"Besides, I think the Avengers should bring in some fresh blood. In a few days, I'll introduce a new recruit. He'll be a great addition to your team."
Alan thought to himself—eventually, Scott would become a member of the Avengers. He was just accelerating the process.
He also planned to assist Dr. Hank Pym in training Scott so that he could fully take on a combat role. Scott needed to cooperate with his future teammates.
"A new partner?" Natasha walked over gracefully, curious about who Alan was bringing in. "Are you bringing someone for us to help train?"
"It's a secret. You'll find out when the time comes. If you want to train him, let's wait until he's actually here. It's getting late—I'm heading out."
As Alan quickly left, Tony raised an eyebrow and lifted his bottle of wine. "Unspoken understanding."
They were all well aware of Alan's true identity. But since he never brought it up, they wouldn't either.
---
After a long journey with Quill, they finally arrived at the place where he was born. Without Alan's help, Quill would have almost forgotten where his mother, Meredith, was buried.
The autumn leaves drifted down, landing on Quill's shoulder and the cold tombstone. A black-and-white portrait of a woman stared back at him as he gazed at it in silence.
Gently, he placed the lilies he had brought in front of Meredith's grave.
"Meredith... she was beautiful," Gamora said, staring at the photograph. It was clear that Quill resembled his mother a lot.
The two sat in silence on a park bench for a long time. Gamora slowly looked up at the vast blue sky.
She couldn't understand—would never understand—why Thanos was so determined to destroy the universe. Why he had annihilated her home planet. Why he had raised her to be an assassin.
"Quill, one day, I will use this dagger to kill Thanos."
Quill looked down at the weapon in her hands—its twin blades gleamed with a red glow. "What's so special about it? Ever since I met you, you've always carried it."
Gamora let out a sudden cold laugh and swiftly hid the weapon away. She would never forget how Thanos led his army to invade Zehoberei, leaving her as the sole survivor.
The cruelest irony? She had become Thanos' adopted daughter.
"It means a lot to me. If I can personally kill him, I'll tell you why."
Quill averted his gaze, shifting slightly to the side. He swallowed hard, as if making some kind of decision, before awkwardly saying:
"Uh... this might sound harsh, but I think the only one who can kill Thanos is Emperor. Let's be real—you and I… we're not exactly capable of pulling it off."
The moment he finished speaking, Gamora kicked him straight to the ground.
Even if Quill hadn't said it, she already knew the truth.
After spending so many years by Thanos' side, she never once found an opportunity to kill him. And now, Quill, like an idiot, had just pointed out the obvious.
With just the two of them, there was no way they could take down Thanos.
"...No wonder Emperor says women are unpredictable. I tell the truth, and I still get beaten up..." Quill muttered as he clambered back to his feet.
Gamora was already striding forward, making no effort to wait for him.
With no choice, Quill had to follow.
He had no idea what he had said to upset her, but he still had to chase after her.
"Wait for me, Gamora! Where are you going? This is Earth—you might get lost!"
His words had barely left his mouth before Gamora shot him an icy glare.
...