Steve Rogers stood at the front of the room, glass in hand, his presence commanding the attention of the entire crew. "Here's to Phastos and his family, safe and sound. And to the whole team, for always having each other's backs."
Tony Stark immediately raised his glass, his grin wide and obnoxious as ever. "Cheers to that! Without us, who would save the world on a Tuesday night?"
The room erupted in laughter and the sound of clinking glasses, a moment of genuine joy that felt like a rare gem in a life full of explosions, chaos, and world-ending threats. Harry took a swig of his drink, pretending to be impressed by Tony's charm (and failing miserably). Tony was a master of the humble brag, and Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"That's cute, Tony," Harry called across the room, leaning against the wall, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But remember, I'm the one who actually pulled your sorry butt out of the fire last time. Just saying."
Tony's head whipped around, an eyebrow raised in mock offense. "Oh, look who's trying to steal my spotlight. Sure, buddy, you might've saved me, but I was the one who designed the tech that saved your butt in the first place."
Harry grinned and shrugged, not giving an inch. "It's a team effort, Tony. And if it wasn't for me, you'd still be trapped in a puddle of your own arrogant genius."
Sersi, standing next to Harry, let out a quiet laugh, her fingers grazing his arm as they shared an inside joke. The touch wasn't accidental, and Harry caught the glint in her eyes—a mixture of affection and that mischievous spark that always made him feel like he was about to be swept off his feet.
"That's why I like you, Harry," she said softly, her voice rich with the kind of quiet allure that could make any man forget his own name. "You can take on Tony Stark and still make it sound like you're flirting with danger."
Harry flashed her a devilish grin. "Flirting with danger is my middle name. Well, one of them, anyway."
Sersi leaned in closer, her lips brushing just above his ear as she whispered, "And I can't wait to see what else you're capable of, dragon."
The heat between them could've melted the ice in the nearest cocktail glass, and if anyone else had been in the room, they'd have probably called it the most awkward, intense moment ever. But it wasn't awkward. It was electric.
Before either of them could take it further, a shrill voice cut through the moment.
"Oh, please," Sprite's voice echoed from behind them, her tone full of playful annoyance. "You two are just too cute for my taste. The world is literally hanging by a thread, and you're here giggling like a couple of schoolchildren."
Harry didn't even flinch. "Yeah, and you're the perfect person to talk, Sprite. Your idea of a good time is probably sneaking into Tony's lab and launching all his gadgets into the stratosphere." He grinned. "Or whatever passes for fun in your twisted little mind."
Sprite rolled her eyes, clearly not impressed by Harry's attempt to roast her. "I'm just here for the party, big guy. Come on, we've got to celebrate our victory in style, and you're both seriously missing out. Seriously."
Harry leaned back, smirking. "Lead the way, then, Sprite. I'd hate to disappoint the masses."
They made their way toward the heart of the party, where Thor was still in the middle of telling another epic Asgardian tale to Kingo. The two of them were practically vibrating with excitement, Kingo hanging on every word like he was listening to a mythological podcast. Thor was swinging his mug in exaggerated motions, making a point to act out each battle.
"...And then I, Thor, God of Thunder, landed on the bridge with my hammer in hand, the very ground shaking beneath my feet!" Thor bellowed, his voice booming across the room. "And just when I thought all was lost, I—"
"I thought we agreed no more 'heroic monologues' after the last one," Natasha called out, smirking as she sipped her drink. "The walls still haven't recovered from the sound."
Wanda and Pietro were seated at the bar, engaged in a banter of their own, with Wanda gently teasing Pietro about his overconfidence in his speed, while Pietro fired back with some snarky remark about how being fast made him an excellent multitasker. Natasha watched them, her lips curving in a grin.
Meanwhile, Tony and Phastos were deep in conversation, and by deep, we mean way too deep for the average person to understand. "And if we tweak this thing by adding a little bit of quantum mechanics and—" Tony began.
"Tony," Phastos interrupted, raising an eyebrow, "you can't just 'quantum' your way through everything. This is tech, not a magic spell."
