Chapter 23 (Rewrite)

The moment they reached the secure chamber, it felt like the entire facility had been built specifically for one of those super-dramatic action scenes in movies. You know the ones—the type where the door is so fortified, even your grandma would break a sweat just looking at it. But Tony? Oh, he just grinned like he'd found a way to hack into a toaster's Wi-Fi, and Harry—well, Harry was already waving his wand like a seasoned conductor at a symphony of chaos. The security systems? Disabled faster than you can say "breaking and entering with style."

The door swung open with a satisfying whoosh—I mean, it was really dramatic—and in they stormed. Avengers, Eternals, and a few other folks who were just trying to keep up, charging in like they were starring in their own personal blockbuster. It was a bit like a superhero flash mob—if flash mobs involved punching bad guys instead of flash-dancing.

The HYDRA guards, who were probably expecting a more "secretive" raid, barely had time to blink before they were being pummeled by fists, lightning, and well, a lot of very confused soldiers who had no idea who was hitting them. Natasha, looking like a cat with a mission, flipped over one guard with the grace of someone who had spent her life doing flips—and probably rolling her eyes at this kind of thing every time it happened.

"Keep up, kids," she said, cracking her neck. "This is a rescue, not a spa day."

Harry couldn't help but quip as he took down a guard with a flick of his wrist, "Though, honestly, if I could get a massage after all this, I'd be all for it."

"You could use one, mate," Clint called from behind, unleashing a bowstring that sent another guard flying into a wall. "You're looking a little too heroic, not enough 'mysterious badass' for my taste."

Harry tossed him a wink. "I am mysterious. That's why I have so many fans. You know, besides all the heroic bits."

Sersi, meanwhile, was already halfway to Phastos and his husband, Ben, who were both clearly a bit worse for wear. But nothing could stop Phastos from looking up and giving a tired, yet relieved, grin as Sersi wrapped him in a fierce, comforting hug.

"You have no idea how much I needed this," Phastos said, voice hoarse but full of gratitude.

"Just like old times, huh?" Sersi teased, her voice light and warm despite the heavy situation. "Now, let's get you out of here."

Harry moved to Ben's side, offering his hand with that same warm, reassuring grin. "Come on, you've been through enough today. Let's get you both out of here."

Ben looked at him, eyebrows raising. "You're… not going to try to blow up the building, are you?"

Harry's grin only widened. "You know, it's tempting. But today's not the day. We'll leave that to Tony."

"Ah, yes, I've been dying for an excuse to use the self-destruct button," Tony said, striding past them. "Just kidding. Maybe. Actually, no, I'm not kidding. It does have a really satisfying beep when you press it."

"Please tell me you've got a plan," Steve's voice cut through the banter, always steady, always calm.

"As always," Tony said with a grin. "Did you forget who you're dealing with? I'm Tony Stark, the man with the plan. Also, the man with the really cool suit."

"Let's just get out of here," Steve replied, his gaze cutting through the chaos with that all-American, hero-level focus.

And so, with Phastos and Ben in tow, the crew began to make their way back out. But not without some complications, of course. Because what would an escape be without a little bit of chaos?

Makkari and Pietro, their speed both an asset and a competition, zipped ahead like two bolts of lightning in a race against time—and each other. Makkari gave Pietro a grin, her speed blurring her features. "I'll bet I can get to the exit before you can say 'sibling rivalry'."

"Bring it on!" Pietro shot back, clearly having too much fun. "This is going to be so embarrassing for you."

Tony, who had made a brief detour to deactivate yet another security measure (he was so good at this), leaned over to Steve. "I feel like I'm just in the way of a speed competition. Should I slow down just to let them feel better about themselves?"

"Maybe," Steve replied with a chuckle. "But I think we're getting better at teamwork."

"Don't remind me," Clint said with a laugh, narrowly avoiding a stray bullet. "It's almost like we're a real team now. Y'know, aside from me getting shot at every five minutes."

"More like five seconds," Wanda said, rolling her eyes, but with a mischievous smile. She was right beside Clint, holding the line as the team moved forward. "If you stopped throwing yourself into the line of fire, maybe you wouldn't get shot so much."

"Eh," Clint said, giving a shrug, "getting shot builds character."

"Yeah," Tony muttered, "it also builds a lot of scars. But who's counting, right?"

Meanwhile, Bruce, who'd been quietly adjusting his glasses for the umpteenth time, muttered to no one in particular, "If you guys could not get shot, that'd be great. But, you know, no pressure."

