYYYYY SHIIIIIIIIIT

[sparks-stephen]

in another life pt. 2 | stephen strange x fem!reader

in which Y/N and Stephen break up a week before the blip, and when he comes back, he learns that not everything was the same as it was. | part 1

warnings: more angst, very little comfort, final part :)

2023

Y/N walked around the streets of London. She was on her way back to her flat since she just went to Tesco to buy groceries for a week.

After the blip, as it came to be known, she stayed in the Sanctum for a year. Waiting for half if its inhabitants to come back, especially Stephen.

But they never came back. Y/N decided in the one year mark that she would try to move on from this.

And that is what she did. The same year she decided to move on, she finally managed to move from New York to London, get a new job, make new friends, even meet someone special. She put everything in her past in a little box in her head that she will dare not to touch.

She met her now husband, William by literally running into him randomly on the streets of London. He was running around the city trying to find clues for the case he was currently working on. She was walking around sulking because of Stephen and they crashed into one another, and the rest was history. The two were married a year later and were now blessed with a son, Oliver.

Y/N opened the door to their building and as she went up the stairs to their flat, she heard people arguing.

“Do you honestly think that she will agree to help us? She clearly made an effort to move on,” a woman argued.

“If she still cares about wizard man, she’ll help us,” another man argued back.

When Y/N reached the stairs, she was met with familiar figures. Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Natasha Romanoff were stood in front her flat.

“What are you doing here?” Y/N asked as the three faced her.

“We need your help,” Steve said.

“With what?” she replied, opening the door, “Please come in, it’s a bit messy,” she warned.

Their flat had various baby toys scattered on the floor, baby bottles on the kitchen, and a man and their child napping on the couch.

“You have a child?” Nat asked her, confused.

“Yeah. We got married to two years after the blip. Needed to move on from everything in New York,” she said, putting the groceries down.

“We have figured a way for them to get back. But we need your help,” Steve said once more.

“With what?” she repeated her question.

“We need to travel back in time to get all of the infinity stones,” Tony said, cutting Steve off.

“How? You said Stephen gave up the time stone?” Y/N asked back.

“There’s this guy. But it’s complicated. You need to help us,” he replied looking around the flat.

“Let me talk to William first. Please, sit down.”

Y/N went to the living room and woke William up.

“William, dear,” she said, poking his arm to wake him up.

“Hm? Yes? What?” he suddenly woke up, obviously disoriented.

“They need my help,” Y/N said, looking at him worriedly.

William already knew who “they” were. He even knew who Stephen is. Y/N told him everything, from what she can do to who were the people she deemed as important back in the day, once they made their relationship serious.

“What do you want to do?” he asked, holding her hand.

“I want to help them. But I wanted to ask you first, since I’ll be leaving the two of you for god knows how long,” she rambled.

“We’ll be fine,” William smiled, “but please be careful. I don’t know what we’ll do without you.

Y/N smiled at him and kissed his cheek as well as Oliver’s who was still sleeping.

Their three visitors were looking at the little family. They all felt guilty but they knew that her leaving them temporarily will be for the greater good.

༺༻

They did manage to get the time stone as well as the other infinity stones.

The fight pursued and at the moment that they thought they were to lose the second time, a familiar portal started opening behind Steve and everyone who blipped came back, including Stephen.

Their eyes met and Y/N quickly turned away. The overwhelming feelings of pain, sadness, and longing that came with looking at Stephen.

They won the fight but not without its loses, especially Tony and Nat. Though Y/N and Tony were not that close, he did manage to make her laugh, especially questioning Y/N’s taste for dating Stephen before the blip. And Nat was always curious of her family life, wondering how Y/N managed to leave it all behind and if asking Y/N if she should do the same.

Y/N was paying her respects when she heard her name being mentioned.

“Y/N, can we-” Stephen started, but due to Y/N panicking, she immediately opened up a portal straight to their flat and immediately closed it before Stephen could even react.

Y/N let out a sigh and went inside, being greeted by her loving husband and son.

༺༻

It has been two weeks since everyone who was blipped came back. In those two weeks, a ceremony for Tony was held but Y/N could not attend due to Oliver being sick and the fear of seeing Stephen again. She opted to send flowers instead.

Y/N was carrying the boy, trying to make him take a nap when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it, and to her surprise, it was Stephen.

“Hey, Stephen. How did you find me?”

“I asked around, listen, can we talk? If you are not that busy?”

“Yes, yes of course. Come in. I’ll just put Oli to bed,” she smiled as she let him in. She immediately rushed to Oli’s bedroom, trying to not wake the boy.

Stephen came in the flat and saw the life Y/N had built for herself. He saw the pictures on the wall, weddings, friends, even the birth of Oli. All pictures contained a very happy Y/N, the one that he hadn’t seen since the day they got together.

Though his original plan was to try and get Y/N back, at this moment, he realized that her future had no place for him. And even though it hurt for him to admit that, he’s just going to have to live with it.

