Why didn't we know? Why would anything be easy for us on our path to redemption?

If any of us had known what exactly was in store on Vormir, we would have planned this out more carefully.

For a quick recap: Vormir was a dark, desolate, sandy planet. This was where the Soul Stone would be, as confirmed by Nebula. Tony and I were partnered up for this mission. We'd reached the top of the only mountain on this place. There was a guardian of the Stone, with a red skull for a face, who greeted us and told us that in order to retrieve the Soul Stone, a soul had to be the price.

"Should've known something would crop up," I said through a thick voice. "Naturally, it couldn't be easy. Why would it be? We're Avengers!"

"Okay, how about we cut down on the theatrics here, Kia."

"Oh, that's rich, coming from you."

"Hey, channel that anger and fear anywhere but me. Focus, Kia."

I exhaled. "Right. Sorry. How are you not freaking out?"

"Oh, just because I don't show it, doesn't mean that I'm not feeling it."

I tapped my foot on the rocky ground. One of us has to go. There's no way we'd willingly fling the other over the cliff. I don't have anything against Tony. Unless he's held a secret grudge for years, he wouldn't do that to me either. So...what do we do?

I was well aware of the short amount of time we had to get this Soul Stone. I was fully aware of what choice was before us. It didn't make things any easier.

The Stone Keeper remained silent in all of this. Good for him, because if he spoke another word, I'd feel compelled to punch him in his red face.

Noise piercing the silence snapped me from my focus. I looked beyond Tony, back the way we had walked up from. Figures grew closer. We hadn't encountered anything harmful on our trek up.

"Tony," I whispered, nodding past the iron-suited man.

As the figures came into view, my heart sped up. They looked eerily familiar. Minions of Thanos. Thanos? How can that be?

Tony's helmet came over his face, hands out ready to throttle anything that came our way. I remained still, though my hands lit up with orange flame. The Stone Keeper just looked on, with an almost bored expression.

"What's the plan, Tony?" I asked.

"Doesn't look like too many, we can take them."

I dropped when a blast came for my head. Tony exchanged fire with our enemies, and I put up a fire shield to defend myself until I could gather my thoughts. As Tony weaved and dodged attacks, I tried to count how many were coming for us.

I stopped when I saw a familiar, giant, purple-skinned being taking his sweet time towards us.

"I-isn't he dead?" I whispered in horror.

Tony swooped over my fire shield, landing behind me. "He's supposed to be. I guess time doesn't appreciate us meddling."

Great. No more fooling around. "He's not going to stop us."

"Kia, there's no way we can take them all. Trust me, I appreciate the fire in your voice, but we're easily outnumbered."

"You just said we could take them!"

"That was before he got here!"

"Oh, please, we've faced worse odds."

"You know how things ended the last time we encountered Thanos."

The Dusted. I was well aware. Wanda. Aria. Bucky. Countless others. All gone. If this Thanos stopped us here...Tony and I wouldn't go back to our time. We wouldn't get the Soul Stone. The ripple effects...

"O-okay, new plan then," I squeaked. Blasts came my way. My wall defended us, for now. "We have to get the Stone. Someone's gotta take the hit." I knew who I wanted to land on the ground over the cliff.

"Well, we can't exactly throw him over. I'm not particularly fond of Grimace, are you?"

Then there's only one way. Over my shoulder, I looked towards the cliff.

Firefly, get that look out of your eye.

If we stand and fight them, we won't get the Stone. Can you cover me?

Kiara—

Can you cover me, Tony?

...Yes.

The fire shield still held. I wanted to wait for a break in blasts to let it drop so it wouldn't backfire on the both of us. When I drop the shield, you draw their attention. Buy me enough time so I can complete the mission.

I can't believe I'm agreeing to this.

When I saw my window, the fire shield disappeared. Tony launched himself forward, drawing fire from Thanos' forces. It took a few seconds for my body to move. I spun, heading for the cliff's edge.

A brute, painful force collided into my back. I catapulted off my feet, almost sailing over the cliff. I landed, rolling for a few seconds. Dirt kicked up around me.

Kia!

Hold them off. I'm...I'm close. Through rattled breaths, I detached the shield necklace, tossing it onto the ground. Tony dropped from the sky, landing in front of me. He dodged incoming blasts, returning his own. Give that to him for me, will you? I wanted to keep the wedding ring, at least.

With heavy effort, I rolled myself off the edge. Either the wind was howling loud on my descent, or I heard Tony's anguished cry of grief. Not him, too. If he dies, we've lost.

Don't come after me, Tony.

Oh, Odin's beard, I'm terrified.

Steve. Steve, love—if—if you can hear me...it's all going to be all right. D-don't be mad at Tony. I-I promise you, it will all make sense when he returns. Please, love, don't let the anger get the best of you. Don't—

**Like I've said, I had to cope with Endgame somehow. I thought up these scenarios after watching the movie twice in theaters. I had to let it out.**