The resounding lively music played through the entire party deck of the penthouse. Peter put on his suit moments before he walked out of his room through the elevators. He's wearing a semi-formal attire that matches his eyes. Totally different from his usual t-shirt and hoodie. It's been a while since he last went to a party. The last one they had was the benefit ball Dad hosted for the victims of the Battle of NY after the invasion.
When the elevator opened he saw Dad already there talking to Dr. Banner near the bar counter. Maybe they're discussing about Ultron.
Among those invited are veterans, scientists, doctors, and other agents. A few CEO's and business tycoons are also present. His eyes searched for Pepper but she's nowhere to be found. Guess she's still has last minute business to attend to.
His eyes also caught Sam, a friend of Steve's whom they met right after SHIELD collapsed. They are playing billiards with some veterans.
"There he is," Uncle Rhode's called out waving at him with Natasha. He ran to where they are and Uncle Rhodes hugged him.
"Wow champ, you've been taller since the last time I saw you. You're growing into a teenager already." Rhodes pointed out as he inspects Peter.
"I'm still the smallest in our class."
"Oh you just wait, you're going to tower on all of them soon."
"I highly doubt that Uncle Rhodes."
Rhodey patted his back and they sit on the nearby couch. The waiter came to them giving them drinks and entrees.
"Hey, little Stark. You look very handsome today." Natasha smiled as she fix some of his curls in place.
Peter grinned shyly. "Thanks, and you look very beautiful Ms. Romanoff, as always."
The team had already told him to just call them by their first names, but Peter just can't get used to calling them by first name basis. He feels it's too informal and disrespectful since he's still just a kid.
"How many times do I have to say, you can call me Natasha. Or you can call me Aunt if you're still feeling uncomfortable. It's been a long time since I've known you and your Dad, little Stark. It will be perfectly fine with me."
"Oh, okay... Aunt Nat." Peter smiled and was surprised that Natasha would be okay with that.
None of Dad's female friends he ever called Aunt. Even Dad's girlfriend, the woman closest to him, Pepper. He hasn't even thought of calling her Aunt even through the years. Maybe because she's the one closest to him to being his mother figure, so if he's going to call her other than her name, it will be calling her "Mom".
The hours passed and Uncle Rhodes told them stories of his diplomatic missions in different countries, different crowds loved it. Peter laughed when Uncle Rhodes' story didn't even sell and entertained Dad.
Thor told his other worldly adventures to the veterans and got into a drinking challenge with Steve and the other guys.
Dad slides his arm over his shoulders as they walked. "Okay, bud. Time for bed."
The waiters already cleaned up and the team was the only one left in the whole building still conversing on some stories.
"I'm not yet sleepy, Dad. I want to see if anyone of you can lift Mjolnir." They gazed upon the guys who's waiting for Tony before they start the contest.
"That's easy, I'll lift it, then I take Asgard from Thor, end of story," Dad pinched his nose. "It's almost midnight. Do you want me to tuck you to sleep? Sing a lullaby?"
"Dad c'mon, I'm not a baby anymore and Pepper said its okay since its Friday. Weekend tomorrow."
"You'll always be my baby, buddy. And when did you talk to her? Why didn't you call me?"
"You were busy talking science with Dr. Strange and Dr. Palmer earlier. It would be rude if I suddenly pull you from them. Are they together now?"
Dr. Palmer is still one of Peter's doctors and they've been in touch with her every now and then. They first met Dr. Strange when she introduced him to them as her colleague during the last benefit ball.
Tony's forehead creased. "Are they a thing? You sense gossip than me, kid. I'm kinda recruiting him as one of The Avenger's doctors. We could use him around like Dr. Cho during emergencies. His work on Neurosurgery is one of the best. Although his arrogance really gets to my nerves so I might really rethink that."
"It's not gossip Dad. I just observed. You two are no different you know."
"Hey, what does that mean?"
Tony's eyes squinted and Peter just laughed as they sit at the vacant space of the sofa.