“So what do you want to talk about?” Y/N asked, coming out of her son’s room.

“I would first like to apologize. I am so sorry for everything that I said that night, but I do want you to know that I love you so much, until now even,” Stephen said, tears starting to form in his eyes.

“I loved you too back then Stephen. But I love William and Oliver even more. I know that what we had is special, but it is in the past, Stephen. I cannot and will not leave my family here just for you,” said Y/N with tears rolling down her face as she breathed in before continuing, “When I look at them, all I feel is happiness, pride, and love. But when I see you, all I remember pain and despair. I frankly do not want to feel that again Stephen, not when I already am so happy and content with the life that I’ve built.”

“Please, Y/N, just try to consider-”

“No, Stephen. My decision is final. You cannot say anything that will change my mind. I do hope you find the love that you truly deserve, but that love is not me, Stephen,” Y/N said as she held his hand in her own, “Please let me go, Stephen. If not for your sake, then for mine.”

He stood up, but before he could leave, Y/N rushed to hug him goodbye.

When the two pulled apart, Stephen spoke up. “I guess this is it huh?”

“Yes, this is it. Good bye Stephen.”

Stephen walked out of their flat as he started thinking to himself. All he thought was in another life or even universe, the two of them did end up together. They overcame any hurdles that they faced and eventually got married and started a family together. But unfortunately for him, this wasn’t the one. So all he can do now is mourn for the love that he lost and be happy for the only woman he loved so dearly and her happy family.

A/N: I know that some of you wanted a happy ending for this one and I did consider it for a moment, but this was the original plan for the story and I decided to go through with it so yeah, hope you guys still liked it (last time posting i swear becuase tumblr is really being weird) :))

add yourself to my taglist (taglist in the comments)

[marvelmyriad]

Every single hours long session of research and planning had played back over again in Loki’s mind as soon as they’d managed to get Tony stable.  The god had tried to leave no room for argument when it came to who would be wielding the stones once they got ahold of them.  He’d answered questions that Tony had because he had given the inventor the benefit of the doubt and assumed that he only wanted to know for the sake of knowledge…and really, the trickster still thought that was the case.  More than anything, he blamed himself for having failed to fulfill his purpose.  Had Tony not acted…they would have lost even more.  Perhaps all of their lives would have been scattered to the wind that time around.

While he was plagued with worry, he didn’t blame Tony Stark.  The man was going to be getting at least a few lectures once he woke up from his indefinite coma.

With Steve and Bucky both looking to him for answers, he begun to explain.  He told the two of them about how he himself had come up with the plan to start and had come to Tony for his input on the matter.  Loki told the two men about the way they’d traversed time in order to get ahold of the stones because the ones that Thanos had used initially had been destroyed.

“As for who she is, Captain-” his gaze had fallen between the two super soldiers where she had been standing only to find that she wasn’t there.  His gaze quickly scanned the area and he turned on his heel to see her at the glass window of the CRADLE’s room.  A concerned huff fell from his lips and he looked to the two men briefly before hurrying over to the girl.

“Hold on, dear…” his voice was soft, “there’s much you have to learn, and I think this is a good place to start,” he insisted, placing his hands upon her shoulders and beginning to gently guide her away from where Tony was recovering, and towards Steve and Bucky once more.  Once he was near the two men, standing with the girl beside him with his hands still on her shoulders, he addressed both of them with a quiet sternness in his tone.

“The Infinity Stones are semi-sentient,” he spoke factually, “just as Thanos used them to eliminate half of the entire universe…they can be used to create as well.  Those that possess the gems do not rule them; you cannot simply tell them what you want and make it happen.  They read your consciousness…they identify what you want and need above all else.  When you both...” he trailed off, looking down briefly before continuing with a deep breath, “when you two were lost in the battle, Tony came to stay with Becca and I.  For the last five years, he’s lived with us, he’s helped us with Aaron and Jerika…” he gave a brief pause, as though he were a little nervous to add to the information.  “He helped Becca and I when our daughter was born…”  Loki shared a brief gaze with Bucky before looking to the girl beside him again and offering her a smile.

“Tony doubtlessly thought about what could have been, had Thanos not wrought such misery.  When he used the gauntlet, the Infinity Stones could read that plainly.”  Loki shifted his attention to Steve and Bucky then.  “So, to put it simply…she’s your daughter.”

With Bucky’s mind set on figuring out what the hell was going on, his attention had been drawn strictly to the god of chaos.  His hands had moved to rest loosely on his hips and he really was doing his best to keep up with everything that had been involved in this plan that Loki had concocted for getting the universe back into balance.  He really wondered just how much bigger and more surreal the threats and problems that they faced could get.

The answer that he and Steve were waiting for was interrupted when Loki looked away and Bucky did a double-take when he too noted that the child had left their side.  His gaze followed Loki as he hurried to lead her away from a sight that might have proven a bit much for her.  Despite feeling overwhelmed by everything, he could still appreciate Loki for that.  No matter who she was, she was a kid.  She didn’t need to see her dad in that sort of condition.

