The morning sun bathed New York in warm golden light.
Life had finally returned to normal.
People hurried through the streets.
Children laughed on their way to school.
The scars left by the Soul Devourer had slowly become memories.
And just as always...
The comforting aroma of coffee drifted through Happy Café.
Behind the counter...
KB carefully prepared a fresh cup of coffee while quietly humming a melody.
The café had not changed.
It was still the peaceful little place where people forgot the weight of the world, if only for a little while.
The small bell above the entrance chimed.
"KB!"
Before he could even look up...
Two teenagers rushed toward him.
"Brother!"
Ella and Evan threw their arms around him with bright smiles.
KB laughed warmly as he hugged them both.
"My, my..."
"When did you two become so tall?"
Evan grinned proudly.
"I'm fourteen now."
Ella crossed her arms with a playful smile.
"And I'm still taller than him."
"I'm growing!"
Evan protested immediately.
"Barely."
The siblings burst into laughter.
KB simply shook his head with an amused smile.
"You two haven't changed at all."
Behind them stood two boys, each carrying a backpack.
One wore a wide, cheerful grin.
The other adjusted his glasses nervously while taking in the café.
Ned Leeds.
Peter Parker.
Ella suddenly turned around.
"Oh!"
"I almost forgot."
She hurried back toward them.
"Brother..."
"These are our best friends."
"Ned."
"And Peter."
Peter swallowed nervously.
He had imagined meeting KB countless times.
But now that the opportunity had actually arrived...
His mind had gone completely blank.
Standing before him wasn't just the founder of Hope Organisation.
It wasn't just one of the world's greatest scientists.
This was KB.
The young genius whose discoveries had revolutionized medicine, artificial intelligence and humanitarian technology.
Even Tony Stark had publicly praised his brilliance more than once.
Peter had watched every interview.
Read every published paper he could understand.
And attempted to understand the ones he couldn't.
Now...
That same person stood only a few feet away.
Ella smiled proudly.
"Brother..."
"This is Peter Parker."
"He's one of the smartest people in our school."
"And this is Ned."
"The funniest."
"Hey!"
Ned complained.
"I have other qualities."
Ella laughed.
"You do."
"But that's definitely the biggest one."
Everyone smiled.
KB walked toward the two boys.
His expression remained as gentle as ever.
"It's nice to finally meet both of you."
Peter instinctively straightened his posture.
"H-hello, sir."
KB chuckled.
"'Sir' makes me feel old."
"I'm just KB."
Peter blinked.
"O-okay..."
"...KB."
KB extended his hand.
Peter quickly shook it.
"So..."
KB asked with genuine curiosity.
"I hear you enjoy science."
Peter's ears turned slightly red.
"I... um..."
"I really do."
"I've actually read several of your published research papers."
Ned looked at him with amusement.
"Several?"
"You made me listen to all of them."
Peter became even more embarrassed.
"They're fascinating!"
He immediately realized how loudly he had spoken.
"...Sorry."
KB laughed softly.
"Never apologize for being excited about learning."
Peter couldn't help smiling.
The nervousness slowly disappeared.
KB looked toward Ned.
"And what about you?"
Ned shrugged with a grin.
"I don't understand half the stuff these three talk about."
Everyone laughed.
"But..."
Ned continued.
"I like building things."
"And somebody has to remind them to eat lunch."
KB nodded thoughtfully.
"That's an important job."
Ned smiled proudly.
"I know."
Ella stepped beside KB.
"You know..."
"We've all decided something."
KB looked at the three teenagers.
"What is it?"
Evan's eyes sparkled.
"We're going to become scientists."
Ella nodded confidently.
"We want to help people."
"Just like you."
Peter quietly nodded.
"So do I."
KB looked at each of them.
Fourteen-year-old Ella.
Fourteen-year-old Evan.
Peter.
Ned.
Their eyes all carried something he recognized immediately.
Curiosity.
Hope.
Dreams.
A warm smile appeared on his face.
"The world doesn't become better because of geniuses."
The four listened carefully.
"It becomes better because ordinary people choose to keep asking..."
"'How can I help?'"
He looked toward Peter.
"Knowledge is important."
Toward Ella.
"Compassion is even more important."
