Sweat droplets cascaded down his face and back as he readied himself into his batting stance.
Peter took a deep breath, exhaling slowly to steady his nerves.
He racked his brain, trying to recall every tidbit of baseball wisdom he'd soaked up back when Dad splurged on renting out the Yankees stadium for a friendly game. It was a day etched in memory, with Tony Stark extending the invite to The Mets, turning a casual game into a showdown of epic proportions. The whole Avengers gang was there—Steve, Clint, Natasha, Bruce (minus Thor, who was probably off battling intergalactic foes), and even Rhodes tagged along. Pepper, Happy, Agent Hill, Director Fury—all present and accounted for, though they couldn't help but feel the absence of Agent Coulson, wishing he could join in the fun.
It was a momentous occasion, the first time he'd ever held a bat with Steve Rogers as his makeshift coach, guided by the pros from The Mets. Sports had been his passion, a love instilled in him since childhood. But when dengue fever had impaired his lungs, he'd been forced to sideline his dreams of playing and settle for the role of a bystander. Yet, with the friendship and the crack of the bat against the ball, he felt a spark reigniting within him, reminding him of the joy of being in the game, even if it was just for a day.
Peter was forcefully yanked back into the present when the echo of Flash's mocking laughter rolled in his ears. There, standing arrogantly before him on the pitcher's mound, Flash's taunting tone sliced through the air,
"Ready this time, Penis Parker?"
His face twisted into a grimace as the tension mounted. It was crunch time, their final shot at scoring before the opposing defensive team clinched victory. He couldn't shake off the frustration at how cutthroat middle schoolers could get when it came to sports. It felt like every move was under a microscope, every mistake magnified by their relentless competitiveness.
"Don't mind him, dude," Ned murmured, crouched behind the catcher's mask.
Peter forced a tight-lipped smile, his heart pounding in his chest, "Yeah." I can do this.
The game kicked off with Flash, the ace pitcher of the defensive team, launching the ball with perfect precision toward Peter, the batter. But just as Peter prepared to take his swing, Ned, as the catcher, had already snagged the ball.
"Too slow, Parker! Are you even going to hit the ball or just admire it?" Flash's taunt pierced the mood, accompanied by a mocking chuckle that echoed across the court.
"Come on, Stark. Throw some juice in there!" Their coach clapped to motivate them as the game resumed.
Why do I have to suck at sports? Why can't practicals at PE just be written exams?
He shoved aside his nagging doubts and, with a determined flourish, he took another swing. With a satisfying whoosh, the ball soared off into the distance. A chorus of wild cheers exploded around him, and Peter couldn't help but grin. It was a moment of pure triumph– his first perfect swing!
He sprinted like lightning toward first base, kicking up a whirlwind of dust behind him. With every strength strained, he surged forward, his heart pounding with determination. As he reached first base, he could hear the outfielder's frantic footsteps closing in, the ball just inches away from their grasp. But he made it, sliding into base with a triumphant grin, leaving the outfielder in a whirl of dust and disbelief.
Ned couldn't help but beam with pride, his grin stretching ear to ear, even though he was holding down the fort on the defensive team.
Flash stood there, mouth hanging wide open in disbelief, as he watched his arch-nemesis attempt a home run.
"Come on. Come on. Come on." Peter urged himself through gritted teeth as he dashed towards third base, his lungs protesting with each laboured breath, "Lungs don't give up on me now." he said, feeling the burn in his muscles intensify. Just one more base to go, and victory would be theirs.
The center fielder snagged the ball out of the air and fired it like a bullet toward the baseman stationed near Peter. The crowd of girls erupted into wild screams, their voices blending with the crackling energy on the field.
With a wide grin stretching across his face, Peter charged towards home base, the anticipation pulsating through his veins. But just as he was on the cusp of victory, his joy was shattered in an instant.
Out of nowhere, a rival baseman materialized, clutching the ball like a weapon, tagging him out with a swift, strong motion. And just like that, a whole new chorus of cheers erupted into the air. The opposing team clinched the victory, sending Flash jumping for joy.
