December 14th - 2027
"Try to not faint!" Peter shouted at Flash who was behind him as they jumped from balcony to balcony in a small space between two buildings, each wearing their respective suits.
"You aren't exactly being fair!" He protested, gasping between each jump that required a lot of muscle agility that the suit was now giving him.
Peter jumped into a wall and started to quickly crawl his way to the top of the building, being followed by Flash who was struggling to keep up with his experienced superhero friend.
"You're the one who insisted with this!" Peter reached the edge of the rooftop and with a spin on the edge; he accurately landed on the rooftop. He slowly recovered his breath as he kept observing the disappearing sun in the horizon.
When Flash was close enough, Peter offered his hand and pulled him up to the rooftop. Peter removed his red mask with golden lenses and placed it over his left shoulder, before crossing arms, smiling at Flash.
"You okay?"
"Why do you say that?" Flash's face was now exposed. He cleaned the sweat from his forehead and took a heavy breath.
"I'm just being careful."
"My god, it's so hot over here."
Peter chuckled. "The spandex was worse; this suit actually cools down my body temperature, it's quite comfortable."
"I see,"
"You'll get used to it."
Flash nodded. "Um," He paused. "Do you...do you ever thought about stopping?"
"You mean be done with Spider-Man?" He asked back, receiving a nod in return. He turned and gazed the sun, deeply in thought. "Well, I did before, just dedicate my time with my family, but the thing is, my family - Gwen and the kids, they accept who I am, and support me, maybe there will be a day when Spider-Man won't exist anymore, maybe people are going to get tired of him, I don't know."
"The future is uncertain, eh?"
Peter turned on his back, now facing his best friend. "Exactly, it's an infinite responsibility, but that's not up to me, the city made their choice for now, so I have to keep going."
"I understand." Flash nodded. The goo from his left arm retracted back to his shoulder, revealing his bare arm and wrist which had a small watch around it. "The operation is starting in a few hours, shouldn't we prepare for it?"
"Yeah, we have to find those special twins," He agreed. "But I'm stopping at Helen's house first; Gwen will be traveling for a week so she wanted to pay a visit to her mother."
"You mentioned, work stuff?"
Peter sighed. "My wife is a workaholic as it is, you have no idea." He shrugged. "She convinced me to let her participate on the mission, since we are undercover in a casino; she wanted to be my date for some reason that only Thor's gods knows why."
Flash laughed. "It sounds like she's becoming a super spy."
Helen's House
"It's hard to believe that Elizabeth is already six years old. Where did the time go? I still remember Gwen standing there, smiling like a little cutie when I came to pick you up, like it was yesterday." Helen said, grinning at the sight of her only daughter rolling her eyes.
"Peter though, you should have seen him when I told him he'd have to deliver his own daughter. For a second, I was afraid he was going to faint." Gwen quipped, chuckling when she heard the man who had his arm wrapped around her shoulders mumble under his breath. "Yes, dear?" she asked, biting her lower lip to stop herself from laughing when he narrowed his eyes at the nickname.
"You know, I will get you alone later …" he simply stated.
"I consider myself warned and am quaking in my boots." She answered, this time unable to keep herself from laughing when he sighed in defeat.
Helen shook her head, smiling at their behaviour. It was good to see them like this; happy and carefree. They deserved it after everything they had to go through. An image of how devastated her daughter had been after Peter was taken into the hospital crossed her mind, but she quickly shook it off. Everything was okay now, that was all that mattered. Howard entered the room, holding a cup of tea as he sat beside his mother.
"Well, for all its worth, George would have been just as nervous had he been in your shoes." Helen said. She knew how nervous he had been when Gwen was born…and he was just in the same room, holding her hand and letting her curse him across the planet and back again.
"For all his initial nervousness, he did great, though. I mean, once his hands stopped shaking and he stopped rambling about the whole I can't do this thing" Gwen continued, resting her head on Peter's shoulder when his arm tightened slightly around her to pull her closer, even if it was just a fraction.
"I remember a time when you were rambling, though that was to do with Elizabeth, not the twins." Peter teased, grinning when she huffed beside him. It was a fond memory for him, to see her struggling and stumbling over her words for once.
"What? Gwen was rambling? That's a bit hard to imagine, Peter," Howard smiled, watching his sister bite her lower lip again.
Gwen sighed. "He's right, though. I was nervous as hell when I told him that I was pregnant with Liz. I was excited but also scared. It was the strangest thing ever," She admitted. "I mean, I didn't even know if I was fit to have a baby, and Peter was very worried as well, so it just all came together in this weird mix of emotions."