Tony ignored him, already onto the next shiny gadget he was thinking about building. It was basically a second language to him.
Clint, in the corner, was nursing a drink with that casual, unimpressed look he wore when he was trying to avoid the chaos. His eyes twinkled, though, when he caught sight of Harry.
"You know, I never thought I'd see the day you'd be one of us," Clint said with a wry smile. "And yet, here you are, holding your own against Tony's ego and Thor's... storytelling skills."
Harry laughed and took another drink. "It's a rough life, Barton. But someone has to do it."
As the night rolled on, the party got louder, more chaotic, and more fun. And for the first time in a while, Harry found himself content to simply be here, surrounded by people who understood what it meant to fight for something bigger than themselves. But, more than that, he was content with Sersi by his side. The future might be uncertain, but for right now, this—this was enough.
Sersi leaned into him again, and Harry couldn't help but smile. Maybe being surrounded by world-saving lunatics had its perks after all. As for Sprite, well, she'd just have to deal with being seriously outclassed in the "most chaotic relationship" department. Because right now, Harry was in his element.
—
As the chaos of the Avengers Tower party raged on inside, Harry and Sersi managed to sneak away to a quieter corner on the balcony. The noise from the festivities was muffled by the thick glass door, leaving only the hum of the city below and the occasional gust of wind.
Sersi leaned against the railing, looking out over the city, her eyes sparkling with that mischievous glint that had become a trademark. "You know, Harry," she began, her voice smooth and teasing, "I haven't forgotten about that promise of yours."
Harry raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "Promise? What promise are we talking about, Sersi?"
She took a step closer, her hand brushing lightly over his chest, her fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "The one where you promised to give me a thrilling experience," she said, her voice dropping to a tone that was as playful as it was suggestive. "You remember that, don't you?"
Harry's grin spread wider. "Do I now? I must have said a lot of things." He leaned in just a touch, his voice low and daring. "But who am I to disappoint a lady?"
Sersi's eyes gleamed with a mix of challenge and amusement. "Exactly," she purred. "And I've always believed in keeping promises."
Before she could say anything more, Harry stepped back with a dramatic flourish that would've made any movie hero proud. In an instant, his human form was replaced by his magnificent black-and-gold dragon, wings unfurling with an almost theatrical grandeur.
Sersi gasped, her eyes wide with awe. "You're even more impressive up close," she said, practically breathless as she reached out to run her fingers over the sleek scales of his powerful body. "I'm impressed, Harry. And I'm not easily impressed."
Harry shot her a smirk, his dragon eyes sparkling with a mischievous light. "Glad to hear that, because I only do first impressions once. You ready for the ride of your life?"
With a grin, Harry lowered his head, inviting Sersi to climb onto his back. She didn't need any further encouragement—she swung up easily, her body settling between his massive wings like she'd done it a thousand times before.
"Hold tight, gorgeous," Harry warned with a wink before he launched himself into the sky.
The world below them blurred as they soared over the city, the wind howling past them like a living thing. Sersi's laughter was swallowed up by the rush of air, but the sound was all Harry needed to know she was enjoying the thrill. Her hands gripped him tightly, not in fear, but in exhilaration.
"This is incredible!" she shouted above the roar of the wind, her voice filled with pure joy.
Harry let out a deep, content rumble—what could be best described as a smug dragon's purr. He soared higher, performing a few sharp, twisting loops that had Sersi gasping and laughing all at once.
"Are you trying to kill me?" she called out between breaths, her voice still full of that dangerous thrill. "Because I'm almost starting to think you might be trying to kill me."
Harry couldn't help the laugh that rumbled out of him. "You know, Sersi, I've faced down gods, aliens, and even time itself... but this? This is fun."
She only grinned in response, her hair flying around her face as they dipped and climbed through the night sky, the lights of the city below them flickering like stars scattered on velvet. For a few moments, it was just the two of them, soaring above everything, lost in the thrill of the moment.
Eventually, Harry began to glide smoothly back toward the balcony. As they landed, his wings folding neatly behind him, Harry shifted back into his human form with the same kind of casual grace one would expect from someone who did this kind of thing on the regular.
