She said she gave all her love to me

We dreamt a new life

Some place to be at peace

But things changed

Suddenly, I lost my dreams in this disaster...

Call Your Name – Hiroyuki Sawano

-o-

Chapter 138: A Course

A course had been set automatically for their ship to the Titan's home world. None of the Avengers currently on the ship knew what they were going to find once they got there. There was so much that could go wrong and they had just the vaguest idea of what available options there were. All Ana could say was that that there was true fear lingering along the edges of her current state of being.

Even Erin was feeling apprehension with the unknown they were facing and she was usually the one most ready for the coming battles out of the two of them. Perhaps it was because her husband and brother were also feeling the apprehension of wherever the fates were taking them now. This wasn't an alien invasion on their home turf, terrorists groups causing trouble or even a rogue AI. This new enemy was strong and hellbent on destroying half of the life in the universe as they knew it. With one and a half of the Infinity Stones already in his possession – and who knew if he had already obtained the others – the possibilities of losing this coming battle was high. Still, they had to try. For the sake of all of their loved ones, for their homes, all that they cared for, and for those that they didn't know at all.

There was a distinct quiet that had settled amongst the group, the calm before the storm…

Bruce had remained close by his wife's side, a hand always resting on some part of her. As the ship continued on its course toward the unknown, the good doctor could only offer comfort to his wife. Neither spoke to one another but, like so often in their relationship, no words were needed. Bruce could feel the eyes of the wizard and the young man his wife considered a little brother every now and then. No doubt there were questions in their minds.

He was two years gone from his love and his children. Two years gone in which a number of things had happened and could have changed absolutely everything he had known. He was no fool. He was well aware that Doctor Stephen Strange had feelings toward his wife that were more than what a teacher should feel toward a student. He had been aware of it since his conversation with the wizard back at that building they had crashed through. It was a simple matter of fact that Ana and Erin were completely oblivious to it. Or perhaps they were aware of it and it had not affected their love and loyalty toward their husband and mate. Whatever the reason being, Bruce absolutely understood just how much of a miracle it was that he had his wife by his side at this moment…

His hold around her waist had tightened and he pulled her closer beside him, brushing his lips against her temple and breathing out a whispered, "I love you…"

She had responded immediately and tucked herself closer against him, pressing soft lips against the pulse point of his neck. Her soft breath as she exhaled tickled against his neck and, though she said nothing in response, he could feel the rush of overwhelming love and warmth through their mate bond. They sought comfort in each other as best they could despite the location and their new destination. It was something that the rest of their little party could not easily receive at this moment.

-o-

It was some time later that the ship began to shudder.

"Hey, what's going on?" asked Tony as he took a step from his spot beside Bruce and Ana, his gaze focused on the huge display in front of them.

It was showing a wavering image of a destroyed landscape as far as the eye could see. There was no sign of any kind of activity visible from the vantage point of their ship. Not that it told them anything about this planet…

"It seems we're here," said Strange as he moved to a stop beside Tony, his gaze focused on the fast approaching landscape.

"I don't think this rig has a self park function," said Tony in reply as he turned around, his hazel eyes landing on what appeared to be two metal extensions that protruded up from the floor of the bridge. He rushed around Strange toward what seemed to be the steering mechanism of the ship. He studied the mechanisms, noting the size of them. "These look like it was meant for one big guy…" He glanced over at Peter, debating on whether the kid could help with this. If they moved as one, they might be able to steer the ship to land without crashing into any obstacles…

"One big guy, huh?" Bruce let out a heavy sigh as he pulled away from Ana and clenched and unclenched his fists. His tension was obvious but glancing at his wife and his best friend, he knew the Other Guy would be best in the attempt. He felt Ana's hand on his bare back and he glanced at her, his gaze flicking over every feature of her face before it traveled down to the violent pulsing glow of the Infinity Stone imbedded in her hand. She was looking more tired than earlier, the shadows under her eyes more pronounced then they had been before this entire ordeal started. She would have attempted the steering herself, he was sure of it, but he didn't want her to be put under further stress if he could help it.