"It was fun, I got pretty excited about it, and we decided that it was the right time." Peter told his wife before kissing her temple when she looked at him. He drew small circles on her shoulder with his thumb.
"I do remember how excited you were..." Gwen teased, seeing him blushing when he saw Helen blush slightly. Apparently she hadn't been as quiet as she thought, and now he knew why Gwen was laughing.
"It's nice of you to share that bit, Gwendy." Howard commented, earning a glare from Helen.
"Stop it! That's not something to talk about," She chided him. "At least you should be thankful that Gwen at least tried to break the news gently."
Gwen raised her eyebrow. "What? Did you just drop the bombshell at the time?"
"You could say that. I had bought those books about pregnancy and shoved them at George, accompanied with a 'Read them, you can thank me once our child is born.' So yeah, I'd say you can consider yourself lucky."
Gwen laughed out loud, before gently elbowing her husband. "Are you serious?"
Helen shrugged. "Well, why not? He wouldn't be the one carrying the child for nine months and going through the pain of birth. No need to take it easy on him."
Peter kissed Gwen's cheek, softly. "Okay. I take everything back. I'd rather have a scare than…that. Seriously, I think I actually would have fainted if you had told me that way."
Avengers Tower / Debriefing Room
Steve nodded. "A small team, no aggressiveness at first; let's see that blueprint, Natasha."
Natasha manipulated the touch screen from the table and a 3D representation of the blueprint materialized from the projector with a green marker on Bane's office, the supposed man who was sheltering the dangerous twins and panic room which was located on the ground floor past the casino area amongst a series of hallways in a restricted area. A dozen smaller yellow markers indicated strategically placed security cameras, various red markers indicated alarms, and then there were green markers for various junction boxes controlling different security systems.
"Score," Hawkeye proclaimed victoriously. "How close can you get? You don't usually put a backdoor in a panic room."
"And those cameras definitely present a problem," Tony said. "I don't think pulling the plug on several districts' power stations is very clandestine, it will bring attention, and the casino area likely has back-up power. We've to deal with security on-site."
Clint had studied the blueprint and noted, "That air ventilation shaft in the ceiling goes through the casino and ends in a storage room near the hallway, past all cameras and guards. From there the hallway's camera can be hacked with the bracelets, and then it's through a door and a corridor to Bane's room."
"But this is casino security," Gwen pointed out. "It's supposed to be unbeaten. They have the cameras, they got locks, they got watchers, they got timers, they got vaults and on top of everything they have armed personnel." Gwen pointed at two red markers inside the ventilation shaft, "And there are alarms halfway to our destination. And the grates appeared wired to."
Tony nodded and scrutinized the air shaft and the info boxes, "Yeah, the grates are connected to magnets on the inside; once the grate is lifted off the connectors lose contact and the alarm sounds. That's going to cause trouble when the crawler exists. And halfway through the shaft it looks like a pressure pad and a detector beam. It's the most logical to have in there. Where are the junction boxes to those obstacles?"
Natasha selected a few options and lit up the corresponding junction boxes, one on each side of the casino floor, one on a wall at the dinner tables, and one on a wall at the roulette tables.
Natasha explained, "The blueprint shows which junction boxes controls which function. Peter, with you on the ground floor you can hack those junction boxes associated with any alarm. I have hacking countermeasures which will help. The final grate will be a problem so crawling through the shaft will have to try and work the nearby junction box in the storage room quickly after opening the grate."
"Yeah, we don't have much choice about the final grate," Peter said resigned. He looked at the blueprint and the air ventilation shaft and continued, "And it looks like the best option is to enter the shaft is from that corner by the stair on the second floor near that dance floor."
The redhead nodded, "Yes. I think you're right. That alarm is wired to a junction box on the opposite side of the room. There's a camera to. It seems every camera has a control panel nearby, that panel can be hacked with my programs."
"Okay. Zoom in on the lobby before the restricted area," Tony instructed.
Peter looked at the hologram, "Well, those two cameras covering the lobby and hallway can be tricky, we've take them out as well before advancing."
The newbie, Flash, spoke for the first time, "You will still need someone to infiltrate via the shaft. They need to be small in size."
"Yeah, that's not me," Bruce said from his corner chair. "Oh wait, you guys aren't bringing me along." He sighed.
Peter grinned. "Sorry, the big guy might...change the plans."
Banner groaned in discontentment.
Peter glanced over the table, at no one special, as he went over in his mind what skill set he needed from the one going through the shaft.