Sersi dismounted, her eyes still wide with excitement and something deeper. "That... that was unforgettable," she said, breathless and flushed from the experience.
Harry offered her a lopsided grin, his usual cocky self. "Told you. Thrilling."
Sersi, still catching her breath, took a step closer, her lips curling into a smile that was all heat and mischief. "You're full of surprises, Harry Potter," she murmured, her voice low and sultry.
"Just trying to keep up with you, Sersi," he replied, his voice matching hers in intensity. He took a step closer, his hand sliding around her waist, pulling her gently against him.
She didn't resist, her body leaning into his as she raised her face to his. Their lips met in a kiss that wasn't just the playful brush of before—it was deep, hungry, full of the unspoken promises they'd made and broken in the skies above.
When they finally pulled apart, her breath was quick, her eyes dark with desire. "You really know how to make a girl feel special."
Harry's grin was pure mischief. "Well, you deserve it. You've been pretty extraordinary yourself."
Sersi's fingers lightly traced his jawline, her eyes not leaving his. "You're dangerous, Harry," she whispered, as if it were a secret just for them.
Harry leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear as he murmured, "I know. And trust me—you have no idea how dangerous I can be." He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, his eyes flickering with something unspoken, something that sent a thrill through her.
Sersi's heart raced. "I think I'm starting to get an idea."
And with that, the night fell into a delicious silence—one full of unspoken things, promises to be made, and the kind of chemistry that neither of them wanted to escape just yet.
—
As the night stretched on and the party raged inside Avengers Tower, Harry and Sersi found themselves retreating to a quiet corner on the balcony. The noise from inside was a distant hum, leaving only the cool breeze and the city lights beneath them. Sersi, as always, had that mischievous glint in her eyes, the one that made Harry wonder just what she was plotting this time.
"You know, Harry," she said, her voice low and sultry, "after riding the dragon, I'm kind of curious about how you'd handle a different kind of ride."
Harry's eyebrows shot up faster than a speeding broomstick. The grin that spread across his face could've put a smirk on a Cheshire cat. "You always know how to keep things interesting, don't you, Sersi?" he replied, his voice light but with that edge of challenge he couldn't help but throw out there.
Sersi chuckled, stepping closer until the distance between them was almost nonexistent. She gave him a playful nudge, the kind that made the air between them crackle with electricity. "I like to keep things fun. Shall we?"
Before Harry could even process what was happening, Sersi was in his arms, her laughter ringing in his ears like music as he swept her off her feet. "Well, if you're going to be this eager, who am I to disappoint?" Harry shot back, his tone teasing, as he carried her toward his room.
The moment the door to his room closed behind them, the atmosphere shifted. The lights were dim, casting soft shadows that made everything feel a little more intimate, a little more charged. The energy in the air seemed to hum with anticipation as they moved together, their chemistry as palpable as a lightning strike.
Sersi's fingers traced lightly over his chest, her touch slow and deliberate, the kind that made his breath hitch. "You know," she said, her voice a whisper that seemed to vibrate in the quiet room, "I wasn't expecting to be swept off my feet quite like this, but I'm not complaining."
Harry smirked, catching her gaze with that cocky grin that always got under her skin. "I try to keep it interesting," he said, his words laced with that playful, self-assured arrogance of someone who knew exactly what they were doing. "Wouldn't want to let a lady like you down."
Sersi laughed, her eyes dancing with that irresistible blend of mischief and desire. "No, you wouldn't," she agreed, her fingers slipping beneath the collar of his shirt. "And I'm curious to see just how far you're willing to go."
Without another word, their lips crashed together, the kiss hungry, eager, and full of that undeniable pull between them. It was as if the entire world had melted away, leaving only the heat of their bodies and the rapid, fluttering rhythm of their hearts. Every touch seemed to send a jolt of electricity between them, sparking something deeper, something undeniable.
Their movements became a dance—playful, sensual, teasing, and at times, just a little bit rough. Harry, with his usual flair, knew exactly how to make her laugh, how to leave her breathless, and just how to press every one of her buttons. And Sersi? She was every bit his equal, her teasing comments and sharp wit leaving him just as breathless, if not more so.