He gave her a small smile as he reached up to take her hand in his. "We got this, sweetheart," he said, giving her hand a squeeze. She studied him in turn, her brown eyes flicking between his, before she gave a single nod and relaxed. He let go of her hand and the transition from little guy to big guy was nearly seamless. With thudding footsteps, the Hulk made his way over to Tony and glanced down at him, waiting for instructions on what he needed to do.

"Get your hands inside these steering gimbals," said Tony as he moved aside to let the Big Guy stand in his place. "I'll close them once you're secure."

The Hulk let out a grunt in reply as he stuck his large hands into the steering mechanisms. It seemed he may have been a little too big for the mechanisms as he had to twist his hands into the things to get them to fit. They didn't need to be secured at this point. Thankfully, they were made of tough material and, though slightly bent out of shape, they still worked.

As the ship shuddered from entering the atmosphere, Tony directed the Hulk when to turn as the ship began to accelerate. The shuddering began to get worse as they cleared through a cloud bank only for a large, ruined structure to be revealed. Tony shouted to turn as the ship was on a collision course with the building. Strange took the initiative and he cast a protective barrier around their immediate area.

Ana, seeing that the barrier Strange had cast was strong but would do little to cushion their landing, glanced down at the pulsing, violet light in her right hand. The power of her half of the Space Stone was strong, the energy of it mixing with her and Erin's own energies. She would be lying if she told the others she had it under control. She could barely manage to keep the violent pulses of energy to a minimum. She was unsure what was happening to her body the longer the Stone remained imbedded in her hand. She had to find a way to get the thing out of her. Yet, as of right now, it would be one of the few things that just may be able to save them in the long run.

Taking in a deep breath, she began to tap into the power of the Stone, the dark violet light giving off a particularly strong pulse as she began casting.

"Ana!"

She was unsure who it was that called her name, the roaring in her ears as she finished her spell and released it blocked out all else. A series of dark, violet lines connected with one another, symbols and shapes of various sizes moving in an erratic fashion as it spread throughout the floors, walls, and ceilings of the ship. It interacted with the yellow-orange lines of Strange's shield and the sparks of the yellow magic cracked against the violet clouds. There was a sizzle and a crack before the two spells combined. The spells intermingled as the ship began to shake. The roaring in her ears was growing worse as the view of the ruined structure came barreling closer. Though the Hulk had turned when Tony had instructed, it had been just a bit too late and it looked like a part of the ship was going to strike the building…

The spell that Ana had cast activated and the dark violet cloud surrounded the ship, obscuring the vision of the ruined structure. A split second later, the shaking and shuddering of the ship stopped. The violet magic had swirled like a dark mist, the symbols Ana had created forming and dissipating within their depths.

With a cough, a trickle of blood had emerged from the corner of her mouth as Ana manipulated the spell. Her body trembled as she fell to her knees, the violet magic clearing away from the ship's large window display to reveal just what Ana was doing. The ruined structure had been separated and was on either side of the ship, looking as if it had been warped and shaped to cushion the ship. The ship was continuing in its slow descent, the structure's sharp angles and exposed beams being shaped with the swirling tendrils of dark violet energy. After a few heartbeats, the ship thudded to a gentle landing in the middle of what was once a building. The ship was in one piece, the engines dying down before cutting off completely.

The violet energy disappeared as Ana cancelled the spell, another cough and trickle of blood escaping her lips. The pulsing glow in her right hand seemed to finally calm down, having been spent on the large spell she had cast. The roaring in her ears had calmed to the sound of her frantic pulse. As she began to tumble over, she felt the familiar touch of her mate catching her fall.

-o-

Muffled shouts were starting to register through the darkness that clouded her senses.

She could feel that someone had a strong grip around her shoulders and neck. She was being held firmly against a chest that did not belong to her mate, her family members or even that of her teacher. As she started coming to, she could make out the words of the strange male that held her.

"…ere Gamora is and I'll let your girlfriend go."

