Captain America took his time getting ready. When he finally left, there were two extra people in the back seat of his sports car.
The car pulled away, and the wind brushed Ryan's face as it picked up speed.
He watched the streets recede. "Why are peaceful days on this land always so short?"
Scarlet Witch sat beside Ryan. "When everything settles down, let's come back."
The car crossed highways and the desolate roads unique to this land. When they reached Avengers headquarters, Captain America got out. "Why didn't you open a Portal?"
"You never said anything. I thought you wanted a drive." Ryan looked innocent. He hadn't expected Captain America to bring it up only after driving all the way there.
There was no point arguing about it now.
Inside the building, Captain America introduced Ryan to several new members, but Ryan was looking for familiar faces.
He looked around and found only one person he knew: Banner. Dr. Banner didn't seem to be doing well. He looked depressed.
Banner told Ryan why. "Thanos attacked Asgard. It's gone. I couldn't stop any of it."
"At least you're still alive. That's enough." Ryan tried to comfort him. He had admired Banner's knowledge ever since they worked together on Ultron and studied the Space Stone.
Ryan preferred the brilliant Banner to the rampaging Hulk.
The building had a gray-and-white hall. Several Avengers gathered there, unable to come up with a useful plan.
Captain America could rally people, but devising a strategy was another matter.
Ryan listened to them discuss it for ages. Their conclusion was: "We have to do our best. We absolutely have to stop Thanos."
Wasn't that obvious? Did they really need a meeting to decide it?
Sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing everything in the room in