Through all his life Bucky had been in many of difficult situations. Most which were deem fatal if not impossible to survive from. Yet he managed to pull through regardless. But in this case even he started to have his doubts.
The super-terrorist ambushed the avengers right when they managed to capture the goblin. With each member of the terrorist battling their respected opponents. The Chameleon against the Wasp, The hulk and scarlet witch against Mysterio. While he, Captain America and Shang chi fought against The Shocker.
You would think with the heroes outnumbering the villains it would have been an easy victory for the former. Yet the reality was anything but.
Mysterio kept Scarlet Witch and Hulk distracted by his illusions while attacking them with his androids at a distance. The Wasp constantly got out maneuvered by the chameleon. While the Shocker overwhelmed him, Shang Chi and Sam with both the shock blasts from his arms and a unleashing blast wave from his suite. Along with his armor being completely bullet-proof and tough enough no selled every punch and kick the heroes landed on him.
Which was only made worse in the fact the villains split the heroes so far apart from one another that they couldn't even try to switch opponents without getting shot or pin down in the processes. Reducing them to holding the line until Spider-Man and Gravity rescue Flash Thompson.
However all the fighting stop when the members of the criminals appeared to have gotten a call and then proceed to retreat from the battlefield.
Meanwhile with the Goblin and Iron-lad.
Though none have spoke all can hear and see the scene before them.
For many they stood frozen in a state shock and in others confusion.
But there was one voice shouted out in rage.
Yet only one man can hear him.
'THOMPSON! What are you doing!' Norman raged in the intercom. But Flash ignored him as he stared blankly at Harley…and then at the flaming sword embedded just right above above the down hero's head. The lad now hyperventilating in stupefied terror and bafflement while looking up wide eyed at his would be assassin.
Flash then narrowed his yellow goblin eyes and in a moment later transformed himself back into his hobgoblin form.
'You are not worth it Haley. For all that I could lose in not killing you…you are simply not worth it' Thompson said dismissively in his demonic voice. But any malice that it once had was gone. With it being replace with pity and shame.
'EUGENE!' Norman roared out in ranged. 'Do you realize what you are doing! Have you forgotten what will happen if you defy me! The Norman threaten in a tone filled with such spite and viciousness that it would make even the most harden of people quiver.
But to Thompson he barley even felt anything but a grim acknowledgement of what is to come. 'I do Mr. Osborn…but…I am sorry I just can't do it' The teen whispered into his intercom. Which only made thr man steam even more viscously.
'Is that so?...very well then' Norman said in cold and menacing voice. 'Comeback to the Hub unless you are willing allow spider-man to capture you and once you arrive. We will deal with the issue of your insubordination!'
The intercom then shut itself off. Which Flash took as his cue to open a black portal to his supposed doom. But as soon as Flash did he saw his friend, his hero landing next to Harley and staring back at him...in fear and anger.
'You…what…what happen to Flash!' Peter call out his name but Thompson remain silent…save for one word.
'He's…home...' the Goblin answered and then before the web-crawler could do anything else the sad criminal walked into the portal as it quickly closed behind him.
Three hours later.
The news of Spider-man's and Gravities battle with the rest of his rogues gallery was plastered all over the news that evening. With the after-match involving the vulture escaping from spider-man's webbing and the scorpion retreating from his battle with Gravity.
Yet…that was a mere footnote to the travesty of the sure devastation that followed in the battle between the Iron-lad and the Goblin. Which resulted in one office building being rammed into and two skyscrapers collapsing into on another. Resulting in the injuries and deaths over thousands of innocent people. With many of their bodies either broken from falling from hundreds of feet in the air or crushed to paste beneath tons of rumble.
Immediately Peter along with the rest of the Avengers went to save as many they can from the wreckage or anything else that can be identified as a body. While Harley was sent to the shield helicarriror. To be out of the public eye and for once Haley did not object. But that did not stop the reporters from gushing in to ask Peter and the rest of the heroes questions.
Thankfully however George Stacy with his police crew were there keeping the news media at bay as they focused on the clean up the wreckage. Eventually as the sun set down. The officers and resuce crew sent the heroes away for the night. With spidey and gravity setting on rooftop of a building near the wreckage.
'Unbelievable' Gary muttered as he stood unmasked revealing his brown hair and blue eyes while looked over the disaster area. 'Hours of none stop clean up and they are still pulling out the bodies.' He then turn his head to face Peter. 'I…not even sure the clean ups I did after the red dome incident were that bad.'
Peter who was also unmasked sighed. 'Yeah and it's only get worse tomorrow when the death reports come in. Along with the protests, the coverage and…the lawsuits' Parker grasped both of his hands on his face. 'It's going to be even more hell for us then usual this time around'
Gary then shook his head 'Man…I knew being an avenger means stepping up a level…but this?' He asked. But Peter went up to him and pat him on his left shoulder.
