Chapter Three🕷Fractured Hold
I don't own anything except any original character and/or any original plot.
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Chapter 3: Fractured Hold
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A/n: EVEN MORE ENDGAME SPOILERS
Peter
"It's been twenty-three days since Thanos came to Earth," Rhodey updated the three space lagged heroes.
"World governments are in pieces. The parts that are still working are trying to take a census, And it looks like he did... He did exactly what he said he was gonna do. Thanos wiped out fifty percent of all living creatures," Nat continued.
The Avengers, May, and (Y/n)'s parents watched as the troves of dead heroes and allies appeared on the screen. Everyone seemed to grimace when (Y/n)'s picture appeared, looking away.
When they entered the compound, medical equipment was ready for them. The three got a quick checkup, and Tony and Peter were hooked up to IVs imrpove their physical states.
"Where is he now? Where?" Tony questioned.
"We don't know. He just opened a portal and walked through."
"Excuse me, what's wrong with Mr. Thor?" Peter pointed out the sulking god in the corner.
"He's pissed," Rocket, the talking racoon- still weird- explained, "He thinks he failed. Which he did, but there's a lot of that goin' around, ain't there?"
"Honestly, until this exact second, I thought you were a Build-A-Bear," Tony commented, looking over the strange alien? Experiment? Animal?
"Maybe I am."
"We've been hunting Thanos for three weeks now. Deep space scans, and satellites, and we got nothing."
"Tony, you and Peter fought him," Steve stated the obvious.
"Who told you that?" Tony asked sarcastically, almost venomously, "Didn't fight him. No. He wiped our faces with a planet while a Bleecker Street magician gave away the stone. That's what happened. There was no fight..."
The parents bristled at the notion. Tony Stark struggling to fight Thanos, and their kids went head to head with him? Look at how that situation turned out.
"Did he give you any clues? Any coordinates, anything?"
"He was acting weird around (Y/n)," Peter stated quietly, avoiding her parents' curious gazes, "He recognized her and protected her when he brought the moon down."
"(Y/n)'s never been to space before. The X-Men had a few missions up there back in the day but as spaceships got safer, they didn't feel the need to interfere," Clara stated, looking to Lucas for further elaboration.
"Yeah, it doesn't make sense for Thanos to act like he knew her."
Tony looked at Lucas curiously, "You work for me don't you? You're one of the SHIELD transfers. Wow, surprised I did put two and two together. I did my best with her, you guys did better. Out there she was-"
"Tony maybe you shouldn't-"
Tony, at an all-time high with frustration and all-time low for stability, spoke up, "You know, I saw this coming a few years back. I had a vision. I didn't wanna believe it. Thought I was dreaming."
"Tony I'm gonna need you to focus," Steve prompted, making Tony even angrier.
"And I needed you. As in past tense. That trumps what you need. It's too late, buddy. Sorry," Tony smacked his bowl of food away from himself, "You know what I need? I need to shave. And I believe I remember telling-" Tony stood up abruptly, ripping out his IV, ignoring the protests of Rhodey and Peter.
"Mr. Stark you probably shouldn't..."
"Tony, Tony, Tony..."
"That what we needed was a suit of armor around the world. Remember that? Whether it impacted our precious freedoms, or not. That's what we needed."
"Well, that didn't work out, did it?" Steve asked in a calm voice, trying not to rile Tony up any more.
"I said we'd lose. You said, 'We'll do that together, too.' Well guess what, Cap? We lost."
"Mr. Stark maybe you should sit down," Peter suggested carefully, taking the same approach as Steve. He didn't want to tick Tony off more.
"Adult talk Peter," Tony waved his hand dismissively, eyes never leaving Steve's, "You weren't there. But that's what we do, right? Our best work after the fact? We're the Avengers? We're the Avengers? Not the Prevengers?"
Rhodey grabbed Tony's arms, trying to put him back in his seat, "Okay. You made your point. Just sit down, okay?"
Tony writhed in Rhodey's grasp, "No, no. Here's my- She's great, by the way," Tony pointed at Carol, speaking over Rhodey.
"Tony, sit, sit down!"
"We need you. You're new blood. Bunch of tired old mills, plus Peter," Tony finally jerked away, strolling towards Steve, "I got nothing for you, Cap. I got no coordinates, no clues, no strategies, no options. Zero. Zip. Nada. No trust, you liar..."