"Seriously though," Gilgamesh added, his voice booming as he grabbed a HYDRA agent by the collar and threw him into a wall, "getting out of here with our lives would be great. But what's more important is getting them out." He motioned toward Phastos and Ben, who were now walking ahead with Sersi's arm wrapped around Phastos' shoulders for support.

"On it," Tony said with a nod, shifting into that leadership mode that was kind of terrifying when he got serious. "Let's get everyone out alive. That's the real win today."

And just like that, they kept moving—faster now, with Phastos and Ben safe, their escape route clear. With Makkari and Pietro darting ahead to scout the path, and the rest of the team clearing the way, it was almost as if they were on the final lap of a race they weren't going to lose.

And sure, there were still plenty of hazards ahead, but when you had a team like this—well, they might as well have been walking through the park.

"Let's just not blow up the building," Harry added with a grin, eyeing Tony. "That's the real plan, right?"

"Hey, we'll see how it goes," Tony shot back, grinning. "I'm not totally against it."

The whole place felt like it was collapsing around them, but with the team moving like a well-oiled machine, there was no way they weren't walking out of this one on their own terms.

—

The moment the facility decided to send them off with a parting gift—an explosion that could've come straight out of an action movie—Harry had to admit, it was pretty dramatic. The whole place shook like a giant cosmic fart, and it was a miracle they didn't all trip over their feet running for the Quinjet. But of course, that didn't stop them. When you've been chased by a giant space lizard or jumped through magical portals, dodging a few explosions is pretty much par for the course.

"Is this your idea of a welcome home party?" Clint called out, swiping his bow off his back as they sprinted. He shot a look at Tony, who was already tapping away at his watch, clearly too busy being Tony Stark to notice the impending death traps surrounding them.

"Just trying to spice things up," Tony muttered without missing a beat. "You know, keep things interesting." He waved a hand toward the Quinjet like it was his personal VIP lounge. "Get in, people. The ride to escape-ville is leaving in three... two... one..."

And the Quinjet roared to life, its engines powering up with a sound that was part jet, part angry dragon. Harry couldn't help but throw in a little bit of sarcasm as he jumped into the jet after Sersi.

"Wow, Tony. I think you've outdone yourself this time. I'm feeling so special," Harry quipped, looking out the window as the facility started to look like a firework show gone wrong. "You didn't even let us get some popcorn."

Sersi rolled her eyes and slid into a seat, pulling Phastos and Ben along with her. "You know, Harry, I think you might be the only person I've ever met who can make running for his life sound like a joke."

"Hey, I am running for my life," Harry said with a grin. "I just prefer to do it with a sense of style. Keeps things fun."

Phastos, still looking like he'd been through a blender, finally managed to crack a small smile. "I guess I should thank you all. I can't imagine anyone else getting us out of there."

Ben, still looking a little shell-shocked but trying to be brave, nodded. "Yeah. You guys... you saved us."

"Aw, no need to thank me," Harry said, putting an arm around Phastos' shoulder in that overly dramatic "we're totally bros now" way. "Just doing my job. Besides, I get a kick out of blowing up HYDRA's plans."

Clint raised an eyebrow from across the jet. "Yeah, sure, Harry. You're real humble. Next time you blow up something, maybe you should take some notes on how to leave with less explosions."

"Clint, please. If we didn't blow stuff up, how would the bad guys know we were serious?" Harry shot back. "Think of it as... a dramatic exit."

Tony clapped Harry on the back, clearly proud of his ability to make everything sound like a walk in the park. "I see you're already thinking like me, kid. I like it. Now, if I could just teach you how to do it with a little less sarcasm, we'd be golden."

"I'll make you a deal, Tony," Harry said, grinning as he slid into the seat next to him. "You stop trying to put a new gadget in my hand every five seconds, and I'll consider cutting back on the sarcasm."

"I'll take that deal." Tony laughed, the sound rich and confident. "But only because I can't resist the thought of you wielding an Arc Reactor on your chest one of these days."

"Hey, you know what they say. With great power comes great sarcasm." Harry smirked.

Sersi leaned back in her seat, eyes still glinting with the satisfaction of a successful rescue. "I should've known you'd get along with Tony. You two are like... the same person. Just with a different set of powers."

Tony threw his hands up in mock exasperation. "Really? Me? Harry? The same person? That's like saying a dragon and a toaster are the same thing because they both have heat."

"I'm just saying, you two have that whole 'I'm too cool for school' thing going on," Sersi teased, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. "Except, you know, Harry actually saves people."

