~April 13, 2015 (Early Morning at the Avengers Tower)~

Inside the lab, Tony works on the computer screen to prepare the cradle's power as he called out to Bruce. "This framework is not compatible."

"The genetic coding tower is at ninety-seven percent." The scientist replied while pressing the buttons on the end of the cradle before goes around it and pointed out before trying to fix the pipes and wirings of the machine. "You have got to upload that schematic in the next three minutes."

Unbeknownst to them, Steve had heard almost everything they say about creating something so risky like they did with Ultron while he was at the near distance. His fists clenched tightly and his eyebrows furrowed when he saw this, it seems Helen made a mistake on bringing the cradle to Stark. 'Helen… you really are… a bit naïve this time.' Steve thought a bit disappointedly.

And with this, He slowly walk towards them along with the Maximoff twins from behind him.

As Tony and Bruce are starting to power on the cradle when Steve suddenly placed a literal firm foot down from the side door and sternly said out loud. "I'm gonna say this once."

"How about 'nonce'?" Tony quipped.

Bruce had frozen slightly, staring at the two figures beside Steve. In particular, he began glowering angrily at Wanda Maximoff as she stood beside her brother watching anxiously while the Captain ordered Tony sharply. "Shut it down."

"Nope, not gonna happen." Tony tossed back casually but there was a hostile undercurrent to his tone and his posture had stiffened.

"You don't know what you're doing." Steve said emphatically, his body just as stiff as Tony's.

"And you do?" Bruce asked coldly while nodding at the female Maximoff then asked again scathingly. "She's not in your head?"

"I know you're angry." Wanda tries to reason with him as she stepped forward.

The scientist's eyes were evidently cold and looked furiously on her and said in a deadly calm tone. "Oh, we're way past anger. I could choke the life out of you and never change a shade."

Wanda closed her mouth in silence, pursing her lips as she glanced at the beyond furious scientist.

"Banner, after everything that's happened—" Steve interjected.

"That's nothing compared to what's coming!" Tony interrupted the Captain as he turned to glare at him.

"You don't know what's in there!" Wanda snapped at them, the almost desperate look on her face.

Steve also said at the same time with exasperation. "This isn't a game!"

Suddenly, there were all cut off as a flash of silver dashed around the lab, leaving a wake of destruction. They all stared in shock, and in Tony and Bruce's case 'anger' as Pietro stopped beside Bruce, tossing down a pipe he'd pulled from the cradle.

"No, no. Go on. You were saying?" The male Maximoff said sarcastically.

Steve's slightly widened eyes blinked once, stupefied at this until he heard a gunshot from below as he saw Pietro's surprised look when a bullet went past his face before he fell down with a crash through the shattered glass and bumped onto the lower lab floor.

"Pietro!" Wanda cried out in alarm while Bruce looked down at Pietro, satisfied to see Clint walked over and place a foot heavily on Pietro's leg.

"What? You didn't see that coming?" Clint asked sarcastically.

The computers were beeping wildly at the power loss, loud enough for all the people inside the lab can hear as Tony called out to Bruce while turning around to face the computer screen. "I'm re-routing the upload." Before he presses the buttons on the keyboard, Steve quickly threw his shield angrily where it crashes each part of the cradle's system, causing even more destruction although it didn't even put a dent in the cradle. Tony's eyes narrowed at the Captain's attempt when the shield came flying towards his computer, the billionaire remotely called out the arm to his Iron Man suit. It attached itself just in time and he hit the shield down and away before it could hit the computer before he aimed and fired a shot at Steve, causing him to fly backwards.

Wanda started to use her power when Bruce grabbed her from behind, locking his arm around her neck in a choke hold and dared her. "Go ahead, piss me off."

She froze, not daring to move an inch while Steve leaped to his feet, completely ticked off with Tony. Clint had come running up with his gun cocked but paused himself when Steve jumped at Tony. The Captain threw a punch at the same time as Stark blasted him again, sending both men flying across the room and crashing towards the ground.