"The Iron father and son duo are here, so should we get this started," Clint stood up and walked to the center of the table. All of them gazed as Clint grabs and tries to lift Mjolnir but it didn't even budge. He roared in laughter as his vein pops out from trying. "I still don't know how you do it!"
"Smell the silent judgment?" Dad said smirking and Peter rolled his eyes. Dad's arrogance will really get them in trouble. Dad stands up and unbuttoned his suit ready to lift the hammer up.
Natasha and Rhodey teased. "Uh oh, here we go."
"It's physics," Dad grasps the handle and tries to lift but still no budge. "I'll be right back,"
This time Tony's wearing Lefty, his left iron hand armor. With increased strength he tries again but fails. Uncle Rhodes now joined in and they tried to lift together to no success so they just returned to their seats.
"It's okay, Dad. Midgard needs you more than Asgard." Peter whispered and awe transformed Tony's face as he put his arm around his son's shoulder and their heads touched for a second.
Dr. Banner went to try next, he roars trying to scare them that he might change into the Hulk in any second but everyone just stared at him warily wondering except Natasha. She smiled at him as if saying that's not going to work with us Bruce.
Steve stood up for his turn, folding his sleeves as he gets ready. He starts pulling on the hammer and somehow miraculously manages to budge it a little. Thor saw it and it alarmed him but laughs it off as Steve still fails to lift. But Peter also saw it since he's watching so directly, his mouth hanged open in shock.
The team's now asking Natasha for her turn but Peter still can't believe if he saw it right. "Dad did you see that?"
"See what?"
He observed Thor's nervous laughter and Steve just humbly smiling. So he's the only one who saw it aside from Thor.
Dad stands up to pick up another beer. "The handle's imprinted, right? Like a security code. "Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints" is, I think, the literal translation?"
"Yes, well that's, uh, that's a very, very interesting theory. I have a simpler one," Thor gets up, easily lifts his hammer and flips it. "You're all not worthy."
There were a chorus of boos from the team afterwards and Peter smirked for he knew better, someone else from the team might also be worthy.
Suddenly, an ear-splitting screeching noise stopped their laughter, causing everyone to cover their ears. They let their hands down as it fades.
"Worthy,"
It was a voice, like from someone coming from the grave.
They all turned to where it is coming from and saw a Legionnaire suit in an awful state, liquid chemical flowing from it.
"How could you be worthy? You're all killers."
Tony hid Peter on his back. "JARVIS. Reboot Legionnaire OS, we got a buggy suit."
There was no answer. He checked his phone for the security controls of the Tower. JARVIS knows everything that's going on. But it is as if everything's not working right now.
"There was a terrible noise...and I was tangled in... in...strings. I had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy."
"You killed someone?" Steve asked. All of them are now on edge, confused but ready.
"JARVIS. He's the first line of defense." Peter mumbled as he hugged his Dad from the back. All of the adults glanced at him and remembered they got a child to protect.
Thor clenched his fist and grasped his hammer tighter. "Who sent you?"
Tony's voice replays from its speaker. "I see a suit of armor around the world".
"Ultron!" Bruce blurted in shock. But Tony can't believe it. They weren't even close to an interface. Most of all, Ultron isn't supposed to be like this. Ultron isn't even supposed to be alive. What could've successfully turned it sentient? All the trials failed.
"In the flesh. Or, no, not yet. Not this...chrysalis. But I'm ready. I'm on a mission."
The team felt like anytime now something bad is about to happen.
"What mission?"
"Peace in our time." The Iron Legion bots suddenly break smash through the walls into an attack on all of them. Steve defended using a table while the team take cover. Bruce and Natasha went inside the bar to get the extra guns hidden. Thor hammered and smashed all the bots that closes in on him.
"I got Peter, Tony." Rhodes assured as they saw a bot flying near them. Seeing Peter safe, Tony jumped to where the bot is and tries to disable its system through its neck, but as he managed to shut it down, Tony ungraciously fell and landed at the stairs through the shattered glass.