Tony ripped his arc reactor off his chest, slapping it into Steve's hand, "Here, take this. You find him and you put that on," Tony stumbled, nearly falling over, "You hide."
"Tony!"
"I'm fine. I-" Tony fell unconscious to the floor.
Clara knelt down next to Tony, checking his pulse as Rhodey flipped his body over, "He's okay, just an idiot for taking his IV out so early. He needs rest, and a new IV."
Bruce, frozen a half crouching position, stared at Clara in shock. She noticed, raising her brows and shaking Bruce out of his state.
"Sorry, it's just that usually I'm the doctor here. Kind of weird."
Clara hooked her arms under Tony's shoulders, "I'm a nurse. I work at the hospital Stephen Strange used to. I'm used to stuff like this. Now help me get him into a bed and I'll take care of him."
"That's my wife," Lucas whispered to no one in particular, as if the room didn't already know, "This would be an interesting story to tell (Y-"
Lucas cut himself off, the name hanging unsaid in the air. The room was plunged into a somber silence, the slip a reminder of their dire situation. Even Clara and Rhodey paused in their efforts to move Tony. Clearing his throat, Lucas left the room. No one moved to stop him. Clara had thrown herself into work to cope, Lucas was trudging through his emotions.
Peter wanted to curl into a ball and cry. He was so grateful to be back on Earth surrounded by his childhood idols, but there was no happiness there, no childish joy. May placed her hand on Peter's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Peter looked up from his IV-ed hand and met her eyes, understanding. She went through the same thing with Uncle Ben. They had each other, but they also had more than that.
Everyone in the compound had each other, whether or not they were happy with it. On that note, the team followed Clara and Rhodey to watch over Tony's health. Bruce prepped a sedative, injecting it into Tony's arm along with a new IV. Rhodey, trusting the professionals, left to give the others the update.
"Bruce have Tony a sedative. He's gonna probably be out for the rest of the day."
Captain Marvel turned, "You guys take care of him. And I'll bring a Bezurian elixir when I come back."
"Where are you going?" Steve questioned, brows furrowed.
"To kill Thanos," she shrugged.
Nat rushed forward, "Hey. You know we usually work as a team here, and between you and I we're also a little fragile."
"We realize up there is more your territory, but this is our fight, too," Steve added.
"You know where he is?" Rhodey asked, leaning on the doorway.
"I know people who might."
"Don't bother," Nebula spoke for the first time since they arrived at the compound, "I can tell you where Thanos is."
Almost instinctively, everyone crossed the half back into the conference room. It was ten times more convenient that way.
"Thanos spent a long time trying to perfect me. Then when he worked, he talked about his great plan. Even disassembled, I wanted to please him. I'd ask, where would we go once his plan was complete? His answer was always the same. To The Garden."
"That's cute," Rhodey quipped, "Thanos has a retirement plan."
"So where is he, then?" Steve flicked the holo-table on. It showed Earth.
"When Thanos snapped his fingers, Earth became ground zero for a power surge of ridiculously cosmic proportions," Rocket climbed onto the table, "No one's ever seen anything like it... Until one day ago. On this planet."
The hologram replicated exactly what Rocket said, travelling galaxies over to a new planet, similar to Earth but much greener. The power surge spreading out from it was identical to the one shot off from Earth.
"Thanos is there," Nebula concluded.
Natasha studied the hologram intently, "He used the stones again..."
"Hey, hey, hey," Bruce's tone held an obvious warning, "We'd be going in short-handed, you know?"
"Look, he still got the stones, so..."
"So let's get him," Carol proposed simply. She took in everyone's surprised gazes, "We use them to bring everyone back."
"Just like that?"
"Yeah, just like that," Steve gave Carol a nod of respect. She nodded back. Peter marvelled. Silent Captain Code.
"Even if there's a small chance that we can undo this, we owe it to everyone who's not in this room to try," Nat added in.
Peter cleared his throat, "I know I'm the youngest here, I probably don't have much of a voice, but I say we do it. If we can bring everyone back, amazing. If we can't... At least we can get revenge."
May laid a hand on Peter's shoulder, breathing out shakily. She knew he wanted to go.
"If we do this, how do we know it's gonna end any differently than it did before?" Bruce questioned.
"Because before you didn't have me."
Peter could have smiled for the first time in nearly a month. (Y/n) would have loved Carol. Both of them were powerful, and headstrong. They would have got along like a house on fire.