Toward Evan.
"So is imagination."
Finally toward Ned.
"And never underestimate someone who keeps a team together."
Ned blinked.
"...Nobody's ever said that before."
KB smiled.
"Then they're missing something important."
For a few moments...
Silence filled the café.
A comfortable silence.
KB then looked back toward Peter and Ned.
"I also owe both of you something."
The two boys looked confused.
"Thank you."
They blinked.
"For what?"
KB smiled warmly.
"For being there for Ella and Evan."
"For studying with them."
"For laughing with them."
"And for becoming their friends."
Peter quickly shook his head.
"We didn't really do anything."
"You did."
KB replied gently.
"Good friends rarely realize how much they matter."
Ned scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
"We're just... friends."
"And that's exactly why I'm grateful."
Before either of them could respond...
The café door opened once more.
A familiar voice echoed through the room.
"Please tell me somebody saved me a cup of coffee."
Tony Stark walked inside wearing his sunglasses.
Without looking up from the espresso machine, KB smiled.
"I was wondering how long it would take."
Tony smirked.
"I followed the smell."
Peter froze.
His eyes widened.
His two greatest scientific inspirations...
Were standing in the same room.
.....
The bell above the café door rang once more.
A familiar voice followed.
"I knew I'd find you here."
Pepper Potts stepped inside, dressed in her usual elegant business attire, a tablet tucked beneath one arm.
The moment she spotted KB behind the counter, a warm smile appeared on her face.
"Morning, KB."
KB smiled just as warmly.
"Good morning, Pepper."
"Your usual?"
Pepper nodded.
"You still remember."
"I remember everyone's."
Before Pepper could say another word, KB had already begun preparing her favorite coffee.
Peter, Ned, Ella and Evan watched with fascination.
Ned leaned toward Peter and whispered,
"I think he knows literally everybody."
Peter quietly nodded.
"I think everybody knows him."
Tony watched the exchange for a few seconds before dramatically clearing his throat.
"Ahem."
Neither of them reacted.
Tony placed one hand over his chest.
"This is unbelievable."
Pepper finally looked toward him.
"What is?"
Tony pointed between her and KB.
"I've been standing here for two whole minutes."
"You walk in..."
"And I suddenly don't exist."
KB continued making coffee without looking up.
"I greeted you first."
"That doesn't count."
Tony protested immediately.
"You made coffee."
"For her."
Pepper laughed.
"Tony..."
"He was making yours before I even walked in."
Tony narrowed his eyes playfully.
"Still."
"I feel replaced."
KB placed Tony's cup on the counter.
"I can take it back."
Tony immediately wrapped both hands around it protectively.
"Nobody's replacing me that much."
The café burst into laughter.
Pepper shook her head with an affectionate smile.
"You really are impossible."
Tony grinned.
"I've been told."
KB handed Pepper her coffee.
She took a small sip before smiling appreciatively.
"Perfect."
"As always."
Tony sighed dramatically.
"There it is."
"My own fiancée compliments another man's coffee before complimenting mine."
Pepper looked at him innocently.
"You didn't make coffee."
Tony thought for a moment.
"...That's actually a fair point."
Even Peter couldn't help laughing.
The atmosphere inside Happy Café grew lighter once again.
Watching the easy banter between Tony, Pepper and KB, Peter realized something that surprised him.
The warm atmosphere inside Happy Café continued as laughter echoed between the tables.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the cozy café with a peaceful glow.
Tony Stark leaned comfortably against the counter, coffee in one hand.
Pepper Potts stood beside him, smiling as she watched KB chatting with the four teenagers.
KB glanced toward Peter and Ned before turning to Tony.
"Tony."
"I'd like you to meet two of Ella and Evan's closest friends."
Peter immediately straightened.
Ned did the same, though with noticeably more panic.
KB smiled.
"This is Peter Parker."
"And this is Ned Leeds."
"They've been looking after these two at school."
Tony removed his sunglasses and looked the boys over for a moment.
"So..."
"You're the famous Peter."
Peter blinked.
"...Famous?"
Tony smirked.
"I've heard your name more times in the last five minutes than I've heard mine."
Ned couldn't help laughing.
Peter scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I don't think that's possible."
