Captain America entered the living room and nearly got his head blown off.
"Hawkeye, what are you doing?"
The former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent said nothing as he continued to shoot, narrowly missing Captain.
"Hawkeye! Clint!" He dodged another attack, approaching the former assassin, who had his back to him in a chair. Captain spun him around—
–to come face to face with a robot.
Laughing erupted from somewhere in the room, and Hawkeye appeared laughing so hard he was doubled over.
"You should have seen your face! You would have thought I was insane!" He stopped at Captain's glare and explained, "I was testing a new remote control robot." He waved a controller in his face. "Handy, right?
"Soldier, I do not doubt your insanity," Captain muttered. Before Hawkeye could retort, their ID cards whirred to life, beeping frantically.
"It's Stark," Hawkeye announced. "What trouble has he gotten himself into now?"
"That does not matter." T'Challa appeared. "He has never used this frequency. I believe he is in more danger than we know of."
Wasp buzzed around in excitement. "So what are we waiting for? Let's go kick some butt!"
The teenager froze, head raised as he inhaled deeply. An unnerving grin crossed his face.
They're coming.
As if acknowledging his thought, a red and white jet appeared outside. He could sense five life signals, all heated and determined to find out what had attacked and taken down one of their most powerful members.
He turned away and sat casually in an armchair in the shadows.
You'll get your answer.
. . .
The Quinjet followed Tony's signal, ending up at a small apartment building.
"He's in here?" Hawkeye demanded, staring at the building. No one answered as he landed the ship on the rood, opening the hatch. Wasp shrunk and flew out, examining the area.
"Oh, my goodness." She began to back away, her eyes wide and fixed on whatever was before her. The others approached and stared.
A huge hole gaped in the side of the fourth floor. Despite the damage, no debris was present and all was strangely quiet.
"How in the world did we miss that?" Hawkeye demanded, peering over the edge of the building.
"You can think about it later," Captain America said. "Come on." He climbed over the edge.
"Not everyone has superhuman agility," Hawkeye muttered, following.
"Not everyone has a bad attitude," Wasp taunted, flitting past the archer and ignoring the way he glared.
The room was dark. Dust mites floated in cold air that swirled around them.
"It wasn't this cold outside," Hawkeye commented, rubbing his exposed arm.
"Tony?" Wasp called out, buzzing around the room. "Are you here?"
"I don't think he is," Hawkeye answered, shadows enveloping him as he searched the room.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., scan for Tony's identification card," Black Panther instructed.
"Scan not successful. Link between identification has been severed by irrational amounts of energy."
"Where is it coming from? Is the source still in the room?" Captain question.
"Attempt to pinpoint exact location has failed. Please try again."
"Guys."
"Can you find it, Panther?"
Panther's eyes glowed green as he searched the room. "These readings are strange. I have never seen anything like it."
"Guys!"
They whipped around to see Hawkeye standing motionless, staring at something.
"What is it?" Wasp buzzed over to him, only to freeze and stare as well.
"It's a kid!" she called over her shoulder. The others rushed over.
A teenager sat in a chair. He was seemingly unconscious; his head bowed and raven colored hair hanging low over his face.
"Kid? Hello?" Hawkeye snapped his fingers in his face.
"I don't think he's awake," Wasp stated.
"Scans show that all vitals are functioning correctly," Panther said.
"So, is he awake or not?" Hulk growled, getting in the teen's face.
"Hulk, don't—!" Captain cut off as the teen's eyes shot open, startling them all. They backed away as the teen attempted to move, grimacing as if in pain.
"Can you hear me?" Wasp moved closer. He didn't respond, but his hands moved ever so slightly.
"Hello? Anybody in there?" Hawkeye waved his hand in the teen's face.
He said nothing.
"Is he is a state of shock or something? We could just drop him off at a hospital." Hawkeye glared indignantly as he received glares for his comment.
"We're trying to help you," Captain reassured the teenager. "Just tell us what happened."
A low, evil laugh echoed from somewhere in the room. The Avengers whipped around, searching. The teen shuddered violently, making them glance in concern.
"No one can help me." His voice was quiet and hoarse. "No one, not ever, not ever."
"Still open to hospital… or a psych ward," Hawkeye muttered.
"How can you be so heartless?" Wasp demanded, glaring at the archer. "This kid is here helpless and mentally scarred and you're suggesting a madhouse?"
Before Hawkeye could answer, another laugh sounded.
