Processing the leather took more time than expected, even with dilated time. Some things just couldn't be rushed, no matter how much power I had at my disposal. While I waited for it to dry, I turned to other concerns — global news, the shifting politics of Kamar-Taj, and the mutants' response to the planned demon world expedition.
Everyone was excited about it, even Scott, which was saying something. He'd finally stopped treating me like I was the next Apocalypse, though I could still see doubt behind his visor.
But it wasn't all passably good news, though.
"The sorcerers aren't very happy with you," Jean said as we curled up for a movie night.
I looked up from my popcorn. "You're serious? Didn't we just save the world?"
"Apparently, gratitude has a short shelf life," she said dryly. "They think you shouldn't have the Time Stone. They want a Sorcerer Supreme guarding it."
"Right. And since I'm not about to start wearing that awful orange and red robes they strut around in…"
"They think you should hand it over so that someone else can take up the mantle."
I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "Of course. Heaven forbid I have one good day."
Jean's smile was sympathetic. "The Order's fracturing, Dante. This is so much bigger than the Stone. Some of them think we poisoned the order. They don't particularly like you creating a second cadre of sorcerers."
Jealously. Yao foresaw it.
"And now that they know about Shin, they think Kamar-Taj's been compromised," Jean explained.
My eyes narrowed. "So, Kaecilius didn't just happen to end up in Isha's cage by accident."
Her silence said everything I needed to know.
I leaned back in the chair, exhaustion creeping in like cold fog. The last thing I needed was a civil war inside Kamar-Taj. Individually, those sorcerers weren't much of a threat — but together, they could breach my domain, expose my secrets, or sell me out to Fury and other charming individuals.
"I could offer to hold the stone until Lauren's handled," I said, half to myself.
Jean gave me a long look. "And when exactly will that be, given what we know about her?"
"As soon as I find the Soul Stone," I said, popping a kernel into my mouth. "It's called Soul for a reason. If she's spread her essence across bodies and minds, then it's the perfect weapon. Honestly, the Mind Stone might do the same job."
Jean crossed her arms. "Or your fire could."
That froze me mid-chew. "You've been waiting to say that, haven't you?"
"I've been waiting for you to remember it," she said, voice calm but firm. "You've seen my memories of the fight. She's versatile, but you can stop time, Dante. And now that you've cracked your new rune system, she's not untouchable."
"You think I'm wasting time?"
"I think you're overwhelmed," she said, leaning in. "Corvus is making Ascendants, and you're trying to rehab our public image while working hard to build a mutant homeland, new suits, a corporation, and wrangle a new team of superheroes-- you're spread thin."
"And?"
"You have limits, even if they're orders of magnitude higher than most."
That earned a small laugh from me, half self-deprecating, half bitter. "You think I should delegate more?"
"I think you should finally finish that AI you keep talking about," she said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. "And yes — delegate. You have people who want to help."
I exhaled through my nose. "Sounds like something Fury might've told me in the early days."
"He wouldn't probably have said it out of love."
That got a faint smile out of me. "Fair point."
She brushed her thumb over my knuckles. "I'll handle the sorcerers."
"No Phoenix fire, I hope."
"Nothing that dramatic. I'll remind them that the Ancient One would never have allowed you to alter her order if she thought Shin's corruption was spreading. Rebellion is Sparda's creation, not Shin's infection."
I nodded, realizing that I'd been unknowingly limiting Rin and myself. "And Rin?"
"What about him?"
"Should I empower him?"
"Is that what he needs?"
"Probably not. He'd benefit more from my completed Devourer suit — and a little extra energy. The Infinity Stones have plenty of that to spare."
Jean smiled. "We should have more talks like this."
"Agreed," I said. "We spend so much time communicating across dimensions, we forget what normal feels like."
"No, we don't," she whispered, eyes warm.
Hours later, I stood at the edge of my Domain, the air shimmering with residual creation energy. A new island had formed — small, rocky, imperfect, but growing. Fitting, really.
Rin arrived a few minutes later, suspicion in his voice. "What are we doing here?"
"Righting an injustice," I said, summoning the Space Stone into my palm. It pulsed a deep cerulean, the energy bending the horizon around it.
His eyes widened. "You got it out of the cube?"
"A few minutes ago."
He whistled low. "And what injustice are we fixing?"
"Yours. You're fighting Ascendants and World Shakers now. You need to keep up."
He blinked. "What about Vegemite DNA?"
I chuckled. "Don't you mean Viltrumite DNA?"
"Yeah, that," he snapped his finger. "I thought we were going to infuse that."
I arched a brow. "Do you not want to drink from a literal source of infinite energy?"
"I'm not saying no," he said quickly, hands raised. "Just surprised."
"I realized it's smarter to feed you energy directly than risk interdimensional travel. Jean was going to ask the Phoenix for help with that. This way's easier, and we can still get power-ups in case she doesn't say yes."
He grinned, stepping forward as the stone floated in front of him. "Think I'll get a new Affinity?"
"I'd be shocked if you didn't."
"That's awesome. I was getting tired of you and Jean sneaking off for urgent business every time you needed to--"
I smacked him on the shoulder before he finished. "Just admit you're jealous you can't teleport to your witchy girlfriend."
Rin's face turned crimson, and I smirked in victory. But then he sobered, pivoting quickly, nose raised in the air.
"I just think teleporting will make it easier to coordinate with the other heroes. They've been keeping New York safe. Crime doesn't take a break, even after a demon invasion."
I nodded. "Not that the media's giving them credit."
"Fuck them," he muttered. "When have they ever gotten anything right?"
He wasn't wrong. But the cynicism ran deeper for me.
"So, what — you want to go patrolling?" I asked.
He nodded.
"You know that's like bringing a nuke to a knife fight."
"But it doesn't matter, does it?" Rin muttered. "People need help, and Peter is nearly as good. You don't see him sitting it out."
"Peter isn't my apprentice," I said evenly. "I'm not saying don't do it. I'm saying the world is watching. We don't have the luxury of mistakes."
"I'll keep it in mind," he said quietly.
"That's all I ask," I replied.
I snapped my fingers, summoning a vibranium. Rin tensed.
"Relax. I need some of your blood for something I'm working on," I said.
He frowned. "What, exactly?"
I smiled faintly. "Call it a surprise. You'll like it."
He stared at me for a moment, clearly debating whether or not to argue, then sighed and extended his hand.
"Fine. But if I bleed to death, I'm haunting you."
"Wouldn't be the weirdest thing I've seen this week."
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