Dark Paradise*marvel*(Book One)

(Flashback in Zen-Whoberi with bby gamora and eggplant)

As a Young Gamora and her mother wait in a room, hiding from Thanos.

“Shh. We’ll be safe. We’ll be safe” her mother says

But as soon as she said this a loud crash hits the surface. Gamora screams and her mother covers her mouth hoping no one heard her. That’s when Ebony Maw opens the door and Gamora sees everything. Her planet was destroyed.

“Zehobereians...” Ebony said

Young Gamora was snatched from her mother and into the hands of Thanos’ trust worthy “child”

“Mother! Where’s my mother!” Gamora hit Ebony and tried to escape

“Choose a side, or die” Ebony gave the choice

But Gamora didn’t listen

“Mother!” Gamora yells in fear and was let go by Ebony

“One side is revelation. The other is an honor known only to a few.” Ebony said

That’s when Gamora finds herself in the presence of Thanos 

“What’s wrong, little one?” Thanos asked the young girl.

“My Mother! Where is my mother!” She yelled

Thanos kneels down

“What’s your name?” Thanos asked

“Gamora” she said hesitantly 

“You’re quite the fighter, Gamora.” Thanos said as he pulls out a double sided knife 

“Look. Pretty, isn't it? Perfectly balanced. As all things should be. Too much to one side, or the other…” He finished 

Thanos gives her the knife and lets her try to balance it

“Now go in peace, and meet your maker” Ebony said

One half of the crowd is shot and on the the floor. Gamora then was trying to look but Thanos stopped her.

“Concentrate. There! You’ve got it!” He said as she smiled

————————

(yeet back to the future)

Gamora stands, brooding and watching out the window. She plays with the dagger that was given to her so long ago. 

"Gamora. Do you know if these grenades are the "blow off your junk" kind or the gas kind? 'Cause I was thinking I might hang a couple on my belt right here. But I don't want to-" Peter rambles, interrupting her thoughts.

"I need to ask a favour." Gamora says, interrupting his rambling

"Yeah, sure." He immediately agrees.

"One way or another, the path that we're on leads to Thanos." She says gravely.

"Which is what the grenades are for." He sasses but stops once Gamora gives an exasperated look, "I'm sorry, what's the favor?"

Gamora sighs deeply, "If things go wrong… If Thanos gets me… I want you to promise me… you'll kill me." She says slowly.

There's a moment of silence as Peter processes what she's asking of him. "What?" He asks, not entirely sure he heard her correctly. 

"I know something he doesn't. If he finds out… The entire Universe could be at risk."

Peter asks, "What do you know?"

"If I tell you, you'd know too." She vaguely respond in fear of putting him in danger as well.

Quill tries to hide his confusion, "If it's so important, shouldn't I know?"

Gamora shakes her head, "Only if you wanna die too."

"Why does somebody always have to die in this scenario?"

Gamora sighs to herself, "Just… trust me. And possibly, kill me."

"I mean, I'd like to. I really would…" He responds, trying to explain but thankfully Gamora silences him by covering his mouth with her hand.

"Swear to me. Swear to me on your mother."

Peter realizes just how important this is to her, he misses a beat. One that rests with him significantly, "Okay."

Gamora lets out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding, the two kiss, until an odd crunching sound startles them. apart, they turn to see Drax is standing in the corner.

"Dude. How long have you been standing there?" Peter complains. 

Drax just shrugs, "An hour."

"An hour? Are you serious?" He exclaims incredulously. 

"I've mastered the ability of standing so incredibly still... That I become invisible to the eye... Watch." Drax stands motionless, then very slowly raises his hand towards his mouth.

"You're eating a zarg-nut." Peter says

Drax shakes his head slowly, "But my movement... was so slow... that it's imperceptible."

Peter sighs, "Mmm, no."

Quill and Gamora shake their heads.

"I'm sure I'm invisible."

Mantis appears next to him, "Hi, Drax."

Drax realizes he's been beat, "Damn it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Benatar flies towards a massive skull and flies through one eyehole into a vast interior cavern. The Guardians have arrived to KNOWHERE. 

