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canumoveurseatup-no · 5 years

Text

Phantom

(Wanda Maximoff x Black!Mutatnt!Reader)

Summary: Reader’s powers get a bit out of control and sort of instills fear in the others. Some hurtful words are said, hearts are broken. (*Ariana Grande; God is a Woman voice*) YUH!

A/N: please REBLOG, COMMENT, LIKE and request if you want anything specific!! Anyway, ENJOY!!

Word Count: 8.8K (I’M REALLY SORRY AH BUT I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!!!)

Pairing: Wanda x Black!Female!Reader, Rhodey x Daughter!Reader

WARNINGS: angst, blood, death, surgery, forced experimentation, needles, guns, ANGST AGAIN (I think that’s it)

—————

Y/N’s eyes were phantom white but the veins around her eyes were plague black and crimson red. She snarled at her target and we could tell how afraid he was. Her hair was glowing a blinding silver. We were used to her powers but not like this, this time they had reached their peak. She had a deathly smirk on her lips before speaking, her short fangs becoming visible.

“...Try and hurt me again and I’ll make sure I choke you to death on your own blood-”

——————

-Wanda’s POV-

This mission had been putting everyone through the ringer, we had to fly all the way to Norway to shut down a facility that created mutants and enhanced beings. I felt myself become exhausted. My fingers burned from generating so much energy to counter the enemies attacks.

I groaned as a bullet grazed my shoulder. We were practically getting ambushed. In this area of the facility it was just me, Natasha and Steve, the others were scattered.

These weren’t just normal bogeys that followed the orders of their leader, no. These were enhanced beings with specific mutations that made it harder for us to fight off.

“Y/N, we need you on our end,” I heard Natasha yell into the com, though she was right beside me, I could barely hear her in person over the gunshots and explosions, “and fast!”

Y/N hadn’t copied and I worried. She never takes long to reply to a command. She’s usually right on top of it.

“Rhodes! Do you copy?” This time it was Steve to yell in the com.

“Uh yeah but I’m a bit caught up on my end with NO back up. So you guys are gonna have to deal without my set of hands for a minute” she sassed, I could hear the commotion in the background.

I worried for her being alone in a fight. I knew it was a bad idea for Steve to split us up like this. Not yet has our title proved to be a liability as Steve claimed it would. We worked best together, and we’ve proven that time and time again.

“Y/N, I need you to stay safe, okay?” I grunted as one of the mutants kicked me in my guts.

“Always, my love. You do the same” I could practically hear the smirk in her voice.

“Hi, hello, Avengers: We took care of the looney bitch. Finish up and let’s roll out” Tony sounded relieved to finally be done.

While it was a struggle to fight all of the guys off, Natasha, Steve and I finally got the job done.

We began running toward the exit when we heard static in our com and I heard Y/N’s panicked voice.

“Dad, I need your help. Quick!” Then a high pitched ringing seemed to come through the earpiece, only it wasn’t. The ringing was coming from the building it was darting through the halls.

Without a second thought I ran to Y/N’s location with Nat and Steve on my tail, seeing her up against a few discombobulated mutants... must have been the defective batch. I could tell Y/N’ abilities were about to come into effect, that’s the only explanation for that high pitched ringing. It happens every time when she’s about to fall subject to her mutation.

“Y/N pull back and let’s get out of here” Rhodey flew overhead with Tony and Sam by his side, out of the other entrance came Thor, Bruce, well Hulk, and Peter. Bucky and Clint came from a lower level of the facility.

“I’m trying, dad!” She was stressing out but that only fueled her powers even more.

We all moved to help her before a force field was put around her and a man in a long dark cloak came in with his hood on. I didn’t like the vibe from this guy, but who would? Some random guy comes out of random corner in a Dungeons and Dragons cloak, that is never a good thing.

“Welcome back, Y/N Rhodes” the voice of the man was scratchy and uneven, yet powerful and frightening.

This distracted her and caused the deformed mutants to twist her arms behind her back to trap her.

“My favorite subject. My biggest accomplishment,” he took his hood off and had a scar through his eye, one eye being pure white while the other was an ethereal green. He sent her a crooked smile that churned my stomach “Oh, how I’ve missed you”

Y/N’s facial expression looked pained. Not because of how she was being mutant handled but because of the man standing in front of her.

“Roscovich,” she gasped. “Ezra Roscovich” her lip twitched and the frequency of the ringing only seemed to increase.

Blasts came from up above and I could see it came from Rhodey. “You’re the asshole that tortured my daughter, you took my wife from me!!” the blasts continued as Rhodey flew around trying to hit the guy but he used a force field to counter Rhodey’s attacks knocking Rhodey out of the air.

“DAD!!” Y/N was feeling too many emotions at once, I could feel them radiating off of her, they were overwhelming me. I could see her thoughts they were running at a million miles a minute, I couldn’t keep up. She was never comfortable with talking about her mutation or how it came about and she most definitely didn’t like using it. But now I was seeing quick glimpses of flashbacks and I didn’t know what to make of it.

“You hurt my dad” She wasn’t crying, her voice was low and sinister.

The man named Ezra shrugged and turned to the rest of us.

“You think Ayalla was one you were looking for? You thought she was mastermind behind this whole operation?! Y/N , you of all people should have known better” His accent thick, he stalked toward us and his cloak flowed right with him.

“I wanted my prized possession back,” he looked at Y/N and sent a wink her way, ”It was all a simple trap and of course you took the bait. You lot are so hell bent on trying to save everyone that you couldn’t help but find yourselves here” his smile stirred something in me. I looked at Y/N and she just seemed too calm to be in this situation. Her entire demeanor changed and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

“Why, Y/N? What is she to you?” My mouth moved faster than my brain, I tried to push through to his mind to find is motives but it all came up blank.

“Why she is everything I’ve dreamt of personified. I worked hard to make her what she is. Countless trials, numerous lives lost, endless formulas, ruined equipment. She is my beloved Phantom” he clapped while jumping up and down like a child.

“But you took her away from me. She was supposed to be mine!” He stomped his foot and his face turned red.

“She’s my daughter. She never belonged to you!” Rhodey removed the helmet to reveal his face.

“But is she?,” Ezra tapped his temple “when I created the essence to make her what she is she became anew.” He gave us jazz fingers as if this was some type of magic trick.

“Her body was like computer and the essence worked as a virus. The essence became an override for her DNA, stripping her of her humanity” he rocked back on his heels sending us a shit eating grin.

Rhodey and Tony held up their hands ready to blast the hell out of this asshole while Clint got his bow ready, Hulk got into stance, ready to pounce and crush this dude and my hands flashed red in a second, but Steve stopped us from taking action.

“This is what he wants, guys be smart about this.”

“Be smart? Be SMART ABOUT IT?!,” I finally lost my cool, “that is my girlfriend in there! His daughter! A member of our family being held hostage and all you have to say is be SMART?!”

“Wanda.” Y/N’s voice resonated within me and calmed me like it always could. “I need you to get everyone out of here”

“I’m not leaving y-“

“This is not up for discussion!,” Y/N rarely ever raised her voice at me so I knew something was about to happen. “I know the extent of my abilities. You all do not. So I need you to get everyone out and sit tight in the quinjet. Trust me!”

The look in her eyes was not the look of Y/N. Her abilities were starting to arise.

“Oh no no no,” Roscovich tsked. “They get front row seats to show! Show me what ya got, Y/N. Show me again what you can do, have you learned anything new? Show them real Phantom”

I tried to get everyone out but the doors automatically shut and locked keeping us trapped.

“Well call me Bob and fuck me running,” I heard Clint mutter under his breath.

Y/N looked at me before her eyes changed along with her hair. She slowly turned to look at the puppeteer behind this whole show, “Wrong. Move”

Right in front of our eyes, the mutants holding Y/N against her will melted like butter in a hot pan. Once she was free she cracked her neck and smiled.

“You want the real Phantom?,” she literally stepped through the force field and came face to face with Ezra. “Well here she is.. and she’s going to end you as if you’ve never existed. Making you wish you never created the thing you’ve made of her” she laughed as if she told the world’s best joke. This isn’t my Y/N.

“Y/N, Don’t! This is what he wants” Steve pleaded.

She turned to Steve and smiled like she was ever so gracious of his concerns.

“Exactly... so, let’s give him a show”

She turned back to him and raised him up in the air without even laying a finger on him.

“You want to play? Let’s fucking play” with a simple snap of her fingers he was thrown across the room.

“I suffer every day.” She raises him up in the air again, this time she contorted his limbs, them being bent in unimaginable ways and he was screaming bloody murder.

“I thought I’d taught you a lesson the last time, granted I thought I killed you. But you don’t even care what I’ve been through as long as it’s not you” her voice was so calm. It was chilling and eerie.

“With this weight I carry of being this way, I will make sure you carry a thousand times the weight so you live with what you’ve done”

From here I could hear his bones cracking, could hear him choking. The deafening ringing increased and almost became unbearable.

“Y/N, Stop!” I stepped forward but without even glancing at me she forced me up again the wall, one by one we were all pushed and stuck to the wall. It was a preventative measure on her part to make sure she isn’t stopped.

Before our eyes there are at least two dozen duplicates of Y/N. They all stood around the room, staring at the floating, contorted man,

“You will pay for what you have done,” one of the Y/N’s said. We had never seen her duplicate like this or at all for that .

“You will forever regret your sins,” this time it was a Y/N that stood near Steve and I.

“You will suffer” - “You won’t even be able to sleep at night”- “We will haunt your dreams”- “We will lurk in every dark corner”- “Every crevice of your pathetic brain” -” “We will haunt you, you will feel us and when you do, you’ll feel nothing but pain and no one will hear you scream”- “And we will make you ROT!!”

Each one of Y/N’s duplicates spoke menacing words. The original just stood there staring, she was a predator ready to pounce on her prey.

Y/N’s eyes were phantom white but the veins around her eyes were plague black and crimson red. She snarled at her target and we could tell just how afraid he was. Her hair was glowing a blinding silver. We were used to her powers but not like this, this time they had reached their peak. She had a deathly smirk on her lips before speaking, her short fangs becoming visible.