With all of them gathered together, the complete truth was finally laid out for them.  His emotional ground had been shaken plenty when he learned that Becca and Loki had a daughter.  His baby sister had a baby and he had missed it.  Before he could even begin to recover from that bombshell, Loki dropped another one.

She’s your daughter.  Both of yours…and Tony’s.

The emotions welled in the back of his throat and he was having a difficult time keeping the wetness that brimmed his eyes at bay.  Bucky looked down to the girl again, his entire demeanor having shifted, as well as his expression.  Tony had wanted a life with he and Steve so deeply that cosmic power saw it fit to bring that possibility into reality.  And she was standing right there.  A product of the love that the futurist still held for Steve and Bucky, even after all that had happened.

His smile was shaky, but it was there.  “You said he wanted us t’ have a say in your name,” he reiterated what she’d told he and Steve before looking to the blonde himself for confirmation or rebuttal.  “What about Rebecca?”  Even in the strange realm that they’d resided in for those years, he’d been capable of registering how much he missed those that he wasn’t sure he’d ever see again.  There wasn’t a day that went by that he hadn’t thought of his sister, and the fact that she’d had a child in his absence left an ache in his chest.  THe fact that she had mended bridges with Tony left him feeling proud of her.  The fact that she had done so while taking care of Aaron and Jerika…that left him knowing that he needed to honor her in some way for everything.

As they all moved down to the basement, she wondered when she'd get to see Tony. She hadn't seen him since he had manifested her in his mind when he used the stones, and didn't know that anything had HAPPENED to him. As far as she was concerned, he was simply in the other room and hadn't gotten around to coming to see her.

When they DID reach the basement, she looked around, until her eyes landed on the glass room, the the device that someone was laying in. While the other three men deliberated ( and continued to talk about her like she wasn't there ) she diverted her attention to the room that nobody was paying attention to.

She took a step away from the group, and then another, and another until she was in the glass room, and through the door. Now that she was in the room, she was able to get a better look at the person in the CRADLE, and she looked at the sight a little perplexed before the pieces connected, and she realized it was TONY in there.

[yamum-com]

I guess that’s love. (Wanda maximoff x reader) PT2

characters: Wanda maximoff x fem!reader Natasha romanoff x reader (platonic)

warnings: angst, mentions of death, grief, depression, hurt/comfort, mentions, ptsd

summary: takes place during thanos snap

—————————————————————————————————————

note: heyy i hope you enjoy what i wrote and hopefully it’s good this is the angsty part if you want to keep it fluffy go to pt1.<3 also i might make a part 3 but that’ll just be angst between nat and r for what happens after

PT1 PT2

italics= dialogue

bold=flashback

————————————————————

Me and Wanda have been happily dating for 2 after we said our hidden feelings for each other that one night in my room. Ever since you guys got together it was easily noticed by the rest of the team and my best friend nat that the both of you seemed happier. And here i was laying in the dark again just like back then but this time there’s an arm wrapped around my waist and light breathing right behind my ear. I have to stay very still to not disturb Wanda while she sleeps or well at least i thought she was until she tightens her grip on me and whispers softly“moya lyubov go back to sleep” her accent coming out more since she had just woken up i turn around to face wanda in your shared bed and lightly kiss her nose “i’m sorry i didn’t mean to wake you” i whisper “no it’s ok i was already up” she says stifling back a yawn i knew she was only saying that to make me feel better ,while she was gazing at me sleepily with her soft green eyes . the both of you lay in comfortable silence until i cuddle into her more trying to shut my eyes and quiet my thoughts and she pulls me into her as i slowly fall asleep against her tucked into her shoulder. *my dreams were immediately plagued with bad memories of the red room i was back in the small cement room i used to call home i hear foot steps echoing closer before i open my eyes and lift my pounding head off the ground, there was soreness all over my body when i sit up. the door opens and two widows storm in and grab me by the arms “i- what are you doing stop” i say weakly as they inject me with some clear liquid and pick me up easily as my vision began to fade and my eyes got heavy until i couldn’t open them. i wake back up with a bright light in my face and handcuffed to the chair “did you really think that’d work?” says a rough cruel voice “you really thought you could leave after everything i’ve given you ” says dreykov angrily i remember that i had just tried escaping but had gotten caught which explains why my head hurts so badly along with the rest of my body. my train of thought cut short as dreykov sticks his face in mine and screams “ARE YOU LISTENING?!” and harshly grabs my chin. my heart going a thousand mph with fear and adrenaline but i still stayed quiet that was until he was pressing his knife up to my neck “it’d be a shame if i were to kill u wouldn’t it be?” he says mercilessly you manage to faintly say “please stop please- “* I was woken up abruptly to wanda frantically saying my name and shaking me as i open my eyes and inhale sharply finding myself shaking and sobbing “y/n! y/n! y/n!” wanda says with concern before holding me to her “shhh i know i know it’s ok my love, it’s ok it was just a nightmare ,i’m here.” she gently says to me “i- i- h-he was-“ i couldn’t help but stutter as wanda just shushed me gently just like i had all those years ago i didn’t even need to say anything to her she already knew everything. That night wanda hugged me and said how much she loved you through the night. now all you wanted was to go back to all those moments the two of you shared when you were both happy.