"This place looks deserted." Peter remarks as he looks around. 

"I'm reading movement from the third quadrant." Drax says.

Peter nods in agreement, "Yep. I'm picking that up, too. Let's put it down right here."

The four Guardians disembark and sneak into the Collector’s collection room, which is in ruins. Thanos is threatening the Collector while the Guardians hide behind rubble.

"I don't have it." The Collector cowers. 

"Everyone in the Galaxy knows you'd sell your own brother if you thought it would add the slightest trinket to your pathetic collection." Thanos remarks. 

Quill stops, and holds up a fist meaning 'halt' in the silent language of soldiers. Everybody walks quietly past him. Quill shakes his head before following them. 

"I know you have the Reality Stone, Tivan. Giving it to me will spare you a great deal of suffering." Thanos places a heavy boot on the middle of the Collector's chest and presses.

The Collector struggles to breathe, he says in a strained voices, "I told you. I sold it. Why would I lie?"

"I imagine it's like breathing for you." Thanos snarky remarks

The Collector is quick to shake is head and disagreement, "Like suicide."

"So you do understand. Not even you would surrender something so precious."

"I didn't know what it was."

"Then you're more of a fool than I took you for. Last chance, charlatan. Where's the Stone?"

It's at this moment, Drax decides that he has had enough and begins to advance towards him, "Today..."

Peter, grasping the danger, and tries to hold him back, "Drax. Drax." 

Drax ignores him, "...he pays for the deaths of my wife and daughter."

"Drax, waaaaait!" Peter exclaims desperately.  Drax draws his long dagger from his leg scabbard. "Not yet, not yet, not yet." Drax gives him a look and heads towards Thanos. Quill hurries as quietly as possible to catch up. "Drax, Drax, Drax. He doesn't have the Stone yet. We get it, and then we can stop him. We have to get the Stone first. Yeah."

Drax furiously shakes his head, "No. No. For Ovette. For Camaria."

Quill starts to struggle with Drax when Mantis puts her hand on the back of Drax's head

"Sleeeep." She quickly commands. Drax is knocked out, his falling body causing a loud crash. Everybody ducks.

Thanos looks towards the sound, then picks up the Collector and throws him into a collecting case before walking towards the disturbance

Peter Quill quickly begins to give order everyone, "Okay. Gamora, Mantis, you go right. I'm..."Gamora moves towards Thanos, "The other right!"

Gamora leaps on Thanos from a stack of boxes, swinging her sword at him. He snaps the swordblade in half, and Gamora stabs him in the throat with the stub, his lower jaw sagging and himself letting out a hoarse groan, then he is stabbed in the chest with the red-jewelled dagger.

"Why?" Thanos groans as he falls down, "Why you? Daughter…" He holds his hand out to her, blood pooling out from his neck wound, before collapsing completely. Gamora breaks down, sobbing.

"That was quick." Peter remarks in surprise. 

Collector enthusiastically claps, "Magnificent! Magnificent! Magnificent!"

"Is it sadness I sense in you, daughter? In my heart, I knew you still cared. But one ever knows for sure. Reality is often disappointing." Suddenly, Thanos's disembodied voice fills the room.

The scene disappears - everything in the room is destroyed and/or on fire, the Collector waving bye-bye as he and his case vanish.

"That is, it was. Now… Reality can be whatever I want." Thanos, alive and well, and with the reality stone seated nicely in the infinity gauntlet. 

Gamora looks up at Thanos,[her face still wet, but no longer crying], and scoffs, "You knew I'd come." 

Thanos nods at her, "I counted on it. There's something we need to discuss, little one."

Gamora hesitates for a beat, then reaches for her broken sword. Thanos grabs her by the back of the neck and swings her around in front of him.

Drax calls out, "Thanos!"

With a pulse of the Reality Stone, both Drax and Mantis are 'disassembled' -- Drax is turned into a stack of tumbling cubes, and Mantis becomes a ribbon version of herself.

Peter Quill quickly starts Moving in, his blaster pointed right at Thanos, "Let her go, Grimace!"

Gamora flinches, "Peter…" 

Peter Quill turns to Gamora with wet eyes, "I told you to go right." 

