The walk to the shawarma restaurant was very strange. New York City looked like a broken toy box. Cars were crushed, buildings had giant holes in them, and the streets were covered in gray dust and broken glass.
But amidst all the destruction, there was a feeling of hope. People were coming out of their hiding spots. Police officers and firefighters were helping the injured. When they saw the Avengers walking down the street, people started to clap. They cheered and yelled "Thank you!"
Stevan walked next to Thor. The bright yellow Cloak of Destiny floated just an inch above the dirty ground so it would not get messy. People pointed at Stevan. They knew Captain America and Iron Man, but Stevan was a mystery. They pointed at his golden helmet and his glowing chest piece.
"They like you," Thor said, smiling at the cheering people. "A true warrior always gets respect."
"Do not let their cheers make you proud," Nabu's ancient voice echoed in Stevan's mind. "We do this for order, not for clapping hands."
I know, Stevan thought back. But it still feels pretty good.
Tony Stark was walking in his Iron Man suit, but the helmet was pulled back so his face was showing. Next to him was Bruce Banner. Before they left the tower, the giant green Hulk had finally calmed down and shrunk back into the quiet, nervous scientist. Tony had given Bruce some baggy clothes to wear. Natasha (Black Widow) and Clint (Hawkeye) walked quietly behind them, keeping a sharp eye out for any leftover alien soldiers.
They reached the shawarma joint. The front window of the restaurant was completely shattered. Inside, the chairs were knocked over, and dust covered the tables.
The owner, a middle-aged man with a thick mustache, was sweeping the floor with a shaking broom. He froze when the six famous heroes and one golden wizard walked into his broken shop.
Tony stepped forward. He pulled a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills out of a hidden pocket in his suit. He placed the money on the dusty counter.
"We are very tired, and we are very hungry," Tony said. "Can we get whatever meat is on that spinning thing back there? A lot of it."
The owner looked at the money, then at the heroes. He nodded quickly and ran to the kitchen.
They pushed two tables together and sat down.
No one said a word. The adrenaline from the battle was finally wearing off. Everyone was exhausted. Their bodies hurt, their bones ached, and their minds were trying to process the crazy alien war they had just survived.
The owner brought out plates piled high with sliced meat, bread, and garlic sauce.
Everyone started to eat in complete silence. They chewed slowly, staring blankly at the walls.
Stevan sat between Bruce and Steve Rogers. He looked at the food. It smelled amazing. He was starving. Using magic took a lot of energy. But there was a problem. He had no mouth hole on his helmet.
Tony noticed Stevan staring at the plate.
"What's the matter, Goldie?" Tony asked with his mouth full. "Do wizards not eat meat? Or do you just absorb solar energy through the shiny hat?"
Stevan sighed. He placed his golden gloves on the sides of the Helmet of Fate. He took a deep breath.
"I eat," Stevan said in his echoing double-voice. "But I have to take this off."
He lifted the helmet. There was a soft flash of golden light. As the helmet left his head, the deep, ancient voice of Nabu faded to a quiet whisper in the back of his mind. The heavy feeling of the god's power stepped back, leaving Stevan feeling very light and very human.
Stevan placed the golden helmet on the table next to his plate.
The Avengers stopped eating. They all stared at him.
Without the helmet, Stevan did not look like an ancient, scary god of magic. He had messy brown hair, tired brown eyes, and a young, pale face. He looked exactly like what he was: a twenty-two-year-old guy from the city.
"Whoa," Clint said, raising his eyebrows. "You're just a kid."
"I am twenty-two," Stevan said, feeling a little embarrassed. He picked up a piece of bread and took a bite. "I'm not a kid."
"You look like you're in college," Tony said, pointing a piece of meat at him. "I thought there was going to be an old wizard with a long white beard under there. Like Gandalf."
"The magic comes from the helmet," Stevan explained simply. He didn't want to tell them the whole truth, that he was from another universe where they were all comic book characters. That would make them think he was crazy. "When I wear it, I bond with an ancient spirit named Nabu. He gives me the power. When I take it off, I'm just Stevan."
