𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 ━━━ ❪...

a/n
[ hello, sorry for the long wait-
thank you so much for 8k! :,) ]

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TWENTY-EIGHT
𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
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THE INHABITANTS OF the Sanctum Sanctorum were now all gathered together in the lobby, by the stairs. Bruce was now wearing something out of the back of Stephen's wardrobe. Wong was now with them, being caught up to speed, he was now equally as worried as everyone else.

"Bruce?" Wanda was still in shock, it had been a long time since she'd seen him and they weren't exactly friends. "What happened? You've been gone for years."

"You're one to talk," the afflicted Doctor retorted, "last thing I remember is you throwing Natasha off a building."

"Yeah, well, that's what everyone remembers..."

"Not everyone," Strange interrupted, "she also saved countless people while you were gone, with the Avengers."

"The Avengers?" He chuckled bitterly, looking around - for someone to tell him they were joking, "they let you join the Avengers? They, what, forgot about Natasha? I can't believe Clint let this slide..." He raised his voice, "am I just supposed to let this slide?"

"I'm sorry," Wanda's voice almost broke, "but they forgave me and I know as much as you want that not to be true, it is. They never forgot about Natasha and neither did I but it was an accident...that happened years ago. This conversation is long overdue, it would be better if we moved on."

"I agree," Stephen was secretly proud of her maturity, something he thought Bruce lacked in the situation, "we need to focus on the more pressing issue here - Thanos. Our priority should be stopping him, whatever the cost."

Bruce stayed locked in a fierce gaze with Wanda, he wished that looks could kill, he knew he needed to calm down. His skin was already turning a different shade, "Okay. I'm sorry — Thanos. We're gonna need all the help we can get. Strange, can you get ahold of Tony Stark?"

Strange took a deep breath in, "Yeah, I know where to find him." He looked at Wanda, he nodded at her, "We'll be back soon." Then he lifted his hands to draw the fiery circle in front of them.

"Wait, what?" Wanda suddenly felt a chill come over her, it had been years since she'd seen Tony Stark. She didn't want to have to explain herself, she was a better person now.

"Be back in a sec!" Stephen called, circling his arms until bright orange sparks appeared, the portal opened in the middle of the Sanctum. Through it they could see greenery, two people stood next to each other on a pathway, looking into the gaping hole that was tearing into the background. Stephen walked through briskly, "Tony Stark! I'm Doctor Stephen Strange, I need you to come with me. Oh, uh, congratulations on the wedding, by the way."

His mouth hung open, "I'm sorry, are you giving out tickets or something?"

"We need your help. Look, it's not overselling it to say the fate of the universe is at stake."

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WANDA GATHERED THAT it was lucky Tony never acknowledged her presence much, he gave her small looks of befuddlement every once in a while but she imagined that he was too busy trying to process the wonderful abnormalities he was seeing.

"From the dawn of the universe, there was nothing. Then boom!" Wong narrated — an explosion of light and burning circles twirled down from mid-air, "Big bang sent six elemental crystals hurtling across the virgin universe. These infinity stones each control an essential aspect of existence."

Wong was casting a light show, his hands swirled, stars and purple mist formed around them. In the centre of the ephemeral universe, five glowing beads danced around — each different colours.

"Space," the stones shone brighter as Strange named them, "Reality, Power, Soul, Mind...and Time." He crossed his hands, unlocking the Eye of Agamotto, revealing the green gem sitting inside.

"Tell me his name again," Tony asked from the couch.

"Thanos," Bruce answered, "he's a plague, Tony. He invades planets, he takes what he wants, he wipes out half the population. He sent Loki — the attack on New York, that's him."

Tony mumbled to himself, "This is it...what's our timeline?"

"No telling. He has the Power and Space Stones, that already makes him the strongest creature in the whole universe if he gets his hands on all six stones, Tony..."

The Iron Man was moving along the room, he grabbed the edge of a dark metal pot, using it to get a proper stretch. He was still maxed out from his run.

Strange added, "He could destroy life on a scale, hitherto undreamt of."

"Did you seriously just say hitherto undreamt of?" Tony scoffed, stretching his left leg.

"Are you seriously leaning on the Cauldron Of The Cosmos?"

"Is that was this is?"

The red cloak raised, smacking Tony on the arm.

"I'm..." Tony looked the man up and down, they were locked in a deafening gaze, his tone gave away that he was offended, "going to allow that." He moved back to the stones, "If Thanos wants all six, why don't we just stick this one down the garbage disposal?"

"No can do," Strange answered.

"We swore an oath to protect the time stone with our lives," Wong elaborated.

Wanda's eyebrows raised, she was listening from the back of the room, life or death hanging in the balance wasn't what she wanted to hear.

"And I swore off dairy but then Ben and Jerry's named a flavour after me, so..." Tony shrugged.

Strange nodded, "Stark Raving Hazelnuts..."