at least we were happy before a fat grape nutsack (thanos) caused a threat to the whole universe which caused you and the rest of the team go collect the infinity stones. me and wanda went on the mission to go to wakanada to remove the mind stone from vision but before that could happen the dark order came and a massive battle began. i run up to where vision was laying on the ground he obviously couldn’t stand but not in horrible condition and say through the intercoms “where’s wanda?!” you say anxiously immediately assuming the worst “i’m right here” she says back floating down next to you let out a breath i didn’t know i was holding. i cup her cheek and say “thank god your okay” she pulls you in to lightly kiss your lips “of course moya lyubov” you smile at the nickname before you turn your attention back to vision “what’s the news on thanos?” i ask vision “nothing yet we’re still waiting for tony to-“ his sentence was cut short by a portal forming and thanos stepping out your heart dropped to your stomach “we have to get rid of the stone wanda you have to do it!” vision quickly says you make eye contact with her and everything seems to pause i nod telling her she should to do it she looks back at vision and shakily says “ok we have to hurry the team won’t be able to hold him off for long” “i’m going to go help them wands” you tell her she knows she can’t change your mind once your determined “please be careful please i need you” she says sadly before i pull her in a kiss full of love and whisper “i love you i’ll be fine you be careful please” with that you run towards thanos catching up to where bruce was fighting thanos and see nat run up to you clutching her side . “y/n! we’re barely holding thanos back what’s going on with vision?”she asks hoping for good news “wanda is with him right now dealing with it we need to buy as much time as possible. are you hurt?” i ask her worried she winces “ yea i’m fine tho it’s nothing” she moves her hand revealing a huge bruise on her rib cage which was probably broken “nat that is not nothing sit down and stay safe and stay out of the rest of the fight ” i tell her sternly before steve says “y/n! we need help over here please!” he says urgently over comms. “ok on my way.” i tell him i turn back to nat “please just stay here i need to know your safe” i tell her concerned she nods before telling you to go i start running towards thanos noticing that he was getting closer to where wanda was using her powers at vision. i ran faster to hit thanos from the back of the head and kick his back making him stumble before turning to you he angrily grabs his huge double edged sword and swings at you i quickly jump away dodging the blade by a hair. i run around him trying to confuse him until he grabbed me by the throat and threw me against a tree the air immediately getting knocked out of you as your vision goes black for a second “Y/N!” wanda yells outs before i try and get back up again stumbling a little trying to run again at thanos to gain more time and try shooting him with your guns but it didn’t damage him “pesky human” he says irratated before swinging his sword again this time making a cut along your stomach i press my hand on the wound and continue to try and distract him but alone it was seconds before he grabbed you again and threw you this time you couldn’t get up without your head spinning “WANDA!” you screech getting her attention to thanos who was only like 10 feet away before she starts shooting at him with one hand and vision with the other. it held back thanos well but not completely he was still getting closer until the stone finally shatters and explodes knocking wanda back towards you and thanos the other way. we make eye contact hope shining on your faces we were so naive thinking that we had won.

He gets back up and walked to where vision was and easily turned back time and grabbed the mind stone from him, all of wanda’s work for nothing “NO!” you both yell before he turns around towards wanda she was shooting him with her powers he continues getting closer until wanda’s powers falter for one moment and in that split second he had enough time to swing at wanda but she couldn’t dodge fast enough and got hit across the chest ,drawing blood through her suit she hisses in pain when she stumbles a bit back turned to you but i see the gash on her chest looking very bloody and deep “wanda! stop your hurt!” you exclaim trying to help her, thanos smirks knowing he’s won catching you off guard and stabs wanda through her stomach with his blade through her back. i watch in horror watching the love of my life get stabbed in front of me i hear her gasp before i go over to wanda trying to stop the bleeding with trembling hands and while that’s going on you fail to notice thanos lifting his hand up to snap “NO-!” your scream gets cut off by his snap and everything going silent. after the snap thanos disappears and i crouch down to wanda laying on the ground the blade still there “w-wanda your gonna be ok just hold on” i say sobbing at this point she cups my face and stares lovingly into my eyes pain is obvious on her face “y/n i-it’s ok, i’ve spent these last 6 years with you by my side and i’ve been the happiest i’ve ever been” her voice falters for a second fighting to stay awake “i know no matter what i say you’ll still grieve me but what is grief if not love preserving?” as her eyelashes flutter shut for a minute “your going to be ok i love you so so much wands you just have to hold on i need you please.” you say feeling your heart shatter she pulls you in a deep kiss putting all her love for you in it before pulling away her bottom half already turning to dust “i love you so so much y/n ” she says softly before she completely disappears into dust. feeling the dust fall from your hands leaving no trace of your beloved for you to hold as it all finally hits you. i sink to the floor sobbing and screaming from heart break and grief wishing i could’ve died instead of her . i don’t even notice when natasha runs over to me to hold me trying to comfort me i try to break out of her hold crying and screaming while she just holds you tighter to her. But no matter what she did she couldn’t comfort you because she wasn’t wanda.