Gamora rolls her eyes, "Now? Really?"

"You let her go!" Peter yells, turning his attention to the life sized purple eggplant emoji that's standing in front of him. 

Thanos smirks and sigh, "Ah, the boyfriend."

"I like to think of myself more as a Titan-killing long-term booty call." Peter seems to think that this is a good time to remark before he suddenly turns serious, "Let her go."

"Peter…" Gamora groans. 

"Or I'm gonna blow that nutsack of a chin right off your face!" He accurately describes and points his blaster at Thanos.

Gamora shakes her head, tears forming in her eyes once again, "Not him."

Quill hesitates before turning his blaster towards Gamora. He does not shoot anyone

"You promised! You promised." She hoarsely shouts. 

Thanos shakes his head, "Oh, daughter. You expect too much from him." He turns his attention to Quill, "She's asked, hasn't she? Do it." There is a very tense and unpleasant pause. Thanos rolls his head and shoves Gamora towards Quill’s gun, egging him on. "DO IT!!" He yells. 

Peter Quill starts tearing up, "I told you to go right."

"I love you, more than anything." 

"I love you, too."

(oh shit) 

Quill screws up his eyes and pulls the trigger - but a stream of bubbles comes out. Thanos was playing him.

"I like you." Thanos says, genuinely sincere

Thanos teleports Gamora and himself away as a stunned Quill picks up Gamora's sword, and his friends painfully re-assemble themselves, the Reality Stone's effects now subsiding in its absence.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back on Earth, the quinjet arrives at the upstate New York Avengers HQ while Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes deals with the red tape in the holographic person of Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (Lt. Gen., USA Ret.

“Still no word from Vision?” Secretary Ross asks. 

James Rhodes shakes his head, Satellites lost him somewhere over Edinburgh.” 

Ross sighs in disappointment, “On a stolen quinjet with four of the world's most wanted criminals.”

Rhodes shakes his head disappointment back, “You know they're only criminals because you've chosen to call them that, right, sir?” He remarks like the badass he is. 

Ross scoffs, “My God, Rhodes, your talent for horseshit rivals my own.” 

“If it weren't for those Accords, Vision would've been right here.”

(so would a majority of the avengers but okay) 

“I remember your signature on those papers, Colonel.” 

”That's right. And I'm pretty sure I've paid for that.”He remark bitterly.  He walks around the desk and we get a good look at his leg braces Tony made for him. 

Ross sighs and tries not to respond directly about the soldier’s legs, “You have second thoughts?”

Rhodes smirks and shakes his head, “Not anymore.” 

Ross looks at him confusion. The confusion changes to slight anger and surprise when the fugitive Avengers enter the room, Vision supported by Falcon.

Steve nods in the direction of the hologram, “Mr. Secretary.”

“You got some nerve. I'll give you that.” Ross says, voice tight. 

“You could use some of that right now.” Natasha remarks, referring to their current crisis. 

“The world's on fire. And you think, all is forgiven?”

Steve looks at the hologram with a cold stare, “I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking for permission.” He pauses moment before, “Earth just lost her best defender.” He says, referring to Tony’s recent disappearance. “So we're here to fight.“ Cap takes a step forward, looking right at Ross. “And if you wanna stand in our way... we'll fight you, too.

Ross shakes his head and faces Rhodes, “Arrest them.”

Rhodes nods mockingly, “All over it.” He swipes off hologram; the computer beeps twice. “That's a court-martial. It's great to see you, Cap.”

Steve smiles gratefully and hugs War Machine, “You too, Rhodey.” He steps away, allowing Black Widow gets her own embrace. 

“Well. You guys really look like crap. Must've been a rough couple of years.” He jokes. 

Sam smiles at the man, “Yeah, well, the hotels weren't exactly five star.”

“Uh, I think you look great.” The familiar voice of Bruce Banner chimes in. Rhodes and Natasha long round to see Bruce walking in from the opposite end of the room. “Uh... heh... Yeah. I'm back.”

Natasha stiffens and gives him a tight smile, “Hi, Bruce.” 

