The first light of dawn filtered delicately through the half-open window of Mark's modest apartment, barely competing with the reddish glow of the alarm blinking on his bedside table. Invincible awoke calmly, his mind at ease despite the turmoil of the previous night, a night of confrontation with the villains threatening the peace in the city.
With a sigh of contentment, he sat up in bed, his body radiating a sense of power and strength. Every muscle was imbued with the certainty of his invulnerability, reminding him of the impossibility of being defeated by the enemies he had faced. Grey Gargoyle, Red Ghost and the Asgardians had been troublesome, yet they had been able to take care of them well and were now in the new prison that had been designed jointly by Iron Man and Reed Richards, also known as Fantastic Man, since according to what Tony had told him yesterday, Reed had just finished the final details of the prison from which a second escape would be virtually impossible.
'In the meantime, Thor took the Asgardians back with him, said they had to face their crimes, so Odin would decide their punishment or something.' Mark thought as he shifted his body on the bed to lie on his back while positioning his arms around his head. 'I wonder how Jan is doing, not spoken to her since before the mission, she seemed really worried yesterday about Ant-Man. I should call her to see how she's doing.'
Mark Grayson, known in the superhero world as Invincible, had faced many foes and overcome countless challenges since discovering his powers. However, no challenge had been as confusing and challenging as the feelings that were beginning to blossom in his heart for a fellow heroine he had recently met: Wasp.
Janet Van Dyne, known as Wasp, was a veteran of the superhero scene. Endowed with the ability to shrink and fly, as well as emit powerful bio-energy blasts, she had earned a prominent place among the most respected heroes. But it wasn't her abilities that captured Mark's attention; it was her indomitable spirit, her bravery and the spark of life that seemed to light up everything around her.
In the chaos of battle, Mark saw Wasp bravely throw herself against Graviton, using her ability to shrink and evade gravitational attacks while emitting bursts of bio-energy that destabilized the villain. The precision and courage of his movements were mesmerizing. It was at that moment that Mark felt a strange tugging in his chest, a sensation he couldn't quite understand.
Mark remembered the day he met her like it was yesterday. They were in the middle of a battle against Graviton, a villain capable of controlling gravity. The situation was critical, and the heroes were being overcome by Graviton's immense power. In the chaos of the battle, Mark saw Wasp bravely throw herself against Graviton, using her ability to shrink and evade gravitational attacks while emitting bursts of bio-energy that destabilized the villain. The precision and courage of his movements were mesmerizing. It was at that moment that Mark felt a strange tugging in his chest, a sensation he couldn't quite understand.
Despite having met her only a week ago, Mark had felt an immediate connection with Janet. Every time they worked together, his admiration for her grew. He discovered that they shared many interests: they both enjoyed science fiction, video games, and had a deep sense of responsibility to humanity. However, there were also notable differences. Janet was impulsive and often made decisions based on her instincts, while Mark preferred to analyze and plan before acting. These differences did not separate them; on the contrary, they seemed to complement each other, creating a team dynamic that strengthened their newly formed friendship.
Despite the brief duration of his acquaintance, Mark was caught in a whirlwind of emotions. On the one hand, there was the camaraderie and professional respect he felt for Janet. He admired her courage and her ability to face any challenge without hesitation. On the other hand, there were the deeper, more personal feelings that were beginning to emerge. He felt an attraction that went beyond admiration, a need to be close to her, to protect her, even though he knew she didn't need protection. The young hero was very confused by these new feelings that he did not know how to express, so the best thing he could think of was to call her, to see how she was doing.
However, before he could move to reach for his phone, the Avengers card in his pants rang with the typical warning of, Avengers Assemble! Ringing loud enough for him to hear, to which he only reacted with a sigh. 'I guess I'll see her soon though I'd rather it be otherwise.' He thought, but hey, this is the life he had chosen and evil never rested so why should he have to?