“Try to keep me captive... try and hurt me again and I’ll make sure I choke you to death on your own blood. Slowly so you can feel the blood filling your lungs, clogging your airways with no sense of relief. No mercy will be placed upon you”

“Y/N that’s enough!,” Rhodey had seen enough, we all had. I’d seen enough of my lover act out of character, in a way that instilled fear in me to the point I didn’t know if I knew her anymore.

All the duplicates turned and stared at us. They all smiled in sync

“The deed is done” they said in unison before disappearing back into the mind of Y/N.

A blinding white light flashed throughout the room and once it was gone, Ezra and Y/N were sprawled out on the floor unconscious.

The team rushed over to her as she started to wake but I stayed behind. I was frozen, I was scared to get near her. No one touched her besides Rhodey and even then he was hesitant. Everyone else kept their space, their stance ready to run or fight incase the Phantom made another appearance.

“Let’s get out of here, we need to get back,” Steve was cautious, his eyes never leaving Y/N, not even after we got to the compound until she disappeared to our room.

We cleaned up and everyone showed up to dinner except for Y/N, she was probably resting, or beating herself up for how she acted, if she could even remember. I would check on her, but I need time to wrap my head around that whole situation.

“Rhodey... I think we need to talk about Y/N,” Natasha brought her cup to her lips

“There’s nothing to be said, Romanoff. If you continue I’d watch what is about to come out of your mouth next” Rhodey’s silverware made a loud clash against his plate.

“I’m just saying that maybe she needs an eye or a few kept on her, because what we saw back there we have never seen before. It’s something worth looking after if it meant keeping everyone safe,” she put her hands up in a surrender motion as she laid down her case.

“So you’re saying my daughter is a danger to us?,” by now he was fuming, “that is pure bullshit, Natasha and you know it”

“But is it really though?,” I question

“You’ve GOT to be fucking kidding me, Wanda. She’s your girlfriend-”

“Who I am now scared of,” I sighed and felt bad as I let the words slip out.

“In my years of knowing her and loving her I have never seen or heard her act and talk in such a menacing way. That girl back there was not the girl I love and I have a right to be scared even just a bit!”

“Wanda.” Sam warned but I just shook my head

“I was going to keep my thoughts to myself but I couldn’t”

“Thanks for telling me to my face,” Y/N’s voice sent chills down my spine. “Of course it wasn’t me back there. I did what I could to protect us and get us out of there”

“By pinning us against the wall against our will?” Steve butted in.

“To protect you in case things got out of hand!” She cried.

“I’m sorry for scaring you but seeing him flipped a switch that I tried with all my might to flip back but I couldn’t,” she wiped her tears in a frustrated manner and shook her head “My own girlfriend is afraid of me”

She gave a bitter laugh.

“I tried to calm you down Y/N, but you literally pushed me away! The two dozen other versions of you, the things you all were saying. That’s frightening to anyone. It’s enough to throw anyone off. I just need time to think,” I stood up at my end of the table, I finally had the courage to make eye contact.

“Wanda, when we got together we promised to talk things out, not run away. We connected and related to each other because of our abilities and now that you've seen the extent of mine you want to check out early. That’s not fair especially when you said you’d love me no matter what,”

I shook my head and the words flew past my lips before I could keep them from escaping, words that I knew would hurt Y/N, words that I didn’t even mean,

“Someone will love you... but someone isn’t me”

I heard the gasps, I saw the light drain from her eyes, I saw the pain I caused.

“O-okay... okay.” she nodded her head before backing away and rushing off to our shared room.

“Wanda what did you just do?!,” The look Rhodey gave me was different, he always saw me as another daughter ever since I started dating Y/N but this time he looked at me like a deranged stranger.

He rushed off after Y/N and I sat back down in my seat feeling all of their eyes on me. Judging.

“For someone who has fucked up a lot of shit with their abilities you sure have some fucking nerve!,” Sam frowned at me

“Sam!,” Steve came to my defense but Sam wasn’t having it.

“Shut up, Rogers!,” He held his hand up, “Y/N stood by you no matter how bad your powers got out of control. She was there to comfort you and remove the blame when you sulked about what you did in Nigeria”

“SAM!,” Steve called out again, everyone knew that was a sensitive topic.

“SHE was the one that forgave you first and welcomed you first when you played your witch tricks and showed us all our worst fear and damn near ruined us, even after everything she’s been through” he pointed his finger, “But God forbid she wants dibs on the guy who made her into something she hates, God forbid she wants him to suffer like she does every. single. day! God frickin’ forbid she show the very person who changed her and held her captive and killed one of the most important people in her life that she is not weak like he saw her to be. She did all that for you. She loved you despite your mishaps, you’ve scared her multiple times, you’ve hurt her before, Wanda, but she loved you so damn much she worked through it to be with you and you just want to be a coward and leave the girl on her own,” Sam’s chair screeched against the floor as he also went after Y/N.

“I fucked up,” tongue in cheek, I just sat there.

“You sure did,” Peter raised his eyebrows and took a sip of his drink.

“Underoos,” Tony waved him away “Go to the lab, it’s grown folks talking”

Peter didn’t protest, he just walked away sulking like a kid going to timeout.

“You need to fix this, and fast. I’m not sure how many straws Y/N is willing to keep pulling for you after this,” Tony downed the brown liquid in his cup and looked me dead in my eyes.

“I was in the same place with Pepper. I kept fucking up yet she’s still here with me. But I got my act together because I knew if I didn’t change something and make amends I’d lose her. Don’t lose Y/N. Go after her, kid”

I sprinted to our room so fast you’d have thought I was Pietro. But when I got there Y/N was packing a bag and her dad and Sam were trying to keep her from leaving.

“Y/N,” I stepped over the threshold. She snapped her neck to look at me and just shook her head angrily.

“Stay away from me,” I’ve never seen her cry like this. I caused this. Her eyes were bloodshot red, she was shaking from anger, anxiety and sadness and it’s all my fault.

“No, baby ple-”

“You.” her tone was stone cold, “You don’t get to call me that anymore” she hiccupped and continued packing.

“Wanda, I think it’s best if you leave,” Rhodey pointed to the door but I stood my ground.

“No, I already fucked up, I need to fix this I need to fix what I’ve done,”

“You can’t!,” Y/N screamed. She never raised her voice when we argued, I knew I fucked up, big time.

“You can’t take back what you said. Even if you didn’t mean it. I’d never do you like that, Wanda. EVER” she threw her toiletries in the duffle bag and zipped it up.

“You can’t come back from telling someone you don’t love them,” She tried to walk past me but I caught her bicep while she tried yanking herself away, I just couldn’t let her go.

“Let’s sit and talk about this. Let’s solve this how we solve all of our other arguments,”

“This isn’t like our other arguments though, Wanda!” she was right.

“We can’t sit and talk on our bed, criss-cross applesauce and just gaze into each other’s eyes, We can’t hold hands and start our conversation with ‘I feel’, we can’t have a calm, loving conversation about this. I was willing, I was coming to pull you aside so we COULD but you’d already gone behind my back and told everyone else what you should have been telling me.”

I had nothing to say at that point because she was absolutely right.

“You can’t fix this. Not now anyway,” She sniffled and wiped her eyes, tightening the duffle bag on her shoulder

“I need time to think things over. Please just give me time, don’t push me. Give me the time and space I need”

“Y/N please,” I couldn’t let her run away like this.

This is our very first big argument after two years of dating. We were always that couple to walk away when we got too angry to prevent saying words that could hurt each other because you can’t take those hurtful words back. We were that couple to come back when we were calm and were able to regroup, that way we could actually solve the issue. We knew that yelling solved nothing, screaming at each other was no way to be heard, but this was completely different. I had said something way out of line and had no excuse for it other than being afraid. I didn’t talk to her directly about how I felt, I told everyone else except her.

“Wanda, let her go. You both could use some space” Rhodey came to her defense as she walked away from me.

“We don’t need space, we need closure, I can’t lose her, I can’t just let her walk away, we need closure!”

My eyes burned and itched due to the tears. I couldn’t lose her.

“Yeah well ya sure fucked up with that one didn’t you?”

“Not now, Sam! Please not now.” I pleaded. I already know I fucked up big time, I don't need him reiterating that fact.

“Well when then, Wanda? You just hurt the most precious soul on this team just because you were afraid of something you couldn’t understand. You ruined the chance for any closure when you acted the way you did. When you said the things you did”

“Sam...,” Rhodey nudged him with his elbow. “I think she gets it. I think she got it as soon as the words flew out her mouth” He gave me the most deathly glare that not even Fury could compare to.

“I’m gonna go see where she went. Don’t try to pry in anyone’s head to figure out where. Let her regroup on her own”

I was left standing there with the dresser drawers on her side of the room a mess and hanging out of the dresser themselves. There was stuff that tracked from the bathroom into our room. Small stuff like, her hair ties and her headscarf with her bonnet. I pick those to items up and felt the cool silk on my fingers. It smelled just like her shampoo. Almond milk and coconut. I had to find Rhodey and give these to him. She hates going to sleep without them secured on her head.

I rushed down the hall and found him in the common area on the phone. I could hear her voice through the phone, it sounded so broken.

“Rhodey...“ I whisper. He looked at me with annoyance which pained me. I handed him the scarf and bonnet before wringing my hands together, “I know she hates to go to bed without them so you can take these to her”

He just nodded his head and turned his back to me and I wanted to listen in but that was not my place. She wanted space and as selfish as I wanted to be, I’m giving her that space.

I walked back into our room and shut the door. I slid down to the floor, mentally beating myself up. There really is no coming back from that. There is no fixing what I said, there’s no fixing the hurt I caused the one person who’s been in my corner this entire time.

~~~~~~~~~~

It’d been a good three weeks and I’ve had no contact with Y/N. I wonder how she was doing. I haven't been able to sleep, not without her legs intertwined with mine. I haven't been eating, not without her right there cooking with me and making sure I’m eating reasonable portions, with a healthy snack between meals. I haven’t been able to look at myself in the mirror, not without her standing there right beside me doing her hair and getting ready, or me coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist. I’ve been taken off missions due to how reckless I’ve become. I haven't had her yelling at me in my ear that I better make it back on that quinjet safe.

I did all of this to myself and I just want her back. But it’s not that easy.

~~~~~~~~~~

-Reader’s POV-

My mind was a mess. How do you look at someone, who you deeply loved, that hurt you... how do you look at them the same? I still loved her, I was still madly in love with her, but she had to know that she wouldn’t get away that easily. She needed to feel what I felt.

