The following day, we're on to District 4, Tony Stark's district. The capital of this district is based in New York City, and the Statesman lands on the platform of Stark Tower. The tall tower runs off of clean energy, from what I've been told.

Happy Hogun, the escort for Four, is waiting on the platform, his hands in his pockets. His expression is serious as the Statesman's ramp lowers and Jane leads us out.

"Stark sent me out to greet you," Happy says, nodding to Jane. He looks at me as Veers and I approach him. "Thank you. For...for looking after the kid."

I nod to him. "Peter was a good kid."

Howard Stark is waiting inside, Tony Stark standing behind the bar. The room we enter is large and roomy, with floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the landing platform and a balcony.

"Pointbreak!" Tony greets, lifting his hands. "You're here early. What gives?"

"Welcome to District 4," Howard says, arching an eyebrow at his son.

Jane gives the father and son a smile. "Thank you. I am sure you know of Loki Odinson and Veers?"

"Reindeer Games," Tony confirms, smirking. "And Twinkle Fists."

Veers furrows her brow, a slight, confused smile lingering on her lips. "Twinkle Fists?"

Tony raises his fists and holds them out, pantomiming shooting photon beams from them. "It explains itself, Starforce."

"Now you two are really champions," I hear, and glance up to see one of the other champions of Four, James Rhodes, the War Machine, approaching from the elevator. "It's not official until Tony gives you a nickname."

"Did anyone give Tony a nickname?" I ask.

Rhodes laughs, flinging his arm around Tony's shoulder. "Oh, yeah. He's Tony Stank. Courtesy of an old deliveryman."

Tony gives a wry grin before glancing to Hela and Valkyrie. "Ah, the two hags have come."

Veers looks completely baffled for a moment. "What?"

"The hags," Tony repeats, gesturing. "Murderous Hag and Booze Hag."

"Sorry," Howard mutters to Hela and Valkyrie.

"I've been called worse," Hela replies. "He's halfway accurate, at least."

"Tony, when are the..." the new, female voice trails off as Pepper Potts, the champion Rescue, dressed in a nice top and denim shorts, pads into the bright, open room. "Oh. I see they've already arrived."

"Yeah, we already went over the fact that they are early and therefore inconveniencing us," Tony remarks, giving Pepper a smile that's different from the smirk he normally wears. "Hey, babe."

Pepper gives him a slight smile. "Early or not, we welcome them. Thor, Jane, how are you?"

"His name is Pointbreak," Tony protests, scowling.

"Good," Jane replies, ignoring Tony. "How's everything been here?"

Pepper purses her lips for a second. "As good as we can expect."

The second of hesitation catches my attention. As good as they can expect? What is that supposed to mean? My gaze flickers to Howard Stark, who for a moment looks grim. Then the moment passes and Tony glances around at all of us. "You want a drink?"

After he's poured us all glasses of some version of Midgardian alcohol, Peggy Carter, the Warmonger District's first champion, enters the room, nodding a greeting to my sister and Ronan.

The thought strikes me like a lightning bolt: there are five Avengers in this room. Valkyrie, Howard, Hela, Ronan, and Peggy all fought against Thanos in both the Infinity War and the Endgame.

And now here they stand, the losers of the real fight but the victors in Thanos' game.

We give our speech on the balcony of Stark Tower, where it's filmed for the rest of the district and the universe. The champions, Howard Stark, Happy Hogun, and Mae Parker are the only people physically present to listen to us, beside the film crew and our own retinue.

Peter Parker's Aunt Mae is dressed in black, like she's at a funeral. She stares at me throughout my entire speech, the glimmer of tears sparkling in the corners of her eyes. It makes it very hard for me to focus, especially since I know I will have to celebrate Thanos and his Balance, and it was that same damn Balance that stole Peter's life.

So when I get to that part of the speech, the part where I normally praise Thanos, I hesitate. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Veers glance at me, but she says nothing, only waiting.

This is an act, I tell myself. It is all an act. You have to learn to lie. Learn to lie about this. Nothing you say can affect Peter now. He's dead. You're not. Don't join him. You don't mean this – it is all an act.

Whatever it takes, right?

And so I continue on with the speech, inwardly wincing at what I say. But I can't help it. I slipped up in Sokovia, when I voiced my regret over Pietro's death. Not that I didn't mean it – but because Thanos has threatened to kill me if I fail. I can't fail.

But as I near the end, I can't stand the look of betrayal on Peter's aunt's face. You watched him die, her eyes say. You sat with him while he died, you watched him turn to dust. And now you talk like his death doesn't matter.

"If it wasn't for Peter, I would be dead." The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, springing from my tongue like they have a life of their own. "He didn't have to save me. He didn't have to do anything. He could have just watched and waited for the cannon to sound. It would have been one less person between him and...between him and home. But that wasn't who Peter was. He was a good kid. He had a big heart. All he thought about was other people, how to help them, even at risk to himself." I swallow, fighting against rising emotion, trying to find a way to repair the harm I've done myself. "I wish I could have saved him. But...there is the Balance."

"Screw the Balance."

My eyes widen as heads jerk over to look at Mae Parker, who is staring right at me. "You talk about Thanos and the Balance, like it means something to you," she whispers fiercely. "But if it really meant something to you, you wouldn't have disrupted it by saving the Kree!" She steps towards me, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Peter was a good kid, and he trusted you, and where did that get him? Huh? Where did his trust, his big heart, get him? Dead! It should have been you. You don't deserve any of this." Mae glares at me, her chest heaving with emotion. "I will not listen to lies from men like you!"

My response is instinctual, although quiet. "There are no men like me."

"There shouldn't be," Mae bites off scathingly.

And I watch as the Children of Thanos muscle past, weapons lifted. I know that Veers averts her gaze, but I don't. I watch every second of the energy blast slicing through Mae Parker's chest, scorching her clothes and skin, before her body crumples to the ground like a rag doll.

There are so many emotions swirling inside me right now, my expression doesn't even change. Anger, regret, sorrow, fear, and annoyance mix together until I only feel detached. And that is the best way to feel, in my opinion. Nothing hurts when you're detached.

It is from this state of mind, this distant version of myself, that the idea comes to murmur these words.

"Sentiment."