Steve and Thor managed to kill the bot that's about hit Dr. Cho.
Clint got a hold of Captain America's shield and threw it at him like a Frisbee and Steve destroys the last of the Iron Legion murder bot.
"That was dramatic! I'm sorry, I know you mean well. You just didn't think it through. You want to protect the world, but you don't want it to change. How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to...evolve? With what? With these puppets? There's only one path to peace: The Avengers' extinction."
Thor throws in his hammer at Ultron smashing him to pieces.
A singing voice echoed even when the bot was destroyed. "I had strings, but now I'm free."
Tony got up from the floor and sits by the stairs as Thor took off after the drone that snatched the scepter. He observed the penthouse, there were damage all around, broken and destroyed things shattered everywhere. Something that reminds him of Malibu.
Why do bad guys always have to destroy my home?
He hissed as he feels a throbbing pain in his arm, the only part of his body that directly hit the stairs when he landed. He checked his teammates. All of them seems to be physically okay with only a few bruises. But the important thing for him right now is that his son is safe.
Peter ran up to him worried, "Dad, you're hurt."
Steve started to walk towards him. He can see everyone's concerned gazes. He created that thing, more than what he'd liked to admit.
Steve approached him carefully like a wounded puppy but calm and cautious for he might poke the bear. "Tony, you okay? Can you stand? We all still need to talk about this Ultron."
Tony expected the blame and anger coming from their leader but instead here is Steve being Steve. So goddamn understanding. He hid his disbelief. No one is this good. It infuriates him more even though he knows he shouldn't.
"Yeah, yeah... I'm okay, give me a sec." He closed his eyes keeping his head back on track. Once recovered, he stood up with Peter assisting him. He made sure that Peter gets to go to his room to sleep first before going to the lab where the team is.
He can already hear the conversation before he can even enter. Bruce and Natasha is informing the team of their files and surveillance compromised. Ultron used the internet as an escape hatch and probably knows more about them than they know about each other.
When he entered the room everyone looked at him as if he's some sort of criminal that did a really bad thing. He went to the center and brings up the destroyed consciousness of JARVIS.
He stared at how much it was destroyed. JARVIS had been with him ever since he found out he has a son. His assistant to everything, his security, and his friend that has been with him through thick or thin. Grief is starting to sink in like he just lost a loved one.
Bruce observed incredulous. "Ultron could've assimilated Jarvis. This isn't strategy, this is...rage."
Thor arrived and walked directly into Tony's direction, the loud footsteps was heard and everyone saw how furious he is, his emotions are controlling his actions, he was about to go grab Tony but Natasha seeing what was about to happen stepped in-front of Tony about to protect him. Steve stopped Thor in his chest. A fight isn't good for the team, they need to be united now. "Thor, the Legionnnaire."
Thor finally lets go of his anger and backs off. "Trail went cold about a hundred miles out but it's headed north. Now we have to retrieve the scepter, again. This could've been avoided if you hadn't played with something you don't understand."
Tony went to his computer, his back on all of them. They should know the answer to that by now. On why he had to create this thing.
Seeing that threats to this world would continue to come regardless of their own heroics, he started to create Ultron with a wholesome endeavor - peace, protection for all mankind. A peacekeeping program designed to help the Avengers but instead all of it resulted into a murderous AI. The opposite personification of what he had in mind, of what they worked hard for. It acted in defiance and assessed peace in a different light.
"The Avengers were supposed to be different than SHIELD." Steve pointed out. He was talking about the Triskellion mess, on how SHIELD tried to prevent catastrophe but ended up causing more destruction.
But this is different, it is supposed to be different.
"Anybody remember when I carried a nuke through a wormhole? A hostile alien army came charging through a hole in space. We're standing three hundred feet below it. We are the Avengers. We can bust arms dealers all the live long day, but, that up there? That's... that's the Endgame. How were you guys planning on beating that?"
