Welcome to Wednesday's update.

The overwhelming feedback was that I should keep the chapters to a length that worked for me while I can maintain the regular updates, so I'll be sticking with the system I have now.

This story is going great where I'm working on it now. I had the arc I'm at already plotted out, but I realized it was too easy a solution after the build-up. This is Peter going against something huge, and the stakes need to match that. I had a great chat with Gredelina1, and we came up with an arc that's deserving of the story. I think you'll really enjoy it.

Chapter Nine

Steve was no stranger to speeches, and the people he was talking to were his friends, but he was still unusually anxious. He reminded himself that this was basically a mission brief, nothing new, and they were all fairly sure the others were going to agree with them and refuse to sign to Accords. That only helped so much, though. Everything rode on them all being in unison with this.

With all eyes on him, he finished his speech to the room with a firm, "So, you see, we can't sign them."

Sam raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Rhodey, who looked pensive. Tony had said he'd already briefed Rhodey on the situation and had persuaded him not to sign until the changes had been made, but Steve wasn't that confident in his analysis, looking at Rhodey now.

"So, you want us to refuse an order from the United Nations?" Vision asked, his tone inflectionless.

Tony crossed his arms over his chest and sat back on the couch. "Pretty much, Vis, yeah."

"This is because of me," Wanda said quietly. "Because of what I did."

"No," Tony said firmly. "This is not on you, Wanda. It's not your fault."

Wanda looked surprised at Tony's defense, which made sense because Tony and Wanda had been distant before—something that wasn't eased until after Vision's return and Wanda's overwhelming happiness. There were reluctant grudges on both sides. Tony hadn't forgiven her for messing with his mind, and Wanda still remembered the bomb with Stark Industries emblazoned on the side which had destroyed her life.

"This was set in motion a long time ago," Tony went on. "Maybe even before Ultron. We've been judged since the beginning for the damage we leave behind. Hell, people complained about the property damage caused while we were fighting the Chitauri in New York, even though it was caused by saving their lives. Lagos just gave them a good excuse to come after us now. It would have happened anyway. These documents took months to prepare; we just didn't know it was happening in secret."

Wanda nodded slightly, and Vision gave her a tentative smile, which she returned.

"If we refuse to sign, we have more power to create change," Steve said, reminding himself irresistibly of Peter when Fury came to them to demand a press conference. "If we sign now, we'll be bound by them and have no sway to our arguments."

"But if we don't sign, we all have to stand down," Rhodey said. "Essentially, we've got to retire."

"For a while," Tony said quickly. "And there won't be a threat to face for a while now anyway. Hydra is done."

"You got a crystal ball, Tony?" Clint asked. "I wish I'd known. You could have warned us before all this crap started."

"I don't have a crystal ball," Tony said, his lips twitching with a smile, perhaps thinking of his son and what they all knew thanks to him. "But I'm confident nothing is coming."

"How do we know they'll let us make changes?" Rhodey asked. "This isn't SHIELD or the World Security Council. It's the United Nations. It's bigger than us. We answer to them—not the other way around."

"Because they need us," Steve said. "The world is safer with us active."

"And it's not bigger than us," Tony said. "I know you've heard this from me before, but threats are coming. I don't think they're coming yet, but they will come. I've seen what's out there. If they shackle us, they'll have no one to defend them."

"Not unless we all risk getting put behind bars," Clint muttered.

"Which we would all do," Natasha said. "But why should we have to? Tony's right—threats are coming. If we're handcuffed by the Accords, we'll be slower on the defense. I'm not saying we refuse forever. I, for one, am not giving up my human rights to appease the UN, though."

"We can do this," Tony said emphatically. "We've just got to show a united front."

Steve and Tony locked eyes, and Steve nodded his agreement. They needed to be together.

If it was the only way, Steve would sign, but it wasn't the only way. He knew he could face the threat and act as an outlaw when the time came, but he didn't particularly want to live on the run again for two years. More than that, he didn't want the Avengers to fall apart. They were more powerful when they were united as a team. As Tony had pointed out, Thanos would come no matter what, even if the Stones were destroyed, so they had to be together to face him.

Rhodey looked between Steve and Tony, his eyes narrowed, and then he said, "Okay, I want to know what's really going on."

