Chapter 2: The Journey to Queens

Paige sat in the luxurious interior of Tony Stark's private plane, the hum of the engines providing a steady backdrop to the unfolding mission. Tony Stark, seated across from her, was immersed in holographic displays, monitoring information and coordinating the upcoming operation. Happy Hogan, ever the skilled pilot, navigated the plane with precision.

In his usual blunt demeanor from the cockpit, Happy shouted to Tony, "30 minutes from JFK, boss!"

"Thanks, Happy," Tony responded, glancing toward the cockpit with a nod of acknowledgment. He then turned back to Paige, a smirk playing on his lips. "Happy's a great guy, loyal too."

"He seems a bit grouchy?" Paige said, raising an eyebrow towards Tony's Head of Security.

Tony chuckled, "You'd be too if it was supposed to be your day off."

Paige smirked and shook her head, but she brought the conversation back to the plan Tony mentioned.

"So, we're recruiting a kid from Queens? What makes him special?" Paige inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, Miss Matthews," Tony began, leaning back and crossing his arms. "From my intel and various sources, this kid Parker is potentially the famous" – Tony air-quoted with a grin – "Spider-Man. A recent myth and legend in sleepy old Queens."

"How can you be sure?" Paige said, leaning forward intrigued.

Tony pressed a few holographic controls, and a video clip played, showcasing Spider-Man in a makeshift red and blue jumpsuit with black goggles. The footage captured him swinging around, swiftly webbing up what appeared to be a petty thief. Paige recognized the scene.

"I've seen this on YouTube," Paige proclaimed, looking deep at the footage flickering before her.

"Ah, YouTube," Tony smirked. "The ultimate source of truth."

"But that Spider-Man could be anyone," Paige asked, raising an eyebrow. "How do you know it's this Peter Parker kid?"

"Well, for starters, the videos are uploaded by an account – 'WebSlingerNYC'." Tony responded, with his usual flair.

Paige tilted her head skeptically.

"And, this account is affiliated to the kid," Tony revealed, connecting the dots.

"Really? That's your evidence?" Paige questioned with intrigue and skeptism.

"Oh, that's just the beginning," Tony responded. "Tell me, how can a simple 15-year-old kid from Queens manage to capture such high-quality videos of the webslinger in action? Right time, right place?"

Paige considered the point but remained unconvinced.

"Or just luck and a good camera?"

Tony sighed, a playful smile on his face, "I think you know it adds up, Paige. Besides, when you've been in the superhero game as long as I have, you develop a nose for these things."

"Or just luck and a good camera?" Paige challenged, her hazel eyes narrowing.

Tony sighed dramatically, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"I think the kid is this Spider-Man," Tony remarked. "99.99% sure it's him."

"Okay, but how will he go along with this? Paige questioned. "What's the plan to get him to help?"

"Leave that to me," Tony replied. "You can play the role of my charming PA."

"A PA?" Paige raised an eyebrow.

Tony grinned, "Personal Assistant. Although, I'm pretty sure you've got the 'A' part down."

"I know what a PA is!" Paige retorted, rolling her eyes.

"Just making sure, Miss Matthews," Tony said with a wink.

Paige, not easily swayed, continued probing, "So, why Peter? If your intel is right, he's just a kid."

Tony leaned forward, his tone more serious.

"There has to be something about his MO, why he's out there saving lives and protecting Queens," Tony explained, looking at the witch from San Fran. "A sense of doing the right thing, maybe a sense of responsibility if he has powers."

Paige pondered Tony's words, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Maybe," she responded, a small smile forming. "Like what me and my sisters do. Using our powers for good, and with great power, there must come great responsibility."

"Right," Tony replied, leaning back in his seat. "Also, that whole 'great power' line. Sounds good, where did you get it from?"

Paige shrugged nonchalantly, settling comfortably in her seat as she tried to recall.

"I'm not too sure," Paige responded. "I think it was from an old comic I used to read as a kid."

"Ah, the timeless wisdom of comic books," Tony remarked with a smile.

"Don't underestimate the classics, Mr. Stark," Paige responded, shooting him a playful look.

Tony grinned, acknowledging the point.