Finally, he rose with a serene grace, facing the mirror with confidence. His reflection, though serene, radiated an unwavering assurance. He washed his face with cool water, enjoying the freshness the morning brought.
The shower ran with vigor, a revitalizing torrent that washed away the remnants of the night's battle and revitalized his invincible spirit. Mark emerged from the shower, his body glowing in the morning light, wearing his signature blue and yellow suit, a badge of his commitment to justice and the protection of the innocent.
Once again, the mask covered his face, hiding his identity behind a veil of mystery. As he made his way to the window, gazing out at the city awakening under the glow of the rising sun.
With a final glance behind him, Invincible left his apartment, ready to face the challenges of the new day. He knew that, although his invincibility protected him from physical danger, his commitment to justice and the protection of the innocent would never waver, making him the indestructible hero the city needed.
Once he arrived at the mansion he was greeted by Iron Man, who told him that they would be flying to the North Pole, apparently S.H.I.E.L.D. had commissioned them to capture the Hulk and the green giant was in that area according to the spies. In exchange for the fulfillment of the mission, the Avengers would have the open support of the organization to operate as they have been doing.
So it was not up for discussion whether they would accept or not, once the proposal reached Iron Man. Once they were ready, they immediately set off in the Quinjet.
"So Hulk huh, I thought he was out in the desert." Wasp said.
"He was, but apparently he got tired of being chased by Ross and the military so he moved to an area where the government has no jurisdiction to chase him." Explained Iron Man as he drove the jet. "Which leaves us the task of capturing him since in the words of Fury, "the Avengers answer to no nation, for now." He said emphasizing the last part by making a sort of quotation mark with his fingers.
"It sounds good when you put it that way Tony, but remember we're not dealing with Mandrill or Red Ghost now, we're dealing with a dangerously unstable subject who boasts monstrous strength augmented by Gamma Radiation." Said Ant-Man.
"You think I don't know that Hank? Anyway Hulk as dangerous as he is he's just an individual, if things get bad we can take him down if we work together." Replied the genius in armor.
However oblivious to them, as they continued to discuss the details of the mission, some laughter could be heard further back, Mark was talking to Janet to get to know each other better, which led to some embarrassing stories from the hero that made Wasp laugh.
"...That's how I accidentally ended up in the cheerleading locker room right in the middle of their practice. I was learning to fly and lost control, flying through the ceiling and landing right in the middle of them. Needless to say, I had to apologize many times and promised the school principal that it would never happen again," said Mark, recalling the anecdote with a mixture of embarrassment and humor.
Janet couldn't contain her laughter. "And what did you tell the principal?"
Mark smiled, scratching the back of his neck. "I told her a slightly different story. I told her that I had tripped while running down the hallway and ended up running through the doors by accident. I didn't mention flying to him, I thought it would be better not to complicate things any further."
Wasp wiped away a tear of laughter and looked at him with a friendly smile. "Well, at least you learned a lesson. Sometimes those mistakes make us more human and allow us to connect better with others."
Mark nodded. "Yes, that's true. Sometimes, being Invincible doesn't mean not making mistakes, but learning from them and moving on."
The conversation flowed easily, and soon Janet shared some of her own embarrassing stories, including that time on a mission when she mistook a Wakandan recipe for a dessert and ended up intoxicating herself and Hank.
Both heroes realized that, despite their powers and responsibilities, they were just like anyone else, with moments of awkwardness and fun that made them unique. The friendship that was beginning to forge between them promised to be as strong as their abilities to save the world.
The conversation flowed easily, and soon Janet shared some of her own embarrassing stories, including that time on a mission when she mistook an alien recipe for dessert and ended up poisoning the entire team. Mark couldn't contain his laughter as he listened to her.
"So what did you do after that?" asked Mark, smiling.
"I had to cook for Hank for a whole week to make up for it. It was a disaster, but at least everyone took it with humor," Janet replied with a smile. "How about you, any other funny stories you'd like to share?"
