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Chapter Text

The moon shone brightly in the sky, stars accompanying it as pale light covered every surface of the desert's terrain. Cactuses and rocks cast dark shadows on the dirt, the biggest shadow being cast from a small mountain, covering the surface of a small cliff in darkness. The cliff was completely hidden in darkness and was at least a hundred feet above ground level. This made it a serious problem, as anyone could easily walk straight to their death without a source of light, but to a young man, it was the perfect cover. He sat in his old and broken-down car in silence, looking over at the faint light coming from the small town in the distance. It was by no means a great place to live, with crumbling buildings, unsafe water, and drugs and alcohol more prevalent than food and money. It was home. A piece of shit home, yes, but it was all there was for miles on end, and no one who lived there had the money, or the gas, to make it out.

The young man sighed, raising the lit cigarette to his lips before taking a long drag and blowing it out the glassless window. He had been sitting on the cliff since sundown, as per the request of his customer. They had insisted he follow the exact instructions given to him, “or else”. He almost laughed when he heard those words. Checking the clock once again, his anger rose as it read midnight. He heard a rustle in the back seats, causing him to turn around. His brows scrunched together as his eyes focused on the seats, his heart skipping a few beats. When he heard nothing, he settled down, relaxing in the worn driver's seat and taking another drag.

His relief was short-lived as a black car rolled up onto the cliff alongside his own. Jealousy bubbled within him as he gazed upon its sleek metal surface, shining even in the pitch black of the shadows. The young man watched as a figure stepped out of the car, clad in black. He was just barely visible due to the bright headlight of his car, the young man's eyes burning as he adjusted to the sudden light.

The young man rolled down his window. “Finally, I thought you’d never come. I’ve been waiting here for hours,” he said bitterly.

The figure chuckled. “Ah, yes! Sitting and smoking for hours on end. Very back-breaking,” they said, stepping close to the jeep in slow steps. “Straight to business. Did you bring it?” he asked.

“Yeah, I did,” the young man said as he opened his door and stepped out, flicking his cigarette bud into the dirt.

The black clad man took a step closer, as if wanting to follow, yet keep his distance. He watched as the young man opened the door to the back seat and leaned in. A second later, he leaned back out, holding a basket by both handles before turning around, giving it to the mysterious man in front of him. The black clad man looked down into the basket, a scowl on his face.

“What's got you so pissed, asshole?” the young man asked him, hissing as he spoke in irritation.

“Nothing. Just pissed you decided to use a basket instead of something more proper,” the black clad man said as he reached into the basket and pulled out a small baby.

The small baby fit perfectly in his arms as he replaced the basket, which had been dropped and forgotten on the ground the instant it was securely in his arms. It slept peacefully, wrapped in a tattered old blanket covered in dirt and grime. It only stirred for a moment, its small face scrunching together before relaxing once again.

“How old?”

“Four weeks,”

“Boy or girl?”

“Girl,”

Both men stared at her, their attention focused on the small babe in silence.

“So, about these powers you mentioned, are they real, or were they a lie?” the black clad man asked.

“Oh, they’re real alright! They get crazy when she cries, and she’s always fucking crying. Almost killed me with a flying knife and destroyed a building already. Heard about your organization and contacted you guys. Never heard of HYDRA before, though,” he answered.

The mysterious man smiled, his grin hidden in the darkness. He had heard that line hundreds of times by now, being a HYDRA agent. Lots of illegal deals and meetings with people who didn’t even fully understand who they were.

Fools making deals with the devil, he thought.

“Did she get her powers from you?” the HYDRA agent asked.

“Me? No... She got them from the bitch of a mother,” he replied.

“Where is she now?” the agent asked.

“Spread over the sand in ashes. Died in labor. We already planned to give her away long before she was born, but this is a good pay,” he said, smirking at the thought of the money he was owed.

“Or not,” the HYDRA agent said, swiftly pulling out a gun and pulling the trigger.

A gunshot rang through the air, echoing in the desert. The Young man dropped to the ground, blood seeping from the large hole in his head, his eyes wide open. A look of shock was stamped on his dead face.

“Can’t have someone like you wandering around knowing about us,” the HYDRA agent mumbled to himself.

