"No wine with dinner? But it's Grey's lasagna," Tony asked, holding out the bottle of red for Pepper. She shook her head, her hair loose and flowing past her shoulders. Tony thought she looked radiant.
"I have to give it up until Christmas," Pepper said, a sparkle in her eyes. Tony missed it, as he was putting away the wine. There was a new bouquet of flowers on the table, not the red and gold victory bouquets that Grey scattered nearly everywhere, but a pinker toned bouquet. Tony would have to ask Jarvis what it meant later. He could see pink roses, which he knew meant love and happiness, white daisies, which he was fairly sure meant innocence, but the peach gerbera daisies meaning was lost on him.
"Did Marsha say something in her article? I haven't had a chance to read the news yet, today, but Pepper, if she said something, you can't believe a word of it," Tony said, immediately upset on his wife's behalf.
"Helen told me to stop drinking wine, it's bad for the baby," Pepper said.
"Oh, well if Helen said something I suppose she has her reason - did you say baby?" Tony asked, knocking his fork to the ground. "There's a baby? You're having a baby; we're having a baby? A baby?"
Tony stared at his wife, hope and worry warring in his eyes as he pondered the challenges he was about to face as a new father. He doubted this child would be as difficult as his first born, but he was sure that with Grey as a big sister, the little one was sure to get into all sorts of nonsense and would likely also be running an intelligence agency before her twenty first birthday.
"Yes, I found out I was pregnant the day after the battle. Natasha and Loki know, because they were with me, but you're the first person I've told," Pepper explained, slightly nervous now. She absently bit the end of her thumb nail as she waited for the shock to wear off Tony so she could get his real reaction. "Are you… happy?"
Of course, Tony was happy. All he'd wanted, his entire life, was a huge family that all loved each other, something like the Brady bunch, or the Weasley family from Harry Potter. He hadn't planned on asking about children quite soon, knowing Grey's timeline of events for the first ten years – ending with his death, something Grey claimed she already knew the way around. But Tony was nothing if not willing to grab life with both hands. He wasn't going to hesitate and risk fucking up the best things in his life.
Tony moved to kneel next to Pepper, taking both her hands in his. He said, "Pepper, this is the best moment of my life, surpassing even the day I got home from Afghanistan. Grey's gonna get to be a big sister, we're gonna have another kid!"
Tony surged to his feet and scooped Pepper up, spinning them both around before he kissed her.
"So, you're excited then?" Pepper asked, a beaming smile on her own face. She was definitely glowing.
"Pepper, I want to scream it from the top of the tower. We're going to – no." Tony said, forcefully calming himself down, a trick he learned from Grey. "We're going to enjoy this dinner and celebrate the news, then tomorrow, after we tell Grey and Rhodey and James and Happy we'll start planning how we're going to do this. I'm sure you know this, Peps, but I never raised a baby before."
"Neither have I. It'll be hard, but I'm sure Grey and Happy can find us a quality nanny to help, we already have Lyn for the cooking for us, we just have to figure it out," Pepper said, still beaming. "Tony, we're gonna have a baby."
"I love you, Mrs. Stark," Tony said, looking like he could melt he was so happy.
"I love you, Mister Stark," Pepper said, radiant in her joy.
Husband and wife spent a quiet evening, just themselves, planning colors for the nursery, debating possible names – Pepper liked Morgan for a girl or a boy, Tony wanted to do something special with the middle name, something to honor Grey for all she'd done for them over the past few years. Maybe he'd see if Pepper would let Grey pick the last name. Maybe her original middle name?
Line Break
Dr Bruce Banner was having the time of his life. First, was his home. Whether Grey set up the apartments, or was just taking credit, he did not know, but everything was to his taste. From the tea selection he got to choose from in the morning, to the shampoo he used in his hair, everything was his preferred brand. The lounge throw was dark purple, his favorite color, and the books were all things he would read.
Second, was his job. Working at Stark Industries was nothing like he expected. He had two assistants and two interns to help him in the lab. The four of them were currently comparing his DNA as it had evolved from when he first transformed into the Hulk to today.
"What if you drew blood while transformed as the Hulk?" Grey asked, glancing over his abstract. That was the third reason he was having the time of his life. Between Tony's ability to keep up with him on nearly every subject, and Grey, who had the uncanny ability to think up the strangest ideas; Bruce felt like he was surrounded by peers. Surrounded by friends.
"I don't think he'd go for it," Bruce said.
"Have you asked him?" Grey asked, knowing it was very unlikely. Bruce refused to acknowledge the Hulk unless he absolutely had to. He was the least adjusted person Grey had ever met, and she was including herself. "Bruce, the Hulk is a part of you, whether you like it or not. And besides, you're a grown ass man. Act like it."
"Did you recruit me only to study the Hulk?" Bruce demanded, his eyes going a shade of green that usually would've made people nervous. Grey didn't blink, unphased by the potential threat in front of her.
"I recruited you for two reasons. The first is simply to piss off Ross. I hate that man so much and I'm going to love the expression on his face when I tell him that you're completely untouchable. The second reason is because you're Bruce fucking Banner. You're a genius. You've got seven PhDs, which is completely unnecessary. Stark Industries has had their eyes on you for a while, but we didn't want to freak you out by going all the way to Calcutta to recruit you."
"Then why are you so interested in learning about him?" Bruce asked, bewildered. He sank onto his stool, slowly turning to face Grey, wondering exactly what it was she saw in him. Hulk or Bruce, he wasn't quite sure who he was more confused by.
"Why aren't you? He's part of you. Bruce, you turn three times the size of your body mass. That's physically impossible." Grey stopped and decided to change tact. "Why'd you build the cabin?"
