𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 || 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨

"CARTER?"

The man's eyes opened with the familiar scent of coffee blossoming in the air. The Avenger's kitchen within the tower was the sight that greeted him. His grasp on a red mug filled with coffee on the counter in front of him. A mug Wanda had gotten him for his birthday.

When the rest of the team had been bombastic with their gifts from Natasha getting him a custom m1911 and Tony giving him the first etchings of his very own suit, Wanda had gone to the basics. In some cases, it might've been lazy. But Carter had been talking about needing a coffee cup for himself. And she had done that. The little things like that were what mattered to Carter. It showed she cared and paid attention.

A frown flashed across the man's face as he turned to find Wanda sitting at one of the stools, watching him closely. Eyebrows scrunching together as he stared at her suspiciously. "What...?" His words drifted, unable to find the right question to what was happening. His mind still computing if this was somehow an illusion or his life flashing before his eyes. Glancing around, the man moved to the island and braced his hands along the edge. "Am I dead?"

"And if you were?" Wanda asked, lips curling into a small smile. "What would you say?"

Carter's lips parted, corners curling with a soft chuckle tumbling out. "Well, I would ask if this is my Wanda or theirs."

Wanda rolled her eyes, scoffing at the statement. "C'mon, Golden Boy. I think we both know that all Wanda's are yours."

"You're making it sound like I own them," he commented, a smirk tugging across his lips. "Are you jealous, Red?" He asked with squinted eyes of suspicion, watching the woman stand from the stool and make her way around the island dividing them.

"Even when dead, you are insufferable," Wanda commented, arms lazily curling around the man's neck.

"You didn't deny it," he replied, grinning.

Sighing softly, Carter glanced around. "So, this is the afterlife?" He inquired aloud, lips pursing. "I expected, like, anywhere besides the kitchen of the tower."

Honestly, eternal darkness seemed more fitting of death than whatever this was. Carter never expected to be reunited with his loved ones or anything like that. But then again, he could be wrong about his assumption. Depending on the life lived, there might just be a chance you're connected with your loved ones once more. But the path Carter has walked, it didn't seem fitting for him to have a happy ending.

But he could only hope.

"The eternal damnation happens after this," Wanda spoke up, breaking through his thoughts. A smirk forms on her face as she shrugs. "You've never been able to keep your thoughts quiet."

Finally, after being reunited with his Wanda, Carter couldn't help but melt into her presence and warmth. Ready to melt into her chest and nestle in her ribcage right by her heart. It seemed far more fitting than chasing what once was. She was a fever that he never wanted to get rid of.

Licking his lips, Carter swallowed the lump in his throat. "Think I'll be thrown to the void?"

He didn't expect Wanda to answer the question so daunting and heartbreaking for even her to accept. And he didn't want her to answer. He was just trying to find any reason to stay with her a little longer. Feel her comforting touch on his skin a little more.

Just a bit longer...

A warmth began to blossom behind his eyes as he rested his cheek against the top of Wanda's head, embracing her. His nostrils flared as he blinked rapidly. "It feels like it's ending..."

Wanda's arms slightly tightened at that, her shaky exhale heard from the man. "It is. But that doesn't mean all things are."

Parting from her hold, Carter's shaking hands cupped her face. Oh so delicate like she would break or fade from the faintest touch. "I'm sorry for what I did. I'm sorry I couldn't save Pietro."

The woman's lips pursed, vision fogging up. "Carter..." she whispered, voice wavering. She smiled faintly, hand brushing across the man's rough features. "I know it's been hard, baby. From all that you've lost, all the moments you felt like you failed me. You kept strong through it all and I know you can keep it going."

He nodded, exhaling shakily. "It has." Shifting his weight between his legs, he swallowed the lump in his throat. "I feel like I've failed you at every turn-"

"But you'll get there. I know you will," the girl interjected, smiling despite the tears brimming. "I got a good feeling for this one."

Carter's lips wobbled and his eyes welled up as he shook his head. "I'm tired, Wanda." He bowed his head, glancing around the room, still finding them to be alone. But he didn't mind it. It felt more like home than anywhere else. "Maybe I can stay here." He looked up at her, a hopeful look in his eyes. "With you, Drew, the team even."

Wanda licked her lips and shook her head, pursing her lips. "You can't, baby." The man exhaled in defeat, clamping his eyes shut. But her hands cupped his face, offering a tight smile.

"You have to keep fighting. I'll find you in the afterglow."

Carter gasped, snapping up from his position, immediately crying out in pain as his head slammed against the floor of the cabin.