He had already made his choice and turned to Natasha. "Okay, you're up, Widow."
"Me?"
"You'll likely fit in the shaft, but more importantly you're more agile than most of us."
She nodded. "Yeah, okay."
"I volunteer for the ground floor with you, Peter," Gwen said, getting surprised glances from everyone around the table.
"Are you sure about that?"
"I'm pretty sure." She nodded, determined.
"Fine…"
Gwen chimed in. "This is a classy event, and we will need to look the part. Peter, you already have a suit so you're covered." Gwen glanced at Natasha. "I assume you don't have a dress with you."
"Uh…no," She replied.
Steve frowned a bit, "Wait, does it mean I need to wear a suit as well?"
"Indeed," Gwen said. "I'll order some night wear for the evening. Luckily, the area is full of clothing stores, and there are several nearby and they have home delivery in 30 minutes if the item is in stock."
"Sounds like a plan." Hawkeye agreed, admiring Gwen's determination.
Flash mumbled resigned under his breath.
"Sounds good, but try and hurry with the outfits, Gwen," Peter said. "Bane seems to be connected with Hydra in some way, and after the twin's escape, he might be in danger."
"I will," Gwen assured.
Peter nodded silently. He trusted Gwen's exquisite and expensive taste so they could blend in with the wealthy.
"Alright guys, we have a plan," Steve crossed his arms. "Rest a bit; we'll be out in a few hours."
Avengers Tower / Peter and Gwen's Bedroom
Peter stood in the spray of the warm water in the shower of the master bedroom of their private floor at the Tower. His toned, muscular body glistened from warm water and soap.
With the measurements from Natasha and Flash, Gwen had finally put down an online order for appropriate clothes for all of them, including herself as she had no dress with her. Meanwhile Peter had spent considerable time going over the blueprints in minute detail; he knew the entire floor plan by heart, and the precise locations of alarms, cameras and junction boxes. But just in case he had the blueprint on the armour's storage.
And as advertised the clothes had been delivered fairly quickly. After getting the logistical hurdle with clothes out of the way it appeared that they would be at the casino in time. Peter wasn't enthusiastic about the long waiting period considering that the twins were freely running around, but he knew a proper preparation had to be done to pull of this mission correctly. While it wasn't absolutely comfortable, he would wear his armour underneath the suit, it's quite handy.
Once his body was rinsed after the quick shower, Peter shut off the overhead shower faucet and stepped out of the spacious shower cabinet with frosted glass, definitely room for two people and with space to spare. He had removed his bandages caused by the twin's encounter, so they didn't get soaked, and he had put them on the sink in the meantime. They were actually very dangerous. They had found another base totally abandoned, expect for the special twins, a boy and girl, one was super-fast and the other managed to control physics and stuff beyond that, they were lucky to get out alive after the twins raged at Tony Stark for some unknown reason. They needed to find such powerful human beings. The trail leaded to the casino, which the owner was under the suspicion of being part of the organization.
Peter grabbed a white towel hanging from the nearby towel rack and dried himself off with it and then wrapped it around his waist. He grabbed the bandages off the sink and started to wrap them around his left arm and hand before he would bandage his right hand.
A few minutes later he was finished with the bandages and left the bathroom and slid open the sliding door into the doorway compartment and he entered the master bedroom, which had its door closed to so Gwen and he could have some privacy changing into new clothes. Their kids were currently at May's house while they are busy with the mission. He stopped in his steps in the doorway between bedroom and bathroom and saw Gwen in a bright blue dress standing on the other side of the bed with her back to him and looking into the mirror, scrutinizing herself and applied some red lipstick. He couldn't take his eyes of her backside and was mesmerized by her beautiful outfit, her long and newly showered blonde hair fell down her shoulders.
Gwen noticed his reflection in the mirror and looked at him with a bright, confident smile, she loved the way he reacted and adored her. She had never experienced something like that before and was always taken by it. She placed the lipstick on the mirror table and turned around to face Peter. She had lightly applied make up to enhance her azure eyes and she had a very faint amount of perfume on her neck.
She wore a blue dress with a cut-out spliced pattern across her toned abdomen from her waist and up to right under her breasts where she also showed a healthy cleavage. The top of her dress clasped around her neck and shoulders, and the rest of the dress covered her legs and red high-heeled shoes. On her arms she wore silky elbow-high evening gloves.
Gwen loved the look in Peter's sexy brown eyes as she strutted over. She stopped in front of him, enticingly looking him over; she appreciated Peter's strong build. And that he just stepped out of the shower, still damp, was an added bonus for her.