You had failed. Again

[somewhatgreatexpectations]

Nirvana (Wanda Maximoff/ Reader)

Hello, again! We have reached Infinity War! Loosely inspired by Sam Smith’s “Nirvana”. Pieces from the film are used here with some definite adjustments. Let me know what you think. 

Summary: Wanda and Y/n attempt to navigate the course of healing. Will other circumstances get in their way?

“It's too late to run away from it all, it's too late to get away from it all, I'm done with running, so I give in to you.”

Being on the run with Wanda was a stark contrast to being on the run alone. The feeling of emptiness was easily replaced with fulfillment and meaning with Wanda. She transformed what used to be a burden that weighed heavily on you into something light and manageable. 

You both spent days and nights rebuilding the ruins of trust that used to lay shattered at your feet. It wasn’t always easy. Some nights were hard and ended in screaming and tears, others were effortless and made it feel as if no time had ever passed between the two of you. Despite yourself, you couldn’t help but completely adore both sides. 

There was no doubt in your mind that the love you both shared together had blossomed into something even more powerful than it was before. There was one problem though, you couldn’t seem to allow the final wall you had built around your heart to fall. That final line between friendship and romance seemed to be the hardest for you to cross. 

You knew that Wanda noticed, but she never pushed you for more than you offered. She was fully aware that you had to set the pace and that she had to earn her way back in. She was more than willing to be patient. 

Currently you were both located in a small apartment in Scotland that truly felt like a place you could both call home with the beauty and stillness that the city offered. Unfortunately, you’d been stuck inside the last few days because of a torrential downpour. When you heard the rain stop, you wandered over to the large bay window and opened the curtains fully to allow the moonlight to seep in.

Wanda looked up from her book when you left your shared bed. Her eyes watching you curiously. “The sky looks beautiful tonight.” You whispered in awe, your eyes locked on the full moon.

With a small smile, Wanda put her book down and wandered over to you, slowly wrapping her arms around you from behind. She always allowed you time to pull away. “Not as beautiful as you, moya lyubov.” She whispered against your ear and pressed a light kiss to the side of your head.

With ease, you leaned into her, so your back was pressed flush against her front. Your hands rested over hers. “Wanda?”

“Hmm?” she hummed as she buried her face into your neck. 

“I’m happy you’re here.” You confessed quietly, feeling vulnerable at your admission. 

Even though you couldn’t see it, you could feel her smile against your neck before she turned you in her arms, so you could face one another. “And I am happy you’re here with me.” She rested her forehead lightly against yours.

“Wanda, I…” you stared into her beautiful green eyes which watched you adoringly. Your heart pounded nervously against your ribcage. The words practically hanging off your lips. “I…” 

Lovingly, she raised a hand to lightly caress your cheek. “Yes?” Her tone was patient. 

“Do you want to go for a walk?” you finally stuttered out, avoiding saying what you truly wanted to at the last minute. Not able to shake that last remnant of fear in your heart. 

Disappointment flashed briefly across Wanda’s face before she replaced it with a small smile. “It’s cold out though, krasivaya. We should stay in and cuddle and watch our show instead.” She countered offered hopefully.

You turned your face slightly and kissed the palm of her hand, watching her practically melt at the action. While Wanda tried to show affection as often as she could, you still hesitated the majority of the time so even small actions like this made her swoon. 

“It’s beautiful out though,” You said with a pout. “And we’ve been trapped inside the last few days. Let’s just go for a little.”

Wanda threw her hands up in defeat and turned away from you to get dressed. “You’re lucky I love you.” She grumbled as she put on her boots. You couldn’t help the small smile that appeared at her words.

Half an hour later you were both walking hand in hand down an empty cobble stoned street. You couldn’t help but watch her out of the corner of your eye, the way her nose became pink against the cold night air, the way her eyes were so full of life despite the circumstance. You loved her, all of her. Your efforts to prevent yourself from loving her always proving to be futile. It was impossible to not love her. 

You decided you needed to try and tell her again. To push passed your fear.

“What?” she asked with a laugh. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

You pulled her to a stop and smiled slightly at her. “Because you are beautiful.” 

A rosy pink spread across her cheeks as she ducked her head shyly. “Quite the charmer there, Y/n.”

“Wanda, I need to tell you something.” You said seriously. 

Her brows furrowed in concern at your sudden change of tone. “Of course, what is it?”