Steve locks his eyes on him and earnestly answers. "Together."
"We'll lose."
"Then we'll do that together, too."
Tony stared at him for a moment before turning away. See, that's the problem, it's a battle he can't afford to lose.
Peter yawned scratching his eye as he walk towards the kitchen for breakfast. The events of what happened last night still fresh in his mind. Ultron became sentient. He lifted his head up and saw someone unexpected.
"Pepper?,"
Her mouth curved into a smile when she saw the handsome young man coming to her. She hugged him close assessing if he's okay.
"Why are you here? You're supposed to be back by next week right?"
"My boys need me here. I heard what happened, sweetheart. Now sit, I prepared your favorites." He smiled as he sits on his chair and she puts some waffles on his plate.
Whenever Pepper is at the Tower, she spoils him with his favorites. She always insist that they get some bonding moments since it's rare that she gets to have free time now. Always traveling on business trips.
She watched Peter as he eats. Our boy is getting big now. "Look at your hair, let's get some haircut later alright. And we need to buy you some clothes. Yours are getting smaller. I'll call-"
"No, please don't call Mr. Ford, Pepper. I'm okay with my t-shirts and hoodies."
Mr. Tom Ford always comes personally at the Tower to make tailored clothes for him and Dad. Its not that that he doesn't like designer clothes, he's just more comfortable with the casual outfits Dad bought for him which Pepper doesn't really agree on.
Pepper bit her lip. Hoodies? Those hideous sweatshirt that Tony uses when he wants to go undercover? Ugh. She really needs to stop Tony from getting Peter those outfits. She sighed as they might just go again to the shops at Fifth. "But we'll still pick out clothes later, okay. I'm telling you, you need to get rid of those hoodies young man."
Peter's about to protest when the elevator opened and he saw Dad now coming from it.
Tony's smile fades as he spotted Pepper. He's about to go back to the elevator when she called out. "Tony, sit."
It made him completely stop and turn around back to their table. "Honey! I didn't know you're coming back home today."
He kissed her cheek and kissed Peter's head afterwards. He's hoping that she's not going to bring up the topic which is really quite impossible.
Pepper sits at the chair between them and they started to eat silently, but she really can't hold it any longer. "What were you thinking, Tony? And you also brought your son into creating this robot, this Ultron? You boys watch movies every week. Have you not learned anything from those killing robots in that, that Skynet?"
Peter can't help but chuckle silently. "The Terminator." he mumbled. He was surprised Pepper can still remember that cause whenever they watch with her, she just ends up sleeping halfway.
"It was supposed to be different, Pep. It's a peacekeeping program. We're not even close to creating it in the first place. The trial unexpectedly became sentient. It just..."
Tony paused and massaged his temples, the damage has been done, there's no point in convincing Pepper. There's no point in explaining. That Maximoff girl played with his mind, she used his fear to create his own undoing, Ultron.
Seeing Tony's downcast eyes, she resigned herself and gently squeezed his right hand, "I'm sorry this had to happen. Are you okay? Has Dr. Cho already checked your arm?"
"It's fine now, she cleared me before she head back to Seoul,"
They smiled at each other. "We already have a lead on where Ultron's going next. We're leaving in an hour to retrieve the scepter. I had already finished the manual reboot of the security system of the Tower, you and Peter, you'll be safe here."
Later that day, the Avengers fly off to the South African coast. Peter was left in the Tower with Pepper. They were instructed not to leave the Tower until the Ultron issue is dealt with so he had no choice but to let Pepper take care of him. The barber and the tailor came to the Tower to fix him up. After all that, he went to his part of the lab.
He can't help but feel guilty. Dad doesn't deserve to take all the blame from creating Ultron. Dad wasn't the only one who created it, they helped. They also kept the secret. And what Ultron said last night bothers him. He said he wants the Avengers extinct. What does that mean?
