"Hey, it's okay, boy. It's okay. Scott's a friend." Keira whispered in a comforting tone, holding Nikato back. While the Kangal might accept her friends, strangers, like Scott was in this case, was another story. Scott's infernal pacing and muttering did nothing to soothe the dog's agitated state, and the only thing holding him back was Keira's arms around his chest.
But Scott was too caught up in his own head to even notice that the only thing that kept him from being knocked to the floor by a one-hundred-and-forty-five-pound dog was a pair of arms.
And the rest of them were just speechless. How could Scott even stand before them? How was it possible? Or were they all having the same hallucination? A collective breakdown of their minds?
Steve, who was the most sympathetic in the room, shot a worried look at the still-pacing Scott. "Scott. Are you okay?" He asked slowly, his forehead wrinkled in concern.
"Yeah." This finally brought Scott to a halt, who pressed his hands over his eyes. He sucked in a sharp breath before looking around at them. Only then did it seem to dawn on him where he actually was. "Oh, there's a dog. Hi, doggie." He did a little wave in Keira and Nikato's direction before shaking his head, as if trying to get himself back on track. "Uh, have any of you guys ever studied quantum physics?"
"Only to make conversation." Natasha shrugged casually.
Scott pointed to the redhead, relieved that someone would be able to understand him at least, as both Keira and Steve just looked blank. "Alright. So... five years ago, right- right before Thanos... I was in a place called the Quantum Realm. The Quantum Realm is like its own microscopic universe. To get in there you have to be incredibly small. Hope. She's my, uhm... She w- was my..." He had been gesturing wildly while talking, but now, his hands stilled as he struggled to find the words while the pain of having lost Hope washed over him. "She was supposed to pull me out. And then, Thanos happened, and I got stuck in there."
"I'm sorry, that must've been a very long five years." Natasha said sympathetically. What mustn't it have felt like to be stuck in a dimension where time didn't matter? Like he had been stuck there forever?
"Yeah, but that's just it. It wasn't. For me, it was five hours." Scott waved away her concerns. Okay, so forever didn't last as long as they would've thought. Upon seeing the confused faces around him, he continued. "See, the rules of the Quantum Realm aren't like they are up here. Everything is unpredictable. Is that anybody's sandwich? I'm starving." He hurried across the room and scooped up Natasha's nearly untouched sandwich before stuffing it in his mouth.
"Scott. What are you talking about?" Keira frowned, not really following what Scott was saying.
"So... What I'm saying is, time works differently in the Quantum Realm." Scott's voice was a bit muffled since his mouth was full of sandwich, but he kept going despite that. "The only problem is right now, we don't have a way to navigate it. But what if we did?" He started pacing again, rambling on while Natasha and Steve shared an uneasy look.
"I can't stop thinking about it. What if we could somehow control the chaos, and we could navigate it? What if, there was a way that we could enter the Quantum Realm at a certain point in time, but then exit the Quantum Realm at another point in time? Like..."
"Like before Thanos..." Keira breathed at the same time as Scott uttered the words. She finally understood what he was saying. And if there was a chance, even a small chance of it working, they had to try. How they would do it, she had no idea. But Scott was here after being presumed dusted for five years, so anything had to be possible, right?
"Wait." Steve held up a hand. "Are you talking about a time machine?"
"No. No, of course not. No, not a time machine. This is more like..." Scott waved his hand in the air, trying to think of a better word, but came up short. "Yeah. Like a time machine." He admitted eventually. "I know, it's crazy. It's crazy. I- I- But I can't stop thinking about it. There's gotta be... some w- It's crazy." He sighed and looked down at his shoes. Maybe he should just give up the idea.
"Scott." Natasha interrupted. "I get emails from a raccoon, so, nothing sounds crazy anymore."
Keira couldn't help but agree and held up a hand, counting on her fingers as she spoke. "Yeah, and let's not forget about mutants, aliens from outer space, evil robots, and oh, the Norse gods that have proven to be real. Time travel will just be another walk in the park." She chuckled and shook her head.
Yeah, it was crazy to think about the things they had experienced during the years.
Scott's gaze wandered between all three of them. "So, who do we talk to about this?"
Keira glanced at Natasha, who was already looking at her, a knowing glint in her eyes. They both thought of the same person, and he probably wouldn't be too impressed when they turned up on his doorstep with a request like this.
Steve looked deep in thought, still trying to wrap his mind around the fact that time travel was even a real possibility, while Scott just seemed lost, not understanding the silent conversation the two women were so clearly having.
"Steve, catch!" Keira pulled up her car keys from her pocket and threw them at the supersoldier, who caught them midair with a confused look on his face. "And don't look at me like that, Tasha. We both know I don't trust your driving skills." She added with a laugh when she spotted the redhead's slightly offended frown at not being handed the keys. Her knees cracked when she stood up, finally daring to release her hold on Nikato, who still hadn't looked away from Scott once.
The man in question had crouched down slightly, his hand outstretched in front of him. "Nice doggie." He whispered weakly as the Kangal stalked closer to him with slightly stiff legs. He didn't dare to move an inch as his hand was being sniffed, but deemed it safe to get back up when Nikato gave a little snort and returned to Keira. "Don't think he likes me very much..."