"How do I look?" Gwen drawled seductively, her tone smooth and sweet.
Peter had a hungry look in his eyes. "My God, Gwendy, you look amazing. If we didn't have urgent matters to attend to, you wouldn't make it out of this bedroom."
"Naughty boy," Gwen giggled. She continued seductively, "Well, we'll just have to do something about that once this debacle is over, don't you agree?" She winked at him.
"Yes," Peter responded as he took in Gwen's body and outfit.
Peter crossed the short distance and slid one arm around her back and drew her closer. His other hand found his way to her abdomen, caressing the exposed tummy with an appreciative smile. Gwen placed her arms around his neck and beamed at the attention. They shared a quick soft kiss.
"How I'm even getting anything done with you around is a slight miracle…" Peter enthused.
"One does wonder," Gwen smiled. Despite the fact she was enjoying being held by her half-naked husband. She gestured to the suit placed on the bed. "Your suit is ready, I think it's time to get going."
Peter sighed disappointed and let her go, "Yes, business before pleasure."
"Mhmm, it's good we're going in unarmed," Gwen said with a grin and did a modeling spin for Peter, "I really have no place to hide a gun."
"God...you're such a femme fatale."
New York / West River Casino
Hours later
The large West River Casino loomed over the busy street; it was a neon fortress with lights and holographic projections flashing.
There was formal-dress party in the casino, a long line of people waited outside near the massive motor court which was filled with expensive cars. Men in suits and tuxedos escorted their dress-wearing, glittering ladies through the huge front doors. Beyond the door was a small lobby leading to a stairwell up into the casino. In the lobby guests were met up by two casino guards which checked the guests ID's to their VIP list.
With Gwen on his arm, Peter strolled confidently past people, most gave the couple glances. He was recognized of course, but most could not take their eyes of his date. Gwen wore an arrogant and enigmatic face, that of a wealthy woman who didn't pay those below her stature any attention, her cover. Truth to be said, she didn't enjoyed being this exposed, and she knows how to act as well. She fit right in with the party guests as she sauntered next to Peter, playing her role to the point. Trailing behind them was Natasha and Flash.
"I promised you a date some days ago, didn't I?" Peter quipped.
Gwen glanced at him and huffed indignantly. "This is not the date I was looking forward to. You certainly owe me a proper one."
Peter chuckled, "Of course, Ms Stacy."
The entourage stepped through the large doors and was greeted by the guards who went through their procedure on Peter and Gwen, and everything checked out; ID's matched that of the VIP list. The guards allowed the couple to pass while they focused in the other pair.
Peter and Gwen continued up the tall staircase and the sound of the party could be heard on the upper floor. Once they reached the top of the stairs, Gwen and Peter stopped to take it all in. The crowded massive main floor of the casino was inside a large circle atrium which reached up several floors, the design was sleek and had glazed architecture, the large open space above them was riddled with dozens of round objects in various sizes interspaced between a gaggle of intricate, vertical thin rod-like fluorescent lights lighting up the lobby. Dozens of illuminated Cherry blossoms dotted the lobby and decorative accent lighting around the walls were an integral part of the architectural design. A large vertical mural had been placed in the centre of the lobby with a large painting of a darkened sky, behind it was a massive curved wall, and beyond it was the lobby and hallway leading to the restricted area and Bane's office.
Couches dotted the sides of the main floor alongside indoor nearby waterfalls, alongside the edges of the casino the walls were dotted with small booths with couches and tables, and on the far end of the gambling areas there were sprawling staircases on the opposite sides of the ground floor leading up to the second floor of the atrium, the circle-formed floor overlooked the entire ground floor and provided several bars and dance floors as well as balconies for a grand view of the massive casino.
The recognizable sounds of a buzzing casino floor filled the massive hall with the ding-ding-ding and thunk-thunk-thunk from rows and rows of slot machines on the sides of the casino floor. Dealers worked the tables, guards patrolled and pit-bosses circled around. There was a hum of conversation as the party was in full swing and the guests were mingling about amongst the slot machines, roulette tables, blackjack tables and poker tables. Waiters and waitresses smoothly strolled through the crowd with plates of champagne glasses. The guests were a mixture of foreign dignitaries, businessmen, politicians, actors, film studio executives, bankers, playboys, singers, high ranking military officers.
Gwen peered over the lobby and all the guests and noted sarcastically, "Well. And I thought this was going to be just another bunch of boring bankers and billionaires."