Rhodey rolled his eyes, "Hey, new girl, everybody in this room is about that superhero life. And if you don't mind my asking, where the hell have you been all this time?"
"There are a lot of other planets in the universe," Carol smirked, "And unfortunately, they didn't have you guys."
Thor rose from his seat loudly, walking to Carol with long strides. Carol raised a brow, crossing her arms. Thor frowned, outstretching his hand past her shoulder. Stormbreaker flew into his hand. Carol tilted her head, no signs of weakness.
"I like this one," Thor nodded in approval.
Steve stared at the hologram of The Garden, "Let's go get this son of a bitch."
"Everyone who's going, suit up. I'll talk to Clara and Pepper about Tony. It's gonna be a long day," Nat made a hurry motion with her hand.
The Avengers dispersed, going to grab their suits and equipment. Peter fiddled with his IV before standing. He wanted to talk to Clara about taking it out so he could go on the mission with the others. He was better off than Tony, and there was no way in hell he wouldn't be going to face the lunatic who took (Y/n) from him.
"No," Aunt May bent down to meet Peter's eyes, gripping his shoulders, "You aren't going into space again. I almost lost you last time, and you want to go face Thanos again? No."
"May please, I have to do this for (Y/n)-"
"Don't use her death as an excuse for revenge," May shook Peter gently, "You know she wouldn't want that."
"She's dead," Peter snapped, gripping his IV pole and stepping away, "How would you know what she wants?"
"Peter-"
"Let him do it," Lucas leaned against the metal doorway, eyes red and arms crossed.
"Lucas?"
"I know Peter isn't my son, or my nephew, but you and I both know that he would have been. He needs this May, he will never move on without this closure. And if we can get everyone back... We need to do it."
May's breath hitched. She looked to Peter, who was shaking with either exhaustion or anger. Cupping his cheek, she nodded, sniffling.
"I can't believe people keep convincing me to let you do hero stuff."
"It's a (L/n) thing," Lucas shrugged, shooting Peter a wink, "We have a way with people. Peter, if you have the chance to get our daughter back, do it. But if you can't, then you come back here, and you keep your head high. You did what you could, and that's what matters. You're family."
Peter nodded obediently, "Thank you Mr. (L/n). I'll get her back."
(Y/n)
The jumps back to The Garden were torture. Too long and too short. I barely trusted myself to land the ship behind our home.
All those memories... years on Earth with people who loved me. How could Father say they hurt me to the point of mental trauma? Nothing made sense but my heart told me everything was falling into place.
Gathering my things I also gathered my thoughts. I would ask Father while I was tending to his wounds. He enjoyed talking while working. He spoke of our future and his past. Of Nebula and Gamora, New York, and his empire.
Jumping from the ramp I jogged towards the house. Another ship caught my eyes. Not aware Father was having guests over, I observed the ship. It was brightly colored, the shape unlike our allies. Almost as if...
"Father!" My pace quickened to a sprint, taking the steps two at a time until I burst through the door, "Fa-"
My desperate call was cut off by a horrified screech. My scream. Father... with the Avengers around his head.
"What did you do? What did you do?"
"Nebula, who's she?" Captain America looked to my alienated sister.
"I don't know. I never met her before."
Releasing my stores, shaking in anger, I took stance, "You'll pay for that."
I was clearly outnumbered and out-powered. But in that moment, it didn't matter. My father was dead.
Captain Marvel held out her fist, a powerful blast of energy shooting out. Freezing a thick shield in front of me, it still knocked me out of the house and down the stairs. Groaning, I pushed myself up. Despite my confusion, despite my doubts, Thanos took care of me.
He... he improved me.
The Avengers stepped down the rickety steps cautiously. They thought I was dangerous. They were right.
Pulling water from the plant life around me, they turned brown and brittle. Well worth it for my cause. I went for Captain America's legs first, pulling my forward and slamming him against a support beam. It nearly crippled from the force. War Machine was above me, aiming artillery. Swinging my hand up I flooded his suits' joints, freezing the water so he couldn't move. Black Widow and Nebula sprinted towards me, falling forwards as their feet froze.
"Interesting powers. He give those to you too?" Captain Marvel held out her fist again.
Staying silent, I ducked under the shot. I was adapting quickly; they pulled the same moves. I stuck low to the ground, sprinting towards her and tackling her to the ground.