"Fair enough."

"So, what's the latest with Captain America and The Winter Soldier?" Paige asked, shifting gears. "Do you have any leads on where they are now?"

With a casual flick, Tony conjured a digital map, and like a beacon, Germany illuminated on the holographic display.

"Ta-da," Tony declared theatrically. "Everything we know about Rogers and Barnes."

Paige, intrigued by the unexpected light show, pointed to the glowing country.

"What's with the German disco?" Paige asked, intrigued by the flashing lights of Germany on the map.

"Seems Rogers, Wilson, and Barnes are still playing hide-and-seek Germany—specifically, Leipzig." Tony explained.

"Hold up, you know their location?" Paige shot back, her tone now a mix of curiosity and accusation. "And you conveniently left out the part about them being on the run in Germany?"

Tony, the maestro of indifference, nodded with a half-smile.

"I do. Been there, done that, got the shiner on my face as a souvenir, thanks to Barnes," Tony replied.

"You could've mentioned this in the Coffee Shop," Paige questioned, her eyes narrowing.

"Do you watch the news?" Tony countered.

"Yes," Paige replied with a huff.

"Really?" Tony questioned.

Paige, caught off guard, hesitated before conceding, "Maybe."

Tony gave a theatrical eye-roll and shook his head with a smirk.

"If you had your eyes on the news, Miss Matthews, you'd know about Barnes escaping custody in Berlin," Tony confirmed.

"Yeah, but you still could've clued me in back in the Coffee Shop," Paige retorted, feeling a twinge of annoyance.

"Long day, short memory," Tony shrugged, unfazed with a mischievous grin. "I got punched in the face by the Winter Soldier, so give me some slack."

"Fair enough," Paige sighed in annoyance. "But I need to know…"

"Need to know what?" Tony asked, his tone holding a teasing edge.

Paige's expression shifted, a mix of disbelief and a hint of resignation in her voice as she questioned Tony further.

"Please tell me this is everything you know."

Tony leaned back, a playful twinkle in his eye, "There is one more thing…"

Paige's eyebrows furrowed, anticipation building as Tony's words hung in the air. Then, he dropped the bombshell.

"Ever been to Europe?" Tony asked, with a small smile on his face.

The question lingered, and Paige's mind raced to comprehend the implications. Europe? Her initial surprise gave way to a growing realization that this mission was about to take an unexpected turn. The idea of crossing the Atlantic to confront Captain America and the Winter Soldier in a foreign land seemed like an improbable plot twist from one of her favorite fantasy novels.

"Europe?" Paige stammered in disbelief. "Mr Stark, you can't be serious. I can't just... go to Europe!"

Tony, with a characteristic smirk, leaned forward, "Relax, Miss Matthews. It's just a little international superhero field trip. What's the worst that could happen?"

Paige's hazel eyes widened, a mix of frustration and apprehension settling in. She wasn't prepared for this. Europe meant stepping into a completely different arena, and the weight of the responsibility was sinking in.

"You're dragging me into an international superhero showdown, and you're telling me to relax?" Paige muttered, her mind grappling with the enormity of the situation.

"Look at it this way," Tony continued. "It's an opportunity to add a European stamp to your passport. Not everyone gets that chance."

Paige couldn't contain her frustration. She jumped up from her seat, her comfy sneakers echoing on the polished floor of the luxury aircraft. Tony remained seated, watching her pace around with a raised eyebrow.

"I can't just abandon my work, my sisters, my responsibilities to stop Steve Rogers and his team," Paige exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of determination and distress.

Tony, still lounging comfortably, raised his hand in a gesture to calm her down.

"Easy there, Paige," Tony remarked. "No one's asking you to abandon anything. We're just dealing with a minor, world-saving detour. Your sisters will understand once we've got this all sorted out."

Paige halted her pacing and turned to face Tony, a fire in her hazel eyes.

"You don't get it," Paige responded in a panic. "My sisters rely on me. I can't just run off to Europe and leave them in the lurch."

Tony leaned forward, his eyes meeting Paige's with a newfound seriousness.