Tony schooled his face into innocence, though his eyes were wary, and said, "I don't know what you mean. We've told you what's going on."

"No." Rhodey leaned forward in his seat, hands planted on his knees. "I know you, Tone, and I can tell something more is going on. What are you hiding from us?"

Tony opened his mouth to answer, closed it again, then looked at Steve, who shrugged. Maybe now was the right time to tell them. They would have to eventually anyway. Vision wasn't going to give up the Mind Stone unless they could give him a good reason, and they would need the full team to persuade Doctor Strange to give up the Time Stone.

"It's time," Natasha said, giving Steve and Tony a significant look.

Rhodey's eyes snapped the three of them. "Time for what?"

Tony took a deep breath. "Okay, yeah, we're not telling you everything, but—"

He cut off as Vision clapped his hands to his head and gave a low groan.

"Vision?" Wanda said, placing a hand on his arm. "Are you okay?"

Vision lowered his arms, revealing his eyes, which were now a shade of yellow. They were the exact same shade as that in Peter's eyes; they were also very clearly pained.

"Peter?" Tony said, rushing towards him and crouching in front of him.

"Who's Peter?" Rhodey asked, and the confused question was repeated by Sam, Clint, and Wanda.

Vision shook his head. "No. Mind. Peter cannot come yet." He drew a deep breath, which seemed to strain him. "I cannot talk long. The connection is weak because Peter is."

"Peter's weak?" Tony asked. "What happened?"

"He expended too much energy, sending you here, and maintaining the connection between Time and yourselves is draining him."

Tony cursed and raked a hand through his hair. "Then tell him to stop."

"He can't," Natasha said. "You know that." She addressed Vision. "Why are you talking to us now? What's wrong?"

Vision squeezed his eyes closed. "We need you to know you are doing it wrong. This is not why…" He started panting, and his hands cradled his head again. "You were not sent here to do this."

"You mean the Accords?" Steve asked. "Are we supposed to sign?"

"No. The Accords do not matter; they're nothing to us. You're doing it wrong, though." He began to shake, the heels of his hands digging into his eyes. "It's not about the UN or Thanos. It's—"

He cut off with a cry, and then his hands dropped, and he slumped forwards. Tony caught him, calling, "Mind? Pete?" but Vision's eyes were closed, and his face was lax. However Peter had achieved it, the connection was lost.

"Vision?" Wanda asked, her tone worried. "Can you hear me?"

Sam approached, reached out as if to take Vision's pulse, then dropped his hand as the reality of the situation settled over him.

Tony stood and moved away, hands raking through his hair, and Steve placed a hand on his shoulder. "Queens will be okay, Tony," he said.

"Did you hear him?" Tony snapped. "Peter's weak, and the strain of connecting us is too much for him."

"He can handle it," Natasha said. "You know he'll live."

"He'll live, but he will suffer," Tony growled. "Dammit, Pete, take us back!"

"Take you back?" Rhodey asked, his voice holding a hint of annoyance as well as confusion.

Before Tony could answer, Vision made a small sound of pain and then straightened up. All eyes snapped to him, and he looked around the room as if stunned to see them with him. His lips parted, and then he said, "Where was I? Who was that boy?"

"You saw Peter?" Tony asked, heart skipping.

"I don't know his name," Vision said. "I was in a room. It looked like your workshop, but there was a table and other people there—one of them was Thor's brother, Loki. The boy told me he was sorry, but he needed to speak to you. He said it wouldn't take long. He had to exchange our places."

"You saw Peter," Tony repeated, now an affirmation, hand on his chest over his racing heart. "How did he look?"

Vision frowned. "Who is Peter?"

"That doesn't matter," Steve said. "How did he look, the kid?"

Vision considered a moment, then said, "Ill. He looked very ill."

Tony made a sound of pain, and Steve squeezed his shoulder. There were voices around them, questions being asked, but Steve's focus was on getting Tony through his crisis. He understood how Tony felt as he was worried about Peter, too, and hated the idea of him suffering, but Peter could not die. He was immortal. No matter what he did, what happened to him, he would live.

Steve was more worried about what they were doing wrong.

