MARVEL: TOAA

"Quiet!" John Lang roared with a devilish tone, immediately silencing the crying children.

"To put it simply," John Lang began, "there's an evil black cloud in the sky that wants to eat you—bones and all. But I'm here to protect you from being devoured. I'll give you food and teach you skills, so that one day you'll be strong enough to defeat that evil black cloud yourselves."

The children's wide eyes betrayed their mix of fear and wonder. "You've all heard stories about superheroes, right? Well, you're the superheroes I've chosen. And superheroes don't cry."

Under John Lang's persuasive words, the children's tears turned to determination. Soon, they were competing to be the "hero captain." Their earlier fear of Ravion, who now looked like an oversized middle-aged man, was replaced with admiration.

One child, however, didn't join in. The ten-year-old girl from before approached Ravion with calm determination. "Who are you? And where is this place?"

The girl's maturity was far beyond her years. John Lang was intrigued. Despite her youth, she radiated a resilience uncommon in children her age.

John Lang peeked into her memories and learned her name was Reina Dane. She was an orphan and a skilled thief who had stowed away on the cruise ship to evade capture. Yet, despite her criminal past, her heart brimmed with hope and courage.

"Which thief," John Lang mused, "would risk their safety to shield strangers? Reina's no ordinary child."

Ravion, sensing John Lang's thoughts, adjusted his appearance further. His metal frame shrank, clothes formed over his "skin," and soon, he resembled a rugged yet kind middle-aged man.

"My name is Zhang Ruida, but everyone calls me Ravion. This," he gestured to the infant in his arms, "is John Lang. He gave me my name."

"Hello, Reina," John Lang said telepathically.

Reina's eyes widened. "You can talk? And—how do you know my name?"

John Lang chuckled. "I'm not a monster, just someone with superpowers—like mind reading and telepathy. Relax, you're safe here."

Reina took a deep breath, her maturity allowing her to accept the strange reality. "Okay. Given what I've seen today, I suppose I can roll with this."

Ravion explained the situation to her, detailing the existence of the void and their need to stay hidden from the malevolent entity hunting them.

Reina frowned, looking at the other children playing behind her. "This feels cruel," she said. "Why only save ten of us? Why not ally with the Avengers? They could help."

Ravion sighed. "I wish I could save more, Reina, but I have limited resources. I can only ensure the survival of ten children."

Though sympathetic, Reina was resolute. "I understand, but that doesn't mean I agree."

Ravion admired her determination but didn't argue further. He set to work creating a shelter for the children. Using his laser vision and telekinetic abilities, he dug a subterranean hideout, reinforced it with scavenged metal, and built rooms for each child. He even crafted toys—like indestructible metal Barbies—to comfort them.

In the void, time had no meaning. Without the sun, moon, or stars, they relied on Ravion's internal clock and their instincts to establish a daily routine.

For three days, life in the shelter was peaceful. But soon, the novelty wore off, and suppressed emotions erupted. The children began clamoring to go home, desperate to reunite with their parents.

Their cries and pleas left Ravion at a loss for how to console them. At that moment, an unexpected intrusion shattered the fragile calm.

"Boom!"

The shelter's ceiling exploded, debris scattering everywhere. Thor and Captain America landed through the hole, weapons drawn.

"Children, come with us!" Steve Rogers called.

The kids lit up with joy at the sight of their idols. Shouting names like "Thor" and "Cap," they eagerly ran toward them.

Reina, clutching John Lang tightly, stepped out of her room just as Ravion emerged from the rubble.

"Kid, stay away from that monster!" Thor warned, Mjolnir at the ready. "Come here—we'll protect you!"

Iron Man descended next, followed by Hawkeye and Black Widow. Surveying the scene, Tony Stark raised his palm, blasting a hole in the shelter's wall to create an escape route.

"Barton, Natasha, get the kids out of here!" he ordered.

As Hawkeye and Black Widow led the children to safety, Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America stood ready to face Ravion.

"Ravion isn't a bad guy! Don't hurt him!" Reina pleaded, positioning herself between Ravion and the Avengers.

Iron Man scoffed. "Kid, that giant tin-can kidnapped you and your friends. Don't tell me you're siding with him. What's next? You start calling him Dad?"

Reina glared. "I'm an orphan," she snapped.

Tony blinked. "What?"

Jarvis chimed in. "Sir, her name is Reina Dane. She is indeed an orphan and has a police record as a petty thief. Her presence on the cruise ship was unregistered."

Tony crossed his arms. "Oh, great. A criminal. Look, kid, no offense, but I don't make exceptions for thieves—even underage ones."

"Hey," Captain America interjected, "we don't harm children, no matter their past."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Relax, Cap. I'm just scaring her a little. It's called strategy. Ever heard of it? Thor, back me up here."

Thor hesitated. "Actually, I'm with Cap on this one."

"Of course you are," Tony muttered. "Why did I even ask?"

Thor leaned toward Steve and whispered, "Was that a compliment?"

"No," Steve replied.

Thor sighed. "Figures."

Meanwhile, Reina looked up at the Avengers. "You don't understand," she said. "Ravion saved us. He's been protecting us from that evil black cloud you're so afraid of. He's not the enemy."

Iron Man, unmoved, raised his hand. "Kid, step aside. Adults are talking."

But Reina refused to move, standing firm in front of Ravion. The tension thickened, as the Avengers prepared for battle—not realizing that Ravion wasn't going to fight back.

And in the void above, the shadow of Alioth loomed closer, its malevolent presence stirring once more.