A/N: Sorry for the delay. I meant to post this Saturday but I've been studying my butt off for my Italian Final tonight at 7pm. It's not going to be fun and I don't feel prepared for it at all. So I'm posting this to feel at least a little productive.
Chapter summary: In which Logan receives a warning, Charles puts a name to the Shadows and their users, and the Shadow users leave the Avengers in a tight spot.
Warnings and Dèjà vu
"Now that we've calmed down," Charles said with a wry glance at Jean Gray and Logan from his place at his desk. He turned back to Kaiba smiling at Mokuba still happily in his big brother's arms. "I am glad your big brother found you, Mokuba," he said with a gentle smile. "But I think by now you've told him about Helios. And I believe you," he said turning to Kaiba, "said the name of the man who attack us. Ares. You know him then. Is he an enemy of yours?"
Kaiba lifted an eyebrow and shifted his weight to better hold Mokuba. "Of sorts," he said. "He's an Olympian."
"And Helios is not, I take it," Charles said.
"No."
The door to Charles's office creaked open and in stepped Ororo and a well built black man with bright eyes. The man immediately focused on Kaiba and strode over to his side smiling at Mokuba who waved happily at him.
"Hey Lantern," Mokuba called.
The man, Lantern, grinned. "Good to have you back," he said. "You gave all of us a regular heart attack." He patted Mokuba's back earning him a bright smile as the boy cuddled closer to his big brother.
Logan tensed, his lips peeling back to reveal sharp teeth. Charles noticed the change in mood before the others present did.
"And what of the other person?" Charles asked, cutting into Logan's soft snarl. "I happen to know there were two people outside, not just one."
Kaiba's brows dripped low over his eyes and Lantern stepped back. Mokuba said softly in Japanese, "It's alright. You can trust him."
"Hardly," Kaiba replied in kind. "He's a telepath."
"So is J'onn," Mokuba said earning him a side glare. "And you like him. Besides, Charles helped fight Ares. Nii-sama," Mokuba said, taking a fistful of his brother's coat, "Ares possessed Logan."
Kaiba's eyes grew round and focused on Logan before narrowing and studying the other man closely.
"He...also understands Japanese," Mokuba added with a sly grin. Kaiba tensed and Logan snorted.
"And because I am a telepath and Logan allows it," Charles said, "I understood everything you just said."
Kaiba sneered and said something in a language only Lantern and Mokuba recognized and only Mokuba vaguely understood. When Charles's forehead furrowed in confusion, Kaiba grinned.
"I am unfamiliar with that language," Charles said.
"I thought you were a telepath," Kaiba said curtly.
"I do believe in privacy," Charles replied.
Lantern shrugged. "You and J'onn might get along," he said thoughtfully.
"Who else is in here?" Logan demanded abruptly.
Kaiba blinked in surprise. "You can sense him." It was not a question and Logan did not bother answering. "How do you know he's here?"
"I can smell him," Logan said glaring at a spot directly next to Kaiba.
"What does he smell like?" Kaiba asked.
Logan sniffed the air before speaking. "I don't recognize the scent," he admitted.
"Can you follow it?"
Logan tensed when the scent moved around the room. He growled when it settled beside Ororo, glaring at the spot.
Kaiba grinned darkly. "His name is Seth," he said.
He nodded and the scent moved back to Kaiba's side and materialized into almost a carbon copy of Kaiba. There were several visible differences such as Kaiba's skin tone was much lighter than this new person's and his hair was shorter. Also, Seth's style of clothes was distinctly Middle Eastern compared to Kaiba's western style. But otherwise, the two could have been identical twins.
"Seth!" Mokuba cried, reaching out to the Kaiba look-a-like.
Seth smiled and reached out, petting Mokuba's hair fondly. "It is truly good to see you," he said in Kaiba's voice.
"Ah, I see," Charles said. "It's good to meet you Seth."
Seth nodded a greeting to Charles but his eyes focused on Logan, his head tilting towards Kaiba as if listening to something. Kaiba's head tilted towards Seth as his eyes also pinned on Logan. Mokuba and Lantern watched the two closely.
"Are you a telepath as well?" Jean asked.
"No," Kaiba said, only just managing to take the bite from his voice. "We can communicate mind-to-mind because of what we are. I'm not a telepath."
"What're you lookin' at?" Logan said coldly, disliking the attention he was receiving.
"You tracked me like a hound," Seth said, "with scent that was both natural and not." His crystalline eyes saddened. "You should be careful not to use that ability too much. It could open the door to abilities you may be less than pleased to have."
