Traveler: Chapter 29

While Thor was undergoing perhaps the greatest emotional battle he’d had in a long time, the rest were hard at discussing the upcoming plans, and to say that Fury was not looking convinced was an understatement. However, he was not the Director of SHIELD for nothing. Being a spy required certain specific traits, and being adaptive to situations was the most basic of asks. As such, even though he was skeptical, he kept an open mind.

“So, your solution to all these problems is to play with forces that could blow everything to kingdom come?” Fury asked pointedly.

To the side, Thor shifted slightly, making Harry glance at him with pursed lips. He did not need to probe his mind to discover what must be running through his mind, and he wondered whether Thor would finally come to his senses like Maria had hoped or he would continue to be the muscled blockhead with an impatient approach.

He was shaken out of his thoughts when Helen spoke calmly.

“It’s not just about playing with energy, Director,” the Asian beauty replied. “It’s about fixing what’s broken—stabilizing conditions that otherwise... aren’t sustainable.”

Fury’s brow raised slightly, his eyes probing. “Stabilizing? Last I checked, ‘stabilizing’ usually means ‘testing until something explodes.’ Care to elaborate, Dr. Cho?”

Maria leaned forward instead, her voice firm and her gaze penetrating. “It’s more than that, Nick. This is about controlling the uncontrollable. We’re dealing with gamma radiation, cosmic energy, and psionic forces all colliding in ways that shouldn’t coexist. If we don’t stabilize them, the fallout could be catastrophic—not just for them, but for anyone caught in the crossfire.”

“And by ‘them,’ you mean Banner, Sylvia, and this… Wanda whom you recovered from Sokovia,” Fury said, narrowing his gaze. “One you didn’t deem important enough to tell me. I guess I did the right thing letting you three go.”

A terse silence enveloped the room as Fury regarded each of his former agents one after the other, his gaze staying on Maria longer than most. The brunette merely stared back, unrepentant. All their lips remained pursed but they didn’t say anything, knowing the man was right.

Fury’s gaze shifted over to Harry in the end who raised an eyebrow.

Shaking his head, Fury continued, “You’re proposing to merge their problems into one solution?”

“Not merge,” Helen interjected calmly. “Balance. Right now, Doctor Banner is dealing with an overload of gamma energy; Sylvia’s physiology is in flux from a similar overload. Wanda, on the other hand, seems to have a scarcity of energy—her body is constantly trying to draw from external sources to stabilize itself. The idea is to redistribute these energies across all three of them to create an equilibrium.”

“And Doctor Banner has agreed to this?”

“It’s the first chance he’s had to not just live with the Hulk, but to understand him. To control him,” she remarked. “But it’s not just about him anymore. This solution can help both Sylvia and Wanda, and it’s worth the risk.”

The tone reeked of Harry’s influence, and Fury knew it. His gaze traveled back to him, pointed.

“Speaking of risk,” Fury said, his tone grave. “Where were you planning to conduct this little… science experiment of yours? Not in that mysterious apartment of yours, I hope?”

Maria exchanged a glance with Harry, who leaned back slightly, his expression cool.

“We need a controlled environment—somewhere isolated, where energy fluctuations won’t pose a threat to civilians or the surrounding area. We’re considering the Mojave facility,” she replied.

“The Mojave facility?” Fury repeated, his tone skeptical. “You mean the one we had to evacuate because of a certain cosmic incident not too long ago? You really think that’s the best option?”

“It’s one of the few places equipped to handle this level of energy manipulation,” Helen explained. “The facility’s containment fields are still intact, and we can reinforce them to handle gamma, cosmic, and psionic energy simultaneously. It’s isolated, remote, and—if anything goes wrong—it’s far enough from populated areas to minimize damage.”

Fury’s expression didn’t change, but his silence spoke volumes. “Minimize damage,” he repeated flatly, his voice gaining a sarcastic edge. “You’re really selling me on this.”