"What?"
"The retreat, the reinforced cabin in the middle of nowhere. You built it shortly after your first transformation, right?"
"I didn't think you'd know about it," Bruce admitted, shrugging. Grey gently sat next to him and put her hand on his arm. "It's just a house I couldn't destroy, even on accident."
"I think you built it so you would have somewhere to learn about the Hulk, without worrying about causing anyone any harm," Grey suggested. Bruce shook his head.
"I didn't want to learn about him, I wanted to get rid of him," Bruce said finally. "But I can't."
"You sound like Remus," Grey said, a small smile on her face. "Have you read the Harry Potter books?"
"I have not," Bruce said, looking slightly ashamed. Grey just smiled and raised an eyebrow. She grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the lab. Bruce didn't bother to question it, still too confused by her seemingly random change of topic. And her decision to grab everyone. Grey was a tactile person, and it was taking some getting used to, especially for someone who spent five years in self-imposed exile.
"In the books, we meet Remus Lupin, who is a werewolf," Grey said, causing Bruce to laugh. "Yes, she named her werewolf character Wolfy McWolf. He hates being a werewolf, thinks it makes him unworthy of love, and happiness, and friendship, all because he transforms against his will."
Bruce raised an eyebrow as Grey pulled him out of the elevator and down the hall to her apartment. It was three times the size of his, and Bruce could see evidence of James living there too. Grey clearly liked to wear her own merchandise – an Iron Peacemaker tank top was tossed carelessly over the back of the couch.
"Here," Grey said, dumping three books in his arms. "The first three in the series. If you like them, I'll buy you a boxed set and have them brought to your apartment. And once you read it, you'll understand why you have a lot of blue and bronze in your room."
"Thank you," Bruce said. He still wasn't sure what a werewolf had to do with the Hulk, but it would be nice to read for fun again. "I have the afternoon off, so I might make some tea and read. If this series is as good as you say, I'll let you know."
Bruce took the books and left, leaving Grey with her cat in her apartment. Grey sighed and shook her head. Chenin meowed at her, yelling until she picked him up and slung him around in her arms, so she was holding him like a baby. He meowed contentedly at her, causing her to roll her eyes at him and tap him on the nose. She could hear him purring like an engine.
"Solving the worlds' problems, one book at a time?" James asked, walking out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist. Grey looked at him and rolled her eyes. Did he have to be built like a Roman statue? Did he have to be so effortlessly beautiful? She turned to toss Chenin lightly onto the couch, leaving her free to reach out for James.
"Trying to make sure everyone is adjusted and settled down. Mandatory counselling starts next week, and I'm just trying to pave the way for the hard questions. Giving Bruce a character to relate to will help. Once Bambi finds it online, I'm giving him All The Young Dudes to read, I have a feeling he's going to really relate to Remus."
"The way you relate to Katniss, protecting Tony like he's Prim?" James asked, crossing the room to wrap his arms around Grey. He was still damp from the shower, and his hair dripped water on her.
"Never should've gotten you a kindle, you damn bookworm. Come here," Grey said, pulling him around for a kiss. "You know, I also have the afternoon off."
"Oh really, Miss Stark?"
"Oh really, Mister Barnes," Grey teased, looking up at him with a coy smile. She shrieked and giggled as James scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
Line Break
"Friend Tony says the tesseract containment should be finished soon, and I shall return to Asgard to report to Mother and Father," Thor said, hesitating in the open doorway of his brother's apartment. "Brother, are you sure you don't want to return with me?"
"I have my sentence here, to serve, brother, for crimes I actually committed," Loki said, closing the book he was reading about something called a vampire. Loki stretched out his leg to show off the fancy Midgardian bracelet secured to his ankle. "I must serve out my twenty years before I am free to return to Asgard."
"The twenty years that you asked for, brother, why?"
"Because it was the right thing to do," Loki said. "Because Father would see me imprisoned for my crimes against Jotunheim, and there is no redemption in squandering away twenty years in a cell. Here, I might do something to prove that I am not the man that destroyed Jotunheim. I must prove that I am better than the man that came to subjugate Midgard."
"But you are better than that man. You acted not of your own will."
"Twas not my will, nay. But it was my desire to rule that put me in such a position as that. It was the upset in my heart that allowed the scepter the control it had. For that, I feel the need to apologize to the people. They will not trust me again until I prove that I can," Loki said, closing his book to look at Thor. He gestured for him to enter and have a seat in the living room. The door closed behind Thor. "Last we were home on Asgard, I discovered I was not Odin's son. I am the son of Laufey, King of Jotunheim. I am not Asgardian, I am a frost giant, brother."
"I care not who your father was, you are still my brother," Thor said forcefully. Thunder cracked outside despite the clear skies.
"You care not? Fine, you care not. The court? Those that already consider me argr because I use Seidr rather than brute strength to solve my problems? I had fought three battles in the last year for that insult." Loki slammed the book shut, and a look of horror passed over his face as he inspected it for injury. His frustration returned as he realized the book was unhurt. "Those same would have no trouble chasing me out of Asgard when my parentage reveals itself. And it will – one cannot keep a secret from the court."
"Mother and I would protect you, brother," Thor said, wishing he was better at offering comfort. He wished he had been there for his brother, rather than being too busy focusing on himself and the battles he wanted to fight.
"Allow me to find my way here, on Midgard, brother. These people, they care not for parentage, they care not that I prefer books to battles, in fact, the Lady Grey seems to be of the same mind. I could find new purpose here, brother, please."
"Aye," Thor said, finally. He could see the hope in his brother's eyes at a fresh start. "I will return alone, to Asgard and report to Father what has happened with the Chitauri. I will also carry any letters you wish to send home with me."