"Hey! I save people!" Tony protested.

"I saved you from your own ego, didn't I?" Harry smirked.

Ben chuckled softly, and Harry could tell he was starting to relax. Good. They'd made it out, and that's all that mattered right now.

Captain America's voice suddenly cut through the comms, sharp and authoritative. "Everyone, focus. We've still got a long road ahead. Extraction point in five."

Natasha, who had been calmly monitoring the situation from the cockpit, didn't even glance back. "Keep it together, folks. No more explosions for now." She gave Clint a pointed look, clearly warning him to keep his quiver to himself. "And Clint, if you make any more jokes about our imminent death, I'll start making you walk back."

"I would rather not walk," Clint quipped. "I've got a bad knee."

Thor grinned from the back of the jet. "Oh, but I would love a good fight! I am ready for whatever may come next. Bring on the next challenge!" His voice thundered through the cabin, and Harry had to resist the urge to wince at the noise. But it was kind of adorable, in a "Thor is basically a walking stormcloud" kind of way.

"Easy, Thunderstruck," Tony said. "We'll get there when we get there. And we'll deal with whatever's next. Together."

Gilgamesh, who had been very much a 'silent but strong' presence, nodded his agreement. "We've got this. We just need to stay sharp."

Makkari, who was bouncing in her seat with nervous energy, added with a grin, "Oh, you know we've got this. Nothing's too fast for me."

"Tell me about it," Pietro said from the corner. "I'm still waiting to see if you can actually outrun me."

"Challenge accepted!" Makkari signed back, winking.

"Easy, you two. You're not going to run me out of a job," Clint said, crossing his arms. "Remember, I'm the one who's actually a professional."

"Are you though?" Natasha asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Do not start with me, Romanoff," Clint warned, grinning.

As the Quinjet sped off into the night sky, the world around them seemed to grow still. But inside, the team was alive with energy, their bond stronger than ever. And Harry, ever the wildcard, couldn't help but add one last barb as they soared toward whatever chaos was next.

"If we survive this next mission," Harry said with a grin, "we should all take a vacation. Maybe somewhere quiet. Like... Wakanda."

And in that moment, for the first time in ages, there was a collective chuckle, and the tension of the past hours melted away, if only for a second.

"Deal."

—

The Quinjet shot through the sky, cutting through clouds like a hot knife through butter. Inside, the team was still buzzing from the rescue operation, but it wasn't the usual adrenaline-fueled chatter. No, today was different. Today, they were hearing Phastos' story—and it was one of those "you won't believe this" tales.

Phastos sat with his husband, Ben, both of them looking like they'd just been through a warzone. Which, considering their recent kidnapping by HYDRA, was pretty much accurate. Phastos was trying to shake off the tension in his shoulders, but it was obvious that the whole ordeal had rattled him.

"So," Phastos began, taking a deep breath as though he was about to launch into some big monologue in an action movie, "I got this call a few weeks ago. A SHIELD agent, supposedly, asking for my help on a 'top-secret' project. Sounds good, right?"

Ben gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "We both know how this goes. You don't exactly answer the phone for anything 'top-secret' anymore."

"Yeah," Phastos said, rolling his eyes. "So I thought, 'Sure, why not? It's SHIELD. They need my genius to save the world. Spoiler alert: It wasn't SHIELD. It was HYDRA pretending to be them.'"

Harry, who'd been quiet this whole time, couldn't help but smirk. "HYDRA? Really? These guys just don't learn, do they? It's like they've got a handbook titled, 'How to Be Evil and Still Get Caught Every Time.'"

Natasha, who had been sitting cross-legged with her arms crossed, looked amused. "I'm with Harry. HYDRA's got the worst luck. They think they can pull this off without someone noticing? Amateur hour."

Phastos gave a tired smile. "You'd think, right? But here's the twist: They had me and my family cornered, trying to get their hands on Eternals-level tech. And I wasn't about to just hand that over."

Gilgamesh, the ever-steadfast mountain of a man, let out a low chuckle. "I'd expect nothing less from you, Phastos. But it sounds like you did a little more than just stall. How long were you under their thumb?"

Phastos shrugged, looking over at Ben with a flicker of pride in his eyes. "Long enough to know I had to be careful. But I stalled them with every bit of tech knowledge I could throw at them. Gave them the bare minimum. Told them I needed more time for... 'calculations.'"

Clint, who'd been quietly inspecting the Quinjet's armaments, chimed in, "I bet you did. I can't imagine you being the 'give up easily' type."