Rhodey's voice broke over the others in the room, close to a shout. "Who is Peter, and what the hell is going on?"

Tony raked a hand over his face and said, "Okay. Yeah. Peter… Friday, pull up the yearbook picture of Peter Parker."

The TV behind them switched on automatically, and a picture of Peter appeared. Steve was struck by how young he looked. He'd not seen him this age without the mask. He really was just a kid, only fourteen years old. Steve felt a pang of longing to see him again, to talk to him, to just be close to him.

"That's who I saw," Vision said. "But he looked different—older. And his eyes were…" He shook his head.

Rhodey got to his feet, seemingly without thought, and approached the TV. "That is not possible," he said under his breath. "It can't be!"

Steve was bewildered, but Tony sucked in a breath and laughed inexplicably.

"You've seen him before, haven't you, Rhodey?" Tony asked.

Rhodey nodded, his eyes unfocused and bewildered. "I think I did, or I dreamed of him. It had to have been a dream—that can't have been real."

It clicked into place in Steve's mind, and he realized what Tony was saying. Peter had gone to Rhodey in 2009 when Tony was being held in Afghanistan. Rhodey had told them about it. Peter had reassured him that Tony would be found and that he was about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, one that Rhodey would join him on. He remembered the fondness in Rhodey's eyes as he'd told them about Peter, the awe in his voice as he'd shared the story.

"You too, Sam?" Steve asked, turning to his friend.

Sam was sitting forward in his seat, head in his hands, which were shaking slightly. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I think so anyway."

"Well, I've not seen him," Clint said, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, I guess me and Wanda are missing out on whatever great revelation this is."

"No," Wanda said quietly. "I've seen him, too. He saved Pietro and me when the bomb dropped."

Tony huffed a laugh and locked eyes with Steve, an unspoken message in his eyes—this just got a lot easier. Steve nodded in return.

"Peter came to see you in Afghanistan when you were looking for me, Rhodey," Tony said. "He came to Sam when his wingman was shot down."

"Riley," Sam said, face still hidden. "Was he really there?" He lowered his hands and looked at Steve. "I thought it had to be some kind of stress-induced hallucination because I also remember him not being there, though that's vaguer, more distant—like a dream."

"Sam for me," Rhodey said. "I saw him, I think, but I figured it was sleep-deprivation."

"He was there," Steve said with satisfaction. "He was there for all of you."

"Not me," Clint said. "I've never seen that kid before in my life."

"No, he didn't come to you," Tony said. "He was there for me, Steve, Bruce, Wanda, Sam, and Rhodey, though. He came to all of us at some of the worst moments of our life, when we needed him most, and he helped us."

"That's what Queens does," Steve said, his love for the kid evident in his voice. "Peter, I mean. He helps. That's why we're here; he needs something from us to help others."

"And how exactly do you know this kid and we don't?" Clint asked. "And how the hell did he do this… 'visiting' thing for you guys?"

"Time travel," Tony said, his eyes roving their faces. "Peter can time travel with the Time Stone, and he's made it possible for us to do that, too. We're actually here from seven years in the future,"

Clint snorted, and Sam looked doubtful. Steve thought Wanda believed them, though. She nodded and then said, "He looked different when he came to me. I don't just mean he was older. I mean, he was wearing a strange suit."

Tony nodded. "Show us Spider-Man, Friday."

Peter's face vanished from the screen and was replaced by a shaky video of Peter in a shabby, clearly homemade suit, swinging into the shot and landing neatly in the road, to catch a speeding car before it could collide with a bus. Steve knew how strong Peter was, he'd seen the proof of it in the BARF simulation of him lifting a building from himself, but it was still shocking evidence playing out in front of him.

And that was a fourteen-year-old boy.

"That's Peter Parker," Steve said when it became clear Tony wasn't going to speak, his eyes fixed instead on the looping video of his son. "He's also Spider-Man. A superhero based in Queens. He's one of us. An Avenger."

Clint made a sound of incredulity. "He's just a kid, Steve. No matter what he can do in a suit, none of us would make him one of us."

Tony grimaced and flicked off the TV. "He won't be one of us for two years. And then it's a battlefield commission before what basically amounted to the end of the world as we know it."

