Inside Avengers Mansion

It was an early January morning in the brick stone home of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The base, that many of the Avengers had taken residency in, had become known as Avengers Mansion. It was a quiet morning, which was very rare in the home of these heroes.

Steve Rogers made his way down the stairs. His mood one of dread and discomfort. He dreaded another day of pretending like everything was ok. Of hoping that no one had heard him kicking and screaming as he relived the nightmare of his best friend, Bucky Barnes, dieing before his eyes. He felt uncomfortable because he didn't belong in the twenty first century. He felt like a relic most of the time when having every day conversations with the rest of the Avengers. He could never add anything to the conversation when Hawkeye would talk about Baseball, or the group talked about what kind of music they liked, and Steve still had not figured out what a 'lady gaga' was. Most of the time he would quietly sneak away and find a private place to dig into a book and listen to his old Bing Crosby records until he was called upon for another mission.

He had been living at the Avengers Mansion for nearly three months now; since the team had first taken up residency in Tony Starks home. Before that he had stayed on the SHIELD Helicarier, taking up one of the spare quarters that Nick Fury had offered him. What other choice did he have? He had woken up nearly seventy years out of his time. He had lost his closest friend, Bucky, in the same explosion that had sent him into the icy waters, and the woman he loved perished in a battle shortly before that.

Nick Fury was the only person who he recognized. They had battled side by side on a few mission during World War 2. Nick had change though. He became harder, more secretive, and very deceptive. Not only had Steve lost the people in his life but the world had moved on without him.

His favorite baseball team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, were now in LA and the city was now home to something called a Met. The city had changed in scope, it had become much more massive then he would have ever dreamed of during the forties. But most importantly the people had changed. Some things for the better, such as the equality rights that had come about, but some things were much worse.

Steve walked into the kitchen, dressed in his gym clothes, and saw Tony sitting at the table working on his computer. "You're up early. I thought the mornings might be a hard time for you…you know after throwing one of your parties." Steve said as he reached into the cupboard and pulled out a tall, clear glass.

Tony's eyes moved across the computer screen, his facial expression almost ignoring Steve's comments. "I've got too much work to do to spend all day sleeping in. You know…upgrading my armor, running a multi billion dollar company, keeping up my playboy stature, and I even find time to read the news every once in a while." He said in a schmuck tone.

"Is that what you're doing? Reading the news?" Steve asked while pouring himself a glass or orange juice.

"Yes, Steve. This is how those of us who don't refer to I Love Lucy as a new TV series get our information. I mean for god's sake how did you guys use to watch porn back in your day?" He said sarcastically.

"Watch what?" Steve said baffled. Not hearing what he said.

"Forget it. You can use the computer to do almost anything. You should try it out. Maybe we'll even make you a twitter account."

"I don't know what a twitter is but I prefer to read my news the old fashioned way, from a news paper." He replied before chugging his glass of orange juice.

"Yeah well while you're stuck in the past I'm reading about how senator Pond plans to send this country down the dump." Tony said, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Timothy Pond? The man running for President? What makes you think he'll mess up our country?" Steve asked while putting a piece of bread into the toaster.

Tony's right eyebrow rose in surprise. "Are you kidding me? Just look at his voting record."

"I did in fact. He seems like he's very much in support of civil rights." He said calmly as the toast popped up, finished cooking.

"Have you see the kind of dirt they've dug up on this guy?" Tony asked. His tone becoming a bit irritated.

"I've seen the rumors that have been stated. A lot of them from disgruntled ex-employees. How many times has the media printed false rumors about us?" Steve said as he reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a jar of Smuckers jelly.

"Are you kidding me? What about the fact that he wants to get rid of SHIELD and take the US troops out of every country we have bases stationed in?" Tony said turning his chair around to finally look and see Steve.

"He has a different way of protecting the US interests. He just wants the troops to protect us from home. And I like his idea of shrinking the Federal government. It has too much power as it is." Steve said as he spread strawberry jelly over his wheat toast.

"Steve! Don't buy into this bull about how a big government is evil. We can find things out through messages sent over the internet, pick up on threats before they happen. Look at how dangerous the world is. It needs someone to protect it."