His gaze lingered on Helen for a moment before he turned back to Harry. “And you? You’ve got your fingerprints all over this plan, Potter. What’s your role in all this?”

“I’ll have you know this lovely lady came up with most of it,” Harry said dryly, wrapping an arm around Helen and giving her a soft squeeze. The woman smiled thinly at her boyfriend that vanished when Fury cast an unimpressed gaze at them.

His lips quirking slightly, Harry continued, “As far as my role is concerned, I’ll be the stabilizing force. Apparently, my magic has proven potent enough to regulate these energies. Wanda’s been leeching off my powers whenever we’re close. It’s a bit weird, honestly. In any case, I’ll make sure the balance is maintained during the transfer.”

“Even though I believe you’re powerful enough, the proposal is not exactly reassuring,” Fury replied. “You’re asking me to greenlight a project involving unstable power sources. Still, suppose I agree to this. What’s the backup plan? What happens if something does go wrong?”

Maria answered, her voice calm and resolute. “If something goes wrong, we contain it. The Mojave facility’s failsafes are designed for this kind of scenario. And if it’s beyond containment... well, we shut it down. No hesitation.”

“And you can shut it down?” Fury asked, his eye trained on Harry who stared back for a long moment before settling on a curt nod. Fury’s searching gaze remained on Harry even after his response, and it was as if a silent communication took place between them as with a sigh, he finally nodded. “Fine. You’ve got the green light. But if this thing even hints at going south, you shut it down immediately. No arguments, no debates.”

“Understood,” Maria said.

“Good,” Fury said, straightening. “You’re free to take a jet if you want, but I want it back when you’re done. And for the record—if this blows up in your faces, I’m not going to say ‘I told you so.’ I’ll be too busy cleaning up the mess.”

Harry smirked faintly. “Nice to know you’ve got faith in us, Nick. And thanks for the permission, not that we really needed it.”

Fury shot him a pointed look, recognizing the truth of those words. The man truly did not need his permission for anything, but the fact that they had bothered with it established a point in itself.

“Just don’t make me regret it,” Fury sighed, and without a backward glance, he briskly made his way out of the room.

As the automated door slid shut behind the Director, Harry leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head, turning to the other man seated at the side.

Thor still seemed out of it, his eyes trained at the desk. His lips were set in a thin line and his brows were furrowed slightly. It was evident that he was thinking really hard.

The four women seated with Harry gazed at him as well, and Felicia was about to make another of her clever quips when the God of Thunder raised his eyes and stared directly at Harry. However, the usual fire in those electric orbs was oddly missing, having been replaced by remorse and a multitude of emotions that could not be identified accurately. However, the mere expression was enough to tell them that Thor was finally in the mood to at least not go hammer-blazing at Harry.

“Potter,” he began calmly, surprising everyone by addressing Harry by his name. “I want to see my sister.”

“Haven’t we had this discussion already?” Harry asked, rising from his seat and turning to the exit. “Your track record does not reassure me that you would not try anything. What makes you think my answer will change?”

Thor felt the rage returning but he forced it down. After everything that had been revealed to him over the past hour, it was evident that he did not have their trust. When he thought about it from their viewpoint, he could understand where they were coming from.

Once again, he surprised them by responding calmly, “You have my honor-bound oath as an Asgardian.”

Harry stopped, slowly turning to face Thor again.

“Your honor-bound oath?” he repeated, his tone skeptical. “Forgive me if I don’t find that particularly reassuring. You’re an Asgardian, Thor. Your idea of honor might not align with ours.”

Thor straightened, his imposing form towering over the room. “I do not expect you to understand Asgardian honor, Potter. But I swear to you, by my hammer and by the All-Father himself, I will do nothing to harm my sister—or any of you. All I ask is a chance to speak with her.”

“He might be telling the truth,” Maria ventured cautiously, eyeing Thor. “Asgardians take their oaths very seriously. Breaking one isn’t just a matter of pride—it’s a violation of their very being.”