"Peter is the one that saved the world," Steve added.

Rhodey moved away from the TV and sat down again, eyes distant.

"Peter is my son," Tony said, voice slightly strained. "Not the result of some careless one-night stand fourteen years ago. He's the son I met, or would have met, three weeks from now when I recruited Spider-Man to fight Steve. He's not my blood, but he is my kid."

"You recruited a child to fight against Steve?" Rhodey asked, eyebrows high.

Tony ran a hand over his face, then sat down again and leaned forward, hands clasped between his knees. "Me, Steve, and Nat are here from 2023. Until you start saying we don't look old enough, it's not our bodies that were sent back. It's our minds, our souls. Peter did it—he sent us here." Seeing Rhodey's incredulous look, Tony went on, a small smile quirking his lips. "Peter is, in 2023, the most powerful person in the universe. He possesses the Infinity Stones, like the one Vision has. They're part of him, and he can do all kinds of things. He's incredible. He sent us back with the Time Stone to do something big."

"But we don't know what anymore," Steve sighed, a hand coming to run through his hair.

"We don't, not really." A hard look came into Tony's eyes. "At least we don't know what he wants us to do. But we know him and what he does. He sent us here to do something for the good of others, and we're going to do that no matter what his plan was. We're not changing our mission for the Stones and Thanos."

Natasha nodded curtly, eyes hard. "Agreed."

Steve shifted uncomfortably. He thought they should do whatever it was Peter wanted from them, whenever they found out what that was. As much as he wanted to stop Thanos and save the world that pain, Peter was the one that had sent them here for his own reasons. Shouldn't they trust him and do what he needed?

"Why were you fighting Steve?" Wanda asked, drawing Steve from his thoughts.

Tony glanced at Steve, frowning slightly in remembrance. "When we lived through these years last time, Steve refused to sign the Accords. So did you, Sam, Clint, and Wanda. Me, Nat, Rhodey, and Vision did sign. We probably could have worked that out, but Bucky Barnes…"

"Is he here?" Steve interrupted.

"Yeah. I brought him back last night, once I was sure Ross wasn't coming again." He paused a moment, then said, "Friday, ask Bucky to come in."

"Bucky Barnes is here!" Sam said loudly. "You found him?"

Steve nodded. "We did—would have in a few weeks after he was framed for a terrorist attack."

The door opened behind them, and Bucky came in, eyes darting around nervously.

Rhodey rounded on Tony, eyes blazing with anger. "Jesus, Tony! Do you know the position you're putting me in with him in the same room?"

Tony clearly hadn't thought about it. He looked downcast but determined. Steve knew it was a risk to expose Bucky to Rhodey, as he was bound by honor, orders, and duty to report Bucky's presence by his rank and occupation.

Steve didn't think he would report it, though. Rhodey had to know there were bigger things to worry about now that he was face to face with the truth about how they were here.

"Hey, Buck," Steve said.

Bucky smiled slightly and nodded. "So, you told them?"

"We did," Tony said. "Not that we had a good reason not to. Mind spoke to us through Vision, and Vision was with the Stones and Peter."

Bucky's wide eyes snapped to Vision, and he said, "Peter! How is he?"

"He's struggling," Steve answered before Vision could, wanting to soften the blow of the truth to save Bucky the fear for the kid he loved. "But he's strong." Bucky didn't look appeased, but Steve spoke up, hoping to distract him. "Rhodey, Sam, and Wanda remember him from before, too, when he went to help them."

"Okay, I need to hear the full story," Clint said. "What the hell is going on, and what are you supposed to be doing? According to crazy-eyes over there, you're doing it wrong."

"You want to tell them?" Tony asked Steve.

Steve nodded, braced himself, then said, "There is a Titan called Thanos, and he's coming for us…"

xXx

As Steve finished, Sam held up a hand and said, "So, there's an alien with a scrotum for a chin that's going to snap his fingers and wipe away half the universe, then you're going on a… What did you call it? Time Heist? You're going to get these Stones and recreate the snap, which will bring everyone back just before an army descends on this place to wipe us out because the alien did his own time jump?"

"Basically, yeah," Steve said.

Sam blew out a breath and slumped back against the cushions.