As he turned around to walk back to his car, he froze in place as he heard the quiet sounds coming from the baby in his arms. “Shit,” he whispered, the baby breaking out into a cry.

Her wailing cut through the air, filling the space with loud cries. The HYDRA agent rocked her in his arms. And then he felt it. Raw magic flowed through the air like radiation. He could feel it, emanating from the baby, never once faltering as it flowed from the source. The agent watched helplessly as the ground shook, cracks forming in the mountainside. Rocks began to tumble from the top, crashing down as the wind picked up, almost blowing them both away. He had to stop this before they both got killed. He may not have had experience with babies, but his girlfriend did teach him a few lessons back at their base. He took a deep breath, holding the baby close to his chest, protecting it from the bone-chilling wind.

“You are my sunshine… My only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray,”

The baby in his arms opened her eyes, his voice cutting through the wind with ease as it died down some. The agent smiled, happiness and relief taking over his heart. Knowing that he was doing something right, he kept it up.

“You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you, so please don’t take my sunshine away,”

He watched in fascination as the destruction around him grew smaller and smaller with each word he spoke. It was as if he seemed to be casting a spell, hypnotizing the small babe with his voice.

“The other night, dear, when I was sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms… And when I had awoken, I saw you smiling, so I laughed alongside with you,”

Bit by bit, everything had stopped and returned to what it was. The wind ceased, the tremors calmed down, and the cracks that had cut into the mountain stopped spreading. Everything stopped except for him. He kept singing, not in fear that she’d start crying once again, though it was excellent motivation, but rather because he didn’t want to stop. Something kept him going, a feeling that this was right. The HYDRA agent gazed lovingly into her open eyes as she did. They were curious, as she stared up at the strange man holding her so securely. She had never been held… At least, not like this. Her tiny mind couldn’t comprehend it, but it basked in the positive feeling it brought.

“Because you are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray, you’ll never know my dear, how much I love you, so please don’t take… My sunshine, away,”

The HYDRA agent smiled as the baby lay in his arms at ease. Her hands fidgeted as she cooed up at him. “There we go, baby, shhh… It’s ok, it’s all ok now, I’m here. I promise, you won’t ever be alone again… I know I promised Kate that she would name you, but I can’t help it… You look like the prettiest (y/n) I ever saw,”

Chapter Text

Archive said I needed 10 characters in a chapter. Hi :)

Chapter Text

Tony sat in his seat, holding his head in his hands as he listened to Secretary Ross rant and rave like a mad man.

He’s been at this for four hours. Does he ever shut up? , he thought.

The dark haired man sighed as he let his head fall onto the long table he was sitting at. A loud ‘thump’ echoed through the meeting room. Ross stopped abruptly, and Tony wished he were anywhere but in that room, under the threatening gaze of the secretary.

“I’m sorry if I’m boring you, Mr. Stark. I thought the news of a breakout from the most highly secured prison in the whole world would cause you alarm!” Ross exclaimed, moving to stand just before the table to maliciously glare at Tony. Ross’s eyes blazed as his brows knitted together, lips pulled thin and tight.

Tony lifted his head, standing up so suddenly that his chair nearly flipped over on its back. “And I’m sorry for not asking you to skip right to the point. Secretary Ross, is there something you want me to do about this problem, or did you just want someone to vent to?” Tony said a certain level of sass in his voice that only he, Tony Stark, could ever hope to achieve.

He would usually try and take a more respectful approach, seeing as Ross was a retired general, and a Secretary at that, but his patience had worn thin an hour ago when he had first walked into the meeting room. Hell, when he walked onto the floor .

Ross walked from the front of the table to the glass wall that overlooked New York City. It was nothing out of the ordinary, just a sunny day with traffic going through the streets as people walked through their mundane lives. God, how Tony wished he could jump from the window and join them. Chance of death or not, Tony’s heart and soul ached to do it. Anywhere would be better than here .

“Mr. Stark, you signed the accords. Meaning that this is your problem now. These are your new bad guys to find,” Ross said, facing away from Tony to stare out the window. “Well, all except for Clint and Scott,” Ross added.