“That might be, but Sylvia is vulnerable right now,” Felicia remarked, leaning with her hip against the desk.

“You are suggesting I would attack my sister?” Thor asked with a glare. Felicia merely shrugged, unimpressed.

“What if she doesn’t want to see you?” Natasha asked, her arms crossed across her front. “You are her brother, but that does not give you the right to barge into her life and turn it upside down. What’s been done is more than enough already.”

Thor bit back the retort that had been building up inside him, his shoulders slumping slightly as he recognized the truth of those words. They stung, but he could not deny the woman.

The fury in his eyes gave way to something almost resembling sorrow. “If that is her wish, I will respect it. But I must hear it from her own lips. Not yours.”

Harry stared at Thor for a long moment before he sighed. “Fine,” he said finally before he fully turned around, glaring at Thor with his eyes blazing. “But you will behave. And if I see even a hint of you acting out, your hammer’s destruction will be the last of your worries.”

“Understood,” Thor nodded.

XXXXX

The jet hummed softly as it streaked across the sky, cutting through the clouds with unrelenting speed. Inside, the atmosphere was a curious blend of tension and focus. Each person occupied themselves with final preparations, their expressions marked by varying degrees of concentration—or, in Thor’s case, a brooding silence.

Maria stood near the control panel, double-checking their flight trajectory. Natasha sat cross-legged at one of the side benches, methodically cleaning her sidearm despite knowing it wouldn’t be needed. Felicia lounged nearby, filing her nails with an exaggerated nonchalance, though her sharp eyes darted across the room, noting everything.

Helen Cho and Bruce Banner huddled over a console, exchanging quiet murmurs as they reviewed the energy stabilization schematics. Wanda sat by herself, staring out of the window, her fingers absently twisting in her lap as faint red sparks danced between them. Thor stood apart from the group, his massive arms crossed as he gazed out another window, lost in thought. The man had spent only a few minutes gazing at his unconscious sister before his regret had overpowered him, rendering him unable to be alongside her any longer.

As Harry stood leaning against the cockpit doorway and surveying the atmosphere, he knew perfectly well what must be going through Thor’s mind. Although a part of him was sympathetic, he could not be too considerate of the other man’s feelings right now, not after seeing Sylvia’s current state.

His mind was conflicted on its own, as it had been ever since discovering the truth of Sylvia, and to say that he was regretful of everything was an understatement. He had had several discussions over this with his girlfriends and they had helped him come to terms with both the situation and his feelings, and although he could not think with his heart right now, he truly hoped the situation would be resolved soon so that he could clear the air with the unconscious woman.

“So,” Felicia broke the silence, filing away at a particularly stubborn edge. “Anyone else wondering how many ways this little science fair can go horribly wrong, or is that just me?”

Natasha smirked slightly, not looking up from her task. “Only you would think of gamma radiation and cosmic energy in the same breath as a bake sale.”

“Forgive me for trying to lighten the mood,” Felicia replied with mock indignation. “The vibe in here is so dreary I half-expect those demented things Harry told us about to show up.”

At the mention of Dementors, Harry’s lips quirked. “You’d handle them just fine, wouldn’t you?”

“Obviously,” Felicia shot back, her grin sharpening. “I’d out-charm them.”

Thor turned his head slightly, his deep voice cutting through the banter. “Your humor is ill-timed, lady. This is no laughing matter.”

Felicia raised an eyebrow. “And here I thought you’d given up glaring holes into people’s souls, Sparky Boy. My mistake.”

“Felicia,” Maria sighed, turning from the controls. Her gaze swept over them, from Thor’s brooding and unimpressed form to an uncaring Felicia who had her lips quirked in an amused grin. “I’m sure Thor’s concerned for his sister. After all, we’re about to attempt something that hasn’t been done before—and failure isn’t an option.”