"And you died, Nat?" Clint asked.

Natasha nodded. "I died, but Peter brought me back."

Tony listened to the other questions being asked around him, giving them only half of his attention. The rest of it was on Rhodey, who was staring down at his lap, brow furrowed. Tony wished he knew what his best friend was thinking, but Rhodey would only talk in his own time, so he didn't bother to push.

Perhaps feeling Tony's eyes on him, Rhodey looked up and smiled slightly. "You've got a kid, huh?"

Tony had decided before that he wasn't going to tell anyone else about Morgan because he didn't want Pepper to know until it happened naturally. He wasn't going to take away the joy of experiencing it first-hand from her by giving her forewarning. Steve, Natasha, and Bucky had all agreed not to mention her either. He could tell them all about Peter, though, and he wanted to.

"Is that the hardest part of this whole thing to believe?" he asked, eyebrow quirked.

Rhodey shook his head. "No, maybe not the hardest, but it's way up there on the list. How did it even happen? I mean, you, a father."

"Pete has this way of…" Tony laughed softly and shook his head as he thought of the kid he loved. "It's too hard not to love him when you know him."

Bucky chuckled and nodded his agreement, and Steve and Natasha were smiling.

"He's a good kid," Tony said. "I don't mean well-behaved—because he's really not. But as a person, he's the best I've ever known. The fact he has the Stones is proof of it."

He wished Mind could have stayed longer, not just because he could have told them what it was he wanted them to do, also because Mind could have explained Peter and his goodness better than him.

"He's worthy," he finished.

"What does that mean?" Wanda asked.

"It means he's a good person in a way very few are," Vision said. "He has pure intentions."

Tony started to laugh, drawing all eyes to him.

"What's funny?" Sam asked, looking annoyed.

Tony calmed slightly, rubbing his chest, and said, "It's just… that's exactly what we're talking about. Peter really is the best of us. Vis had him for what, two minutes, tops, and yet he sees it."

"He was kind to me," Vision said, brow furrowed. "He knew I was confused and thought I might perhaps be scared. He apologized and told me I was safe and would be back here soon with Wanda." He glanced at Wanda and said, "I appreciated knowing that"

Wanda's cheeks pinked slightly, and Tony turned away to hide his smile.

Of course, Peter wouldn't know, but Vision and Wanda were still just friends in this time. Their connection hadn't built to the love that it would be in the future. Judging from the look on Vision's face, however, he already felt more than friendship; Wanda's light blush indicated more, too. Peter might be setting things in motion faster this time.

"So, he's some kind of saint?" Clint asked doubtfully.

Tony snorted. "No! He's really not. Hell, he can drive me crazy. He's a bit better where we are, matured some, but he's still a reckless idiot that—" He cut off shook his head as he remembered how it had felt when he found out Peter had taken off alone after Kaecilius. "We're so worried about him because, before he sent us back, he was in a hospital bed with injuries I can't even begin to describe because the idiot took off on his own instead of doing what he was told and taking backup."

Natasha crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. She hadn't been happy when Peter ducked out on her, and she'd felt guilty when he'd come back injured—though she'd have been helpless to protect him if she'd been there. Peter hadn't put her under the Baby Monitor Protocol at that point, and, even as strong as he was, he'd been trashed. Natasha wouldn't have stood a chance.

"If he's as powerful as you say, how was he hurt?" Sam asked.

"Because there's a bigger enemy than Thanos out there," Tony said. "There's someone called Ego."

"And who's that?" Clint asked.

"We don't know much about her," Bucky said. "She was the source of the Infinity Stones at the dawn of creation. She was a single entity that broke herself apart, creating the pieces that became the seven stones. Peter has six—Mind, Power, Space, Soul, Time, and Reality. We didn't know there was a seventh until later, but that one was called Ego, and apparently is part of Nemesis now—combined with someone else. Ego was using someone called Kaecilius to attack Peter, as Nemesis, killing him in different times and dimensions, trying to find the right one. They couldn't do it, though. Peter is immortal."

Rhodey whistled. "So, when you say he'll live, you really mean it."

"We do," Tony said, voice heavy with remembered pain. "But he can still be hurt, and he was, badly."