“Clint and… Scott? Who’s that? And why not them?” Tony asked, his face scrunching at the unfamiliar name.

“The man who grew to the size of a giant, but he calls himself Ant-Man. And they are off the list because they willingly chose to stay and serve their sentences with no fight, so they were given the offer of a five-year home-bound parole instead,” Ross said, looking Tony in the eye.

“Wow… Ant-Man is way too comic bookish. How about Great Ant Scott!” Tony spoke, slight excitement in his voice as he named this new person he had yet to meet. He was sure it would be the highlight of his meeting, as sad as it seemed.

Ross rolled his eyes, his fists balling up as his arms straightened at his sides. It’s like he doesn’t hear a word I ever say , he thought bitterly.

“I do not care what nickname you give him, just get to finding the others and turning them in!” Ross yelled, his voice echoing off the walls of the room.

Tony watched as Secretary Ross’s image glitched in its place before disappearing for good. Tony’s shoulders relaxed back as he felt all the weight leave him, making the billionaire feel lighter. It was like Ross was a plague of stress and nerves that affected everyone in his wake. Wherever Ross went, the plague went right along with him.

“You know what you need? A spa day,”

Tony’s head whipped around faster than his brain could comprehend at the sudden voice from behind him. There, standing in the doorway, was Happy Hogan. He smiled, as professional as always, making his way into the room.

“But take me with you, I could use one myself,” he sighed, pulling out a chair and sitting in it.

“Sounds great, but if you didn’t hear, I still have work to do. Gotta find the others so I can put their asses in jail- or, back in jail, I guess…” Tony explained, a sharp edge to his voice. He sighed, sitting in the chair next to Happy and leaning back into the seat.

“I know. I was eavesdropping for about five minutes,” Happy admitted.

Tony closed his eyes, his mind going a mile a minute. He’d have to set up cameras around the world to look for the ex-Avengers, but he couldn’t do that unless he got clearance from the government- governments , which he had to get by contacting some old office lady named Gladius, who’d redirect him to Pearl, and before he knew it, it was an endless chain of events, and more paperwork than he wanted to deal with.

“You know what? I’ll deal with this crap tomorrow,” Tony told Happy, who nodded his head, listening to his friend grumble about life. All was silent inside that meeting room until Tony opened his mouth. “So.. why are you here again?” he asked.

“Oh! Right! We have an update on the cargo that was transferred to the upstate building a while ago. You know, the shipment that Peter got involved with,” Happy said, gaining Tony’s interest. “It’s nothing bad. But it’s all been safely transferred, finally,” Happy told him.

Tony let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good. What about the kid? How’s he doing?” Tony asked.

Happy resisted the urge to smile at the father-like tone in his voice. “Peter’s doing fine. He’s back to being a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Still texts me, though, but only three times a week. I can hear less desperation in them now,” Happy joked, making both of them chuckle.

“Good for you. Do you have any news about t-the, uhh, the turkey vulture guy?” Tony asked, his expression becoming a bit more serious at this question.

Happy’s mind flitted through his memories, seeming to have forgotten for a split second. “The guy Peter caught? Oh, he’s secured,” Happy said, nodding his head as he did. “After the trial, it was agreed that his abilities and knowledge of alien tech made him pretty dangerous, and he was the cause of a lot of crime throughout the city. They gave him two life sentences, I think,” Happy told him.

“Like what I’m hearing, Happy,” Tony said just before his watch made a double beeping sound, causing him to look at it. His eyes widened, his body straightening up as he jumped to the edge of his seat. “Shit, I’m gonna be late!” he exclaimed, standing up from his chair next to Happy in a hurry.

“Why the rush?” Happy asked, his head swerving to follow Tony as he picked up a suitcase from the end of the table.

“Pepper and I have a meeting with a party planner for our engagement party. Which reminds me… stop by the kid's place to invite him and his Aunt, will ya?” Tony said in a flurry of words. “Kay, thanks, bye!” he exclaimed as he ran out the door, not waiting to hear Happy’s answer.

Happy groaned in irritation at the thought of having to drive to Queens. Why couldn’t Tony just send a letter in the mail like a normal person? Hell, Tony wouldn’t even have to write them himself. He could just pay someone to do it for him! Besides, how could anyone have a possible idea of where Spider-Man would be?