"I agree, but it has to be done without invading on the rights of others. I'm not saying that I agree with everything that Pond says or supports. But I am against personal liberties being taken away, people given power that goes against what the constitution grants them, and officials having the authority to call out assassinations without giving someone a chance at trial. Are you telling me you're ok with someone having the power to have a US citizen killed just because they believe that they MIGHT be a threat?" Steve had dropped the toast onto the plate by now and looked at Tony with a sharp look of defiance.

"Steve, look at his party. I've voted for them in the past to help my own interests but look at what they've done in the last ten years. Are you telling me that you're a-" Tony said before being cut off.

"You're missing the point. It's not about the party. It's about the individual. I'm neither a Democrat or a Republican. I support the constitution and what it stands for. To be honest not only do I not stand by either party but I don't trust either one of them. Candidates are controlled by whichever big company supports them and I think that it's a shame that someone who was suppose to…"

Just as Steve was about to continue on with his political rant the beautiful, red haired, super spy, known as the Black Widow, entered the room, dressed in her cat suit uniform, in a hysteric frenzy.

"Steve! Tony! Come quick. We have a situation. Fury is on line one. He says it's urgent." Natasha said speedily in a heavy Russian accent, before she quickly left the room.

Steve and Tony looked at each other and then followed Natasha towards the Avengers main communications room.

AVENGERS COMMUNICATION ROOM

The purple clad archer of the group was seen groggily entering the Avengers Communication room. Already inside were Captain America, Iron Man, Giant Man, who was at his normal height of 5'11, Wasp, and Black Widow. On the giant computer screen was the head of the peace keeping organization, SHIELD.

"There's gonna be hell to pay for getting me up this early. So what's all the commotion about?" The skilled bowman asked as he entered.

"Shhh. Quiet, Clint. Fury's briefing us." Wasp says as she turns to him with her index finger over her mouth.

"As I was sayin'; Magneto attacked a US senator here in New York City and has put him on display for the world to see." Fury said over the computer screen.

"Which senator?" Giant-Man asked.

"Presidential hopeful, Timothy Pond." Fury answered.

"Huh, speak of the devil." Tony said as he turned and looked at Steve.

"We received a threat that a group of mutants were going to attack the senator so we attached SHIELD personnel to his security team." Fury stated.

"Why didn't you call us before then? If you would have given us a heads up…" Tony said before he was cut off by Fury.

"I didn't think it was your line of expertise so I called in a group more qualified." Fury said unapologetically.

"Not our line of expertise? Who else is more experienced with battling super villains?" Cap asked, upset that they had not been called in beforehand.

"These aren't just bad guys with super powers. They're mutants, so I called in my own mutant group." Fury said. Then an image of the X-Men was shown on the screen. Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, Angel, and Wolverine are shown attacking Magneto. "Our SHIELD agents were able to hold Magneto off long enough for the X-Men to show up…but it was a trap." Magneto is shown defeating the X-Men in combat. "He expected them to show up and had a battle plan. They've all been captured…we're not sure if any of them are still alive or not." He said grimly.

"I can't believe it." Wasp said, her hand covering her mouth.

"Is Senator Pond still alive?" Hank Pym, also known as Giant Man, asked.

"He appears to be, but were not sure for how much longer." Fury said.

"Glad I wasn't planning on voting for him." Hawkeye said light heartedly. Natasha then smacked him on the back of the head. "Heyyy! What? I was joking!"

"Magneto has quarantined the entire block off. Any attempts to get past his barricade has been met with force. We've sustained a lot of injuries trying to get to the senator. We need your help." Fury said dryly.

"Do we know what Magneto's motivation was for targeting this senator? Maybe he supported the Mutant Registration Act?" Hank asked.

"No he's strongly against it. That's why it was so odd that Magneto targeted Pond. Our guess was that it was because he's a potential Presidential candidate. Now it looks like he just made a big enough target to lure the X-Men into his trap."

"But that doesn't explain why he's still holding the senator." Cap said, pondering why Magneto would still be at the crime scene.

"You know, he could be waiting on someone else to appear." Wasp said, moving towards the computer screen.

"He's got the X-Men, who else could he want?" Tony asked.