"Let my sister go and I'll cut your friend loose," came Tony's voice from somewhere across the way. "You even harm her and I'll blast your guy."

"Don't do it, Quil!" Another strange voice had shouted from the same vicinity. "I can take it!"

"No, he can't take it!" A female voice came from another direction.

"She's right," said the familiar voice of Strange. "You can't."

"Oh yeah? You don't wanna tell me where she is? That's fine… I'll kill all five of you and beat it out of Thanos myself!"

A snarl escaped her as she opened her eyes, glowing yellow orbs flashing as she took in the scene around her. Her mate was unconscious, slumped on the floor. He was being held by some strange female humanoid with feather-like antennae that glowed with soft light. Her large dark eyes reminding one of an insect. Not too far from her unconscious mate, Tony was standing over a heavily muscled male humanoid, a large weapon formed from the nanites of his armor and aimed at the male's head. Peter was in his full armor, being held by some restraints that gave off crackling bolts of electricity. Strange was beside him, no doubt attempting to protect her little brother from these new threats.

Her snarls turned into growls as she started to grow taller, the deep crimson veins in her neck pulsing as her thermal energy and magic began to rise. The arm around her tightened as she felt the barrel of a gun suddenly pressed against her temple.

"Don't even think about it, sweetheart," came the stranger's voice right by her ear.

"Only our husband can call us that," she said, her voice husky as her hands clenched and unclenched. "Let me go…" The threat was clear as she struggled to calm the instinctual rage that was bubbling up. She was not going to lose control if she could help it.

There was a few moments of tense silence before the female's voice spoke, trembling and uncertain. "Q-Quil… You should let her go…" All eyes had moved to the female with the straight dark hair, her pale face almost seeming to glow within the muted light of the ship.

"Mantis, what-"

She shook her head as she carefully began to lift her small hands from the sides of the Hulk's head. "She is Lytta's daughter… The missing one Thor told us about. I can feel his mate bond with her." She gestured with her head toward the unconscious Hulk, whose blank face was beginning to show signs of a frown. "They are not with Thanos if Lytta's daughter is with them, remember?"

"You know Thor?" Tony asked, a disbelieving tone to his voice.

"Yeah… Tall guy, not that good looking?" The man named Quil had lowered his gun, his hold over Ana relaxing. "Ran into him on a ship belonging to an Olympian. Wait, wait… you guys are the Avengers?"

Tony let out a scoff as he lowered his own weapon, "Yeah dipshit, what are you hassling us for?"

"We thought you were with Thanos," said Quil, not sounding the least bit apologetic. "He took my girl."

By this time, all parties involved began to relax, the tension slowly fading as realization arose that they were, apparently, on the same side. As everyone began to ease out of their fighting stances, Ana found that she was finally released. She stumbled away from the man and she turned her head around to glare at the apparent human male that had held her hostage.

Quil had an embarrassed look on his face as he holstered his gun. "No hard feelings…?"

She snarled at him before turning and stumbling her way over to her mate. She barely made it several feet before her legs gave out. Tony was quick to move and catch her around the shoulders. "Easy there sis, you already blacked out once."

"Bruce," was all Ana managed, the yellow glow fading from her eyes as she got to her feet with her brother's help.

"I had only helped him to sleep," said the female named Mantis, moving carefully around the shrinking form of Hulk. She was nervously playing with her hands, her fingers twisting in and around themselves. She was looking at Ana with something akin to awe. "He had a lot of rage within him. He will wake soon…" She glanced at him before looking back at Ana. "I cannot believe such a bond could be so strong… Such love… I have never felt anything like it. Not even with Ego… Your mothers have the same bond with one another. Is this what a true mate bond is with a Celestial? Or is it simply because of your parents?"

Ana frowned, confused as to what the female was going on about, and decided she was too tired right now to figure it out. Instead, she chose to ignore the only other female and patted at her brother's hand to release her.

"Thor told you about us," said Tony, not missing anything that the strange alien woman had said of his sister. He filed it for later on and instead looked at the apparent leader of this rag tag group. "Where is he?"