The *Reality Stone* pulsed in Jordan's hands as the Avengers made their way back to the *Quinjet*. He could feel its power coursing through him—unstoppable, overwhelming. It was a feeling unlike anything he'd ever experienced. With each stone they gathered, the weight of their mission grew heavier. But for Jordan, it wasn't just the mission that was starting to feel crushing. It was the sheer force of the abilities he had inherited, the *Homelander* powers that burned through him like wildfire.
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**Setting: The Quinjet – Alone in Thought**
As the Quinjet sped toward their next destination, Jordan sat alone, staring at the *Reality Stone* in his hands. The Avengers had just won another victory, but Jordan felt no sense of accomplishment. All he could think about was the power he wielded—power that had already changed him, even in this short amount of time.
When he first discovered his abilities, it had been exhilarating. Flying at impossible speeds, seeing through walls, tearing through enemies with nothing more than a thought. It felt like freedom. But now, after each battle, each step closer to Thanos, the toll of wielding this power was starting to sink in.
Every time he used his abilities, there was an aftertaste of darkness. The world around him seemed smaller, more fragile. He could feel it, like a weight pressing on his chest. What was he becoming? He was no longer the kid who had stepped into this battle. He was something else now—something more dangerous.
He could hear footsteps approaching. It was Steve. He always had a knack for knowing when something was wrong, when one of them needed to talk.
"Mind if I sit?" Steve asked, his tone soft.
Jordan glanced up, forcing a tight smile. "Sure."
Steve sat next to him, his eyes looking at the stone in Jordan's hands before meeting his gaze. There was a knowing look in Steve's eyes. He didn't need to ask what was going on. He could see the inner turmoil.
"You've been quiet," Steve said. "Too quiet."
Jordan shook his head, frustration rising. "I don't know, Steve. Every time I use these powers, I feel like I'm losing control. It's like... I'm not sure who I'm becoming anymore. All I see when I look at this stone is the next step in Thanos's plan. The next thing I need to stop. But the more I use these abilities, the harder it gets to tell where I end and the power begins."
Steve didn't say anything for a long moment. He just watched Jordan, like he was trying to understand the weight of his words.
"I get it," Steve finally said. "I understand what it's like to feel like you're losing yourself. But the truth is, Jordan, there's no easy way through this. You've been given abilities that most people couldn't even dream of, but that doesn't mean you're going to become like him—like Thanos."
Jordan looked down at his hands, clenched tightly around the *Reality Stone*. "But what if I am? What if I start to think I'm above everyone else? What if I start... hurting people without even realizing it?"
Steve's voice softened, but there was steel behind it. "You're not the same as him. You've fought too hard to get here. You've seen what true strength is. It's not about the power. It's about what you choose to do with it."
Jordan wanted to believe him, but a seed of doubt had already taken root in his mind. He had seen the way Thanos wielded the power of the stones with a cold, calculating precision. And he had seen how easily the power of the *Reality Stone* had started to twist the world around them.
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**The Burden Grows - A Dangerous Temptation**
As the Quinjet made its way toward the next location, Jordan couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He felt the pull of the *Reality Stone* in his hands, calling to him, tempting him to experiment with its power. What would it feel like to reshape the world? To change things, just for a moment, to see if he could?
His thoughts swirled with possibilities. He had been given a gift—a weapon—and the temptation to use it was growing stronger every day. Could he make the world better? Could he stop the pain, the destruction, just by changing reality for everyone?
But there was a warning in the back of his mind. A voice that reminded him of the very thing that made him different from Thanos. Thanos used the stones to bend reality to his will. Thanos crushed anyone who stood in his way. Jordan had seen it firsthand—the madness that came with unchecked power. The line between saving the universe and conquering it was thin, and Jordan wasn't sure he could keep his balance.
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**Jordan's Training – A Moment of Clarity**
That evening, after the team had returned to the Avengers Compound, Jordan sought out the one person who might be able to help him regain control—Doctor Strange. Strange had dealt with powerful, reality-warping magic before. If anyone could guide him, it was the Sorcerer Supreme.
Jordan found him in the library, deep in concentration, surrounded by ancient tomes.
"Doctor Strange," Jordan called, his voice hesitant.
Strange looked up, his eyes sharp. "Jordan. I was wondering when you'd come. What's on your mind?"
Jordan hesitated before stepping closer. "I can't control it. The power—it's too much. Every time I use it, I feel like I'm losing myself. The *Reality Stone* is... tempting. I don't know what to do anymore."
Strange raised an eyebrow, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something in his eyes. "The *Reality Stone* is one of the most dangerous artifacts in the universe. It warps the very fabric of existence. But the greatest danger is not the stone itself—it's the one who wields it. You must learn to control it, or it will control you."
Jordan's heart sank. He had feared that this would be the answer.
"You have power, Jordan," Strange continued, his voice calm yet filled with gravity. "But that doesn't mean you should wield it recklessly. The mind is a fragile thing. It's easy to become consumed by what you can do, rather than remembering why you're doing it in the first place."
Jordan clenched his fists, staring down at the ground. "But what if I can't control it? What if I become... like him?"
"Then you'll have to keep fighting, every day, to remember who you are." Strange's voice softened, but his words were firm. "Remember that power is not your enemy. It is your choices that define you."
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**The Return to the Mission**
Later that night, as Jordan lay in bed, the weight of the conversation with Doctor Strange pressed on him. He thought about what Strange had said: *it's your choices that define you.*
The mission had never been more urgent. Thanos was out there, and every moment they wasted, he got closer to finishing his collection. But Jordan knew that if he didn't confront the darkness inside of him now—if he didn't make peace with his powers—he would risk losing everything he cared about.
As the Quinjet prepared to depart for the next stone, Jordan stood in front of the window, gazing out at the vastness of space. The mission was still on, but this time, it wasn't just about stopping Thanos. It was about stopping himself—before it was too late.
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