"Well he hasn't seen his kids in a while, right?" Wanda said sheepishly.

"Wanda and Pietro. That's right. When's the last time they spoke to Magneto?" Tony asked.

"Not since they betrayed their father and helped the X-Men. Fury took them on as SHIELD agents right after that." Hawkeye said.

"Yes. It was either that or be tried as terrorists. That's the ultimatum Fury gave us." Quicksilver said walking into the room. His sister the Scarlet Witch was walking beside of him.

"You think our father has done all of this to lead us to him?" Wanda asked. Her voice shivered and Captain America could see the guilt that she felt in her eyes.

"We don't know that yet. This is all speculation." Cap quickly pointed out.

"Well whatever his reasons I need your team in New York, NOW! If something happens to the senator then we're gonna have a political disaster on our hands." Fury said impatiently.

"We're on our way, Fury. Just tell your agents not to get in our way when we get there. Over and out." Tony said before shutting off the computer screen.

"Alright, team, you heard the man. Iron Man, you get the Quinjet fired up. Widow get in touch with Thor and Black Panther. Magneto took down the X-Men, people. This is no joke. We need all the help we can get. Everyone grab your gear and let's move out." Cap ordered.

As the team began to rush to the Quinjet Cap placed a hand on both Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch's shoulders. "Hold back you two. We need to have a word." Cap said to them. The situation was a sensitive one and he was not quite sure how to approach it. They both turned around and face him. Wanda was looking towards the ground, not willing to make eye contact with him. Pietro was a different story. He looked defiantly at Cap. Anger was flaring in his eyes, he seemed to think that he already knew what Cap was going to say.

"Is this the part where you tell us that we're not to come to this fight? Is this where you finally show your true colors Captain and tells us you don't trust us." Pietro said angrily. The young man had known nothing but hate and fear his entire life. As a mutant he had been treated with hostility wherever he and his sister had traveled. Treated horribly simply because they were born different.

"Pietro…calm down. He is our father after all. We can't blame Steven for not wanting us to come." Wanda said sheepishly.

"Stowe that talk you two. Wanda look at me, please." He said as he gazed at her innocent face. She slowly lifted her eyes and they finally made eye contact with one another. "I just wanted to know whether you two are going to be okay. He is your father and no one would blame you if-" He continued before being cut off by the fast talking Quicksilver.

"Forget it, Captain. This is our battle. We're not going to spend our lives hiding from our father anymore. Today he gets what he deserves. Come, sister." Pietro said as he took Wanda by the hand and began to march away. Wanda turned and faced Cap, a look of sorrow covered her face before she turned and walked with her brother.

As the two walked away Steve felt guilty for not being able to say anything else to comfort the two of them. For not explaining to them that they were Avengers now and what happened in the past was just that, the past. Most of all Steve felt guilty for believing that maybe it was best for them to not be apart of this fight.

Aboard the Quinjet

Captain America marched up the stairs of the Quinjet. After his talk with Wanda and Pietro he had run to his locker and quickly put on his uniform and grabbed his shield. He held the handle of his shield tightly as he walked up the aisle of the jet and took his seat in the co-pilots chair.

"Glad that you decided to join us, Cap. If you don't mind we'd like to go and save this senator that you're so desperately wanting to vote for." Tony said as he pressed a button to raise the stairs and close the hangar door.

"Well then let's get moving, soldier." Steve said as he fastened his harness around his waist.

The Quinjet raised high above the roof of Avengers Mansion and then sped off into the sky towards their destination.

"Widow, any luck getting into contact with Thor and Black Panther?" Cap asked as he looked over the navigational chart.

"Thor will meet us at the battle site but Panther is still in his homeland of Wakanda." Widow replied with her militaristic Russian voice.

"That's the problem with having a King of an African village on your team, they're never around when you really need them. I guess I'll be picking up his work load for the day." Hawkeye said. Looking over his arrows.

Wanda looked over at her brother. He sat with his arms crossed and his head held low. Almost like a child who was pouting. "Tell me what you're thinking about, Pietro." Wanda said earnestly.

"It's nothing, Wanda. I just prepare for the upcoming battle." He said emotionlessly.