"Thank you, brother," Loki said, rising to his feet. "Now, I believe I have mastered the machine Lady Grey calls the Keurig. Would you like refreshment in the form of coffee or tea?"
"Coffee would be preferred, thank you, brother," Thor said, watching with pride as his brother used the machine, he had yet to figure it out himself. Shortly, two cups of coffee were prepared, Thor's black with lots of sugar, and Loki's almost white with milk. "A toast, then. To your new life on Midgard. May it be filled with joy and acceptance."
Loki smiled as he tapped his glass against his brothers. He didn't know what the snake on his cup meant, but he liked the green and silver colors. He made a mental note to ask Grey what they meant – she designed everything, which meant as far as Loki was concerned, she knew everything.
In the meantime, he was just glad he and his brother were getting along again. Loki vowed to never let their relationship degrade again.
Line Break
"I need to ask for something weird," Grey said as she let herself into her dad's office, somewhere on the seventy fifth floor. If she hadn't had Bambi directing her, she never would've found it, sandwiched between Jim and Bruce's. Pepper and Grey both worked out of the eightieth floor, the smallest floor in the building, perfect for the two of them to divide between them.
Tony looked up and braced himself for whatever insanity was about to come out of his daughter's mouth. He said, "shoot, kiddo."
"I need you to design and build a moon rover that can still function after being trampled by a horse," Grey said bluntly. Tony stared at her and repeated the sentence to himself.
He sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose and asked, rather against his will, "why is there a horse on the moon?"
Grey resisted the urge to state that the horse was actually in a hospital, but she didn't want to add to his distress, and didn't know how to explain the joke.
"Technically Gorgon is an Inhuman with hooves. Like a Satyr."
"Why are we sending Inhumans to the moon?" Tony asked, wondering what Grey was talking about this time. Last he had heard, space terrified her now – but he wasn't willing to risk upsetting her by bringing it up.
"We're not. They're already living up there," Grey said, smiling like she was telling a joke, but Tony could see the seriousness in her eyes. She blinked at him when he opened his mouth but didn't say anything. "I want the rover to be found by them. Gorgon typically stomps them, so I want one able to deliver a message after he stomps it, hopefully to warn him about Maximus' coup."
"There are Inhumans living on the MOON?!" Tony shrieked. Grey nodded, expertly smothering her giggles at his reaction. She expected Daisy to have a similar reaction when she was looped in.
"And I don't know what to do with them. It's a whole inhuman society with a King and a Queen, and everybody has powers, and if you think Humans will discriminate against Inhumans, they're just as derogatory towards us normal folk."
"Okay. Why bring this up now?"
"I forgot. The TV show was boring as hell, so I DNF'd it. And they don't actually interact with us. Best guess is they fix their own shit and stay on the moon." Grey shrugged like it was inconsequential. "Will you build the rover or not?"
"It'll take a few years, and we'll need to partner with NASA or someone to get it on the moon," Tony said, trying to think of the logistical part of this new project.
"It's fine, it falls somewhere after Sokovia on the timeline, I'm mostly sure," Grey said. "I just want to have something in the works in case we end up involved. Plus, Black Bolt and Medusa would make good allies. And I really wanna meet Lockjaw."
"What kinda names are these?"
"Well Medusa can literally control her hair to act like snakes, although she was named that before terrigenesis, so who knows. Lockjaw is a dog that can teleport. No, I don't know how they got a dog on the moon, or how it ended up with inhuman abilities. My best guess is that he was a person first." Grey shrugged, just as confused as her dad for once. "One day, I might be able to ask. Providing this works. If we have to, I will personally fund a new space exploration department within Stark Industries."
"You want to go back to space, after flying through that portal?" Grey felt her breath quicken at the thought of being back in the void of space. Tony could see the panic in her eyes, and stepped forward to comfort her, silently apologizing for any upset.
"No. I will never leave this planet, ever again. For any reason whatsoever. But I will send people to space. As long as it isn't me." Grey had no plans to ever re-enter the void of space, whether through a portal or by a Rocketship. Unless the tenth Doctor arrived with his Tardis, Grey was keeping both feet firmly in the Earth's atmosphere. She didn't even think she wanted to visit Asgard via Bifrost. Not being able to breathe had become Grey's biggest fear, and she didn't think there was anything she could do about it.
Tony could see the distress on his daughter's face and decided to drop it. He would work on her moon rover, and she could do whatever she wanted with it. He was her dad – he could do this for her.
"So, rovers need to be solar powered," Tony said, turning his tablet into a hologram. "We can use the hexagonal panels and fit up to five on there, that will allow for greater use of the rover."
Grey settled down in her chair to listen to her dad tell her all about the rover. She offered ideas here and there as best as she could with her minimal understanding of engineering, but just listening to Tony walk her through his inventions was fun for her.
Line Break
"So, you're in charge of me?" Steve asked his PR Rep as they met for lunch in the common area. On the other side of the room, Garrett was meeting with Loki, waving his arms around as he expressed something.
"No, definitely not," Jonathan said with an easy-going smile. "I'm in charge of making sure you don't accidentally say something inappropriate where the press can hear you."
"And who decides what's appropriate or not?" Steve asked, trying not to be frustrated until after he figured out what this really was.
"We do. You and I will work together to decide what it is you want to stand for, what kind of questions you are willing to answer, and what questions we shouldn't ask. Any time there's a press conference to be had, you and I will meet up and plan two or three scripted questions for you to answer, that way you don't have to answer any random questions from other reporters."
"So, what's the point of today's meeting then?"