I’ve felt enough pain in my life and for someone who I trusted to a great deal to treat me and talk about me like a monster was a different kind of hurt. It hurt worse than what I went through when I was held in captivity and experimented on for years on end. She was my light at the end of the tunnel but now it just felt like her silhouette blended in with the darkness and I was just aimlessly wandering in the dark.

When my dad calls now I keep things vague. I don't want to dwell on this much longer, it’s like picking an icky scab and not letting it heal. I greatly appreciate the effort but it’s becoming overwhelming to anticipate that one phone call and knowing the upcoming questions.

I didn’t tell dad where I went, but I told him that I was most certainly safe, with much thanks to Clint. The kids and his wife loved me so he was already more than willing to let me stay. Even though me staying here kind of put him in a bad spot since he considers Wanda like another daughter and him not being able to fill her in on my status.

Right now it was me and Laura binge watching our favorite cartoon. The Misadventures of Flapjack.

The kids went to bed and she was just waiting for Clint to get back, he explained this mission to be all hands on deck but I temporarily “retired” so I told him these hands would not be working. It’s about two hours past his estimated time and I can tell Laura was getting worried.

“He’s Clint. He’s coming back home” I pat her knee and finished my glass of wine before going to fill my cup once again. I see why people seek comfort in wine, it mellows you out. It made me feel warm and with that warmth I used it to simulate human contact.

As I came back from the kitchen, Clint walked in with a worried expression on his face.

“Sweetheart how’d it go? What the hell took you so long? I was worried sick” Laura got up from her seat and set her wine glass on the table before walking up to him and kissing and hugging him but slapping his arm in disapproval. I felt the heat envy run down my body. I miss doing that with Wanda when she went on a mission without me and vice versa.

He looked at me before looking back to Laura and shaking his head.

“Hun, let me talk to Y/N alone, please”

Our breath hitched in unison, we know that was never good. Laura eyed me before sending a sad smile and heading upstairs.

“Y/N, sit down”

My body reacting faster than my brain, automatically sitting down and clutching my wine glass. He sat in front of me on the coffee table and leaning on his knees.

“I know your mind is all over the place and I don’t want to put you in even more pain than you already are but you deserve to know”

I didn’t like the sound of this. This news could be about anybody. I carried everybody on the team close to my heart and he knew that.

“Clint who is it? What happened? Don’t sugarcoat it for me, just rip the band- aid right off,” my voice began to shake and it wasn’t because of the wine, “Just say it.“

He gave a deep sigh and whatever he was about to say didn’t make sense to him, he was still trying to process this situation. He was stalling though.

“Clint, plea-“

“Wanda might not make it, Y/N”

My world literally froze. I felt like gagging, I felt dazed, like everything was spinning, like I was sucked into a black hole with no way out. I was feeling too much at once.

“W-what do you mean she might not make it, Barton. What are you saying?” my chest was past the stage of aching at this point.

“She..” He clenched his eyes shut and shook his head, “She’s been a mess... she was taken off missions because of how bad things have gotten with her since you guys separated... but since this was everyone on board we needed her but that wasn’t a good idea”

“Clint, tell me what happened to my Wanda” I felt hot tears already falling out my eyes.

“She was trying to protect Peter and Rhodey when they were getting shot at and... and she got caught in the crossfire. She’s been in surgery since we came back. That’s what took me so long,” He had tears in his eyes but he was adamant on letting them fall “Before she went out cold she wanted anyone who got in contact with you first to let you know that she never meant to hurt you and that she never stopped loving you and she’s sorry for letting her fears take over. She-“

He paused like he was conflicted over whether he really wanted to finish.

“She said that she’s glad it was her and not Rhodey or Peter. She said she’s glad to go out knowing she protected someone you loved.”

God why does this have to happen?

“But she didn’t! She didn’t because she didn’t protect herself!” The wine glass shattered in my hand.

“Take me to her, Clint, or at least tell me where she is so I can be there. She’s gonna make it, she has to!” I wrapped my arms around him and sobbed. I should have been there, I could have had her back.

“I’ll tell Laura the situation and I’ll take you to her. But only if you think you’re ready to see her the state that she’s in”

“Whether I’m ready or not, I need to go!”

~~~~~~~~

I rush in through the automatic doors of the hospital and saw everyone sitting with their heads down.

“Guys.” I sounded so gross and congested.

“Y/N..” my dad walked swiftly to me and pulled me into his arms

“It’s all my fault” I couldn’t stop the sobbing.

“No one blames you Y/N, so why are you blaming yourself?” Steve interjected.

I looked at him like he was crazy, “Well who else’s fault is it? Had I controlled myself that day during the mission none of this would have happ-“

A nurse shushed me but I was not having it

“You shut the hell up” I pointed my finger at her and she just put her hands up as she walked away.

I realized I probably should try a little harder to calm down.

“This wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for me” I shrug my shoulders as I plop down in a chair and play with my hands.

“Y/N,” my dad knelt down in front of me and held my hands, “casualties happen, sweetie. As unfortunate as it is they happen. But I know for sure she would not want you blaming yourself like this. She’s a fighter. She’s not going to give up”

He squeezed my hands in reassurance and I stubbornly nod my head. I didn’t know how much longer I could wait for news on how she’s doing and her status.

~~~~~~~~~~

We all waited another good couple of hours. Peter curled up in the seat and biting his nails, Sam had his head hanging back and was snoring, Tony was nodding off, Bruce and Steve were fidgeting, Bucky was zoned out, Vis and Thor hadn’t said a single word since we’ve been here. Natasha got everyone coffee, for those who were still awake, but my coffee was getting cold, I was non-stop pacing, my dad and Clint just kept telling me to sit down. But I couldn’t.

I was starting to lose hope when a women in surgical attire and blood smears all on them walked in. She takes off her mask before asking, “Maximoff?”

Everyone immediately woke and stood up.

“What’s her status?” I stepped forward. “Please say she’s okay. I can’t lose her” I felt the tears resurfacing.

“Calm down, darling,” she held my hands, “It took a long time but there were some bullets lodged in some tough areas of her body. We actually lost her twice on the table-”

“What?!“ My voice octaves higher

“BUT, we were able to revive her and stabilize her. She’s a strong one. She was fighting to stay alive in that OR”

I felt the weight of the world finally fall off my shoulders. I crouched and hugged my knees and just sobbed. The ugly face, the hiccupping, the whole shebang.

“She’s going to be okay. Your girlfriend is going to be okay,” The doctor crouched right down beside me in comfort. “Whatever happened between you two, you guys can finally fix it and move forward”

“How did you know?” I wiped my nose on my sleeve and sighed.

“I’m a surgeon. I see this a lot. I have so many couples come in here and have the same look on your face of fear and regret. Not everyone is as lucky as you. You guys get a second chance. Don’t miss out on it”

She was right, life is too short and too easily lost.

“When can I see her?”

“She’s still under anesthesia right now. She’ll be under for about another half hour or until she wakes up on her own. But I’ll let you go ahead and sit in there until she wakes up. Just be warned the sight you’re going to see will not be pretty.”

I nodded and she helped me stand up. Before she took me to Wanda’s room, she explained to us how Wanda would need to take it slow for a few months and go to physical therapy.

The doctor finally leads me to Wanda’s room and I see her through the window. She looked so bad I felt another wave of tears. Her skin was greyish, The dark circles under her eyes were alarming. She was wrapped up in so many bandages all over her body. Her face was bruised. She looked dead, even though she was very much alive. She had a breathing tube in her mouth and my stomach turned.

The doctor opened the door for me and pulled up a chair right beside Wanda’s bed and sat me down.

“Try and relax. The tube will be removed soon. She’ll wake up shortly after that and you guys can patch everything up”

I gave her a gracious thank you and turned back to Wanda after she left.

“How could you be so reckless?,” I whispered as I held her hand, “How could you think I’d possibly be okay with you putting yourself in harm’s way whether we’re having a rough patch or not?”

I cried and cried, I’m not sure how I have anything to let out at this point.

“I know you, Wanda... you let pain get to you and then you just want it to end, You thought I was so upset with you that you assumed I would be happy that you were gone when I could never. NEVER, make it without you by my side,”

“Baby, you’re my everything and I’m sorry so fucking sorry this had to happen to bring us back together but we get the second chance others don’t and I don’t want to waste it”

I knew she couldn’t hear me. Or maybe she could and just thought she was dreaming.

I don’t know how much time passed. I just wanted to see her eyes again. The doctor came back in to remove her breathing tube and told me it shouldn’t be too much longer until she woke up.

I felt her hand twitch in mine and she began to cough and stir.

“Calm down, babe. It’s okay just breathe,” I stand and lean towards her, smoothing her hair down. Here eyes snapped open at the sound of my voice and instantly her red eyes flooded with tears.

“I’m dead aren’t I?,” She questioned. I looked at her as if she was crazy. “I must be... because there’s no way you’re actually here..” She cried and stared at me without blinking. She stared at me in the way that if she closed her eyes for a even millisecond I’d disappear.

“No, baby I’m here. You’re very much alive”

“You’re not really here. You hate me too much for you to actually be here.” Her face twisted in hurt and looked down.

“I never hated you, Wanda. Don’t say that”

She wheezed as she cried and I did everything I could to calm her down, she’s already in so much pain, I know this isn’t helping her situation. The bottle of water the nurse gave me, I held to her lips and helped her hydrate.

“I know this is a lot to handle right now. So let’s just appreciate the fact that we’re in each other’s presence again, despite the circumstances, we’re here. We get a second chance. I can’t risk losing you anymore. I need you. I don’t care how cheesy it sounds. I need you, Wanda. I love you so much”

“I’m so sorry, Y/N,” She winced as she turned her head to look at me, “I never meant those things I’m sorry I got insecure and so scared that I fucked us up”

I shook my head and placed my hand on her cheek.

“Everyone filled me in on how bad things have gotten with you..,” She closed her eyes and sighed, “We will talk about this when we get back home. I just need you to rest up,”

She looked at me as if she was terrified. “I can’t sleep. I can’t close my eyes, if I do you’ll be gone a-and-” her vitals started to rise and the heart monitor beeped faster than normal.