He browsed through thousands of their codes that created Ultron but found no other mistake that could've turned the bot evil. It's just Ultron's assessment of the past that he came up with that objective. He then scanned through JARVIS mainstream of codes. A lot has been damaged. He remember all the times whenever he woke up, gets back from school, JARVIS voice always welcomes him. Keeps an eye on him and guides him through everything since he was a kid. He already misses JARVIS'.
When he got out of the lab, he saw Pepper now watching the news, her hands covering her mouth. It is on live news broadcast that shows chaos now happening in Johannesburg, the Hulk wreaking havoc on civilians.
"Oh my God," Pepper muttered. "What could've turned him this furious."
The footage was cut-off when Hulk suddenly throws something at the cameraman.
Peter immediately went to the lab with Pepper following him, to hack on Dad's suit that can make them see what's happening in real time. In a few minutes he managed to successfully go through, Tony can't hear them but they can see exactly what's happening. Dad's now wearing a thicker suit, the Hulkbuster armor. This is really serious if he decided to call in VERONICA. Where's the rest of the team?
Pepper rested her hands on Peter's shoulders taking a deep breath. They're afraid of what might happen, of Tony's safety. The Hulk is very unstable now, he's practically unstoppable.
They can now hear Dad starting to talk some sense to the Hulk. "That little witch is messing with your mind. You're stronger than her, you're smarter than her, you're Bruce Banner."
But Hulk just roars angrily. They start fighting and throwing each other around. They battle it out more but Dad is already struggling to beat Hulk. Every time Dad takes a punch or attack, they wince at the sight. As Hulk destroyed one of Dad's armor arm, VERONICA sends in a new Hulkbuster armor arm and Dad uses it to repeatedly punch Hulk trying to get him to sleep but it's no use. Dad started to pick up Hulk to get him out of the city but Hulk managed to sway him to a nearby building and they crashes hard battling more.
When Dad finally trapped Hulk's hand into his arm, he decided to drop Hulk through an unfinished building completely destroying it; As Tony plunges down, Peter hoped Dad will pull it through, that he's safe under that armor. Tony managed to pull it off as Hulk comes out of Wanda's mind-hold, but knocks him out cold to make sure. A few moments later the quinjet arrived. That's the last of what they saw on the suit's projection.
Peter spent the next hour waiting for his Dad to call. Pepper started to arrange all the help the Stark Relief Foundation can give to the fatalities of Johannesburg. Hill was the first to speak to Tony informing them of the current situation.
"Dad are you okay? Are all of you alright?" Peter asked worried over the monitor. Dad looks tired and the rest of the team looks pretty shaken from the background.
"I am Pete, I am okay. You heard Hill, I'm sorry I can't come home yet. Where's Pepper?"
"She's downstairs managing the relief foundation. Do you want me to go get her?"
"No, no. Just tell her everything later, okay? We'll figure this out. I love you, bud. I'll be back as soon as this is over."
Dad masked a smile at him and Peter forced himself a smile. The call ended and Peter went directly to the lab. There's got to be something he can help them with. He started to run through JARVIS matrix file and finally saw something he can start with.
"Thor didn't say where he was going for answers?" Tony asked as he chops another pile of wood.
They're now at Clint's homestead, a safe-house at the middle of nowhere to lay low and recharge. He and Steve started to chop piles of woods to help the Barton family and as a means of letting steam off their heads but instead he feels quite the opposite. They're all a mess. Ultron pulled them apart like cotton-candy.
"Sometimes my teammates don't tell me things. I was kind of hoping Thor would be the exception."
Steve leers his gaze on to Clint teaching his son at the balcony. He realized there are a lot of secrecy going on with his teammates that they don't trust the team to know. Something that they like to keep for themselves like the things the man in front of him has.
"Yeah, give him time. We don't know what the Maximoff kid showed him."
"Well I guess you'd know. Whether you tell us is a bit of a question."
Tony stopped what he was doing and glared at Steve. "Banner and I were doing research."
