"So we gotta assume they're coming back, right?" asked Rhodey. We'd given him the rundown of what had just happened with Vision and Wanda, and any information Bruce could provide. We'd moved to another room, one a little more spacious, with a decent view of outside—not that that mattered at the moment.

"And they can clearly find us," said Wanda.

"We need all hands on deck," said Bruce. "Where's Clint?"

"After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal," said Natasha. "It was too tough on their families, they're on house arrest."

"Who's Scott?"

"Ant-Man," I said.

"There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man? Okay, look...Thanos has the biggest army in the universe. And he is not gonna stop until he...he gets...Vision's Stone."

"Well then, we have to protect it," said Todd.

"No," said the android, "we have to destroy it. I've been giving a good deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its nature. But also, its composition." Vision seemed to gravitate towards Wanda. "I think if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something, very similar to its own signature, perhaps...its molecular integrity could fail."

"And you, with it," said Wanda. "We're not having this conversation."

"Eliminating the stone is the only way to be certain that Thanos can't get it."

"That's too high a price."

"Only you have the power to pay it."

Dismayed, Wanda stepped away from Vision. I cast a glance at Aria—she was watching the two interact intently.

"Thanos threatens half the Universe," continued Vision. "One life cannot stand in the way of defeating him."

"But it should," said Steve, whose eyes downcast to the floor. He picked them up to the android. "We don't trade lives, Vision."

"Captain." Vision stepped towards Steve. "Seventy years ago, you laid down your life to save how many millions of people. Tell me, why is this any different?"

"Because you might have a choice," Bruce interjected before Steve could speak. "Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays. JARVIS, Ultron, Tony, me, the Stone. All of them mixed together. All of them learning from one another."

"You're saying Vision isn't just the stone?" asked Aria.

"I'm saying that if we take out the stone, there's still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts."

"Can we do that?"

"Not me. Not here."

"You better find someone, and somewhere fast. Ross isn't exactly just gonna let you guys have your old rooms back," said Rhodey.

"Yeah, what a shame that is," Todd lamented dramatically. I nudged his arm.

Steve?

I know exactly what you're thinking. "I know somewhere," said Steve.

"We know people who could most certainly be capable of helping Vision," I added.

"Do you want to clue us in?" asked Aria.

"You wouldn't have heard of it, because it's not another realm. It's called Wakanda."

"I've heard about it, on the news."

"If anyone can help us, it's them. We're on good terms with the current king there. If we told him what we know, I'm sure he'll side with us." We're putting them in danger, by going to Wakanda. We're about to potentially lead aliens to their society. We'll be bringing war on our heels with us. While it wasn't the nicest prospect, Wakanda was our only option.

Everyone agreed and we were to depart soon. Wanda branched off to pull Aria aside, leaving me alone with Bruce. Everyone else went to prep what they could for the quinjet, dispersing in their own separate ways.

"Whatever you're about to tell me, it's bad, isn't it?" I sighed to Bruce. We took a hallway to lazily walkthrough until was time to board.

"In order for you to truly understand, I need to backpedal a bit." Bruce proceeded to tell me about how he had landed on a foreign planet as the Hulk for two years until he encountered Thor of all people. Thor's older sister, Hela, had taken over Asgard in the wake of the Allfather's death. Thor and Loki—who had been posing as Odin while the real king was exiled someplace else—had been cast out to a planet called Sakaar, while Hela established dominance.

Hela was defeated, but so was Asgard. The Goddess of Death was almost unbeatable, until Surtur the Destroyer brought Ragnarok down upon Asgard. My home realm was gone...consumed by lava and fire.

"We were Earth bound," Bruce said after taking a breath, "until our ship was intercepted. It was...it was Thanos. Kiara, he slaughtered half the people on that ship."

"And the other half?"

"They got away in escape pods. Hulk tried to put a beating to Thanos." Bruce rubbed the back of his neck. "I can't say for sure what happened after I was sent to Earth, but, Kiara...there's no way that Thor and Loki could've survived. Thanos already had an Infinity Stone when he boarded."

I stopped in my tracks, my mind swimming. Asgard gone. Thor and Loki—who was alive, damn it all—were most likely gone. My parents...

"My parents," I whispered in horror. "Bruce, did you happen to meet my parents?"

The man shook his head. "Sorry, I don't think that I did. I...I can't begin to tell you if they made it or not. I wish I had better news for you, Kiara."

Emotions were gearing up to take over my body. I screwed my eyes shut. Asgard's destruction did not hurt as much as expected, as while it had been my home realm, I hadn't lived there for a little more than half a decade. But knowing people that I knew, cared for...were...were...

Thanos is taking everything. He will not stop until he has all the Stones. He will kill anyone and anything that steps in his way. My body began to shake. I should mourn, but I want to get a shot at him.

"Aria?" I asked.

"It hit her pretty badly," Bruce reported solemnly.

My hands went into fists. "So help me Odin, I will make sure Thanos rues the day he slaughtered half of Asgard's people." While I didn't know many on Asgard, while Thanos didn't know I existed, the attack on the population felt very personal.

"Hey, congrats," said Bruce. "On your wedding."

"Oh." I looked down at my wedding band. Even on the run, I refused to take it off. Just like I refused to take off the necklace Steve had given me all that time ago. While he didn't have his actual shield, I had a small charm of it on me. "Thanks."

"Steve?"

"Steve."

"Couldn't have picked a better guy, Kiara. Really sorry I couldn't be there."

"You had your own adventures you were embarking on."

"I'd rather have switched it out for being there to see you guys married."

I offered a wavering smile. It made me feel a little warmer inside, or maybe cooler—I could have been running warmer from my now-grudge against Thanos.

"Oh, there you guys are," came Todd's voice. I quickly gathered myself as Todd and Natasha walked towards us. "We're heading out."

I nodded. "Lead the way."

Todd took lead with me, Natasha hung back with Bruce.

What is it? asked Todd.

I sniffed. Another time, Todd. It's still fresh.

What happened? What did Bruce tell you?

Todd, please.

All right, all right. He grabbed one of my hands and squeezed. At least I could count on Todd for knowing my boundaries. You tell me when you're ready.

I hope that I get the time to.

**It always seems like Kiara's world is falling apart just when things start to feel somewhat normal again, my poor baby.**