Peter commented dryly, "Yeah. It could be that or a crazed orgy party in the making." He joked, not liking the place at all.
Gwen deadpanned, "No, I've been to those kinds of parties and it doesn't look anything like this."
Peter's head jerked to his side and he began rambling surprised at Gwen, "What? What? What? What? What? Are you serious?"
Gwen rolled her eyes exasperated, "Come on, Peter. Don't be ridiculous."
Flash and Natasha strolled up next to them and stopped.
Peter turned professional and glanced at the comrades. "We're all here. Let's get this started."
Natasha nodded. "I agreed. With all the surveillance I recommend the rest of you mingle to appear as normal as possible while I crawl through the vent."
"Right, let's go," Peter said and led the entourage past the guests to one of the stairwells near the gambling area on the left which led to the floor above where they were greeted by club music. Once they had arrived on the top of the stairs they saw the alcove, separated from the dance floor with a rounded wall. The alcove was right by the stairwell and in a dark corner was the ventilation grate on the wall. The corner provided some seclusion from the crowded bar and dance floor occupying that portion of the floor above the casino floor.
Peter and his friends gathered just off the side off the stairwell's handrail near the wall. Natasha glanced at the air ventilation; she noted a small, round pulsating device nearby.
Natasha turned to Peter and spoke in a serious voice. "Now it's up to you, you just have to move that hand with the bracelet close to the box and it will do its work."
"Yeah, I'll take care of that." Peter turned to Flash, "Stay here and give her a hand with the grate. We've to be fast, this look like well populated area." Peter looked to his left as he saw movement in the stairwell. A small entourage of girls walked up, paying no attention to Peter and his friends.
"You got it," Flash said. "I won't let you down."
"Good." Peter turned around to Gwen and gestured for her to follow him. "Steve and Tony are somewhere, in case if things get a little heated. Just stay behind me."
"Peter, I know how to handle myself, don't worry."
The couple crossed the bar area and passed by guests. On the other side of the bar there was another stairwell plus a path next to it leading further into the second floor of bars and dance floors. Behind the wall was a similar alcove as on the other side and in the corner there was the small junction box. At the top of the wall was a surveillance camera which had a direct line of sight to the junction box. Halfway down the wall, below the camera, was a small control panel. Manipulating that panel would temporarily knock out the camera.
Peter stopped near the guardrail, as did Gwen trailing him. People passed by; some headed to the nearby bar or the dance floor while others took the stairwell down to the casino floor. On the path rounding the corner of the stairwell a few more people walked by. The camera and the passers-by made things difficult; it would look suspicious if he stood nearby to manipulate the camera even with the low-visibility bracelet hidden on his wrist. The area was far more populated than the stairwell near the ventilation shaft as guests traversed between the different bars and dance floors throughout the floor.
Peter had an idea and grinned wickedly as he turned around to Gwen. He pulled her towards him and let his hand run slowly down the length of her spine.
Gwen gave him a faint odd look and was about to protest, this was clearly out of line for their mission.
Peter said, as if she just spoke, "You want to do what to me?"
"Now you've lost me completely," Gwen said nonplussed.
"You told me you wanted to sneak into the alcove for a hot make out session."
Gwen raised an incredulous eyebrow, "I did what?"
Peter leaned closer and hugged her gently and whispered an explanation, "It'll look less suspicious if two lovers are in the corner then me, solo, hanging around waiting for my bracelet to hack the camera panel and then the junction box."
Gwen caught on to the unorthodox plan and hugged Peter's neck with a seductive smile, playing the part as well. For the passers-by they were two lovers whispering sweet nothings to each other, but really they were in mission mode. Well, almost at least.
"I see, as unorthodox as it is, it might work." Gwen said.
"If you're alright with it," Peter said sympathetically.
Despite her personal issue of publicly flaunting attraction she couldn't help but to tease, "You sure this is professional, Spider-Man?"
Peter grinned, "Oh it is, but I think we can mix in some French kiss, don't you?"
Gwen giggled musically, equal parts show and amorous wife. "Let's go then, lover boy."
Peter couldn't help himself and smiled lovingly, "You look beautiful."
"Not every man can wear a suit as well as you," Gwen complimented. She said snarky, "I got very good taste in clothes."
Peter smiled, "Let me take the lead."
"You're always sexy when you take charge…" Gwen purred. She had to confess that she was a little excited about it, a tingly feeling built up inside her.
