• •
  The quiet hum of the studio breakroom turned pitch-black in spirit the moment the news banner scrolled across the screen.

When the world saw Jimmy Fallon crying say that in the news:

"Breaking news Actress known from Marvel Y/N Y/L/N...

Y/N died in the morning in a car accident"

Chris Evans stood frozen, his hands pressed hard against his mouth as he stared at Jimmy Fallon’s tearful face on the broadcast, shaking his head in absolute denial. Beside him, Scarlett Johansson set her mug down with trembling hands, pulling her knees to her chest as tears flooded her eyes. Robert Downey Jr. took off his glasses, sinking his face into his palms while his shoulders shook with silent, heavy heaves. Nearby, Chris Hemsworth sat slumped on the edge of a sofa, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt, staring blindly ahead as Mark Ruffalo covered his face, openly sobbing into his hands. Jeremy Renner pulled his cap down low over his eyes, leaning heavily against the wall, unable to look at the screen as the horrifying reality settled in.

The grief rippled outwards through every corner of the room. Tom Holland paced back and forth near the doorway, clutching his phone in disbelief until he finally gave up, leaning against Zendaya, who wrapped her arms around him tight as tears silently streamed down her own face. Elizabeth Olsen sat stunned on the rug, her hands pressed over her heart as if trying to hold herself together, while Paul Rudd sat beside her in complete, uncharacteristic silence, wiping away tears with the back of his sleeve. Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie, usually inseparable and full of banter, stood side by side in stunned stillness, Anthony resting a heavy, supportive hand on Sebastian's trembling shoulder.

Across the room, the Guardians and newer members of the franchise were equally shattered. Chris Pratt sat with his head in his hands, unable to speak, while Zoe Saldana quietly wept, pulling a devastated Karen Gillan into a close embrace. Brie Larson covered her mouth to muffle her cries, leaning on Samuel L. Jackson, whose solemn, sorrowful gaze remained fixed on the floor. Benedict Cumberbatch stood motionless by the window, jaw tense, silently taking in the tragedy. Florence Pugh and Hailee Steinfeld sat side-by-side on the armrest, clinging to each other in tears, while Iman Vellani sobbed quietly into her hands, completely heartbroken.

The room, once filled with light, laughter, and years of shared memories, dissolved into a heartbreaking silence—broken only by soft weeping and the faint, somber sound of the television broadcast echoing across the room.