Meanwhile, Peter, overcome with exhaustion, collapsed onto the ground, gulping for air like a fish out of water. It was the longest sprint he'd ever attempted in the shortest amount of time and boy, could he feel it now. His lungs felt like they were on fire, each breath a desperate attempt to replenish oxygen after the adrenaline rush that had propelled him forward.
As he watched the other team rejoice, heaving heavy breaths, a hand reached in front of him, offering support and pulling him back up to his feet.
"That's a pretty badass swing," Ned remarked, tapping him on the arm with a grin.
"Thanks, man. But hey, congrats to you guys," Peter replied, Ned just smiled and shrugged as they headed back inside as Coach gathered them up.
"My legs feel like jello."
"You'll sure do after running like that."
After having a relaxing hot shower and devouring food at lunch, Peter and Ned started to walk back to their locker area to gather their things for their afternoon class.
Ned couldn't help but recall the moment when Liz and the other girls erupted into cheers as Peter sprinted across the bases. Peter, still in disbelief, couldn't wrap his head around the fact that it had actually happened.
As they made their way to class, Peter noticed doctors wearing crisp white coats heading their way. His steps faltered and his sudden stop caught Ned's attention, gazing back at him quizzically, eyebrows raised in curiosity, "Peter? You okay?"
Peter stood still, feeling like he'd been plunged into an icy pool as all the colour drained from his face. His hands trembled uncontrollably, each shake sending ripples of dread through him.
Memories of his abduction flooded back, replaying in his mind like a broken record. It had been almost two years since that horrifying abduction, a year since his last panic attack had gripped him in its suffocating hold.
He'd spent countless hours in counselling and therapy, trying to piece himself back together, and his psychiatrist had finally given him the all-clear. They thought it was behind him, he thought he was free from its haunting grasp. He'd even started feeling comfortable again, going about his routine, and visiting the R&D labs without a second thought.
So why now, after all this time…
As Flash and his friends headed to the same class, Flash accidentally bumped into Peter from behind, but Peter remained frozen in place, unable to move a muscle.
"Well, well... What do we have here," Flash stated, tapping his shoulder with a sarcastic grin," Nice try earlier, wimp. Too bad, Jones tagged you first."
Flash called out to Jones who's now coming their way, "Hey, Jones! Say sorry here, Parker looked like he just shit his pants!"
A booming laughter roared around, drowning out Peter's heavy breaths. People around him started to thicken, different laughter, different noises seemed to blur around.
"I— I need— I need to get out of here," he said, his words barely audible.
It felt like the air was thinning, suffocating him with every breath. Peter's chest tightened as he struggled to break free, but a firm grip on his hoodie held him in place. The group of boys closed in, their movements predatory as they circled around him, casting ominous shadows.
Another round of laughter echoed, "Trying to get away now, Parker? We're not yet finished."
"Let me go," Peter said, his fingers gripping the straps of his backpack tightly. Panic flickered across his features, his claustrophobia kicking in. He couldn't bear the thought of being trapped in a tight closed space.
Oh no, no, no. I can't, I can't go through that again.
It was one of the things that triggered his PTSD, like a hidden landmine in his mind, waiting to explode with memories he'd rather forget. Not even Ned, his closest friend, knew about it. Peter guarded it fiercely, shielding himself from the pitying glances he couldn't stand. He had seen that look before, back in his old school, and he never wanted to see it again. That's why he pleaded with his Dad to keep his abduction a secret, to spare him from being labelled as "that kid" with a laundry list of issues. Peter was fighting to keep his demons buried deep, away from prying eyes and well-meaning but clueless friends.
"Get away from him! Peter!" Ned's urgent voice pierced through the chaos, but amidst the towering figures surrounding them, he struggled to locate his friend.
His breathing hitched, antagonizing memories splattering as laughter grew.
If he didn't do anything now, he was sure he would die. In a jolt of reflex, he reached out to the emergency side pocket of his backpack and pulled out his piñata for a cricket/flare canister, closing his eyes, and popping the piñata open.