"Stevan," Captain America repeated, nodding. "It's good to meet the man behind the mask. You fought bravely today, Stevan. Thank you."
"Thanks, Cap," Stevan smiled. Hearing Captain America say his real name felt amazing.
Bruce Banner looked at the golden helmet sitting on the table. He could almost feel a weird energy humming from it. "Is it safe? Just sitting there?"
"Nobody else can wear it," Stevan said. "If someone tries, the magic will push them away. It chose me."
They went back to eating in comfortable silence.
As Stevan chewed his food, Nabu spoke in his mind. The voice was quieter without the helmet on, but still very clear.
"This food provides very little real energy, Stevan. It is mostly fat and salt."
It tastes good, Nabu, Stevan thought back. Let me enjoy a normal meal for five minutes.
"Very well. But eat quickly. The one with the missing eye approaches. He brings men with guns."
Stevan stopped chewing. Nick Fury was coming.
_______________
When they finished eating, they walked back to Stark Tower. They took the stairs up to the penthouse because the elevators were still broken.
When they walked out onto the destroyed roof, they were not alone.
A team of men and women dressed in black combat gear were standing around the roof. They had guns and looked very serious. Standing in the middle of them was a tall, bald man wearing a long black leather coat and a black eyepatch over his left eye.
Director Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Loki was sitting on the floor, tied up and wearing a special metal muzzle over his mouth so he could not cast spells or talk. Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, sat heavily on the ground next to him.
The glowing blue Tesseract was safely placed inside a special silver briefcase by a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
But Nick Fury was not looking at Loki or the Tesseract. He was holding Loki's golden mind-control scepter. He looked at it closely, then handed it to a scientist in a white coat.
"Put it in a secure case," Fury ordered the scientist. "Take it straight to the helicarrier."
Stevan remembered this moment from the movies. S.H.I.E.L.D. takes the scepter. But S.H.I.E.L.D. is secretly controlled by HYDRA, an evil Nazi group. If HYDRA gets the scepter, they will use it to make evil weapons and give superpowers to the Maximoff twins, Wanda and Pietro. That leads to the movie Age of Ultron, which leads to thousands of people dying in Sokovia.
Stevan was here now. He could change things. He had to stop that from happening.
Before the scientist could take the scepter away, Stevan lifted his golden helmet. He placed it over his head.
Instantly, the world changed. His vision filled with glowing magical lines. The power of Nabu flooded his body, making him stand taller. His eyes glowed bright white behind the golden mask.
"Stop," Stevan's dual-voice boomed across the roof. It was loud and filled with authority.
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents quickly raised their guns, pointing them at Stevan. The Avengers tensed up, confused by what was happening.
"Put the guns down," Captain America ordered the agents. "He's with us."
Nick Fury did not look scared. He stared at Stevan with his one good eye.
"And who are you?" Fury asked slowly. "Stark said a guy in a gold hat helped close the portal. Are you an alien? A mutant?"
"I am Doctor Fate," Stevan answered. He floated one foot into the air, gliding smoothly over the broken glass until he was standing right in front of Fury. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents backed away nervously. "And you cannot take that scepter."
Fury crossed his arms. "This weapon belongs to Earth now. It caused a lot of damage to my city. S.H.I.E.L.D. will lock it away so no one can use it again."
"You will not lock it away," Stevan said, looking right into Fury's eye. "You will try to study it. You will try to make weapons from it, just like you tried to do with the Tesseract. That is what brought the aliens here in the first place."
Tony Stark nodded slowly. "He's got a point, Fury. Your secret weapons project is what signaled Loki to come here."
"The scepter contains an Infinity Stone," Stevan continued. His voice was calm but dangerous. "The Mind Stone. It is too powerful for humans to play with. Your organization, S.H.I.E.L.D., is not as safe as you think it is. Secrets hide inside your walls. The scepter stays with me."
Stevan raised his golden hand.
The scientist holding the scepter suddenly shouted in surprise. The scepter turned into pure golden light and flew out of his hands. It zipped across the air and landed right in Stevan's hand.