Kaiba rolled his eyes and said something in the strange language that made Seth chuckle. "What he means," he said in English, "is that you'd better watch how much you use that little ability of yours."
"That a threat?" Logan snarled.
"Oh god," Lantern groaned. "Not another one."
"It's not a threat," Kaiba said. "I'm giving you the chance to turn back now before you go too far."
Mokuba had been playing tennis with his head between his brother and Logan before his eyes grew large and he gasped. "He's a Shadow user too?"
"Shadow user?" Charles asked.
Seth twitched, becoming distracted by something. Kaiba glanced at his identical companion before turning back to Charles and answering. "It's the power we use," he said. "It's something only available to humans but the price to use it is high. You're already a latent," he said seriously to Logan. "If you keep using that ability to sniff out Shadow users you will become an active user and then you will answer to me. I'm giving you the chance to back off now."
"I don't answer to anyone," Logan said.
"It's not a choice," Mokuba said suddenly. "Everyone who's a Shadow user answers to either my brother, the King, or the Pharaoh."
"If you manage to touch the Shadows and become an active user, you will answer to us," Kaiba said. "But if you stop using your gift now and never use it again, it will be a non-issue. Which brings to mind," he added, turning to Charles. "What is this place?"
"It's a school for the gifted," Charles said.
"Everyone here's a mutant," Mokuba chirped.
Lantern looked around curiously. "They look fine to me," he said.
"Mutations don't always take a visible form," Charles said. "Most are more subtle."
"They're like metahumans in our world," Mokuba said.
"Metahumans?" Jean asked, stepping closer to Charles.
"Humans who have a special power or ability of some sort," Lantern said. "I'm a metahuman although my power comes from an alien source. Flash, a friend of mine, he has super speed, and then... Well, no, she's actually an alien and all of her people are like that."
"Aliens?" Jean asked incredulously.
"You're doubting after what happened in New York last year?" Logan needled in a friendly fashion.
Jean shrugged. "Just weird, is all," she huffed drawing a chuckle from Charles.
"I take it metahumans are...more welcome in your reality," Charles said.
"For the most part, yes," Lantern replied. "Granted, there are some closed minded idiots out there. But honestly at this point, it would be stupid to reject metahumans because we pretty much form the first line of defense against supervillains and invasions. A group of us formed the Justice League for that very reason."
"I'm sorry," Charles said suddenly. "This is very interesting but I believe someone is trying to contact you."
Kaiba blinked. "What makes you sa-"
"Seto," Seth said. "You feel that?"
Kaiba's face scrunched in concentration, straining to feel what Seth did. He stiffened when he felt what he vaguely recognized as Shaadi's Shadows. They were pleading for help but having trouble piercing the telepathic barrier. He reached out with his own Shadows and tugged them, letting his Advisor know he had received the message.
"Shaadi's calling," Kaiba said. "We need to leave."
"Why? What's wrong?" Lantern asked.
"We could not understand it clearly," Seth said. "But something has happened."
"It would be best if we didn't Travel here," Kaiba said, eyeing Logan. "How fast can you take us to New York?"
"You can take an X-jet if you need it," Charles offered, startling the quiet Ororo.
"Charles!" she exclaimed. "We barely know them."
"It's no problem, sir," Lantern said. "If we can get outside, I can get us there faster than your jet can. Though your offer is appreciated."
Kaiba rolled his eyes. "Not you too," he grumbled. Seth chuckled.
"In that case," Charles said smiling, "right this way." He gestured to the door which Ororo opened, keeping a sharp eye on the group leaving and taking a protective position next to Charles.
"What about Helios?" Mokuba asked.
"Yes, about that," Charles said softer. "I'm sorry we couldn't prote-"
"It wasn't your job," Kaiba said, cutting Charles off. "He's under my protection which means he's my responsibility. If Ares has him, then that just gives me another reason to get back home and deal with the bastard."
"Maybe Selene can help," Mokuba said. "If we can find her, she'll definitely help us get Helios back. She can help us fight Ares."
"We have to deal with Carter Hall first," Seth said grimly. "Otherwise, we may not be here to deal with Ares."
Mokuba wilted but nodded, clinging tighter to his brother.
"Before we go," Kaiba said, turning to Charles. He set Mokuba down on the ground and stood tall before bowing respectfully, his Duel Monsters card locket falling free from his shirt to dangle from his neck. "Thank you for watching Mokuba and Helios where I could not."
