A/N: Some mixed feelings about this twist in the tale from your reviews I see. Let's see if I can win some of my less certain readers as we go along, hm? ;)

Just wanted to do another quick clarification about my choice of Beetle for the other team. I'm using Beetle at the very beginning of his career when he was still a criminal. Of course he goes on to ultimately become Mach V and fight on the side of good, so I'll try and do his character justice in all of this.

Also, I just want to reassure people again that Pepper will have a very important part in the ultimate showdown of this fic and she will be bringing it... along with Natasha. So don't worry about her being back burned as some kind of damsel in distress in this particular fic. I have a cunning plan, as I do with Natasha. ;)

I wish this chapter was a little sharper, but the muse wasn't being very co-operative on this one. The next chapter should continue to do more exposition and bring people up to speed.

Hope you enjoy it and I'll get the next chapter to you as fast as I can.

Thanks as always for reading. :D

Chapter Forty-One

The voice grated on Tony's last nerve and he was already mad when he turned around to address the newcomer. "Hammer," he said flatly.

Justin smiled brightly back at him. "Hello, Tony, it's good to see you, my friend."

"We're not friends," said Tony coldly. "What the hell are you up to, Hammer?" He already had a pretty good idea of the answer to his own question but wanted to hear the other man's take on it.

Justin smiled and straightened his grey suit and looked important. "This is me giving back, Tony."

Tony looked over at the other Avengers and they looked as unconvinced as he was.

"General, the Maniatis threat has been neutralised," Blizzard informed him.

Tony struggled to know what to comment on first. "General?" he repeated mockingly. "Are you serious? What does that stand for, Generally Annoying, Generally Inadequate?"

"It's a mark of the respect my men have for me," said Justin coolly.

"People earn that rank," Steve ground out, looking offended.

"Oh, like you earned the rank of Captain when all you got was an injection?" Justin threw back at him sweetly.

Steve's face hardened angrily at the jibe.

Tony was having none of that. It was alright for him to have digs at Steve, but that was because they had an understanding. Justin Hammer didn't have squat and Tony leapt to Steve's defence. "Captain America earned his rank and the respect of those around him by his actions of courage and being selfless in protecting those around him. That man's an institution, while you should just be institutionalised," countered Tony in annoyance. "The closest you've come to military service is buying Girl Guide cookies, General." He made sure to inject as much derision as he could into the title.

Clint leaned in towards Natasha. "Tony must be really ticked, he's complimenting Cap," he said in a low voice and then more loudly to the rest of them. "And what do you know about Maniatis?" Clint asked suspiciously, still leaning on both Steve and Natasha.

"After you and your lovely cohort's visit to me the other day, I got to thinking you might be onto something," said Justin smoothly. "I checked out a few leads we had and discovered that Maniatis had been using one of my disused warehouses in New York to work on his nefarious plans."

Clint looked unimpressed. "And how exactly was he bankrolling these nefarious plans of his?"

Hammer made a concerned face. "I have no idea, perhaps that's something the police can ask him."

"They may have a long wait for an answer," said Tony tightly. "Maniatis is dead."

Hammer looked over at the man in silver and blue. "Blizzard, is this true?"

"I had to take him out," said Blizzard unapologetically. "It was him or the city. I made my choice and it was the right one."

"Of course it was," said Hammer roundly. "The President's life was at stake, you couldn't take any chances."

Tony gave Justin a hard look. "Kind of convenient that we don't get to ask Maniatis any questions now, don't you think?"

"Not at all," said Hammer with all the appearance of sincerity. "It would have been good to know if he was working alone, or if we have further threats to deal with."

"We?" interrupted Steve contemptuously. "So what, you're joining the ranks of super hero, is that it?"

Hammer treated him with a cool look. "I think my team have more than qualified to be seen as such. After all, they not only saved Washington and the President but the Avengers as well.

"We didn't need saving," shot back Steve.

Beetle snorted. "Oh yeah, right." He jerked a thumb at Clint. "I guess I missed how this one bleeding all over the mantises was part of some kind of master plan to bring them down."

"While firing on the ones trying to help the trapped people was an obvious hero move," Clint snapped back.

"I saved your life and so far I haven't even gotten a thank you," said Beetle indignantly.