Bruce returns the smile and nods, “Nat.”

“This is awkward.” Sam whispers and everyone gives him a smile. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cut to a shot of Natasha, Bruce, Steve, Rhodey, Wanda, and Vision in another room.

“So we gotta assume they're coming back, right?” Rhodey asks after the group finishes retelling all of the information to him. 

“And they can clearly find us.” Wanda remarks. 

“We need all hands on deck.“ Bruce says and turns to Natasha, “Where's Clint?”

Natasha shrugs, “After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal. It was too tough on their families, they're on house arrest.”

Bruce nods in understanding before asking, “Who's Scott?”

“Ant-Man.” Steve answers. 

“There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man?” He asks incredulously and sighs when Steve nods in confirmation. “Okay, look… Thanos has the biggest army in the universe. And he is not gonna stop until he... he gets... Vision's Stone.” He says looking towards the android. 

“Well then, we have to protect it.” Natasha says firmly, Wanda looks at her gratefully. 

Vision groans and shakes his head, “No, we have to destroy it. I've been giving a good deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its nature. But also, its composition. I think if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something, very similar to its own signature, perhaps… Its molecular integrity could fail.” Vision addresses Wanda as he nears her. 

“And you, with it. We're not having this conversation.” Wanda says as if she’s talking to child. 

Vision shakes his head again, “Eliminating the stone is the only way to be certain that Thanos can't get it.” 

“That's too high a price.” Wanda argues. FORGETTING HALF THE FREAKING UNIVERSE IS AT STAKE okay i’m done, carry on. 

Vision takes her face gently in both hands, “Only you have the power to pay it.” Wanda shakes her head and walks away, distressed. “Thanos threatens half the Universe. One life cannot stand in the way of defeating him.”

Steve, eyes diverted down from Wanda and Vision’s exchange, “But it should.” He finally looks up at Vision. “We don't trade lives, Vision.”

Vision begins walking toward Steve, “Captain, 70 years ago, you laid down your life to save how many millions of people. Tell me, why is this any different?”

he didn’t have anything else to lose

Steve takes a breath, but before he has a chance to answer, Bruce speaks. “Because you might have a choice. Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays. J.A.R.V.I.S., Ultron, Tony, me, the Stone. All of them mixed together. All of them learning from one another.” 

Wanda perks up, “You're saying Vision isn't just the stone?”

“I'm saying that if we take out the stone, there's still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts.” Bruce says. 

“Can we do that?” Natasha asks. 

Bruce shakes his head, “Not me. Not here.”

“You better find someone, and somewhere fast. Ross isn't exactly just gonna let you guys have your old rooms back.” Rhodey says. 

Steve thinks for a moment before blurting, “I know somewhere.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cut to rural Wakanda, as T'Challa, Hecate, and Okoye walk together, accompanied by two Kingsguard. 

“You'll have the Kingsguard, and the Dora Milaje have been alerted.” Okoye informs. 

“And the Border Tribe?” T’Challa asks. 

“Those that are left.” Okoye remarks

T'Challa nods, ”Send word to the Jabari as well. M'Baku likes a good fight.”

“And what of this one?” Okoye says, gesturing to the man in front of them. 

Hecate smiles at the man in question, “This one may be tired of war.” 

Bucky Barnes is seen at a small distance throwing a bag from a pile on the ground onto a partly-filled cart, while two village children watch. 

“But the White Wolf has rested long enough.” T’Challa says. 

The party reaches Bucky. The man smiles up at them but brightens once he sees his old friend, “Hecate!” 

“Hey, Buck!” She smiles before moving in to hug him. The hug for a moment and then part. 

Hecate backs away as a Kingsguardsman sets an elaborate and high-tech-looking equipment case down on the cart, opens the lid, and steps back. As the Winter Soldier approaches, he sees a new vibranium arm in the case. 

Bucky’s face goes grim with resignation, “Where's the fight?”

T'Challa, Okoye, and Hecate sigh before saying, “On its way.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cut to Ebony Maw interrogating Doctor Strange. Strange is floating horizontally, face down, and is surrounded by dozens of glassy needles, each about two feet long. 

