[hr][hr][center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/SR52k84p/54b4e63d635603b22d80f72a4ba2be54.png[/img][hr][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019a36d3-4be9-7616-9783-4fa7574f5e95.webp[/img][hr][@Morose][@Achronum][@Blizz][@Forsythe][@Kirah][@PatientBean][@Trainerblue192][hr][h3][color=AC3EFF][b]Morning - Thr. December 16th, 2038 - New Orleans, Louisiana[/b][/color][/h3][/center][hr]	

This was not supposed to happen. 

The Contest of Champions was a universe-renowned competition, showcasing the best and brightest upcoming superheroes. It eclipsed most sporting events in popularity, with some of its critics referring to it as a socially acceptable Hunger Games. It came with fame, brand deals, attention from famous superheroes, a million dollar cash prize, Fortnite skins - everything a young hero could want. And while in the past its matches had been more complicated, from convoy escorts to rescuing hostages and disaster mitigation, this year’s tournament had been more simple - asking one team to dominate the other, to fight to the last hero standing. 

There was no scenario in which [i]this[/i] was supposed to happen. 

No scenario in which two mutant boys from opposing teams would merge together, the boundaries becoming blurred where one ended and the other began, their souls losing consistency and structure and resulting in… [i]this[/i]. 

A newborn cosmic Entity, flexing Its muscles for the first time. 

At least Leah had fixed the arena. A sudden display of teamwork and camaraderie as the competitors worked together to free their opponents from the rubble wasn’t good for ratings. 

[center]✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩[/center]

The Young Avengers left on the field had no experience when it came to Genosha. Their only mutant members were the twins, Wiccan and Speed - Speed was in medical, and while Wiccan’s body was still suspended in the air above the arena, his soul had been fused into the Entity. Hulkling and America’s own interests tended more towards the cosmic side of things, whereas Patriot focused on super soldier programs of the past. Cassie was more into street level threats. They were out of their depth. So as Leah explained that she had an idea of what was going on - and as Andy added that she knew how to stop this - they were relieved and complied. 

“A god…?” Patriot muttered, incredulous. Gods were a dime a dozen in his world, but he had a feeling that the Entity meant something more than someone like Thor. He felt incredibly overwhelmed, but forced those feelings deep down. If the plan was to have Danni join the Entity and break it apart from the inside… Well, he could use some encouragement - maybe even some inspiration. “HotShot? You look hot as shit right now. You’ve got this, man,” Patriot called out. 

“Y-yeah! You can do this! But you don’t have to, if you don’t want to, we can figure something else out?” Cassie encouraged. 

Hulkling hated this. He hated how powerless he felt. He hated that he didn’t know what he could do, that his boyfriend’s body was floating lifeless, and that his soul apparently had been merged into this thing. He flew forwards, gently taking Billy’s body into his hands. He didn’t know if the Entity would care to keep Billy safe. He wasn’t going to risk it. This wasn’t how today was supposed to go. It was supposed to be a fun sparring match - not… not existential dread. “Billy… If you can hear me, baby, come back,” Hulkling pleaded quietly. “Don’t choose this instead.”

“Yeah - if you don’t undo this, I’m going to kick the shit out of you, Billy!” America chimed in - her tone clearly playful, with only an undercurrent of threatening. 

The Young Avengers weren’t the only ones finding themselves on the knife’s edge, yet somewhat powerless to take further action. Percy’s stomach churned. That… that was Dorian? His boyfriend had merged with Wiccan - with [i]Billy Maximoff[/i]... He didn’t… He didn’t like that. He didn’t like that at all. His face felt hot, his hands clammy, and for a moment he felt like he was going to vomit on galactic television. He knew that his boyfriend loved him. He knew… that his boyfriend had crushed on Billy first. And… Gods, he wanted a drink. He wanted to steady his racing mind, especially as Andy explained that… that this was a choice… and the - and Dorian, he… He was extending a hand out to Danni, and he didn’t… 

Percy stumbled backwards slightly, the world feeling like it was spinning, like he couldn’t breathe. Usually his emotional response was anger, but this… This he couldn’t… Didn’t… He kept on moving backwards, as his body threatened to betray him - and even if he had been able to open his mouth to speak, he wouldn’t have known how to communicate - he was used to having every language at his finger tips, and now they were all gone, and Dorian… Dorian was choosing other people and… It was a choice… That was all Percy could focus on… That this was a choice. 

He didn’t want to be here anymore. He wanted to leave. Blue energy crackled around his body as instinct kicked in - instinct that he couldn’t fight - as he teleported as far as he could from the stage, reappearing somewhere in the stands. 

As for April… She didn’t know what to do or what to say. Danni was clearly hurt - a pain that she couldn’t help but wince at as he expressed. This blowup was a long time coming. The sort of blowup they’d danced around throughout the school year so far, tiptoeing up to the conversation but jumping away from it at the last second. She just sort of stood there, at a complete loss. Billy and Dorian had willingly combined together to make an Entity… why? [color=42A9FF]”So um… Are you two… or one… still wanting to compete? Or like… what was the end goal here… do you have a name you want us to call you by?”[/color] she rubbed the back of her neck, feeling incredibly awkward. 

Would the referees tell them they had to get on with it? Was this somehow against a rule? If Danni went to join the hive mind, would he be able to encourage them to end it? Would they ever end it? Had she just lost her best friend to… whatever this was? Dorian wanted to win the contest more than anyone, more than anything - so… there had to be a reason behind this. Had something gone wrong? Had something gone right? Should they take advantage of the pause to attack the Young Avengers, knock them out while there were just four of them on the field? Was she going to lose Danni too? She saw Percy teleport, but not where he’d reappeared - did he have a plan? Some other way to fix things… if they needed fixing?

She shivered, scared, and looked towards Sabine. She didn’t know if Sabine could hear her thoughts all the time, or just when focused on them, but… [i][color=42A9FF]If they don’t want help… I think they need help…[/color][/i]

[hider=Notes]Patriot: 
First action is using Battle Plan on Danni, giving Danni advantage on all actions next turn 
Held actions are Brace for Impact & Shield 2, in case attacked 

Stature:
First action is using Inspiration on Danni, giving Danni advantage on all actions next turn. 
Held actions are Shrinking Dodge if attacked.

America:
First held action is to grab onto the Entity if it attacks
Second held action is to do Multiversal Travel Together with the Entity if it attacks

Hulkling:
Held actions are to protect Billy’s body[/hider]