'Still better then the time I first join. But yep stuff like this happens' Peter uttered and Gary just chuckled.
'I'll take your word on it…still I..think I Should take a break or something…i-if it it's okay with you' Gary mutters and Peter snorted.
'Okay? Dude as team leader I order it.' Peter joked. 'So do you have someone at home to look after?'
Gary's then light up and then chucked. 'My family and…my girlfriend. She, they…they are properly worried sick about me right now'
Parker then looked at Gary and nodded. 'Then go to them and call in for the night…while I settle things with the avengers…'Peter then narrowed his eyes sharply. '…and Harley'
And just Peter said he would he went to the helcarriror on deck. Livid to what he had experienced and determined to get an explanation for what the hell his so-called teammate was thinking and exactly what Harley did to Flash when he was interrogating him.
Until Peter came across Hogan. Who was leaning on nearby wall.
'Happy?' The youth called out and the older man looked at the teen dejectedly.
'Hey squirt' Hogan said grimly. his voice barely above a whisper. But Peter was still a bit confused.
'What are you doing here…aren't you suppose to be ready for the meeting?' Peter asked and Happy sighed.
'I am readying myself…for the shit storm that is going to happen to all of us' The head of Stark security said as he rubbed his hands his face.
Peter then stared at burn in silence before asking. 'Just…how bad is it?' Peter reluctantly asked and Happy remain silent for a long moment. Before answering.
'We be lucky that the UN just dismantle the Avengers and as for Stark industry…well like you. Me and Pepper will most certainly be looking for other jobs…and that is assuming that anyone will take us in' Happy said and Peter's heart then sank in anguish for his friend.
'…and Haley?' Parker asked. Which caused Happy to squat his face in disgust, horror and disappointment
'Lets just say that Keener would be lucky not go glto jail for life after what he has done' Happy then got himself off from the floor and began walking down the hallway. While Peter then widened his eyes in concern.
'What did he do? Peter asked and Happy then slowly turn his head to the teen.
'…I will go over it in the meeting…but I will warn you Pete…it an't for the faint of heart.
Later at the black hub arena
Pain…horrible unimaginable pain wreaked through Flash's body. His legs and arms chain to the ground along with his goblin form disabled. The teen's shirt strip from his chest and his once proud and powerful tone body, licked with sword slashes that were steadily beginning to heal. But for Thompson the slow pace of the process just made the pain worse. In a way that made him almost regret not killing Keener when he had the chance….almost.
Behind Flash stood his torturer Norman. In a white dressed shirt. Who wielded a golden hilt sword in his right hand which was laced with Thompson's own blood. While his face remain stoic and unreadable.
Yet his actions and the level of his voice made the man's intentions clear.
Norman Osborn a man that was usually so composed was now completely and utterly enraged.
He then stabbed behind Flash's back, piecing right into his left lung and out through his left pec. Causing the Teen to scream and howl in agony. Which only urged the red haired man to further push the blade slowly through the youth's internal organ. While steams of his blood gushing through the wounds. The life-giving liquid dripping along his back, chest, onto the handle and blade of the sword and eventually into Norman's right arm.
Above the two men. Were the rest insidious. With many sporting faces of horror. Save for Mac who was indifferent and Beck who who had a looked of satisfaction and joy. While Toomes struggled with himself to watch through it all.
'You disappointed me Thompson…and what was worse is that you were always such a good loyal protege. Rarely ever question my orders and always following up on them…and now?' Norman then slashed Flash across the chest and making the teen cry out once more. 'Now you lowered yourself to insubordination. Spite In the face of your your path to retribution and thus forsaken yourself and your father's legacy'
Norman then pulled Flash's head up by his black curly hair and then stared right at him with his unforgiving green eyes. 'And for what!? Out of some hero nobility a last second linking of conciseness?' Is that it?! well!?Norman snapped. Yet Thompson remain silent.
Which only made Osborn angrier.
'Answer when spoken too!' The mad man shouted Before swinging his sword once more…and this time slicing Flash's left arm off.
Which made the teen scream in a pain that he never knew had existed. To the point that felt the force of his own voice would break his own ear-drums or make the rest of his lungs collapse by the sheer stress alone…yet the man knew that Norman would commit much worse acts if he continued to defy him.
Yet for whatever reason he remained quite regardless. If only because he already lost everything.
Norman however seemed to understand subtext of Flash's expression and sighed. He then took a white handkerchief from his white shirt pocket and used it to clean the blood from his sword. While looking at it's golden entrusted hilt.