“In all the time I've served Thanos, I've never failed him. If I were to reach our rendezvous on Titan with the Time Stone still attached to your vaguely irritating person, there would be...judgement.” Ebony rambles as the needles start to contact Strange's face, causing an obviously painful whitish subcutaneous glow at each touch. “Give me... the stone.” He demands before applying more pressure. 

Cut to Iron Man who is watching, hidden, from above. The Cloak of Levitation taps Stark on the arm. He raises his hand to it, ready to shoot, but he sees what it is and stands down.

“Wow you're a seriously loyal piece of outerwear, aren't you?” Tony says, kind of in aw of the cloak. 

“Yeah, uh, speaking of loyalty...” A suspiciously familiar voice says. 

Iron Man and the Cloak turn to face Spider-Man and FireStorm dropping down from above. 

Tony Stark goes wide eyed, looking at the teenagers as they drop down, What the-“ 

“I know what you're gonna say.” Peter says, quickly. 

“Neither of you should not be here!” Tony snaps at the teens. 

“We were gonna go home -“ Tyler starts. 

“I don't wanna hear it. Or else I’ll be hearing it from Hecate when we get back until I die!” Tony interrupts her. 

“But it was such a long way down and I just thought about you on the way -“ She tried to explain anyway. 

“And now I gotta hear it.” Tony says, exasperated. 

The Cloak shakes its collar in sympathy and shrugs. (we stan this cloak)  

“And we kinda stuck to the side of the ship. And this suit is ridiculously intuitive, by the way. So if anything, it's kinda your fault that we’re here.” Peter says before immediately trying to backtrack. 

The Cloak looks shocked. 

Tony is quick to take the disappointed dad pose, “What did you just say?”

Peter is quick to take the defensive teen stance and nervously laughs, “I take that back. And now we’re here in space.” 

The Cloak and Tyler stand to the side and watch the interaction as if it’s a tennis tournament. 

Tony just nods to himself, “Yeah.” Iron Man crosses to stand right in front of Spidey. “Right where I don't want you to be. This isn't Coney Island. This isn't a field trip. It's one-way ticket. You hear me? Don't pretend like you thought this through. You could not have possibly thought this through.”

“No. I did think this through.” Peter interrupts. 

“You could not have possibly thought this through.” Tony repeats. 

“It's just- You can't be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man when there's no neighborhood.” Peter says and he waits for Iron Man's reaction and watched both Tony and Tyler scrunch their face up confusion. “Okay. That didn't really make any sense, but you know what I'm trying to say.” 

Tony nods and breaths shakily. ”Come on. We got a situation.” He leads Peter and Tyler over to a viewpoint on the torture below. Spidey crouches to study the situation, the Cloak leaning over his shoulder. lSee him down there? He's in trouble. What's your plan? Go.”

“Um. Okay, okay...uh....” Peter studies.

Tyler and the Cloak suddenly pop back upright, “Okay. Did you ever see this really old movie, Aliens?” 

The Cloak lifts its collar in surprise. 

Cut back to Ebony Maw interrogating Strange, who groans loudly.

“Painful aren't they? They were originally designed for microsurgery. And any one of them...” Ebony muses. At the "thump" behind him, Maw turns to see Iron Man standing there, hand repulsors ready to fire. “...could end your friend's life in an instant.” 

Tony Stark: I gotta tell you, he's not really my friend. Saving his life is more a professional courtesy.

Ebony Maw walks slowly towards Iron Man, beckoning very large, very solid metal objects to float behind him “You've saved nothing. Your powers are inconsequential compared to mine.” 

Tony shrugs in response, “Yeah, but the kids’ have seen more movies.” 

Iron Man fires a rocket from his shoulder which pierces the side of the ship to Maw's right and begins to suck everything out with depressurization, especially Maw and his large objects. Strange is pulled loose of his pinnings, loses the needles, but also heads for the hole, helpless to resist. The Cape wraps around his arm and an anchor point, but Strange's arm slips loose and he keeps going. Spider-Man shoots a web strand at Strange with one hand and holds onto a piece of the ship with the other. It breaks, sending them both towards space when his Iron-Spider suit's metal arms brace him to keep him from being sucked out. Fortunately, Strange is still surrounded by the ship's atmosphere making haste to leave. 

