Chapter 21
Salem sat in the black Audi outside the school, only getting out when Happy and Peter appeared from the school gates a couple of minutes earlier than the other students.
"Going upstate now?" She asked, leaning on the door with Duke around her shoulders.
"Yep, get in and buckle up," Happy said before Peter went in the back seat and they were off.
)()()(
Happy took his hands off of the steering wheel as they approached the compound. He turned to Peter who leaned forward between the two front seats.
"Take a look," Happy said, "It's pretty impressive, huh? They just finished remodelling the whole thing."
"Who's taking the jet?"
"No clue," He buckled himself. "Come on, Boss Man is waiting."
They got into the compound quickly, going to the areas where the public could access with permission. There was a huge conference room near here, and that was where they were heading, Salem noticed as Tony came towards them.
"Oh, there they are," Tony was dressed up in a smart suit with his glasses on, he leant out an arm to hug Salem before asking, "How was the ride up?
Happy nodded, "Good."
"Give me a minute with the kid," He asked both Happy and Salem.
"Seriously?"
"Really, Dad?"
"Yeah," He said as if it was obvious. "I know you already know, Sal, but I need to explain to Peter too."
"Explain what?" Peter asked as Tony put an arm around his shoulders and guided him over a couple of metres.
"Sorry I took your suit. I mean, you had it coming. Actually, it turns out it was the perfect sort of tough-love moment that you needed…"
"What's that about?" Happy asked Salem.
She crossed her arms as she watched them. "Dad took Peter's suit because he was being irresponsible with it and the proxy agreement. Since Peter showed remarkable abilities without the suit, Dad thinks he's worth adding to the team officially. He'd no longer be a proxy."
Happy nodded. "You both did well with the Vulture. Caused a bit of internal damage but nothing that couldn't be fixed. Do you think Tony will make you an Avenger too?"
"Nah," She said. "He's too protective for me to be one. I'm here as Medusa to explain what happened a couple of days ago. Reporters still want to know, and since Dad has no clue, he wants us to deliver it. He'll make an excuse for me to not be an Avenger."
Tony pressed a couple of buttons on his watch, nodding for Salem to come over as a secret compartment opened up in the wall, revealing two suits.
One was a dark blue and red Spider-Man suit with gold detailing, subbed the Iron Spider Armour.
The other was a simple gold necklace on a mannequin.
Tony activated the other suit, revealing that the gold necklace actually housed several thousand nanobots of vibranium that created a suit.
It was similar to Peter's suit, but her's was a little less metal because she didn't have a structured helmet, instead, it was built into the suit if needed.
Her suit was mainly dark, half matte and half shiny vibranium metal. On the chest, much like Peter's spider, Salem had Medusa's head with several serpent hair strands coming over her shoulders, around her waist and down to her hips. Each serpent hair was detailed with gold as.
"When you're ready, why don't you try that on for size, Peter?" Tony said. "Salem has a new suit since someone fucked their suit up last time."
"Shuri forgot to make it rip-proof," She said. "We didn't think I'd need it."
Tony gave her a look, waiting until she was next to him.
"Here," He took out a tiny box from within his suit, giving it to her. "No gloves, no problem."
"No," She opened the box, revealing a satin bed with two black rings. She slotted them onto her middle fingers, one on each hand, and tested them out. When they activated, eight more rings appeared one on each of their fingers and created a small magnetic field between them.
"They're connected to the medallion," Tony said with a proud grin. "Even if you're not wearing your suit and the rings are not activated, they'll keep you with a steady power source as they use the natural chemical and kinetic energy the body uses. And the more you use your powers, the more charged they become. Don't be stupid with them."
She laughed, deactivating them. "Thanks. Will do."
"When you're both ready, put them on," He said. "And I'll introduce the world to the two newest official members of the Avengers: Spider-Man and Medusa."
"Vhat?" Salem paused, blinking slowly.
Tony shrugged. "Did you really think I was going to let potential like yours go to waste on the sidelines? Really, Salem, I'm protective but this suit could protect you better than even I can. Even built software into it so LILITH can pilot it too."
Peter snorted at that, laughing at the shocked expression on Salem's face. She touched his shoulder, zapping him with a touch of electricity which made him yelp before she laughed.