The disappointment was clear as day in his voice, and Keira placed a hand on his shoulder. "Give him time, Scotty. He'll learn to love you too, trust me."
Steve was still looking perplexed, glancing between the car keys in his hand and Keira. "To where am I driving exactly?"
"Tony's."
❆
The gravel crunched loudly under the tires as the car rolled onto the driveway, waking Keira from her slumber. A lazy smile stretched her lips at the sight of the cozy cabin and she hid a big yawn behind her hand.
Being stuffed between Scott and Nikato in the backseat wasn't the most comfortable, but since her car didn't have a trunk big enough for the dog, strapping him in with a seatbelt it was.
It was lucky Nikato made such a great pillow, something he had proved on multiple occasions before, or Keira might've complained about the injustice of not having automatic shotgun, as it was her car they were using.
Tony, who had been strolling towards the cabin with a soft smile on his face, Morgan in his arms, slowly stopped at the sight of them stepping out of the car. The relaxed expression on his face faded and he gave a curt nod in Natasha's direction, who greeted him silently back.
If there was one who didn't seem to notice the slight tension that hung in the air, it was Morgan. She was squirming in her father's arms, trying to get back down to the ground. "Daddy, look! It's Irah and Kato!"
To avoid risking that his daughter would fall out of his grasp, Tony gently put her down and her small legs started to run before she even touched the ground. No matter his conflicting feelings about seeing the group, he couldn't suppress the smile that tugged on his lips at his daughter's pure joy.
"Morrie! How's my favorite little meerkat today?" Keira chuckled as the girl ran into her outstretched arms. Picking the girl up and spinning her around, her smile widened as Morgan laughed and squealed with happiness.
Nikato was just as ecstatic as Morgan was, bouncing around Keira's legs with his tail wagging like mad. If there was one person the dog loved, it was Morgan.
Keira had been surprised the first time she had dragged him with her to the cabin to visit, a bit on edge considering his broken background. But Nikato had proven to be an angel, just gently sniffing the baby Morgan and not leaving her cradle during the whole visit.
Morgan twirled a strand of Keira's hair between her fingers, loving how the blonde blended into the deep red. "I'm great! I lost another tooth yesterday. Look!" She opened her mouth wide and pointed to the gap in the row of teeth.
"I see it." Keira chuckled, nuzzling her nose against Morgan's hair. "A premolar. Did the tooth fairy give you any money for it?" Balancing Morgan on her hip, Keira slowly started to make her way over to the cabin, where the others had already gathered. Tony wasn't anywhere to be seen though, so she guessed he was still inside and preparing something to drink.
Morgan's bottom lip jutted out slightly as she nodded. "Yes, but daddy says the tooth fairy doesn't like it when the tooth gets knocked out by accident." The girl looked slightly guilty, and Keira couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow.
"Oh, what happened?"
"Climbed a tree and fell down..." Morgan admitted slowly, avoiding Keira's gaze.
But the mutant only grinned. "You're a real troublemaker, little meerkat. Gotta be careful though, don't want you to get hurt." She didn't even understand how Morgan had managed to knock out one of her premolars, normally it was the front teeth that took the most hits. But after all, kids could get into all sorts of trouble.
Tony emerged from the cabin with a tray and pitcher. It didn't take long until Scott was gesturing wildly while Tony looked solely unimpressed. And considering Scott's arguments, Keira could kind of understand it.
"Hey, Morrie. Think you could run inside and maybe get me a juice box or something? I'm a bit thirsty." Keira asked gently while lowering the girl down to the ground. While she could listen in on the adults' conversation, she didn't want to risk dismissing Morgan while doing so.
The girl, however, nodded enthusiastically before disappearing into the house.
Nikato, who still hadn't left Keira's side, looked up at her as he saw her shifting the weight between her feet.
"Go. Have fun, boy." She said in a low voice and gave him a little scratch behind his non-existent ear. Nikato pressed his head against her palm before he turned around and trotted down towards the lake. Keira watched him go with a smile on her face.
Oh, if only humans could be as happy as dogs. The world would be such a brighter place.
Keira slowly made her way over to the house and her steps echoed against the wood. Not wishing to be a part of an argument, she didn't join their ranks, but stayed back a bit and leaned against the railing, just listening to the conversation.
"No, you accidentally survived." Tony sighed, and a hint of frustration could be heard in his voice as he dismissed Scott. "It's a billion-to-one cosmic fluke. And now you wanna pull a... What do you call it?"
"A time heist?" Scott suggested rather lamely while accepting the drink Tony offered him.
"Yeah, a time heist. Of course. Why didn't we think of this before?" Tony asked sarcastically. "Oh, because it's laughable. Because it's a pipedream." He had no faith in this so-called plan whatsoever.
Steve fought to keep his voice level as he spoke. "The Stones are in the past. We can go back, we can get them."
Sounded simple enough. Space travel was already possible, so why shouldn't time travel?
"We can snap our own fingers. We can bring everybody back." Natasha agreed. Her hair wasn't down like it normally was, but in a braid that Keira had plaited before they jumped in the car. The red blended into the blonde beautifully and Keira was glad that Natasha had decided to let her hair grow rather than to cut it short again.