Mark was thoughtful for a moment. "Well, there was that one time I tried to impress a girl at school by doing a show of strength, but I ended up breaking the founder's statue. Needless to say, it didn't go as I'd hoped."
Janet laughed again, but this time her gaze softened a bit. "Those stories make us who we are, don't they? It's good to know that even heroes have their awkward moments."
"Yes, it is," Mark replied, feeling an unexpected warmth in Janet's gaze. "I think that's why I like talking to you. Not just because you're amazing as a heroine, but because I can be myself without worrying about impressing anyone."
Janet smiled, but then her expression turned thoughtful. "Thank you, Mark. I feel the same way. It's rare to find someone you can be completely honest with."
Mark felt a slight blush on his cheeks. "Would you like to go for a drink after this? Something that doesn't involve saving the world or embarrassing situations."
Janet hesitated, biting her lip slightly. "I'd love to, but... there's something I have to be honest with you about. I've been...well, I've been dating Hank, you know, Ant-Man. Things between us are complicated sometimes, but I'm not sure which direction they'll go."
Mark nodded slowly, hiding his disappointment. "I understand, Janet. I didn't mean to put pressure on anything, I just thought it would be nice to spend some time together outside of work."
"I know, and I appreciate it," Wasp said softly. "I really enjoy talking with you and sharing these moments. I just need a little time to sort out my feelings."
"Sure," Mark said with an understanding smile. "There's no rush. We can always go out another day, when things are clearer."
The conversation continued in a relaxed manner, and both heroes enjoyed each other's company. Although Janet was hesitant due to her feelings for Hank, the connection with Mark was strengthening in a subtle and genuine way, leaving open the possibility of a closer future between them. However at that moment the ship began to fly over places that were wrecked with craters.
"Attention everyone, we have visual on the Hulk's trail." Iron Man announced, which quickly brought everyone to alertness.
"Ok people, I think it goes without saying but we are dealing with someone very dangerous so we will not engage him unless it is in an extremely necessary case." Continued the hero to which everyone nodded. He then turned to the hatch. "Thor, Invincible, being the only heroes that can fly on the team besides myself, I'm going to need you to accompany me while we track the Hulk." To which the heroes again nodded and headed outside, but not before Wasp said in a somewhat discreet manner "Good luck." To which Mark just smiled at him. Before they knew it Ant-Man was watching them with a somewhat droopy expression.
Once Mark joined them, the heroes exited, however before jumping out Iron Man turned to where Wasp was. "Wasp, I know you want to do this, so if you want to drive the Quinjet, the pilot's seat is ready." To which Wasp reacted enthusiastically, quickly moving to the seat further forward.
Once the 3 heroes were out, they set about flying around the sides of the Quinjet to see if they could locate the green man.
"This is the coolest thing I've ever done. I'm driving a Jet." Wasp said with an expression of absolute happiness as if it was Christmas and he had been given the gift he had been asking for all year.
"It's actually on auto-pilot, Wasp. Sorry." Iron Man informed her over the communicator to which she only responded with a disappointed expression. "Attention everyone, we are approaching the crater."
Once they were over it, the ship automatically went into landing mode, while the rest of the heroes watched from above.
"Truly the Hulk's anger is impressive." Said Thor as he descended. "Tell me Iron Man how are we going to get him to surrender?"
"I have no idea Thor." Replied the leader of the Avengers simply. "JARVIS, scan life forms."
Seeing, this Thor spoke to him again though with a more mocking tone, "Mortal technology, you would do better to trust your eyes and ears."
"I'm picking something up." Said Iron Man ignoring him. "It's a life sign, but it's faint. That's so weird though since I can't see or hear it." Said the latter mockingly imitating the Asgardian.
Meanwhile Wasp, came out of the ship to inspect for herself, followed closely by Invincible. When the latter saw something so, returning to her normal size, she pointed to a spot on the ice. "There! Something is trapped beneath the surface."