In a split second, a blinding flash erupted together by a piercing screech that reverberated across the whole hall almost deafening to those surrounding him. Flash and his mates dropped to their knees, hands clamped over their ears.
As all of them recovered, a few of the boys scrambled to their feet, panic evident in their eyes as they feared getting caught.
Ned stared shocked at the scene that unfolded, quickly rushing to assist Peter to his feet. Before they could make a dash for their classrooms, Principal Morita showed up outraged as he surveyed the aftermath.
"All of you, my office! Now!"
"Should we use the repulsors you designed for SHIELD?" Bruce asked Tony as he helped in designing the specs for Veronica.
The Science Bros are on their toes again, meticulously perfecting the design of the Hulkbuster armour, gearing up for its close deployment aboard a satellite in orbit. With launch day just weeks away, they're working to ensure every detail is just right.
Over the past six months, Bruce approached Tony with a pressing concern: the need to develop a contingency plan for The Hulk in case he were to go on a rampage beyond control. Tony agreed, no questions asked, it's about time they build some precautionary measures for their big green guy. It was evident that they couldn't afford to underestimate the unpredictable nature of The Hulk, especially when his mind might be compromised. Even during organized confrontations, calming The Hulk proved to be an immense challenge, thus the urgency to construct a backup armour became undeniable.
"Absolutely, we can definitely reinforce it to handle heavier loads for sustained flight. And how about integrating some rocket propulsion while we're at it?" Tony gestured confidently as he manipulated the holographic representation of the armour before them. His objective was clear, to ensure that the Mark 44 would be more than capable of confronting the Hulk under any possible circumstances.
"What are they going to do with your repulsors anyway? Did you ask?" Bruce glanced over at Tony's side, who was fine-tuning the repeating systems, prompting Tony to raise a questioning brow,
"There's no use asking 'cause we know SHIELD and their level of secrecy, clearance shit, whatever. Fury won't budge even if I asked him if it was to upgrade or repair their Helicarrier. He just said 'It was for the greater good.' Whatever that means."
"But you tried to sneak in?"
Tony now gazed at him seriously, wondering why Bruce even had to ask, "Well, yeah. But I can't seem to break in. Weird thing is my codes get deleted as soon as I started going through their deep shit. JARVIS can't even get through."
"Any word on Steve and Natasha?"
"Still nothing for like, what? I think two weeks now."
Bruce's forehead creased in concern, "Are they going solo now? Like Thor in London?"
They glanced at Thor on the other side of the lab. The Asgardian dressed in Midgard civilian attire, casually enjoying ice cream in between laughs as he played a game on Peter's computer— a skill the kid had taught him.
Bruce continued, "I hope they don't forget we're still 'The Avengers'. Protectors of the free world, hello?"
Tony chuckled, as he had never imagined Bruce saying that. He vividly remembered the scientist's assertion that they were merely a chemical mixture causing chaos, but now things had turned upside down. He had once believed that he was the sole protector and defender of the free world. However, he now found himself part of a team he could trust and depend on.
Steve and Natasha returned to active duty at SHIELD missions after a month-long holiday at the Tower following the intense Battle on the Norco in Miami.
Despite their return to normalcy, their interactions with the rest of their team were infrequent and reserved for special occasions.
It seemed that any recent world-threatening events had already been addressed by their teammates, reminiscent of how Thor's encounter in London just a few months prior. They had only caught glimpses of the aftermath through news reports and the widespread destruction caused by Thor's clash with alien forces.
Now, Since last month, the Norse god himself had been gracing them with his presence, spending considerable time in their company.
Thor rose from his seat and placed a reassuring hand on Bruce's shoulder, a smile playing on his lips, "Forgive me, Banner. Malekith wields dark magic fueled by the Aether, a force beyond mortal comprehension. Although, it would indeed be quite the spectacle to witness you attempt to smash him into the gates of Hel."