At one point, she pulled back, a wicked grin on her face. "Is this what you had in mind?" she asked, her voice teasing as she took in the way his chest was rising and falling, his eyes dark with that dangerous combination of amusement and desire.
Harry, for a moment, looked like he might say something smug. But instead, he just pulled her closer, his lips curling into that signature grin of his. "Honestly? I'm just trying to keep up with you," he said, his voice low and rough with the weight of his words. "You make it hard to focus."
Sersi, always the confident one, smiled against his lips. "I like it when things are hard," she said with a wink, and Harry couldn't help but laugh, because damn, if she didn't know how to keep things fun.
And the night unfolded. It was a slow burn, a shared intimacy between two people who knew exactly what they wanted and weren't afraid to take it. Their laughter, teasing, and whispered words filled the room as they moved in sync, creating a rhythm that was as much about exploration as it was about connection.
When it was over, and the moonlight filtered through the curtains to catch the curve of her smile, they lay together in the quiet, the soft sound of their breathing the only noise in the room. Sersi's head rested against his chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns across his skin, and Harry, ever the wise-ass, couldn't resist one final quip.
"So, uh, did I handle that ride to your liking?" he asked, his voice filled with that playful arrogance that made Sersi roll her eyes in the best possible way.
Sersi, still smiling, lifted her head to meet his gaze. "Let's just say… you definitely lived up to the hype." She leaned in to kiss him softly, a lingering touch that spoke of affection and something more, something deeper. "And you're more than welcome to try again."
"Is that a challenge, Sersi?" Harry asked, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Because you know I love a good challenge."
"I think you're up for it," she teased, her fingers slipping through his hair as she pulled him closer. "Just don't be surprised when I raise the stakes."
Harry chuckled, pulling her back into his embrace. "I don't back down from a challenge. Not when the prize is something worth fighting for."
And in that moment, with the city glowing beneath them and the promise of more to come, they both knew one thing for certain: this was only the beginning.
—
The sun had barely started to stretch its arms across the sky when Harry woke up, blinking groggily as the morning light seeped through the curtains. He stretched like a cat in the sun, limbs all over the place, letting out a satisfied sigh as he attempted to shake off the remnants of sleep. But as he did, his brain caught up with him, and he realized there was something... or someone, rather, occupying the space beside him.
He turned his head, his eyes locking onto Sersi, who was still asleep, her face peaceful in a way that made Harry want to get out of bed just so he could get back in it and admire her for a few more hours. The soft glow of morning light made her look like something out of a dream—one he was definitely not ready to wake up from.
"Good morning," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.
Sersi blinked lazily, her eyes fluttering open, and then—bam—she hit him with a smile that could melt glaciers. No exaggeration. The kind of smile that made Harry briefly forget how to breathe. "Good morning, Harry," she replied, her voice a soft, lilting melody that could charm a snake into being its best friend.
They lay there, just soaking in the morning peace for a moment, the world outside feeling like a distant memory. It was like the sun, the city, everything outside their little bubble, had all paused, just so they could enjoy this perfect quiet.
But then, of course, Sersi, being Sersi, couldn't leave things calm for too long. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
And just like that, Harry was wide awake, his brain immediately short-circuiting and his thoughts going from What's for breakfast? to How do I kiss her back without combusting?
Sersi's lips were soft, warm, and addictive, and Harry quickly found himself pulling her closer, deepening the kiss as the world around them faded into nothing. Every kiss was like a shot of adrenaline straight to his heart, and before he knew it, they were tangled up in each other, completely lost in the moment.
But, as all good things go, the kiss eventually came to an end. They pulled back, both breathing a little faster, eyes locking. Harry couldn't help but grin—he was never one to back down from a challenge, and Sersi's challenges were definitely more fun than most.
"We should probably get up," Harry said, though it came out sounding more like a half-hearted suggestion than a real plan. He wasn't exactly in a rush to face the outside world, especially when the view in front of him was so... perfectly distracting.