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“Ned… H-how could you?”

“I’m sorry, Peter… I had no choice, ”

“You always have a choice, Ned! And you betrayed me!”

“At least I can live out my life knowing I had no regre- YOU FREAKING BLUE SHELLED ME!”

Peter smirked as he watched his Mario Kart character zoom past Ned’s, right over the finish line, guaranteeing his victory. Peter sat up as he held his DS in his hands, adjusting his position on his top bunk to be more comfortable. Looking over the edge, he could see Ned lying on the bottom bunk, his DS in his hands, a look of utter despair edged on his face.

“I don’t see the big deal? You blasted me with a bomb,” Peter said, feeling smug about the whole thing.

It was Friday, and Peter had just gotten home from his daily rounds as Spider-Man. It was uneventful as usual. The most heroic thing he did all day was save a child's balloon from floating away into the air. But he was oddly content with how the day had turned out. A few weeks ago, Peter would have been moody all day if nothing had happened. But now he was ok with it, even a bit glad. It was like his whole outlook on being a superhero changed. Well, that happens when you get crushed by a whole building and almost die about six times in one night , Peter thought.

“But you didn’t have to BLAST ME INTO THE SKY!” Ned exclaimed, throwing his arms out for dramatic flair. “I thought we were brothers, man,” he said.

“Me too, Ned… Me too ,” Peter whispered loudly, pulling himself back to his top bunk.

“You know what- YOUR FACE IS UGLY!”

“YOU TAKE THAT BACK!”

“I regret asking to stay over this weekend,” he stated dramatically, making his friend laugh from the bunk above him.

“You showed up out of nowhere at our doorstep and walked in like you live here. In what way did you ask?” Peter replied, scrolling through the tracks before settling for Wario’s Stadium.

There were no lies in what he said. Ned had quite literally just shown up on their doorstep right as Peter had come home from being Spider-Man. He wasn’t that surprised, seeing as Ned had been doing this since middle school. It was practically his second home now.

“Good friends ask you to come over, but best friends can break in and still expect family dinner,” Ned told Peter, his fingers jumping into action as they started their race.

“Well, can’t deny you there,” Peter replied, lightly gasping as he almost drove into the mud siding of the track.

Ned stared at his screen, buttons clicking away as his character drifted before releasing a red shell. “Thanks. So, you told me that May knows your Spider-Man… How did that work out?” he asked, daring a glance at the top bunk.

Peter flew off course at Ned’s question, his eyes wide with shock as he was flooded with memories. The day Aunt May found out he was Spider-Man was straight up rough . After accidentally seeing him try on his new suit, things quickly became chaotic. After he listened to her say “fuck” in every sentence for about an hour, she forced him to tell her everything. From getting bitten, all the way to defeating the Vulture. As one might expect, she wasn’t exactly thrilled at hearing how her nephew, who was practically her son, was not only forced to fight Captain America, but also almost died a few days prior. Once the overprotective shock wore off, pride filled her knowing that Peter was doing something good with his powers. It made her happy seeing that Peter immediately knew he had to help people, with no personal gain or temptation. She was so, so proud of him. However, the same couldn’t be said for Tony. Aunt May marched straight up to Stark Tower, eyes blazing with a murderous glare, completely livid at the man who dragged her nephew into his mess. Words were said that day that Peter dared not repeat in his life, but after hours of Aunt May screaming at a terrified Tony Stark, she agreed to let Peter continue his “extreme community service”, as long as she was in the loop and had a say in his missions.

“Umm… Honestly, it went better than I expected. Sure, I watched as Mr. Stark hid behind his desk, shaking while Aunt May screamed at him, but I still get to carry out my Spider-Man duties,” Peter explained, watching as Ned raced across the finish line.

Even facing the ceiling with no way of knowing for sure, he could feel Ned smirking from his spot under him. “Stop it. I can tell you smiling,” Peter snapped, closing his DS and turning it off.

“Oh, you’re just jealous that I beat you two out of three,” Ned told him, doing the same and setting the device next to him.

“Peter! Ned! You boys in here?”