It came from the teenager—low and foreboding, as if he knew a secret that no one else did. He brought his head up, rising from the chair and advancing on the Avengers, who began to back away.
"Stupid, stupid humans." His voice was deep and bloodcurdling. It didn't go with his figure.
"What's going on?" Wasp demanded. "What does he mean?"
"What do you think is going on, little Wasp?" He grinned through his hair, exposing teeth as sharp as blades. "What do you think did this?" He motioned to the damaged, derelict building.
"You have got to be kidding me." Hawkeye moved forward with his bow in hand, circling around the room. "Okay, where's the evil mastermind? Who's controlling the kid?"
"You think I am being controlled?" The grin became feral. "What do you have that could execute such a complex task?"
"Enough talk." Captain stepped forward, shield in hand. "What did you do to Tony?"
"Tony?" The teen tilted his head. "Who is Tony?"
"Stop playing stupid," Captain continued. "Where is he?" He advanced on the other, menace in his stride.
"Oh, do you mean this Tony?" He waved his hand and the billionaire appeared. He was floating in the air, green tendrils of strange-looking green rope wrapped around his body. He seemed to be unconscious.
"What is that stuff?" Wasp questioned. "Did it hurt him?"
"Oh, he's fine." The teen waved his hand, and the superhero vanished. "At least, he will be until I am through with him."
"Avengers, take him down!" Captain ordered.
"Finally!" Hulk roared and charged. The teen sidestepped at the last moment, making Hulk crash into a wall. Growling, the monster pulled himself out and charged again, just as the others began their attacks. Wasp flew around, shooting repeatedly. The stings did nothing but enrage the teen, and he shot his hand out, unleashing a powerful green ray that took the hero down.
Panther ran at him, clawed hands extended. The teen turned and grabbed the Wakandan's arms, swinging him around his head and slamming him into the ground, hard enough to knock him unconscious.
"Panther!" Captain shouted, turning to their adversary. The teen stared back, teeth bared in a maniacal grin. Captain grunted as he threw his shield, and to his amazement it passed straight through the other. The teen laughed wildly at the look of shock on the soldier's face. He crouched and ran at the hero.
"What are you?" Captain demanded, blocking punches as they weaved their way through the room. The teen shook his head. "Ah, ah, secrets are secrets for a reason."
"Did HYDRA create you? Are you supposed to be a clone?" He threw another punch but the other faked to the right, hitting an area on Cap's left side, making it lose all feeling.
"Do you always ask so many questions?" the teen growled. "What are you, an interrogator?"
"No," Captain stated, "I'm the distraction."
Something crashed through the ceiling, landing on top of the teen. It was Ant Man—or Giant Man, in this case.
"Sorry I couldn't get here sooner," the scientist said. "Traffic's crazy for a giant." He looked down. "Who, exactly, are we fighting?"
Captain began to speak, but Hawkeye cut him off. "I honestly have no idea. This guy"—he motioned to Giant Man's foot—"just shows up out of nowhere wanting to destroy us because we're 'stupid, stupid humans', to quote him."
"Was there anything odd about his behavior? Any signs of mind control?"
"Couldn't find any." Captain shook his head.
"I can take him for testing. Who knows what HYDRA—!"
Suddenly Giant Man started shaking and he toppled backwards with a tremendous crash. Dust and debris clogged the air, clouding their vision.
A low, evil laugh sounded. A silhouette appeared. Captain narrowed his eyes, straining to see. It was the teenager. He stood floating above the ground, the strange green energy swirling around his hands.
"Did you really think that would stop me?" His voice was dark and echoing. "I am not so easy to beat."
"We can see that," Hawkeye grumbled, loading his bow. The teen waved his hand, and it was yanked from his grip.
"Break my bow and I'll break your face!" the archer snarled.
"I'd like to see you try." He grinned, sharp teeth exposed.
Before Hawkeye could answer, a flash of white light shone behind the teen, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
It was Tony. He was in his armor, faceplate up, with his gauntlet out. He was deathly pale, but his amber eyes blazed with an angry, wild light.
"Never… turn your back… on me," he panted. Captain ran and caught the now unconscious hero, unaffected by the impact of the heavy metal armor.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., bring the ship over," Captain ordered.
"Are we just going to leave him here?" Hawkeye questioned as the Quinjet pulled up. "HE could destroy the city."
"No. We need him for questioning," Captain stated as he approached the jet. "Hulk, bring him, but be careful. We don't want him waking up."