Charles smiled and bowed as best he could in his position. "You are welcome," he said politely. "As long as you don't mean harm to my people, you are welcome here."
"Thank you," Seth said.
"One last thing," Kaiba said, straightening. He met Logan's eyes evenly. "I meant what I said. Unless you want the Shadows to own you as they do me and mine, you should curb your ability to scent others. That goes for almost everyone here." He turned to Charles. "With very few exceptions, almost every person here is a potential or latent Shadow user. Protect them and if possible, prevent them from using the Shadows."
"If you use these Shadows yourself, then why are you so desperate to keep the people here from using them?" Charles asked.
"Because once someone touches the Shadows as an active user, they can never survive without them," Seth said. "There is no going back."
Charles gave Seth a knowing look. "There is more to it than that," he said, gently pushing.
"I'll tell you later if I can," Kaiba said. "For now, just keep what I said in mind. Lantern."
"Got it," Lantern said, activating his ring.
Green light encased himself, Kaiba, Seth, and Mokuba and they lifted off the ground and flew away.
"That was interesting," Jean said.
"Indeed," Charles said, hope lining his eyes.
"A world where mutants aren't hated or feared," Ororo murmured.
"Not entirely," Logan said.
"There will always be people who disagree with the norm," Charles said. "That is the way of humans with a free will. But I look forward to speaking with Kaiba again."
"You found him an interesting study," Jean said wryly.
Charles chuckled. "Yes, that's true. But I will miss Mokuba as well. He was a breath of fresh air," he said fondly. "It would be nice to talk to Lantern more as well."
"You just like him because he called you 'sir,'" Logan said.
"A little respect goes a long way," Charles said not bothering to deny it. "Seth however," he added thoughtfully. "I think I could learn a lot from him."
"He smelled old," Logan said.
"He felt old," Charles said. "And I would suggest you take Kaiba's advice and try to avoid using your ability until we know a bit more abuut it."
"it bothers you?" Ororo asked.
"Shadowmancy," Charles said seriously, "is never something to play with idly."
"I demand to speak to the sorcerer responsible for this!"
"Does no ever just drop by to say 'hi' anymore?" Stark asked rhetorically. "Thor, buddy, hate to break it to ya, but this is my place. I can do what I want here without asking your permission."
"I do not speak of this gathering, Man of Iron," Thor said, his voice accompanied by a rumble of thunder as he stalked towards the group. "I speak of the punishment of a prisoner of Asgard, the sorceress Lorelei. Amora the Enchantress has demanded retribution for what has been done to her sister."
"The Bitch has a sister?" Mai wondered aloud. "Hm. Pity."
"Are you the one responsible for this, woman?" Thor growled, leveling a glare at the unimpressed Mai.
"Um, hello," Stark said, stepping between Mai and Thor. "Hi, yes, I suggest you back off. You don't have jurisdiction here, Thor. You may be an Avenger, but you're Asgardian, not human."
"Midgard is one of the Ni-"
"Nine Realms, protector of blah-di-blah," Stark droned. "And yet Asgard doesn't seem to give a shit about us unless we have something they want."
"Besides," Doctor Strange said calmly, "as I understand it, Lorelei's crimes were against Midgardians on Midgard after she escaped an Asgardian prison." He clasped his hands behind his back and stood tall. "She was dealt with here by those she wronged and is now back in Asgard's prisons. Is that not so?"
"It is," Thor grumbled reluctantly.
"Then I hardly see the problem here," Barton said, crossing his arms. "You got what you wanted, we got what we wanted. But then again, you aren't exactly known for the most secure prisons, are you?"
"Clint," Natasha said sharply, "that's enough."
"The hell it is." Barton pushed past his fellow Avengers and walked right up to Thor and glared directly at the Asgardian. "First Loki and now Lorelei. What the hell is with you and mindfuckers? What, they fuck up the minds of their jailers as well? We have a solution for that down here, pal. It's called solitary confinement. No one around to get mindfucked. So Lorelei got busted, she deserved it. Tell her bitch-ass sister to wise up and back the fuck off."
"I understand your words my friend, but-"
"No, you don't," Bruce said. "Clint's got a point. This isn't the first time someone with powers like this has escaped from your prisons and caused trouble here."
"Sif came to take care of her," Thor said fiercely.
"And she did," Arrow said, speaking up. "With our help."
"But only after taking control of some of our people," Mai added snidely. "I am the Sorceress and it was my power that did that to Lorelei."