"Argh!" Thor tackled me off of his ally, pinning me.
"I didn't want to do this," I hissed, glaring at the recovering heroe,s "But you've left me no choice."
Clenching my fist, the Avengers immediately lost control of their bodies. Thor stiffly stood and stepped off me, falling into line with the other heroes. It confused them, yelling out in protest.
"What the hell is this, kid?" War Machine shouted out, "Can anyone move?"
"She's controlling our bodies," Black Widow grunted, face contorting.
"All powerful, and you're at my mercy when I close my fist," I stalked towards them, fuming, "Earth's mightiest heroes? The best defense against my Father? No. You're pathetic."
"Hey guys is everything okay here?" A young voice called, emerging from their ship, "Do you need help against Thanos?"
I turned to the source, ready to make them fall in line with the others. What I didn't expect, was to see the source of my mental torment, of my doubts and confusion against my Father. Spider-Man, Peter Parker, the boy I loved who loved me back.
"Oh, who are you? Karen deploy legs!" Legs emerged from the back of the suit, springing him towards me without warning.
I shook off my hesitance. He was with the Avengers. They hurt me. They killed my father. Whatever we had was gone. I kept my eyes on his form, ready to take him over-
Clunk!
One leg slammed against the mask covering my face. Instinctively, I flinched back, but the damage had already been done. My mask was at least ten feet away from me, too far to retrieve and replace safely.
"(Y/n)?" The boy paused in his ministrations.
"How do you know that?" Stupid question. I knew how he knew. But he still remembered me, he stopped attacking when he saw me. He wasn't treating me like the enemy anymore.
"Thor now!"
The metal butt of Stormbreaker slammed against my temple. My body crumpled to the ground, but not before I saw Peter rip off his mask and run towards me.
Peter
On the Guardian's ship, the Benatar- with fresh repairs from Rocket- the Avengers were geared up and ready. Peter had gotten permission from Clara to go on the mission, albeit he didn't get the crap beat out of him again and he relaxed on the way there.
"Okay. Who here hasn't been to space?" Rocket called back as he started up the ship. Peter nearly swelled with pride when most of the Avengers raised their hand, "You better not throw up on my ship."
The Avengers exchanged nervous looks at that. Peter leaned his head against the back of his seat, shutting his eyes. He didn't know what 'jumping' felt like, but it couldn't be worse than their crash landing on Titan.
"Approaching jump in 3... 2... 1."
Everyone's bodies slammed into their seats as the ship jumped to hyperdrive. It was Star Wars in real life. If only Ned was there for Peter to text...
They apparently had three jumps before they would end up at The Garden, which left approximately four hours. Peter figured he could sleep for three and a half of those and prepare a plan with the team for the last half hour.
"Wake me up when they start planning," Peter told Karen, slouching down and shutting his eyes.
For the first time in a month, Peter slept well.
~*~
"Time to wake up Peter, you're approaching the last jump."
Peter groaned, eyes slowly blinking open. They hit the last jump, waking him up like being splashed in the face with water. Snapping up, Peter looked around him. Rocket, Thor and Nebula were still up front. Steve and Nat were probably somewhere else on the ship talking strategy.
"Have they talked about what we'll do when we get down there?" Peter asked quietly.
"No. I think they're winging it."
"That's not gonna end well."
"I'll head down for recon." Captain Marvel, now outside the ship, flew in front of the cockpit.
Only ten minutes later, Captain Marvel was flying back up. She was crazy fast and efficient.
"No satellites, no ships, no armies, no ground defenses of any kind. It's just him."
"Then that's enough."
The Benatar entered the atmosphere, landing in the exact coordinates of the power blast. The Avengers stared at the home Thanos was meant to be staying in. It wasn't a fortress, nor was it what they expected of Thanos the Titan. It was homemade.
"Let's go get him."
The Avengers and Guardians stood from their seat, rushing to the door. Peter was right behind them, stepping back when Captain America stood in front of him.
"Stay here kid. Guard the ship."
Peter frowned under his mask. They let him come so far just to leave him on the ship to 'guard' it?
"I can fight. I'm fine-"
"Queens, listen," Steve put a hand on Peter's shoulder, people had been doing that a lot lately, and sighed, "I understand that you want to avenge (Y/n). She was a great kid, and hero, but this isn't the way to go. Things could get ugly in there, and if something happens to us, you need to report back to Earth, carry on the Avengers name. Understand?"
