Summers' Purpose

Y/n followed Stephen through the portal and was left speechless by the sight that greeted her. The skies were darkened by the heavy smoke that rose to the clouds, accentuating the barren and dusty grounds. There were signs of heavy destruction everywhere and it took a while for Y/n to realize that the compound she was looking for was now the mountainous pile of rubble that littered the area. "What happened?!" She gasped, still horrified at the magnitude of destruction that surrounded them. "Thanos did this?"

"Yes, and he brought friends," Stephen pointed out to the mass of ships and hordes of alien creatures ahead. He gestured to Y/n's back. "But so did we."

Y/n turned around and couldn't believe her eyes. She recognized the soldiers from Wakanda. The sorcerers and sorceresses of Kamar Taj. Bucky, Sam. Even the spider boy. Everyone she hadn't seen in the last 5 years was standing behind Steve. Some of them were people she didn't recognize, but they were all present, standing together side by side to face the mad titan. "They're back," Y/n whispered, taking a staggered breath. "They're all back."

The memory of Thanos ripping the Mind stone from Vision had always haunted her since the day it happened. There hasn't been a day that she didn't blame herself for that and for the devastation that followed. Not only did she see the damage she caused, she was cursed with feeling the aftermath from the people left behind. But the Avengers had managed to bring them back.

Her vision was blurry from the tears collecting in her eyes as she looked at all of them. A single drop trailed down her cheek as a wave of relief washed over her; the heavy regret and burden of her decision from a few years back finally had a reason to fall off her shoulders.

All of a sudden Y/n shivered, feeling something she hadn't for a long time. She searched the crowd and found the person she was looking for standing at the ready in front of armor-clad soldiers. Y/n watched as the familiar red magic glowed and gasped at the sight of her. It felt as though she had taken a breath of fresh air after all this time.

"Wanda," Y/n said her name softly, finally finding herself able to utter it without feeling as if she'd suffocate from the guilt and pain in her chest.

"Y/n," Stephen called out gently. "I understand how you feel, but it's important that you don't step in just yet. You need to stay away from her. She cannot know that you're alive for now."

There was a lot Y/n wanted to say, wanting to retaliate against what Stephen said, but she understood this wasn't the time or place. She sighed sadly and half-heartedly swiped the tears off her cheek as they continued to fall. It took everything in her not to run to Wanda and wrap her arms around her. "She still thinks I'm dead?" Stephen nodded grimly at her in response. "And so does everyone else, except you and Wong. Great."

"I need you to focus, Y/n. We have to be careful to not take the right step at the wrong time. You have a big part to play in this—that is if you still decide to."

"I got it, Stephen. Understood."

"Now remember, don't use your powers to attack unless necessary. Just use it to stay under the radar until the right moment comes. I'll tell you when," Stephen reminded as Y/n nodded quietly. "Watch yourself out there," he muttered almost too quietly before leaving her side to go see Wong.

Y/n laughed at the irony of his advice, considering what was waiting at the end of her path. From a distance, she heard Steve call out and turned her attention to him.

"Avengers!" A brief stillness spread amongst them–like the calm quietness before a storm–as they waited for Steve to continue. "Assemble!"

Y/n watched as they all charged towards the enemy. She got goosebumps from sensing the strong waves of various, different emotions crashing through and within her. She closed her eyes and let everything rush over her as it finally gathered and settled, almost rumbling low in her chest, warming her from the inside. She opened her eyes and they glowed a dark blue temporarily, her hands curling into fists as she used her powers to make the others ignore her. "Alright. Let's do this."