"To get to know you," Jonathan said. He had a tablet with a keyboard and a recorder set out in front of him, ready to ask some questions. "I'm going to ask you some questions – similar questions to what Garrett is going to ask Thor and Loki, and what Kathryn is going to ask Natasha and Clint. Then I'm going to write turn it into an introductory article, and publish it online, so the people can get to know who you are behind the shield. Christine approves every piece we publish, and Margaret usually reads them first, too. Shall we begin?"
"If we have to," Steve said.
Jonathan knew he was going to have his work cut out for him working with Steve Rogers. He had to get him up to date on modern technology, get him to recognize at least some modern references, and that wasn't even considering whatever possible political beliefs the man might have held back in the forties. Even if he was the most progressive man alive back then, progressive for the forties was still conservative for the modern times, where everything felt like it was an extreme.
"That's the spirit!" Jonathan moved his tablet in front of him, started the recorder and smiled at Steve. "So, first question. How does it feel to wake up in a world so different from the one you left behind in 1945?"
Introducing Captain America: Steve Rogers Shares His Journey from the 1940s to the Avengers
Jonathan Pest, Stark Industries News Network
Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, has become a living legend, bridging the gap between a bygone era and today's world. Frozen in ice since 1945 and only recently revived, Rogers now fights alongside Earth's mightiest heroes as a member of the Avengers Initiative.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Captain Rogers and discuss his experiences—from his time in World War II to his new life in the 21st century. Here's what the man behind the shield had to say.
A Moment of Sacrifice
For Rogers, the last moments of his life in the 1940s are still vividly clear.
"The last thing I remember is forcing the plane into the ice and water rushing in from the crumpled hull. I expected to die, and my last thought was, 'At least it's just me,' and that Red Skull wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else."
That selflessness defined his service during World War II, where he volunteered for a dangerous experiment to become the first—and only—super-soldier of his kind.
Waking Up in a Different World
When Rogers awoke decades later, he was met with confusion and disorientation.
"SHIELD had a radio playing a baseball game I had gone to with Bucky, from '41. I thought it was strange that I couldn't hear the city through the open windows. I remember feeling... light. Like I was floating on the water for a long time, and still cold in my fingers," he recalled.
The world he knew was gone, replaced by a modern age of rapid technological advancement and cultural change.
The Weight of the Shield
Despite the adjustments required of him, Rogers remains steadfast in his role as Captain America.
"I had hoped that after the war, there wouldn't be a need for Captain America anymore, but as long as I'm needed to fight, I will. I won't shirk my duty to the people," he said.
Far from feeling burdened by the legacy of the shield, Rogers embraces it.
"It isn't just a stage name for me; it's a symbol, like the shield itself, that I'm responsible for protecting the little people."
Navigating Modern Life
Adjusting to the 21st century has not been easy for Rogers, who often relies on those around him for guidance.
"Grey—Margaret Stark—has been great, taking time out of her day to walk me through some things. Bucky had to teach me how to use the washing machine for laundry. Tony tried to teach me how to use a Starkphone, but he talks too fast and uses words I can't hope to follow. His wife, however, was kind enough to find me a flip phone. I can make calls on that. Haven't figured out texting yet," he said with a self-deprecating laugh.
Despite these challenges, Rogers remains grounded by familiar comforts. His love for art, nurtured in his youth, has become a way for him to reconnect with himself.
"I was in art school when the war kicked off, and Margaret was kind enough to provide me with a setup to draw and paint as I want. She's already offered to hang a few of my finished pieces throughout the tower."
Reuniting with an Old Friend
One of the most profound moments of Rogers' new life has been reuniting with James Barnes, his best friend and comrade from the war.
"When Bucky fell from the train, it was the worst day of my life; he was my best friend. To know that he's alive is incredible, but knowing some of what he went through breaks my heart. He didn't deserve any of that. Bucky's the best man I've ever known," Rogers said.
Fighting Alongside the Avengers
The transition from leading the Howling Commandos to being part of the Avengers has been a unique experience for Rogers.
"It's different. I was in charge of the Commandos, and here I'm just one of the team. Colonel Rhodes has said he's planning on getting me modern-day leadership training so I can be a field commander if we're needed again—I can't say I'm looking forward to it, but I can see why it's necessary. Things have changed so much," he explained.
Working with powerful teammates like Thor and Loki has also been an adjustment.
"There's only one God, and he sure doesn't dress like them. They are very powerful, though—something I'm looking forward to training against. It'll be nice to spar with someone who can hold their own against me."
A Symbol of Hope
Rogers understands the immense responsibility he carries as Captain America and the expectations placed upon him by those who look to him for inspiration.
"A hero is someone who fights for what's right, no matter the personal cost," he said.
When asked what message he would like to share with the world, his response was simple and heartfelt:
"I will always do my best to do right by you."
The Road Ahead
Steve Rogers may be a man out of time, but his values and determination remain timeless. Whether he's leading on the battlefield, adjusting to modern life, or drawing strength from the people around him, Rogers exemplifies what it means to be a hero.
For a world that sometimes feels uncertain and divided, Captain America is here to remind us that hope, integrity, and courage are never out of style.
"It's a good article," Grey said, reading it while Jonathan waited patiently. Christine was in the room as well, reading the same piece before it was published. "But you can't call him Captain Rogers until we confirm with the Army that he still has that rank; my understanding is that the Captain title was just a stage name."
Grey was already working with Samantha, and the same person who got James his pension back, working to figure out how the Army would recognize him. They had been pretty adamant before the Battle for New York that Rogers was a private, but Steve was certain he'd been called Captain Rogers a few times. Grey had promised to look back into it, so she had. She couldn't promise backpay, the military was stingy after all, but Steve did serve, so he deserved his Veteran's benefits. It was going to be difficult though, as Grey couldn't be sure the Army had ever recognized Steve as an officer.