Tony pointed at him.
"See?"
"Smart answer."
The tension eased immediately.
Meanwhile...
Pepper's attention had already shifted elsewhere.
The moment she saw Ella and Evan standing together, her face softened.
"My goodness..."
"You two have grown so much."
Before either of them could react...
Pepper stepped forward and wrapped both teenagers in a warm hug.
Ella laughed happily.
"It's good to see you too, Aunt Pepper."
Evan smiled just as brightly.
"We missed you."
Pepper gently held them at arm's length, looking them over with a proud smile.
"I swear you were children yesterday."
Evan grinned.
"I still am."
Ella nudged him.
"Barely."
Pepper laughed.
"So..."
"How are school and your studies going?"
Ella answered confidently.
"Really well."
"We're both preparing for the national science competitions."
Evan nodded enthusiastically.
"And we've started building our own robotics projects."
Pepper's eyes lit up.
"I knew you two wouldn't stay away from laboratories."
KB smiled from behind the counter.
"They're certainly keeping me busy with questions."
Pepper looked toward him knowingly.
"I imagine you enjoy every minute of it."
"I do."
KB suddenly folded his arms with an innocent smile.
"You know..."
"Ella and Evan have been telling me something."
Tony took another sip of coffee.
"Oh?"
KB nodded toward Peter.
"They insist Peter is the smartest student in their entire school."
Peter nearly choked on air.
"E-Ella..."
"Evan..."
"You shouldn't have said that earlier."
Ella shrugged proudly.
"It's true."
Pepper smiled warmly.
"That's nothing to be embarrassed about, Peter."
She looked at him kindly.
"Talent is wonderful."
"But what matters is what you do with it."
Peter nodded quietly.
"I'll keep working hard."
Pepper smiled.
"I don't doubt that."
Tony, however...
Didn't look at Peter.
Not immediately.
Instead...
He looked at KB.
Their eyes met for only a brief moment.
Tony understood.
KB wasn't merely praising Peter.
He was drawing his attention toward him.
Subtly.
Exactly the way KB always did.
Without making anyone feel singled out.
Tony slowly turned toward the four teenagers.
Peter.
Ella.
Evan.
Ned.
He smiled.
"You know..."
"When I was younger..."
"I would've loved someone to let me wander around a place full of dangerous inventions."
Pepper sighed.
"I'm still wondering who thought that was a good idea."
Tony ignored the comment completely.
"So..."
He looked at Peter, Ella and Evan.
"If you three keep working this hard..."
"When you're a little older..."
Come spend part of your vacations at Stark Industries."
The three teenagers stared at him.
Tony continued casually.
"Not as tourists."
"As interns."
Silence filled the café.
Peter blinked.
"...Interns?"
Tony nodded.
"You'll make coffee."
The three looked slightly disappointed.
Tony grinned.
"I'm kidding."
"Mostly."
Laughter spread through the café.
Tony leaned forward.
"Engineering."
"Research."
"Development."
"If you've got ideas..."
"I want to hear them."
Peter's heart raced.
Ella looked equally stunned.
Evan could barely hide his excitement.
"Really?"
Tony nodded.
"Really."
"But..."
He raised one finger.
"You earn your place."
"I don't hand opportunities to anyone."
KB smiled approvingly.
"The opportunity may open the door."
"You'll still have to walk through it yourselves."
The three nodded together.
Even Ned raised his hand.
"What about me?"
Tony looked him up and down thoughtfully.
"Hmm..."
"You look like quality control."
Ned frowned.
"What does that even mean?"
Tony laughed.
"It means somebody has to stop these three from accidentally blowing up my labs."
The café erupted into laughter once more.
Watching the four teenagers smile, Pepper quietly slipped her hand into Tony's.
She whispered softly,
"I think they'll do well."
Tony looked toward KB.
KB simply smiled and gave the slightest nod.
The cheerful laughter inside Happy Café gradually settled into a comfortable silence.
Tony took another sip of his coffee while Pepper sat beside him, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
Ella suddenly exchanged a glance with Evan.
"Brother..."
KB looked up from the espresso machine.
"Yes?"
Ella reached into her backpack and carefully pulled out a notebook filled with equations and sketches.
