In Loving Memory of

CHARLES SPENCER

This memorial was kindly funded by
The Stark Foundation

It was a nice garden, all things considered. Plenty of trees; willows mainly, creating a little leafy cave that sheltered the space from the rest of the city. With the artificial spring in the center and a labyrinth of rose beds twisting out from it, the effect was peaceful and a little otherworldly, as though nothing could go wrong, nobody could be hurt here. Eva was immensely proud of it, even if her name wasn't on the plaque. She wouldn't have wanted it to be, anyway. That wasn't the point.

This garden was rebuilt after the area
was destroyed in the invasion of
New York, and stands to honor
the civilians who inspire our world's
heroes every day with their bravery
and selflessness.
It is a reminder that we fight not for
vengeance, but in faith of
a better tomorrow.

"What d'you think?" Eva asked Tony, who was stood next to her with his arms folded and gaudy sunglasses hiding his expression.

"It's alright," he frowned. "A little extra for something so serious."

"Says the man who built a red and gold suit to punch his problems with."

"Touché," said Tony. "Have we paid you yet?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Please," said Tony, "I owe you."

Eva decided not to push it. "How's Pepper?"

"Still adores me. She's organising some kind of green energy contract with the UN at the moment; I didn't get the details, but it all sounded very selfless. How's your cat?"

"Still fat."

"Good." They fell silent for a moment as the mayor, accompanied by Charlie Spencer's mother, cut the ribbon separating the memorial from the rest of Central Park. "Spoken to Alvie Kennings recently?" he asked, as they joined in the quiet applause.

"I'm not sure if I'm allowed to tell you that," she replied, and rubbed her back with a wince. "Christ, I think Thor actually managed to crack one of my ribs."

"Wait," said Tony, "you saw Thor?"

"Only very briefly," she said, "his brother was there, too."

"LOKI?!" A couple of people looked round in surprise at Tony's outburst, and he grabbed Eva's arm and dragged her away from the crowd. "Loki was here?!" he hissed.

"Yeah. Dunno what for, but he seemed to be pretty, y'know, non-murderous. Which was nice. Did they not come and see you? I guess they were in a rush. Weird. Seems like a lot's going on in the super community, right? Thor in a panic, those Defender people getting into a big fight the other month, that wizard guy on Bleecker Street with the weird house –"

"Stephen Strange? How do you know about him? And his house? Why did you go to his house?"

"I delivered coffee to him," she said, hoping that her blush didn't show beneath her freckles.

"Are there any Enhanced left that you haven't met? And slept with, for that matter?"

She punched him. "I've slept with two," she said, and hesitated. "One. I meant one. Shut your face, Stark."

"I'm not saying anything!"

"I only kissed Black Panther, anyway."

He clapped both hands to his face and gawped at her. "Eva Kresk," he said, "you little –"

"Don't say it, Stark. I'm warning you."

"- Spreader of free love," he finished, with an infuriatingly innocent smile.

"I hate you so much."

"A hair's width from love, you know."

Vision happened to walk over to them just as Eva was drawing back her leg to kick Tony in the leg with her steel toe-capped boot. "Is everything okay?" he asked, and the other two stepped away from each other like guilty schoolkids.

"Fine!"

"Great."

"Peachy keen," Tony assured his creation, and Eva smiled nervously.

Vision looked suspicious, but neither Eva nor Tony were going to stop saving face. "Well," he said, "in that case, we ought to be going."

"I'll see you tonight," said Eva, giving her best friend a quick hug. "Stranger Things 2 marathon, remember?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

The two superheroes walked away. As they did, Tony twisted round and did the "I've got my eye on you" hand gesture. She returned with one of her own, which wasn't quite as child (or Vision) friendly.

A/N I went to my first ever midnight screening two days ago. It was for Justice League, and I may or may not have got quite drunk beforehand in order to stay awake, and holy hell I had so much fun. Lectures the next day were painful, though. I had to have a nap outside a classroom while we were waiting for our tutor to turn up. It's not even the first time I've done it.