I gave her a reassuring smile before kissing each knuckle on her hand, “I’ll still be here when you wake up. I promise”

~~~~~~~

-Wanda’s POV-

I had to stay in the hospital for a few more days and take antibiotics while the doctors kept track of the condition of my wounds. Once I was cleared I was finally able to go home, with Y/N by my side.

When we got to the compound everyone was making sure I was okay before departing so me and Y/N could finally talk about the things we’ve pretty much been waiting a month to talk about.

I sat myself up against the headboard of our bed and she sat directly in front of me.

“Before you start I want to apologize for how I acted-”

“Y/N don't do that. Don’t do that to yourself, don’t take the blame,” I shake my head at her and played with my fingers, “Just...hush for a few and let me explain,”

“No, it’s my turn to go first. Last time we had to have a talk you went first, but it’s my turn this time”

I sigh and nodded my head, remembering our last talk.

“I think it’s time I finally tell you everything. From the time I was captured and how my mutation came about. I’ve kept you in the dark about it long enough”

“Y/N, you don’t have to do th-”

“Except I do,” She looked me in my eyes and shrugged while giving me a small half smile, “I know you’ve been wondering. Dad’s been wondering. Everyone has been wondering. Everyone’s story is known except mine and I don’t think that’s fair. It’s just so fucked that I was embarrassed but you deserve to know. Especially after seeing all that you did that day.”

My lips moved to talk but I’ve cut her off enough already, and I know that’s a pet peeve of hers.

(TW for next section: Death, blood, forced child experimentation, kidnapping, guns, needles)

“I uh... I was on the train with my mom. I was 10, a day after my birthday, the train ride was something I’ve always wanted to do, I told my mom that’s all I wanted, was a train ride into the countryside. The train got hijacked by a few Norwegian men. I was the only child on the train that day. I knew exactly what I was wearing. I had on a black shirt with sunflowers and denim overalls with my heelys, I loved those things so much, I skated all the way to the train station,”

Y/N took a pause and let out a shaky sigh.

“I was skating back and forth happily chanting ‘mama look at me, I taught myself a new trick’, she was so proud of me,” I could see the tears welling in her eyes, I felt like shit for allowing herself to relive this day and experience, “I bumped into a guy and as I looked up at him, he held a finger up to his lips, shushing me, before snatching me and putting his hand over my mouth and in that moment, seven other men stood up and pulled out their guns, my mom stood up to go after me but one of them held a gun to her head,”

“Y/N, you can stop if you ne-”

“I need to talk about this, Wanda” when she looked at me the tears finally fell.

“They told her if she made another move they’d blow her head right off her shoulders right there,” I moved to grab her hands and she squeezed the life out of them but I didn’t mind, “A few people had been running so the men started firing and I was kicking and fighting the guy but he... he was like a boulder that I just couldn't move, I felt so useless”

She sniffled and closed her eyes, she took a pause and I gave her the time she needed.

“Wanda, so much blood painted the seats and the floor...”

I ran my thumb over her knuckles letting her know I was here no matter what and I understood if she needed to stop.

“The men looked at me and my mom. Ezra, he had his gun against my mom’s forehead. He said ‘we take child and no one else has to die’, but my mom made an effort to get the gun from him but they were so much faster, Wanda, so much fucking faster”

I hated hearing this, I hated knowing this happened to her, I hated knowing that she lived with this every single day. I felt sick to my stomach, I wanted to clasp my hand around her mouth so I didn’t need to hear anymore, so she didn’t have to walk through this anymore. But she’s harbored it enough and she deserves my full attention and support no matter how much hearing this disturbed me.

“Everything happened in slow motion, it’s like I saw the bullets slowly come out of their chamber. I saw the look on my mom’s face before the bullets made contact. They... they blasted her like they were a firing squad and she was on death row,”

She let out the most heart-wrenching sob I’ve ever heard.

“I screamed so loud and hard my throat bled. When I heard you were caught in the crossfire while on a mission it felt like I was reliving that day.”

I tried my best to keep my tears at bay but that failed miserably.

“I saw my mom lie there with so many bullet entries it was unreal. Some shot straight through her and landed right at my feet. I could only imagine how dad felt when he had to identify her and then him not being able to find me,” she hurriedly wiped her tears and tried her best to pull herself together before continuing, “Once damn near everyone in the train car died, the men changed their clothes and forced me to get off at the next stop with them and act normal or else they’d kill me too. As appealing as it sounded, I complied . They took me to a secluded area before knocking me out with the butt of one of the guns that killed my mother. When I woke up I was strapped to a metal slate inside what I can only describe as a big test tube.”

She wiped my tears and took my hands back in hers.

“They captured nothing but children from ages maybe 5 to 12. They were in similar tubes like me. Next thing I know I hear blood-curdling screams. As I look around I see all the other children being penetrated with a bunch of needling all over their bodies. I look down and I start seeing the needles coming out of the casing of the tube towards me. I was so numb I didn’t even scream, not even when a needle pierced my eye and injected a serum right into it.”

She blinked fast and winced as if she was feeling it happen again. I felt my eyes sting and water at the description. I was getting uncomfortable at the fact she had to go through this, like people actually did this twisted shit.

“I was the only kid to survive out of the other ninety-nine that were there... because I was luckily number one hundred they continued experimenting on me. They’d inject me with different serums, leave me in rooms of different types of nerve gasses, they paralyzed me,” she hiccupped and stood up off the bed shaking her legs as if to make sure they still worked, making sure the feeling was still there, “They’d put me in different mind-altering situations. They’d beat me until my abilities started to surface and that wasn’t even until I was thirteen.”

She started pacing and I could tell she was starting to panic but she ignored my advances to calm her down.

“Once they started to show it got worse. They’d tie me up and put me in baths with dry ice, burning me. My only way to save myself was to remove a part of my subconscious and personify it to get me out. They’d lock me in vaults with deadly snakes, spiders, anything. Tie me down in a tube and remove the oxygen so I couldn’t breathe, kind of what like Wade went through. They temporarily made me blind for months on end so I wouldn’t rely on my eyesight to see my enemies and fight. They made me deaf, so I didn’t rely on my sense of hearing. I couldn’t hear my own screams. They purposely wouldn’t let me sleep so I would hallucinate, it was like experiencing death first-hand without actually dying. They tortured me up until I was 17 when I was able to kill most of them”

She finally stopped pacing and looked me dead in my eyes.

“They named me Phantom because when they forced me to hurt and kill other people the victims looked at me like they saw a ghost. Because I stalked and haunted the victims like an evil spirit. Because they fucked up my genetic code so bad it was practically gone, to where I pretty much don’t exist right now, Wanda. Because when my abilities are triggered my eyes turn a blinding white. Because I was a pawn for years to do their dirty and when I showed up on surveillance all they could see was a white cloud... like an apparition, a phantom that haunts the lonely roads...”

She sat back down with me on the bed and shook her head

“One day in my cell, the different parts of my subconscious personified themselves on their own and they helped me take them down. Seeing Ezra still alive that day triggered something horrid in me and I couldn’t turn it off. When I found my dad I felt human again. He never stopped looking for me but he came up with no luck until one day I showed up in dirty white scrubs.”

That was only three years ago. She was able to adjust to normal life some how within the span of a year, then she met me.

I hugged her tight and cried in her shoulder, I felt selfish for not even trying to understand her predicament.

“When dad helped me adjust to normal life again and the team found out about me and my abilities they accepted me and helped me use them to save people. To use them for good, to rewrite my story for a better outcome, then I met you and you were just like me and I felt whole for the first time ever”

“And I r-ruined it” I stuttered.

I picked my head up and looked at her with so much regret I felt like I was going to be sick and pass out.

“You didn’t deserve that, any of it, not from me, or them. Anyone,” I brought her body close to mine and she curled right into me, “Let me make this right”

“Wanda we’re already on the road to making things right. Yeah the things you said broke me, but we can work to mend it. I’ve probably said some things to hurt you before but we’re in this together and I don’t want to focus on mishaps. I want to focus on the now. And right now I just want to lay in your arms and love you and have you love me.”

I lay down and pull her close to me, kissing all over her face. I missed this. I don’t want to lose this ever again.

“That can be arranged,”

We were far from perfect and a lot of work had to be done on my part to fix this and gain her trust back, but I was willing to do anything for this woman that was here in my arms like a koala to a tree. I don’t care how long it took to mend us, as long as we became one again, that’s all that mattered to me.

I want her to know how sickingly in love with her I am, it’s almost annoying to some. I would accept and love all parts of her.

I would madly and truly love the being that is Y/N.

I will madly and truly love the being that is Phantom.

___________

tags- @sideeffectsofyou

AH I HOPE YOU ALL LIKED THIS!!!

This is my longest one so far and it took a while.

Please show your support and like, reblog, and comment, please!!

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andrewmoocow · 6 years

Text

Steven Universe Secret Wars chapter 5: Enter Thanos (originally posted on February 5, 2018)

AN: And so, here we are everybody. The final chapter of the first part of what might be considered one of my magnum opuses. I’ve certainly had a blast writing this so here we go. Let the end of the cosmos begin.

“Anything yet guys?” Connie asked her fellow Crystal Avengers keeping an eye out for their friends. “Nothing yet Connie!” Wasp called from high above as she searched the skies with Lapis and Vision. “I can confirm, our companions haven’t returned yet.” the synthezoid added. “Way to state the obvious Vis.” Lapis replied.

“You were right girl, this town’s food is amazing!” Wolverine exclaimed holding a few fry bits on one of his claws like a kebab. “Never really expected you of all people to act like this Wolvie. But then again, I’m a guy who was bitten by a radioactive spider hanging out in a town protected by magical rock people.” Spider-Man said. “Hey guys, I think we can see something!” Peridot shouted pointing at a strange dark shape in the sky. “You think it could be?”

