The Never-Ending Why: Chapter 33: In The Dark (Part 3)
"You, orchestrated this?"
Agamotto took over Stephen's body, and he was looking directly at Clea. She returned his eye contact, and a glimpse of guilt kicked in. She took in a slow breath, and softly said yes.
Agamotto looked very betrayed. Stephen didn't feel that way, but it was a low blow for the entity. He was very attached to Clea, and Stephen having full control of his body meant that he would disappear.
Which also meant that Clea preferred Stephen, not him. It angered Agamotto immediately, and Clea saw it in his face.
"He needs to return home. He can't just exist on your whim. The balanc.."
"That was home. You settle for trinkets."
Meaningless. Agamotto immediately cut her off. He turned toward the crew that arrived. He used Stephen's eyes, and focused on Donna specifically. Agamotto knew that someone else was in her body. The Ancient One was storing up her strength, and she looked over Agamotto's shoulder.
The older version of Steve was there as well. He was intending to intervene if Agamotto got out of hand. He made a gesture of acknowledgement toward the Ancient One, and all eyes were set on Stephen.
Baby Tony broke up the scene. He looked over at Steve. They formed a plan with Donna and Victor, so the two of them were supposed to make the first move.
"Ready?"
Tony spoke to Steve. He was staring at Stephen. The look on his face troubled Tony. He wasn't sure if Steve wanted to bring Stephen back.
The blonde took his time as well, like always...
Tony kept staring at him, and then Victor made the second move. He stepped closer to his sister. The Eye of Agamotto was concealed beneath his Pink Floyd t-shirt, and he took in a deep breath.
Agamotto's anger was affecting them all. They felt it, because he was there in the flesh. Donna only had her eyes closed.
Clea felt a strong urge to ease his anger. She stepped in front of Agamotto, and told him that his family were not "trinkets". She couldn't speak from experience, but she knew that Stephen's siblings loved him.
That moment with Clea gave the others a lovely window of opportunity. Baby Steve used the distraction, and he made up his mind about Stephen. Steve quickly looked at Tony and decided to put his issues aside. It was very unexpected, but that golden thing launched the first strike.
A blue hand shield formed in front of Steve, then a flash of light was sent in Agamotto's direction.
Steve locked a ring around his shoulders, and he yanked Stephen's body to the right. Tony instantly reacted to what Steve did. He joined in, and he sent an orange energy toward his left. Clea didn't expect that, and she saw the anger in Agamotto get worse.
She decided to jump behind Stephen's body, and she followed Steve and Tony's lead. Her energy was purple, and she added her own hold onto Stephen's body.
The three of them kept him in place, while Stephen tried to regain control beneath the surface. He kept looking at his brother and sister. They were right in front of him.
Victor touched Donna's hand. He asked her if she was awake, because the hold on Stephen's body wouldn't last forever. She was awake, but she kept her eyes closed.
Victor said that he was ready. He gripped his sister's hand and she slowly opened her eyes. She glanced down at Victor. The youngest sibling tried to rush the situation.
They had a plan, and it felt like they were running out of time. Donna wasn't worried. She looked at her older brother, and drew in a very deep breath.
3..
2...
1...
Donna and Victor both appeared in front of Stephen. In an instant, they were right there in front of his face. They both did the same exact hand movements, and they shoved the palm of their fists against Stephen's chest.
They cast Agamotto out of Stephen's body, and Donna pulled her older brother forward. She hugged his shoulders, and hid her face against his blue tunic.
Victor levitated. He was the one that was the most prepared for the encounter. Agamotto was forced out of his host, and had Victor studied how to open the eye.
Steve, Tony, and Clea all focused on keeping Agamotto secured in one place, as Victor spoke out an incantation.
The eye was opened, and it was immediately shrouded with light. Tony and Steve did most of the work, as Agamotto was successfully drawn in.
The light became too bright for some of them, but the power of Agamotto was sealed within his eye. He had been reduced to a "trinket", where he was forced to process Clea's betrayal.
Donna kept hugging Stephen. He understood what was happening, so he quietly hugged her back. His sister started crying against him, and everyone silently watched.
Victor stopped floating. He migrated back down toward his siblings, and he happily hugged Stephen's back. The three of them looked just like the picture that Tony saw in the apartment.
It instantly melted his young heart, and he looked over at Steve. Baby Steve was focused on something else. Tony tried to see what he was looking at, but he only saw darkness.
The siblings kept hugging. Stephen told his sister not to cry, but Donna's tears wouldn't cease. She said that they were happy tears, but she was lying.
Donna Strange was very upset with her brother, but she couldn't bring anything up in that moment.
Chapter: END
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