"I get it," Tony replied. "But sometimes, responsibilities extend beyond our immediate circle. This isn't just about you or your sisters; it's about preventing something that could have repercussions far beyond San Francisco."

Paige sighed, torn between her duty to her family and the larger responsibility she now found herself shouldering. She resumed her pacing, running her fingers through her hair.

"This is insane," she muttered to herself. "I can't believe I'm agreeing to this."

"Trust me, it's the sane ones you have to watch out for." Tony responded, attempting to inject a bit of humor into the situation, hoping to ease Paige's growing frustration.

Paige, however, wasn't in the mood for banter. She sighed once more and returned to her seat, looking at Tony with a mixture of irritation and curiosity.

"Why didn't you tell me all this back in San Fran?" she asked, her hazel eyes fixed on Tony.

Tony, nonchalantly leaning back in his seat and shrugged.

"Long–"

However, before he could finish his sentence, Paige interjected with a warning tone.

"If you say 'long day' again," she remarked. "I swear I'll orb something into your face."

Tony chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"Okay, deal. No 'long day' from me."

The genius couldn't help but appreciate Paige's spunk, even in the midst of uncertainty.

Slumping deeper into her chair, Paige sighed again. Her hand pressed against her forehead as if trying to contain the mounting stress.

"What are Piper and Phoebe gonna say to all this?" she muttered, more to herself than to Tony.

Tony, maintaining his cool demeanor, leaned forward slightly. His gaze was deep onto the stressed out witch.

They'll understand, Paige," Tony replied. "You're not abandoning them; you're just dealing with a bigger picture right now. Besides, I'm sure they've handled crazier situations."

Paige shot him a skeptical look, her frustration palpable.

"Crazier than teaming up with Iron Man to stop Captain America? Doubt it."

Tony grinned, "Well, maybe not that crazy. But trust me, your sisters will be fine. We'll wrap this up quickly, and you'll be back to your magical duties in no time."

Paige rolled her eyes but couldn't deny a small spark of gratitude for Tony's attempt to reassure her. Sensing Paige's internal struggle Tony offered a small but genuine smile. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and placed it on the table between them.

"You want to call one of your sisters?" he suggested, acknowledging the emotional weight of the decision Paige was wrestling with.

Paige hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether she should reach out to Piper or Phoebe first. Eventually, she nodded appreciatively at Tony's suggestion.

"Yeah, I should let them know what's going on," Paige admitted. "This is going to be a tricky conversation."

"Ah, family conversations, always uncomplicated and drama-free." Tony replied, with his signature charm."

"You're really not helping," Paige said, shooting Tony a playful grin as she picked up his phone from the table.

"Right," Tony remarked with his own playful tone and banter. "Ok, shutting up now. Call who you need to call."

As Paige dialed Piper's number, she couldn't shake the feeling that this call would mark the beginning of a chapter neither she nor her sisters had anticipated. The young witch hesitated for a moment before pressing the call button, the phone ringing several times before Piper's voice crackled through the receiver.

Piper: (suspiciously) Hello? Who's this?

Paige: (nervously) Hey, Piper, it's me, Paige.

Piper: (with sarcasm) Oh, great. I was worried it might be an actual emergency.

Paige: (apologetically) Piper, there's something I need to tell you, and it's a bit... complicated.

Piper: (sighs) Well, of course, it is. Why would it be anything else when it comes to you?

Paige: (ignoring the sarcasm) Look, I'm not in San Francisco right now.

Piper: (surprised) What? Where the hell are you?

Paige: (hesitant) I'm on my way to... Germany, via Queens.

Piper: (incredulously) Germany? Did you get lost on your route to the coffee shop? What happened to just popping down the block for your usual hazelnut caramel latte?

Paige: (nervous laughter) It's a bit more complicated than that, Piper. There's this whole superhero situation, and I've been asked to help solve it.

Piper: (sarcastically) Superheroes. Of course. Because that's a normal reason to ditch your responsibilities.

Paige: (apologetic) Piper, it's not about ditching responsibilities. It's about doing something important, something that could impact the entire world.

Piper: (skeptical) Impact the world? Paige, are you auditioning for a superhero role in a movie?