"We've been working on something."
Evan eagerly opened another notebook.
"But we're stuck."
Peter hesitated for a moment before pulling out his own notebook.
"...Me too."
Tony noticed the pages immediately.
Circuit diagrams.
Chemical equations.
Mechanical designs.
His smile widened.
"So..."
"They actually brought homework."
Ned raised both hands.
"I told them this would happen."
The four teenagers gathered around one of the café tables.
KB and Tony sat opposite them.
Pepper quietly watched from nearby, unable to hide her smile.
Ella pointed toward one of her diagrams.
"We're trying to design a filtration membrane."
"It removes harmful particles efficiently..."
"...but the energy consumption becomes too high."
Tony studied the page for only a few seconds.
Then he looked at Ella.
"What happens if you stop forcing the water through?"
Ella frowned.
"...It slows down."
Tony nodded.
"So don't fight nature."
"Help it."
He quickly sketched a simple spiral structure.
"Increase the surface area."
"Gravity does half the work."
"You use less energy."
Ella's eyes widened.
"...That's so much simpler."
Tony smiled.
"The smartest solutions usually are."
Next came Evan.
He placed a small robotic arm onto the table.
"The joints keep overheating."
"I've changed the motors three times."
KB gently picked up the prototype.
He rotated one of the joints.
Then smiled.
"You solved the wrong problem."
Evan blinked.
"...I did?"
KB nodded.
"You improved the motor."
"But ignored the movement."
He gently moved the arm again.
"Your joints stop."
"Start."
"Stop."
"Start."
"The repeated acceleration creates unnecessary strain."
KB drew several smooth curved lines in Evan's notebook.
"Teach it to move like flowing water..."
"...instead of marching like a soldier."
Evan stared at the drawing.
"...A smoother motion algorithm."
KB smiled.
"Exactly."
"You don't always need more power."
"Sometimes..."
"You simply need better rhythm."
Evan's eyes shone with excitement.
Finally...
Peter nervously pushed his notebook forward.
"I've been designing a miniature energy regulator."
"My calculations work..."
"...until the voltage changes suddenly."
Tony immediately began reading.
KB quietly watched.
Neither of them spoke for nearly a minute.
Peter grew increasingly nervous.
"...Is it bad?"
Tony looked up.
"No."
"It's actually pretty good."
Peter blinked.
"...Really?"
Tony nodded.
"You've got solid engineering instincts."
Then he handed the notebook to KB.
KB studied the calculations.
A warm smile appeared.
"You and Tony approached the same problem differently."
Peter looked confused.
"I did?"
Tony crossed his arms with a grin.
"Oh, this should be interesting."
KB pointed toward Peter's equations.
"You designed the circuit to react after instability appears."
Peter nodded.
"Yes."
KB then pointed toward another section.
"What if..."
"...instead of reacting..."
"...you predicted the instability before it happened?"
Peter froze.
His eyes widened.
He quickly grabbed his pencil.
"...A predictive feedback loop..."
Tony smiled proudly.
"There it is."
Peter's pencil moved rapidly across the page.
"Oh..."
"Oh!"
"This reduces the delay completely!"
KB nodded.
"Sometimes the best solution..."
"...isn't solving the problem faster."
"It's preventing the problem from happening."
Peter slowly looked up.
"I never thought about it that way."
Tony chuckled.
"Neither did half my engineers."
For the next hour...
Questions continued filling the café.
Ella asked about biomedical research.
Tony explained difficult concepts using simple real-world examples.
KB added,
"Never memorize principles."
"Understand why they exist."
Evan asked about robotics.
KB compared mechanical movement to rivers flowing around rocks.
Tony compared it to race cars taking corners.
Both explanations reached the same conclusion.
Peter asked about artificial intelligence.
Tony leaned back thoughtfully.
"An AI doesn't become useful because it's intelligent."
"It becomes useful because it understands the problem."
KB smiled.
"And wisdom begins..."
"...when intelligence learns compassion."
Peter quietly wrote that sentence down.
Before long...
All three notebooks were filled with fresh ideas.
The teenagers looked at one another.
Then toward KB.
Then toward Tony.
Their expressions carried the same emotion.
Admiration.