The group cautiously approached the indicated spot. Invincible, with his superhuman strength, struck the ice with a powerful punch, creating a crack that quickly expanded. Iron Man used a beam from his repulsor to melt the remaining ice, revealing a dark, blurry figure trapped inside.
Thor raised his hammer Mjolnir and brought it down hard on the ice, shattering it into pieces. There, among the icy fragments, stood a man dressed in a red, white and blue uniform, with a shield emblazoned with a star across his chest. His face was serene, as if he were asleep.
"Guys, that's--that's--" Wasp said with wide-eyed amazement.
"Captain America." Said Invincible with a similar expression though covered with his mask.
"And according to my armor, he's alive." Iron Man said with a tone of disbelief.
'What are they talking about? Who is this mortal?' Thor mentally asked himself. Frowning in confusion, he asked, "Captain America? Who is this ice warrior?"
Invincible looked at the frozen hero, impressed by the story they now knew in the flesh. "He's a legend from World War II. A super soldier who fought evil in his time."
Thor, nodding slowly, lifted Captain America carefully, as if afraid to break the fragile connection between past and present. "Then we must honor his legacy and awaken him. There is much he must know."
The team, united by fate, set out to carry Captain America back to the Quinjet, aware that they were about to bring back a legend, a symbol of hope in a world that still needed him.
Steve Rogers opened his eyes slowly, feeling a strange heaviness throughout his body. His mind was foggy, and it took him several seconds to remember where he was and what had happened. The last time he had been conscious, everything was covered in ice. He was on a critical mission, piloting a plane loaded with explosives into the Arctic. He remembered the icy cold that had surrounded him as he made his final sacrifice to save the world.
Now, the cold was gone. Instead, he felt an artificial warmth and heard the soft hum of machines around him. His vision was blurry, but gradually he began to focus. He was in a white room, with smooth walls and monitors flashing green and blue lights. He tried to move, but his muscles protested. Every fiber of his being was rigid, as if he hadn't moved in years.
He could hear some voices around him as he was waking up.
"This is incredible. He is waking up."
"Is his brain okay?"
Soon he could feel that someone had approached him and was talking to him.
"Captain, are you all right?"
Confusion and bewilderment invaded Steve's mind. The last time he had opened his eyes, he was in the middle of World War II, fighting HYDRA. Now, he was waking up surrounded by people he didn't know, in a completely unfamiliar environment. Distrust gripped him, and his soldierly instincts kicked in.
"Bucky!" he shouted, his voice denoting obvious panic.
Before anyone could respond, his mind jumped to the most logical conclusion: he had been captured by HYDRA. These men could be agents in disguise, using advanced technology to manipulate him. He couldn't trust them. He leapt out of bed, despite the pain and stiffness in his muscles, and adopted a defensive posture.
"Stay back!" he shouted, his voice ringing with authority.
Thor, surprised by Steve's reaction, raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Captain, please calm down. We are not your enemies."
But Thor's words failed to calm Steve. Instead, he interpreted them as a trick. In one swift motion, he threw a punch aimed at Iron Man, whose helmet automatically closed to protect him from the impact. The blow resonated loudly, but Tony Stark's armor absorbed most of the damage.
"Hey, easy!" exclaimed Tony from inside his armor. "He's safe. He's with friends."
"What are you? Some kind of Hydra automaton?"
Steve wasn't listening. He spun quickly and lunged at Thor, trying to disarm him. Thor, with his superior strength, easily blocked the attack, but did not respond with violence. Instead, he tried to reason with him. "Steve, listen to me. We are your friends. We're here to help you."
Ant-Man, concerned about the situation, quickly cowered, running around Steve to try to disorient him. "Listen, you've been frozen in ice for decades."
Invincible, seeing the confusion in Steve's eyes, stepped forward, trying to intervene without causing further conflict. "Captain Rogers, this is Invincible. As you said, Iron Man is among friends."