You took a deep breath and took both her hands in yours. “For so long I felt broken. Convinced that a broken heart was just something I would just have to learn to live with. The pain from that night on the roof was so intense that I sealed off my heart. Swearing that I would never allow someone back in… Swearing I’d never allow someone back in because I knew I wouldn’t survive the pain a second time.” Wanda’s thumb traced over your knuckles soothingly as she listened with rapt attention. “I never would have imagined that you’d be the one to help stitch me back together.”

The vulnerability you allowed yourself to express made you feel anxious as your gaze fell to the floor. Wanda gently used her thumb to tilt your head up so you could look into her eyes again. 

The love was clear in her eyes as she slowly leaned forward, giving you time to pull away. Rather than pull away, you met her half way and connected your lips in a gentle kiss. Sighing contently at the contact as Wanda gently tugged you closer by the waist. This was the first genuine kiss you had both shared since your break-up. Kissing her felt right and you couldn’t help but feel at home in this moment.

When you pulled away you rested your forehead against hers. Watching the way her eyes glimmered happily. “Wanda, I lo-“

“Wanda.” The sound of another voice interrupted your words. You both turned to find Vision in his human form as he walked over to her urgently, making no attempt to address you. “I need your help.”

At the sight of him, you stepped away from Wanda slightly, which caused her to frown. “How did you find me, Vis?” 

“I am part android, Wanda.” Vision said simply then winced. “It’s the stone, I need you to tell me what you feel.” He said and grabbed Wanda’s hand, placing it over the stone.

Wanda looked back at you hesitantly, but you were looking off in the distance, your arms crossed defensively. She couldn’t help but feel like she just took dozens of steps back in the progress she had made with you. 

With a sigh she looked back at Vision and allowed her magic to enter the stone. “I just feel you.” She replied with confusion. 

Before either could say anything, you took urgent strides away. Wanda immediately noticing and following you, worried you were trying to leave her. You stopped in front of a shop window. Your eyes focused on the screen that was facing out towards the street. With concern, you watched the scene of what was occurring in New York play out on the TV. “What are they?” you questioned, more to yourself than anything. 

“What the stone was warning me about.” You heard Vision reply as he came to a stop beside you both.

Even if you didn’t know what was happening you knew you needed to do something, you needed to help. “Wanda, I won’t ask you to go if you don’t want to, but I think I need to go. To do what I can to help.” You said quietly as you began walking backwards. 

Wanda’s eyes became wide with nerves, she knew she had to convince you to stay. “Y/n, I don’t think going is a good idea. Maybe you should wait until-“ 

“Wanda-“ Your words were cut off as you felt something slice deeply into your side and throw you into the wall of the building you were standing next to.

“Y/N!” Wanda screamed, instantly moving to run to you when a creature stepped in front of her. 

The being chuckled at her tears. “Fear not, we are not here for her, but for him.” Before Vision or Wanda could react, the same object that had sliced into you had stabbed Vision and propelled him to the opposite side of the street. Wanda stepped back and was preparing to attack when she got hit with a force and was hurled into a window. The creatures took the opportunity and began digging into the stone on Vision’s head. 

Weakly, you stood up, holding your bleeding side as you flicked your wrist, forcing the creature to sink into the floor. The other one turned to face you angrily when you felt yourself become incased in a red glow and get thrown in the air along with Vision. The ground quickly approached you until you felt the same red glow cushion the impact and place you back down. 

Wanda tried to help you sit up when you waved her off. “Help Vision, he was hit worse.” She looked reluctant but did as you asked and helped him up as the three of you moved into an arch way to find some semblance of safety. Wanda wearily waved her hand over Vision’s wound as futile wisps of red attempted to seal it. 

“The blade. It stopped me from phasing.” Vision gasped out between pained breathes. 

Wanda turned towards you with wide eyes. “Is that even possible?”

“It’s not supposed to be.” Vision’s labored reply came.

Trying to ease Wanda’s nerves you quietly mumbled, “I’m beginning to think we should have stayed in and cuddled like you asked.” A weak smile crossed her lips before the creature flew in and took Vision. 

Before either of you could react, the second creature came and attacked, cutting into your wound again. You hissed in pain as Wanda furiously sent the creature flying back at the sound of your pain. Working together you were able to keep her at bay until Vision’s screamed echoed through the plaza you were in. “Go, Wanda! I can handle this.” You shouted to her.

“Y/n, no.” She began to protest, forcing the being back with her powers.

“GO!” You shouted, building a wall from the concrete to buy yourself time. It was clear that Wanda didn’t want to go, but you saw the flashes of red lift her up and onto the building that Vision was taken to anyway. 

Using your hands, you manipulated the concrete to attach to the being’s hands, forcing them down into the ground as you brought the clock tower down and buried her in the rubble. Quickly manipulating the earth until she was completely encased. As you were looking around for the next best course of action, you felt Wanda fly down and wrap an arm securely around you as she used her powers to propel the three of you into the air and away from danger.