The two teenagers' heads turned towards the door, watching as Aunt May stepped in. “Oh, there you guys are,” she said, chuckling at the end of her sentence.

“Hey, Aunt May. What’s up?” Peter asked her, turning over slay lying on his side to fully face her.

“Oh, nothing big. I was making dinner, but it looks like we’re out of some stuff in the fridge. I was wondering if you guys could go to the grocery for me while I’m keeping an eye on the rest of dinner?” she asked.

Peter watched her push her lower lips out and bat her eyelashes at him. If that wasn’t overdoing it, she gave him her classic puppy-dog eyes for extra measure. Peter let out a sound that was between a sigh and a groan, knowing that there was no getting out of her pleading gaze.

“... Fine. Come on, Ned. Let's go,” Peter mumbled, crawling across the top bunk so he could climb down the ladder.

“Thank you so much ! I’ll get you guys money for groceries, and extra snacks!” she said, relief evident in her voice.

Ned shook his head as he walked around the room, grabbing his stuff to go out into town. He didn’t need much, just his phone and wallet, but his backpack would be useful for carrying the groceries back to the apartment. Peter was a different story. Every time he went out, Peter brought his suit, as well as any other tools or equipment he needed with him. It was always a precaution for him, in case Spider-Man was ever needed close by.

After stuffing their bags with whatever they’d need while out, Peter and Ned walked out of their room to stand by the door and wait for May to come back with the money they needed.

“Ok, so it’s not a full shopping trip, so you’ll only need about thirty dollars (can you tell this was written almost ten years ago?), that’s snacks included. Oh! And Peter, get me thin mints. We- I ran out yesterday,” May told Peter, handing him the money before opening the door for them.

“I will, Aunt May. Love you,” Peter said as he walked out into the narrow hallway with Ned behind him.

“And be careful!” May cried from her door, closing it as soon as she was done.

Peter smiled and shook his head at her last words, having heard them countless times before, another different thing was due to Aunt May finding out his secret. Every time he went out of the house, she’d scold him to be careful. 

It’s only fifteen minutes away. What’s going to happen? , he thought as he continued walking with Ned, thankful that things were calming down for him.

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Thunder clapped through the sky, accompanied by lightning that had shown up only seconds ago to accompany the heavy storm. Ice-cold rain poured from the sky, hitting the ground as hard as a rock. Trees were nearly bent in half at the sheer force of the wind, causing anything loose to go flying in any and every direction possible. The ground was flooded as the rain created rivers that plowed their way through the land, making it nearly impossible to walk in a straight line. It was the kind of storm that could claim lives if one was not careful. To someone, it was just what they needed.

Under a bridge, two people fought on the thick metal beams that supported it, prepared to kill. They were drenched from head to toe, water dripping down their faces and hair, chilling them to the bone. One wore jeans and a simple long-sleeved shirt with a jacket, while the other was covered in blue and silver armor, the metal gleaming in what little light there was under the bridge.

“Give it up, there's only one way this will end,” the one in armor said, watching as the other was barely able to keep themselves balanced on the slippery beams. Her vexed and emotionless voice made her target shiver from more than just the rain. Her (h/c) hair was stuck to her face. She couldn’t move it away from her sight, not unless she wanted to smear her target’s blood from her hand on her face.

The other person was a woman in her late twenties with brown hair and pale skin from the blood loss and freezing rain that continued. She clutched her side to put as much pressure on her wound in vain. It was too big to fully cover with just one hand. Her enemy's words made her look down at the rushing rapids under them. One wrong step and she’d be gone, with little chance at survival in her condition.

“Go to hell,” the woman said before she whipped out a gun from the inside of her jacket, pointing it straight at the (h/c) haired girl's head. Her hand shook as she held it, her breathing deep and shaky as she aimed.

“Where do you think we came from?” the armored girl said, taking a step closer.

A gunshot rang through the air, its sound dulled by the pouring rain around them. The woman stared at the sight in front of her, frozen in place as a look of pure horror was illuminated on her face as thunder and lightning flashed through the sky above. A silver sword reflected its light, its intricate detail matching the armor of its owner, a black smudge marking the spot where the bullet had made contact. The girl held it in a tight grip in both hands, the flat side of the blade hovering in front of her forehead where the bullet was meant to hit. No words were spoken as she pulled back her sword, a small black shot mark making its way to her line of sight. While annoying, her sword would repair itself when she flashed it back into her inventory. Her eyes left her sword to look back at the woman. Barely a second passed before she ran at her target.