"He's awake!" A voice called with a set of heavy footsteps approaching.

"Carter! Carter!"

The man forced his eyes open, groaning at the pain as he slammed the heel of his foot into his ground. Staring up at Steve with tears blossoming in his eyes. Reaching a shaking hand to the soldier's forearm, he gripped harshly and squeezed. His lack of strength and energy did very little for cause and effect.

"Why? Why'd you bring me back?" He wept, glaring at the man.

"Hey, you're in shock. Wanda helped patch up your wounds. We're on our way back to the tower right now," Steve explained.

Still, choking on his sobs, Carter averted his gaze to the ceiling as his bottom lip trembled. "Why'd you bring me back?"

Steve looked at both Wanda and Pietro in concern about the man's repeated question that none of them were able to answer. It'd been a complete chance that they had been able to find his location on the last point of his comlink being online before it went dead. And Wanda had used a lot of her energy splitting the water open to help narrow down their search.

But they seemed to all understand that they had ripped him away from something that they shouldn't have.

Standing to his feet, Steve muttered to the twins about their soon arrival at the Avengers tower before moving to the cockpit of the Quinjet.

Wanda glanced at Steve before looking down at Carter. She hesitated for a moment before she crouched beside him. He never met her gaze. His eyes fixated on the ceiling with his expression blank, yet, tears still slipped from the corners of his eyes and down his temple.

"I saw her." Carter turned his gaze to Wanda as she swallowed the lump in her throat. "When I was healing you, I saw where you were. Deep in your subconscious."

Exhaling shakily, Carter nodded in understanding. "So, you understand now?" When she nodded, his lips parted, a moment of hesitation evident in his eyes. "Then you know you ripped me away from where I belonged." His gaze hardened, lips forming a thin line that wavered.  "So, leave me be. Please."

The plea was almost painful for Wanda to obey as her intrusion in his thoughts had opened far too many incisions on his memories. They flooded her at once, drowning her in the images of him with other versions of herself. A sense of connection was melded between her and those prior versions.

It hadn't been enough to make her feel the love his Wanda held, but it'd been enough to acknowledge and understand that there was something. Even if it was small. She felt something toward him.

"We're landing." Steve's announcement was accompanied by the sound of the loading ramp lowering, the winds of the night howling along with the roaring engines. Walking to Carter's side, Steve offered a hand to the man. "We gotta go, now."

The urgency in his voice made Carter want to at least ask what the matter was. But the urgency was just as important to act upon. So, he took the Captain's hand with a groan as the man lifted him to his feet. His body ached from the impact of the water. Making him believe his surface-level injuries had been able to be healed, but nothing internal at the moment.

With an arm wrapped around Steve's shoulder, Carter hobbled the best he could by the man's side. Legs try to keep the pace despite his knees buckling constantly. Making it inside, they climbed the stairs toward the lab. Carter being handed off to Wanda and Pietro who grimaced under the sudden weight of the man's body.

Entering the lab, the sight of the Cradle having tubes plugged into it that connected to multiple sever towers was what greeted them. At the center of it all, Bruce and Tony stood as the culprits. And that seemed to make Carter understand the "urgency" Steve had to get back to the tower.

"I'm gonna say this once," Steve announced.

"How about "none-ce"?" Tony replied.

"Shut it down!"

"Nope, not gonna happen." Tony continued to work, doing whatever there was left to do to bring Ultron's realized self from the Cradle.

"You don't know what you're doing," Steve spoke up, looking to Bruce.

"And you do?" He asked, his gaze sharpening at the sight of Wanda holding an injured Carter. "She's not in your head?"

"I know you're angry," Wanda began, ready to try and defuse the situation.

But the man shook his head. "Oh, we're way past that. I could choke the life out of you and never change a shade."

The threat had made Rex and Vash emerge unapologetically, making Carter's pain only ache further. But he exhaled shakily, leaving his gaze to the scientist. He wouldn't hurt the man. He wouldn't hurt anyone on the team. Yet, he still had his original purpose for being here.

"Banner, after everything that's happened-!"

"It's nothing compared to what's coming!" Tony exclaimed.

"You don't know what's in there-" Her words halted as Carter collapsed to his knees, peeling his masks off and coughing up blood. When Wanda was ready to use her powers to keep healing him, he placed a hand on her wrist and shook his head.

"This isn't a game. Getting this thing nearly took Carter's life!" Steve yelled, pointing at Carter's crippled body.