Tony, ever the professional (or, well, as close as Tony Stark gets to being professional), leaned forward with that intense "I'm thinking of a thousand ways to fix this" look. "They must've been real pieces of work. What did they get from you?"

Phastos' face darkened. "Not much. I kept them away from the important stuff. But they were getting closer. If you hadn't shown up when you did..." His voice trailed off, the weight of the moment sinking in.

"Yeah, good thing we did," Tony said, his usual cockiness not quite hiding the relief in his tone. "Because I don't know about you, but I really hate the idea of HYDRA getting their hands on any kind of Eternals tech. Or anything that could make them more dangerous."

Sersi, sitting next to Harry, gave a knowing look. "You're safe now, Phastos. That's what matters. And we'll make sure HYDRA doesn't get any more info from you. We'll shut them down."

"Count me in," Harry added, eyes flashing with determination. "We need to know how they even got this far. We need to track every piece of intel they've stolen—and then burn it to the ground."

Pietro, who'd been silent up until now, grinned. "It's like they just know how to pick the worst targets. First, they go for SHIELD, now they're going for the Eternals. They just don't stop. What's next, trying to hack into my entire wardrobe?"

Wanda, sitting next to him, rolled her eyes with a small smile. "You're not that important, Pietro. But I wouldn't put it past them to try. HYDRA's got a knack for the absurd."

Phastos chuckled lightly. "You don't have to tell me. They were so desperate, they even tried to use our own tech against us. That's when I knew it was game over for them."

Ben nodded, his voice quiet but steady. "And that's when you started playing their game, buying time until help came."

"I did what I had to," Phastos said, his voice gaining strength. "And I'm not about to let them win. Not now, not ever."

Steve, always the steady, grounding force, placed a hand on Phastos' shoulder. "You did good. Now we're here to make sure this doesn't happen again. We've got your back."

Harry leaned back in his seat, his arms folded behind his head as he made a mental note of everything that had just been said. "Yeah, this is just the tip of the iceberg. We need to figure out where they're getting their intel, and why they were so focused on Eternals tech."

"I'm just glad you guys showed up when you did," Ben said, his voice full of quiet gratitude. "It felt like we were stuck in a bad dream."

Sersi shot him a bright smile. "It's what family does. We protect each other."

Kingo, ever the optimist, smirked. "I think they just got themselves on our bad side. And trust me, you don't want to be on our bad side. It's like a movie, only the explosions are real and the villains... well, they're not exactly award-winning material."

Thor, whose mood had been lightened by the conversation, raised a hand. "Aye! And if they dare challenge us again, we will show them the might of Asgard!" He grinned. "And maybe a few well-placed thunder strikes."

Bruce, who had been unusually quiet in the back, finally spoke up. "Let's just make sure no one's overdoing it with the lightning. Last time we had a light show, it... didn't end well."

"Yeah," Clint muttered, "if I never have to listen to Thor yelling For Asgard! again, I'll be a happy man."

The whole team laughed, the tension breaking for a moment, and even Phastos and Ben shared a relieved smile. The Quinjet streaked through the clouds, heading for safety—and for whatever was coming next.

One thing was for sure: whatever it was, they were in it together. And they were going to take down HYDRA, one way or another.

—

The Quinjet had barely touched down when it felt like the entire cabin collectively exhaled a sigh of relief. The weight of their recent mission still clung to them, but the immediate danger was over. HYDRA was, for now, on the back burner, and that, my friends, was a reason to celebrate. Or at least, it would've been if they hadn't all been caught up in the aftermath of what could've easily been one of the most dramatic, slightly chaotic, but ultimately victorious rescues in recent memory.

Once they were all back in Avengers Tower, the buzz of energy didn't stop. If anything, it just turned into a higher-pitched hum of frantic activity. People were everywhere—like ants on a sugar high—suitcases full of gear being moved around, holographic maps flashing with red dots, and the constant whoosh of JARVIS's voice in the background telling everyone to 'calm down, it's only a level three emergency.'

Tony Stark, ever the one to turn disaster into a party, grinned like the Cheshire cat that just ate the canary. He clapped his hands loudly, drawing the attention of the room with all the subtlety of an exploding firecracker.

"Alright, people, we've all survived another one of those 'superhero' days where we kick bad guy butt and look good doing it. But you know what? I think it's time we take a breather before we throw ourselves back into the fire. I'm thinking—"

He spread his arms wide, as if he were about to reveal a huge, earth-shattering secret.