The woman went into a panic, pulling the trigger over and over again as she aimed for the girl. She dodged bullet after bullet, blocking them with her sword as she crossed the wet beam, her armor allowing her to have no trouble against the water. She could feel the bullets ricocheting off the smooth metal surface of her sword as she waved it around in quick and calculated movements. The woman’s fear only increased when her gun clicked, signaling that she had no more bullets to shoot. She looked up with scared eyes as the sword disappeared in a shimmering light.

“You don’t get to die by my sword. HYDRA told me to make your death look natural. Being underground and all, we can’t take risks anymore,” she said. Her hand flew to the woman’s throat, her grip making it difficult to breathe. She could feel the lady’s vocal cords bob up and down as she gasped for breath, pulse racing against her thumb and fingers.

Hands larger than hers gripped her wrist, nails scratched against the metal plating of the armor. But it only made the grip tighter.

Seconds passed, and the woman grew limp until her face was purple, and her body dropped from the girl's grip. The HYDRA agent watched as the body dropped to the rushing water below.

(Y/n)’s job was done, and she could return to base early.

Chapter Text

Peter stood in line at Delmar’s Deli and Grocery Store, a small basket in his hands as Ned stood off to the side, waiting for Peter to finish purchasing the food. The basket in his hand consisted of the various ingredients that Aunt May had told him to buy, along with the snacks he and Ned had decided on. But above them all, on the very top, in its rightful place , sat Aunt May’s heavenly Girl Scout Thin Mints.

“Next!” a man exclaimed, waving his next customer on. Delmar sighed, his graying dark hair falling over his eyes before he swept it back over his head.

“Hey, Mr. Delmar,” Peter said, a small smile on his face as he placed the basket on the counter. 

Delmar instantly smiled at him, his heart feeling lighter at seeing his most frequent, and favorite, the customer. “Peter Parker!” he said.

“That’s me,” Peter said, folding his arms across his chest as he smiled at him.

“Haven’t seen you here in a while. Thought you left me for Dave's Sandwich Shop a block or two from here,” Mr. Delmar joked with him, reaching into the basket and pulling out the thin mints. He looked at Peter as he typed away on his cash register. “For your Aunt?” he asked.

“Yeah, she’s cooking for us tonight,” Peter replied with a quick gesture towards his friend behind him.

“You know, I was told that the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” Mr. Delmar said amusingly, smiling at Peter.

“Yeah, unless it sends you to the hospital first,” Peter quipped as each item was rung up and placed in a paper bag.

Delmar let out a deep, rich laugh at Peter’s joke. Peter's heightened hearing focused all its power on that melodious laugh. It's genuine sound echoing through the shop as he rang up the last item.

"Well, if that's the case, maybe I'll have to reevaluate my life a bit, eh?" He asked Peter. "Twenty-one ninety-five is your total, kid," he told Peter.

The brown haired teen dug through his pocket before pulling out the money his aunt had given him. After Mr. Delmar put it in, the old man gave him his change and sent the two boys on their way. Peter smiled at the old man one last time before turning around and facing Ned.

“Let’s go,” he said, walking towards the door.

Ned followed him, grabbing the paper bag from him and putting it in his backpack to carry. Queens was bustling with movement as they walked down the streets. People walked in hurried steps, heels of every kind clacking against the sidewalk pavement as cars and buses drove down the streets, each passenger eager to get home after a long day of work. Even the bright blue sky seemed a bit busy with birds flying across it. Usually, Peter and Ned would take the bus, wanting to save time and energy, but it was so nice out. It was the middle of October, and who could say how long it would last before the colder northeastern weather came back?

That, and Aunt May didn’t give us enough money to take the bus, sooo… , he reminded himself as they passed various stores on the way.

“What exactly is your aunt making?” Ned asked.

Peter’s eyes widened as his head began to fill with tastes and images of past meals. Burned, undercooked, practically counting as a new species... any and every possibility was, literally, on the table when Aunt May was cooking.