Happy and Tony gave each other looks at this, shaking their heads when Salem stuck her tongue out at Peter.
"I hate that thing," Tony said, referring to her tongue piercing. "Why would you get your tongue stabbed with a needle, I will never know."
She shrugged.
As Peter continued to admire his suit, Salem deactivated hers and took the golden medallion from the mannequin. She pocketed the necklace for now.
"So, after the press conference, Happy will show Peter to his room, your new quarters, Petes," Tony turned to Happy. "Where's he between? He's next to Vision? Salem's got her old one still."
"Yeah," Happy agreed, "Vision's not big on doors."
"It's fun."
"Or walls,"
Tony turned back to Peter. "You'll fit right in with the misfits."
Peter paused, hesitating before he took a breath and declined the offer, "Thank you, Mr Stark. But I'm good."
"You're good? Good? How are you good?"
Salem made a face. "Why would you decline to be an Avenger, Peter? You're a better superhero than I am, and that's coming from someone with a huge ego about their powers."
"Well, I mean, I'm... I'd rather just stay on the ground for a little while. Friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man," Peter said clearly, "Somebody's got to look out for the little guy, right?"
Tony took a moment to take his sunglasses off, looking directly into Peter's eyes before gesturing at the suit. "You turning me down? You better think about this. Look at that. Look at me. Last chance, yes or no?
"No."
"Okay." Tony paused, a shocked look on his face for only a split second. "It's kind of a Springsteen-y, working-class hero vibe that I dig. Uh, Happy will take you home. Yeah?
"Mind waiting in the car? I need a minute," Happy asked Peter who nodded.
"Thank you, Mr Stark,"
"Yes, Mr Parker. Very well."
Peter began to leave, waving a hand at Salem before he slowed to a stop and turned back to Tony who was putting the Iron Spider Armour away with a tap on his watch.
"That was a test, right?" Peter asked, warily looking at the door near Tony. "There's, uh, nobody back there?"
Tony nodded. "Yes, you passed. All right, skedaddle there, young buck. Go home."
"Thank you, Mr Stark. Thank you." He finished, walking away with one last look at Salem who just nodded.
She turned to her dad. "There's reporters, aren't there?"
"Yep." He clicked his tongue. "Don't you dare say you're doing the same?"
"Hah hah hah, no," She grinned, putting the necklace on before touching the medallion and activating it so her civilian clothes disappeared. Her hair turned completely white from root to tip, a slight lavender tone at the bottom now. "I'm keeping the suit regardless."
The door behind them opened, revealing a room full of reporters and Pepper who came in quickly.
"Where's the kid?"
"He left," Tony shrugged.
"Peter decided he doesn't want the responsibility of being an Avenger, he'd rather stay a Proxy member," Salem said.
"At least you're dressed," Pepper sighed. "Did Tony tell you yet?"
"That he wants me to be a member, yeah," She took a breath. "Never thought I'd be an Avenger. Are we revealing my identity or not? I'd rather keep it a secret, or at least until I'm eighteen or so. You can't be called out for child endangerment then."
"Good thinking, Batman," Tony said, shaking a finger at her.
"Shut it, Robin," Pepper scowled, gesturing to the room. "Both of you, go. Now. They've been waiting for ages."
)()()(
There were a couple of other Avengers on the platform with them.
Some weren't there. For example, Clint, Natasha, Vision and Wanda weren't on the active-duty roster, off doing their own thing for now. Thor and Bruce where god knows where.
Rhodey stood in the middle of the platform, addressing the crowd as Pepper and Tony stood on either side of him.
"Today we welcome a new member to our team," He announced. "Today, a new member will sign the Avenger Creed and become an official part of our team. Please welcome Medusa to the stage."
Medusa stepped forward from where she stood between Sam and Bucky, Scott Lang on the other side of Bucky. She kept a cool face as she came up to the table, taking the pen Rhodey handed her and scrawled MEDUSA in a fancy script before ending it with a little snake-like flare.
She stood back as Pepper took away the document, fondly smiling before stepping back.
"Any questions?" Medusa prompted, letting the familiar sound of reporters and the flashing of cameras lure her in.
After all, Starks loved the camera.