Sersi chuckled softly, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on his chest, as though she had no concept of time—or, more likely, didn't care to. "We should," she agreed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "But I'm sensing you're in no hurry."
Harry's grin stretched wider, and with a flick of his gaze downward, he caught sight of just how distracting Sersi was at that moment. His brain briefly went into "not-so-subtle appreciation" mode, and he swallowed hard. Okay, yeah, no rush at all.
"You know what?" Harry said, voice turning smooth as honey, his usual cocky confidence kicking in. "The outside world can wait. Heck, it can wait for an hour, two, three… honestly, who's counting?"
Sersi's laughter, soft and melodic, filled the room, making Harry's chest tighten with something he couldn't quite put his finger on. "I suppose it can," she replied, the twinkle in her eyes only making her more dangerous. "Though I'm curious to see just how long you'll keep this up."
"Careful, Sersi," Harry warned, raising an eyebrow. "I'm a man of my word."
"Is that so?" Sersi teased, her eyes practically sparkling with mischievous delight. She moved in for another kiss, this one more heated, more urgent, the kind that felt like it could set the entire building on fire if they weren't careful.
Harry didn't mind that at all.
As they pulled each other closer, the soft cotton sheets slipping down their bodies, the world outside vanished completely. There was no talk of saving the world, no looming responsibilities—just Harry and Sersi, wrapped up in each other, lost in a rhythm that was only theirs.
A few minutes later—if you could even call it minutes—they both reluctantly pulled back, gasping for air. Harry's mind was racing a million miles a minute, and he wasn't sure whether he was more turned on by Sersi's playful nature or the fact that she had definitely just pulled him deeper into this merry little chaos they called a relationship.
"We should definitely get up now," Harry said, though the words had less conviction than before. He made no move to actually get out of bed.
Sersi flashed him a grin that could've powered a small city. "You're right, Harry," she agreed. "We should. But..." Her voice dropped lower, teasing. "Maybe just one more... quick kiss."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you think? That I'll settle for a quick kiss? Darling, I'm not sure you know who you're dealing with here."
Sersi's laughter filled the air as she moved in, sealing the deal with a kiss that was anything but quick.
And there, in the quiet of the room, the rest of the world continued to turn, but Harry was perfectly content to let it wait.
—
The morning light was still soft, the kind that makes you want to roll back into bed and pull the covers up over your head. But Harry had other plans, mostly because Sersi was beside him, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest, making it way too hard to think straight. When she kissed him, it was like everything else in the universe fell away, and for a minute, he wasn't thinking about Loki's staff or any looming crises. But, eventually, the reality of being a superhero had to kick in.
By the time they made their way to the communal area, Harry was fully awake, but his brain was still firing off about 10 different things at once. Tony Stark was already elbow-deep in gadgets, his workshop a chaotic mess of wires, screens, and what looked like a half-finished prototype for something that would probably destroy half the city.
"Harry, my man," Tony called, shooting up from his desk as soon as he saw Harry. His voice was all business, but the excitement was written across his face like a kid on Christmas morning. "I've been thinking about Loki's staff. We need to get our hands on it, take a closer look. I have a feeling it's hiding some serious potential, like a secret weapon we're not even aware of yet. Could be exactly what we need to finally stick it to HYDRA."
Harry, raising an eyebrow, looked over at Sersi. She just shrugged like, "Do what you gotta do," and he had to admire her calm, collected attitude. But Tony wasn't wrong. That staff was dangerous, and if anyone could figure out its secrets, it was probably Tony Stark.
"Alright, Tony, we can take a look at it," Harry said, giving a lazy shrug. "But let's not forget, that thing's probably packed with more bad news than a box of snakes."
Tony waved him off, his grin bordering on manic. "Come on, Harry. I'm all about the 'peace, love, and tech' vibe. Well, unless it's more fun to blow things up. You know how it goes."
Harry snorted. "Right, just as long as we're not triggering some kind of killer robot apocalypse, okay?"
Tony's eyes lit up like he'd just gotten a gift. "Killer robots? That's actually a great idea. I'll write that down for next week."