“To be honest, I have no idea, but I know it’s not going to be very good,” he told Ned as they walked across the street.

They reached Peter’s apartment building in no time, walking up the stairs to his front door. Peter knocked on it, head leaning in to catch any sound. 

“Aunt May?” he asked. It was silent for a few seconds before he heard her answer, a slight laugh to it.

“Come on in, boys!” she exclaimed from the other side of the door.

Peter opened the door, walking inside and leaving it open for Ned. As they walked in, they could see Aunt May sitting on the couch with a man, a bright smile on her face. Peter and Ned could only see the back of his dark colored hair.

“I never knew you were so funny, Mr. Hogan,” May said.

“Hogan?” Peter questioned.

In response to Peter’s voice, the man stood up, turning around to face the two teens. “That’s me,” he said, a small smile still on his face from the joke he had told May. He watched as Peter’s face lit up at the sight of his friend.

He’d know that face anywhere!

“Happy!” Peter cried, dashing over to stand with him. Peter’s go-to would normally be a hug, but he knew that Happy wasn’t a touchy-feely person. The most he’d ever willingly given Peter was a handshake.

“Nice to see you, Peter,” Happy smiled, placing his hands in his pockets.

“Wait, Happy as in the guy you text every once in a while? That Happy?” Ned asked, causing the older man to look at him with a serious face. 

“Pete, who’s this?” he asked, turning to Peter.

Happy watched as Peter turned his head behind him. Happy took note of the small ounce of confusion in his brown eyes. Then, his eyes widened, and he knew what Happy was talking about.

“Oh! This is my best friend, Ned Leeds,” Peter explained to Happy.

At hearing his introduction, Ned straightened up, doing his best to seem more confident than he actually felt under Happy’s suspicious gaze.

“I’m his man in the chair,” Ned said, an aura of honor being felt as he spoke those words with a proud smile on his face.

Happy blinked a few times, his memory filing through his mental list of faces to pair with the name.

Ned Leeds, Ned Leeds… Oh! , he thought, an invisible light bulb illuminating above his head. 

“Is this the friend who called me on your phone the night you caught Vulture? The one who knows?” Happy asked.

“The one and only,” Ned replied.

“Then nice to meet you,” Happy said.

“Great!” May exclaimed, clapping her hands together before gesturing at the boys. “Now that everyone knows each other, I can continue making dinner! Where’s the groceries I sent you guys to buy?” she said.

“I got 'em right here, May,” Ned said.

He slid his backpack off his shoulders. May watched as he unzipped his bag before pulling out the brown paper bag and handing it to the brunette.

“Thanks a million!” she said, a bright smile on her face. She opened the bag as she walked towards the kitchen.

“Don’t worry, guys, I’ll be quick,” May told Happy, Peter, and Ned as she began to take out the contents of the bag. 

The three boys smiled as Peter and Ned went to sit in the living room with Happy. Peter sat at the opposite end Happy was sitting in, while Ned sat in a chair next to the couch. They were quiet as May began to quickly cook her meal.

“Are you staying for dinner?” Peter asked Happy in a hushed voice.

“Yeah, your Aunt said I could. Why?” he asked Peter, matching the boys’ volume no matter how confused he was.

“Well, Aunt May doesn’t cook as well as she leads on,” Peter told him.

Happy’s face scrunched up at the teen's words. May couldn’t cook? He glanced towards the kitchen, where May was busily finishing dinner, not even acknowledging their conversation.

“Are you sure? She looks like she knows what she’s doing,” Happy said.

“Happy, she sent me and Ned to the grocery store because she forgot to check for all the ingredients,” Peter told him carefully as if he were speaking to a child.

“Peter, he’ll see- no, taste it for himself soon enough,” Ned spoke up in a hushed voice from his place in his chair.

Happy rolled his eyes at the two, not believing a word. “Oh, please . You’re being dramatic,” he said.

Peter and Ned looked at each other, pity showing in their eyes as they slowly shook their heads “no”.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Hogan,” Ned said. We’ll call the hospital for you,” he finished with a somber tone.

Happy’s face dropped at their words. They had to be joking. The food couldn’t be that bad… Right?