Suddenly, there was a grunt from the side and Clint narrowed his eyes as Wanda used her powers to break free from Bruce, holding him so that he was unable to move before she blasted him back.

Everything was going uproar between Steve and Tony until there was a crash as all of them paused when they saw Thor came flying in. He stood and glanced around before leaping up onto the cradle with his hammer raised. Steve stood himself in shock along with the rest and Bruce yelled in protest. "Wait!"

But Thor called out his lightning as the energy became so powerful, the rest of the group had to shield their eyes from the bright light surrounding the Norse God before he slammed his hammer towards the cradle and sending the energy into the machine.

They all watched in shock and varying degrees of horror or in awe as Thor send all of its energy into the cradle. He finally pulled away from his hammer as the energy is fully spent. They all blinked and stared in disbelief while the Norse God waited expectantly.

There was an intense crash as the cradle essentially exploded, sending everyone flying back at the impact with the bits of debris and shattered glass flew everywhere. Steve looked over at the cradle and blinked when he saw a humanoid figure was crouching on the edge of the cradle where it had sprung from with its red skin and streaks of dark green.

The figure then seemed to focus on Thor, who had stood up right before it until sprang at an incredible speed at the Norse God. Thor caught the figure and threw him over his shoulder, sending the android crashing through the lab windows and towards the outer, lounge-area balcony windows.

They all hurried out into the lounge with Thor flying out and Steve jumping out after him. The others quickly followed as the Captain looked surprised at the lack of sound from the said area, only to find the android had brought itself to a stop right by the windows. Thor held up his hand to stop him and the team and they all paused, watching the android warily.

It was staring outside as though in awe at the city lights, a hand pressing against the window slightly. The figure then turned around to face them and flew back towards them slowly as his skin darkened and became thicker around the body, arms, and legs, almost like he was wearing a suit.

"I'm sorry… that was odd." He murmured as Steve frowned at the familiar British tone he heard from the android.

He turned to his side to face Thor and added sincerely. "Thank you."

The Norse God just nodded, placing his hammer down on the coffee table. Everyone eyed them warily as the android nodded before a fluttering cape appeared across his shoulders and draped behind him.

"Thor, you helped create this?" Steve asked incredulously but Thor answered firmly. "I've had a vision. A whirlpool that sucks in all hope of life and at its center is that." He pointed at the bright yellow jewel placed in the center of the android's head.

"What, the gem?" Bruce questioned for all of them as they all slowly made their way closer.

"It's the Mind Stone. It's one of the six infinity stones, the greatest power in the universe, unparalleled in its destructive capabilities."

"Then why would you bring it to—" Steve said severely but Thor cut him off.

"Because Stark is right."

The Captain then stared while Clint's mouth actually fell opened and Bruce muttered out. "Oh, it's definitely the end times."

"The Avengers cannot defeat Ultron." Thor went on, looking at Steve and ignoring the rest of the team's reactions.

Steve exhaled sharply, clearly not happy with this as they all refocused on the android who took a step forward and quietly said. "Not alone."

"Why does your 'Vision' sound like Jarvis?" Steve asked sternly, walking across the android as Vision continued to walk closer towards the group.

"We… we reconfigured Jarvis' matrix to create something new." Tony explained, his wary eyes also never leaving Vision's.

He moved to examine the android closer, just as Vision seemed to be analyzing Tony while Steve muttered pointedly. "I think I've had my fill of new."

Hearing the Captain's uncertain words, Vision turned to face him and asked him seriously. "You think I'm a child of Ultron?"

"You're not?" He challenged.

The super-soldier examines the android in a mixture of caution and curiosity as Vision said thoughtfully. "I'm not Ultron. I'm not Jarvis either. I am…" He trailed off uncertainly.

Somehow to the Captain, he felt a bit sympathetic towards the android as he turned his head, looking so lost then murmured out. "I am…"

Vision looked at Tony and Bruce sadly as though searching for answers when Wanda cuts in and said to Vision almost accusingly. "I looked in your head and saw annihilation."