The moment was short lived though as you felt a blast of energy hit Wanda and suddenly the three of you were free falling. You felt Wanda wrap her body tightly around yours in mid-air, obviously trying to absorb the impact. The glass ceiling you crashed into shattered easily as you slipped out of Wanda’s arms and slid across the platform of the train station and into a metal rail. You groaned when your side made impact with the railing. Vision landing on the opposite end.

Wanda urgently rushed over to you. Her tone was panicked. “C’mon, get up. We have to go.” She gingerly placed an arm under you and helped you stand. The blood drained from her face when she saw her hand come away covered in blood. You leaned against the rail behind you weakly. Just a moment later the creatures returned. Without hesitation, Wanda turned to take a protective stance in directly front of you as her hands began to glow. 

The creature seemed more interested in something over Wanda’s shoulder though as it threw its weapon which was stopped in its trajectory by the shadow. 

A moment later, Steve stepped out of the shadows. You couldn’t help the look of relief that spread across your features as you sunk back down to the floor, feeling woozy from all the blood loss. Wanda rushed over to you, pressing tightly to the bleeding area of your abdomen. You vaguely watched as Sam and Natasha attacked the beings by surprise but the injury made it impossible to focus for long. It seemed as though you blinked and suddenly Steve was marching over to you as Sam and Natasha helped Vision up. 

“Let’s get you home and patched up.” He said gruffly as he lifted you into his arms. Wanda followed closely behind, worry never fading from her expression. With the adrenaline wearing off and the knowledge that Wanda was now safe, you decided couldn’t keep your eyes open any longer as you allowed the world fade out to black for rest.

                              ______________________________

When you finally came to, you were almost certain that the events of the night before were just a nightmare, until you felt the dull throbbing in your side. You squinted your eyes open to find Wanda at your bedside, her hand in yours and her eyes worried. The tension draining from her shoulders when she saw your eyes open. 

It seemed you were back at the Avengers tower infirmary. 

“Y/n,” she breathed out. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I was so worried.” Gently, she tucked a strand of hair behind your ear and tenderly kissed you, which you gladly returned.

When you pulled back you weakly chuckled as you tried to lighten the mood. “I wish I was a synthazoid like Vision, no blood. Faster rebound time.” Her eyes looked conflicted. You sat up, only wincing slightly. “What? What aren’t you telling me?”

With a sigh she squeezed your hand lightly. “We have to go to Wakanda. Steve says they might be able to extract the stone from Vision without destroying him. If that fails, I may need to destroy the stone myself.” She paused slightly, clearly troubled by the information. You knew what that implied.

“Are you okay?” you questioned, swinging your legs off the cot so you could be closer.

Wanda answered with an unconvincing nod. “I don’t know if it’s something I’ll be able to do.” She said quietly as you squeezed her hand in comfort. “I think you should stay.” She finally added, her expression serious.

Your brows furrowed. “I’m not going to stay. I’m going to help in whatever way I can... I need to go and make sure you’ll be okay.” You said with finality, leaving no room for her to argue.

She knew you wouldn’t budge, all she could do in response was move to stand in between your legs and take you into her arms tightly. Terrified of all that could happen. Terrified to lose you. 

“So cute.” You heard a teasing voice call out from the door way. You looked up to see Natasha and Steve standing there. Steve with a content smile on his face.

Wanda pulled you closer as you rolled your eyes at Natasha. “Shut up.” You quipped playfully.

“I’m glad you’re up, kid. You lost a lot of blood on the flight back. You had me worried for a second there.” Steve admitted with a small frown.

Carefully you released Wanda from your arms and hoped off the cot, keeping her hand in yours all the while. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, Capsicle.” You said lightly. 

Despite the severity of the situation, Steve couldn’t help but laugh. He missed moments like this.

“Hate to take you away from lover girl, but Rogers and I have been waiting patiently for a hug.” Natasha said teasingly as she opened her arms. You looked at Wanda who let go of your hand reluctantly so you could hug the remaining two in the room.

When you pulled away from Steve, you gravitated back to Wanda, taking her hand in yours instinctively. Steve and Natasha exchanged pleased looks. “So,” you began nonchalantly, “When do we leave?”

Wanda clenched her jaw at your words, it was clear to everyone that she was unhappy with your decision. 

Steve knew better than to fight you on something once your mind had been made though. “As soon as you’re dressed. Bruce will explain what we’re up against on the flight there.” _________________ Arriving in Wakanda was breathtaking as you marveled at the magnificent land, one short glimpse at Wanda let you know she was equally as awe struck. You just wished you were there on better circumstances. 

There was very little time to admire as you were all ushered into a building where T’Challa’s sister, who’s name you learned was Shuri, could analyze Vision. You quickly realized Shuri was brilliant and far smarter than Bruce and Tony. You couldn’t help but snicker when she critiqued Bruce’s work on Vision, Wanda also giggling but being much more discreet than you.

As you listened to the conversation go on around you, you could feel Wanda slip her hand into yours and interlace your fingers. You turned your head to face her, taking note of how anxious she appeared. “Are you okay?” you asked quietly.

Wanda looked back at you with a hesitant smile. “As long as you’re here I am.”