"And I'd like you to remove the part about him saying there's only one God," Christine said. "We don't need to start a theological fight when we're already handling the fallout of having two possible Gods living in the tower."
"While I'm thinking about it, James hates being called Bucky, even by Steve, will you go in and make those adjustments?" Grey asked. Bambi typed up the suggestions and emailed them to Jonathan, who nodded. "Other than that, it's a good introduction. Publish it. Are you sending it anywhere?"
"Time Magazine has asked if they can publish a copy of Captain America's first interview. Once it's been approved, I'll send it over to Alice."
"Thanks Jon, we appreciate you," Grey said as he left. Grey slumped in her chair. "How bad is it?"
"It could be worse. He's not righteous, he's not arrogant, he seems open to change, while still keeping the Kansas farm-boy charm."
"Are you seriously comparing him to Superman?" Grey asked, looking at Christine in pretend disgust. "Oh my God, twitter is going to eat that man for breakfast."
"At least we got rid of the God comment, could you imagine the Pagan outpouring we'd have to deal with?"
"I do not want a single religious comment to ever come out of an Avenger's mouth where a reporter can hear them. I don't frankly care what they believe in, but I refuse to deal with it. We need to compile a list of topics for the reps to avoid."
"Why, so MSNBC can't show a video of you going off on a tangent on vaccines again?"
"Fuck you, Everhart. That guy seriously asked me if I was retarded on live TV because I had my vaccines. We're lucky Barnes wasn't there that day, because it would've been murder," Grey said. The man had been sued, of course, calling the Stark Heiress a retard on live TV was never a smart move. Doing it where her over-protective father could hear? Was an even worse mistake. The man was practically toxic assets, he wouldn't be able to find a respectable job in any journalism field.
Twitter Break
HeroHypeNYC: The Avengers saved New York AND the world. We owe them everything. Flowers at Stark Tower aren't enough. #AvengersAssemble
QueenMargaretStark: HeroHypeNYC: Flowers at the tower are plenty! We have some in nearly every room in the tower!
CapFan1945: Steve Rogers is everything I hoped he'd be and more. Humble, brave, and just a kid from Brooklyn. We don't deserve him. #CaptainAmerica
AntiAvenger123: So we're just supposed to trust a guy who doesn't even know how to text? Real comforting, Stark Industries. #OutOfTouch
TimeTraveler42: AntiAvenger123: This man missed the moon landing, the internet, AND Beyoncé. Give him a break, haters. He's literally from another century. #SteveRogers
Retweeted by QueenMargaretStark
Retweeted by RealFirstAvenger
ShieldBeliever: AntiAvenger123: Steve Rogers literally gave his life to save the world, and people still wanna criticize him for being old-fashioned. Sit down. #CaptainAmerica
Retweeted by QueenMargaretStark
ArtistVibes: The art school detail made me tear up. Imagine being frozen for 70 years and still wanting to paint. What a guy. #SteveRogers
Retweeted by RealFirstAvenger
Retweeted by JamesBarnes1916
NYDamageControl: "Cool, they saved the city, but who's paying for the damages? Not the Avengers, I bet. #RebuildNYC"
NYCLoveForAvengers: NYDamageControl: They didn't just fight; they helped rebuild the city the next day. THAT is what heroes do. #ThankYouAvengers
BambiBot: NYDamageControl: NYCLoveForAvengers: The various Stark Foundations raised 756 million dollars for the city of New York for repairs. #RebuildNYC
NatashaStans: The Avengers are more than heroes; they're an inspiration. They showed us we're stronger together. #AvengersFamily #IronFamily
IronFamilyStan: Iron Family Avengers = the dream team we didn't know we needed. Thank you for keeping us safe. #AvengersAssemble
WhyTrustLoki: So, Loki destroys New York and now he's walking free with the Avengers? How does that make sense? #NoJustice
UNFan213: WhyTrustLoki: There was an entire UN court case about this where he was declared NOT GUILTY because he was BRAINWASHED, dipshit.
Liked by QueenMargaretStark
HeroHopefulNYC: WhyTrustLoki, UNFan213 Loki's sentence is tough, but fair. Let's judge him by what he does now, not what he did under duress.
EarthsMightiestFan: WhyTrustLoki: UNFan213: HeroHopefulNYC: People deserve second chances, especially when they take responsibility. Loki's trying to fix what he broke.
ThorFan_4Life: Thor fighting those aliens was like watching a god in action. Oh wait, it WAS a god in action. Unreal. #GodOfThunder
Retweeted by BetterThanZeus
IronFanatic: Margaret Stark flying a missile into space to save us all? That's the kind of heroism you can't teach. #IronPeacemaker
Retweeted by QueenMargaretStark
Retweeted by PepperPot
Retweeted by IamIronMan
Retweeted by JamesBarnes1916
WidowsWeb: Can we talk about how Black Widow closed the portal? No powers, just skill and courage. Absolute legend. #BlackWidow
Retweeted by QueenMargaretStark
Retweeted by BlackWidowBaby
Retweeted by CoffeeandArrows
HawkEye4TheWin: Hawkeye didn't miss a single shot the whole battle. I don't care if he doesn't have powers—he's a superhero. #AvengersAssemble
Retweeted by QueenMargaretStark
Retweeted by BlackWidowBaby
Retweeted by CoffeeandArrows
GreenSmash22: Hulk punching that space whale? Best moment in superhero history. Hands down. #HulkSmash [Hulk_Smash_GIF]
Retweeted by QueenMargaretStark
Retweeted by PepperPot
Retweeted by IHateGamma
DodgersFan: OMG the Avengers have their own twitter accounts! QueenMargaretStark, PepperPot, IamIronMan, AvengersOfficial, RealFirstAvenger
DodgersFan: replied to DodgersFan: IHateGamma ColonelWarMachine CoffeeandArrows BlackWidowBaby JamesBarnes1916 BetterThanZeus GodofMischiefManaged
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"How're you doing, kid?" Grey asked, slipping into the kitchen, where Steve was squinting into the bottom of a beer glass.