But Steve wasn't ready to listen. He continued to attack, his movements quick and precise despite his weakened state. He charged toward Invincible, launching a series of punches that the young hero could barely dodge. Mark Grayson, known as Invincible, used his super speed and strength to block the attacks without hurting Steve.
Finally, Thor decided it was time to end the confrontation before anyone got hurt. He raised his Mjolnir hammer and dropped it hard on the floor, creating a shockwave that knocked everyone in the room down. "Enough!" he roared. "Mortal, listen. We are not your enemies. You are safe."
The impact of the hammer and Thor's authoritative voice managed to break through the fog of confusion in Steve's mind. He fell to his knees, breathing heavily, looking around in despair. Slowly, the words of his companions began to penetrate. He saw the sincerity in Thor's eyes, the concern in Ant-Man's face, the determination in Invincible's gaze and the calm in Iron Man's voice.
Steve dropped his arms and sat on the floor of the Quinjet, trying to process everything. "I'm sorry," he finally said, his voice shaking. "I thought... I thought you guys were HYDRA."
Tony removed his helmet, wearing a sympathetic expression. "It's okay, Cap. You've been through a lot. We just wanted to help you understand that you're safe."
Thor reached over and put a hand on Steve's shoulder. "We're here for you, buddy. The world has changed a lot since you were last awake. But you don't have to face it alone."
Steve nodded slowly, his eyes full of gratitude and sadness. He had lost seventy years, and the world had changed in ways he could barely comprehend. But now, he knew he was not alone. With these new heroes at his side, perhaps he could find his place in this new century.
As the Quinjet continued its flight, Steve began to relax, allowing his companions to explain more about the modern world. Although there was much to learn and accept, Steve Rogers, Captain America, was ready to face the future alongside these new friends.
(Meanwhile, in an unknown location...)
The HYDRA base, a fortified complex hidden from the outside world and isolated by being on a remote island where a huge glass dome was visible. Inside it were dark corridors and high ceilings, and exuded an atmosphere of constant menace. The cold metal walls were adorned with the organization's emblems, and flickering lights betrayed a state of perpetual alert. In the center of the base, in a large meeting room, stood two imposing figures.
"Zemo. So you escaped too," said Baron Strucker, straining to hide his surprise behind a masked expression.
"Yes, I escaped from the prison you left me to rot in, Strucker," Zemo replied resentfully as he advanced across the room. As he approached, HYDRA soldiers knelt before him and muttered "Zemo," "Lord Zemo."
"I see you've kept my seat warm," Zemo said sarcastically to the Baron.
"HYDRA is mine now," Strucker replied firmly.
"Don't make a fool of yourself. I ran HYDRA when you were a kid. Now look at you. A child in an old man's body," Zemo replied, his voice laden with contempt.
"Reaper!" ordered Strucker, signaling his trusted assassin to attack Zemo.
The two quickly engaged in a fight, but Baron Zemo proved far superior, disarming Reaper and removing the claw connected to his body with impressive skill. Just as Strucker prepared to join the fight, a soldier burst into the room through the same door Zemo had used.
"Baron Strucker! I have-- Hey, sir, there's news," the soldier said, quickly correcting himself when he saw that Zemo had returned. "Captain America is alive."
Zemo left the fight immediately and headed for the exit, leaving Strucker puzzled. "Where are you going?" asked Strucker, unable to help himself.
"You can stay with HYDRA, Wolfgang. All I want is Arnim Zola," Zemo replied as he walked slowly toward the exit.
"What do you plan to do, Zemo?" asked Strucker before the other left.
"I'm going to destroy Captain America," Zemo replied with icy determination, disappearing into the gloom of the HYDRA base. The tension in the air was rising, making it clear that a new threat was looming over the world."
(Meanwhile in New York...)
