Chapter 8
"Whoa," Peter gasped as he and the other heroes walked through another portal, bags in hand.
They walked onto a large courtyard in the middle of what looked like a large temple. Men and women in robes walked back and forth, some even walking through amber portals like Doctor Strange. The mountains towered in the background, the sun setting down. The cold air hit the group as they followed Sam and Strange.
"Welcome to Kamar-Taj, home of some of the most powerful sorcerers in the world," Strange announced, "Try not to get distracted. It will get weird here."
"Oh my gosh! We're in Hogwarts!," Peter smiled gleefully.
"This is incredible," T'Challa gasped, "But why here?"
"We need a place to train. The others agreed that it was in our best interest to help you with that," Strange explained.
"Wow, an entire place full of other magicians," Scott grinned ear to ear.
"Other?," Strange asked.
"Oh yeah! I didn't get to show you my tricks!," Lang pulled a deck of cards from his pocket.
"Yeah, a few card tricks doesn't make you a sorcerer," Strange explained.
"You sure about that," Scott grinned as he pulled a card from behind Stephen's ear.
"Holy crap!," Peter flashed a smile in amazement.
Hope rubbed her eyes in frustration while the doctor merely rolled his eyes, "Yeah, that means nothing."
When Strange turned his back to the Ant-Man, Scott muttered, "Yeah, well, which one of us survived the Snap, huh?"
The group followed strange inside the temple. The room was an odd mix of ancient scenery and a modern-day control room. Scrolls and ancient books cluttered the room as well as gadgets and computer screens, which looked like they were hastily arranged.
"Welcome to HQ," Sam presented the room, "This is where we'll be looking things over, trying to plan out a course of action and figure out where the Kree are hiding out.
"This is the best you guys could come up with?," Valkyrie asked, "None of your billionaire government friends could hook us up with a better place?"
"This actually makes sense," T'Challa nodded, "No one can find us out here and we have some of the best warriors in the world to help us stay safe."
"Yeah, we should be safe out here," Carol agreed.
"I like it! Kind of reminds me of my workshop back at my school," Peter smiled.
"Yeah, I don't think that's the comparison you want to make here, kid," Rhodey noted, "So, this enough for you guys to trace this bomb."
Hope nodded, "Yeah, I've made do with less."
T'Challa agreed, "This equipment should work."
"Perfect," Sam grinned, "Now, who wants to see their rooms?"
…
As the group walked towards their quarters, T'Challa walked forwards next to Sam.
"So, Mr. Wilson, how has the title of captain been for you?," T'Challa asked.
Sam exhaled, "Bucky told you?"
"He's been curious as to your progress," T'Challa explained, "And I know it's none of my business, but I've noticed you're not carrying the shield."
Sam nodded, "Yeah."
"If there's an issue with weight distribution or you wish for a slimmer model-"
"Actually...I've kind of been thinking over the whole thing and...I kind of want to hold off on taking the title."
"Pardon?," T'Challa asked, "I thought of all people, you would be the first to volunteer for the position of Captain America."
"Yeah, well, right now, I'm just good old' Falcon," Sam explained.
Before T'Challa could ask any further, Strange spoke up, "And here we are."
He opened up one of the doors to a room, "Alright, Captain Danvers, King Brunnhilde, your room."
"I've slept in dumpsters bigger than this place," Valkyrie noted.
"Yes, well, I'm sure you'll feel right at home here," Strange grinned.
"Alright, c'mon, roomie," Carol smiled, budging past the Asgardian and the sorcerer. Valkyrie rolled her eyes and followed.
"Your highness, Mr. Parker," Strange pointed to another room.
Peter jumped in the air with childish glee, "Yes! I call the top bunk!"
"There are no bunks-Nevermind," T'Challa sighed before following the boy.
"Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Wilson," Strange pointed to the room behind him.
"You better have fixed that snoring problem of yours," Sam warned his friend.
"'Ey, I don't know what YOU heard, but that wasn't me," Rhodey argued.
"And finally, the lovely shrinking couple," Strange directed them to their room.
"Alrighty," Hope sighed before walking in, shaking her head.
"Also, make sure the others get this," Strange quickly remarked, pulling a piece of paper from his robe and giving it to Lang.
"Cool, is this like a mantra or some type of secret code?" Scott asked, amazed.
"It's the wi-fi password," Strange replied, earning an odd glance from Scott.
Strange shrugged, "What? We're not savages."
…
"It was like nine in the morning when we got here. Do they think we're just gonna fall asleep 'cuz it's night time here?," Carol complained.
"Yeah, I don't think Strange really thought that part through," Brunnhilde chuckled, "So, you changed your mind about the team, huh? My words of wisdom got through to you?"
"If that's what you want to think, sure," Carol joked.
"Come on, you don't look like the type who does something just because someone asked them to. What changed that glowing noggin of yours?"
"I don't remember that being any of your business, your royal highness," Danvers replied.
"Alright then, glowstick," Brunnhilde commented.
Carol groaned, "That's never going away, is it?"
"Not on your life."