 You could feel the words on your lips again, those three little words that you’ve wanted to tell her since Scotland. You bit your tongue though because this moment didn’t feel right to tell her. Instead you lightly kissed her, hoping that she understood what your heart was trying to convey even if you hadn’t said it out loud yet. 

The sound of a loud explosion caused you two to pull apart and glance out the window where the sound was coming from. You tried to keep a neutral face as you all watched what had to have been half a dozen foreign ships land outside the protection of the dome and attempt to enter.

“We’ll hold them off.” T’Challa said determinedly when Shuri explained she needed more time.

Steve turned to where you and Wanda stood. “Wanda, as soon as that stone is out of his head, blow it to smithereens.” 

“I will.” Wanda said with a resolute nod as the rest of the team began moving out to go defend the land. You turned towards Wanda and she immediately began shaking her head when she saw the look in your eyes. “No. You can’t go.”

Gently, you brought her hand up to your lips and placed a short kiss on her fingers. “I have to. I have no use here. Out there though… out there they could use my help.” 

“Y/n. No.” Wanda said seriously, her lip trembling.

You slowly began backing away, your extended hands keeping you connected. “I have to, Wanda. You know that.”

“Then I’ll go with you.” 

You shook your head solemnly. Trying desperately to mask the fears you felt. “They need you here. You’re the only one that can destroy the stone, the only one that can stop Thanos.”

Wanda marched forward and took your face in her hands, kissing you passionately which you gladly returned for a moment, but you knew you had to go, so you reluctantly pulled away. 

You reached a hand up to gently wipe away the single tear that fell down her cheek. “You and me, we’re a happy ending, okay? We’ll have a happy ending. I’ll always come back to you.” You whispered to her gently as you stared at one another for a moment. After a minute, you turned and ran out to catch up to the rest of the team before you lost your nerve. 

“I love you.” She said to your retreating figure, wishing she said it just a moment before, wishing that you’d have a chance to say it to each other after the battle was done. 

                         ____________________________

Out on the battlefield, the fight was intense, and it genuinely felt for a moment as though you would all lose, each one of you out there heavily outnumbered in comparison to Thanos’ army. You were surrounded by the enemy with Natasha and Okoye, preparing to fight when red wisps suddenly appeared and redirected the deadly machines to the swarm of creatures that were about to overtake you all.

“That’s my girl.” You said proudly as Wanda turned to look at you, a small smirk on her lips. 

Before any of you could react, you heard Steve over coms. “Anyone have eyes on Vision?”

Wanda shared a look with you, still reluctant to leave your side. You nodded at her reassuringly. “Go. I’ll be right behind you.” 

“I love you.” She said sincerely and steadily before using her powers and flying away.

For a moment you allowed yourself to watch her. “I love you too.” You said to yourself before Natasha got your attention.

“Let’s go. They’ll need all the help they can get to keep him away from the stone.” Without hesitation all three of you began running towards the forest in the distance with determination. Herds of creatures attacking you along the way.

 Eventually you saw an opening to not harm anyone on your side and used your powers to split the earth making the creatures fall in and clearing a path for you.

By the time you reached Wanda you found her standing over Vision’s lifeless body with a horror stricken look on her face.

“Wanda?” You called tentatively, but when she turned you felt your knees give out underneath you, an odd feeling of fading away overtaking your body.

Dread instantly filled Wanda’s body as she watched you fall to the floor. She hurriedly ran over to you and fell to her knees by your side, collecting you in her arms. “Y/n,” She cried urgently, “What’s wrong?” 

“Wanda,” You whispered with a small smile on your face as you looked up at her, raising your hand to rest over her cheek. The simple action alone feeling almost impossible in your state of fading. “I love you. I'll always love you. I wish I had told you sooner. I wish we had more time.” 

She let out a choked sob as she attempted to pull you closer. The words that she had dreamed of hearing from your lips out in the open, but this wasn’t how she wanted it. She didn’t want to hear those words as you were leaving her. She wanted to hear them and experience life with your love. She couldn’t lose you. 

“Y/n, I love you. Don’t go,” She cried desperately, her forehead pressed firmly against yours as she pressed a desperate kiss to your lips. “Please, don’t go. I need you.” Wanda begged through broken sobs as she could feel you begin to disintegrate in her arms. Only a moment later you were gone, all that was left was dust in her hands. 

Heartbroken cries fell from her lips as she clutched desperately at the ground you had been just moments before.

Only a moment later, she began feeling herself fade as well and willingly gave in to the feeling. The feeling brought her a despairing form of peace because with it came the knowledge that she wouldn’t have to exist in this world without you. The realization offered her a twisted form of comfort as she faded into nothingness as well.

Oof, part 11! I knew Infinity War was a lot but I didn’t realize how much until I wrote this. Next up is..... What do you all think is going to happen next? Remember there are two more chapters. ;) As always, hope you enjoyed and let me know your thoughts and comments! I love reading them all!