Peter took Gwen's hand and led her to the alcove, passing by the guardrail and headed to the corner, slightly out of view from the camera. Peter stopped and leaned his butt on the railing near the camera's control panel and spun Gwen around and wrapped his arms around her waist while she hugged his neck. Both smiled seductively and pressed their bodies to each other. Peter tilted his head and parted his lips and leaned in, their eyes were smouldering with mischief before they closed and their lips met in light, soft nibbles with the tip of their tongues gracing each other.
The passers-by on the path on the opposite side of the stairwell glanced at the lovers in the corner, it was likely a common sight to see people kissing in that secluded corner and they didn't give the lovers a second thought.
Behind Gwen's back, the bracelet in Peter's hand started it's magic. He released his right arm from holding her and let it hang by his side, close to the control panel, and the hacking program initiated its task wirelessly.
Gwen's velvet tongue eased its way into Peter's mouth and played with his tongue, she used her tongue to explore the mouth that she already knew so well; savouring him. Despite the nature of their mission, Gwen's heart fluttered a bit. It was a very surreal experience for her, finally helping her husband with something in her reach, but being this romantic made the moment even more special for her.
And Peter was just as bad himself, feeling Gwen's warm body pressed to his, he was literally drowning in the scent of her perfume. It was a little difficult not to be aroused by the wonderful woman in his arms, but he tried his best to suppress any excitement.
Seconds ticked by and a beep was heard in Peter's ear, his mini audio device. He had to work fast. Peter straightened himself from the wall but continued his kissing. With both arms around her he guided her to the corner a few short meters away, and the junction box. Gwen's back hit the wall and Peter repeated the procedure again behind her back, the bracelet commenced hacking the box and moments later another beep was heard in Peter's ear.
Natasha's voice was heard in the lovers earpieces which brought them rapidly back into the real world.
"The device stopped blinking, good work. It looks clear. Okay, we're opening the grate..." a moment later a grunting Natasha climbed into the air vent with some difficulty, "Piece of cake."
Peter and Gwen stopped kissing, smiling at each other. It had strangely been a very sensual moment for them.
Peter said in a hushed voice, "Good, Natasha. We're heading back."
Peter let go of Gwen and they hooked arms as they left the corner as the camera came back online. "You're such a good kisser." He whispered close to her ear.
She smiled. "I try."
"Okay. Act casual. Mingle with people. This could take a while." Natasha suggested. "This is just another normal day in the Avenger's lives."
After the cameras and sensors were down, Peter, who was wearing his armour and the whole gang minus Gwen, dashed across the hallway and opened the door and strolled in, the others followed him inside and they stopped a few meters in while the door closed.
Bane's office was luxurious. The floor was lushly carpeted, the room had exquisite and opulent furniture, and expensive art hung on the walls. There were bookshelves around the walls and in the centre of the room was a large mahogany table with a large open fire place behind it with a large flat screen TV above it. The room itself was dark and only the flames lit up a portion of the room. The table had multiple monitors placed on it with binders and other office material strew around. Behind the desk sat Bane, the office chair's back was turned to face the door while he apparently sat and watched the flames dance in the fire place.
"The game's over, pal." Spider-Man climbed into the table while Captain brought his famous shield, Natasha raised both pistols, Tony activated his hidden glove from his armour, and Hawkeye also raised his bow while Flash crawled onto the ceiling.
The chair turned, revealing a short and bald man. "Goddamnit,"
"Not god, but close to that." Tony stated, getting some awkward glances from his teammates. Natasha rolled her eyes at him still aiming her pistols at Bane.
"Damn Tony..." Steve sighed.
Spider-Man shook his head. "Right, um...Twins, now." He demanded.
"I don't know -"
"Cut to the chase." Natasha threatened to pull the trigger.
"Alright, Alright…" He raised both hands. "They were moving to East; get out of the radar for a while."
"Where…?" The three golden, mechanical and long claws emerged from the back of Peter's armour and each claw stopped a few centimetres from Bane's face, adding some pressure on him to reveal the current location of the twins.
"They didn't tell me, they found my address before escaping the base that you guys have found. I had to shelter them or else that witch would've transformed into a frog."
"You're kidding right?" Flash asked.
"And this was pretty easy." Steve continued, suspicious.
"I'm not like my comrades, the easy way out is always the better one."
"I like him." Clint said to himself.
Spider-Man leaned his head forward in a threatening way. "Well, you're arrested for sheltering two dangerous and wanted persons, and for being part of a terrorist organization."
Avengers Tower / Clint's Room
Hours later
What does that do?" David asked as he pointed to one of the buttons of Clint's holographic desk.