"It's not bad."

"A bit chalky," Stephen and Wanda declared simultaneously, he turned, looking at her with a smile.

"A Hunka-Hulka Burning Fudge is our favourite."

"That's a thing?" Bruce questioned.

"Whatever," Tony replied, pushing the conversation along, "point is — things change."

"Our oath to protect the Time Stone cannot change. This stone may the best chance we have against Thanos." Stephen's posture had remained the same throughout — Wanda could tell he was serious.

"And still, conversely it may also be his best chance against us."

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

"What is your job exactly besides making balloon animals?"

"Protecting your reality, douchebag."

Wanda couldn't tell which one of them was the worse arrogant asshole but right now all she cared about was the one she was fond of.

"Strange, you should think about what Stark is saying..." She spoke up, advancing towards him, "if Thanos comes after us protecting the stone may come at the cost of your life."

"That's a price that I'm willing to pay."

"That's too high a price."

He watched Wanda, she was shaking her head, "It's going to be fine—"

"No," she grabbed his hand, "you have to promise me you won't leave me."

Stephen held her hand in his, they were standing close, he could see her eyes dance with worry and the gentle hints of red in them that always seemed to be hidden in the blue.

"Promising I won't leave you is easy," he held her head gently, running his fingers softly through her hair, "I'm promising you I'm going to stay but...I'm not going to put the fate entire of the universe in danger for my sake."

Her brows furrowed and she walked away, slipping out of his arms. She crossed her arms, she marched to the other side of the room. This wasn't the time for Stephen to be a stubborn ass.

Everyone was mostly silent watching, it only felt appropriate for Bruce to interrupt after, "The fact is that we have this Stone," he gestured towards Strange, "we know where it is. Vision is out there somewhere with the Mind Stone, and we have to find him now."

There was hesitation in Tony's voice, "Yeah...that's the thing."

"What's do you mean?"

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

Wanda put aside her anger, speaking up again, "Two weeks ago Vision was here. Stephen and I were in Switzerland..."

"On a mission," Stephen added.

"Yes," Wanda glared at him, "we were in Switzerland, and Vision was attacked. The last we saw of him, we were saying goodbye but we don't have any idea where he went." Wanda clenched her fist, "We can find him..."

"You can find him? The last I heard the only other person he checks in with is Steve Rogers..."

"We can find him," Wanda repeated, "I'll tell Pietro." She turned to Stephen, looking at him blankly, "Tony and Bruce should follow up on Vision. We should stay and guard the Sanctum, they will come for the stone."

"You want us to leave? I thought the whole point of this little tête-à-tête was so I could help. Now you want us gone?" he turned to Stephen, "what's your prescription, Doctor?"

"You heard her," Stephen gestured to the door, "we'll be fine protecting the stone. We need you to make sure the Mind Stone stays safe. The Stones are the priority."

"Shouldn't we be putting all hands on deck?"

"Don't worry, we'll handle things from here. We appreciate your help, Tony," Wanda lifted her hands, sending red bolts to the door, "you can see yourself out." She twisted her hands again and a piece of paper materialised in her fingers, "Their address."

Strange held his hands up, circling them around so that a large portal appeared in the middle of the room.

"This better hold up, Maximoff," Tony turned back a final time, edging towards the portal.

"It will."

Bruce and Tony approached the portal together, giving each other a nod before walking through it, orange sparks fluttered to the ground as it sealed. 

A blaring, gusty noise came from outside, wind was blowing into the space of the Sanctum. Torn pieces of litter tumbled into the room, leaves from trees swept onto the floor.

Stephen's hair was blowing, his forelocks flew upwards — he looked over to Wanda whose hands were already glowing. Orange strange fell into her face, floating into her eyes.

She looked at him, she was already prepared to face whatever stood outside the door. Her heart burned in her chest, knowing it was the right thing to do, she watched as he made incantations flicker around his lower arms.

Wong bumped his fists, creating glowing circles around his hands. There was a clamour, people were running towards, horns were blaring.

His heart was pounding, he needed to protect the world.

Down the street, they could see the site of the destruction. The giant circular ship towered above the city, its metal gears were turning rapidly — the source of the wind that was sending a powerful mist onto the roads below.

Together, the sorcerers all walked to the place where they could vaguely see the spaceship hovering. Wanda and Stephen nodded, lifting their hands, red and orange plasmic waves shot from their fingertips. Their magic swirled together, creating a fiery hue that pushed the smoke further along before it evaporated into the air.

They then approached the craft with caution, now able to see it clearly — a sparkling stream of light fell from the vessel. Two figures stood in the afterglow of the beacon, one looked like a large beast, and the other a skinny, wrinkled-looking creature.

Her heart was pounding, she needed to protect him.

"Hear me and rejoice. You are about to die at the hands of the Children of Thanos. Be thankful, that your meaningless lives are now contributing to the salvation of the universe..."