"—a celebration! A good ol' fashioned party to toast our survival skills, the sheer greatness of our team, and the fact that I'm still the best-looking guy in the room."

There was an immediate chorus of groans. Clint, the ever-enthusiastic sarcastic archer, chimed in, rolling his eyes so dramatically it looked like they might get stuck in the back of his skull. "Oh, no, please, Tony, we definitely need to take time off from all the saving the world to admire your charming face."

"That's the spirit, Barton! Now, everyone, drinks are on me." Tony winked, already heading toward the nearest bar, which was definitely not a surprise.

Steve Rogers, who had been quietly observing the whole situation with his arms crossed, sighed. "I suppose a short break wouldn't hurt. But, Tony—" He raised a hand to stop Tony in his tracks, "—don't expect me to be doing karaoke."

Tony waved it off like it was no big deal. "Steve, my friend, you're missing out. You'd be a rockstar."

"Yeah, if the rock is in a cave," Natasha muttered, earning a chuckle from a few of the Avengers. But even she couldn't help but smile at the thought of relaxing for a minute.

As everyone filtered toward the makeshift party area Tony had already set up—because of course he'd been planning this the moment they landed—Harry couldn't help but lean over to Sersi, who was standing next to him, raising an eyebrow as they surveyed the scene.

"You sure this is a good idea?" Harry asked, glancing at Tony, who was already halfway through pulling out a fancy bottle of bourbon.

Sersi just shrugged, a playful smirk on her face. "Maybe Tony thinks it'll help distract everyone from the fact that we almost got killed by HYDRA. He's not known for his subtlety."

Harry snorted. "Yeah, I've noticed. Subtlety is about as foreign to him as a normal conversation."

Sersi laughed, the sound a melodic harmony that rang out like a rare, beautiful note in a song. "I'll take that as a compliment," she said, her voice dropping just low enough that it made the words feel like they were meant only for him.

"Well, it's true. You know, it's nice to see you actually smiling instead of planning the next world-saving crisis," Harry replied, turning just enough to catch the flicker of appreciation in her eyes. The sexual tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, but they both knew the moment wasn't the right one.

Before they could say anything else, Clint sidled up, holding a drink in one hand and a mischievous glint in his eye. "You two got something going on, or is it just me imagining sparks flying in the air?"

Harry shot him a look. "No, Clint, you're imagining things. Unless you're talking about the fireworks from Tony's latest experimental bomb. Then yeah, sparks are flying, alright."

Clint smirked, not even slightly bothered by the burn. "Right, right. Just making sure I wasn't missing out on a new Avengers subplot. I mean, if I'm not here for the action, what's the point?"

At that moment, Tony reappeared, holding two glasses, looking more like a mad scientist than a billionaire genius playboy. He passed one to Steve and the other to Natasha. "Cheers, everyone! To victory, to surviving, and to me, of course."

"I thought we already established you didn't need more celebrations, Stark," Steve said dryly, but he accepted the drink anyway.

"Look, I'm just here for the open bar and to make sure Clint doesn't start another one of his 'who's cooler: Hawkeye or the guy with the magic shield?' debates," Tony said, winking at Clint.

"Don't you start with me," Clint grumbled, his eyes narrowing in mock offense.

As everyone got their drinks and found their seats, the banter continued, laughter echoing off the sleek walls of the Tower. The party wasn't a grand affair—just the Avengers, the Eternals, and a few select others who were clearly enjoying the moment of respite.

Sersi caught Harry's eye once more across the room. Their shared smile was filled with unspoken things, things that might or might not have to wait.

And as Tony launched into yet another ridiculous story about a 'battle' he had fought with a literal vacuum cleaner, Harry couldn't help but think that maybe—just maybe—this life was worth all the chaos.

But then again, life with Tony Stark had a way of throwing the unexpected at you, and Harry was always up for a little chaos.

Let's just say, when HYDRA came knocking again, they better be ready for a fight, because after a night of drinking, teasing, and celebrating survival, the Avengers were even more ready to put their 'plan B' into motion. And plan B was always the best one.

—

Harry and Sersi found a quieter spot in Avengers Tower, away from the chaos of post-battle chatter. The place was alive with heroes celebrating, recounting every detail of their latest victory like they'd just won an Oscar for "Best Heroic Performance in a Battle." But for Harry and Sersi, it was a rare moment to catch their breath—no battles, no monsters, just them, the skyline of New York stretching out in front of them like a sea of blinking lights.