"That would affect the team."
"That would end the team! Isn't that the mission? Isn't that the "why" we fight, so we can end the fight, so we get to go home?"
It's what he wanted all along. Not just to protect the Earth, his family, but maybe the obsolescence of the Avengers as well, so they can live their normal lives once again. Not just him focusing more on his son, but he wishes his teammates the same, that they can live their lives in peace.
"Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die. Every time."
Tony backs off and gazes down as he clenches his fist. More than what he liked to admit, what Steve said is true. And no matter what his reasons were, his reasons of creating Ultron really is flawed. He created it not with pure and good intentions, but with fear enveloping his heart.
Laura came after to them interrupting their heated conversation, asking if Tony can start the tractor. He walks up to the barn and checks.
"Hello, Deere. Tell me everything. What ails you?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice answered, a voice whom he thought was already dead.
"Do me a favor. Try not to bring it to life." Fury showed himself walking over to him.
"I get it, Maria Hill called you, right? Was she ever not working for you?"
He noticed all of the former SHIELD agents he knows are very loyal to Fury. Willing to double cross him just to spy.
"Look me in the eye and tell me you're going to shut him down."
"You're not the director of me."
"I'm not the director of anybody. I'm just an old man, who cares very much about you."
Tony stepped closer, his eyes full of accusations.
"Really? Really though? You didn't tell me Mary's research even though I know you already knew about it. She involved her own DNA and you didn't tell me. My son was put in danger because of it, you heard about that? And he might still be. Now tell me, where is that research, was it killed when she died, when SHIELD collapsed?"
"You need to discover it on your own, and you found it. I can't provide anything more because I didn't know more, I was clueless before as you were. Now, I don't know, if that animal is dead or what, cause I don't know where she hid it. But I believe, Mary had a reason for doing what she did, Stark. It's maybe her way of protecting her son. Just as you with your reasons."
Tony shuddered a sigh as he stepped back. He didn't even know if he can say it so it took all the courage to finally admit.
"I saw my son, in my arms Nick. He was dead, he died in my arms. Pepper, Happy, the Avengers, they're all dead. I felt it. The whole world, too. It's because of me. I wasn't ready. I didn't do all I could."
"The Maximoff girl, she's working you, Stark. Playing on your fear."
"I wasn't tricked, I was shown. It wasn't a nightmare, it's the end of the path I started us on."
And it's what's exactly happening right now. Thanks to his egotistical tech tampering, his creation might end all of them.
"You've come up with some pretty impressive inventions, Stark. War isn't one of them. That path you saw can be changed. You trust your team. Outwit the platinum bastard."
Later that night, the team finally deduces what Ultron's plan is, to evolve. They came up with a plan to stop the the murder bot once and for all.
The soft sound of Dad voice slowly awakened Peter's senses. He pulled up his blanket to cover more of his body so he can trap the heat and tries to reach for his pillow so he can drown out all the noise.
"Dad, five more minutes." he said in a groggy voice. He noticed he's not in his bed because one more turn and he's going to crash hard on the floor. Oh that's right, he's in the lab. Wait, what?
He shot his eyes open and got up. The sight of his Dad sitting beside him greeted him. He's at the sofa of the lab. He remembered spending an all-nighter, but didn't know he fell asleep.
"You know, I miss the days when I can carry you in my arms to your bed when you fall asleep on the couch. Now I might have to use the suit to carry you," Tony ruffled his hair while Peter suppresses a yawn. "You should be on your bed, young man."
Peter peers down and started fidgeting. "JARVIS. Dad I found out he's-"
"Still alive. I know, I found out at NEXUS," Of course, Dad would know. He lifted his head up to find Dad smiling at him proudly. "You found out JARVIS is still here somewhere and managed to piece him together. Now, that's amazing. You did a good job, my son."
Dad patted his head and kissed his forehead, Peter smiled back. He did managed to help at least. He investigated until he found out that JARVIS' memory was just scattered all around, his protocols are still intact that's why the military's codes kept being changed, somehow JARVIS is still helping them, so he tried his best to piece together all he can find.
