You ever been an Avenger before? It's a special kind of famous. Like, imagine being a celebrity but not only are you judged for what type of foods you eat, or small breed dogs you adopt from a no-kill shelter, but you're also constantly being judged for what crimes you stop or which villains you throw in jail. Don't worry I've got a story for this.
I was accused of being a nazi by a local blogger (which totally isn't a real job btw) because I threw Magneto in jail while also having blonde hair and blue eyes. What the hell, right? He was using his powers to pry open high security doors at a large bank in lower Manhattan. Yeah; I'm gonna stop him, obviously, not because I think I'm the superior race (I'm Irish if anyone bothered to ask) but because that's my bank and Magneto doesn't deserve all twenty-three dollars in my account. It turns out he was stealing the money to fund a concentration camp memorial in the lower east side. So yeah, I kinda feel like a nazi now.
I'm not an Avenger, more like a Defender really, maybe more of a West Coast Avenger, but less of a joke, y'know? No offense to them, Mr. Immortal makes a hell of a 'Grateful Dead' but no one is going to take him seriously over a mixed drink. I'm a product of Stark Industries technically. I can manipulate light and technology to my own benefit. (Thanks Tony, I now have all the powers of an Amazon Echo). My name isn't too important, everybody calls me Beacon now. Like 'A Beacon of Hope!' or 'The Beacons are lit! The 616 calls for aid!' I was born Sawyer, my mom was a huge fan of terrible literature, which is half the reason I am where I am.
My sister has the same problem. Growing up she was very into Norse mythology and when Thor turned out to be real, she needed to meet him. Fionna was like a sick Belieber when she found out. Nothing was going to keep her from meeting the man of her dreams. She ended up bringing me along to New York to meet him and bada-bing bada-boom now I have super powers.
Alright, I know that's not how superhero origin stories go. There's gotta be a tragic backstory, then the underdog rises up and fights an evil version of themselves and wins the respect of everyone who doubted them. My life unfortunately is not a phase one movie.
Well, so it goes like this. My sister saved up a ton of money, and used my school credentials, to get us into a tour of Stark Tower. Since she'd used my smarts to get us in, I was dragged along for the ride. I got curious when I went for a bathroom break and ended up in one of Mr. Starks labs. (Okay so I have a past of breaking into places I didn't belong, ask the varsity boys lacrosse team, insert sexy growl) Well long story shorter, I got caught in-between one of those blue beams that Tony is usually shooting all over New York. However, this beam was a little different, a little more 'experimental' and instilled me with some sort of electro-magnetic field pumping through my veins. It's all very need-to-know as Mr. Stark puts it, I think he's just afraid of being sued. I'll just say it's left me with the ability to slightly control technology and somehow shine lights out of my eyes, like a less cool Scott Summers. So here I am, getting called in when even Luke Cage (insert another sexy growl) won't show his face.
It was the Avengers annual Christmas party, my first one, but I had heard that they were legendary. The legend being that they were boring as hell. I hadn't exactly dressed for the occasion, which wasn't helping how nervous I was about this. My clunky grey boots, black jeans, and over-sized olive green sweater weren't going to impress anybody. Mr. Stark certainly wasn't impressed when he had picked me up. He had walked me in, and almost immediately ditched me, so I was left to fend for myself. I'd read up on some of these characters but that didn't mean they were comfortable with me barging in on their holiday. An almost empty table nearby invited me in. When I'd sat myself down one of the two occupants turned immediately to me and I realized why nobody was sitting here.
"Ooh shiny new Avenger bait!" Deadpool. "So are you like Stark's illegitimate child, or is it more like a sex slave kind of thing? Oh! Are you a clone, but like-" He scooted over seamlessly and wrapped an arm around me. "-a sexy clone?"
"Wade, leave her alone. It's hard enough being a bi-product of Tony's dumb shortcomings. She doesn't need you hassling her." I didn't immediately recognize her. Her long thin face had a kind smile placed upon it and her ginger hair, falling down in long waves to her chest, complimented it. She extended a hand across the table and I took it. "Trish Walker, Hellcat." We shook briefly. Her hazel eyes flashed under the chandeliers light. I hid behind my four-dollar sunglasses. That's another thing about my powers. I have to wear sunglasses at night, so I can, so I can see. Because at night my eyes are far more sensitive, and I'll end up burning through a bar stool if I look at a neon light too quickly. Yeah, so I'm more like Cyclops than I'd like to admit. Hopefully people like me more.
"We should have to wear nametags in this place." I joked. "Though I suppose some secret identities would be compromised." My eyes caught Spider-Man, fully clad in his costume. I swooned slightly, the spandex didn't leave much to the imagination.
Deadpool was still seated next to me. He followed my gaze. "What! You crushing on my man Spidey?!"
I straightened up and looked to him. "What? No! I'm just saying, some of us don't want each other to know where we pick up our dry-cleaning." I tucked my hand under my chin and leaned on the table. A few more people joined us. They got comfortable with each other before noticing I was sitting with them.
A taller brunette man, who had sat down on my other side, took my hand and kissed the knuckles on it gingerly. I blushed, disgusted at how forward he was being.
"Simon." He stated, as if I'd asked. "But, most people call me Wonder Man." I nodded and smiled slowly, feeling myself trapped between him and the mercenary.
"I'm, uh, Beacon." I felt Deadpool's mask brush my ear.
"If you stay still he won't be able to see you. His vision is based on movement." He whispered.
I stifled a laugh and turned back to the rest of the table. She-Hulk. Holy friggen She-Hulk was sitting at my table. I caught her eye and she stood, I followed suit and we shook hands from across the table. Her strong grip made my hand ache slightly.
"It's so nice to meet you!" She stated sweetly. "I had heard Tony had a new protégé, how's that going, working over at Stark Tower?"
"You ever been a super-powered coffee runner before?" I asked sarcastically, then chuckled, realizing I was being a little bitter. She and Trish laughed uproariously. Trish pointed to me.
"Oh yeah, I know all about working with Tony." She sipped at her drink. "Least he hasn't shipped you off to Alaska yet!"
"Oh, wah girlfriend, are you gonna cry about that forever?" Asked a shorter woman with even shorter black hair as she strolled over. Trish stuck her tongue out.
The girls laughed while the other woman joined us. "Beacon, I presume. I'm Jubilee." The former X-Men stated matter-of-factly. "Tony hasn't shut up about you all night." She rolled her eyes, nodding her head back toward the head table where Stark, both Captain Americas, one Captain Marvel, and Black Widow were seated. I think I even recognized Black Panther without his mask, but I couldn't be sure.
"Does everyone know about me?" A pit opened in my stomach. There was nothing more unnerving than not being able to introduce myself. Before being a guinea pig for Mr. Stark I was a very private person, and now I'd done two interviews with Vanity Fair, one with the Bugle, and about a gahzillion for every local paper and -ugh- blogger.
Everyone exchanged looks. "Oh honey." Jubilee cautioned me. "The only secrets Tony Stark keeps are his own."