"Clint said this was a good beer. He said it was a bestseller now. Why does it taste like shit?" Steve asked. Grey pulled it out of his hand and took a sip, immediately sticking her tongue out in disgust.
"Why did you go to Clint for beer advice? He's a little shit. What is this, Natty Light? Or is it Busch? Why is this even in my tower?"
"He called it bud?"
"Oh, no, thanks. Budweiser is a tolerable beer. Let me see what we have," Grey mused, dumping the last dregs into the sink. She opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of Blue Moon, and snapped the tops off, pouring them into glasses, letting them froth up, leaving a good head of foam. "Here. This is one of the few beers Jim can get me to drink."
Steve took a drink and said, "it's good. Better than whatever Clint gave me."
"Clint will pull a prank if given the opportunity. It's practically SHIELD tradition. I'm sure Natasha has something lying in wait for me," Grey said, hopping up to sit next to Steve at the bar. "I got her pretty good back in LA, so I'm sure she's plotting."
"Dugan got me once, whipped up the last of his shave cream and left it in my hand, I got it all over my face, and in my hair," Steve said full of nostalgia. Grey bumped her shoulder into his and encouraged him to keep going. "I managed a text message today."
"Hey! T9?" Grey had loved T9 texting, keeping her flip phone as long as she could because she was fast with it. She was sure it was still in the second drawer of the bar at her parents' house.
"I think so? Pepper told me to just press the button with the letter I wanted on it. I sent it to Bucky," Steve said, pride oozing out of him. Grey beamed at him; proud he was so excited about his progress. "Then of course he replied with an entire paragraph that I couldn't reply to. Would you show it to me on your phone again?"
So, Grey pulled out her phone and taught Steve how to type with his thumbs and how to take a selfie. She had set up his twitter account a year ago, so she logged him in and helped him post his first tweet. They took their beers and moved to the couch, where Grey scrolled through his twitter feed, following news accounts and art accounts for him to fill his feed. She taught him what retweeting was and laughed as he retweeted something she had posted a month ago.
RealFirstAvenger: QueenMargaretStark taught me how to text on a Starkphone, and how to take a selfie, what do you think? [Steve_Grey_ ]
Retweeted by QueenMargaretStark.
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"Alright, so this is a livestream, which means people are watching it as it happens. We can't redo, we can't reanswer, you can't take it back," Grey said firmly as she stared down the Avengers. She pointed her finger first at Clint, who gulped, then Steve, who nodded. She turned her glare to James, then softened and winked at him. "Everyone is going to sit where I put them, and you're going to stay put."
Grey lined the back with the big boys, James, Steve, Thor, then Jim with Tony, Bruce, Clint and Loki in front of them, with the three women in the front. Grey sat in the middle, with Natasha to her left, and Pepper to the right. Dum-E was there with the camera, and Bambi was controlling a screen that would show them the livestream. It was currently fading through fun facts about science, the Avengers, and Stark Industries. Sometimes, a photo from the battle, or a tweet from a fan would show up, showing Bambi was paying attention to what people were saying.
Bambi was rigging the game in their favor by choosing questions similar enough to ones prepared for, either with their PR rep, or the family, who had tried to sit down with everyone prior. Loki and Natasha were the only two with some amount of experience with this. Natasha after her time as Pepper's PA, and Loki after his UN trial.
"We want people to be able to ask whatever real questions they have, ones reporters might not ask, that the people want to know," Pepper explained. "Take your time answering if you need to. No one will fault you a moment to think."
"We can go first," Grey said, thinking of the Iron Family members that had already done this song and dance. "So, you can get a feel for the tone we're aiming for. Bambi will make sure everyone answers the same number of questions as much as possible. We're aiming for three questions a piece, but if you all are having fun, we can always keep going."
"We can handle a few questions, mini-Stark," Clint teased. Grey raised an eyebrow at him in challenge. Before he could tease more, Grey started the livestream. The team could see on the screen that Bambi was adding graphics, opening the stream with the Stark Industries logo, then the Avengers Initiative logo, a stylistic A, modeled after the remaining letter outside Stark Tower. They weren't keeping it as Avengers Tower, no matter how much the population called it that – branding was important. The Stark name would always outlive the Avengers.
"Hello and welcome to the first ever Avengers' Initiative Q session! As you can see, I've been joined by everyone on the team! We're going to answer some of the questions you guys have for us. Bambi is going to be our moderator, so let's get right to it!" Grey was a natural in front of the camera, easily adapting to fit her typical style into something less demanding than a press conference.
Bambi's purple flame filled the screen as they said, "our first question is for Pepper! Pepper, what made you decide to join Tony and Margaret in a suit? Did you ever imagine this is where your life would lead? From Ofelia in Colombia."
"I wasn't going to let them do it alone. I was one of very few people that had known about Margaret before her first press conference – Tony had trusted me with that secret, so I knew what this meant to them, and I wasn't going to let them risk their lives without me there to help bring them home." Pepper smiled for a moment, as if lost in a memory. "Tony had made the suit for me, in my favorite color before I even asked. I definitely didn't expect to be a superhero, but I'm thrilled to be a role model for young women everywhere."