Sersi, who had been standing beside Harry, squeezed his hand and shot Tony a playful glance. "Let's just hope your version of 'peace' doesn't include unleashing a horde of homicidal machines. My patience for world-ending scenarios is running thin."
Before Tony could respond, Natasha Romanoff, who had been lounging nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Tony, you and your toys. Can we just focus on not making everything worse for once?"
Steve Rogers, ever the voice of reason, added in his calm, authoritative tone, "We've got enough on our plates. Let's figure out the staff before it gives us any more surprises. HYDRA won't wait for us to play catch-up."
Sersi leaned into Harry, her voice low but full of humor. "And you think the staff won't be a surprise? Really, Steve, do you even hear yourself sometimes?"
"Only when it's important," Steve shot back, completely unruffled.
"Typical," Harry muttered, his lips curling into a grin. "He's Captain America, not Captain Personality."
Tony snorted at that, but the tension in the room eased as everyone shifted their focus to the matter at hand. Clint Barton, ever the skeptic, crossed his arms from across the room. "So, we're really doing this, huh? Just gonna dive into the magic staff and hope it doesn't blow us all to kingdom come? Sounds like a plan."
Harry gave him a look. "You know what, Clint? For once, your sarcasm is actually helpful. But you're still not getting the last donut."
"Ah, well, sacrifices must be made," Clint said, with mock solemnity.
Meanwhile, Thor and Gilgamesh were trading what looked like bro-hugs over by the corner, probably talking about some ancient war that neither of them had actually fought in. Thor's booming laugh echoed through the room. "I have seen worse! Much worse than a staff that glows! There was that one time in the Nine Realms when—"
"No one cares about that," Natasha cut in, rolling her eyes.
Gilgamesh gave her a sidelong look. "You'd be surprised. Many care about what the Mighty Thor has to say."
Natasha's only response was an unimpressed glance. "Do we all have to be superheroes, or can I just go back to kicking ass quietly?"
"I don't think that's an option," Wanda said, sliding up beside her. "If you go back to kicking ass, we're all kicking ass. Might as well help us save the world first."
"And hope we don't destroy it in the process," Pietro added with a grin, tossing in his usual dose of snark.
As the group gathered around the staff, Harry couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation—serious, but with all the quirky chaos of a family reunion. Even with all the banter, they were united, all focused on solving whatever the staff was hiding.
Sersi's hand was still wrapped around his, her touch grounding him, making the chaos around them feel a little more manageable. And if there was one thing Harry knew for sure, it was that with this team, they could handle anything—even if Tony accidentally unleashed a horde of killer robots.
"Alright, team," Harry said, casting a look around the room, a grin tugging at his lips. "Let's figure out what kind of mess we've got here and pray it doesn't involve a techno-zombie apocalypse. I have enough issues dealing with living people."
Tony clapped his hands together, his eyes lighting up again. "Let's do this!"
And just like that, they were back on track. Superheroes, gadgets, banter, and all. And somewhere, in the middle of it all, Harry couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, they could actually pull this off.
—
In the ethereal realm of the Endless, reality was as stable as a house of cards in a tornado. The grand hall was an ever-shifting blend of cosmic voids and ornate palaces—sort of like someone tried to mix "space chic" with "gothic opulence" and gave up halfway through. It was chaotic, strange, and just the right level of weird to be called home by some of the most unpredictable cosmic beings in the universe.
At the heart of it all, Death was the first to speak. Dressed in her usual "angel of the apocalypse" white, she looked like she could freeze the sun with a stare, but also had the air of someone who could cut you down with a single sarcastic remark. You know, the kind of vibe that says, "I'm here for the dramatic effect, but I'm also really tired of your nonsense."
"Destiny," she said, her voice calm and icy, like a glacier slowly grinding down a mountain, "I know you've been fiddling with Harry's timeline. I saw you nudging him into handing over the Infinity Stone to Tony Stark. Care to explain?"