"Mai!"
"Hush up Arrow," she said, flickering her wrist on the vigilante. "You know it's true." He glanced back at him and winked before turning back to the Asgardian. "But you should know Lorelei's punishment was sanctioned by my Regent."
"Then tell your Regent that he is required to face trial," Thor said.
Mai snorted. "Oh really?" She examined her fingernails, clipping a hangnail with a frown before tossing her hair over her shoulders. "Well, he'll disregard that 'requirement' in favor of doing what he wants."
"Odin Allfather himself has sanctioned this," Thor pressed. "You must obey his commands."
Natasha drew her gun from her holster and held it loosely by her side. "Thor," she said, "where's you hammer?"
Thor's blue eyes gleamed seconds before they turned bright green. "Well," he said in a voice that was distinctly feminine, "that didn't take as long as I thought it would. But no matter."
Thor's form shrank in size and shape until a lovely slip of a woman appeared in his place. She had long hair woven of pure sunlight with soft, pearl white skin and cold emerald eyes that matched her Norse inspired clothes.
"The outcome will be the same," she said in the same voice as the not-Thor. Her inhuman eyes pinned on Mai completely disregarding everyone else present. "You hurt my sister, and you will pay!"
She screeched and blasted the place Mai had been standing with her emerald magic. The Avengers scattered to avoid the blast. Captain America saw the attack coming before the Enchantress engaged and managed to grab Mai and yank her to the ground to avoid being struck.
"Shaadi!" Arrow called. "Get Kaiba and Lantern here now!"
The Advisor immediately retreated towards the windowed wall of the Avengers Tower casting the Spell Swords of Concealing Light to hide his movements. It would both protect him and keep him hidden but would not last very long. Hopefully that would be long enough to summon his Regent and the metahuman.
"Where'd he go?" Falcon demanded as his pulled on his jet pack wings and activated them.
"It's a Spell," Arrow called, reaching for an arrow to fire at the infuriated Enchantress. "It'll keep him hidden and protected for about three minutes."
"And after that?"
"He'll be forced to fight," Arrow replied grimly, firing his first arrow. "He's a better Shadow user than I am, but he's more efficient at defense than offense."
The bolt exploded next another arrow, this one purple and black. Arrow glanced at Hawkeye, both nodding in mutual respect before firing another volley at the same time. Iron Man joined Falcon in the sky firing repulser blasts at Amora. The Asgardian Enchantress used her magic to shield herself from Iron Man's blasts and Falcon's bullets returning their fire with green energy.
"Doctor Strange," Arrow said, stepping close to the sorcerer. "Do me a favor. Make sure Shaadi is protected."
The Sorcerer Supreme nodded seriously. "I will Arrow. Nothing will happen to him," he said solemnly. "I promise."
"Thanks." Arrow drew his currently empty bowstring back to his ear and whispered his favorite Spell. "Spell Shattering Arrow." The glowing bolt materialized knocked on his previously empty string. "Guys!" he called. "Give me a clear shot!"
"Harpie's Brother!" the Shadow Sorceress cried. "Keep her busy."
A dark haired, tan skinned being appeared just above Mai, extended his dark feathered wings, and sped through the air. Something dark and sharp slashed at the Enchantress, leaving claw marks along her back seconds before the Captain's trademark shield struck her in the gut.
"The hell is that?" Stark exclaimed, dodging the dark thing speeding through the air around the Enchantress.
"Don't hit it!" Natasha said. "It belongs to Mai."
"Thing's fast," Falcon said.
"Hey Bruce!" Barton said when the scientist was beginning to go green. "Relax. We got this. Get inside and see if you can contact SHIELD. Thor's on Earth somewhere. See if you can track him down and get him here."
Bruce staggered under the onslaught from both outside and inside. He gasped when a gentle hand rested on his shoulder. Doctor Strange cast him a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry," the Sorcerer Supreme said. "Just let Director Fury know Amora's here. With Loki here earlier and Thor nearby, he'll know what to do."
Banner gulped in a deep breath of air and focused on calming down. "God I hope this works," he muttered rushing inside to call Fury.
Arrow stood still, his bowstring drawn with the feathers of Spell Shattering Arrow brushing his cheek. He kept the glowing tip trained on the general direction of Amora. She darted through the air attacking the Avengers as she went, never staying still for long. Her attacks were focused on Mai who had thankfully cast her Rose Whip Spell and had joined the Avengers in defense.