"Look again." Vision replied gently but Clint slightly agrees to this as he snorted and said scathingly. "Yeah. Her seal of approval means jack to me."

He moved to place himself in front between Vision and Wanda while Thor countered. "Their powers, the horrors in our heads. Ultron himself, they all came from the Mind Stone, and they're nothing compared to what it can unleash." He looked around at the circle of the team had formed during their discussion and said firmly. "But with it on our side—"

"Is it?" Steve cut in sharply.

Thor glanced at the super-soldier but Steve had turned his attention back to Vision and asked sternly. "Are you? On our side?"

They all turned to look at Vision intently but the android frowned slightly at the question and murmured softly. "I don't think it's that simple."

"Well, it better get simple real soon." Clint warned tightly.

Vision glanced at the Archer, then at Steve before he answered the question. "I am on the side of life."

He looked at each of the other Avengers as he went on. "Ultron isn't, he will end it all." Vision then looked at the Maximoff twins.

"What's he waiting for?" Tony asked while Vision glanced at him.

"You." He replied as though it were obvious.

Bruce asked quietly. "Where?"

"Sokovia." Clint answered, causing the others to be surprised at his reply.

The Maximoffs frowned at the information they heard, looking more anxious but Clint didn't care and just focus on his team as he added. "He's got Nat there too."

Bruce approached the android and warned him. "If we're wrong about you. If you're the monster that Ultron made you to be…" He trailed off pointedly as Vision questioned curiously. "What will you do?"

There was a tense silence as Steve furrowed his eyebrows and jaw locked, Clint tensed slightly while Bruce and Tony straightened their backs a bit. Vision glanced around and realized what they would do, what they have to do. He closed his eyes briefly before he admitted. "I don't want to kill Ultron."

He walked slowly towards Thor as he went on. "He's unique, and he's in pain. But that pain will roll over the earth, so he must be destroyed." Vision's words caused the team to feel grim but accepting, if grudgingly by some. He continues to spoke out. "Every form he's built, every trace of his presence on the net, we have to act now. And not one of us can do it without the others."

The android turned to face Steve with a serious expression, looking at the super-soldier for agreeing to it. The Captain lifted his chin slightly, his expression becoming more thoughtful while the android looked down at his hands.

"Maybe I am a monster." He admitted as he continued. "I don't think I'd know if I were one. I'm not what you are." Lowering his hands and murmured softly. "And not what you intended."

Vision turned around, looking down a little as he almost sighed. "So there may be no way to make you trust me."

He picked up the object on the coffee table and finished firmly. "But we need to go."

He handed Thor his Mjonir, trying to illustrate the urgency of the situation. The Norse God looked down at his hammer in disbelief while the other Avengers' mouths parted slightly in shock. They could only blink as Thor slowly took his hammer before Vision walked himself off, unaware of the mental blow he'd dealt with.

Thor glanced at his teammates, taking in their completely taken-aback expressions. He tapped his hammer on his other hand sheepishly as he muttered. "Right." He then patted Tony's shoulder before walking out to follow Vision. "Well done."

The team stood there for another second in shock before Steve broke the silence and turned to face them and said out loud. "Three minutes. Get what you need."

And with that, the team separate themselves to go to their respective areas to gather their gear. Steve was about to walk off when he heard a beeping sound from the lab upstairs, he looked around to find Tony but it seems the Billionaire was out of sight. So the only thing he would do right now is to check out as he walked up to the stairs and went inside Tony's lab where he looks around, finding where the sound came from until he heard a nearby sound coming from the computer.

Steve walked towards it and stared at the screen where it read Incoming Video Call. Steve knows he shouldn't snoop into things like this but his curiosity got the best of him as he slowly presses the call button on the monitor until it suddenly pops out the video screen to reveal the caller.

The Captain's eyes widened in surprise when he saw a familiar person at the screen right in front of him.