Peter nodded, albeit hesitantly, and turned around, searching for any windows he could watch the action from. None, only the front ones that were conveniently facing away from Thanos' home. Peter sighed, and plopped down in one of the seats, resting his head on his hand to wait until they got back.
Five minutes later, he heard a loud crash from outside. He ignored it. He was supposed to stay in the ship. A few more crashes sounded. Peter stayed still. It wasn't until everything went silent that he got curious.
Opening the ramp, he cautiously stepped down and into the open.
"Hey guys is everything okay here?" Peter called out, still not in the line of vision of the field, "Do you need help against Thanos?"
Everything was clear when he saw the Avengers in a straight line, rigid. Their face were their own, but their bodies weren't. The source was a girl, young by the looks of it. Human.
"Oh, who are you? Karen deploy legs!" Legs emerged from the back of Peter's suit, springing him forwards.
The girl was hesitating. She could have easily controlled Peter like she did the other Avengers. Such a powerful lineup and they fell under her control with a clench of her fist. Peter was right in front of her now. One of his legs smacked her mask. The strike landed with a resonating thunk.
The mask was sent far away from her reach, revealing his face. Peter stepped back, ready for an attack. What he wasn't ready for, was for the girl to face him and reveal who she was.
"(Y/n)?"
Peter's world crashed down around him. There was no denying it was her. The blue streaks in her hair, the shape of her nose, her eyes. It was her. Somehow she escaped death, and she was working with Thanos, whom they just killed.
"How do you know that?" The girl asked in a panic, but she wasn't shocked.
"Thor now!"
In the process of Peter and (Y/n) losing their focus, (Y/n) lost her hold on the Avengers. Which was another thing, (Y/n) had a strong moral compass, and bloodbending destroyed her from the inside out. Now she was doing it casually?
The metal butt of Stormbreaker slammed against (Y/n)'s temple. As (Y/n) fell to the ground Peter sprung forward, ripping off his mask. He positioned his body over her protectively, in case the others got trigger-happy.
Reaching out with shaking hands, Peter ran one of her blue streaks through his fingers. Real, they were real. All of her was real.
"You know her?" Thor questioned, Stormbreaker returning to his hand.
"This is (Y/n)," Peter choked back a sob. She had died in his arms, he mourned her.
Nat checked her pulse and breathing, "You said she was dead. She seems pretty alive to me."
"She was. It's like-"
"Thanos brought her back," Nebula looked at the girl who could call her sister. Both of them stolen from their homes to become Thanos' daughter, "Theoretically, he could have. She wasn't meant to die in the first place, bring her back shifted the balance, but it could have been done."
"She didn't have those before," Steve pointed out the metal above her brow, "It isn't part of her mutation, that just the hair."
"Thanos 'improved' her," Nebula motioned to her own changes, "If he was still sending her on missions, and she showed weakness, he would have made adjustments."
Thor slung the girl over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, lumbering to the ship.
"Wait, Thor, are you crazy?" Rocket ran after his friend, the others following, "She controlled out bodies, you saw that!"
"I'm gonna have to agree with the Racoon here," Rhodey cut in, "She's crazy powerful, bringing her back with us is dangerous."
"So is leaving her to fester in hate," Thor laid the girl on the med-table, staring her down, "Powerful ally, dangerous enemy."
"Ally? Thor, she tried to kill us."
"She's not evil. I don't know what happened," Peter grabbed (Y/n)'s cold hand. She was alive. He couldn't process the fact. Why did Thanos bring her back? Her of all people? Why, to raise her?
"Maybe he was controlling her," Captain Marvel suggested, "He had the Mind Stone, he could have messed with her head."
Nat rushed around, searching different cupboards. The hit from Stormbreaker left an angry gash on (Y/n)'s head, one that needed attention.
Steve's brows furrowed, "All it took was a hit to the head for Clint."
"(Y/n)'s under combined power. Bursts of mental reconstruction so strong that Thanos destroying the stones probably only fractured his hold. It's why she attacked us, but also why she hesitated with Peter."
"Either way, we should give her a once over before we handle things more thoroughly on Earth. Boys, out."
At Nat's command, Steve, Rocket, Rhodey, and Thor left. Peter hesitated. If he left, would she be gone again when he came back?
"Would (Y/n) give you permission to stay?"
Peter nodded. Nebula easy located the zipper on (Y/n)'s uniform, tugging it down.