“Steven!” they all cried out as the shape came into view, revealing itself to be the spaceship belonging to the Guardians of the Galaxy. Landing on the sand, the Crystal Gems, Avengers and Guardians emerged looking very damaged from their fight with Mephisto, both physically and emotionally. The moment Steven’s foot touched the grainy surface below him for the first time in a long while, he was greeted by Connie, Lapis and Peridot all hugging him. “Oh, hey guys.” he said rather flatly. “Steven, are you all right?” Peridot worried. “Pink boy not feeling good.” Hulk stated. “Pink boy’s friends should leave pink boy alone for a bit.”

“WHOA! Are you that Hulk creature the mutant talked about?!” the little green Gem gasped in amazement. “I totally won that fight!” Logan shouted hotly. “Yes, yes I am.” the strongest there is confirmed with a cocky grin before regressing himself back to Bruce Banner. “And I’m also a genius scientist to boot.”

“He-hey, P-dot, Tidal!” Rocket shouted fistbumping Peridot before Groot came in and hugged the three incredibly tight. “I am Groot!” the flora colossus cried shaking them in his wooden arms. The mood suddenly lightened up and everyone was cheerfully meeting each other once again. All except Thor. He was still mulling over their recent fight with the demon prince, about how he was now working for Thanos and had known about the Mind Stone. The stress proved far too great on the thunder god before he interrupted the camaraderie with a loud yell of “THANOS IS COMING!”

The scene went deadly quiet once more as they all turned to the prince of Asgard. “I-is something wrong Thor?” Spidey wondered. “Didn’t you hear me, Thanos has five Infinity Stones and is coming here to Earth for the Mind Stone!” Thor explained pointing his hammer to the ground for added emphasis. The group were stunned at the god’s explanation, Lapis especially as she simply mumbled under her breath, “Thanos.”

“What shall we do?” Doctor Strange wondered. “I say we all stay here and take him on ourselves!” Nebula declared. “That madman has gone on far enough and mark my words, he will pay!” she snarled. “Hey, chill out Nebula! We can’t go too far ahead!” Steven exclaimed trying to calm her down. “Steven’s right, we must evacuate this town so that Thanos can’t hurt any of its people.” Cap stated. “I’m going to need someone to warn the mayor of the invasion and organize an escape route somewhere far away from here.”

“I’ll go. I came here before all of you on some business of my own, so it makes sense that I tell ‘em.” Iron Man stated flying off toward Beach City. “Right. Peter, Hank Janet, you lead the townspeople out of here. Carol, T'Challa, Strange, you’re staying with us. And the rest of you return to base.” Steve commanded. “Wait, we have to leave?! But why?” Wolverine complained. “Because we won’t be important to the story from here on out.” She-Hulk answered. “Okay then.”

Flying above the small town, the Armored Avenger landed in front of city hall and shed his metallic suit to keep up appearances. “I’m here to see the mayor of this town!” he announced shoving open the doors. “Mister, we know you have important business but can you not open the doors like that?!” one of the secret service agents present said cornering him. “Stand down boys, he obviously wants to see me.” a short, elderly woman in a green suit stated making herself known. “Mayor Nanefua Pizza Mr. Stark, at your service.”

“Tony Stark madame mayor.” Stark greeted the mayor. “Listen, my teammates and I compel you to organize an evacuation plan for a giant purple spaceman with a golden baseball glove is coming down to kill us all!” he urged. “Wow, that is certainly pretty crazy Mr. Stark, but I’ll be sure to get on it!”

Within a few hours, Beach City was nearly empty, its civilians already preparing to leave. “Keep it going everyone, Thanos should be arriving soon so you should all try not to die!” Hawkeye said leading them all away. “So let me guess this straight, some moonman is coming for Earth because he wants some priceless jewels to conquer the galaxy?” Lars Barriga exclaimed as his parents tried to insert the Off Colors into a large moving truck. “Basically, yes!” Steven reiterated the pink teen’s statement. “And if we don’t stop him-”

“Then the universe is seriously janked.” Garnet finished for him. “Seriously Garnet, we need to make you eat soap at this point!” Amethyst said. “Y'know, when I came back to Earth after you & Connie had that space adventure, I did not expect this!” Lars said. “But then again, I died and came back to life on an alien planet, so what do I have to say?”

“Yeah speaking of which, are you sure you’re that donut boy Groot met when we first came here?” Rocket said. “Y'know, come to think of it you do seem familiar.” the former donut boy stated looking at Groot. “I am Groot.” the tree alien said. “I am Lars.”

“Okay, let’s stop this before it gets too far again.” Rocket said breaking the two up. “Now then, since everybody’s leaving, I think you and Connie should come with them.” he said to Steven. “What, but why?!” the boy cried.

“It’s for your own safety Steven.” Pearl stated. “We know you and Connie are both fairly powerful on your own, but Thanos is another five levels once he gets all the Infinity Stones!” she fretted. “They’re all right Steven, who knows what this Thanos guy can do.” Connie affirmed. “Indeed, he could wipe out half of all life in the universe with just a snap of his fingers!” Thor added. “And the same goes for you Lapis and Peridot.”

“Us too? But we can fight!” Peridot protested. “I’ve been watching a few old kung-fu movies and actually picked up some moves along the way!” She then began demonstrating said moves to the heroes, despite being rather clumsy in doing so and capping off with a crane stance.

“I admire both your spirit, and your budding martial arts skills, but I fear whatever powers you have won’t be enough against a cosmic warlord bent on dominating all creation.” Cap stated. “The captain is right guys, Thanos is not one to be messed with.” Lapis stated putting a hand on her barn mate’s shoulder. “I should know because I-” She immediately stopped herself from speaking any longer. “Goodbye.” Picking up Peridot and Pumpkin, Lapis sprouted her wings and soared away from Beach City.

“What’s her problem? She looked like she was gonna say she knows Thanos or something.” Star-Lord quipped. “That doesn’t matter, we should get you two to your parents post-haste kids.” Iron Man finally stated. “We are truly sorry Steven, but it’s for your own good.” Pearl said before hugging her young ward and the other Crystal Gems joined in. “We’ll stop Thanos and bring everyone home.” Garnet stated. “Yeah, we’re gonna kick his ass!” Amethyst exclaimed.

“Well, guess this is goodbye everyone. Good luck.” Connie said before finally being led away by Stark.

“Okay gang, everybody’s not present and accounted for.” Yondu confirmed gazing upon the deserted town. “In fact, why do they call it Beach City when the number of people living here doesn’t make it a city?!”

“Same reason why evil threatens the universe.” Clint answered. “Now come on, we gotta prep for Thanos.” He led the space pirate back to the temple where the others would be waiting for them. “How’s everything?” Natasha asked. “All cleared out babe, not a soul in sight.” her archer partner stated. “I sincerely hope Steven is all right. This reminds me of when Jasper invaded and he fled with the rest of the citizens.” Pearl said. “At least he has one of your own to watch over him.”

“Uh guys, I hate to break up the ambiance,” Rocket stuttered in fear. “but I think that giant spaceship about to land in front of us may belong to a certain someone.” The heroes all raced outside to discover a titanic aircraft easily dwarfing Beach City in size right over their heads. They immediately knew who this ship belonged to as they all prepared for battle. “It is time.” Black Panther declared.

Meanwhile in a highway far from town, the citizens of the coastline village were busy making their escape from the wrath of the Mad Titan. All it took was one look at his warship from the rear-view mirror for Greg to get a good idea of what his late wife’s companions were up against this time. “Sheesh, whoever this Thanos guy is sure doesn’t mess around!”

His son however was relatively quiet the entire drive. He was too busy musing over their encounter with Mephisto during their space adventure. According to him, he had been involved in the Rebellion as well. But who did he fight for? He most certainly wouldn’t side with Rose but he’s not sure if the Diamonds would be that comfortable with him. Would that mean Thanos had his part to play in it. After a few minutes of contemplation, Greg broke the silence. “Anything all right Schtu-ball?”

“I’m fine Dad, I’ve just been thinking lately.” Steven replied. “Did Mom ever tell you about anything related to the Infinity Stones?” he asked his father. “No, as usual. In fact, unlike all the other messy stuff of that war, she must really want to keep that under wraps.” Greg answered. “But whatever happened, I’m sure it’ll be fine.” he assured his son. “Yeah but I’ve heard Thanos can destroy anyone given the chance, the Gems have a good reason for making me flee again! Hopefully there’s someone that can help me out here.”

“Did someone call for some emotional support?!” Spider-Man suddenly exclaimed peeping into the front window of Greg’s van. The two were immediately startled and nearly swerved into another car before regaining their composure. “Oh, you must be that spider guy.” Greg stated. “What was your name again? Scarlet Arachnid, Spinneret, Silk, Web Boy…”

“Spider-Man, thank you very much.” the spectacular webslinger corrected the former rock star. “Now as I was saying, did someone call for some emotional support?” he asked cheerfully. “I did!” Steven shouted raising his hand. “I can stop so you can get in if you want sir.” Greg offered. “Sure thing, but I prefer to web-swing.”

Latching onto the roof of another car, Peter used his web-shooters to pull open the back door and jumped right in, closing behind him. “And he sticks the landing!” he shouted before imitating a crowd cheering for him. “Yeah, whoo, go Spider-Man, do a flip!” Greg just chuckled still keeping his eyes on the road. “Wow Spidey, that was really cool!” Steven exclaimed. “Makes me wish I was as cool as you.”

“Aw don’t say that. You’re pretty cool the way you are.” Peter said taking off his mask to wipe himself off after the earlier landing. “I mean c'mon, you’re the son of an alien warrior lady who helped protect the Earth thousands of years ago! You still got a lot to learn kid. After all, with great power comes great responsibility.”

“Where did you learn that?” the boy wondered. “Someone important to me that I lost too, just like the Gems.” Spidey answered thinking back to his beloved late Uncle Ben. “So what do you say kid, wanna save the world?” he offered reaching his hand out. “Sure!”

“Now hold on just a second!” Ant-Man suddenly appeared in front of the two young men. “Steven, I know you have a legacy to uphold, but Thanos is just an absolute beast! With all six Infinity Stones, he could practically become God!” the scientist cautioned Steven.

“Oh lighten up Hank, he just wants to help.” Wasp stated growing into view as well. “How many more unexpected passengers can I get! Who’s next, Ghost Rider?” Greg joked. He then finally stopped the van and got out with the three heroes & his son, whom he hugged goodbye. “Be careful out there little guy, we’re all counting on you.”

