Chapter 365: The Civil War Ends Temporarily
Scott was so unsettled by Silas's gaze that he honestly revealed Hank Pym's location. Since Silas had gone through the trouble of rescuing them, Scott figured he couldn't be a truly bad guy.
The Shadow Ninja returned the Ant-Man suit to Scott before melting back into the Shadow Kingdom.
"Thanks!" Scott called out to the ninja's retreating form, clutching the suit to his chest.
"Where will you all go now?" Wanda asked, looking at her fellow Avengers.
"Actually, I think Stark was right about one thing," Clint Barton said with a light chuckle. Everyone turned to look at him.
"It's time for me to truly retire and be with my family." Clint had seen Tony while in prison. Tony had said a few things to him, though at the time, Clint wasn't in the mood to chat. Looking back, Tony was right: spend time with family while you can, so you don't live with regret. After the crushing loneliness of the Raft, Clint swore he never wanted to experience that again.
"Good idea," Scott agreed. "Me too, though my family situation is... complicated."
"I'm going to find the Captain," Sam Wilson said after a moment of silence. He had decided to stay by Steve's side; his admiration for the man ran too deep to do anything else.
A Shadow Ninja appeared, handing Sam his flight gear and Redwing, which had been retrieved from the prison lockup. Sam beamed. "Thanks. This little guy is an indispensable part of me."
Clint glanced at Sam and then turned to Wanda. "We've got our plans. What about you, Wanda?"
"I'm not sure. But first, I need to regroup with Pietro. He's probably worried sick." Wanda stole a quick glance at Silas. He noticed, of course; he knew what she was thinking, but he wasn't sure his family—especially May—was ready for him to bring a "stranger" home.
With their plans set, Silas opened Shadow Portals for the Avengers. One by one they left, until only Wanda remained.
"Let's go." Wanda stood obediently, waiting for Silas. He nodded and transported them back to the secluded villa.
The Villa
"Pietro!" Wanda shouted as soon as she stepped through the portal.
She found Pietro lounging luxuriously on the sofa, eating snacks and watching TV. It was the complete opposite of what she had imagined—she thought he'd be pacing the floor in a panic. Instead, he looked perfectly relaxed.
"Oh? You're back, Wanda," Pietro said, glancing at her over his shoulder. "Remember to wash the dishes in the kitchen."
Cr-crack!
Wanda's knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists. Suddenly, Pietro was lifted into the air by a red glow.
"Whoa! Wanda, what are you doing?!"
Without a word, Wanda flicked her wrist. Pietro was launched out the window and landed with a loud splash in the outdoor swimming pool.
"Hah... much better." Wanda rolled her neck, the tension leaving her face. She turned to Silas, her eyes soft and full of reluctance. "Are you going back now?"
Silas reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "I have to. My family will worry."
"Worry?" Wanda asked. "You haven't told them about your powers?"
"No. I don't want them to have to carry that burden," Silas explained.
"Then... goodbye." Wanda lowered her head. She didn't want him to leave; she felt like she needed someone by her side right now. As for that idiot Pietro, he could stay in the pool.
"See you later." Silas wasn't too worried about the distance; with the Shadow Portals, he could be back in an instant.
Suddenly, Wanda placed her hands on Silas's shoulders, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I hope next time, you can stay a little longer."
"I will," Silas smiled. He turned and vanished into the darkness. As the villa fell silent again, the warmth in Wanda's eyes faded, replaced by a quiet sense of loneliness.
Avengers Base
Tony was carefully supporting Rhodey as he walked.
"Tony, I only lost one leg. Is all this hovering really necessary?" Rhodey asked, slightly exasperated. Rhodey had been saved from the brink, but his left leg was beyond repair. He had opted for an amputation and was now being fitted with a high-tech mechanical prosthetic designed by Tony.
"I just think the transition from a 'Double-Legged Great Ape' to a 'Single-Legged Seahorse' might be tricky for you," Tony quipped, letting go but staying close.
"I'm Colonel Rhodes, I think I can handle it," Rhodey said, standing tall.
"Mhm~ How's the shock absorption? Any feedback on the lateral movement or the reaction joints?" Tony knelt to tap on the metal casing.
"It's fine, Tony. Though an air conditioner in the calf would be nice," Rhodey joked. A second later, the leg lost balance, and he dropped to one knee. Tony rushed to help, but Rhodey waved him off. "No. Let me get up on my own."
Tony watched in silence as Rhodey found his footing.
"One hundred and thirty-eight missions," Rhodey said quietly. "One hundred and thirty-eight takeoffs, and every single time, I treated it like it might be my last. I signed that Accord because I believed it was right. Our world is dangerous. We lost this round, but I haven't changed my mind."
Rhodey looked Tony in the eye, telling him clearly: Don't drown in guilt. I'm on your side.
"Heh." Tony felt the weight on his chest lighten slightly. He reached out a hand. "Need a lift?"
"Always." Rhodey smiled and took Tony's hand.
Knock, knock, knock!
An elderly delivery man appeared at the door. "Are you Tony Stank?" he asked, reading the label on the box.
Rhodey immediately burst into laughter. "Yes! Yes, he is. He is definitely Tony Stank!"
Tony, for once, didn't argue. He just let out a dry laugh.
"Oh man, I am never letting that go. Tony Stank. Haha!" Rhodey chuckled as he limped toward the sofa.
Tony took the package. It was from Steve. Inside was a letter apologizing for the secrets regarding Tony's parents and explaining that everyone has to follow their own path. Steve promised that no matter what, if Tony ever truly needed them, they would be there.
"Sir, Secretary Ross is on the line," Jarvis interrupted. "He says the Raft prison has been attacked."
Tony knew immediately it was Silas. He spun his chair around. "Patch him through."
"Stark! What is the meaning of this?!" Ross's voice roared through the speakers.
"Wanda and Destiny? What happened?" Tony asked, feigning utter shock.
"Don't play dumb with me! They just broke everyone out!" Ross snarled. He knew Tony had been there recently and disabled the surveillance for a minute. "It's highly suspicious."
"Wow... Wanda went there? And Destiny? Impossible, he was just here chatting with me," Tony lied through his teeth.
"Are you sure about that, Stark?!" Ross sent over a grainy security image of Silas during the breakout.
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