Thor then placed his other hand on Tony's shoulder, "And you, my friend, undoubtedly possess more powerful devices than Selvig's, but as you know, my Jane handled all of it, and there's no more time to call upon here."
After the Battle of Greenwich, Thor returned to Jane, only to depart again for the Tower a month later. Whatever the reason, it is undoubtedly their love life under the rocks.
Tony smiled while patting Thor's steady grip on him, "Yeah, yeah. We got it, point break."
The ringing of Tony's phone alerted them after, prompting Tony to reach for it. A sudden chill coursed down his spine as he glanced at the caller ID.
Has something bad happened to Peter?
His heart thudded frantic and he immediately answered the call,
"Good Afternoon, Mr. Stark. We need you to come here-"
"Is Peter alright? Is he okay?"
His stomach churned with anxiety, unable to bear the thought of another bad thing happening to Peter. His kid had already endured so much.
"He's okay now, Mr. Stark. We have something to discuss. It's best if you can come here immediately."
He's okay now. Now? What happened earlier?
"I'll be there in five minutes," Tony declared. In a swift motion, he snatched his blazer and donned his signature red eyeglasses before swiftly departing the lab, leaving Bruce and Thor exchanging concerned glances.
"Tony, what happened?" Bruce asked, catching up to him.
"I don't know. Something happened to Peter, I need to be there."
His mind was spiralling out of fear. Peter may have been cleared of his PTSD, but there's still a possibility of it being triggered by unforeseeable circumstances.
Did he have an attack? Had he been attacked? Had he been bullied? Was he hurt?
"Hey, Tony. Tony, where are you going?" Bruce finally caught up to him and grabbed him to stop.
Tony had been heading in the wrong direction, away from the garage where his car was parked, and towards where the Iron Man suit had been kept.
"Hey, breathe. They said he was okay? Right?"
Tony nodded.
"Okay good, then you don't need to blow up a bunch of kids at school using the suit. We go to the garage, to your car, we'll come with you."
Tony hesitated, on the verge of refusal, but Bruce's reasoning struck a chord. Time was of the essence, leaving no room for argument. Without further delay, the trio boarded the Audi, propelled by the fastest driving speed Bruce and Thor had ever experienced.
Despite the urgency, Tony remained stubborn about bringing the suit along. As they raced towards Midtown Tech, the Mark 43 descended simultaneously with their arrival.
He rushed toward the front doors leading to the Principal's office, Bruce and Thor trailing closely behind. They were relieved to find the halls deserted at this hour, with all classes still in session.
With each step, a heavy sense of worry gnawed at his gut, growing stronger as he approached the office.
Peter glanced nervously at his fidgeting hand, feeling the weight of Flash's accusing stares bearing down on him. Ned had been by his side moments earlier, recounting the events that had unfolded. Principal Morita's firm voice cut through the tension, directing those on the sidelines to return to their classes while declaring a week of detention for the boys associated with Flash.
As the primary target of Flash's bullying and the inadvertent trigger of the canister, Peter found himself and Flash singled out for displaying hostile behaviour on school grounds, awaiting the arrival of their parents.
He's worried about what Dad's reaction might be. Is he going to be upset, to be disappointed?
As the principal's office door swung open, Tony's eyes darted inside, searching for his son.
"Dad," Peter exclaimed, visibly startled, in fact, all of them are, especially Flash.
Principal Morita had always been star-struck every time he was in front of Tony Stark, intensified now that Bruce and Thor stood beside him in the flesh.
Without even glancing at anyone in the room, Tony's arms reached out to embrace Peter, his lips pressing against the side of his head in a kiss,
"Are you hurt? What happened?" Tony's voice was laced with concern as he held his son close, his relief evident once he confirmed Peter's well and unscathed. He then turned his gaze towards Principal Morita, awaiting an explanation.
"Dad, I'm sorry," Peter began, his words stumbling out as he struggled to explain himself, "I panicked, I used the canister. There were men in white coats and I just— I don't know— I can't move, then my classmates started to circle around me, I didn't know what to do. I didn't mean it."