Not because they were speaking to two of the world's greatest scientists...
But because those two geniuses never once made them feel small for asking questions.
Instead...
Every answer had made learning feel exciting.
Ned finally broke the silence.
"I've figured something out."
Tony looked at him.
"What?"
Ned pointed toward KB and Tony.
"You two explain things completely differently."
KB smiled.
"We do."
Ned grinned.
"But somehow..."
"...you always end up at the same answer."
Tony laughed.
"That's because science doesn't care who discovers the truth."
KB nodded.
"It only asks whether you're willing to keep searching."
The four teenagers looked at them with renewed determination.
Peter closed his notebook carefully.
One day...
He wanted to stand where they stood.
Not because they were famous.
But because they inspired others to dream.
Tony noticed the look in Peter's eyes.
So did KB.
The lively conversation inside Happy Café slowly came to an end.
Peter looked at the clock hanging above the entrance.
His eyes widened.
"...Uh-oh."
Ned looked over.
"What?"
Peter quickly checked his watch.
"We have to leave."
Ella tilted her head.
"So soon?"
Peter nodded.
"Our practical session starts this afternoon."
"If we're late, Dr. Warren will probably make us repeat the entire experiment."
Ned groaned dramatically.
"And I'd rather not spend another three hours washing beakers."
Evan immediately grabbed his backpack.
"Then let's go."
The four teenagers stood together.
Peter smiled apologetically at KB.
"Thank you for today."
"We should really get going."
KB nodded with his usual gentle smile.
"Of course."
He calmly looked toward the ceiling.
"Alexa."
A soft voice immediately echoed throughout the café.
"Yes, KB?"
"Arrange a vehicle."
"Destination—Midtown School of Science and Technology."
"Drop our four young scientists safely."
"Vehicle has already been dispatched."
"Arrival in one minute."
Peter's eyes widened.
"Oh..."
"No, that's really not necessary."
Ned nodded immediately.
"We usually take the subway."
KB smiled.
"I know."
"But today, allow me."
Peter shook his head politely.
"We couldn't possibly—"
Ella interrupted him with a grin.
"You'll offend my brother."
Peter blinked.
"...Really?"
KB laughed.
"No."
"But she'll keep saying that until you agree."
Evan nodded enthusiastically.
"Trust us."
"It's easier to say yes."
Ned looked toward Peter.
"I think they're professionals at this."
Peter sighed with a smile.
"...Alright."
"But only this once."
KB nodded.
"I'll pretend to believe that."
Everyone laughed.
A moment later...
A sleek black electric vehicle quietly stopped outside the café.
The driver stepped out and respectfully opened the door.
"Ready whenever you are."
The four teenagers picked up their bags.
Before leaving...
Peter turned back toward KB.
"Thank you..."
"...for everything."
KB smiled warmly.
"Study well."
"And don't be afraid to make mistakes."
Peter nodded.
"I won't."
Ella and Evan hugged KB one last time.
"We'll see you tonight."
"I'll be waiting."
Ned waved cheerfully.
"Bye, everyone!"
The four climbed into the car.
As it quietly drove away...
KB watched until it disappeared around the corner.
A faint smile remained on his face.
Pepper noticed.
"You worry about them."
KB nodded.
"They're the future."
Tony leaned against the counter.
"And they're lucky to have someone watching over them."
KB chuckled.
"I think I'm the lucky one."
The café suddenly became quiet.
For exactly five seconds.
Then...
The bell above the entrance rang.
Steve Rogers walked inside.
"Morning."
KB smiled.
"Your usual?"
Steve nodded.
"You already know."
Another bell.
Natasha entered.
"I smelled coffee from outside."
Clint followed behind her carrying a paper bag.
"I brought doughnuts."
Sam Wilson walked in moments later.
"If Barton brought doughnuts..."
"I'm definitely staying."
Rhodey laughed as he entered behind him.
"You say that every time."
Bruce Banner smiled awkwardly while carrying a stack of research papers.
"I actually came to discuss something."
Thor stepped through the doorway next.
The café suddenly seemed much smaller.
"My friends!"
His booming voice made several customers look up before smiling in recognition.
Benjamin emerged from the kitchen carrying another tray.