"Captain Rogers." Helen exclaimed slightly.

"Dr. Cho." Steve murmured in a calm tone, hiding his surprised emotion about her well-being. The last time he saw her was the time she got mortally injured by Ultron at Seoul, which that sight made him feel completely enrage and almost losing himself from control when he sees her like this but thankfully she was healed as he looked at her to see if they are any injuries all over her, he felt relieved and glad to see there were none on her.

She stares at him with the same look as his when the two began to gaze each other for what it feels like to them a long-lasting moment but it was short-lived when the Doctor snaps out of their fantasized stare between him and her as she asked out to him in a concerned tone.

"I-I thought I was calling Tony, though I'm glad it is you I'm calling. Are… are you alright?"

The Captain blinked once to cut out of his daze as he heard her concerned tone. 'She asks me if I'm alright, but what about her condition. I should be the one to ask her that.' He scolded himself, somehow wanting to bump his head on the table for his ignorance of not asking Helen about her injury.

"I should be the one asking you that, Ma'am. But I am fine, thank you. And you, Doctor. Are you alright?" He said in a worried tone with his eyes softened at the sight of her.

Helen smiled softly at his concerned expression as she replied. "Thanks to my other prototype of a cradle, my wound on my side is completely healed. So I'll be fine, Captain Rogers and thank you for saving my life."

"It's no problem, Dr. Cho." Steve smiled back at her, happy that she is alive and well as he continued. "You have saved mine back then. So I guess you and I are even now."

She genuinely grinned at his words, realizing it that back then she saved him by healing his mortal wounds when she first met him. And now, he saves her by trying to keep her alive after Ultron tried to kill her.

"It seems we are, Captain."

Steve slightly chuckled at her reply before saying. "I'm really glad you are all right, Doctor. I truly am."

"I know you are, Captain. I know…" Her dark eyes somehow soothe the Captain when she looks at him and that made feel him pleasant about it. He will never get tired of this if he tells her soon about his feelings to her.

Suddenly, Helen asked him a bit prudently. "So, did you bring the cradle to Tony?"

That one question from her made him feel anxious and completely guilty after what had happened a few moments ago for the thought of having doubts about her relying on Tony and her trust on him as Steve made a quiet sigh before replying to her question.

"Yes, I did… but…" His voice trailed off, causing Helen to notice his tone and expression as she persuades him to continue.

"But what, Captain?"

It took him a few moments for him to think of the right words he was going to say to her until he finally spoke out of guilt.

"After you instruct me to bring the cradle to Stark, one of the Maximoff Twins warned me that he would attempt to utilize the body rather than destroy it in order to correct his own mistake. At first, I was reluctant to accept this but my gut tells me that Tony would really do such a thing, no matter how much I try to deny it." He pauses for a second and searches her expression to see if she feels horrified or shock to be exact but instead, keeps herself calm like she usually does and hears her saying.

"Go on."

And with that, Steve made a deep sigh and continues to explain. "And it seems… I found out that her words are completely true when I caught Tony, including Bruce that they were really utilizing the body. I felt betrayed when I saw this, and the only thing I did was to fight him off for shutting down the cradle. But then, Thor arrived unexpectedly and I witness him bringing the body to life with his hammer." He sees her nodding at his words, completely listening to his every word until he carries on. "At first, it initially attacked Thor before oddly looking at the city and suddenly calmed down. Thor explained something about the being's powers that were created by the Mind Stone."

"The Mind Stone, you mean the yellow gem on his forehead?" Helen curiously asked, secretly intrigued to know more about it.

"Yes, it is one of the six Infinity Stones with powers that can transcend both time and space."

"I see…" Her expression immediately turns to determination and spoke out. "I would really like to study about it, to know more about this being and the stone itself."

"I'm sure, Stark would be pleased by that." Steve nodded, agreeing to her decision before he said apologetically. "And I'm sorry… that I doubted your trust to bring the cradle to Stark—" He was cut-off sentenced when Helen immediately said in a wistful tone.

