"I'm sorry, what the hell was that?" You demand as you stand in the lab, "Stark what did you do?"
"All our work is gone. Ultron cleared out, used the internet as an escape hatch." Banner sighs, running his hand through his hair.
"Ultron." Steve repeats, jaw clenched.
"He's been in everything. Files, surveillance. Probably knows more about us than we know about each other," Natasha says leaning over a terminal.
"He's in your files, he's in the internet. What if he decides to access something a little more exciting?" You turn to look at Rhodie, eyes wide.
"Nuclear codes." Hill says slowly.
"Nuclear codes. Look, we need to make some calls. Assuming we still can." Rhodie says firmly.
"Nukes? He said he wanted us dead," Natasha refutes.
"He didn't say dead. He said extinct." Steve shakes his head.
"He also said he killed somebody," Clint crosses his arms and you frown.
"But there wasn't anyone else in the building," Hill protests.
"Yes there was." Your head cocks as Tony brings up the destroyed 3D image of JARVIS' consciousness.
"JARVIS," You state blankly, while Banner cuts in, "This is insane."
"JARVIS was the first line of defense. He would've shut Ultron down, it makes sense." Steve says.
"No, Ultron could've assimilated Jarvis. This isn't strategy. This is...rage." Banner frowns. Suddenly Thor grabs Tony by his throat, lifting him off the ground.
"Woah, woah, woah!" Clint exclaims, "It's going around!"
"Hey!" You lock your fingers tightly around Thor's wrist, increasing the pressure and downward force until he lets go, letting Stark fall back to the ground.
"Come on. Use your words, buddy," Stark says, rubbing at his throat while you stay close in case Thor decides to try and kill him again.
"I have more than enough words to describe you, Stark," Thor snarls.
"Thor! The Legionnaire?" Steve says, drawing the god's attention back to the issue at hand.
"Trail went cold about a hundred miles out, but it's headed north. And it has the scepter. Now we have to retrieve it, again."
"The genie's out of that bottle. Clear and present threat is Ultron." Natasha says.
"I don't understand," Dr. Cho says slowly, "You built this program. Why is it trying to kill us?" You grimace as Stark starts to laugh.
"You think this is funny?" Thor roars, and you shift slightly so you're standing between him and Stark.
"No. It's probably not, right? Is this very terrible? It is so...is it so...it is. It's so terrible."
"Stark…" You frown, "What-"
"This could've been avoided if you hadn't played with something you don't understand."
"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It is funny," Stark's all attitude now, "It's a hoot that you don't get why we need this."
"Tony, maybe this might not be the time to…" Bruce tries, but Stark cuts him off.
"Really?! That's it?! You just roll over, show your belly, every time somebody snarls?"
"Stark!" You snap, and he looks at you guiltily.
"Only when I've created a murder bot." Bruce sighs.
"We didn't!" He exclaims, "We weren't even close. Were we close to an interface?"
Steve doesn't give Bruce time to answer, "Well you did something right. And you did it right here. The Avengers were supposed to be different than SHIELD."
"Anybody remember when I carried a nuke through a wormhole?" Stark asks.
"No, it's never come up," Rhodie says with a roll of his eyes.
"Saved New York?"
"Never heard that."
"Recall that? A hostile alien army came charging through a hole in space. We're standing three hundred feet below it. We're the Avengers. We can bust arms dealers all the livelong day, but that? Up there? That's the end game. How were you guys planning on beating that?"
"Together," Steve says firmly.
"We'll lose," Stark counters.
"Then we'll do that together too," Stark stares at Steve for a long moment before turning away. "But Thor's right. Ultron's calling us out. And I'd like to find him before he's ready for us. The world's a big place. Let's start making it smaller."
Everyone scatters; Steve walks out of the lab running his hand through his hair while Natasha steps over to a terminal and begins typing. You stand there awkwardly for a moment, unsure what you were supposed to do now. Thor doesn't seem inclined to attack Stark again so you quietly follow Steve out; you find him in the wreckage from the party, head buried in his hands.
He looks up at your approach, "You okay?" You take the seat next to him.
"I just-" He takes a deep breath, "We're supposed to be the good guys."
"You are the good guys," You assure him, "Trust me. I've seen the opposite."
"Right. Until the vengeful AI nukes California," He snorts bitterly, and you frown.
"And that wouldn't be your fault," Steve starts to retort and you raise your eyebrows, silently daring him to.
"Okay," He nods, "I get your point." He's quiet for a moment, "I just feel like sometimes every choice I make is the wrong one."
"I know the feeling," You smile sadly, "You're the best person I know Steve, by far." He looks up at you sharply, "What? Don't look so surprised. I haven't exactly rolled with the best crowd in the past."
"Right," he nods, a small smile on his lips.
"It's all gonna okay Steve, just watch."