“I’ll be okay Dad. I love you.” Steven said his farewells before jumping up on the arachnid Avenger’s back. “You ready kid?” he asked his young fan. “Wait, we should make a quick stop first. I know a few others who need a pep talk.” He turned on a GPS on his phone and began scoping the countryside scene before pointing to a building in this distance. “Let’s swing thataway!” he ordered. “Roger roger squirt!”

The two swung off into the distance leaving the winsomely astonishing duo and the car wash owner behind. “Steven is right, those Gems aren’t going to last long without a leader.” Pym declared shrinking down and hopping on the back of a winged ant. “Right, let’s fly!” Jan replied miniaturizing as well and chasing her husband.

The hour has finally come.

Thanos has arrived.

The Avengers, Crystal Gems and Guardians of the Galaxy stood their ground before the spaceship, preparing for whatever threat would come their way. The bay door opened revealing not the Mad Titan, but instead his minions the Black Order.

At the very center was their leader Corvus Glaive, a grey-skinned alien dressed in all black and carrying his namesake weapon. By his side was Proxima Midnight, a beautiful blue-tinted woman bearing a golden trident.

Behind them were Ebony Maw, a rather wormy looking fellow with a silver tongue, Black Dwarf, the brute of the team who’s size & strength could compare with the Hulk’s and finally Supergiant, a deranged wraith who can control gravity. The five aliens looked down upon their opponents with cocky grins decorating their features until Corvus finally spoke. “Well, it seems these Avengers have made some new allies.” he declared. “Quite familiar looking ones in fact.”

“Yes indeed, it’s been quite a while since we heard from the Crystal Gems. I was convinced they were all shattered or corrupted.” Ebony added. “Can’t wait to finish what the Diamonds tried to start.” Dwarf threatened bearing both his axe and his mace.

The heroes simply glared furiously at the Order, giving no answer to their boasting. “What is the matter? No words, just going to skip straight to the action?” Proxima wondered. Just then, Garnet finally spoke up. “Leave this planet immediately Black Order, and tell Thanos we’re waiting for him!”

“About time, all this abuse of the silent treatment was getting me bored!” Supergiant exclaimed with a sadistic grin. “Now then, let us get started!” She telekinetically summoned a legion of four-armed reptilian beasts that towered over the group, snarling at them. “Outriders!” Captain America exclaimed. “Get ready everyone, we’re in for the fight of our lives.”

The ultimate battle for the fate of Earth has finally begun. If the alliance between the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the Crystal Gems and the lovable a-holes claimed victory, peace would return and the Infinity Stones would be left untouched by evil once more. But if Thanos won, it would mean the end of the universe.

It was a quiet night at the barn that Lapis Lazuli and Peridot had called their home away from Homeworld. It was originally the Crystal Gems’ base of operations while dealing with the Cluster and since became a new living space for the two Gems.

However, ever since Lapis had returned to Earth after fleeing to avoid another Gem war, things had become a bit different. Like for example, Peridot currently laid on a hay bale reminiscing about the Crystal Temps’ battle with the leader of AIM known as MODOK, his speech about she was there to provide comic relief instead of being useful to the Crystal Gems continuing to echo through her head.

“Well it’s because despite being a member of the Crystal Gems, you are pretty much useless to them! Only being there to provide comic relief. Join me and I shall help you learn your true potential!” he spoke in her thoughts. Looking once again at her miniscule form in a mirror, she sighed miserably and grumbled to herself. “Guess he was right. I really am useless to them.”

“Is something wrong Peri?” Lapis wondered flying to her side with Pumpkin in her arms. “It’s just that that Mo-whatever guy told me about how useless I was to Steven and the Gems. Now that we’ve been ordered to stay at the barn while they fight that Thanos guy, it makes me think that we really are there to provide comic relief.” the little green technician moped before her blue roommate got down on her knees and hugged her. “It’s okay Peridot, you aren’t useless. I mean, you helped save the Earth and got me adjusted to it! What matters now is that we should just wait until the time is right for us to become full on Crystal Gems.”

“And I seriously can’t wait for that day!” Steven called as Spider-Man touched down in front of the barn with Ant-Man and Wasp following behind. “Hey girls, how’s it hanging?” the web-slinger greeted them. “Is this really your home because I kind of expected something a bit more futuristic.”

“Oh it is alright spider-friend. This barn may have termites and a large crack in the ground, but it’s the best we can get!” Peridot beamed at the young man. “We usually spend our days here making meep morps, or what you humans might call art, and watching Camp Pining Hearts.” Lapis added. “Camp Pining Hearts? My Aunt May and I love that show!” Peter exclaimed. “Except for season 5.”

“I know, right!” Steven & Peridot exclaimed in unison before laughing. “I know all of us here are fans of that show, but let’s get to the important topic here: saving the world.” Hank stated. “Yeah, if we don’t race to Beach City soon, Thanos could kill us all!” Jan added, much to the barn Gems’ shock. “Wait, we’re actually going to fight him?!” Lapis yelled. “But that could lead to another war, and I don’t want to get involved in one.”

“C'mon Lapis, we have to do this together! Steven and the Gems need us!” Peridot tried to convince her to change her mind about battling the conqueror. “Earth is our home now. Isn’t it worth fighting for?” It took some time for the ocean Gem to think about this. On one hand, Thanos is indeed a force to be reckoned with and could certainly annihilate them if they’re not careful. But on the other hand, he could destroy the planet that they’ve decided to call home. She finally turned around and made her decision. “I’ll fight.”

“Great, now let’s head back to the town and help the others!” Hank declared mounting his winged ant again. “Wait, first I gotta make a call.” Steven decided pulling out his phone to talk to Connie.

“Hey Steven, are you somewhere safe yet?” she asked. “That’s why I called you Con. I’m gonna fight Thanos.” he declared. “What? Hold on, maybe I can get my parents to drive me to your location! Where are you?” Connie cried. “No, I don’t want you getting involved. You may be pretty powerful on your own, but deep down you’re just a human. I’m so sorry.” Steven began to cry as he hanged up on his best friend.

“It’s okay Steven, you’re doing the right thing just like what your mom would’ve done.” Peter dried his tears. “Thanks Spidey, let’s go.” Steven got up on the teen hero’s back again and left the barn, this time with Lapis and Peridot by their side. Pumpkin was left behind, but little did the vegetable canine know its home was in serious peril as a portal opened behind the barn.

“It seems you’ve gotten weaker since we’ve last met Garnet.” Corvus declared pinning the fusion to the ground with his glaive while the Outriders outmatched the others. “Guess without your beloved savior to guide you, you’ve also become more foolish.”

“We may not have Rose Quartz around, but we’re still capable of defending Earth!” Garnet declared gripping the blade and tossing Glaive into the sand. “Nice going there Garnet, keep him down!” Rocket cheered dismembering a few Outrider arms. “At this rate, we shall emerge victorious!” T'Challa boasted. “Is that so king of Wakanda?”

A new individual has shown himself, this time being the man himself. The Mad Titan, the nihilistic would-be significant other of Death. His purple skin, furrowed chin, blue & gold armor and his piercing red eyes looking down upon them as he sat in his throne were unmistakably recognizable.

Thanos.

“Well well well, what do we have here?” he wondered in a mocking tone raising his left hand to reveal none other than the infamous Infinity Gauntlet, containing five of the Infinity Stones. “Thanos!” Pearl cried readying her spear.

“The Crystal Gems. We meet again at last.” Thanos stated descending from his throne with both his arms out, almost like some holy figure. Touching down on the sand beneath them, he took a moment to examine the carnage that once was his army of Outriders. “And it seems not much has changed about you since the Rebellion. Now who do I destroy first?”

He prepared an energy blast from his left hand and aimed it at each of the heroes, deciding on which one of them to eliminate. “How about you be the first to die my dear Garnet?” Thanos threatened before suddenly, his face was suddenly covered in spider webs. “WHAT?!” he shouted tearing the silk off his face. “Ain’t nobody going to die here Thanos!” Steven cried as he, Spider-Man, Lapis, Peridot, Ant-Man and the Wasp charged into battle. “Ah, the cannon fodder has arrived.” the Mad Titan smirked. “I do love a moving target.”

“Wait milord!” Ebony Maw halted his master before he could do any more harm. “I must ask you, does that terraformer with them seem familiar to you?” he asked. “Now that you think about it, she does look like the one deployed during the Rebellion.” Thanos stated, much to the shock of the other heroes. “Greetings wayward Lazuli of Blue Diamond.”

“Wait, you know Thanos?!” Steven gasped as the ragtag group touched down next to their compatriots. “Yes indeed small child, my minions remember her quite fondly, Ebony and Dwarf especially.” Thanos answered. “It’s true, I have met them when I was sent to Earth.” Lapis began to reminisce on that fateful day.

The Rebellion was in full swing when Lapis Lazuli, a terraformer sent by Blue Diamond to form new Kindergartens on Earth, was thrust in the middle of it. She tried her best to avoid the carnage, the Gem shards raining everywhere and the soldiers fighting for their lives until she found a safe spot behind a lone tree.

She figured she would stay there until most of the fighting stopped until she bumped into a monster that towered over her. A monster with orange reptilian skin, empty yellow eyes, a mouth full of sharp fangs and dual-wielding both a stone mace & an axe.

“Where are you going puny water witch?” he snarled, causing her to back away into another being with grey skin, chalk white hair, ornate black & white robes with gold trim and devilish blue eyes that had a faint glow in them. “Are you lost little one, afraid perhaps?” this other creature purred. “I’m not lost, I was only supposed to make a quick visit before all this happened!” Lapis cried not being able to comprehend her current situation. “Who even are you two anyway?!”

“Ah yes, apologies for being so uncouth.” the grey alien bowed gracefully toward the ocean Gem. “I am Ebony Maw of the Black Order, and this is my companion Black Dwarf.” he, now calling himself Ebony Maw, introduced himself and the larger alien. “We are fighting in this war for our lord and master Thanos, who wishes to destroy both the Great Diamond Authority & the rebels led by Rose Quartz to conquer all that lives in this universe.” Black Dwarf stated. “See that shadow over there, that is he.”

He pointed toward their master in the distance, laughing maniacally as he ended the lives of all Gems, Crystal and Homeworld alike, that dared challenge him. The only one that was able to match the Mad Titan were a Rose Quartz and her terrifying Pearl. “Is that really your master?!” Lapis gasped as she watched the pink warrior face Thanos in battle. “Indeed he is terraformer.” Ebony commented silently rooting for his boss. “Speaking of which, do you ever feel like you feel dissatisfied with your current position?”