"Hey, bud. It's okay, it's okay. You did what you had to do, I understand. I'm not upset." Tony met his son's eyes with reassurance, soothing his worries.
As the door swung open once more, Mr. Thompson entered the room, his focus immediately drawn to Flash. Tony, engrossed in attending to Peter as his primary concern, suddenly remembered the presence of another child in the room.
His hunch was right all along, it was because of this bully.
Principal Morita started to explain what happened before any of the parents could get ahead of themselves and conclude things the other way. He also explained that the men with white coats are part of the American Medical Association's program that gives talks of inspiration to middle and high school students to take Medicine in the future.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark. We didn't know that Peter still has the white coat syndrome. I initially thought he was cleared from it."
Tony cast a pointed glance at Bruce, "We thought so too since he always sees doctors now at the Tower, but then maybe, it just isn't present when we're at home because he always feels safe in there."
Principal Morita now turned his gaze to Mr. Thompson to conclude the incident,
"Our school policy does not tolerate hostile or bullying behavior Mr. Thompson, and to say the least your son has shown this over the past year and we have already warned him not to do it again. Now, this incident has shown, that it has reached its limits when Eugene went too far and cornered Peter along with his friends. Those kids would face detention for a week, but Flash would have to be suspended to reflect on his actions for being the main offender in this incident."
Mr. Thompson irritably stood up, the anger he'd been trying to conceal ever since he got the call, had eventually erupted, "Suspended? Eugene as the main offender? Are you serious? Who opened that damn device that nearly deafened and blinded every student, especially my son? It was him, wasn't it?" jabbing a finger accusingly at Peter.
Tony rose to his feet, his own anger flaring, "Don't you dare point your finger at my son, or I swear I'll make you regret it," Tony warned, his voice low and threatening.
Tension gripped the room as Tony fixated his gaze on Mr. Thompson with deadly intent. There was no room for hesitation, at any moment, he could call upon his Iron Man armor waiting outside, or even without it, he was more than capable of handling the situation. His resolve was resolute, especially when it came to protecting Peter-– anyone foolish enough to threaten his son was as good as gone. He had attempted to maintain a facade of composure while Morita briefed them earlier, his anger simmered just beneath the surface.
But to accuse his son of being offensive? How dare you! Peter was merely defending himself, you contemptible excuse for a human being!
Tony specifically designed the flare canister weapon and gave it to Peter in case of emergencies. Ever since the kidnapping incident, he had been developing small weapons that Peter could use anytime, anywhere, ensuring Peter was never left vulnerable again and providing a safeguard in case Tony was not around to protect him. Tony made a promise to himself not to let the same thing happen again.
Thor wore a mischievous grin, relishing the tension in the air as he eagerly awaited his friend's next move. Meanwhile, Bruce stood in contrast, his expression betraying a sense of worry as he feared the consequences of Tony's impending decisions.
"Tony, calm down," Bruce whispered, gently attempting to steer Tony away and instill some sense into him before he could make any rash decisions that might eventually land him behind bars. However, Tony remained unwilling to yield.
Just then, Peter and Flash intervened, tugging at their fathers to de-escalate the situation. Mr. Thompson withdrew his pointed finger and resumed his seat.
As Tony felt his son wrap his arm around him, a sense of calm finally began to settle within him. Principal Morita proceeded to outline the consequences: Flash would face a three-day suspension with a C- on his conduct, while Peter would have a one-day suspension for bringing and using an offensive device on school grounds. Despite their acceptance of the punishment, Mr. Thompson's disappointment lingered evident in the furrow of his brow.
As they exited the office, Peter made a detour to visit Ned before they returned to the Tower. The boy's face lit up with joy upon seeing the rest of the Avengers accompanying Peter.
"Oh my God, Mr. Thor, Mr. Banner!" Ned exclaimed outside the classroom, his eyes wide with admiration as he beheld Bruce and Thor standing awkwardly before him.
"Hey there, young man. Good to see you again," Thor greeted warmly, giving Ned's hair a friendly pat.