“Failure’s always an option,” Bruce muttered, though his tone lacked its usual self-deprecation. “It’s just not a very appealing one.”

Maria nodded toward him. “Which is why you and Helen have triple-checked everything, right?”

“Quadruple,” Helen corrected without looking up. “And we’ll keep checking until it’s done.”

“Glad to hear it,” Maria replied, her voice steady. She turned her attention to Thor. “And you?”

The Asgardian’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “I am here to ensure my sister’s safety. Whatever else may happen is secondary.”

“Good to know you’ve got priorities,” Natasha said dryly, sliding her weapon back into its holster.

Wanda, who had been purposefully kept far away from both Sylvia and Bruce so as not to complicate the matters due to unforeseen reactions, spoke softly, “Sylvia will be okay. We all will.”

Harry’s gaze softened slightly as he stepped over to Wanda, and immediately, he felt the familiar tug on his magic as she began to leech off him. He crouched beside her, his voice quiet but reassuring. “She will be. You’re not facing this alone, Wanda. None of us are.”

The young woman nodded, though she didn’t fully meet his eyes. Beside her, Betty clasped her hands gently, gazing at Harry with a thin smile when he happened to turn to her. Wanda’s fingers stilled as the red sparks faded.

“We’re here,” Maria announced, cutting through the lingering silence. The group turned their attention to the cockpit windows, where the sprawling Mojave facility came into view—a stark, isolated complex surrounded by miles of barren desert.

The jet descended smoothly, its landing gear engaging with a muffled thud. Inside, the team began gathering their equipment. Each movement carried a deliberate precision, the air thick with anticipation.

Thor adjusted the strap of Mjolnir on his belt as he stepped down the ramp. His eyes scanned the barren surroundings, the heat radiating off the sand doing little to phase him. He was followed by Harry, who murmured a quick incantation under his breath, causing the air around them to shimmer faintly—a protective ward against stray energy fluctuations.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Felicia remarked, her voice echoing faintly in the cavernous hangar. “Feels like the kind of place where bad decisions get made.”

“Let’s try not to make any,” Maria replied with a chuckle, gesturing for them all to follow her deeper into the facility.

They moved through the labyrinthine corridors, the sterile environment illuminated by fluorescent lights that buzzed faintly. Most of the facility’s exterior was blown apart and so was the building that had housed the experiment facility for the Tesseract before, but apart from that section, everything else remained intact.

Finally, they reached the central containment chamber—a reinforced room lined with energy-conducting panels and monitoring stations. The equipment hummed with latent power, ready to be activated at a moment’s notice.

“Alright,” Maria said, taking charge as she surveyed the room. “Let’s get everything set up. Helen, Betty, Harry and I will let you two get started. Thor—”

“I will remain here,” Thor interrupted, his voice resolute. “If anything goes amiss, I will not leave my sister’s side.”

Maria held his gaze for a moment before nodding. “Fine. But you follow our lead.”

“Understood,” he replied, his tone betraying no argument.

The chamber thrummed with energy, the faint hum of machinery filling the sterile air. At the center of the room stood three reinforced containment pods, each equipped with a host of monitoring devices and energy conductors. Wanda, Banner, and Sylvia were positioned within, all three knocked unconscious. Banner had done all the calculations he could while aiding Betty and Helen, and the two women had now taken charge of the execution.

Thor stood to the left near Sylvia’s pod, his broad shoulders taut with unease. His eyes never left her, a mixture of worry and determination etched onto his face. Harry stood at the opposite end of the chamber, his hands in his pockets as he remained utterly calm while murmuring incantations that caused faint, glowing runes to appear along the walls.

“Energy redistribution arrays are online,” Helen announced, her hands flying over the console as streams of data scrolled across the screen. “Gamma stabilization is holding steady. Cosmic energy levels—stable for now.”

Betty’s voice was calm and measured as she typed away. “Let’s not jinx it, Helen. How’s Wanda’s psionic baseline?”