Fury's face turned dark with anger. "Give that back, Fate. You are an unknown variable. I don't know who you work for."
"I work for Order," Stevan said.
Stevan held the scepter out in front of him. With his other hand, he drew a glowing yellow circle in the air. The circle opened into a dark, starry hole. It was a pocket dimension, a safe, magical vault that only Stevan and Nabu could open.
Stevan pushed the scepter into the starry hole. The weapon disappeared, and the magical hole closed with a snap. The scepter was gone. It was completely safe from HYDRA, S.H.I.E.L.D., and anyone else.
Fury took a step forward. "You just made a very big mistake."
"No," Thor said, stepping up to stand next to Stevan. The God of Thunder glared at Fury. "The golden wizard is right. The minds of mortals are too weak to hold such magic. It is safe with him. Loki, and the Tesseract. They go with me back to Asgard. That is the deal."
Fury looked at Thor, then at Stevan, and then at the rest of the Avengers. They were all standing together. Fury knew he could not fight a god, a super-soldier, Iron Man, the Hulk, and a powerful magician all at once.
"Fine," Fury grumbled. He turned around. "Pack it up, people! We are leaving!"
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents lowered their guns and hurried away.
Tony Stark walked over and slapped Stevan on the shoulder. "Nice move, Goldie. The pirate boss needed someone to tell him no."
Stevan let out a long breath inside his helmet. He had just changed the Marvel timeline in a huge way. Ultron might never be created now. Vision might never be born. He didn't know what the future would look like anymore, but keeping the Mind Stone away from bad guys felt like the right choice.
_____________________
The next morning, the sun was shining brightly over Central Park. The air still smelled a little bit like smoke, but the sky was clear and blue.
The Avengers stood together in a wide circle on the grass.
Thor and Loki stood in the middle. Loki was in chains, looking very angry. Thor held the silver briefcase with the Tesseract inside.
"This is goodbye for now," Thor said to his friends. "We have much to rebuild in Asgard. But Midgard is safe. You fought like true gods."
Thor turned to Stevan. "Doctor Fate. Your magic is ancient and honorable. If you ever wish to visit Asgard, you are welcome at my table."
Stevan nodded, his golden helmet shining in the sunlight. "Thank you, Thor. Safe travels."
Thor grabbed Loki and the handles of the Tesseract case. Then a massive, blinding beam of rainbow light, the Bifrost, shot down from the sky. It covered Thor and Loki. With a loud WHOOSH sound, the light shot back up into the clouds.
When the light faded, Thor and Loki were gone. Only scorch marks on the grass were left.
The team stood in silence for a moment. It was finally over.
"Well," Natasha said, picking up a black duffel bag. "I have a flight to catch. See you boys around." She and Clint walked toward a black S.H.I.E.L.D. car waiting nearby.
Captain America got onto a classic Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He looked at Tony, Bruce, and Stevan. "Take care of yourselves. The world is going to need us again someday." He revved the engine and drove off down the park path.
Bruce Banner got into the passenger seat of Tony Stark's sleek sports car.
Tony locked over to Stevan. He leaned against his expensive car.
"So," Tony said, taking off his sunglasses. "The team is splitting up. Going back to their secret caves. Where does the master of magic live? Do you have a floating castle? A secret base under a mountain?"
Stevan paused. Underneath the golden mask, he felt a wave of sadness. In his old life, he had a tiny apartment. He had books and a TV. But here, in this universe, he had nothing. He had no money, no ID card, no family, and no home. If he took off his suit, he was just a guy standing in a park with zero dollars.
"I... I do not have a base of operations in this city," Stevan said carefully. "I just arrived here yesterday."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Wait. Are you telling me the guy with glowing clothes and unlimited magic is homeless?"
"I travel," Stevan lied slightly. "But yes, I do not have a place to sleep tonight."
Tony laughed. It wasn't a mean laugh; it was a friendly one. "Well, we can't have that. You saved my life yesterday, Goldie. I owe you. Stark Tower is a total mess right now. Loki smashed the floors, and Hulk smashed everything else. But I own a very nice hotel in midtown. You can stay in the penthouse suite there. All expenses paid, for as long as you want."