The quinjet descended smoothly onto the Avengers Mansion helipad, its powerful engines emitting a low hum that echoed in the cool evening air. Captain America, Steve Rogers, gazed with watchful, awe-filled eyes at the building rising imposingly before him. It had been so long since he had been on a mission, since he had been part of something so big. The last time he had opened his eyes, the world was a very different place.
"So, HYDRA's gone?" asked Steve as he stepped out of the quinjet, his voice full of disbelief and hope. He looked at his new companions, the Avengers, who had rescued him from his ice prison.
"Uh, it's complicated," replied Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, in his typical evasive tone. "I've prepared a room for you, until we can sort everything out. You've been gone a long time, Cap."
"Welcome back, sir." added JARVIS, Stark's artificial intelligence, his polite, formal tone echoing in the atmosphere.
"The building has its own voice. 'Tis very disconcerting," commented Thor, the god of thunder, looking around with a mixture of curiosity and distrust.
"My dad used to tell me stories about you when I was a kid. You were an inspiration to me," Tony continued, his armor glinting in the twilight.
"Mmm. That's some poor reporting. But if I survived, maybe Bucky..." replied Steve, his mind clinging to the hope that his childhood friend might have met a fate similar to his own.
"I'm sorry, Cap. Every kid in school learns that Captain America and Bucky sacrificed their lives to stop the Red Skull. It's a miracle you survived," Tony said, his voice laden with sympathetic sadness.
"Everyone I ever knew, my whole world-It's all gone, isn't it?" murmured Steve, an expression of deep sadness looming on his face as he realized the magnitude of what he had lost and quietly walked away from the group to leave the briefing room.
"Cap," whispered Wasp, touched by her partner's anguish.
"Give him some time, Jan," Ant-Man interjected, understanding Steve's need for space.
Meanwhile, Mark watched the entire interaction from a corner with an indecipherable expression on his face.
It wasn't long before the alarm echoed through the mansion again. JARVIS, in his usual calm but urgent tone, informed the Avengers of a new threat looming over the city.
"Alert, reports of giant monsters are coming in from Ellis Island." announced the artificial intelligence.
"Avengers, assemble," ordered Tony without missing a second, his voice firm and authoritative.
As most of them Avengers quickly retreated to head for the Quinjet again, oblivious to them, a mysterious individual in a panther suit watched them from above.
On a sunny afternoon, the Statue of Liberty stood majestically against the blue sky. Tourists and locals alike were enjoying its magnificence, unaware that in a matter of minutes, the iconic monument would be the battleground for an epic confrontation. Suddenly, the sky darkened momentarily as multiple strange creatures, resembling amorphous, gooey masses, began to descend upon the island.
The Avengers, ever vigilant, quickly arrived at the scene of the attack. Iron Man, in his glowing armor, flew over the scene as he tried to analyze the invaders. Next to him, Ant-Man was shrinking and enlarging, dodging attacks and trying to study the creatures.
"Amazing. They appear to be some kind of man-made biological life form," Ant-Man said as he examined a piece of the creature he had torn off. His eyes glittered with a mixture of fascination and concern.
Thor, with his hammer Mjolnir in hand, was trying to peel off one of the sticky creatures that had attached itself to his arm. With a gesture of disgust, he commented, "You say man-made as if you were proud of this." The creature struggled to maintain its grip, but the God of Thunder would not be so easily defeated.
From the air, Iron Man launched blasts from his repulsors at the Doughboys, but his efforts seemed futile. The creatures absorbed the impacts without taking any damage. In desperation, he shouted, "Guys, my repulsors aren't affecting them. If anyone has got any ideas here, now's the--" He couldn't finish his sentence; one of the creatures pounced on him, enveloping him in a sticky mass.
(Meanwhile back at the mansion...)
Steve Rogers, the man from the past, stood in his room, staring at an old photograph of him and Bucky with a wistful look on his face. Beside him rested a uniform identical to the one he was wearing, only in perfect condition. The contrast between his current appearance and that of the new suit accentuated the distance between the past and the present.