"I had a feeling today would be busy."
Nick Fury entered last.
He looked around the crowded café before quietly taking his usual seat in the corner.
Without anyone saying a word...
Everyone naturally settled into their familiar places.
Steve helped move a few chairs.
Clint placed the doughnuts in the center of the table.
Natasha stole one before anyone else could.
"I saw that."
Clint sighed.
"You always do."
Thor laughed loudly.
"You mortals are truly fearsome."
Tony looked around the room before shaking his head.
"You know..."
"I don't actually remember when this started."
Pepper smiled.
"I do."
Everyone looked toward her.
She glanced around the café.
"It happened little by little."
"One coffee."
"One conversation."
"One mission."
"Then another."
She smiled softly.
"And before any of us realized it..."
"This became home."
Silence settled over the room.
Not because no one had anything to say.
But because everyone realized...
She was right.
The Avengers Tower was where they worked.
S.H.I.E.L.D. facilities were where they planned.
Hope Organisation was where they built the future.
But...
Happy Café...
Was where they simply became themselves.
Tony looked around the room.
Steve was quietly helping Benjamin arrange chairs.
Thor was enthusiastically trying another pastry.
Bruce and KB had already begun discussing research.
Sam and Rhodey debated aircraft designs.
Natasha continued pretending she hadn't taken Clint's second doughnut.
Fury calmly drank his coffee without commenting on the chaos around him.
Tony smiled.
"You know..."
"I own one of the tallest buildings in New York."
He looked around the café.
"And somehow..."
"...everyone still ends up here."
KB placed another fresh cup of coffee before him.
"Coffee helps."
Tony laughed.
"No."
He looked at his friends.
"This place does."
Outside...
The black car carrying Peter, Ned, Ella and Evan disappeared into New York traffic.
None of the four teenagers could have imagined what was happening back at the café.
If they had looked through the windows at that very moment...
They would have seen Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Not discussing battles.
Not planning missions.
Not saving the world.
Simply laughing...
Sharing breakfast...
Teasing one another...
Like an ordinary family.
And perhaps that was Happy Café's greatest miracle.
It reminded even the world's greatest heroes...
How to live ordinary lives.
.....
The warmth of Happy Café echoed with laughter.
Tony and Rhodey were debating whose flying skills were better.
Thor insisted Asgardian mead was still superior to coffee.
Clint claimed Natasha had stolen his last doughnut.
Natasha denied everything with a perfectly straight face.
"No evidence."
Bruce laughed quietly.
Sam simply shook his head.
"You people argue about everything."
Benjamin smiled as he placed another tray of fresh pastries on the table.
For a brief moment...
There were no heroes.
No missions.
No battles.
Only friends enjoying one another's company.
Then—
A sharp ringtone shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
Everyone instinctively became quiet.
Nick Fury reached into his coat and looked at the screen.
"Maria."
He answered immediately.
"This is Fury."
The room fell silent.
Only Fury spoke.
"...Go on."
His expression gradually became more serious.
"...Are you certain?"
...
"I understand."
...
"We'll move immediately."
The call ended.
No one spoke.
Tony set his coffee down.
"What happened?"
Fury looked around the room.
"Maria Hill has located another Hydra stronghold."
Steve's smile disappeared instantly.
"Where?"
"Sokovia."
The name alone changed the atmosphere.
"The base is commanded by Baron Strucker."
Fury continued.
"They've rebuilt a large research facility."
"According to Maria..."
"They're experimenting with something extraordinary."
Silence.
Steve slowly lowered his head.
His jaw tightened.
"So..."
"They survived."
He exhaled heavily.
"I thought we had cut off Hydra's head."
His voice carried frustration more than anger.
"They're still spreading."
Across the table...
KB's expression also changed.
Unlike Steve's...
It became unexpectedly complicated.
Almost...
Melancholy.
Natasha noticed first.
"So..."
"You know something."
Thor looked toward KB.
"So do you."
Tony exchanged a glance with Bruce.
Benjamin quietly folded his arms.
They had all seen that expression before.
Whenever KB looked like that...
Something significant was about to happen.
Only Sam and Rhodey looked confused.
Sam leaned toward Rhodey.
"What did we miss?"
