Weeks had passed since Loki's departure, and the Avengers had moved on from the immediate crisis. The skies had cleared, and the world seemed to be in a momentary state of calm. Thor, ever the dutiful brother, stood firmly beside Loki as they made their way toward the transport platform outside. The towering figure of the God of Thunder held Loki firmly in handcuffs, yet you couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement at the mischievous god's demeanor.

Loki, ever the showman, turned to you with a sly smile, his green eyes glittering mischievously. His words were laced with both charm and something darker beneath. "I hope you don't forget me, darling," he said, his voice low but teasing, almost too sincere.

You returned the look with a raised brow, holding his gaze for a long moment before nodding slightly, acknowledging his departure. The air around them shimmered, a flash of light, and just like that, they were gone, leaving nothing but the weight of their presence lingering in the air.

Turning away from the platform, you felt the familiar pull of your thoughts, the quiet that followed the storm. Natasha and Steve walked alongside you, their presence comforting after such a tense time. Tony had already dashed off to one of his many business meetings, his mind always racing with the next big thing. As you walked toward the tower, a strange sensation began to crawl over your skin. It was as though the air around you was thickening, like static before a storm. You winced, a sharp pulse of discomfort racing through your body.

Before you could even reach out to steady yourself, Bruce was there, his hand on your arm, his voice concerned. "You doing alright, Y/N?" His tone was gentle, yet firm, as he guided you away from the wall that had nearly caught you off guard.

You swallowed, trying to push the unease away, the strange sensation still lingering at the edges of your mind. "Yeah, I'm... I'm fine," you murmured, though your words felt hollow, even to yourself. You could feel his gaze on you, searching, though you tried to brush it off. Reaching up, you tied your white hair back into a sleek ponytail, trying to regain some semblance of control. "I'm fine," you repeated, a little louder this time, though Bruce wasn't convinced.

He narrowed his eyes, peering over the tops of his glasses. "If you say so."

Ignoring the weight of his skepticism, you managed a smile before walking past him, pushing yourself forward as you made your way back to your room. The uneasy feeling only intensified with each step, like something heavy hanging in the air, pressing down on your chest.

You walked with purpose, yet the nagging sensation gnawed at you relentlessly. You knew it too well. You had felt it once before—an ominous presence, a disturbance in the air. It was Ultron. Your mind flashed back to the movie, to the terrifying power he wielded and the chaos he caused. It was only a matter of time before he struck, and you could feel that he was already near.

You pushed open the door to your room, stepping inside and immediately locking the door behind you. As soon as the door clicked shut, the weight in your chest seemed to lift just slightly, but the unease remained. You couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming, something dangerous, something that would test everyone in ways they weren't prepared for.

Sighing, you moved toward the window, pulling back the curtains just enough to see the sprawling city below. It seemed so peaceful from this vantage point, but you knew better. Ultron wasn't a foe to be underestimated, and the calm before the storm never lasted long.

You reached for your phone, sending a quick message to Tony. Be on alert. I feel Ultron. He's close.

There was no time to waste. You knew he would be planning his move, and you had to be ready for it. You weren't going to let anything happen to the team. Not this time. Not when you were ready to face the storm head-on.

SCENEBREAK

Days had passed since Ultron's chilling message—a gruesome sight that still haunted the team. A lifeless body, discarded in a bathtub, a stark reminder of the threats they faced. The word "Avenger" painted across the wall in thick red blood was a taunt, a promise that more chaos was yet to come. It was a brutal reminder that Ultron was closing in. The weight of it all pushed you deeper into a state of unease, your thoughts constantly muddled by an overwhelming high-pitched frequency that seemed to have no end.

The team had been trying to keep things together, but you could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating. The very atmosphere in the tower seemed to pulse with unease. You sat among them, trying to focus on the task at hand, but the sharp ringing in your head never ceased, increasing in intensity with each passing minute. You winced, unable to conceal the sharp discomfort, and Steve, ever perceptive, noticed it immediately.

Without hesitation, he placed a gentle hand on your thigh, grounding you in the moment. "You sure you're doing alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. "We can have Bruce check it out if you want." The soft words were a lifeline, but you couldn't bring yourself to ask for help.

You shook your head with a sigh, rubbing the bridge of your nose in an attempt to ward off the pain that was threatening to overwhelm you. "I'm fine," you snapped, the words coming out harsher than you'd intended. Standing abruptly, you hurried out of the common room, desperate to find some space. The frequency in your head was like a pressure building behind your eyes, the pain relentless and unforgiving.

You strode down the hallway, the silver tiles beneath your feet reflecting the faint glow of the overhead lights. Your footsteps echoed softly, adding to the tension in your chest. As you stepped outside the tower, the cool night air hit your face, a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere inside. You took a deep breath, hoping to clear your thoughts, when suddenly, you collided with someone.

You stumbled back slightly, only to look up and find yourself staring into a pair of striking blue eyes. The sight took you aback. Standing in front of you was a man with white hair, his features sharp and striking. A grin tugged at his lips as he leaned in with a playful glint in his eyes.

"Hello there, princess," he greeted, his voice light and teasing.

You cocked your head slightly, unsure of who he was at first. But then, the realization hit you like a bolt of lightning. Your heart skipped a beat as the familiar face clicked into place.

It was Pietro Maximoff, Wanda's twin brother, better known as Quicksilver.

But wait—how was he here? You clearly remembered his tragic death, a sacrifice in Sokovia, saving the lives of the Avengers. He was never supposed to be in New York. The timeline was wrong, everything was wrong. A thousand questions flooded your mind, but you pushed them aside, focusing instead on the present.

A smile curled on your lips, the corners of your mouth twitching in amusement. "Hey there," you said, the words coming out smoother than you'd expected. "Do I know you?"

Pietro's smirk only deepened as he stepped closer, his hand lightly brushing against your chin. You blinked in surprise, the sudden boldness taking you off guard. His touch was gentle, but there was an undeniable confidence in his movements that left you speechless. You hadn't expected him to be this forward, and certainly not in such an intimate way.

For a moment, you hesitated, the weight of his presence overwhelming you. Was this really Pietro? The Pietro you had mourned? You couldn't be sure, but the playful glint in his eyes told you that if this was some sort of illusion, it was certainly one worth entertaining.

Okay, he's a lot more flirty in real life, you thought to yourself, blinking away the lingering confusion as you fought to regain control of your thoughts. Pietro's gaze never wavered, his attention entirely on you, and somehow, you couldn't help but feel drawn in.