"Oh my God," Nat whispered. Her eyes weren't on the varying scars- every hero had those- but on the four metal lines beginning in the middle of her hips and stopping where her ribs began- two on each side of her navel. They were almost glowing, the metal holding shimmering with power, "Look what he did to her."
Peter focused on the obstruction rather than how revealed (Y/n) was. It wasn't right to focus on her near nudity when there were larger issues at hand. Thanos changed her, mentally and physically.
"We'll need Bruce or Tony to look at them, see what they connect to and what they do," Nat pulled the zipper back up, scared that if she went further, she would find more changes. She focused on the cut on her head, disinfecting it and wrapping it.
"She needs to be contained," Nebula stated the obvious, "We don't know when she'll wake up."
"Do you have anything here?"
"There's a holding cell in the back of the ship."
So they moved (Y/n) to the holding cell. Peter sat outside, catatonic and lost in his confusion and reverse grief.
~*~
(Y/n) never woke up, too out of it to do so. Peter was glad, he couldn't handle her in this state by himself. He wasn't a match for her power, he could admit that without his pride being hurt, and seeing the love of his life so out of it was discerning.
"It might be best if we break it to her parents slowly," Steve watched as Peter lifted (Y/n) into his arms, "We'll have Bruce hook everything up and sit them down to talk to them. Peter, I think you should come with us when we do."
"Okay," Peter carried (Y/n) through a side door, sure to stay out of the sight of Clara and Lucas, both of whom were talking to May in the meeting room.
He stepped into the med-room next to Tony's, meeting Bruce inside. Bruce already had everything set up. Setting (Y/n) down gingerly, Peter hovered over Bruce as he put in the IV, speaking up when Bruce pulled out hefty cuffs.
"What are those?"
"She attacked you, we can't risk that happening again."
Peter couldn't argue with that, but it still irked him to see (Y/n) being locked up like some criminal.
"Peter," Nebula leaned against the doorframe, "(Y/n)'s parents and your aunt are waiting in the conference room."
Panic, it flooded Peter's body, freezing him in place. Bruce looked up from his work.
"If they weren't mad at you when you told them she died, they aren't going to be mad when you tell them she's alive."
Peter nodded, following Nebula to the conference room. Steve, Nat, and Captain Marvel were either sitting or standing across from the adults, all of them torn up.
"Steve just told us Thanos destroyed the stones," May sniffled, running her hands under her eyes, "They're all gone for good, aren't they?"
"Um, not everyone," Peter shifted nervously, "When we got there and killed Thanos... something happened. (Y/n), she's alive."
The three gasped, tears gathering in their eyes at the joyous news.
"Are you serious?" Clara questioned.
"Yeah, I am."
Lucas shot up like a bullet, running for the door. Clara and May were close behind. Peter rushed behind them He didn't get to tell them that-
"Why is she all locked up?"
(Y/n), just waking up, jerked against her binds. Scowling, she faced the group, lurching forward even though it wouldn't do any good.
"Why am I here? Let me go! You killed my father. All of you need to pay for it! He was all I had!" (Y/n) squirmed and writhed in the bed, wrinkling the sheets and pushing them to the foot of the bed, "The last time you had me you tortured me! You betrayed me! What are you gonna do now that your dirt is in the open?"
The Avengers in the room flinched at the concept or betraying and torturing (Y/n). Despite her loyalty to the X-Men, she was an Avenger too. Peter remembered that on the ship heading to Titan, she called her an X-Avenger.
"Father?" Lucas stepped towards his daughter, "(Y/n), I'm right here."
"Mr and Mrs (L/n)," Peter pulled them into the corner, "Thanos used the stones on her. She doesn't remember us, she thinks Thanos is her Father. Captain Marvel said that destroying the stones would have fractured his hold on her, but she attacked us."
Tony strutted out of his room as if he hadn't previously freaked out and then fainted. He peeked into (Y/n)'s room, still threatening and yelling angrily, and turned to the group in the corner for an explanation. He was on the brink of tears again.
"Tony- Tony, Jesus don't run off like that," Pepper ran in, gasping, "(Y/n)?"
"Alright, a lot of people in here is going to overwhelm her. If you're gonna talk, go out," Bruce shooed them out, "Clara, you wanna stay?"
"Do I wanna stay with my daug- Is that even a question," Clara kissed Lucas on the cheek, "I'll take good care of her. Figure this out with the others, okay?"