The vigilante could not fire his Spell unless he had a clear shot. The last thing they needed right now was the accidental deactivation of of another Spell or perceived Spell. So he waited patiently.
Falcon pulled out a gun and fired at Amora forcing her to dodge. Her moves were slower now thanks to the jagged claw marks on her back from Harpie's Brother. Several cracks of another gun resulted in a green barrier appearing in front of Amora, stopping the bullets fired by Natasha and unfortunately an arrow from Barton. Another blast from Iron Man on one side and Doctor Strange on the other caused Amora to dodge directly into Mai's reach. The Sorceress snapped her Rose Whip, looping it around the Enchantress's ankle. The Asgardian screeched in fury and sent a ball of blazing green energy at Mai which Captain America blocked with his shield. Then Harpie's Brother appeared and took clawfuls of yellow hair in his talons and flew upwards. Amora flailed, her hands trying to free her hair.
"Arrow now!" Mai yelled.
Arrow released his Spell and watched it speed towards the Enchantress, striking her in the side and bursting into golden sparks. Instantly, all of Amora's magic vanished including Mai's Rose Whip still looped around her ankle. Amora's eyes bulged and she screamed in fury. Harpie's Brother backwinged to avoid any potential assaults either physical or magical.
"I have got to get me one of those arrows," Barton muttered and Arrow smirked.
Amora fumed. "Executioner!" she screamed furiously. "I need you!"
Arrow was about to ask who the Executioner was when he felt a blast of cold air. He had just enough time to cry out in surprise before he was encased in solid ice.
"Arrow!" Mai cried. "Harpie's Fea-AH!" She shrieked as a blast of wind knocked her off her feet and blew her and the nearby Captain America over the edge of the balcony.
Hearing his mistress's distressed cry, Harpie's Brother detangled his dark talons from Amora's hair and sped through the air down the side of the Avengers Tower. He easily caught up with his mistress and extended his talons, wrapping them around her thin waist. He spread his feathered wings and glided up in a smooth arc to ease the downward momentum. He glanced back in time to see a red and gold blur dive past him disturbing the airflow around him and catching Captain America.
"Nice friend you got there," Iron Man called to Mai as they flew back up to the balcony.
"He's a treasure, isn't he?" she called back with a grin.
Harpie's Brother blushed behind his mask and set his mistress as gently as he could back down on the solid balcony. A bright light in the corner of his eyes drew his rapt attention and he looked up. He growled seeing the large ogre of a man carrying a magic infused ax in one hand and the still temporarily de-powered Enchantress in the other. Amora hissed at his mistress and he hissed back, ruffling his feathers and lifting his wings to appear larger. Then they were gone.
"Mai!" The Sorceress turned to see Shaadi hurrying towards them. "Are you well?" he asked.
"As well as I can be considering I just fell from a balcony," she replied mildly. "But thanks to my friend here," she smiled and mussed Harpie's Brother's hair fondly, "I'm still one hundred percent."
"Yeah, tell that to your friend," Barton said staring at the still frozen Arrow.
Mai's smile vanished as she approached Arrow's spellbound form. "Is he alright Doctor?" she asked seriously.
"He's alive," the Sorcerer replied as he applied a gentle flow of magic into the ice, melting it. "Just in a stasis persay."
"Can you free him?" she asked.
"I am trying to do just that without hurting," Strange replied.
Shaadi's eyes grew pained. "I apologize for not helping," he said bowing his head.
"You did what we asked you to do," Mai said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Were you able to contact Kaiba at all?"
"Kaiba?" Natasha asked, coming up to join them.
"Our Regent," Shaadi said, eyeing Mai disapprovingly. She had the grace to smile and blush.
"That's Japanese," Natasha said mildly.
"For seahorse," Mai said cheerfully. "Did you know that in Japanese mythology, seahorses were baby dragons?"
Shaadi blinked. "That... I did not know." He blinked when he felt the Shadows around him seethe in familiar fury. "Although, I am not sure he would agree with the 'baby' part of that," he said.
A beam of green light shot through the air and the ice holding the vigilante suddenly began crackling then burst apart dropping a stunned and shivering archer onto the ground surprising Doctor Strange.
"You are a bit late," Shaadi said.
"I was dealing with a telepath," the Regent said, landing on the balcony with a young boy propped up in his arms holding him tightly around the neck and Lantern by his side as the telltale green light faded from them. "You know how annoying that can be."
"Lantern," Shaadi said, nodding. "Thank you for getting here so quickly."