"Please don't, Captain… I…I understand your reason. I've always noticed it between you and Tony."

"But still… I apologized for it, Dr. Cho."

Helen only nodded in reply and didn't say a word as her eyes look down to avoid him. The Captain quickly notices her expression and can feel the guilt in him rising through his heart and mind. She has put all of her belief in Tony despite not being that close to him though he was a good friend to her for few years and even though she knew he had made mistakes in the past, she understood him with her kind and gentle manner. And secretly to him… it is one of the things he liked about her, being a kind and selfless woman with understanding, reminds him of his late mother. Speaking of liking, this is his chance to tell Helen how he feels about her. However, his shyness keeps him from saying it to her out loud, though his confidence pushes it through him.

"Helen." He called out to her in a soft tone.

Hearing him say her first name, her dark eyes lifted to stare at his ocean blue ones. It's almost the same moment from what had happened a few nights ago as she waits for him to continue.

"I wanted to tell you something… something important." His gaze pierces into hers as if he is trying to look into her soul.

"What is it you wanted to tell me, Captain?" Helen asked calmly.

Suddenly, this silence again between these two began to grow like always when they are alone together. This is it, this is his chance to tell her that he fell in love with her. No more denying it, no more hiding it and definitely no more forgetting it. It took the Captain to gather up the courage in his heart to say the words he needed to say until he finally spoke out.

"Helen… I—"

"Hey Cap!"

Unfortunately, his chance of telling her was ruined when instantaneously, Tony interrupted their moment as Steve looked up to see the Billionaire waving sharply at him with a smirk on his face. 'Damn you, Stark.' He groaned mentally.

"What is it, Tony?"

"Oh, I just wanted you to know that we are all ready when you are, Cap." He replied casually with a shrug.

Steve brought his head down and sighed deeply before looking up at Tony then spoke out. "Okay, I'll be right over."

He turns around to face Helen who is waiting for his answer, it seems that this confession of his will have to wait after this is all over.

"Doctor, I'm sorry. I really should—" Steve begins to apologize but was cut off when Helen said with solemnity expression.

"Just go, Captain. Help Tony and stop Ultron, alright?"

He can see that there were traces of despondent in her features as the Captain tries to tell her. "Helen—"

She cuts him off again with her dark eyes looking melancholy. "Take care of yourself, Captain Rogers." And with that, she quickly shuts off the video cam, leaving him staring at the dark screen for a short moment.

'She did it again…' He thought brokenheartedly, feeling the same emotion that had happened when she shuts him off by closing the elevator in front of him.

Steve stood up and stepped away from the computer before facing Tony who is still standing there at the doorway of the lab, waiting for the Captain. He marches his way out of the lab, ignoring the billionaire who's now walking beside him while they both walked into the hallway as Tony asked out unceremoniously.

"Did I interrupt your moment, Cap?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Steve said in a monotone manner.

"Oh sure you do, though I am sorry that I ruined your romantic confession with Helen."

The Captain stopped his pace when he hears Tony say those words about his confession to Helen and turns his head to face him. "Let me guess, you were there the whole time."

Oh yeah." Tony then faces him and continues to say. "I heard everything. Except for the last one, of course."

Steve puts his hands on each side of his waist like he usually does and raised his eyebrow. "Which you intervened and ruined it."

Tony rolled in his eyes in annoyance though also a bit amused as he said. "Okay, okay. I said I was sorry, alright. But seriously, are you really trying to tell Helen about your feelings for her?"

The super-soldier averts his eyes away from him before he bashfully replied. "Yes, I was."

The billionaire has never seen Steve looking bashful this way and that sight made him go ecstatic and someday looking forward to tease the Captain more in the future, mostly about his relationship with Helen.

Suddenly, Tony then fist pumps up in the air and whispers out loud. "YES!"

Steve immediately turns to see him with his eyebrows furrowed in confusion when he saw Stark putting his fist in the air as if he had succeeded or something when he heard him spoke out in a victorious tone.