"But Vision said you're doing it wrong," Clint said, bringing them back to the mission in a way Tony resented, his thoughts filled with Peter. "It's not about the Accords, so what if it's about this Nemesis instead? Maybe that's why you're here—to stop them."

Tony considered a moment. That idea hadn't occurred to him. If it was Nemesis they were here for, how were they supposed to stop them? Nemesis was far more powerful than them.

"No," Bucky said firmly. "It's not that."

"How do you know?" Clint asked.

"Because it's Queens," Steve said, apparently thinking along the same track as Bucky. "Queens, I mean Peter, would never send us after them after what Ego did to him. He wouldn't put us in that kind of danger. It was us he sent: me—Tony, Natasha, and Bucky. You were in the room with us when it happened, Rhodey, but you weren't sent back, too."

"I wonder why that is," Bucky said thoughtfully. "Rhodey would have been good to have on our side."

Tony shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm glad he didn't. I don't know what's happening in the future, what's happening with our bodies while we're here, if time is moving at all, but at least Rhodey is there taking care of him." Seeing Rhodey's blank look, he went on. "Out of all of us, Peter is closest to me, you, Bucky, and Steve. We can't be there, but you can. You'll take care of him for us."

"We're close, then?" Rhodey asked. "Me and this Peter."

A satisfied smile spread across Tony's face. "You really are. You'll all understand it soon, once you meet him."

"I think I get it now," Rhodey said. "In a way, at least. The kid I met was… different. He had this energy that I guess I liked, even though I thought it was some kind of… episode." He huffed a laugh. "The fact he told me you were his father was one of the things that made me sure it wasn't real, but…"

"But he's my son," Tony said. "And you're going to love him when you get to know him, which will happen soon. I've just got to finetune the details."

Steve frowned, "What are you planning, Tony?"

"I think it's best that the Avengers keep their distance from Spider-Man until the Accords are put to bed," Tony said. "But no one can stop me hiring a promising high schooler to be my intern."

"Smart," Bucky said approvingly.

"That's all great and all, and I'm glad you all get to see the kid, but haven't we got bigger problems right now?" Clint asked. "Maybe we're not facing this Ego or Nemesis, whoever, but this Thanos is coming, we've got the Accords, and didn't you say someone's going to frame Barnes for a terrorist attack? Not to mention the fact you don't know what the kid actually sent you here for!"

Steve's smile faded. "Yeah. I know."

"We've got time," Tony said. "And what Peter wants isn't the issue right now. We've got one mission already."

"How long do we have?" Wanda asked.

"Thanos comes May 2018 and destroys everything."

"No," Bucky said. "Thanos comes May 2018 and dies. Whatever else we're doing wrong, we're doing that part right. We'll wait until we can talk to Mind again to find out the rest."

Tony nodded. "May 2018."

They would find out what Peter wanted from them in time, and they'd deal with it. What Tony cared about even more was stopping Thanos so he would never have to live without his son again.

xXx

There was a knock on the door to the dingy apartment, and Ross crossed the room then hesitated before opening it.

The man waiting on the other side was expected, wanted, but Ross still felt a curl of dislike for him. This man had complicated his plan before.

Ross had hoped to have the Avengers under his control, following the rules of the Accords, but his interference had split them and left Ross with only a few to rule while the others lived on the run, without his control or even his direction.

'We need him,' Ego said, her tone scolding. 'Need I remind you that this was your idea?"'

Ross gave his head a small shake and said, "He is who we need, but I don't have to like it."

'Perhaps not, but you will not show it. Let him in."

Ross sighed and opened the door, then stepped back to allow the man to enter, which he did, looking around the mold-stained walls and battered furniture.

Ross hated being in places like this, but he had to play his new role as Nemesis close to his chest. If anyone in the White House found out what he was doing, he would lose everything. He had acquired a few anonymous places like this over New York and outside DC for his use.

"Mr. Zemo," he greeted. "Thank you for coming."

Zemo scowled. "I am a Colonel, General Ross.."

"Of course, forgive me," Ross said, though he was internally raging at the correction. Zemo was nothing now, not a gazetted soldier; he was a tool.

'Control yourself!" Ego growled.

"Why did you want me here?" Zemo asked.