“What?! No, as a high-ranking member of Blue Diamond’s court I’m basically treated like royalty! I’m like my Diamond’s princess!” Lapis shouted trying to escape from the two.

“But that’s the thing, when all Gems are born they are ordered to do one meaningless task for the rest of their days. Does that seem boring to you?” Maw wondered getting uncomfortably close to her. “Yes, when working under Thanos we get to murder who we want, how we want and when we want!” Dwarf added with a bloodthirsty grin. “So what do you say little Lazuli, are you ready to earn your freedom?”

Lapis was now faced with a rather hefty offer. If she joined this Thanos they spoke so highly of, she could live her own free life and do whatever she should, but if she didn’t she would be as good as dead. But looking at Thanos, she would rather be shattered than join such a psychopath. Finally, with her eyes darkened, she made her decision. “I choose…” she began. “TO DIE!”

“I thought you would say that.” Ebony Maw stated motioning his bodyguard to his side with a snap of his fingers. “Black Dwarf, shatter her.” he commanded. “With pleasure.” Black Dwarf accepted preparing his weapons. He barreled toward the terraformer preparing to strike before she smacked him silly with a pair of water fists around her arms. “Leave me alone!” she screamed fighting back.

The two proceeded to duke it out while Ebony calmly spectated. Black Dwarf nearly came close to shattering Lapis and vice versa with Lapis against Dwarf. Eventually she dealt the finishing blow with a tsunami that washed the alien away as he vowed revenge. “Very well then. We shall meet again someday Lapis Lazuli, and then you will join us.” the minion of Thanos gave one last warning before retreating into a portal.

Lapis took a deep breath of relief after the fact. With that, she could be able to fly away from this planet as fast as she can before she felt a sudden sharp pain in her back as a Bismuth punched her in the gemstone. She had no time to react before her physical form fell apart and retreated back into her gem.

“So that’s why you shut your trap when talking about him.” Rocket said. “Guess I was right!” Star-Lord replied. “Looking back on the old days is fine and all, but we still got Thanos to deal with!” Captain Marvel exclaimed. “Exactly Captain, I am just eager to finally settle the score!” Ebony shouted giddily. “Dwarf, finish her off.”

“With pleasure Maw.” Dwarf snarled before charging at the alliance. They all prepared for an awesome showdown before charging into battle. Thanos just stood there and watched as his Black Order took on the accursed rebels and their allies. Captain America & Garnet teamed up against Corvus and Proxima while Pearl & Thor handled Ebony & Supergiant and Lapis contended with Black Dwarf. The rest all took on more Outriders summoned to fight.

“For Beach City, for Midgard!” Thor roared tossing his mighty hammer at Supergiant, who swiftly dodged it. “You missed Thor!” Pearl shouted. “Did I?” the future king of Asgard grinned reaching out for his trusted weapon. When it finally returned to him, it smacked the wraith square in the back of her head in its path. “You may be a god Odinson, but can you compare to a servant of Thanos?” Maw bragged summoning a large boulder over him with telekinesis. He chucked it at the duo but then with the combined might of Asgard’s finest warrior and the Crystal Gem, it was reduced to gravel.

“I have always wanted to fight such a stable fusion.” Proxima said clashing with Garnet. “Reminds me of the love between my dear Corvus and I.” she added gazing lovingly at her husband as he jabbed at Cap’s shield. “Wait, you two are in love?!” the fusion exclaimed trying to punch her in the face. “No you fool, we are married!”

“I would say congratulations, but you need to leave!” Garnet shouted landing a punch on Midnight’s midsection. “You wouldn’t understand fusion!” the female minion of Thanos shouted stabbing her opponent in the face with her trident, which caused her to defuse into Ruby and Sapphire. “What?!”

“We’re not just a fusion Proxima.” Sapphire declared creating a spear out of ice. “We are a conversation!” Ruby finished for her lover summoning her gauntlet. The two small Gems charged at the taller blue woman while Corvus continued fighting Cap.

“Why do you keep resisting fool? Don’t you see our master will destroy you once he obtains all six Infinity Stones again?!” he cried managing to produce a few dents in his shield. “Because we’ve beat him before and we’ll beat him again!” Steve declared tossing his shield and knocking out a few Outriders for Amethyst & Mantis before returning to his side.

Black Dwarf meanwhile was evenly matched with Lapis. Normally, he would’ve fought evenly with a Gem like Garnet, Rose, Bismuth or Jasper but Lapis was different. They were on a planet that was mostly water, her main element. She was basically on par with him here, but maybe if he could throw her off somehow. “The offer still stands terraformer, join us or face oblivion!” he boomed trying in vain to hit her with his mace. “No, I’ve chosen to defend Earth from the likes of you! You can shatter me all you want, but you’ll never take my freedom!” Lapis declared.

“That’s my girl!” Peridot cried as she rode on Hulk’s back while he plowed through Outriders. “Thanks Peri.” Lapis wistfully said turning to her best friend before being knocked face-first on the ground. “Well then, oblivion it is girl.” Dwarf snarled as he slammed his axe on her gem, cracking it. This in turn turned Lapis’s colors a darker shade of blue and her eyes glassy, almost mirror-like. “Oh no, not again!”

“Lapis!” Steven cried trying to save his friend. “Do not cry for her boy, she will perish just like all the Gems in the rebellion before her!” the brute shouted driving his weapon deeper, making her scream in pain. “That’s right! LOUDER!” he exclaimed, finding joy in her struggling. If his axe were to go any deeper, Lapis would be shattered right then and there. She couldn’t take this. She was powerless once more, facing the possibility of death and began to sob as he continued striking at the crack.

“You leave her alone you giant clod!” Peridot screamed using her ferrokinesis to grab Dwarf by his axe and toss him into a group of Outriders.

“Whoo, that’s my Kindergartener!” Amethyst cheered for her fellow shorty. “Yes, she is quite powerful!” Mantis added clapping before she was suddenly cornered by a very angry Black Dwarf. “Hey, leave my homegirls alone you big lizard!” the defective Quartz exclaimed grabbing him by the neck with her whips and tossing him around. “And I thought Thanos trained you better than that.”

“You ignorant worm! I shall grind you into dust!” Black Dwarf was at his breaking point, ready to destroy anything that dared cross him until his comrade Corvus stopped him. “Savor your strength brother, they are not worth our time anymore.” he stated. “Right, maybe we should let Master Thanos obliterate them.”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Thanos added preparing for battle. He raised his gauntlet-clad hand once again with an air of superiority surrounding him. “You leave them alone!” Steven shouted summoning his shield before he was punched aside. “No boy, this is between me and the rebels.” the Titan stated marching towards the Gems. Pearl was the first to stand up to him as she clashed her spear with his finger. “I remember fighting you in the Rebellion Thanos! Destroying thousands of Gems all for the sake of Lady Death was just utterly heartless!”

“That reminds me Pearl, how’s Rose doing?” the conqueror asked her with a manic smirk. “Well she uh, uh.” the lost defective Pearl began to stutter before she finally gave her answer. “She died to give birth to a child, whom was the one you punched.” she said gazing at Steven as he healed Lapis off to the side. “And are you still in love with her?” Thanos added. “Yes, but I’m trying to move on from-”

“I’ve heard enough. To be a great defender, you must let go of past mistakes and look to the future, but I believe you prefer to stay in the past with your beloved.” the destroyer insulted her. “Well you shouldn’t be saying that Mr. 'In Love with a Cosmic Deity That Isn’t Interested’!” Pearl shouted before she was grabbed by the torso and thrown away. “That is where you belong Pearl, thrown away like a forgotten toy! Perhaps that’s why you abandoned your Diamond.”

Then Amethyst attempted to fight him, strangling him with her weapon. “My my, is that an Amethyst I see?” he wondered. “Excuse me little one, I want to see Amethyst.” Amethyst was understandably enraged by his insult and pulled him down to the ground with a scream. “Don’t call me little like that ever! Ya hear me?!” she shouted turning into her Purple Puma form, jumping into the air and smacking him with an elbow attack before he grabbed her arm and tossed her to his feet. “I expected better from a Kindergarten.”

“That is enough Thanos!” Doctor Strange unleashed a barrier around the hybrid alien. “Doctor Strange, how good to see you again. For the last time.” Thanos boasted. “Garnet, now!” the Sorcerer Supreme commanded the newly refused Garnet as she charged toward the Titanian and kicked him right in the jaw.

“Leave my comrades alone Thanos or face my wrath!” she declared preparing to launch her gauntlets like rockets at him. “And what would your "wrath” be? Just standing around and doing nothing while your teammates get up to nonsense chicanery?“

Garnet immediately ceased fire to comprehend Thanos’s words, when suddenly Hulk, Thor, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Ant-Man, Wasp, Spider-Man, Star-Lord, Drax and Groot attacked the Titan all at once. "PURPLE MAN HURT PINK BOY AND FRIENDS! HULK RIP OFF PURPLE MAN’S HEAD!” Hulk screamed. “Your days end here monster!” Hank shouted about to perform a flying kick before the Titan just mock-yawned and blasted them all away.

Then both Gamora & Nebula tried to fight him. “We’ve lived with your abuse for far too long!” Nebula screamed trying to stab her adoptive father before she was grabbed by the head and knocked out cold. “Take her away.” he simply commanded a lone Outrider who grabbed the Luphomoid’s unconscious form and scampered away, leaving the others crying her name.

“Get a load of this big guy!” Rocket roared while he and Yondu fired multiple arrows that simply failed to hit him not even once. “Are you all done yet?” was the flattest response Thanos could muster with a seriously bored expression on his face.

“We’re not done!” Peridot & Lapis cried out in unison preparing to stop him. “Oh look, the comic relief has arrived.” Thanos said turning to the barn mates. “You too Thanos?!” Lapis exclaimed incredulously preparing a tidal wave to wash him away. “Yeah, we’re Crystal Gems too!” Peridot added snatching Corvus Glaive’s weapon from his hands and took up arms. “If you claim to be Crystal Gems, then where are your stars?” He pointed straight at Peridot’s chest where that diamond symbol still hanged. “I-I’ll get mine soon, I’m just really hard to poof!”

“If these failures refuse to give you one, then maybe I can bestow it myself.” Thanos stated gesturing towards their fellow Gems as they struggled to get up before raising his left hand, preparing to destroy her and Lapis. Pretty much every one of the heroes was down for the count all except for two people: Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. “There’s only one way out of this.” Stark glowered at the Mad Titan behind his back before calling for Jarvis. “Jarvis?”