Paige: (explaining) No, Piper. It's about recent events in the news. Tony Stark needs my help.

Piper: (indignant) Tony Stark?

Paige: (Sighs) Yes….

Piper: (Confused) Tony Stark? Iron Man?

Paige: (Sighs once more) Yes….

Piper: (Annoyed) Put him on the phone right now.

[Paige holds the phone away and looks at Tony.]

Tony: (sighs) Seriously?

[Paige nods and hands him the phone.]

Tony: (reluctantly) Hello Piper...

Piper: (Annoyed) Don't "Hello, Piper" me - Stark.

Tony: (Sighs) Well this conversation is starting off well…

Piper: (outraged) How do you know about my sister's powers?

Tony: (calmly) Well, you and Phoebe were on SHIELD's radar for a while.

Piper: (exasperated) Don't we know it.

Tony: (nonchalant) Paige came up in my searches. She could be useful in bringing in Barnes. I'm under pressure from Ross and the US government on my back.

Piper: (sarcastic) Great, my sister is now Tony Stark's superhero consultant.

Tony: (cheeky) Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

Paige: (interjecting) Piper, it's not like that.

Piper: (ignoring Paige) And what exactly do you need Paige to do?

Tony: (explaining) She's got some unique powers. We need those skills to round up Captain America, The Winter Soldier, and other renegade Avengers.

Piper: Renegades? Has those Accords really divided you all?

Tony: (grim) Yes.

Piper: (indignant) Well, they are stupid accords anyway, taking away the right to choose.

Tony: (agreeing) Tell me about it. But right now, I need Paige's help to fix this mess.

Piper: (protective) Paige has only just started mastering her powers. Are you sure she's up for this?

Tony: (confident) I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think she could handle it.

Piper: (questioning) And why didn't you come to me or Phoebe for help?

Tony: (explaining) Your powers are incredible, but they draw attention. Paige, on the other hand, has a unique set of skills that might just be the wildcard we need. Her abilities, the way she orbs, it's... different.

Piper: (curious) Different how?

Tony: (analyzing) It's subtle, less flashy. In a covert operation, subtlety is an asset. Plus, she's got a personal connection to this world, and that could be valuable.

Piper: (skeptical) You're playing a dangerous game, Stark.

Tony: (smirking) That's the only game I know how to play, Piper.

Paige: (assuring) Piper, I want to do this. It's a chance to make a difference.

Piper: (still skeptical) Just be careful, Paige. We can't afford to lose you.

Paige: (reassuring) I promise, if things get dicey, I'll call for Leo to come get me.

Tony: (assuring) She'll be in good hands, Piper.

Piper: (threatening) If anything happens to my sister, Stark, you'll have more than just renegade Avengers to deal with.

Tony: (playful) You're a tough negotiator, Piper. I like that.

Piper (Speaking to Paige): Keep safe, Paige. Trust your powers, and if you can bring some order to the chaos within the Avengers, then maybe this is a step in your training to be a witch.

Paige: Thanks, Piper. I'll call you as soon as I can.

Piper: Ok. And Stark, remember what I said.

Tony: Loud and clear, Miss Halliwell. Catch you later. Drinks on me at P3 when we are back!

Piper hung up the phone, leaving Paige and Tony in a momentary silence as the gravity of the situation settled in.

With the phone call concluding, Paige glanced at Tony, her hazel eyes reflecting a mix of gratitude and apprehension.

"That could've gone worse," she mused, breaking the quiet tension.

Yeah," Tony responded with his trademark smirk. "She didn't threaten to freeze me or put a curse on my life. I'll take that as a win."

Paige managed a small smile, acknowledging the truth in Tony's jest.

"Thanks for being there, Tony," Paige remarked. "The phone call helped massively."

"Superhero consultant, remember?" he quipped, the smirk persisting.

As the two smiled back at each other, Happy's voice resonated from the cockpit.

"10 minutes from landing at JFK."

Tony's gaze shifted to Paige with a determined glint.

"Time to recruit a Spider," Tony remarked.

The implications of the mission ahead unfolded in those words, setting the stage for a rendezvous in Queens and the next chapter in Paige's unexpected journey into the world of superheroes.