"Feel free to drop by the Tower sometime," Bruce added, noticing the heart-eyes in Ned's eyes. They observed as Peter filled his best friend in on the day's events before bidding him goodbye.
Tony observed as Mr. Thompson began to scold Flash, who was walking away with his father. How could he blame the kid for behaving in such a disturbing manner towards others, when his father was equally demanding, focusing solely on the kid's mistakes and ignoring his successes.
Tony empathized with what Flash must be experiencing and decided to cut him some slack. The kid simply craved love, understanding, and attention, things Tony himself had sought as a child. He hoped that one day, Thompson would come to realize this.
The next day, Peter chose to stay at home during his class suspension, opting to spend his time in the lab with Dad, Bruce, and Thor.
Perched on Thor's lap, Peter patiently taught the mighty god through the intricacies of the Starkpad and Starkphone usage, while Tony and Bruce tinkered away on Veronica's design.
Despite Thor's initial struggles to grasp the technology, Peter persisted with gentle instruction. Eventually, they abandoned the lessons for a more enjoyable activity, sharing laughs and playing video games together. To Peter's surprise, Thor took to the games with ease, finding joy in the experience and quickly understanding the mechanics.
For nearly two years, Peter retained his youthful baby face, even as he grew a few inches taller since he turned 10. Despite his height increase, he remained the slender figure in his class. Recently, he noticed his vision had become blurry, leading him to wear prescription eyeglasses.
JARVIS was about to begin construction when Thor argued that they didn't need a Hulkbuster anymore since he was there to stop the Hulk anyway.
"You couldn't stop me before, could you?" Bruce asserted, "The Hulk is unkillable, Thor. And this is for the worst-case measure in case any of you guys weren't around to stop me."
Tony interjected smoothly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Except me, naturally. Someone's got to pilot this armor from the inside, after all."
Thor merely nodded in agreement, though still harbouring some doubt. His unwavering confidence in his ability to defeat the Hulk remained, "And why the name, "Veronica"?"
Tony shot Bruce a playful smirk before bursting into laughter, teasing him in good spirits. Bruce, initially reluctant, eventually relented and began his tale,
"You know Archie comics, right? Do you know that? Do you even know comics?" Bruce asked, his eyes narrowing as he approached the group.
Thor exchanged a confused glance with Peter, silently pleading for assistance, giving a 'What's that, child? Help me.' look and Peter grabbed the Starkpad, eager to enlighten Thor,
"What's the connection?"
"Well, I had this ex-girlfriend— lover, actually. Her name was Betty. You know, like Betty Cooper from the comics? She and Veronica Lodge are like an iconic duo. Like you know, Me and Tony as Science Bro's..."
Tony raised a brow, Peter giggled, and Thor looked more confused, "Or Captain America and Black Widow? Natasha and Clint... Ugh. Anyway, Veronica's the total opposite of Betty, so I thought, why not name it after her?"
Peter added and concluded, "Betty couldn't tame the Hulk, so maybe Veronica can."
A moment of silence followed, but it was quickly broken by laughter from everyone in the room.
"That's just silly." Peter said, laughter echoing through the lab.
As they began to exit, Thor gently took Peter's hand in his. Thor, eager to showcase his Asgardian cooking prowess, decided to whip up something delicious for them to eat.
They were on their way out of the lab when the automatic windows of the whole Tower shut closed triggering a lockdown.
Following the invasion and the destruction of the Malibu mansion, Tony diligently enhanced the Tower's design and bolstered its security measures. The lockdown protocol can only be activated solely under Tony's deliberate command or if JARVIS detected an imminent threat.
Tony's forehead creased with worry as his thoughts raced, his mind conjuring alarming possibilities. He made his way to Thor, instinctively reaching out to hold Peter close in his arms.
"JARVIS, talk to me. What's going on?"
"Our systems have just intercepted what's going on in DC, Sir. SHIELD built three new sets of Helicarriers as part of Project Insight designed to proactively strike out against potential threats to the US before they actually happened. However, Captain Rogers and Agent Romanoff relayed a coded message indicating that they had discovered Hydra's infiltration within all of SHIELD, including its highest levels."