"That? That's the control of the tower's defense mechanisms.. "
He was interrupted by Aiden, pointing to a different switch. "What does this do?"
"That is for regulating the distribution of the energy across the Tower."
David cut across him again. "What about this one?"
Clint sighed, placing his head in his hands. "That auto switches my bow to automatic at the armory, before gearing up."
Aiden jumped in once more before he could finish. "What about that button?"
"No! Don't touch that!" Clint shouted, jolting forwards rather quick as he shook his head at them. "That deploys the main gun at the rooftop, incase of an airborne assault. "
Both twins looked at each other, sharing huge grins and speaking in unison.
"Cool!"
"No, dangerous!" Clint replied. He sighed once more. "Look, haven't you guys got someone else to go and bother?"
David shook his head, Aiden just shrugged.
"Well, where are your parents?"
"Dunno."
"OK then, what about your sister?"
"Dunno."
Clint raised his eyebrows. "Do you know anything?"
"Yeah," David grinned as he pointed to the console. "That deploys the gun!"
Clint sighed as he placed his head in his hands once more. "Oh Jesus..."
"Clint, is everything okay?" Natasha asked as she walked inside of the room, standing behind the twins.
"I'm fine, I just wonder how Pewen handle them."
Natasha cocked her head. "Pewen?"
"Yeah, it's shorthand that I devised," Clint explained. "Quicker than saying Peter and Gwen every time."
"I see." Natasha nodded.
"Yeah yeah," He shrugged. "Anyway can you please do something with these two?"
"Certainly," Natasha nodded, before turning to the boys. "So, you guys want some candies?"
"Yes please!"
"Please follow me." Natasha gestured away from herself towards the exit. The twins bolted straight through the room, Natasha having to hurry after them.
"Hmm, they are a handful," Clint spoke quietly to himself. "But Natasha seems to be able to cope rather well."
Ultron slowly inclined his chest on the worktable; the sound of his internal components working crossed the dark room. It looked around, seeing many drones currently being hanged on the ceiling with strings, like if they were a pupped waiting for the creator's orders. When fully capable, Ultron started hacked his software to every single unity inspired by Tony's Iron Man armour, activating the platforms that were now at his command, despite the damaged state.
"Strings..." Ultron said to himself, a living machine, one that found the proper solution for peace.
The platforms fell from the ceiling and to the ground, pods opened with more drones falling to the ground, before dragging themselves with their hands towards Ultron's table, standing before the superior being among them, the one that would change the world where they were created, it was only a matter of time before the superior race in every way possible changes the fate of humanity once and for all.
"There are..." Ultron carefully lowered his torn legs to the ground, now standing and walking like any normal human being, feeling free for the first time. "No strings on me."
"So, this is your own room around here." Gwen wrapped her arms around Elizabeth, in her bed, as she rested her head in her mother's shoulder. She stroked her blond hair and gently leaned her head besides her, their bodies covered with a purple cover in the darkness of the cosy bedroom. "Do you like it?"
Elizabeth closed her eyes, smelling Gwen's soft perfume. "It's pretty cool."
"What do you think of daddy's friends?"
"Oh, I like Steve," She replied. "He's awesome."
"I'm aware of your crush," Gwen smiled, teasingly. "But he's a little older for you."
"We're just friends, mommy." She drew soft circles close to Gwen's neckline.
"I see, but there must be a little pretty boy that is constantly after you.'
Elizabeth giggled. "Some, at school, but I don't pay that much of attention to them."
Gwen kissed the top of her head. "That's right, honey, it's too soon for that, let them run after you."
"Okay," She moved herself even more closely to her mother, hugging her. "I'll miss you, mommy."
"Hey, it's alright," Gwen reassured, feeling a hint of sadness in Liz's voice. "I'll be back before you notice it, but you have to take care of daddy and your brothers for me while I'm away."
Her face lightened up. "I will."
Gwen smiled at her daughter. "Now, could you give me a goodnight kiss?"
She giggled, before leaning closer to kiss her mother in the cheek.
"Thank you," She gently extracted herself from Liz's arms and supported herself in the bed with an arm, looking at her daughter's gorgeous green eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too." Liz replied, softly.
Gwen tucked her under the covers, and gave her a warm smile. "Goodnight, my sweetie."
Peter turned with a smile as the door behind him opened, Gwen walking into their bedroom with a smile. The large room and decorated room were full of luxurious objects such as the couch, satin sheets, TV, bathtub and a very large bed. They were going to spend the night here, before attending to the small party at the Tower in a few hours after everyone is settled.