“Yes! Wait what are those?!” Peter shouts excitedly. 

Spider-Man crouches with his new spider-legs, and makes a mighty leap to pulls them both back inside. FireStorm quickly closes the hole. Strange safely, if emphatically, hits the floor and Tyler rushes to heal his injuries. Ebony Maw is seen floating in space, quite dead, ice from the escaped atmosphere frosting over his grimace. Spider-Man lands on his new legs, retracts them, and finds the Cape "standing" next to him.

“Hey, we haven't officially met.” Peter offers the Cape his hand to shake. It ignores his offer and continues to Strange. “Cool.”  He says as if it didn’t hurt. 

Tony walks past Strange, shaking his head and with his armor retreating into its containment as Strange gets to his feet and becomes en-Cloaked. 

"We've gotta turn this ship around." Strange states the obvious. 

Tony rolls his eyes, "Yeah. Now he wants to run. Great plan."

Strange rolls his own eyes, "No, I want to protect the stone."

Tony walks towards the expansive front viewport, showing a hyperspeed/warp effect, "And I want you to thank me now. Go ahead, I'm listening." He says, irritably

"For what? Nearly blasting me into space?" Strange snaps.

"Who just saved your magical ass? Me." Tony snaps back as Tyler and Peter exchange a look. 

"I seriously don't know how you fit your head into that helmet."

"Admit it. You should have ducked out when I told you to. I tried to bench you. You refused."

"Unlike everyone else in your life, I don't work for you."

"And due to that fact, we're now in a flying doughnut billions of miles away from Earth with no backup."

they're gonna kill each other before thanos even gets to them

Peter and Tyler raise their hands and smile, "I'm backup."

Tony whips towards them, "No. You're a stowaway" He snaps and waggles a finger between himself and Strange, "The adults are talking." The Teens roll their eyes slightly. 

Strange looks between the teens and Tony, "I'm sorry, I'm confused as to the relationship here. Wh-what are they , your wards?"

Peter and Tyler shake their head.

"No. I'm Peter, by the way."

"I'm Tyler, or Firestorm."

"Doctor Strange." He introduces himself to the teens he is unfortunate enough to have to work with.

"Oh, we're using our made-up names. Um... I'm Spider-Man, then." Peter rushes to say and Tyler and Tony roll their eyes. 

"This ship is self-correcting its course. Thing's on autopilot." Tony changes the subject. 

Strange: walks closer to Tony, "Can we control it? Fly us home?" He doesn't realize that Tony is lost in bad memories and does not respond right away, "Stark?"

"Yeah?" Tony asks, not looking at anyone at the moment. 

"Can you get us home?" Strange repeats. 

Tony sighs, still not facing anyone, "Yeah I heard you. I'm thinking...I'm not so sure we should."

Strange sighs in frustration, "Under no circumstance can we bring the Time Stone to Thanos. I don't think you quite understand what's at stake here."

Tony stalks over to Strange, "No. It's you who doesn't understand, that Thanos has been inside my head for six years since he sent an army to New York and now he's back! And I don't know what to do. So I'm not so sure if it's a better plan to fight him on our turf or his but you saw what they did, what they can do. At least on his turf, he's not expecting it. So I say we take the fight to him. Doctor. Do you concur?"

Doctor Strange pauses and holds Tony's eyes for a moment, "Alright , Stark. We go to him. But you have to understand... if it comes to saving you or the kids or the Time Stone... I will not hesitate to let any of you die. I can't, because the fate of the universe depends on it."

Tony tries not to focus on the image of the kids dying, "Nice. Good. Moral compass. We're straight." He then steps over to Peter and Tyler, he formally taps each of their shoulders with the edge of his hand, dubbing them as is done at a knighting, "Alright, kids. You're Avengers now." He doesn't look at them as he says those words, knowing well what he is signing them up for.

Peter and Tyler looks at Tony in disbelief, and then cycles through delight, satisfaction, pride and determination, and brace themselves for what's to come.