Natasha gave him an unimpressed look. "I don't think you know how being a hero works."

"I wouldn't hold my breath for that thank you, Beetlejuice," snipped Clint. "Oh wait, yeah, maybe you should."

Tony was staring at Blizzard. "Apart from expecting praise, the other thing heroes don't do is murder people." He inclined his head over at the impassive looking Blizzard. "You're guy here killed a man in cold blood."

"And saved the day," argued Hammer. "I don't think anyone is going to be crying over the death of a madman who caused so much death and destruction somehow."

"Again," ground out Tony, "wildly convenient for you, Hammer."

Beetle interjected into the conversation. "You know, you all could try and be a little more grateful, we did save your lives after all."

Tony was dismissive. "You didn't save my life, lady bug."

"It's the Beetle," he replied in agitation.

"Don't mind him," said Hammer jovially, "that's just how old Tony here shows affection, he calls people names."

"It's also how I show disgust, General Hammeroid," threw back Tony.

Rhino suddenly spoke and it was with a thick Russian accent. "Show the General more respect," he ordered Tony and gave him a menacing look.

"Wow, Russian, huh?" said Tony. "That has a familiar feel to it." He looked over at Backlash. "As does that." Tony looked back at Hammer. "Why is one of your guys channelling the ghost of Whiplash past?"

"Even though Ivan Vanko is no longer with us, I thought I could use his technology for good, a kind of balancing out his bad acts with my good ones," explained Hammer.

Tony looked at the other Avengers in disbelief. "Is anyone buying this, anyone, anyone?" He shook his head. "I didn't think so."

"Doctor Banner is here," Natasha commented, looking past Tony to the street behind him.

Tony turned around to see a barefoot Bruce walking towards them wearing grey sweat pants with a tag still on them and a white t-shirt which he'd obviously 'borrowed' from one of the smashed shop fronts. He walked up to the group and looked around at the other costumed men in surprise. "Okay," Bruce said slowly, "reading between the lines, I may have missed out on something important here."

"Oh hey, B," said Tony, using an overly bright voice, "I'd like to introduce you to the latest superheroes to grace us with their presence." He pointed to each one in turn. "This is Cockroach, Mr. Whippy, Frosty the Snowman and Hungry, Hungry Hippo." Tony tutted to himself. "And I almost forgot the most important member of this little group, the General himself." He waved a hand towards Hammer.

Bruce arched an eyebrow as he looked Hammer over. "Have we done the Generally Annoying jokes?"

Tony nodded, always enjoying when he and Bruce were on the same page. "First cab off of the rank."

"How about the only military service he's seen is eating Captain Crunch?" offered up Bruce.

Tony nodded approvingly at the dig. "Nice, I went with buying Girl Guide cookies."

Bruce nodded his approval as well and returned the compliment. "Nice."

Hammer chuckled and looked at his team. "What did I tell you, I said they were funny guys."

Backlash finally had something to say. "Maybe if they joked around less and concentrated on defeating their enemy, then they could have stopped this long ago."

Thor took a step forward, his face hard. "Steady thy tongue, mortal," he warned him darkly.

"Or you'll do what?" Backlash challenged him.

Thor's hand tightened on his hammer. "Pray you never have occasion to find out," he said ominously.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," Hammer clucked, "we're all friends here and we're all on the same side."

Steve's look was sceptical. "Are we?"

"Of course," said Hammer easily. "We all have the same goal, protecting the earth and together we can-"

"Together?" Tony interrupted him. "Are you serious?"

"Are you telling me you don't need our help?" asked Hammer, feigning confusion. "I thought you'd welcome more heroes with open arms."

"We've already got a long-haired weirdo in a cape," threw back Tony. "We don't need yours." He looked over at Thor. "No offence, Thor."

Thor nodded, not missing a beat and casting a quick look at the Beetle. "Indeed, Tony Stark, just as we already may count a loud mouth in a flying metal suit amongst our number."

"Exactly," said Tony emphatically.

Bruce joined in as he glanced over at Clint, Natasha and Steve. "And I think we've more than covered your military aspect of the team."

Tony wasn't done yet. "Just like we've got the rampaging monster guy covered." He looked over at Blizzard. "And my refrigerator has an ice dispenser, so I think we're good there as well."

