This journey had clearly been a shock to T'Challa's core.
At first, Arthur had only intended to take the King of Wakanda to Xandar, just to showcase the technological and cultural advancements of a vibrant alien civilization.
But as events unfolded, things spiraled quickly beyond Arthur's control. Yet, in a strange twist of fate, that chaotic detour had ripped T'Challa's eyes open, forcing him to see the truth of the universe.
And that truth… was far crueler than any ancient Wakandan myth.
Now that T'Challa wanted to return home, it was clear his entire worldview had shifted. Arthur found himself quietly looking forward to the profound changes that would bring to Wakanda.
His own mindset, meanwhile, had settled into a kind of quiet equilibrium, less attached to the immediate wins or losses, gains or failures.
He couldn't tell if that was a good thing or not, but it definitely allowed him to see things from a far broader perspective.
"Alright," Arthur finally said, addressing the gathered group with a weary smile, "we've all been through enough on this trip. Everyone, go get some proper rest."
As he spoke, his eyes instinctively drifted toward Natasha, only to realize she had been watching him the entire time.
He sighed softly, then, with a familiar flicker of light, he vanished from Camp Lehigh's hangar before anyone could speak.
The boss was gone. And soon, everyone else dispersed as well.
Back to their own business, their own paths.
Before this abrupt, cosmic intervention, each of them had been consumed by their own affairs, until Arthur had suddenly called them together to "slay a demon" after discovering that an entire planet had somehow gained sentience.
Now that Ego was resolved, it was time to resume the plans that had been put on hold.
And there was a massive new plan added to the list: To hollow out the Moon!
Tony Stark had already expanded on the concept, planning to turn the Moon into Camp Lehigh 2.0, the first interstellar warship of the Superhero Alliance!
Of course, the logistical nightmares were endless. The most absurd concern, which Tony had mentioned in a joking threat, was this: if this "warship" ever actually got built and used in combat, the poor werewolves of the world would never get another chance to transform again!
…Well, that was just wishful thinking. After all, it wasn't even certain that werewolves existed in this universe.
But considering this was a world with a scientist who turned into a giant green rage monster, a billionaire who could fly in a metal suit, and a blonde brute who summoned lightning with a hammer, honestly, having a few werewolves around wouldn't seem strange at all.
In short, the lunar project was officially underway!
Meanwhile, Natasha had returned to her workshop, diving straight back into her busy routine.
Her resolve was stronger than anyone realized.
From the moment she made her decision, her entire life, her future, her purpose, had been tied to Arthur. If he ever accepted her, then her life would have reached its happiest possible ending. If he didn't… she would still be content, so long as she could remain by his side.
In her heart, she never hesitated to burn herself for his sake, even if her light was faint, it was enough to illuminate a small part of his path ahead. That was how she thought, simple, pure, and terrifyingly devoted.
As for Tony, before launching his massive project, he too had something important to do: meet with his fiancée, Pepper Potts.
This time, their "business trip" had been interstellar, a whole new level of commitment. He felt certain now that he was walking down the right path, but it came at a cost: less and less time with Pepper.
Like Arthur, Tony had the same wish, that one day, the world would finally be free of crises and alien threats. When that day came, he could finally spend his days with Pepper, traveling the world, doing whatever they loved, or maybe just joining Arthur and the others for a good old BBQ.
That, he thought, would be the perfect life.
Once a man chooses a path in life, he must walk it, walk until the very end, until he forges a future that belongs to everyone. Only then, when everything is complete, can he finally lay down his armor and retire in peace.
Peter Parker, Brock, Banner… Each of them had their own path, their own purpose. Yet it was the same dream, the same shared ideal, that had gathered them all together.
Outside of the world-shaking crises that required everyone to stand side by side, they each still had their own lives to live.
At Camp Lehigh, everything was quiet. In the world, everything was peaceful. At least… for now.
When Arthur appeared again, it wasn't in the lounge at Camp Lehigh, but in his own home.
The room was the same as before, only… a bit emptier.
Looking around, he couldn't help but remember the moment he first woke up here, the first time he laid eyes on Lily.
A beautiful, lively girl.
Maybe that was when it all began, that flicker of desire at first sight. After all, "love at first sight" is just a poetic way of saying attraction.
And now, after everything, here he was.
He had walked countless roads, faced despair, gone mad, even stood ready to destroy the entire world in his darkest moments.
But standing here now, he felt something new, a quiet confidence.
Even if one day Thanos truly came, Arthur believed he could face him calmly, maybe even sit down and have a conversation.
"...But what would we even talk about?"
He thought about it for a while, then chuckled. Even if they did talk, it'd probably just be some meaningless small talk to fill the silence.
With that, he rolled up his sleeves, took off his jacket, slipped on his house slippers, and went to the bathroom to fill a bucket. He soaked the mop, set it aside, then pulled out the vacuum cleaner.
If the house felt dusty, he might as well give it a proper cleaning.
From the second floor to the first, and from the first down to the basement, everything was just as he'd left it.
There were still scattered data files lying around from when he'd desperately tried to create the perfect serum. Looking at them now, he realized, this world had never needed a "perfect serum" at all.
Back then, he'd been so obsessed with flawlessness that he'd forgotten a simple truth he'd once heard in an old TV drama:
"When the sun is full, it begins to wane. When the moon is full, it begins to fade."
Arthur let out a soft sigh. "There's no such thing as flawlessness. Not in people, not in life. Only imperfection makes things whole."
After scrubbing every floor and corner, he finally threw himself onto the sofa, completely satisfied.
"At last," he murmured, "feels like I'm living again…"
He grabbed his phone, ignoring the flood of unread messages, and dialed Lily's number.
When she answered, he smiled, the sound deep and genuine.
"I miss you… and I want a roujiamo." 🍖
(End of Chapter)
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