Ross offered him a seat at the dirty table, but Zemo refused it and stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Ross did not sit either, not willing to give Zemo the dominant position in the meeting.

"I know what you are planning," he said.

Zemo shook his head. "I'm planning nothing."

"No?" Ross asked. "You do not intend to interrogate Vasily Karpov to retrieve the information about the remaining Winter Soldiers? You do not want to know the controlling words for James Barnes?"

Zemo's mouth dropped open, and his eyes widened a moment before he regained control and spoke calmly "I see your intelligence services are more proficient than I thought. However, the fact you wanted to meet me here means this is not a sanctioned mission from your government."

"It is not," Ross agreed. "I brought you here as I want you to serve me instead of your own ends."

Zemo snorted. "And what is to stop me killing you here and now? You must know I did not come unarmed."

A smug smile curled Ross' lips. "And you know I did not come unarmed either. I will make you an offer, though. Take whatever weapons you brought with you and use them on me. When you see that I remain unharmed, you will understand what I am offering you, what power I hold and why it would be unwise for you to deny me."

'A gunshot will be heard by humans,' Ego said.

Ross wasn't worried about that. A gunshot in a neighborhood like this was not going to draw people. In a place like this, you locked your doors when you heard gunfire and hoped your loved ones were safe.

Zemo took the gun from the back of his pants and aimed it at Ross's head. For a moment, it looked like he would shoot, and then he lowered the gun and said, "I am not stupid. If I kill you, I will be hunted and killed in return."

"Perhaps," Ross said. "I do not want you to be killed, though. I have a use for you."

Zemo's lip curled. "Why would I do anything for you?"

"Enough," Ego snapped. "Stop wasting time. Do it!"

"Tell me what to do?" Ross said.

"You can start by leaving me alone," Zemo said.

Ross smirked. "I wasn't talking to you."

'Get me closer,' Ego instructed.

Ross took a step forward, and then he felt his hands rising without his control. His fingers settled over Zemo's temples, and white light poured from them, spreading over his face. Zemo's mouth opened with what appeared to be a silent scream, and Ross watched curiously. He could feel Ego working within his mind and body, spreading her power through his hands and into the soldier.

When she released her hold on Ross' body and withdrew back into his mind, she said, 'Now, just tell him what you want him to do.'

Ross nodded in return to her and then said, "Zemo, can you hear me?"

Zemo nodded, and the look of scathing disappeared. He now looked at Ross with awe—as he should.

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now, I know you have been looking for Vasily Karpov, but I can end your search. I will tell you where he is. You need to retrieve a book from him, a red book, and then I will give you your next target."

"What is my target?"

"It is in Siberia. There is a Hydra base in which there are five fully trained Winter Soldiers waiting for your command. I want you to kill four of them; they're unnecessary. I need one, it doesn't matter which, under your command."

"What will my commands to them be?"

"They will come in time. Use the words you find in the red book to bring the one you choose into line, and then contact me. I will give you your next instructions when you have them."

Zemo nodded. "Yes, sir."

Ross smiled smugly. Though Ego had told him they were capable of it, together as Nemesis, it was awe-inspiring to see mind control in use. If Ego was to be believed, and he had to reason to doubt her, Zemo would throw himself into a fire now if Ross commanded it.

He didn't want self-immolation, though. He wanted a Winter Solider to command, prepare, and then set free to terrorize Queens. That was not the extent of his plan, though. When Romanoff had dumped all Hydra files on the internet, he'd also found information on her fellow Black Widow assassins from Hydra's studies and surveillance of them, one of which he would find and use.

Spider-Man protected the people of Queens from muggings and drug dealers, but he had never faced anything like what Ross was prepared to unleash them. The people Spider-Man was bound to protect were going to suffer while he stood helpless.

Ross would make him unworthy if it was the last thing he ever did. It would take time, he knew, months to put his plans into action, to build what he needed, but he had that time. The boy would not be within reach of the Stones for seven years, though he would be gone for five of them. Ross had two years to break him, to make him unworthy, and he could be patient.

One way or another, Spider-Man was going to break.

So… They all know now — and we know a little of Ross' plan. He's so evil but so fun to write. What do you think?

Until next time…

Jadey xxx