Hammer gave him a cool look. "Why doesn't it surprise me that Tony Stark doesn't want to share the glory with someone else?"

"The Avengers aren't about glory and the fact that you think that is proof positive why we'd never having anything to do with your so-called team," shot back Tony.

Hammer pulled a face. "Why does that have the faint stench of sour grapes to it, I wonder? I guess I was right in making the plans I did."

Natasha was helping Clint take a seat on a nearby bit of rubble, his wounded leg outstretched. "And what plans are those?"

Hammer blew out a breath and looked regretful. "See now, this was why I wanted to see you today before my big press conference in New York today but then this all happened. I wanted to give the Avengers an opportunity to be a part of all this before I went public."

"A part of all what?" asked Steve impatiently. "Stop holding court and get to the damn point."

Hammer straightened up and gripped his lapels, looking very self-important. "Today is going to be the day I introduce to the world a new batch of superheroes to watch over the world and protect it. Today is going to be the realisation of my dreams, my gift to the world, my magnum opus, if you will."

Bruce and Tony looked at each other as the origin of the magnificent octopus was finally revealed. "Ohhh," they said as one.

Tony gave a little movement of his shoulders. "Okay, yeah, that makes more sense."

Bruce rubbed his chest absently. "A lot more sense," he agreed.

Hammer hesitated and looked confused. "What does?"

"Nothing," Tony said dismissively, "just a little something which got lost in translation. Please, continue your delusional ravings. We've got to kill some time before 'The View' comes on and it's this or watching that infomercial with the vacuum cleaner which can suck up billiard balls."

Hammer squared off again, looking to be regathering his thoughts after all the interruptions and ignoring Tony's snark. "Today, today is a day like any other. Today is the day history will remember the birth of the Combined Allied Militia Elite League To Overcome Evil," he announced grandly.

There was a prolonged silence after Hammer's declaration, the Avengers just staring at him.

Finally Tony spoke with a wry observation. "That's a bit of a mouthful."

"And then some," agreed Clint.

"It also spells out camel toe," pointed out Bruce.

Hammer gave him an odd look. "Wh-what?"

"The acronym of Combined Allied Militia Elite League To Overcome Evil is CAMEL TOE," Bruce clarified calmly.

Tony gave a snort of laughter. "Man, I hope you guys don't have an insignia for your little group of wannabes."

Out of the corner of his eye Tony could see Steve was looking confused. Clint leant over and whispered in his ear and Steve gave a visible start as the significance of 'camel toe' was explained to him. Steve shook his head. "What is wrong with people in this century?" he asked in shock. "Why would you make a name for something like that?"

"More to the point," said Tony, "why would Genny from the Block here think it was a good idea to name a group of superheroes after it? Freud is right now trying to claw his way out of his grave just to have a crack at psychoanalysing that."

"Obviously I didn't know," said Hammer hastily, looking unsure of himself for the first time.

"Even more interesting," observed Natasha. "You're subconscious must be one icky place, Hammer."

Hammer's lips thinned in displeasure at losing control of the situation. "Names aren't important," he declared, "actions speak louder than words and I think our actions today mean there is no more use for words." He smoothed down his hair and adjusted his glasses. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got an important press conference to attend this afternoon."

Tony couldn't help himself. "Did you just make a declaration that action is all that is needed and then proclaim you were off to do more talking?"

Thor folded his arms in front of his broad chest. "Truly thou art no leader of men, Justin Hammer."

Hammer glared at him. "I guess we're going to see about that, aren't we?" He inclined his head to his team. "Let's go, we've got a mess to clean up, courtesy of the Avenger's inability to contain a situation." He turned on his heel, the others falling in behind him as they headed off towards where a large group of people had gathered. They were met with spontaneous bursts of applause and cries of gratitude.

Bruce watched the other team receive all the attention with great gusto while Justin Hammer preened like a peacock at their head. "I guess that's the equivalent of taking your bat and ball and going home."

"How did this happen?" asked Tony, still trying to fathom this whole thing. "How did we not know what this idiot was up to?"

More of the crowds were coming up to them now, thanking them and soon the Avengers were surrounded with a grateful crowd of their own, patting them on the back and offering up thanks. There was nothing for it but to smile and accept their thanks graciously and put off talk of Hammer and his team for a later date.