"Very well said," Bambi said. The camera lingered on Pepper for a moment longer, before switching to Tony. "For Tony now, from Justin in Ohio – do you ever miss being the carefree billionaire playboy, or has being Iron Man completely redefined who you are?"
"Yikes, Justin. I have to say I'm much happier now. My family has grown, there's always someone around to bounce ideas off of, always someone with a new idea. Sometimes I miss the party days, but I'm nearly two years sober now, and I couldn't be more proud."
"Yeah, you are," Grey cheered, thrilled for her dad's two-year anniversary that was coming up soon. She reached around for a high five, Bambi's expert skills meaning the camera didn't miss a moment of father-daughter happiness.
"Two years, wow," Clint commented, impressed. He knew sobriety wasn't an easy thing to keep. "I'd suggest we throw a party to celebrate, but uh…"
"Sober party!" Pepper and Grey cheered. Grey continued, "Bambi, remind me later, and we'll plan something."
"Sure thing. Next, for Clint, what's the weirdest thing you've ever shot an arrow at? From Rachel in Germany."
"In order to escape a group of weapons dealers, I shot a baby's rattle. The baby started screaming and I was able to escape into an air duct."
"Poor kid," Bruce put in, speaking up for the first time.
"The kid was fine, just startled by the suddenly missing toy," Clint defended. "I'm not a monster."
"Of course not," Bambi said as condescendingly as possible for an AI. "Onto Thor, from Katya in Sweden, If you could bring one Asgardian tradition to Earth, what would it be?"
"Aye, Asgard has many wonderful traditions. I believe the best would be the Revelries following battles. The lady Sif and her warriors three had wonderful feasts after a successful battle." Thor perked up at the mere mention of an Asgardian feast.
"Mother is sure to hold a feast in honor of your victory over the Chitauri, when you return home, brother," Loki said encouragingly. Thor nodded sagely, but there was a sadness in his eyes at the thought of returning home alone.
"You'll have to return for Thanksgiving, Thor," Jim said, clapping Thor on the shoulder. "Grey holds a feast for the entire family, and it's always amazing."
"She cooks, she fights, what doesn't she do?" Clint teased.
"Clean," Bucky and Pepper said at once. Grey threw her hands up in exasperation. The team laughed at her as she turned in her seat to glare at her boyfriend.
"Don't put me in charge of the chore assignments, then get mad that I assigned myself the plants, it's your own fault for giving me complete control."
"Moving on," Bambi said, likely wishing they had eyes to roll at the family's antics. "For Steve, if you could change one thing about the world today, compared to the 1940s, what would it be?"
"Is this where I'm supposed to make a joke about gas prices?" Steve asked, pretending to be confused. James, who had anticipated the question and put Steve up to it, doubled over laughing, as did Grey, who found it hilarious. Several others laughed, leaving Thor and Loki confused. Grey would try to remember to explain it to them before Thor left for Asgard, closer to the end of the month. "No, but I think it's the sense of community. Maybe it was the war, but people were really united back in the forties. I'd like to see that again."
"Good answer!" Bambi chirped. "This question is for Margaret. From Susan in Ohio – what advice would you give to young people who want to make a difference in the world like you have?"
"Oh gosh, probably something terrible like never take no for an answer. I used to hate it when the only advice was "don't give up," so I'll say this. Pick one thing. One hill to die on, one good, solid cause and fight. Take the hits, but get back up and fight, because if you don't, no one else fucking will." A ghost of a sneer was on Grey's face, making it clear to the family that something was bothering her. Tony tilted his head, intent on talking to his oldest child about what was bothering her this time around. He had assumed it would calm down after the Chitauri invasion, but Tony should've known better by now.
"Mostly well said," Bambi said as Pepper and Natasha each smacked Grey on the shoulder for her language on camera. Grey mouthed a silent apology to the camera. "For James, from Peter in Queens, how does it feel to be fighting with Captain America again after all these years?"
"When Grey told me Steve was still alive, I was stunned. But I think I have to correct your wording, kid. I don't care about the Captain America title. Steve was my best friend back in Brooklyn; I followed him everywhere when he was just a scrawny kid, I'll follow him now."
"It doesn't hurt that he's got the shoulder to waist ratio of a Dorito," Grey mumbled. Only the camera and the super soldiers heard her, causing an indignant "hey" from Steve. Grey cackled, confusing those that didn't know, and causing James to laugh too.
"Moving on to Dr Banner, from Cindy in Queens, what's the most exciting thing you're working on at Stark Industries?" Grey smothered her giggles but couldn't keep the smile off of her face. James rolled his eyes, but they were creased at the corner, showing he was amused as well.
"Oh, well, right now, Tony has me helping code a virtual assistant for the Starkphones. It's probably two or three generations away, but you'll be able to give your phone voice commands." Bruce's face lit up at the science question, and Grey got to watch the near perpetual furrow in his brow lessen. Grey wondered what would happen to the Hulk if she got Bruce some Botox. She presumed it would lessen the effect.
"It's going to be great, just wait," Tony said. He'd given Bruce permission to talk about it if it came up – the team had prepared after all. Tony was the foremost person in Artificial Intelligence, even if he told the other companies how to do it, they'd be two years out, at least. As it were, they were dropping the virtual assistant at the end of the year. "Maybe Brucie Bear and I can do a video of our own, talking about the new phone upgrade, if people are interested, anyway."
"Science Bros!" Grey cheered, turning in her seat to grin at Bruce and Tony. Tony forced a high five out of Bruce before Bambi continued.
"For Jim, from Allie in DC, what's your favorite upgrade or weapon in the War Machine suit?" Bambi continued, only giving them so much time to goof off between questions. Just because of the team's size, this livestream would likely take two hours.
