Tony and T'Challa made it back to the tower, the weight of the lifeless body draped over their shoulders like a grim burden. Wrapped in a heavy black bag, the deceased woman's identity remained a mystery, her last moments now reduced to the silent weight they carried. They moved through the dimly lit corridors of the Avengers Tower, their footsteps echoing on the cold floor, the tension between them palpable.

Without a word, they continued until they reached the secure area where they could send her off. T'Challa's movements were smooth, dignified, though there was a shadow of uncertainty in his eyes as they carefully transferred her body into a containment unit, sending her off for the final journey to the Epilece Stadium. A quiet burial, the only fitting end for someone lost in a tangled web of violence they'd barely begun to understand.

Just as they finished securing the body, Steve appeared, his heavy boots clicking on the floor as he approached. His brow furrowed in concern. "What's with the dead body?" he asked, his voice a mix of confusion and suspicion.

Tony, adjusting his collar and clearing his throat awkwardly, offered a half-hearted chuckle, attempting to mask the heaviness of the situation. "We met... um, an unsavory character," he said, his words trailing off as he rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortable under Steve's steady gaze.

T'Challa, standing tall and calm as ever, nodded, his expression serious. "A dragon, it seemed," he added, his voice calm, but with a weight to it that suggested the bizarre nature of their encounter was far from over.

Steve's eyes widened, but he said nothing. The mention of a dragon wasn't something one easily dismissed. The room grew quiet as they all processed the strange reality they'd just encountered, the eerie silence of the tower settling around them like a heavy fog.

"A dragon?" Steve muttered, running a hand over his face, his expression one of disbelief. "I thought they were only fairytale creatures."

Tony snorted, the sound sharp and almost bitter. "So did I," he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. He shifted his weight, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he glanced at T'Challa. "But it seems the world is getting stranger every moment," he added, his tone a mix of exasperation and dark humor.

T'Challa nodded once, his eyes narrowing as he reflected on the encounter. "Fairytales don't prepare you for what we face now," he said quietly, his voice steady but carrying the gravity of everything they'd seen.

Steve stood there for a moment, processing the weight of it all. Dragons weren't supposed to exist, not in his world. But nothing about this was simple anymore. The line between the impossible and the probable was blurring more each day.

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Footsteps echoed down the hall, and as they rounded the corner, they were met by none other than Thor, his broad grin wide across his face. He looked excited, practically bouncing on his heels as he strode toward them. "You saw a real dragon?" he asked, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "I only remember Volstagg and Sif telling me about those glorious creatures. What color was it?" His eyes sparkled like an overeager child about to hear a fantastic tale.

T'Challa couldn't help but feel a small smile tug at the corners of his lips as he met Thor's infectious energy. "She was a magony red, and, to be honest, was quite beautiful," he said, his tone more measured but still acknowledging the creature's majestic presence.

Tony scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, his usual confidence fading slightly as he recalled the encounter. "Yeah, pretty impressive for a beast that could probably eat us all in one bite." He shifted his weight, glancing at Thor, who was practically glowing with the sheer joy of the conversation.

Thor let out a deep laugh, clearly pleased with the idea. "Ah yes, dragons are known to be quite ballet-like in their shapeshifting—especially the females," he said, winking. "They can, hmm, be rather distracting, if I may say so."

Tony rolled his eyes, trying to hide a grin. "Yeah, sure, Thor. We get it. You think dragons are hot."

T'Challa raised an eyebrow at the playful banter, the absurdity of the situation not lost on him. Dragons were real now, and they were talking about them like it was just another day. "Well, we've certainly seen stranger things," he said with a calmness that only further emphasized how strange things had truly become.

Thor laughed again, slapping his hand on T'Challa's back. "Aye, brother. This world grows more interesting by the day."

Steve chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Well, we have officially left reality behind, then," he said, the humor in his voice light but tinged with a sense of resignation. He paused for a moment before looking at T'Challa. "Did she say anything?"

T'Challa nodded, the corners of his lips curving upward slightly as he recalled the strange conversation with the dragon. "She said she'd never seen humans before, and that we were... interesting." He chuckled quietly at the memory, his voice steady but with an unmistakable glint of amusement. "I think she meant it in a way that was less flattering than it sounds."

Tony, still a little uneasy about the whole ordeal, snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure being 'interesting' is code for 'dangerous and unpredictable.'"

Steve raised an eyebrow at that, his tone still light but his curiosity piqued. "You think she was impressed?"

T'Challa's smile grew a fraction, his expression more thoughtful now. "I think she was intrigued, perhaps more than she let on." He glanced at the others, his gaze steady. "And in that, she wasn't wrong. There's more to this world than we know, and if she's any indication, we're only scratching the surface."

Thor, still grinning, clapped his hands together. "A dragon intrigued by humans? A most wondrous tale!" He laughed again, looking to each of them with bright eyes. "Next time, I hope to meet this creature myself."

Tony gave a dry chuckle. "I think I'm good for now, Thor. One dragon encounter is enough for me."

T'Challa merely smiled, his eyes gleaming with the unspoken knowledge that this was just the beginning of whatever bizarre, unexpected journey they were on. The world was changing, and they'd all have to adapt to whatever came next.

SCENEBREAK

In the shadowy, quiet den, Mirage lay sleeping, her form curled up peacefully beneath the low light. The air was thick with the quiet hum of her rest, but that calm soon shattered as the sound of footsteps echoed faintly through the space. Her ears twitched, stirring her from her slumber. Slowly, she lifted her head, blinking groggily in the dim light, her eyes settling on the figure that had just entered.

It was Geto, his familiar silhouette looming tall in the doorway. He was no stranger to this place, but tonight, there was something different about him. Mirage's sleepy gaze flickered up to meet his, and she could see the faintest hint of a smile playing at the edges of his lips. His presence was as commanding as ever, but there was a subtle change in his demeanor—something more childlike, almost innocent.

"You're here," Mirage muttered, her voice hoarse from sleep, but there was genuine warmth in it. Her eyes softened as she propped herself up on one elbow, her tone a mix of relief and surprise. "Good!"

Geto's expression softened even further, a rare gleam of something like joy flickering behind his usually guarded eyes. He looked almost childlike in his excitement, his face lighting up as he stepped closer. "Yes, I'm here," he said with a slight chuckle, his voice as smooth as ever but full of unspoken meaning.

Mirage couldn't help but let out a small laugh at his reaction, the faint amusement stirring in her chest. Despite the darkness of the world they inhabited, moments like this still had a lightness to them. It was a brief connection, a brief spark of something warmer in their often cold, twisted lives.

"I want you to see to it that the Avengers stay off our tail, okay?" Geto said, his voice low but commanding, a slight edge of authority in his words.

Mirage nodded, her immense form shifting as she raised her giant head. She nudged him affectionately with a soft rumble, her eyes filled with devotion. "I will do so, my love," she purred, her voice rich and warm with promise.

With a graceful stretch, she unfurled her massive wings, the dark shadows of her feathers sweeping through the dim den. The air around her seemed to ripple with the force of her movement as she took off into the night, leaving Geto standing there, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

My dearest Mirage, you are too easy, he thought to himself, watching her vanish into the darkness with an almost sinister satisfaction. He knew her well, and he knew how much her loyalty to him would influence her actions. It was a power he could use to his advantage, and the thought of that filled him with quiet delight.

As the sound of her wings faded into the night, Geto allowed himself a moment of smug contentment. He had every piece in place, and soon, the Avengers would be none the wiser.