“Baseline is consistent,” Helen replied, glancing at a separate monitor. “Her energy signature is still trying to draw from external sources, but nothing volatile. Yet.”

“Good,” Natasha said from her spot by the wall. She turned to Harry. “How’s the warding?”

“Intact,” Harry replied, his voice calm but focused. He traced another rune in the air, which flared briefly before sinking into the containment pod closest to him. “The runes are tied directly into the facility’s containment fields. If anything spikes, they’ll suppress it. Hopefully they won’t be needed.”

“Hopefully?” Felicia quipped from her position near the chamber’s entrance. “Not exactly the confidence booster I was looking for, babe.”

“I prefer to be cautiously optimistic,” Harry shot back, his lips quirking slightly.

“All systems are green,” Helen interrupted, her voice cutting through the banter. “We’re ready to begin the transfer.”

Thor finally shifted, his eyes surveying everyone present before finally settling on his unconscious sister. Concern was the dominant expression on his face. Meanwhile, Betty tried her damnedest to bury the flicker of fear that threatened to emerge on her face as she glanced at Banner. They had checked the calculations numerous times but there was always the chance that something might go wrong. Her eyes met Harry who gave her a reassuring nod, and a small, relieved smile grew on her face as she nodded back. She had faith in him.

“Alright,” Maria said. She glanced at Harry and said softly, “On your mark, love.”

Harry exhaled, his eyes closed as the room stilled. No sound could be heard apart from the rhythmic whirring of instruments and their breathing as he went about his work. Suddenly, Thor’s eyes widened when he felt a malevolent force permeate the air that was more dangerous than anything he’d ever felt. His eyes, wide with disbelief, fell on Harry who, unbeknownst to anyone else, radiated off a pure black aura that enveloped the entire chamber, sending dread and fear into the heart of the Asgardian. Even Betty felt that sense of unease course through her and she glanced around nervously, fearing that something would suddenly come and strike her down. The only ones who remained perfectly at ease were Felicia, Helen, Maria, and Natasha who all gazed ahead at Harry.

Finally, he opened his eyes and nodded for them to go ahead. Helen did not waste a moment and nudged Betty who jerked slightly and pressed the key just as Helen did the same on her workstation.

The pods began to hum, and streams of energy—vivid green gamma radiation, swirling blue cosmic light, and scarlet psionic waves—slowly arced between them. The containment fields shimmered, holding the volatile forces in check.

“Energy levels rising,” Helen reported, her voice clipped but calm. “Redistribution process is stable so far.”

Even though she was unconscious, they saw Wanda flinch as a wave of psionic energy coursed through her pod, her fingers clenching the edges of her chair. Harry’s eyes widened in sheer shock when he heard her voice in his mind. However, he did not waste any time wondering how it happened and immediately waved his hand, and a pulse of golden light surged through the containment field, stabilizing the fluctuations.

‘You’re alright,’ he communicated silently and firmly, his gaze locked on her. ‘Stay with it.’

‘Thanks,’ he heard Wanda murmur in his mind, her voice strained but steady.

The tendril of energy that always seemed to connect him to Wanda whenever they were close had grown stronger the moment the experiment began, and Harry remained alert to any surprises.

In Sylvia’s pod, her body glowed faintly as the cosmic energy within her began to settle into a rhythmic pulse. Thor stepped closer, his expression pained but restrained.

“Is she—” he started, but Maria cut him off.

“She’s fine,” Maria assured him. “But we need you to stay back. You could disrupt the fields.”

Thor’s fists clenched, but he relented, stepping back to his original position.

In Banner’s pod, the greenish hue of gamma radiation surrounded him, swirling like a tempest. His breathing was controlled, but a sheen of sweat appeared on his brow.

“Gamma fluctuations increasing,” Betty said tersely.

“I’ve got it,” Helen said, her fingers flying over the console. “Recalibrating. Give it a second.”