JARVIS summarized all the details in a holographic display before them.
Tony was very familiar with Hydra because of Howard's tales about it, and he knew Hydra's obsession with absolute control of everything. He was surprised that Fury didn't even sense that Hydra was hiding all along in their organization. The fact that JARVIS couldn't even hack this information when they were in the Helicarrier, while they were still locating the Tesseract, meant that Hydra's plans were buried deeper than they had expected.
"Where are they now?"
"They were currently in Triskellion at the time, Sir. HYDRA had planned on using Arnim Zola's algorithm to root out individuals who would oppose or threaten HYDRA's goals. The algorithm utilized every variable of a person's life, including bank records, voting patterns, and even standardized testing scores. They intended to use these Helicarriers to eliminate all these individuals, and once it went online, there was no stopping it."
"Who are these targeted individuals?" Tony asked out of curiosity as the list of all the targeted individuals went on, numbering in the hundreds of thousands all around the US. The list included hundreds of his scientists and doctors inside the Tower. The Avengers are included, as he suspected, but what shocked him the most was why Peter was included.
My son is just a kid, who would even think that he's kind of a threat to anyone?
His anger and tension grew by the minute, as at any time now, his son might be targeted. He was sure of the strength and durability the lockdown could provide, but it depended on how much force it could withstand.
"How many more minutes, JARVIS?" Tony's voice crackled with tension, the air around them thick with uncertainty. "Get me Hill, Fury or anyone that can talk to me."
In a few seconds, Hill answered the call,
"Hill, how long we've got? Why didn't you call for help sooner?"
"Mr. Stark, I'm sorry but it's too risky. When Steve and Natasha found out, they insisted that they take care of this on the inside. They know Peter will be safest there with you, Bruce, and Thor. They're already on their way to change the targeting systems of the Helicarrier to fire on each other. They're close, we got three minutes."
The call ended, leaving them all in stunned silence, each heartbeat echoing louder as the seconds ticked by. In that tense moment, one couldn't help but imagine the chaos unfolding in the heart of DC.
They knew what was at stake. If Hydra managed to pull this off, it would be a nightmare of epic proportions. The very thought sent shivers down their spines. Hundreds of thousands could die, and the world as they knew it would be forever changed. All they could do now was cling to hope that their team in DC would come through.
Peter's grip tightened around his dad's as they stood.
"The defence system of the Tower can buy us time, but it has its limits," Tony's fingers flew over the keyboard as he released the completed metal containment shell, the first crucial part of the upgraded Hulkbuster suit. Bruce and Thor exchanged a knowing glance as the shell slid open, revealing its contents.
"Bruce, Thor, your priority is to protect the targets inside the Tower once the carriers breach our defences. We'll deal with the helicarrier afterward. I'll keep Peter safe," Tony's voice carried authority, but Peter's protest was immediate.
"Dad, no." Peter's grip on Tony tightened, his voice filled with fear.
One minute left.
Every second counts and Tony will absolutely protect Peter at all costs even over his dead body. "Bud, I'm just right here. I have the suit, but we have no choice. I can't protect you here alone. I need to keep you safe."
Peter buried himself deeper into Tony's embrace. He's afraid that something might happen to Dad again.
The hologram screen flickered, casting an eerie glow over the room as the countdown dwindled to 10 seconds. Alarms blared, drowning out all other sounds. Tony's grip tightened around Peter as he summoned his Mark 43 suit, the mechanical whirring filling the air.
Thor's hammer crashed down, and he emerged clad in battle armour, his expression grim. Beside him, Bruce tensed, ready to unleash the Hulk at a moment's notice.
With each passing second, the tension in the room mounted, thickening the air with anticipation. Tony's resolve hardened, his thoughts consumed by the singular purpose of protecting Peter, even if it meant facing the looming threat head-on.
The intercom crackled to life, a voice announcing, "Firing in, three, two, one..."