"You don't think I know when you're lying? You are my brother and I know that you're heart is heavy with doubt. You're unsure of how you will react when you see father again." She said waiting for his reply but he remained silent. "You know I am afraid too. The last time we saw him we betrayed him and ruined his plans. That was the first time that you ever stood up to him…and I know you did so for me. You did not want me to have to live the life that he was leading us down. You did not want me to take the life of another. You saved me, Pietro…but now we must face father again and you are not sure how you will react. You're worried that he will take control over you again…but I know he won't. You have grown so much stronger over these last months. You have become your own man no longer in the shadow of him and the evil's he forced us to do. We have shown that we are good and the world accepts us as heroes now."

"Do they? Do they Wanda? You know what I think? I think they accept us because Captain America tells them to accept us. I think that if not for him then we would not be on this team. I think if the humans had their choice they would lock us up and throw away the key. And even now I sense his faith in us fading. Do you want to know what I'm really thinking, Wanda? I'm thinking that after this mission I will be an Avenger no more." Pietro tells her with the same hatred and fear in his voice that he use to carry when he worked alongside his father.

"Pietro-Pietro you don't mean that…Pietro." Wanda says, begging for him to reply to her. He does not however. He sits silently looking out the window and gazing down upon the city.

The Quinjet flew over the city at great speed. Not much was said during the ride. Although many of them had made jokes before each of them knew they had a hard fight on their hands. Magneto was the most dangerous Mutant terrorist in the world and he had already taken down an elite group of mutants who had trained specifically to do battle against him. They each knew there was a chance that some of them may not make it back alive.

"Alright, so what's the game plan here, Cap? We charge in, hit him all at once?" Tony says, cocky and sure of his plan.

"No. That's how the X-Men fell. We'll hit him in waves. Thor and Giant Man will lead the battle, weaken him and soften him up. Then we'll send another two and another. It'll give each of us a chance to catch our breath and keep coming at him. We'll wear him down and then finish him off together." Cap said as he slid his mask on over his face.

"What are you nuts Cap? Send two at a time against the most dangerous mutant in the world? That's suicide. The X-Men were caught off guard. We're not. We'll have the upper hand. We all hit him at once and we have a better chance at taking him out quickly." Tony replied. Steve could see that the argument that the two of them had had earlier was still lingering.

"How many times has that worked, Tony? Trust me, I've been doing this a lot longer than you." Steve said, raising his voice but still trying to stay rational at the same time.

"No, trust me Steve. This isn't 1945 anymore. It's time to get out of the stone ages. The next thing you're gonna tell us to do is attack him with sticks and rocks." Tony said. Raising his voice.

"Weapons change, Tony, but military strategies-" CRASH! As Steve was trying to prove his point the Quinjet was hit hard by an unknown object.

"What the hell was that?" Tony said checking his computer for an answer.

"While you two were busy fighting you failed to notice that we are flying right above Magneto." Hank said. His irritation with the arguing clearly showing.

"Thanks for letting us know, Hank. Try filling us in without the attitude next time, why don't ya?" Tony said, scrambling to control the Quinjet.

CRASH! BOOM! BANG! The Quinjet continued to get rocked.

"What is he hitting us with!" Tony screamed, demanding an answer. Red flashing lights were now filling the cockpit as the jet shook vigorously from side to side.

"Cars, Tony. He's hitting us with cars…Incoming!" Jan shouted as she looked out the window of the plane.

BAM! BAM! BOOM! CRASH!

The Quinjet was now smoking and a fire had started inside the jet.

"I've lost control of the Quinjet. We're going down and I can't do anything to stop it." Tony shouted over the noise of the beeping alarms going off.

Steve bounced back and forward in his chair. The smoke was beginning to fill his lungs and he could not see straight. The sudden crashes had banged his head against the window. He looked back and could see the uncertainty and fear in his teams eyes.

From the streets the citizens looked up in horror as the flaming jet came streaking downward towards the onlookers. People began to run and scream trying to get out of the way of the oncoming aircraft. It came closer and closer, the smoke filled the air and then suddenly CRASH! The nose of the jet flew into the empty street and the plane exploded on impact.