Suddenly, a sound interrupted his thoughts; someone knocked on the door of his room. Steve did not answer, lost in his memories. The door opened slowly and Wasp appeared, wearing a friendly but concerned smile.
"Steve? Iron-Man tried to make it feel as much like the '40s as he could," Wasp said, trying to cheer him up.
"Excuse me Ms. Wasp. There appears to be a guest at the main gate." interrupted JARVIS, the mansion's artificial intelligence.
"Just like the '40s except with a talking computer," she replied jokingly. But when she saw that Steve didn't react, her expression turned serious. "Are you okay?"
"I should have never woken up. I'm a soldier. Not some future man. I can't imagine a world that's changed so much still needs Captain America," Steve replied in a muffled voice, not taking his eyes off the photograph.
Before Wasp could answer him, a tremor shook the house, causing them both to sway slightly. Objects on the table vibrated and some fell to the floor. The two exchanged worried, alert glances.
"What was that?" asked Wasp, as he quickly went to the window to look outside.
Steve jumped to his feet, his soldier's instincts awakening. "I don't know, but we have to find out."
They both left the room hurriedly, with the urgency of those who know that danger could lurk at any moment. The mansion, normally a haven of calm and safety, now felt like a battlefield in the making. Steve, with the photograph still fresh in his mind, prepared to once again face the world he never felt fully a part of.
(Back to the Statue of Liberty...)
At that moment, Invincible (Mark Grayson) appeared in the sky, quickly descending to help his companions. With a swift motion, he plucked the creature from Iron Man and hurled it away. "Come on, guys! We need a strategy before these things overwhelm us!"
Thor, finally freeing himself from his opponent, turned to Iron Man, now covered in the goo. With a swift motion, he launched a bolt of lightning that struck the creature, separating it from his friend. "Stay calm, Tony! These creatures may be resistant to your repulsors, but not to Mjolnir's fury."
Iron Man, observing the interaction, had an idea. "Thor! Use your beams to supercharge my suit. I can generate an energy blast that could disintegrate these things."
Thor nodded, understanding immediately. "Brace yourself, metal man!" With a roar of power, he directed a beam straight at Iron Man Man, who, with his special suit, absorbed the energy. In an instant, he released it with a shockwave that disintegrated the creatures around him.
Invincible, seeing the effectiveness of the plan, used his superhuman strength to hit the remaining creatures, making sure to keep the civilians in the area safe. "Good job, team! But this isn't over. We need to find out who's behind this."
The Statue of Liberty, though somewhat damaged, was still standing. The Avengers, exhausted but victorious, gathered to assess the damage. Iron Man, still covered in sticky wreckage, sighed. "Well, that was an interesting fight. We need to find whoever is responsible for this and make sure it doesn't happen again."
Thor nodded solemnly. "Whoever created these abominations, they will not escape the justice of the Avengers."
Ant-Man, though still in awe of the Doughboys' biology, knew the threat was real. "We have work to do. We managed to stop them this time, but we must be ready for whatever comes next."
Invincible added with determination, "Together, we can overcome any challenge. We will make sure the world is safe from these threats."
To which the rest only nodded with a smile. However, at that moment came a new warning. "Excuse me sir, but I have detected an intruder who broke into the mansion, Ms. Wasp and Mr. Captain America are confronting him right now."
The Avengers looked at each other in alarm. Invincible reacted instantly. "We can't waste any time! Wasp and Captain America need help!" With fierce determination, he launched himself into the air at incredible speed, leaving only a blurry trail in his wake.
Iron Man however, tried to stop him before he took off. "Mark wait!" But it was too late, the hero had already taken off flying at supersonic speeds.
(Meanwhile at that moment in the mansion...)
Baron Zemo had temporarily incapacitated Captain America, who while girding himself vainly over his enemy, gave what he thought would be his victory monologue.