As the voices began to overlap, hoping to get the last word, Pietro used his super speed to rip at the tubes and plugins from computers. Reappearing at the end of the Cradle, tossing a tube as he said, "No, no. Go on." The audible sound of systems powering down filled the air as he looked at Tony. "You were saying?"

A gunshot echoed out with Pietro falling through the glass floor. "Pietro!" Wanda exclaimed.

That'd been enough for Tony to quickly start moving. "I'm rerouting the upload."

Steve quickly tossed his shield, allowing it to bounce off the three server towers. Sparks flew every which way as Tony fired a repulsor blast at Steve, knocking him over.

Wanda, standing from Carter's crippled side, ready to attack, Bruce came from behind and restrained her. "Go ahead, piss me off."

Carter waved his hand, Rex and Vash bitting at Bruce's ankles, causing his restraint on Wanda to weaken and allow her to blast him back. Both Steve and Tony traded hits as Wanda tried to help Carter to his feet, but he continued to cough up blood, groaning in pain.

His tunnel vision fixated on Thor who hopped on the Cradle and raised Mjolnir above his head, harnessing thunder and ignoring Bruce's plea. It was only a second later that he pointed the hammer at the Cradle, powering it to life.

Another moment passed with Carter leaning against Wanda, breathing shallowly as the Cradle burst open. The blast sent Thor flying back with a figure popping out with the yellow glowing gem Helen had warned them about placed in its forehead.

Its body was made of vibranium that Ultron had stolen, but its colours were a mix of red and green. It almost looked like a synthetic from a sci-fi movie Carter had seen.

The thing glanced at each member, alarmed and unaware of where and who they were. But when its gaze landed on Thor; it acted. Flying at the God, the thing was tossed through the window of the lap to fly through the air and stop on a dime right at the window of the lounge. Most of the team followed to surround the creation.

Swallowing droplets of blood, Carter's head lulled back, exhaling shakily as he slid to the ground. Wanda crouched by his side allowing her tendrils to seep through the surface of his flesh and begin to mend the broken pieces.

"I am sorry. That was odd." The man or thing said. He floated toward the group, turning his gaze to Thor and nodding. "Thank you."

Landing beside the God of Thunder, he inspected Thor's outfit before manifesting a cape of his own.

"Thor. You helped create this?" Thor questioned.

"I've had a vision." He turned to the group. "A whirlpool that sucks in all hope of life, and at its center is that." He pointed at the gem in the center of the synth's forehead.

"What? The gem?"

"It's the Mind Stone. It's one of the six Infinity Stones. The greatest power in the universe, unparalleled in its destructive capabilities." His words only managed to make the decision of bringing this thing to life only worse.

"Then why'd you bring..."

"Because Stark is right," Thor interrupted.

Hearing Thor agree with something Tony has done only made Bruce shake his head. "Oh, it's definitely the end times."

"The Avengers cannot defeat Ultron."

"Not alone," the synth spoke up.

But the voice made Steve frown, looking at Tony. "Why does your Vision sound like Jarvis?"

Tony could only let out a short breath of astonishment, a flash of a smile crossing his features as he rounded the creation. "We reconfigured Jarvis's matrix to create something new."

"I think I've had my fill of new," Steve muttered.

"You think I'm a child of Ultron," the synth said.

"You're not?" Steve challenged.

"I'm not Ultron. I am not Jarvis. I am..." his words drifted. "I am."

"I looked in your head and saw annihilation," Wanda spoke up.

"Look again." His gaze shifted to Carter. "Both of you."

Clint scoffed, walking over. "Her seal of approval means jack to me."

"Their powers, the horrors in our heads, Ultron himself, they all came from the Mind Stone. And they're nothing compared to what it can unleash," Thor announced.

Carter, shakily standing to his feet, placed a hand over his stomach. "You aren't making a good defense for yourself, Thor."

"With it on our side..."

"Is it?" Steve questioned, looking at the man. "Are you? On our side?"

The man's lips slightly pursed in thought. "I don't think it's that simple."

"Well, it better get real simple real soon," Clint warned.

"I am on the side of life," the man stated. "Ultron isn't. He will end it all."

"What's he waiting for?" Tony inquired.

"You."

"Where?" Bruce questioned further.

"Sokovia," Clint announced. "He's got Nat there, too."

Carter felt a short and brief wave of relief at the news. He'd been sure Ultron would've either killed her or paraded her around for everyone to see.

Bruce held a suspicious look on his face as he stepped toward the synth. "If we're wrong about you, if you're the monster Ultron made you to be..."