"Oh banner, you owe me fifty bucks for this!"

The Captain's eyes widened in shock when he heard Tony said those words. "W-what do you mean you owe banner fifty bucks? What the hell are you on about, Tony?"

"Oh you see, Bruce and I made a bet when we both noticed you and Helen are having romantic drama troubles and making eye sex at each other. So I bet to Banner that you realized your feelings for Helen during our stay at Barton's home before you confessed to her while he, on the other hand, bet to me that you still deny your feelings for her though you unexpectedly blurted out to Helen that you really liked her." He explained in a casual tone.

"I can't believe you two made a bet on me." He shook his head like a parent disapproving his kids' childish antics.

"And I can't believe you beat me to it."

Steve turns his head around to see Bruce standing in front of them with his hands tucked in inside his pockets, smiling at the two. Oh Dear God, Tony's not the only who knew about his feelings for Helen as he groaned mentally.

"Don't tell me you knew about this too, Bruce?"

The scientist nodded and replied. "Sure did, noticed it at the party when you sat beside Helen who's sleeping peacefully because of you fondling over her head."

Steve can feel his pale cheeks blushing red at this when the two mad scientists stared at the Captain with amused smirks on their faces. He had never thought that two out of six of his teammates noticed it. He had a feeling that this will not end well for him. At least, to him only. And most especially, Tony will keep on teasing him about his romantic life for the rest of his days when his relationship with Helen is official.

"Okay, Banner. Give me my fifty bucks, I won." The billionaire placed his open palm in front of the scientist who shook his head in merriment before taking out his money from his pocket and placed it on Stark's palm with a loud pat as Tony victoriously smirked at the prize he had received.

Seeing this, Steve said in an annoyed tone. "My God, I'm outta here." He can feel himself embarrassed by these two until he heard the billionaire called out to him.

"Hey Cap! Wait up, we ain't done with you yet." Tony in a slightly chipper tone, causing Bruce to snicker before they joined the Captain from behind who yelled at him.

"Go to hell, Stark!"

And that didn't stop Tony from saying.

"Language!"

~o~

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~o~

After Steve's annoying bickering with Tony and Bruce, the small fun ended quickly into seriousness when the three converged in the lounge as they were already prepped. The Captain not needing to do anything on having already been in combat gear and the two scientist not really needing anything as Tony had only stepped out to insert a new AI into his system, and then he was ready.

The Maximoff Twins were in the spare locker room while Thor and Vision were discussing quietly as they stood outside the building. Clint, on the other hand, sat on the chair as he held onto a photo of Laura and the kids, providing silent support and comfort then exhaled quietly after preparing his bows and arrows.

In the lounge, Tony murmured softly. "No way we all get through this. If even one tin soldier is left standing, we've lost. It's gonna be blood on the floor."

Bruce nodded while Steve bowed his head grimly, worrying that he will never have a chance to tell Helen about his feelings though he is glad that she will be out of harm's way as he looked up with a wistful smile and said.

I got no plans to die tomorrow."

Tony glanced at them sympathetically, at least he only had to worry about not returning to Pepper. He didn't have to worry that she might be harmed— or that she wouldn't be there if… when he made it out.

The billionaire took a deep breath and then said firmly. "I get first crack at the big guy."

The other two men glanced at him as he explained wryly. "Iron Man's the one he's waiting for."

"That's true." Vision commented as he walked past behind him. "He hates you the most."

Tony paused and then looked at the android in disbelief. Steve felt his lips twitch in amusement but his face quickly fell back to being grim and lined with worry, will he ever be alive after the battle is over? Just so he could see Helen again and finally tell her of his feelings for her.

And so the only thing he will do now is silently pray to God that he and his teammates will make it alive after their battle against Ultron.

Lol, I honestly love these two Science Bros teasing our bae ❤️! Especially Tony as I miss him so much already. I love you 3000, Tony Stark. You deserve our love ❤️!

See you soon for the next chapter :)

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