The streams of energy between the pods pulsed brighter, their colors weaving together into a chaotic dance. The hum in the chamber grew louder, almost deafening.

“Energy balance is holding,” Helen reported, though there was a note of tension in her voice. “But we’re nearing maximum thresholds.”

“Harry,” Maria called, her tone urgent.

“On it,” Harry replied, raising his hand. A surge of golden light radiated from him, flowing through the runes and into the containment fields. The energy stabilized briefly, the swirling chaos settling into a more controlled flow once again.

Suddenly, without warning, a surge of green light erupted from Banner’s pod, sending a ripple through the chamber. Alarms blared, and the energy streams wavered dangerously.

“Containment breach imminent!” Helen shouted, her voice rising over the din.

“Harry, do something!” Natasha barked, drawing her weapon instinctively even though she knew it wouldn’t help.

“On it!” Harry snapped, his hand a blur as he reinforced the runes. Golden light flared brighter, pushing back against the destabilizing energy.

Thor stepped forward, Mjolnir in hand. “What can I do?” he demanded, his voice booming.

“Stay back!” Harry barked, his focus unbroken. “I’ve got this!”

The energy finally began to settle, the alarms fading into silence. The pods glowed faintly, the chaotic streams now flowing in a smooth, synchronized rhythm.

“Energy levels back within acceptable parameters,” Helen announced, relief evident in her voice.

Maria exhaled slowly, her grip on the table easing. “Good work, everyone.”

For a moment, the room was silent save for the hum of the machinery. Harry lowered his hand, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he stepped back.

‘Is that it?’ Wanda asked quietly in his mind, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

‘No,’ Harry replied, his gaze scanning the pods. ‘We’ve just started. Let’s hope the rest goes this smoothly.’

The energy transfer hummed around them, steady and rhythmic, as the swirling arcs of green, blue, and scarlet energy danced between the pods. Harry’s golden wards shimmered faintly, holding the volatile forces in check. For a brief moment, all seemed to be stabilizing—but then Harry felt it.

A strange pull tugged at the edges of his consciousness, an almost magnetic force drawing him inward. His vision blurred, and when it cleared, he found himself standing in the middle of an ethereal void.

Scarlet psionic waves curled like smoke around him, interwoven with streams of cosmic blue and gamma green. The energy felt alive, pulsing with purpose, and he wasn’t alone.

“Harry?” Wanda’s voice echoed through the void, trembling slightly. She appeared nearby, her figure shimmering faintly with psionic light. “What’s happening?”

Before Harry could answer, another voice joined them—reserved, wary, and unmistakably familiar.

“This… is unexpected,” Sylvia said. She materialized a few steps away, her Asgardian features both regal and tense. Her arms were crossed, her green eyes trained at Harry. “What is this, Harry?”

Harry stared at her, his gaze flicking briefly to Wanda before returning to Sylvia. “I guess I should’ve anticipated this,” he said, his tone even. “It’s the bond. The energy transfer must have connected us.”

Sylvia’s lips curled into a small frown, her eyes darting from Harry to Wanda. “Sharing a mental space. What caused this? And how am I conscious? Last I remember…”

She trailed off, her gaze guarded. Wanda looked between them, her confusion growing. “You two… know each other?”

Sylvia chuckled humorlessly. “Oh, we know each other quite well, don’t we, Harry?”

Harry’s expression darkened slightly, his jaw tightening. “Now’s not the time, Sylvia.”

“Sylvia, am I now? Not a tyrant?” Sylvia asked pointedly. “And what time is it then, Harry? A moment of truth? Redemption? Or just another lecture about my sins?”

Wanda raised her hands, her psionic energy crackling faintly. “Enough! I don’t know what history you two have, but we’re all stuck here, and I’d rather not stay longer than necessary.”

Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re right, Wanda. Sylvia, this connection will only last as long as the transfer. Once you both are stabilized, we’ll be out of here, which should hopefully happen soon.”

Sylvia arched an eyebrow, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Is that concern I hear in your voice, Harry? Even when you’re disgusted with this tyrant?”

Harry flinched but didn’t deny it. Instead, he met her gaze, his voice steady but laced with frustration. “I don’t hate you, Sylvia. But I can’t ignore what you’ve done—or what you planned to do.”

Sylvia’s lips thinned, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her face. “And yet, you spared me.”

Harry’s voice softened. “Because I saw you beyond the person under the Mind Stone’s influence. The one who was hurt, angry, and lost.”

Sylvia looked taken aback as her mask cracked further, her shoulders sagging slightly. “And? Do you think that person is gone? That I’m just… a villain?”

Harry hesitated, although his gaze was piercing. “I think that person is still there. The question is whether you want to be her—or keep hiding behind your anger. The anger that fed the Mind Stone and gave it strength.”

Sylvia faltered and glanced away, her voice quiet. “Do you know what it’s like, Harry? To be stolen from your family as a child, raised by a man who never wanted you, always being told you weren’t enough?”

“I know enough,” Harry replied, his voice gentle. “But I also know that pain doesn’t give you the right to hurt others.”

Sylvia met his gaze again, her eyes glistening. “You don’t understand. I never wanted to destroy Midgard—I wanted to rule it. To prove I was worthy. And… I wanted you by my side.”

Harry blinked, startled by the raw honesty in her voice. “Sylvia…”

She stepped closer, standing right in front of him, her voice trembling. Gazing up, she rested her hands on his chest, looking deep into his eyes that were so like hers.

“I meant what I said that day. You made me feel something I never thought I could—like I belonged. Like I was enough. That’s why it hurt so much when you looked at me with such disgust. I wasn’t just losing a battle—I was losing you.”

Harry’s expression softened, a mixture of regret and understanding crossing his face. “I wasn’t disgusted with you, Sylvia,” he said quietly. “I was disgusted with what the Mind Stone had turned you into. I have seen the person you could be. The one who doesn’t need a throne to prove her worth.”

Sylvia’s breath hitched, her composure slipping further. “And now?” she asked hesitantly.

“Now,” Harry said, taking her hands and linking their fingers together. “I see someone who has good in her. Someone who can forgive and change, if she lets herself.”

“I am still the same person, Harry,” Sylvia whispered, a drop of tear leaking out of her eye. “The Mind Stone might have influenced me, fed on my anger and sorrows, but deep down, those traits exist.”

“I know,” Harry replied softly, wiping the tear away and resting his forehead against hers. “But I also know that deep down, you are a good person. Someone who would’ve never even thought of killing innocents if her anger had not been manipulated.”

Sylvia closed her eyes as she felt him pull her close, her defenses crumbling. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Harry. Or your faith.”

“Maybe not,” he said with a faint smile. “But you have it anyway.”

Off to the side, Wanda stood awkwardly with her hands clasped in front of her as she kept her eyes away from them. She jerked slightly when she heard the sounds, and as she turned, she was proven right. She pointedly looked away from the kissing pair and paid particular attention to the swirling lights up ahead. The kissing only grew more intense as time passed, and a part of her wanted to curse them for not being considerate enough of her in this mental space, but when she recalled the brief history between them from their little chat, she could not remain too upset.

‘At least they’re not fucking with me here,’ she thought to herself. Alas, in the mental space, her thoughts were broadcasted loudly, making Harry and Sylvia separate from one another and turn to her.

“Err… sorry for that, Wanda,” Harry remarked.

Wanda turned around, looking uncomfortable, but before she could speak, the world around them shook violently. A loud growl, familiar and irate, echoed around them, and Harry’s eyes grew sharp and alert.

“Banner,” he said quietly as the world around them dissolved into nothingness, throwing Harry back into the physical realm.

To be continued…