Peter tapped his starkphone and JARVIS's consciousness glowed in 3D form, good as new.
"Welcome back, JARVIS. It's good to have you back." Tony greeted.
"It is indeed, Sir. Thank you to your brilliant son, young master Peter."
Later that day, Clint arrives with the Cradle. Tony persuaded Bruce once again to help them upload the last remnants of JARVIS' protocols into the android inside the Cradle so that they could create an ally against Ultron. Peter assisted Bruce since the doctor scientist already taught him BioOrganics from the past years. They were close to finishing the upload when Steve came with the Maximoff twins to oppose.
Dad and Steve started to fight each other but in the end, Thor managed to save the android by using his lightning, thus creating the synthetic being with a mind of its own.
Peter stared amazed at the man with the yellow stone in its forehead. It flies and even has the ability to produce clothing of its own. It has JARVIS' voice but it's not exactly the JARVIS he had known.
"Turn down the lightning a little, point break. Alright? Got a kid here." Tony put his hands on Peter's shoulders securing him.
"Yeah, Stark. Sorry about that." Thor then explained the Infinity Stones to all of them and the Mind Stone is the one on Vision's forehead. Vision then declared he was not Ultron or JARVIS, rather he was something altogether new and, unlike Ultron, had a deep abiding respect for life. He calls himself Vision. Finishing all their doubts is when he casually lifted Mjølnir and offered it back to Thor, much to their bewilderment.
"Dad, can I come? I'll just be at the Helicarrier with Agent Hill." Peter asked as he watched Dad get his collection of User Interface chips to find his replacement for JARVIS.
Tony stopped what he was doing, stared at his son and caressed his face.
"Nope. Pete, I need to know you're safe so I can focus. So I can end this. Knowing you're within Sokovia, it's just dangerous. I can't let you near it. You've done enough to help us. You've done amazing work, bud, more than we deserve. How many times have I already said, I'm so proud of you?"
"Only about a billion times." Peter grinned that made Tony smile.
"That's right. Now what do you think should be our next UI?"
"You know I like TADASHI, cause of Big Hero 6."
"Yeah, he's very noble. but I think we should go with,"
Tony started to plug-in FRIDAY. "Good evening, boss." The female Irish accented voice greeted.
"Your favorite day of the week," Tony ruffled his hair. "I'll reserve TADASHI when you wanted a suit for yourself."
Peter's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Kidding." Tony comically laughed and rested his arm on Peter's shoulders as he check the suit's specs and condition.
Peter's smile immediately faded. "Dad!"
...
Before, the team leave. Peter embraced Tony tightly, "Be careful Dad, I heard Vision said Ultron hates you the most."
"Yeah, he's like an angsty teenager in rebellion. I wonder if you're going to be the same in a few years."
Peter grimaced at the thought. "That would be impossible."
Tony grinned and kissed Peter's forehead. Knowing Peter, he will always be their pure hearted cinnamon bun. "I know, bud. I know."
Peter watched as the jet took off. He waved goodbye as he and Pepper head back inside.
That night, the Ultron Offensive happened. Utron managed to successfully make a large portion of the Earth fly using Vibranium that could cause an extinction-level event. The Avengers formed together to kill every drone there is as Vision fried Ultron's escape hatch.
Director Fury helped the remaining people trapped in the flying city to evacuate using the Helicarrier.
When the city began to plummet down the Earth, Dad used his unibeam and Thor strikes a lightning to overcharge the drill, making it crumble into many pieces before it falls massively back to Earth. The debris falls safely into a lake thus not causing any major fatalities.
At the end of it all, they won as Vision destroyed the last remaining drone of Ultron. But they also suffered a great loss, Pietro died and Hulk fled into nowhere believing that the team was constantly in danger because of him, leaving all of them behind.