"Hey."
"Hey," She sat down on the sofa next to him, placing an arm around his waist. "You okay?"
"Yeah," He nodded. "Did you find much down there?"
"Well, bits and pieces," Gwen shrugged. "Bruce showed me some samples; I was with Elizabeth for a while as well."
"That's good," Peter nodded. He waited for Gwen to reply, but noticed she was rather withdrawn – deep in her own thoughts. "What's up?"
"How have the kids been?"
Peter stopped a look of surprise from crossing his face. "Well, after we managed to stop them from causing the Tower to descend into chaos they were all right, they're sleeping in their own room now."
"I saw, they looked deceptively cute together as ever," Gwen nodded before sighing. "I'm fine, honestly."
"Sure?" Peter probed, laying a reassuring hand on her thigh.
"Well, I just..." Gwen sighed again before leaning into him closely, resting her head against his shoulder. "It was just something Bruce and I were discussing in the lab."
Peter cocked his head in surprise. "What?"
"Just about trust in people, and betraying that trust," Peter was surprised as Gwen clutched his arm even tighter. "It doesn't really matter."
"Well, I think it does," Peter chuckled lightly. "It's mainly because you're almost drawing blood with your nails."
"What?" Gwen jolted upright, looking down with a shocked expression at his arm. She looked back up at him with a sheepish look. "Sorry."
"Hey, I've been through worse." Peter spoke gently as he placed his hand on her cheek carefully.
Gwen nodded hurriedly as she settled back into his arms, drawing her legs up onto the sofa. "We're talking about this stuff, you know? Avengers. He mentioned that people don't always have a choice to betray other people, sometimes they're forced into doing something they would never want to."
"And that got you thinking?"
"Yes, firstly about Harry – I haven't thought about him in a while," She admitted. "And then he asked what I would do if a gun was put to Liz's head accompanied by a demand for me to get you into a position where you could be killed."
"Ah," Realisation dawned on Peter, they had been through this conversation once or twice before. "You know my thoughts, you choose the kids every single time. I wouldn't want anything else."
"I know that," She nodded. "What about you? I've never got around to getting an answer out of you."
"Well, I guess you would want me to choose the kids as well," Peter slowly replied, lowering his head sadly as he spoke. "It would kill me to do that though."
"I know, it wouldn't be any easier for me either," Gwen agreed. "But the kids are more important than either of us right?"
"Yes…definitely." Peter nodded. "Without a doubt…"
"But, like Bruce said, you'd probably manage to save everyone as per usual anyway," Gwen chuckled. "And I wouldn't expect anything less from you."
"True," Peter nodded with a grin. She slowly rose from his strong arms and walked towards the huge window with a view of the entire dark city.
"So, with all of this clone business that I've heard, how do I know that you're my real dorky husband?"
Peter followed her tracks and stood beside her, observing their reflection in the window in front of them. "I don't really know, you just do, I guess."
"Hmm...I might need more than that." She smiled, anticipating his reaction.
He snaked both arms around her waistline and gently turned her around while leaning his head closer, capturing her lips, softly. She rested her hands on his shoulders and reciprocated the passionate kiss, savoring his lips full of love.
After some seconds, Gwen finally broke the kiss and looked at his beautiful brown eyes. "Hmm... a compelling argument." She said, softly.
Peter gave her a warm smile before saying, "This is crazy life, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is, Peter. Yes, it is."
A/N : And we've reached the 39th chapter mark, almost the forthy one. This is such a cool thing for me, thanks guys, for still reading this story that I've been working so hard on it for almost a year now. At first, my goal was to end the story with the 30th chapter, but I changed my mind after the reception. Thanks for everything.
About this chapter, it was mostly focused on the characters themselves instead of the main plot that will finally trigger on the next chapter. I've been experimenting a different writing style, like - a little more mature, and I wanted to write something fresh for the couple as well. I hope that it's okay for everyone. Also, for those wondering, the integration with the MCU has some timelines troubles if you try to follow everything 100%, that's why not everything from such universe is canon for this story, I adapted and changed it to fit the story in the way that I want. Sure, the new arc is mostly inspired by Ultron's movie, but it won't be entirely canon to it.
That's all for now, if you enjoyed it, please drop a review.
* Final revision made by FireflySurvivor, fixed errors, better flow of sentences and extended description. Huge thanks for her.
* The Casino is fictional.
* Quotes : Halo 2, Inception, Mass Effect 3 and Man Of Steel.