Sersi, usually the radiant force of the room, seemed a little more... grounded. She slipped her hand into Harry's, the soft press of her fingers telling him more than words ever could.

"Thanks for sticking with me through all of this," she said, her voice low, like she wasn't used to feeling vulnerable. "Honestly, I don't know what I would have done if anything happened to Phastos or his family. They mean the world to me."

Harry squeezed her hand, flashing her a smirk that could melt glaciers. "That's what we do, right? We stick together. Besides, I'm not exactly the type to let someone I care about get hurt without doing something about it." He winked. "And, in case you hadn't noticed, I've got a bit of a dragon-slaying reputation. I can handle myself."

Sersi chuckled, the sound warm and easy, before her gaze softened. "I know," she murmured. "And it means more to me than you think."

Their conversation drifted, like a river meandering from the dark waters of battle to the peaceful shore of personal stories. She told him about her Eternals adventures, the ones she rarely shared, and her dreams for the future, a future she wasn't sure was ever going to come but kept hoping for anyway. Harry listened like he had all the time in the world—because he did.

"You know," Sersi said, leaning in slightly with a twinkle in her eye, "I've always thought your dragon form was pretty amazing. I mean, who else can turn into a flying, fire-breathing death machine? Maybe later, you could give me a private demonstration of your... skills?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into that smug, dangerous grin that he knew drove her crazy. "Oh, I think that can be arranged. But I'll warn you, I'm a bit... wild when I let loose."

Sersi's laugh was soft but full of promise. But just as she was about to say something else—probably something flirty that would have made Harry's already smug grin widen tenfold—Sprite decided to make her usual grand entrance. Naturally.

The little trickster popped up out of nowhere, materializing like a ghost with a grin that screamed mischief. "Well, well, well! What do we have here? The lovebirds all cozy and private?" She crossed her arms, practically oozing the kind of sass that could give Tony Stark a run for his money. "Come on, guys. The party's starting. You're gonna miss all the fun if you keep moping over here like a couple of... I don't know, brooding vampires or whatever."

Harry rolled his eyes, but not without a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Lead the way, Sprite," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure the party needs my charm to really get going."

Sersi laughed softly, her eyes glinting with something that made Harry's heart skip a beat. She tugged him along, clearly enjoying the fact that their banter had a way of pulling them closer.

When they rejoined the main group, the atmosphere was pure chaos—and Harry loved every second of it. Thor, as usual, was in the middle of an epic storytelling session, practically shaking the walls of the Tower as he recounted one of his Asgardian battles to a captivated Kingo, who seemed to be hanging on every word like Thor was some ancient myth brought to life.

Meanwhile, Wanda and Pietro were locked in a playfully heated argument with Natasha, who was leaning back against a wall, arms crossed, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. Tony was in full-on 'mad genius' mode, deep in conversation with Phastos, gesturing wildly about some new piece of tech he was already planning to build. And Clint? Clint was, predictably, standing off to the side, nursing a drink while observing the chaos with the weary expression of someone who'd seen it all before.

"Ah, so this is what they call a 'victory party,' huh?" Harry said, raising an eyebrow as he looked around the room. "I'm starting to think I need to upgrade my idea of celebrating. I'm used to a little more explosion and destruction, you know?"

Sersi leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper, but with a certain teasing edge. "Maybe you need to upgrade. But I'm happy with this," she said, letting her fingers brush against his once more.

Harry's eyes sparkled, and he couldn't help but smile. "Oh, believe me, Sersi. This? This is just the beginning."

Just then, Sprite reappeared at Harry's side, snapping her fingers to get everyone's attention. "Alright, alright, enough with the sappy moments," she said dramatically. "We've got to make sure we toast to this victory the right way. So, you two—," she pointed at Harry and Sersi, "—get over here and do something other than gaze at each other like you're the last two humans on Earth, okay?"

Harry chuckled under his breath. "Sure thing, Sprite. I'd hate to disappoint." He followed Sersi toward the center of the party, where the group was already gathering around for a toast. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to it—because with this crew, you never knew what kind of chaos (or fun) was going to happen next.

And as for Sersi? Well, he was pretty sure that this was the kind of victory party that might end with even more than just a toast. But hey, one step at a time, right?

"Here's to us," Tony called out, raising his glass, "the people who keep saving the world, one insane mission at a time."

Harry raised his glass with a grin. "Cheers to that," he said, eyes meeting Sersi's across the room, feeling the unspoken connection between them spark to life once again.

Yeah, this was a party worth remembering.

---

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