Rhodey whispered back,
"I don't know."
Tony quietly looked at both of them.
"I'll explain later."
"Not here."
The two simply nodded.
KB remained silent for several moments.
Then...
He slowly looked toward Steve.
"Captain."
Steve met his gaze.
"You didn't fail."
Steve frowned slightly.
"I didn't?"
KB gently shook his head.
"It is never easy to eliminate Hydra."
He rested both hands upon the table.
"They are unlike ordinary enemies."
"The real Alexander Pierce..."
"...never truly died."
Everyone looked toward him.
Natasha's expression changed.
"What do you mean?"
KB spoke calmly.
"The man you killed..."
"...was only a vessel."
"A human body created by the Temple of Chaos."
"The real Alexander was taken away long before that day."
Even Fury narrowed his remaining eye.
"So the Temple has been protecting him."
KB nodded.
"They don't protect people."
"They protect usefulness."
Silence settled once more.
KB continued.
"Where greed exists..."
"Where ambition outweighs conscience..."
"Where people seek power over justice..."
"There..."
"Hydra will always find fertile ground."
He looked toward Steve.
"They are parasites."
"They disappear when the light shines brightly."
"But they awaken again..."
"...the moment darkness becomes convenient."
Steve slowly closed his eyes.
His shoulders relaxed.
Not because the burden became lighter.
But because he finally understood.
Hydra was never simply an organization.
It was an idea.
And ideas were far harder to destroy.
KB's eyes grew distant.
"The Temple of Chaos..."
"They're playing a game."
"A game whose board stretches far beyond what we can currently see."
"We're only beginning to understand the opening moves."
No one interrupted.
Steve quietly asked,
"Then tell me something."
KB looked at him.
"If you already know this..."
"...why don't you stop them?"
The question wasn't filled with accusation.
Only honesty.
Every eye in the café turned toward KB.
Even Thor remained silent.
For several moments...
KB didn't answer.
He simply stared into the untouched cup of coffee before him.
Finally...
He spoke.
"The current of history..."
"...cannot simply be overturned."
Everyone listened carefully.
"There are great tides..."
"...and there are small waves."
"I can guide the waves."
"But forcing the tide..."
"...comes with a price."
Bruce frowned.
"What kind of price?"
KB smiled sadly.
"If I interfere at the wrong moment..."
"Someone innocent becomes the sacrifice."
"The Temple of Chaos doesn't waste opportunities."
"They would turn my actions into their advantage."
He looked at his own hands.
"The more I force destiny..."
"...the easier it becomes for that being to advance its own power."
A heavy silence filled the café.
"So unless the situation truly demands it..."
"I cannot intervene."
Tony quietly asked,
"Even if you have the power?"
KB nodded.
"Especially then."
He lifted his eyes.
"My abilities were never meant to satisfy my own desires."
"If I used them simply because I wished to..."
"...I would be disrespecting the very power entrusted to me."
His voice grew quieter.
"And I would carry that guilt forever."
Nobody spoke.
For the first time...
They didn't see the legendary Aureon.
They saw only KB.
A young man carrying responsibilities no one else could truly understand.
He gave a faint, bittersweet smile.
"My powers are extraordinary."
He paused.
"But they are also..."
"...my greatest constraint."
The words lingered in the café long after they were spoken.
Steve slowly stood.
He walked over to KB.
Without saying anything...
He placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I understand."
KB looked up.
Steve smiled gently.
"You've never been running away from responsibility."
"You've been protecting all of us from burdens we couldn't even see."
One by one...
The others nodded.
No one questioned him further.
Not because every answer had been revealed.
But because they finally understood something they had overlooked for years.
KB's greatest burden...
Was never possessing divine power.
It was knowing exactly when not to use it.
Outside, the evening lights of New York shimmered across the streets.
Inside Happy Café...
The laughter had faded.
In its place remained something quieter.
Understanding.
And with Sokovia now standing before them...
Earth's Mightiest Heroes knew that peace had come to an end once again.
.....
Night had quietly descended upon the Morgan Manor.
Moonlight filtered through the tall windows, casting a silver glow across the study.
The manor was silent.
Too silent.
KB sat alone before the familiar diary resting upon his desk.