Destiny didn't even flinch. He was sitting in the middle of a huge throne made of shifting, glowing lines, looking like he had just walked out of the set of a high-fantasy epic, complete with cryptic air and that I-know-more-than-you aura. He turned a page in the ancient, dusty book he was reading as though it was just another Tuesday. "Meddling, sister?" he asked, his voice smooth and rich like velvet dipped in mystery. "I'm not meddling. You set this whole thing into motion when you brought Harry into the fold. The Stone in Stark's hands is part of realigning the delicate balance you so casually tossed into a cosmic blender."
Death raised an eyebrow, her calm demeanor cracking like ice under a hammer. "Oh, I'm the one who messed up the timeline? Right, sure. I was just trying to protect Harry from Thanos. You know, the guy who's been trying to wipe out half the universe. I didn't sign up for this drama. I just wanted to play my part without being a subplot in your endless soap opera."
Dream, lounging on his throne of ever-shifting shadows like he was too cool to care, finally spoke up, his voice the perfect mix of languid and thoughtful. "Destiny, could you not with the cryptic crap for five minutes? I get it. You're 'Destiny' and you have all the answers, but come on. Death's right here, trying to save the world, and you're acting like the universe is some sort of existential riddle."
Destruction, who was the size of a small mountain but spoke with the zen-like calm of a yoga instructor in a meditation session, crossed his arms and chimed in. "The Stones are not toys. Mess with them too much and you're playing with fire. And when fire gets out of control, things go boom."
Desire, lounging on an opulent chair that probably cost more than entire civilizations, flicked her golden locks with the precision of someone who knew how to command attention. She smirked, the kind of smirk that made you question if you were in danger or if she just liked messing with your head. "Honestly? A little chaos never hurt anyone. But even I get that this might be a bit too much. You know, we can't just wing everything, Destiny."
Despair, sitting hunched in the corner, wrapped in gray and looking like she hadn't seen the sun in eons, spoke with a voice so soft you had to strain to hear it, like she was auditioning for the role of "emo whisperer" in some sad, tragic movie. "If we're not careful, we're looking at a lot of unnecessary pain. A lot of pain."
Delirium, swirling around the room like a tornado made of rainbows and confusion, giggled like a kid who just realized the universe is one big acid trip. "But think of all the possibilities! All the weird, crazy things that could happen! Isn't that exciting?"
Death turned back to Destiny, her icy calm replaced with the kind of stare that could melt the deepest part of your soul. "You talk about 'realigning' things, but at what cost? Harry is under my watch. I'm not going to let him become some pawn in your cosmic chess game. Not today, not ever."
Destiny's voice dropped an octave, resonating with the kind of gravitas that made you think he could literally see the threads of fate weaving around you. "The threads of fate are delicate, and Harry's role in this is crucial. The Mind Stone in Stark's hands is pivotal, and the universe's stability depends on these little twists and turns we orchestrate. We don't control—we guide."
The room fell silent, the weight of Destiny's words settling in. It was as if the air itself had become heavier, and everyone was quietly contemplating whether they were about to witness an epic fight, or if this was just another Tuesday in the realm of the Endless.
Finally, Dream leaned back in his chair, looking like someone who had just finished thinking through the entire universe's problems in about three seconds. "You know what? Maybe we should keep an eye on things. Not like we have anything better to do. Balance is key, after all. But we have to be ready to step in when necessary. Right?"
Death gave him a sharp look, but nodded. "Fine. But if anything happens to Harry, if his life is even slightly endangered by this… 'realignment,' Destiny, you will hear from me. And you won't like it."
Destiny inclined his head with that ever-present calm that made you question if he'd just woken up from an ancient slumber or had been watching everything since the beginning of time. "And I wouldn't expect anything less, sister."
The cosmic council disbanded like an all-star cast dispersing after a dramatic scene. Destiny faded into the shadows, Dream drifted into the void, Destruction gave a knowing nod to the chaos swirling around, Desire vanished with a wink, Despair mumbled something too depressing for anyone to catch, and Delirium giggled her way into oblivion.
And so, the fate of the universe hung in the balance—because, let's face it, the Endless didn't really do subtle. Everything was always one giant cosmic mess of confusion, chaos, and cosmic drama. But hey, at least they had fun while they were at it.
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