"What happened?" the boy asked, running from Kaiba's grasp to help Arrow up.
Doctor Strange noticed Kaiba flinch when the young boy escaped him and twitch, obviously wanting to grab the boy and pull him back. This must be the Regent's brother. The doctor could not help but be surprised. He had known the Regent's missing brother was younger, but he never imagined the boy would be this young. Perhaps the boy's lack of height made him appear younger than he was.
"Asgardian mage," Arrow said, standing with the boy's help. "Apparently, she's the Bitch's sister."
"Someone like her actually has a sister?" Kaiba asked, finally placing a possessive hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Yeah." Arrow rubbing his arms trying to warm up when he got a good look at the boy who helped him up. "Mokuba?" he gasped.
"Hi!" Mokuba sang, waving exuberantly.
Arrow knelt and mussed Mokuba's hair playfully. "I'm glad you're alright, kiddo," he said. "Nice going," he said to the Regent who just nodded and watched Mokuba like a mother hawk. "But where's Helios?"
"Ares got to him before we could," Lantern said.
"Ares?" Shaadi repeated on confusion. "But he is an Olympian. He cannot travel between realities."
"No," Kaiba agreed. "But the assassin can."
"You think they're working together," Mai said, stepping forward.
"You know, I really hate being left out of things in my own home," Stark said, landing next to Doctor Strange. "You owe us an explanation, Regent. Or is it Kaiba?"
Kaiba did not dignify Stark with a look. Instead, he studied Harpie's Brother hovering protectively near his mistress. The Monster dipped its head in acknowledgment before shifting closer to Mai's side.
"We need to leave," Kaiba said. "We've been here too long as it is." His glacial eyes gleamed coldly. "And I would have a few words with the King and the Pharaoh."
"Woah, woah, Pharaoh?" Stark exclaimed.
"There hasn't been a pharaoh in Egypt for thousands of years," Captain America said.
"I never mentioned Egypt," Kaiba said.
"You said 'pharaoh,'" Bruce said, stepping out onto the balcony. "I called SHIELD, by the way," he said to Natasha. "Thor's with them. He thought they had the Regent."
"Uh, yeah, I think it's time we left," Lantern said.
"Agreed," Kaiba muttered, pulling Mokuba close.
"I'm ready when you are," Arrow said.
"Hey wait!"
Arrow held up a hand to Kaiba and waited for Barton to come join them. The Avengers' archer glanced at Kaiba hesitantly before speaking to the vigilante. "Thanks for that back there," he said. "I needed that."
Kaiba blinked in recognition. "You're-"
"The guy from the bar, yeah," Arrow said. "Small world." He extended a hand. "Don't worry about it. Maybe we'll get to talk more later."
"Maybe."
Arrow snickered. "Besides," he added with a cheeky grin, "we still have to kill Stark, 50/50 remember?"
"It was 60/40, if I recall correctly," Barton teased.
"Is that what it was?" Arrow teased. "Fine then. 60/40. Nice meeting you Barton."
"Clint," the archer said. "Call me Clint."
"Then call me Oliver," Arrow said.
"Oliver-"
"Wasn't talking to you Stark," Arrow said.
"On that note," Lantern said.
Doctor Strange nodded. "I wish we could have spoken more," he said to Kaiba. "I would enjoy learning more about your power."
Kaiba nodded. "And I would like to know why you have a cache of souls," he said.
Strange winced but nodded.
"Look, this is all very interesting," Stark said. "But I think you still owe us an explanation."
"I believe the answer is 'ask Coulson,'" Kaiba replied.
He placed one hand on Arrow's shoulder keeping the other one Mokuba. Lantern placed a hand on Kaiba's shoulder and took Shaadi's hand. Shaadi grasped Lantern's hand and took Mai's hand with his other.
"Now," Kaiba said with a grin, "if you'll excuse us."
"No, I wo-" Stark froze when the Regent and his group vanished in a whirl of darkness. "...n't," he finished weakly. "Okay, now I'm annoyed."
"You're not alone apparently," Bruce said, pointing to the sky.
Stark and the rest of the Avengers followed Bruce's direction and saw Thor flying through the air behind Mjolnir. The Asgardian prince landed firmly on Stark's balcony and said in a booming voice, "I demand to speak to the sorcerer responsible for this!"
"You have got to be kidding me," Stark groaned.
"I'll leave you to it then," Doctor Strange said calmly. He swept his crimson cape back and levitated briefly before vanishing in a teleport.
"Oh come on!"