"You are alone Captain. A relic in this world. Arnim Zola's creatures will deal with your new friends, but you? Let the Skull have Bucky." And at that moment he jumped up to deliver the final blow to his enemy. "Your life is mine to take." He shouted as he lunged at the Captain, however before he could finish the fight, almost miraculously the Captain's shield suddenly launched against the wall where they were, prevented this. Quickly hero and villain looked up to see a strange individual who was dressed in a black suit that covered his entire body and a mask that seemed to simulate the face of a panther.
However, before Zemo could even react to this, an enraged Invincible broke through the ceiling coming down at super speed, who grabbed Zemo at that moment and smashed him into the wall which left a crater-like mark on the wall. This caused his ribs and spine to be broken and almost shattered by the impact, or which caused a scream of inordinate pain to come from the villain.
"Who are you? Tell me now!" Said an enraged Mark. To which the villain could only let out shrieks of pain.
"Calm down soldier!" Suddenly ordered the Captain with a stern expression. "The villain's name is Zemo and although he's no saint of my devotion, you should let him go, he's had what he deserved." Said the Captain, stepping in to prevent the young hero from ending up accidentally killing him.
"I...I... sorry." Said Mark finally reacting, leaving the pained Zemo on the ground, as he realized he was about to lose control again.
"I'm sorry Captain, I shouldn't have lost my temper like that, I...I should be better than this, know how to control my strength, but I can't." Said the hero ducking his head and kneeling on the ground as he went into a new depressive spiral.
Captain America, with his shield over his shoulder, approached Mark with an expression of understanding and concern. He knelt beside him, placing a firm but comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Listen soldier," the Captain began in his firm, confident voice, "I know what happened today is hard to accept. We all make mistakes in battle, even the most experienced. The important thing is to learn from them."
Invincible looked up, his eyes filled with guilt and fear. "Cap, I almost killed him. I didn't mean to... I just wanted to stop him. I can't control my strength."
Captain America nodded, understanding Mark's distress. "I know, kid. The force is a gift, but it's also a huge responsibility. You have immense power, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. But that doesn't make you a monster. You're a hero because you care, because it hurts when something goes wrong."
Mark let out a shaky sigh. "How can I make sure it doesn't happen again? How can I be a hero if I can't control my own strength?"
Captain America sat across from him, looking him straight in the eye. "The key is in control and practice. I too have gone through difficult times in your time, where I doubted my abilities. But with training and discipline, I learned to manage my power. You are not alone in this. You have a team here to help you."
Invincible nodded slowly, feeling a small glimmer of hope. "Thanks, Cap. I just... need time to get used to it."
Captain America smiled, a smile full of understanding and camaraderie. "And you'll have all the time you need. You don't have to do it alone. We're a team now, and we're here to support each other. You'll learn to control your strength, and when you do, you'll be even more formidable than you already are."
Mark stood up, feeling a renewed determination. "Thank you, Captain. I won't let you down."
At this the Captain was surprised, an expression of recognition graced his face as Mark said those words. At that moment the Captain was able for a brief moment to visualize his former partner in the young hero.
"Cap. Everything all right?" Mark asked with a somewhat concerned tone as he saw that this one had frozen.
Quickly the Captain reacted. "Yeah, sorry, I guess spending so much time frozen affected me a bit." He said half jokingly.
"Did you just make a joke? Captain America has a sense of humor." Mark said joking a little. Which made the 2 of them laugh a little. Captain at that moment remembered an important detail, which he had to share with Mark.
"Now when can I meet the Avenger who saved me from Zemo? The one in the black cat suit." He asked the young hero.
"Wait, who?" answered in a confused tone Mark.
Hello, my dear readers! I want to apologize to you for the delay in updating my stories, but lately I had been very busy studying for college exams. But now that I'm done with that, I'll be able to spend more time writing this. Farewell and see you next time.