"Aunt Nat? I knew I can find you here." Peter called softly to Natasha gazes beyond the trees, her mind lost in thought. It's been three months and there's still no news or any sightings of Bruce. She can't help but mourn thinking he might be dead already.
Peter stepped closer and nudged her arm gently that made her come back into reality.
"Lunch's waiting downstairs. I think the whole team's already digging in. They're looking for you."
Natasha masked a smile and intertwined her arm with Peter's arm as they walk towards the dining area.
"I'm going to miss you little Stark, maybe you'll be taller than me the next time I see you."
"Yeah, I am," Peter laughed. "I hope. And we'll try to visit as much as possible, or you can visit us at the Tower."
"Of course. You know we'll be busy with training the new members right? and the missions."
"I'm gonna miss you too Aunt Nat, all of you."
Natasha smiled as they stopped and she hugged Peter.
When they reached the massive dining hall, they saw the team exchanging stories and merrily eating. The new members are there, Vision, Wanda, Sam, Rhodey. Even Clint's family, Director Fury, Agent Hill, Dr. Cho, and Dr. Selvig. It is a farewell party for Clint and Tony's retirement from the Avengers initiative. They will be missed but even though they're retired from the team, they will always be an Avenger.
After their defeat of Ultron, Tony finally decided to tap out. He realized he has done enough avenging. Instead of creating a solution, he created havoc. And he's struggling to move on from it. If he can learn and forgive himself for creating Ultron. Maybe he can live a more peaceful life with his family. Leave the issue of the world into Steve's care. Even though he knows it will never be enough, because trouble will always come and he will always be ready in case.
The three mightiest heroes now walk through the Halls of the compound, the thousand acre new Avengers facility.
"You saw how happy Peter is with Clint's kids? Maybe it's time you give him a sibling, Tony." Steve pointed out that made Tony laugh. Peter's already getting older to have a sibling.
"Oh, I don't know Cap. We'll see."
"Send me a postcard to Asgard if there's more of your spawn coming. I'm gonna miss these little talks of ours." Thor stopped and smiled at both of them tapping their shoulders.
"Well, not if you don't leave. And how do I send a postcard to Asgard?"
Thor just grinned and they started to walk outside.
"I have no choice. The Mind Stone is the fourth of the Infinity Stones to show up in the last few years. That's not a coincidence. Someone has been playing an intricate game and has made pawns of us."
"You think you can find out what's coming?"
"I do. Besides this one," Thor pats Tony's chest as he walks in front of them, ready to bid goodbye. "There's nothing that can't be explained."
He nods on both of them lifting his hammer up returning to Asgard through his Bifrost, leaving a burnt ancient circle on the grass.
"That man has no regard for lawn maintenance." Tony exclaimed as they turn back to the garden where the team now is. "I'm gonna miss him though. And you're gonna miss me. There's gonna be a lot of manful tears."
Steve gazed at Tony appreciatively. "I will miss you, Tony."
"Yeah? Well, it's time for me to tap out. Maybe I should take a page out of Barton's book and build Peter and Pepper a safe-house, hope nobody blows it up."
They stopped and stare at the kids now playing at the field. "The simple life."
"You'll get there one day."
"I don't know, family, stability. The guy who wanted all that went in the ice seventy-five years ago. I think someone else came out."
"Oh you never know." Tony eyed him Natasha who's now carrying Nathaniel.
Seeing what Tony was trying to say, Steve scrunched up his face. "What? Natasha? No."
He doesn't think there's anyone who can even compare for his love for Peggy.
"Natasha's your work wife, Rogers. Maybe try, she can even be your real wife,"
Tony chuckled at his sentiment and walks to his son now waiting at him. "Just think about it."
They shake hands before he hops into his car. Steve nodded at him before he took off.
"Why is Steve's face like that, Dad?"
"We may have a new love team in the years to come." Tony mysteriously joked that made Peter lift a brow.
"Where are we going now?"
He smiled at his son before answering.
"Home."