"What will you do?"

"We'll rip that stone from your goddamn body," Carter grunted, earning a look from the man. "You can't blame us if it comes to that."

"I don't want to kill Ultron. He's unique and he's in pain. But that pain will roll over the Earth. So, he must be destroyed," he stated. "Every form he's built, every trace of his presence on the net. We have to act now. And not one of us can do it without the others."

Looking down at his hands, the man continued, "Maybe I am a monster. I don't think I'd know if I were one. I'm not what you are, and not what you intended," he speculated. "So, there may be no way to make you trust me. But we need to go."

The sight of the man holding Mjolnir made the group grow silent and look between the pair. Thor took his weapon, lips pursing as the other walked past him to wherever he planned on going. Still, the group stared at Thor in shock.

Gently tapping the blunt side of the hammer to his palm, Thor smiled. "Right. Well done." He patted Tony on the shoulder before following the synth's path.

"Three minutes," Steve announced to the remaining members. "Get what you need-"

"Oye!"

Everyone turned toward the voice to see Nova rubbing her eyes harshly, hospital gown dropped loosely around her body. She was fully awake, unbothered by the situation, but still somehow casual about the destroyed lab she stood in.

"What the hell happened?!"

"SO, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED AFTER I WENT OUT?"

Carter hummed, placing a cigarette between his lips. "Missed out on a lot. Think you would've enjoyed seeing your fears be brought alive."

That had made Nova look over her shoulder for a moment. Eyes fixating on the Maximoff twins. "So, she's the Extinction Enity?" She asked, gaze flickering to Carter. "Doesn't seem that bad from the way you described. She's even helping us."

The man could only hum. He didn't want to squander the already tense mood with the fact that there was still a chance Pietro's life was still at risk. Carter especially didn't see the point of adding any more weight to Nova's consciousness when she was already antsy with Natasha's absence and kidnapping.

But he was holding onto hope.

A slap on his shoulder made him grunt, his attention shifting to the girl sitting beside him. Her eyes glimmered under the dim lighting of the cabin. But her lips were still curved into a smile. Her heart still beaming with an enthusiasm he hadn't thought he needed until she was suddenly awoken with Vision's help.

"I should be thanking you for everything you've done since I've been on the bench," she confessed. "Somehow, I thought the team would've been torn at the seams. But somehow, I think you managed to help keep them together."

"Barely. We were all just driven to get Ultron after he hurt you and got Wanda to place those images in our minds."

"But you still stayed by them even when things didn't look good."

Carter shook his head, waving the comment off. Taking a drag off the cigarette, he exhaled through his nose. "It was nothing-"

He could finish as Nova nudged him with her shoulder, interrupting him. "Just take the compliment, Carter."

He licked his lips and nodded, offering a tight-lip smile to the woman as he glanced up at Steve who had finished talking to Tony and made his way into the cabin. Most of the team was scattered throughout, all having their own conversations and mentally preparing for the fight. And very a possibility that they won't win. But none of them would be willing to admit that.

"All right, listen up." The group turned their attention to the man. "Ultron knows we're coming. Odds are we'll be riding into heavy fire. And that's what we signed up for. But the people of Sokovia, they didn't. So our priority is getting them out."

"Will we have task force assistance, Cap? Fury must still have some friends in high places," Carter suggested, glancing at Nova.

"He's been radio silence since you guys left for Seoul," Tony spoke up. "So, we'll have to wait and see."

"All they want is to live their lives in peace. And that's not gonna happen today. But we can do our best to protect them. And we get the job done," Steve said resolutely. "We find out what Ultron's been building, we find Romanoff, and we clear the field. Keep the fight between us."

Bracing his hands on the table, Steve bowed his head slightly. "Ultron thinks we're monsters. That we're what's wrong with the world. This isn't just about beating him." He looked up at the group. "It's about whether he's right."

The heavy silence that followed made Carter's spine tingle as he looked around most of the team. Still, to this day, he was never fully prepared for the inspiration Steve's speeches gave him.

But Nova standing to her feet grabbed everyone's attention as she sighed, smiling. "So, what's the plan, boss?"

Steve smiled, sniffling. "First: most of the team will be in the city. Getting civilians out as fast as possible. Second: Thor, Bruce, and Nova will push Strucker's lab and get Natasha out of there. From there, we all will rendezvous back in the city," he explained. "But be prepared for anything. We have no way of knowing what Ultron is planning and what he'll do. So, keep your heads on a swivel and act fast."