Peter, Pepper, Tony, Lucas, and May stepped out into the hallway to continue their conversation and still keep an eye on (Y/n) and her wellbeing.
"How the hell is she alive, Peter?" Tony's eyes never left the girl, "We watched her- she traded her life for yours. The magician said an eye for an eye."
"Thanos brought her back, but he messed with her head. She thinks we tortured her, betrayed her."
"My father was not a liar," Nebula conveniently dropped into the conversation, "But he was a master at bending the truth. You did hurt her, when your team split into two and fought at the airport. Thor told me. Thanos gave her broad statements, and she made them what they are now. Your betrayal could have happened at anytime. You could have hurt her on accident and it could be considered betrayal."
The group simmered in their thoughts. It made sense. If Thanos gave her small, broad statements, she could have easily taken them farther and developed them into a deeper distrust for the Avengers.
"We need to help her. We can't leave her like that, nothing she believes is true," Peter slammed his fist into his hand, determined.
Tony sighed, glancing back into the room, "I don't know if we can, Pete."
"She saved me Mr. Stark. What kind of boyfriend, what kind of hero, would I be if I didn't save her?"
"You'd be someone with common sense. Clint got out of the mind control because Loki wasn't using the stone's full power. Thanos completely rewrote (Y/n)'s head."
"Well, I know something that can do the same thing as the stone."
"If you say true love I'm leaving."
Peter could have laughed. Even out of it, Tony would still be Tony, "No. There was a mutant on her old team, Jean, she's crazy powerful with mental stuff."
Lucas pulled out his phone, dialing Xavier's number, "I talked to Charles the day after the snap, but I haven't seen him. The X-Men took a giant hit, so did the school, so he's been busy. But he's going to make time for her. Charles, I need you at the Avengers facility now. It's (Y/n)... yes she's alive... Thanos brought her back... not sure. Just get over here, we have a problem that only you can help with."
Lucas pulled the phone from his ear, "Jean died in the snap, meaning Charles is our best bet to bring (Y/n)'s mind back."
"It could work," Nat nodded, butting in, "Her mutation saved Peter, so he could save her if he's powerful enough."
"He is, trust us."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"Proximity alarm," Steve called from the conference room, "It's a blue man and a bald man in a wheelchair? Is this Xavier?"
"Let him in," Lucas called back, leaving to guide the two to the med-bay.
Not even two minutes later, Lucas came back with Professor X and Kurt, both of whom were stressed beyond compare. That was saying a lot, compared to the mission the Avengers just went on.
Peter knew part of the reason the Avengers were so concerned with (Y/n) was as a distraction. They just learned there was no chance to bring everyone back. But it didn't matter to Peter. They were helping, that was all that mattered.
"The students are out of control," Charles explained their flustered states briefly, "The stress from the snap diminished their control over their mutations. It's been damage control for a month and things are only now dying down."
Kurt peered inside (Y/n)'s room, "The rest of the remaining X-Men are still at the school. There aren't many."
Xavier rolled into (Y/n)'s room. If he was shocked by her state he wasn't showing it. Remaining stone faced, yet gentle, he approached her bed.
"You know us, (Y/n). You know you do. You just need to unlock the safe in your mind to show it."
"I-I don't understand," for the second time, (Y/n) showed hesitation in her loyalty to Thanos, "I know all of you, but Father said..."
"It's time for you to remember," Charles placed two fingers to his temple, and a hand on (Y/n)'s head, "The hold is already fractured, I just need to break it. That much I can do."
The room was thick with tension. It was broken when (Y/n) screamed, body contorting in pain. Peter stepped forward, but Lucas held him back.
"Let him do this."
The screaming lasted half a minute. Then, it stopped. (Y/n)'s body fell to the bed, and Charles fell back into his wheelchair, both of them drained. If Xavier really brought her memories back, he would be the most powerful telepath in the world.
"Aside from Jean, I am," Charles looked back at Peter, having read his thoughts, "It was difficult to locate her old memories, and a struggle to draw them out. I had to leave before I could be sure. I don't know if it worked."
"(Y/n), honey?" Clara took a cautious step towards her daughter, "Do you remember us? Do you know what happened?"
(Y/n) looked at her Mother, then the group surrounded her, eyes foggy. Blinking rapidly, she breathed out deeply.
"I-"
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