"Yeah, well that's gonna be a long life for me," Carol noted.
"Oh yeah. Your kind's got long lifespans, right?," Valkyrie asked.
"If that's your way of calling me a Kree again, I swear to god," Carol threatened the other woman.
That part of her was something she wanted to erase from her life, something she just wanted to ignore so she could move on and regain her humanity. Gone was Vers and here was Carol Danvers. But people like some asshole Skrulls and a certain Valkyrie wouldn't let her forget.
"Answer me this. If you're not a Kree, what's with the suit then?," Valkyrie asked, "You may not have their colors, but I'd recognize that star symbol anywhere."
Carol shifted on her bed, "I don't exactly have anything else I can wear that can withstand the power of an exploding star."
"You sure that's the only reason?," Valkyrie asked.
Carol bluntly replied, "What're you, a cop?"
"Nope. King," Valkyrie smugly smirked.
Carol groaned, "Is this how Fury feels?"
…
"Well, beats San Francisco any day," Hope nods.
"You ever thought you'd end up in a magical temple in Nepal working with the freaking Avengers?", Scott asked.
"How in the hell would I have ever thought I'd end up here?," Hope sarcastically replied.
The two began to settle in their beds and unpack their tech. They placed their miniaturized suits on the table between them and prepared for sleep.
Hope sighed, "So, when did we go from beating up two-bit gangsters and the occasional enhanced psycho to straight-up alien invasions?"
"I don't know, but hey, look around! We're surrounded by some of the smartest, most powerful people on Earth! Could you imagine the weird shit you guys could come up with?", Scott grinned.
Hope smirked. She didn't know about that spider kid, but she did her research on Wakandan technology. She couldn't help but feel excited about working with the Black Panther himself.
"And could you also imagine the stuff you could make if you-"
"I'm not letting you help, Scott."
"Come on!"
…
"Wow, this place has got some fast wi-fi," Peter grinned as he typed away on his laptop.
He was chatting with Ned and MJ back in Queens about what was going on and they were on the edge of their seats. Ned even left a funny gif of Harry Potter with Strange's head photoshopped on it.
"Is it wise to be telling others of our mission?," T'Challa commented, putting his clothing in the drawer.
Peter gulped, "Oh, uh, no! I'm just telling them some of the basics. Nothing too serious. Don't worry, these guys were able to keep my secret from others."
T'Challa nodded, "So, you're Stark's protege?"
"Uh, yes, Mr…King T'Challa, sir," Peter nodded, "He helped me a lot with the whole hero thing. Um, I don't know if you remember me from Germany-"
"Ah, yes, you were the one who finally defeated Lang at the airport," T'Challa recognized the boy.
"Oh, right. Man, I beat up a lot of the people on this team," the child noted.
The king eyed the boy, curious as to what drew Stark to trust him with such incredible technology. T'Challa knew that there was more beyond appearances. He was raised not to judge a book by its cover. But seeing the boy just type away and giggle at his laptop made T'Challa wonder if the teen knew what he was getting into.
…
Rhodey sighed, looking at the large glowing case in front of him. Inside of it was a massive suit of silver armor staring down at him.
He remembered finding it after the battle. Pepper told him it was a gift that Tony was planning on giving him before the first attack from Thanos's forces in 2018. After the Snap, the idea of gift-giving wasn't exactly on anyone's mind.
"So, you gonna keep staring at that thing all day?," Sam snickered, "I mean, it's a nice suit and all-"
The colonel rolled his eyes, getting another laugh out of Wilson.
"Don't you guys have nanotech back at Stark Industries?," Sam asked, "Couldn't they hook you up with some? Easier to carry around."
Rhodes scoffed, "Sometimes, some good nickel-titanium works better. Can't beat down the classic."
"True," Sam nodded, "Shoot at it, punch it, sure, but you can't beat it down."
Rhodey nodded as his smile slowly fell, "So...Wanda really couldn't make it."
"Nah, man, she's...she's still dealing with everything."
"Sam, it's been seven years."
Sam sighed, "Yeah, for you maybe. For the rest of us unlucky bastards...it hasn't exactly felt like forever ago."
Wilson shuddered, remembering his body turning to dust and ash as he lay alone in the jungles of Wakanda. He could hear Rhodey calling for him, but he couldn't shout back, his throat already disintegrating. Just another traumatic event to pile onto Sam's life.
Even after they all came back, Rhodey couldn't help, but feel that survivor's guilt. How he couldn't help but watch most of his friends fly away in the wind to their ashy graves.
"You think she'll change her mind?," Rhodes asked, hoping that his friend would have some type of answer.
"I don't know," Sam groaned, "If she doesn't want to come, we can't force her to, that would only make things worse. I'm thinking after this mission we should stop by her place. You know, give her someone to talk to."
"Sounds like a plan, Cap."
"Okay, Steve may have been fine with that nickname, but not me," Sam grimaced.
"What, it has character to it!", Rhodes rebutted.
"It sounds like something you call an old man!"
"I'm telling Steve you said that."
Sam pointed a finger at Rhodes, "Don't you dare!"