For the first time in many days...
He simply stared at the blank pages.
His hand refused to move.
Benjamin stood several steps behind him, saying nothing.
He had accompanied KB back from the café after Fury's briefing, yet from the moment the word Sokovia had been spoken, his younger brother had barely uttered a sentence.
After what felt like an eternity...
KB finally picked up his pen.
The golden pages shimmered softly.
Slowly...
He began to write.
Diary Entry
Today, Maria Hill confirmed that one of HYDRA's most dangerous remaining branches has been operating within Sokovia under Baron Strucker.
The moment I heard the name "Sokovia"...
I froze.
Not because of HYDRA.
Not because of Strucker.
But because of someone else.
Wanda.
The writing became noticeably slower.
I don't know how I should face her.
Will the Wanda living in Sokovia truly be... her?
Or will she simply be another person who shares the same name... and the same face?
The pen stopped.
Silence filled the room.
A single drop of ink spread across the page.
After several long moments...
KB continued.
Perhaps...
She is.
That is what my heart tells me.
But my mind cannot answer.
The diary ended there.
No explanation.
No solution.
Only confusion.
KB quietly closed the diary.
He leaned back in his chair, his usually gentle smile nowhere to be found.
Benjamin watched in silence.
His heart grew heavy.
To the rest of the world...
KB always appeared calm.
To the Avengers...
He always seemed to know the path forward.
Yet today...
Benjamin saw only a young man struggling against emotions he could not solve.
He wished he could shoulder that burden.
But he knew this was one battle his brother had to face himself.
Across the world...
Golden light shimmered before several people.
The mysterious diary had returned once more.
This time...
Three new names appeared among its holders.
James Rhodes.
Pepper Potts.
Sam Wilson.
Each looked at the diary in astonishment before opening it.
At the same moment...
The familiar readers also received the latest entry.
Tony Stark.
Steve Rogers.
Natasha Romanoff.
Nick Fury.
Bruce Banner.
Clint Barton.
Peter Parker.
Thor.
And Wanda Maximoff.
One by one...
They silently finished reading.
The atmosphere around each of them became unusually quiet.
Tony slowly lowered the diary.
"So... that's what was weighing on him."
Then from the corner of his eyes he saw the same diary that Pepper was reading and became relieved , finally he had someone to talk after reading the diary contents.
Pepper finally understood.
"So that's why..."
She looked toward Tony.
"This morning... when Maria mentioned Sokovia... all of you looked at KB."
Tony nodded silently.
"We were worried."
"We just didn't know how to ask."
Rhodey folded his arms.
"He wasn't thinking about HYDRA."
"He was thinking about Wanda."
Sam released a slow breath.
"So that's what everyone saw."
"No wonder the room suddenly became so quiet."
Steve closed the diary.
"He's afraid."
"Not of losing a battle..."
"But of losing someone he hasn't even met."
Natasha smiled sadly.
"That sounds exactly like KB."
Bruce adjusted his glasses.
"For someone who usually solves impossible problems..."
"This one has no logical answer."
Thor looked toward the stars beyond the palace balcony.
"Even the strongest heart may hesitate before destiny."
Clint chuckled softly.
"Still putting everyone else before himself."
Peter remained unusually quiet.
Even he could feel the uncertainty hidden between every line.
Far away...
Within Sokovia...
Wanda slowly reread the final sentence.
"Perhaps...
She is.
That is what my heart tells me."
For reasons she couldn't explain...
Those words lingered in her heart.
Meanwhile...
Every diary holder found themselves asking the same question.
If I were standing where KB stands...
Would I choose to protect others first...
Or would I allow myself to be selfish, even once?
No one spoke.
Because every one of them already knew the answer buried deep within their own hearts.
They admired KB's kindness.
But they also realized...
If they were in his place...
They weren't sure they could do the same.
And that realization made them understand the burden he carried even more.
For Pepper, Rhodey, and Sam...
Everything finally became clear.
The strange looks Tony, Steve, Natasha, Fury, and the others had given KB after Maria Hill's call that morning...
Had never been about Sokovia.
Nor HYDRA.
They had been looking at a young man whose greatest battle...
Was not against an enemy.
But against his own heart.