[Avengers x LCF] Home Is Where the Doctor Is

Chapter 2: Congee for the Sick

Cale hurried without delay, using the exclusive elevator to reach Tony's level. He really missed his ancient power which, at the present, lay dormant in his mind, but particularly yearning for the Thief under such circumstances. Cale must admit, after long being used to their presences, his mind was too dull for his liking now they were gone, only consumed entirely by his own thoughts.

He still hadn't worked out any logic behind their stupor, but he had a theory. Cale could wield the ancient powers to their full potential well enough in every verse of the Earth, up until now. Yet again, this Earth was different from any other one he had prevailed.

If Cale remembered it correctly, Choi Jung Soo had called it the Marvel Universe. From there, Cale hypothesized that every world had multiple universes, just like the Earth he had previously been in. They could be infinite and unbounded, but they bundled as a cluster, and beside them, there existed entirely different worlds and universes, consisting of unalike elements, which were also wrapped as one.

To put it simply, he could use the Spider-Verse—yet another thing Choi Jung Soo had proudly presented—as an example. Imagine the coexisting multiple worlds as a web of universes that came as one big mass, and just like them, there was also another web of universes bearing whole discrete constitutions and variables.

This could explain many things, namely the disappearance of his ancient powers' consciousness. If his world had the gods and their judgment, then this world also had its own set of rules he couldn't defy.

But Cale would rather be deemed stupid and blind for having no belief in such a plausible theory. Because if he really was in an utterly different web of universes, the chance of him going home would be diminished to zero. He didn't even know if Rosalyn or Eruhaben had the power to achieve such a groundbreaking discovery. Or hell, Tony who had practically figured out time travel all by himself.

And if he couldn't return home in the foreseeable future, then he would ...

Ah, this had taken such a depressing turn, thankfully the door opened with a bell and now all he could worry about was the matter on his plate, concerning a possible explosion and the smoke.

Or an ambush.

However, he doubted the latter as the security of the Tower was top-notch. So, if it was deliberate or the result of misconduct, then stupid Tony. Did he really think because others did it, he should do it too like a gullible child? Or was there any foolish trend going around about explosions and suffocating yourself with the smoke that he didn't know about?

Stupid billionaire. Stupid boss.

With a final step, he eventually faced the shut door with Happy by his side. Because of JARVIS' odd disappearance, he couldn't open the door spontaneously just from the AI's consent and needed to swipe the card, granted by Tony to those he permitted.

Then when it opened, he was unprepared for the charging murky mist, coughing breathlessly before shielding his nose with his forearm. After the haze began to dissipate, there was a standing figure left in the middle of it.

Bastard.

"Tony, just what did you do?!" Happy yelled as he marched through the remaining smoke, and Cale cheered for him in his heart.

Get him, please.

"A surprise!" A radiant smile ran wildly from one ear to another, leaving even Happy dumbfounded on his track.

There and then, Cale immediately thought of a way for payback, but before the plan was sorted, Cale's eyes zeroed in on the metal piece Tony set forth in his hands.