"Or screw it up worse than he already has, right?"
Keira couldn't help but huff, and also broke her own promise to not get involved in the discussion. "Can't possibly get any worse though. What's gonna happen? We screw up and erase the remaining fifty percent? At least there will be no one left to miss the remaining half." Sighing deeply, she dropped her head before looking out over the lake.
By the water's edge, Nikato was playing, leaping out and into the water while throwing sticks around for himself to catch.
"Gotta say, sometimes I miss that giddy optimism." Tony shot her a quick smile, clearly sarcastic in his answer, and toasted the air before putting the glass down. "However, high hopes won't help, if there's no logical, tangible way for me to execute said time heist." Sinking down in his wicker chair, he looked around at them. "I believe the most likely outcome will be our collective demise, as Keira so kindly suggested just now."
Keira shot a glare at Tony. He knew full well that wasn't what she had meant by that. Luckily, Scott intervened before an accidental venomous comment left her lips.
"Not if we strictly follow the rules of time travel. Alright? That means no talking to our past selves, no betting on sporting events-"
Tony held up a hand. "I'm gonna stop you right there, Scott. Are you seriously telling me that your plan to save the universe is based on Back to the Future?"
"Uh, no." Scott scoffed, although nobody believed him.
"Good. You had me worried there. 'Cause that'd be horseshit. That's not how quantum physics works."
Natasha, who had joined Keira's side the moment the blonde got back on the porch, looked to the side at her friend. "Tony. We have to take a stand." Her mood had shifted, it was reflected in the way her voice wavered just the slightest while uttering her friend's name.
"We did stand. And yet, here we are."
Natasha turned her head away, and Keira placed a hand on the redhead's arm. When their gazes met, she could only muster a half-hearted smile. Tony might be unwilling to help, but maybe he just needed the right persuasion. And if that didn't work... Well, they would figure it out. She didn't know how, but they would. Somehow.
Even if there was a microscopic chance that Keira could get Wanda back, she would take it. No matter the cost.
"I know you got a lot on the line. You got a wife, a daughter. But I lost someone very important to me. A lotta people did. And now, now we have a chance to bring her back, to bring everyone back. And you're telling me that you won't even-"
"That's right, Scott. I won't even." Tony cut him off. His voice was low and soft. He wasn't angry, no, he was sad that he couldn't accommodate their wishes. And if Keira was being honest with herself, she couldn't blame him. "I can't."
The sound of a door closing and small feet pattering across the porch momentarily broke the tension. Morgan got picked up and settled in her father's lap without further ado. "Mommy told me to come and save you." She said in a low voice, burying her nose against Tony's shoulder and held out a hand. "And I got your juice box, Keira."
Keira couldn't help but smile and gently took the juice box from the young girl. "Thank you."
"Good job. I'm saved." Tony hugged his daughter close, a small smile on his face but it faded with his next words. "I wish you were coming here to ask me something else. Anything else." He got back on his feet, still holding Morgan. "I'm honestly happy to see you guys. I just... Oh, look. The table's set for seven."
Steve held out a hand, gently grasping the man's arm. "Tony. I get it. And I'm happy for you. I really am. But this is a second chance." But the harsh truth was, he didn't really get it. Or he wouldn't be asking.
"I got my second chance right here, Cap. Can't roll the dice on it. If you don't talk shop, you can stay for lunch." With those words, Tony disappeared into the house again.
Keira was still holding on to the wooden railing, not even realizing how hard she was clutching it until it groaned slightly under her grip. Releasing it immediately, she looked up at her friends, who all looked sullen. "I'll be with you in a moment." There was no need for her to knock on the door when the rest of the group left her, but she did it anyways.
It was Morgan who opened it, her face breaking out into a wide smile. "Keira! You're staying for lunch?"
Keira had to swallow her guilt at the happy expression on Morgan's face and shook her head slowly as she crouched down in front of the girl. "Sorry, I don't think I am." Looking past Morgan's shoulder, she made eye contact with Tony.
The man walked forwards, a soft smile on his lips. "Why? You afraid Cap will crash your car?" He smirked slightly, picking up Morgan and resting her on his hip.
Keira pushed herself up and chuckled slightly. "Yeah, something like that. Might've trusted him to drive over here while snoozing, but I don't know if my car will tolerate anyone else for longer than that." She shrugged, tucking some auburn strands behind Morgan's ear, who hid her giggling face against her father's shoulder.
"Well, can't blame you for the car. It looks pretty new and shiny." He tilted his head slightly while ruffling Morgan's hair. "Although, you and the pooch are already here, so why not stay? Promise, I'll give you guys a ride back, so you don't have to walk the distance."
"Please, Keira. We can build a fort!" Morgan piped up, turning her head to look at the mutant.
Keira brushed a hand through her hair and glanced up at the ceiling before resting it on Tony. "Alright, I'll stay. You two make a compelling argument, and besides, I can't say no to a fort." Tickling the girl in Tony's arms, her smile widened when Morgan began to laugh. "Just let me tell the guys that I'm staying."