Tony instinctively knelt, enfolding Peter in a protective embrace, the weight of fatherly love shielding him from harm.
"Charlie locked," Captain America's voice crackled through the intercom, shattering the tense silence of the lab. They exchanged glances, relief washing over them like a wave. The threat had passed.
As the tension ebbed away, the shield windows around the tower hummed softly as they automatically powered down. JARVIS's reassuring voice echoed through the floors, announcing that the danger had passed and all was now safe.
Over the course of several days, the Triskellion, SHIELD's headquarters, lay in ruins. Public officials who were goons of Hydra were apprehended, Fury was dead or what he would like others to believe, and Natasha decided to inform the world of SHIELD's secrets, even if it includes her red ledger's past.
They had thought secrets kept the world safe, but it was these secrets that made the world more vulnerable, so instead, it is time to let everything out, let transparency be the disinfectant of this world against vicious schemes.
But before the world could ever read or share Mary's files, Tony made sure that he was the only one who had them. He deleted them from SHIELD's servers and erased all traces before anyone could see them.
The one thing that bothered him, though, was whether Mary's pet was included in the Triskellion ruins. Had this research been destroyed along with the ruins in the fall of SHIELD? He certainly hoped so.
Natasha recounted everything that had happened the day after her committee hearing. Steve and Natasha moved in with the rest of the team at the Tower. Hill and other agents who wanted to seek employment at Stark Industries were given opportunities.
Since SHIELD was no longer operational, Tony decided to rebrand the Stark Tower and made it the Avengers Tower, their main HQ. Soon, his old warehouse upstate would complete its renovation and become the official headquarters of the Avengers.
It was a relaxed Saturday afternoon when the team gathered in the living room of the Penthouse. Clint was mostly absent for unknown reasons, only visiting occasionally. However, he was also here, enjoying the company of the team.
Each of them had their own suite downstairs, but everyone felt comfortable hanging out with the Starks in their pad every once in a while.
Music played in the background as each person did their own thing.
"Hey, guys..." Thor said, trying to capture everyone's attention, but a familiar song suddenly began to play.
You are my fire
Tony raised a brow and gazed upon Peter, who had just sung one of the most popular songs of the 90s while answering his homework. He smiled as he joined in... my one desire
Peter stared at Dad who sang the next lyrics and laughed.
In a half-asleep presence, Bruce continued... Believe when I say
As Natasha put the juices she had prepared on the table, she thought, why not? I want it that way
Tell me whhhyy! Clint suddenly burst out singing, and Peter laughed.
In a chorus, they all sang… Ain't nothing but a heartache
Telllll me why!Clint sang in a more falsetto voice, more dramatic this time.
Ain't nothing but a mistake
Tell me why…
Tony got up from lying on the sofa, I never want to hear you say
Peter stood up dramatically and loudly sang, I want it that way!
It was as if they were a show on Broadway. Steve and Thor stared at each other and then at them, speechless at what was going on.
"Wha— What?" Steve and Thor said cluelessly, and the rest of them lost it and burst out laughing.
"Oh, that was fun," Tony said as he brushed away a tear that had formed from laughing.
As the team recovered from their show, Thor tried to continue and open up a topic that had been bothering him for days now.
"So, as I was saying, has any of you seen Loki's sceptre? Was it ever recovered from SHIELD's mess?"
Suddenly, the room fell silent, and all of them looked at each other, thinking. Ever since the invasion, no one had seen it. Where was it?
"Steve? Natasha?" Tony asked the former agents.
Steve and Natasha gazed at each other, both knowing that it had slipped their minds. The whole time during their missions, they had thought it was in a safe place. But really? Was it?
"Clint?" Bruce asked.
Clint shook his head for a no.
Steve's expression hardened, "None of us knew, no one has ever seen it since and we can't ask Fury now."
The rest of the team thought Fury was dead, but they didn't know that Steve also didn't know how to contact the man.
"Then I guess we better start finding it," Thor said as Mjolnir flew into his hand.