Stevan was shocked. "Are you sure? I don't want to owe you."
"Please," Tony waved his hand. "It's a tax write-off. Plus, I want to keep you close. I want to scan that helmet of yours sometime. The energy coming off it drives my computers crazy."
Stevan smiled under the mask. Tony Stark was exactly like he was in the movies, arrogant, too smart, but with a very good heart.
"I accept your offer, Stark. Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Happy, my driver, will take you there." Tony pointed to a black SUV parked behind his sports car. "Get some rest, Fate. You earned it."
Tony got into his sports car and sped off, the engine roaring loudly.
Stevan walked over to the black SUV. The driver, Happy Hogan, looked at him with wide, nervous eyes. Driving a glowing magical superhero was not part of his normal job.
"Uh, good morning, Mr. Fate, sir," Happy said, opening the back door. "Watch your cape on the door frame."
"Thank you, Happy," Stevan said. He slid into the comfortable leather seat.
As the car drove through the city, Stevan looked out the window. People were cleaning up the streets. Construction crews were already starting to fix the broken buildings. The world was moving on.
__________________
Stevan walked into the penthouse suite of the Stark Hotel. It was massive. It was bigger than his entire old apartment building. There were floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the city, a giant white leather couch, a huge flat-screen TV, and a kitchen with shiny marble counters.
He locked the heavy wooden door behind him.
Stevan took a deep breath. "Helmet off."
He grabbed the golden fin and pulled the helmet off his head. The magical suit, the blue spandex, the heavy golden belt, and the flowing yellow cape, dissolved into golden sparks. Underneath, he was wearing normal clothes again, a simple gray t-shirt and dark jeans that the magic had created for him.
He walked over to the couch and fell onto it. He was completely, utterly exhausted. His mind felt like it had run a marathon.
He placed the Helmet of Fate and the Amulet of Anubis on the glass coffee table in front of him. The gold shined brightly in the sunlight coming through the window.
"We did it," Stevan whispered to the empty room. "We actually survived."
"We achieved a victory, yes," Nabu's voice spoke softly from the helmet. "But the war is far from over, Stevan. The universe is vast, and Chaos is patient."
Stevan sat up and looked at the helmet. "I know. Thanos is out there. He's the one who gave Loki the scepter and the army. He's going to come looking for the Infinity Stones eventually."
"Thanos is a creature of pure destruction. He believes he brings balance, but he only brings death. He is a threat to the very fabric of reality."
"And we changed the timeline today," Stevan said, running a hand through his messy hair. "By taking the Mind Stone, I might have stopped some bad things from happening. But now I don't know what's going to happen next. I don't know the future anymore."
"The future is never written in stone," Nabu replied. "It is a river that constantly changes course. Do not rely on your knowledge of 'stories'. Rely on your power. Rely on Order."
Stevan nodded slowly. Nabu was right. He couldn't just sit around waiting for the movies to happen. He had to be proactive. He was Doctor Fate now.
"How do I get stronger?" Stevan asked. "Yesterday, I was just reacting. The magic flowed through me on instinct. But I need to know how to control it completely. I need to know every spell, every shield, and every trick."
The golden helmet seemed to hum with approval.
"That is the mind of a true student," Nabu said. "The power is infinite, but your human vessel must learn to channel it without breaking. Tomorrow, we begin your true training. I will teach you the ancient languages. I will show you how to read the leylines of the Earth. I will teach you how to travel between dimensions."
Stevan looked out the giant window. The city of New York looked beautiful in the afternoon sun. He had died saving a little boy. He was given a second chance, a chance with the power of a god. He was not going to waste it.
He was not just a comic book fan anymore. He was a protector.
"Okay, Nabu," Stevan said, a new fire of determination burning in his chest. "Tomorrow, we train. But tonight... I'm going to order a pizza and sleep in the biggest bed I have ever seen."
A faint, warm feeling, almost like a chuckle, echoed from the golden helmet.
"Rest well, Stevan. For tomorrow, the real work begins."