Chapter 23: A Shocking Revelation
The cool night breeze whistled past them as they soared through the sky, carried effortlessly by Alex's power. The Avengers had never experienced flight without machines, suits, or external gear, and for some of them, it was both exhilarating and terrifying.
"This is insane!" Sam yelled over the wind, his usual confidence in the air shaken. "I mean, I can fly, but not like this! No wings, no jetpacks—just...floating?!"
Tony let out a deep sigh. "I feel useless. My entire suit is built for flying, and here I am... just floating like a balloon at a kid's birthday party."
Clint smirked. "Enjoy it, Stark. This is probably the only time in your life you'll experience flight without having to spend billions of dollars on upgrades."
Peter, on the other hand, was absolutely thrilled. "This is SO COOL! I mean, I love web-swinging, but this is something else! Mr. Stark, can I get an anti-gravity upgrade in my suit?!"
Tony rolled his eyes. "Kid, let's not push it."
Even Bucky and Steve, usually composed, were silent as they took in the view. Flying without machinery or external aid was unlike anything they had ever experienced.
Alex remained calm as ever, controlling the air currents with precise ease, ensuring that no one felt uncomfortable or unsafe.
After a short but thrilling flight, they finally arrived at Avengers Tower.
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Back at Avengers Tower
Once inside, everyone settled in the main lounge, the tension from before now replaced with an unusual sense of camaraderie.
Steve and Tony were no longer at each other's throats. Bucky and Sam weren't exchanging jabs. Even Natasha and Clint seemed relieved that the conflict was behind them.
They all sat comfortably, talking amongst themselves. There were still things to figure out, but for now, it felt... peaceful.
That was when Wanda entered the room.
She stopped abruptly, her eyes widening as she took in the sight before her. Every Avenger in the same room, calmly talking.
"Wait... what?" She blinked, looking at Alex. "Are we in an alternate reality or something?"
Alex smiled. "Nope. We just managed to do something that seemed impossible—we made them compromise."
Wanda's eyes softened, and she slowly stepped forward. "So... it's over? You all stopped fighting?"
Tony, sitting on the couch with his arms stretched out, grinned. "Yep. Thanks to your boyfriend, the world's most chaotic superpowered couple is officially back together with the rest of us."
Wanda rolled her eyes but smiled. "Good."
Then, her expression turned serious. She turned to Tony, her voice hesitant. "Tony... what about my brother?"
The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately.
Tony's smirk disappeared, replaced by a more solemn look. He had been expecting this question. He had prepared himself for it, yet now that it was here, he hesitated.
Finally, after a long pause, he sighed. "Wanda... I have something to tell you about Pietro."
Every Avenger straightened up, sensing something serious.
Wanda took a deep breath, her fingers clenching slightly. "What is it?"
Tony glanced at Alex briefly before continuing. "Pietro... is no longer in this world."
Silence.
A heavy, suffocating silence filled the room.
Wanda staggered back slightly, her breath hitching. "W-what do you mean?!"
Steve, Natasha, and Clint all exchanged shocked glances. Even Bucky and Sam seemed unsettled.
Tony raised a hand quickly. "Hold on, hold on—he's not dead!"
Wanda froze, hope flickering in her eyes. "Then where is he?!"
Tony hesitated again, choosing his next words carefully. "We believe he... broke light speed."
The room exploded with noise.
"WHAT?!" Clint shot up from his seat. "That's... that's not possible! Is it?!"
Peter, ever the science nerd, was already mumbling to himself. "Breaking light speed... that means time dilation, alternate timelines, quantum displacement—oh my God, this is crazy!"
Steve, ever the strategist, frowned deeply. "So you're saying Pietro's not dead, but he's... what? Lost in time?"
Tony nodded. "That's the best guess we have. There was an anomaly detected shortly after Sokovia. His body didn't die—it just vanished. And the readings we got?" He exhaled. "Let's just say they were unlike anything we've seen before."
Wanda's face turned pale. She gripped Alex's hand tightly, as if grounding herself. "So where is he now?"
Tony sighed. "That's the problem. We don't know. If he truly broke the speed of light, then he could be anywhere—past, future, another timeline… we have no way of tracking him."
The room fell deathly silent once more.
Wanda's hands trembled slightly. "Then we have to find him. We have to bring him back."
Alex placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We will. We'll figure this out."
Tony rubbed his temples. "For now, we need to focus on stabilizing things here. The world already thinks we're a bunch of loose cannons—we need to get our act together before we start jumping through time trying to find Speedy."
Steve sighed but nodded. "He's right. We need a plan."
Natasha crossed her arms. "And we need to make sure that if Pietro really is in another time, he's safe. No telling what kind of danger he could be in."
Sam whistled lowly. "Man, we just barely stopped a civil war, and now we're talking about time travel. This job never gets easier, huh?"
Tony grinned slightly. "Nope. But hey, at least it's never boring."
Wanda closed her eyes for a moment, steadying her breath. When she opened them again, there was determination in them. "No matter what, I will find my brother."
Alex squeezed her hand. "And I'll be with you every step of the way."
The Avengers all looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them.
One battle had ended, but a new mystery had begun.