'Quit a pity…it would seemed that you are not even bothering defend yourself and have already accepted your fate and all that intels...and that would indeed been the case if you weren't just struck by a good fortunate'
At hearing that last statement everyone in the arena. Most of all Beck looked at Norman in disbelief.
WHAT!' Beck screamed out.
Norman then grabbed a remote from his pocket and immediately Holographic Tv screens appeared above the Arena. Showing live reactions of the people witnessing the battle between the Goblin and The Iron-lad.
And virtually all of them were against the Hero. As Flash and the rest of the Insidious heard all the commenters bad mouthing Harley Keener.
...while praising his Goblin persona.
'I saw that iron-manic ram through one building and collapsed two others. While the Goblin was gunning his ass.
'I saw my coworkers spine crushed as that Harley kid slammed him into a wall. While nearly breaking my left arm!'
'Both me and my friend would have been screwed if that goblin hadn't save us from that Keener bastard'
'Harley was basically pissing himself when the Goblin nearly fried him alive and after everything that asshole did I nearly routed for him to do it!'
'First the Avengers failed to stop Mysterio, then they failed to stop Kraven and now they hired a psycho to into their ranks. Damn it...why does the Government keeping putting up with their bullshit!?'
The commenters on the screen spoke out and many more overlapped each other. With the scenes making the insidious uncomfortable, bewildered and even amused. Yet Norman gave off a expression that can at best be seen as tolerance or grudging acceptance
'It's quit ironic really. I feared that your insolence would ruin our final deceive blow against the avengers reputation. But you sparing Haley did far more harm to that then his death could. After all its one thing for a villain killing a hero…but another thing entirely when a hero to acts like a villain and then be spared by a villain...who acts as a hero' Norman then chucked to himself.
'Either way Eugene your insubordination will be forgiven…' Norman then narrowed his directly at Flash.
'However you are relieved from the Insidious' The red-Haired man then swung his sword once more and this time severing the chain that hold up Thompson's arms freeing and letting him fall to the floor.
'Because it is clear. That you simply are simply not qualified for the work that this squadron demands of you and so-'
'CUT THE BULLSHIT!' Quentin roared out from his seat.
'You…you can't be fuckin serous, you cannot not be this fuckin stupid!' The illusionist range. 'Thompson is a lability! his cover was blown and he refused a direct order to kill! I don't give a flying rat's ass. About the avengers reputation or how much his kid goblin persona was seen as a hero! He is a loose canon that needs to be tied up or better yet purged!'
Norman then looked coldly at Beck and then smiled…before instantly appearing right in front of him. Much to everyone else's shock. While Beck fumbled back into his seat dumbfounded and then his face gave way to terror when the chair-man pointed the tip of his sword to the front of his neck. All the while sporting the same smile that now turn sinister.
'Beck, Quentin Beck…I can understand your grievances for my choices involving Flash and they can be argued to be well founded….' Osborns smile then fell before staring down at Beck with cold green eyes. 'However do not once ever think that gives you authority over me!'
Norman then pressed the tip against Beck's neck to point it nearly pierced though his skin. 'The reason why I am so forgiving for Thompson at all. Is because of all the good will his father provided for me for the past several decades and even then it was ONLY when Thompson's defilement of my orders indirectly benefited ME! Did I spare him'
The red-head man then lowered himself forward to Beck's face. 'You however for whatever befits you provide to me are still ultimately disposable. Along with the rest the insidious who join and if you refused to acknowledge that one simple fact. I will gut like the ungrateful swine that you ARE!' Norman threaten with such wrath that Beck nearly fainted from the outburst alone and he can even tell. That it took the chairman everything he had in order to not follow up on his threat here and now.
'Do we understand each other?' Norman asked while giving a slight hint of his tone. daring Quintain to challenge him again. But the illusionist wisely decided to not take up on it and remain silent.
'Good' Osborn muttered before lowering his head and turn his attention back To Flash.
'Anyway as I was saying…you are out of the insidious Thompson. However you will be assigned to different team and project that is more fitting to your wants and needs' Osborn then run across the room at the same blinding speed and appeared right next to the table that held his suite and the sheath to his sword.
'As for the avengers seeing you as an accomplice…well do not worry. For that too will factor into my upcoming planes for you...for all of you'
Flash then looked at Norman in confusion along with the rest of the insidious. Which caused Herman if some unease spoke up. 'If it is not too much to ask chair-man…what exactly are these plans are?'
On hearing that Norman smiled only this time much more viciously. 'It really depends on how much the avengers know about Thompson, his ties to us and how much information they are willing to hear out' the man then grabbed his sword and placed in his sheath that also acted as cane. While staring once more at the golden hilt on his sword.
'And once we learn all that…then we can set up the next stages in eliminating the Avengers when we are finally ready'