“Yes Mr. Stark?” Jarvis asked, ready to accept whatever command he was given. “Bring in Veronica.” Tony ordered. “Are you truly sure sir? After the last time you used it, it’s still in need of repairs.” the AI tried to advise against it. “I don’t care, we need to stop him!” Tony shouted. “All right then. Sending in Veronica.”

High above the battleground, a jet launched a crate with the Stark Industries name on it and crashed down right on top of Tony. The crate broke apart to reveal a large Iron Man armor as tall as Dr. Banner’s mutated half. This was Mark XLIV, the Hulkbuster.

“This is where we finish this Thanos.” Iron Man declared as Cap and the Hulkbuster charged toward him, ready to just end it all. “No, this is where I finish you.” Thanos heartlessly tore the Hulkbuster armor apart and pushed Tony away while Steve stumbled back.

It was over.

Thanos had won.

“Now all I need is the Mind Stone to become omnipotent.” he stated. That was when he heard the Captain begin to chuckle, followed by a light snicker and then finally a loud laugh for everyone to hear. “Cap!” Steven cheered rushing to his idol’s side.

“Why are you laughing?! You’ve lost!” Thanos wondered out loud. “It’s because we may have lost against you many times before Thanos, but we’ll always come out on top no matter what.” Rogers declared smirking. “And as long as one man stands against you, you will never claim victory.”

“My mom saw the beauty in everything. But I’m sure she didn’t see it in you.” Steven added with a determined glare. “Such noble sentiments from two mortals who are about to die.” Thanos declared preparing once more for battle. This was it, the final epic battle for the Infinity Stones and the fate of all that lives within the universe. The half-human son of Rose Quartz and the First Avenger against the almost all-powerful Mad Titan.

Thanos made his first move, pounding the sand beneath them with his fist to blind the two and firing an energy blast from his hands. “Out of the way!” Steven cried and the two dodged it. “Good maneuvers there kid!” the Star-Spangled Man with a Plan commended his young fan’s brilliance. The boy had no time to geek out over this as Thanos prepared to fire from a large rifle.

“Stasis gun!” Rogers exclaimed before Steven pulled out his shield to block the blast. “The shield of that accursed Rose Quartz! Then that must mean-” Thanos realized. “You must be her son.”

“I know, but I’m not like her! My mom may have done some bad things in the past, but I’m gonna make up for them!” Steven proclaimed. “Typical Rose Quartz, always using others to further her own goals like the fool she is.” the Mad Titan sarcastically lamented. “No, you’re the fool here for claiming you can just win all over again!” Cap declared fiercely. Thanos felt something snap in him, as if a small string finally gave way. He did not like how this puny human had just insulted him and gotten off scott free.

Without even the slightest of hesitation, Thanos ripped Captain America’s shield from his hands, broke it in two, stabbed him with both halves and shoved him into the cliffside, knocking him unconscious.

“STEVE!” they all cried out for their friend, terrified at what Thanos has done. “That could happen to the rest of you if I am disrespected any further.” the Titan declared. “Now hand over the Mind Stone or this planet shall become a forgotten memory.”

“Just let him have it Steven, we just can’t take it anymore.” Pearl finally resigned as the Crystal Gems felt utterly defeated despite their efforts. “You can take the Mind Stone, just please don’t hurt any of my friends or this planet.” Steven begged Thanos. “Hm, I shall give you this. You know how to put the needs of others before yours.” the villain complimented him. “Go, retrieve your stone. And I solemnly swear your planet shall remain living.”

“Come on everyone. For Earth.” Garnet declared getting up and leading the other Gems to the Burning Room. Opening the door, they walked inside and Steven jumped up to retrieve the Infinity Stone in its bubble. The rebels took one long last look at the artifact, still glimmering within its bubble before taking back outside where Thanos was waiting, eagerly anticipating the final stone.

“Here it is Thanos, the Mind Stone.” Steven popped the bubble and held out the stone for Thanos to take. “Thank you very much boy.” he thanked the child taking it out of his mitts and finally inserting it into the Gauntlet.

It was all over, the Gauntlet was complete and Thanos has now become a god. With just a wave of his hand, entire galaxies could tremble at his feet or he could destroy the entire universe and remake it in his image. But as for now, he will just relish in this victory over the incompetent rebels Rose left behind.

“I shall have you know son of Rose, or Steven Universe as they refer to you, that from now on my reign of terror shall be blamed on you and your planet. What’s left of the universe shall desire to carve out your heart and sacrifice it to me as their new god.” Thanos boomed one last time. “Even centuries from now when your pitiful Crystal Gems fade into the wind, they will tell stories of how one little boy has doomed them all.”

“I don’t care, you promise that Earth will live, right?” Steven wept before sobbing in Garnet’s arms. “Indeed child, Earth will be spared from my wrath. For now.” He then turned back to his intimidating vessel. “My Black Order, return to my side! It is time to lay siege to a certain empire.” His loyal minions did as they were told as they wearily stood up and returned to their lord’s aide before entering the ship.

Thanos simply looked back at the Gems with an arrogant sneer before the spaceship’s entrance finally closed and it took off, leaving Earth behind. “Now then, let’s see how Rogers is doing.” Pearl stated blankly walking over to the others, in which Tony, Hank and Strange checking his vitals. “Anything Tony?” she asked. “He’s all right, just knocked unconscious and in critical condition. But we don’t know if he’s going to make it out okay.”

“I-it’s okay guys! Superheroes die and come back a lot! He’s gonna come back eventually, right guys?!” Spider-Man tried to lighten their spirits in his usual manner, but to no avail. There was an air of dead silence in the area.

To the Avengers, they had lost a dear friend and a leader. To Lapis and Peridot, though they hadn’t known him long, they felt their pain. To the Guardians, they lost a trusted ally. But the Crystal Gems took it the hardest.

Garnet lost someone whom she could call an equal. Amethyst lost someone she could aspire to be like. Pearl lost the man whom she bonded with and was the closest to him out of all the Avengers. But to Steven, he lost his hero, his idol, the very super he looked up to. He had learned from him to stand up for what is right no matter the odds, to be with the ones you love til the end of the line, but most importantly to bring hope to even the darkest of times.

This time of mourning lasted throughout the night until the sun finally rose. Normally, the sun rising would mean new beginnings but for this despairing crew, it meant the beginning of the end.

“Guys?”

The Gem Homeworld. A sprawling utopia that has been the home of Gemkind for thousands of years, Ruled by the Great Diamond Authority, this planet has been at relative peace until they started running low on resources, in which they tried to resolve it by harvesting other planets to create new Gems.

But now, a certain tyrant has invaded with a score to settle with Homeworld’s monarchs and has decided to attract them by shattering every single Gem within his sights. All except one that managed to flee his rampage and make it her mission to warn her Diamond of his arrival.

A lone Citrine raced to a nearby communication port and punched in a special code to contact her Diamond, only to be met with her Pearl. “Welcome to the Diamond Line, what do you want?” Yellow Pearl snarked in a snooty tone of voice. “Listen, you have to connect me to Yellow Diamond! He’s finally come for us!” the Citrine warned much to the Pearl’s shock.

“Pearl, what is this about 'he’ returning?” a deep feminine voice wondered picking up the projector to reveal none other than Yellow Diamond. “My Diamond, I have terrible news! Thanos has returned, and he has all the Infinity Stones! You must contact the others and assemble every Gem you got to stop him! We need-”

Before Citrine could finish, the communicator was totaled by an energy blast from none other than Ebony Maw. “Well well, aren’t we a bit tenacious here?” he chided the soldier backing her into a corner and preparing an energy blast. “Savor your energy Ebony.” Thanos declared gently pushing his minion out of the way and forcing Citrine to the ground, aiming his foot at her hand where her gemstone was placed. “When you perish by my heel, tell your comrades in the next world I said hello.” And with that, he stomped Citrine’s gem, instantly shattering her.

“Thanos has returned?!” Blue Diamond screamed in horror as she and her sister raced to confront Thanos. “Yes, a Citrine soldier of mine warned me he would return someday.” Yellow commented. “Now where is White?!”

“Still can’t find her.” Blue moaned before they finally reached the Mad Titan, having already reduced their united army into five Rubies, an Aquamarine, a pair of Topazes and an Emerald fearing for their lives.

“This is all you have to offer now? I expected better from intergalactic warlords!” Thanos exclaimed crushing an inactive gemstone in his hand. “Thanos! What brings you back here you mongrel?!” Yellow Diamond roared preparing to strike him down. “Don’t do it my Diamond, Thanos is not to be messed with!” one of the Rubies begged her Diamond. “This Ruby is right Yellow, stand down or face my wrath.”

“Maybe we should just listen to his demands and maybe he’ll leave.” Blue Diamond suggested, to which her Pearl readily agreed. “Never! This Titan has disgraced us for far too long, and it’s time I get revenge for Pink!” Yellow screamed preparing to face off against Thanos before he raised the Gauntlet and said a single word. “KNEEL!”

Almost instantaneously, the two monarchs and their Pearls dropped to their knees before the Mad Titan. Just then, Mephisto materialized behind him. “Master, your new planet is almost ready. Your fleets have already prepared several worlds for you to terrorize.” the demon announced bowing.

“Excellent Mephisto.” Thanos thanked his servant before turning back to the Diamonds. “Perhaps if you hadn’t done nothing but sit around and mourn the demise of that brat rather than do as you were meant to do, then maybe things would’ve been different.”

“What is he implying?” Blue Pearl mumbled. “I am trying to say-” Thanos began before he stopped himself. “I shall work out the details later. But right now…” He turned away and stepped forward, gazing upon the sky of Homeworld and thinking about the various planets that he could conquer, all for his beloved. “He’s really going to do it.” Mephisto muttered almost fearfully as the others looked at Thanos gazing at something that clearly isn’t there.

But to Thanos, this was the form of his beloved Lady Death, standing there in front of him, her black robes hiding her wistful, neutral expression. Thanos grinned as he raised his hand skyward. Now that he was a god, what was his first act?

A single fingersnap.

To be continued in Steven Universe: Secret Wars

Part 2: Battleworld

Well that’s it everyone. The day has finally come. Let the universe howl in despair for Thanos has risen. Can the Crystal Gems and the Avengers find a way to stop him? Find out next time, coming soon.

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