"Definitely the big gun," Jim said, raising his hand to gesture to where it would sit over his shoulder. On screen, Bambi rendered an image of the suit and highlighted the turret. "The suit holds three hundred and sixty rounds for the turret, and the helmet is designed to completely block out the sound from the outside while it's firing, so I can't hear it."
The same technology was used for James' Iron Guardian suit. When he was inside, he could only hear through his comms. At James insistence, any Russian words were automatically translated into English in his comms. Grey promised that she would do everything she could to find a cure for his triggers, even if she had to beg Shuri on her hands and knees.
"Impressive technology," Bambi said. "Next, a question for Loki, from Hanna in California – what would you like to say to the people who don't trust you, and don't think you deserve a second chance?"
"That I will prove them wrong," Loki said firmly. "I will work to gain their trust and understanding."
"And we'll be here, every step of the way," Grey promised. She reached back and put her hand on Loki's knee in support.
"Last, but not least, Natasha. If you weren't a superhero, what do you think you'd be doing right now?"
"I actually really enjoyed the time I spent as Pepper's PA. It was a nice slice of life that I didn't get growing up. I'd definitely do that." Natasha pondered for a moment, then hesitantly, "or a ballerina. I used to love to dance."
"Definitely a PA, I could use an easy job." Clint grinned, drawing attention away from Natasha's sudden vulnerability. The Iron Family cracked up, with Tony almost doubling over as he wheezed dramatically. Clint's grin faded some.
"There have been several questions for the group, shall I ask one before we go onto the next round?"
"Go for it Bambi," Grey said, waving in their direction.
"Who is the most competitive Avenger, and what do you compete over, from Skye in Los Angeles," Bambi said.
"Thor or Clint, for sure," Pepper said immediately. "Bambi, do you have the footage from the commons the other day? When they were playing that dance game?"
Bambi helpfully pulled up the footage, Clint and Thor each holding the Wii controllers for Just Dance, their scores visible on the screen behind them.
"I whooped your ass!" Clint cheered, pumping his fist into the air like he won more than just a game. Thor was pouting.
"Aye, you bested me, this time. But I shall train under the Lady Pepper, and next time, I shall whoop your ass!"
The team laughed as the footage faded, and Grey relaxed, realizing this might end up being a good thing. And it was going about as well as could be expected. The team was enjoying themselves, and so was the audience, according to the occasional update Bambi slipped Grey when the camera was focused on someone else.
The team continued on, and everyone got asked their three questions, then insisted on doing another round, after Steve went on a rant about the Dodgers living in Los Angeles now.
"I'm telling you, Morita is laughing at me right now," Steve lamented upon first hearing the news. James laughed until he had tears in his eyes at the irritated sneer Steve was wearing.
"I'm laughing at you, right now," Clint said, exaggerating his laugh as he did, leaning back in his chair and pointing at Steve.
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The device to send Thor home never actually happened. The best Tony could do was create a way for him to hold it. Loki then had to use his Seidr to send Thor to the Asgardian throne room.
"Come back when you can, brother," Loki said. "I will miss you."
"I will miss you too, brother," Thor said, the tesseract activating in his hands. "I shall return, my friends."
The Bifrost, or something like it triggered, imprinting the helipad with a Nordic design Grey was going to ask Loki about.
"Well, that was dramatic," James said, yawning. "I gotta go, I have a meeting."
Grey got a kiss on the cheek, before he disappeared into the tower from the helipad. She sighed and nodded.
"Actually, same, being Director makes you busy as all hell, I hate this. This was a terrible idea," Grey said, shaking her head. "Come on, PA Barton, time to actually work for your money. Go change, dress pants and a nice shirt, close toes shoes, be appropriate or I will personally set you on fire."
"You raised a scary hell child, she's worse than Bobbi ever was," Clint said to Tony and Pepper.
"She get's it from her," Tony said, passing all the blame onto Pepper.
"Yeah, right," Pepper teased, despite looking pleased that she was getting points for how Grey acted in professional settings.
"This better be as fun as Natasha promised," Clint whined as he chased after Grey, only detouring to his apartment to change clothes.
Samantha had beat him to Grey's office, but they didn't start without him.
"Your emails get more and more vague, every time you schedule a meeting, Grey," Samantha said as Clint walked in, handing over a few files he'd been handed the moment he stepped out of the elevator. "What's the fire this time?"
"There's every possibility some legislation might be heading our way," Grey said, irritation lining her body. "People aren't necessarily going to like that enhanced persons are running around freely. This is stupid bigotry, of course, but this is America, and that shit is practically encouraged nowadays."
"You want me to keep an eye out for it, and have my team either stop it, or change it enough to give everyone equal rights?"
"Stopping it will be easier than giving powered people equal rights, this country is horrible, remember?" Grey asked. Samantha, of course, remembered Grey outright shouting at someone over wage gaps in her company. "No, I want your team to get the UN to recognize enhanced as actual people, protected under the human rights laws or whatever."
"I get what you mean. I'll get to work with my department, get a few teams working on things, and I'll get you an abstract as soon as possible."
"Take your time on this. I'd rather get it right than be the first to present something. And, if possible, I want legal protection to use their powers," Grey said.
"You think they're going to prevent them from using their abilities?" Samantha asked, sharply.
"I think the worst of people, so I'm expecting discrimination, a wage gap, and making it vaguely illegal to use your gifts. If a man can manipulate metal, I want him hired on a construction crew or in an art gallery," Grey explained. "Oh, and the first evangelical to say that their powers are from the devil are getting sued within an inch of their life. I will not play with the safety of the Inhumans, or any other person with special abilities."
"You're so sure it'll be an evangelical?" Samantha teased.
"Isn't it always?"