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

It wasn’t bad.

It was worse .

It was so much worse than (y/n) could have ever imagined. If she weren’t so low on rations, she’d have spit it out the second the disgusting food touched her mouth.

God it tastes like shit , she thought as she forced herself to continue eating.

She was wearing a black suit that she wore for most missions. It’s thick yet flexible fabric allowing her to be warm and comfortable. She sat on an abandoned apartment building, the cold fall air flowing in through the broken windows. She looked around the small apartment she was in. The walls had multiple holes in them, allowing her to see the other side if she focused her vision hard enough. The creaking flooring was all wood, old and unsteady with age, and was barely able to hold the weight of the old furniture on it.

No wonder it’s scheduled to be torn down next week , she thought.

She was glad she didn’t have to stay in it for another night. She had already been here for a few days, waiting for some HYDRA agent to show up and take her back to her base. Her sore muscles and bones ached for her bed, which was molded to the shape of her body. Suddenly, her senses lit up like fire. In the nearby distance, she heard careful, light footsteps coming closer and closer. They were barely audible, and anyone else would never even know that there was someone else coming, but (y/n)’s heightened senses heard them easily. A gun magically appeared in her hands, aiming it straight at the door. Her ears strained to listen as the person walked towards the door that led to the abandoned apartment. Just as they reached the door, the footsteps stopped. Silence overtook the area like a hostage, making any other sound afraid of being heard. Then, she heard three knocks, loud and clear, from the other side of the door. She listened as they made a specific pattern.

The signal , she thought. She stood up, but her gun didn’t go lower a single inch as she waited for the last part. She waited.

Finally, one last knock echoed off the walls.

(Y/n) sighed, her gun disappearing from her hands as she walked towards the door. She opened it to reveal a man dressed in a similar suit. He had pale skin with blonde hair that was slicked back against his head. His brown eyes were stern, violence hidden in them.

“Cut off one head-”

“- And two more shall take its place ,”

(Y/n) stepped aside, allowing him room to walk in. “What took you so long?” she asked him. Despite the flatness in her tone, he whipped his head around.

“You've got a lot of nerve to be talking like that,” he spat at her. Unlike her, his words did have anger behind them.

“And you have a lot of nerve to keep me waiting. You’d think after being threatened by not only the higher-ups, but also me, you’d hurry up,” she told him.

She looked him over, taking in whatever body language she could find. His shoulders were tense, and his arms were stiff as his hands were clenched in fists as if he was expecting to defend his life at any given moment.

He’s nervous. Good , she thought, her blank expression unmoving.

“ Whatever . You have the drive that the target stole?” he asked.

The (h/c) haired girl opened one of the small pockets on the utility belt that was wrapped around her waist. Her fingers dug through it and eventually found the small USB drive that the other agent was talking about. Once it was in her grip, she held it up to show him. It was nothing special to look at. Just a black covering with a clear plastic lining that lit up when connected to a device. Simple and efficient, but cheap. However, it was its content that made it valuable. The little USB that (y/n) held in her fingers contained the data of every HYDRA base in the world.

And they almost lost it.

She tilted her head back and narrowed her gaze at him. “Remind me, have I ever failed a mission in my life?” she asked the blonde haired agent.

The blonde man rolled his eyes. “No,” he answered.

“And how many have you failed?” (y/n) asked, voice flat.

Her question made him fume with rage. His jaw had begun to hurt from how hard he was pressing his teeth together. If she wasn’t as dangerous as she was, he would have killed her… but she was right.

She had never failed a mission.

Despite her young age, she had been doing field missions for years. She had received more training than all of HYDRA’s greatest combined. She could kill him right now and make the world believe a ghost did it. And that was without considering her powers as a variable. So all he could do was grit his teeth together and play nice until he could leave her.

“... What about the woman?” he asked her bitterly.

(Y/n) stared at him for a second before she shoved the USB back into its rightful place and walked towards the couch. He watched as she picked up a roll of paper before handing it to him. The man took it, unrolling it to see that it was a newspaper. At the top in bold letters, the headline read “ WOMAN DROWNED IN MASSIVE STORM FOUND IN CHILDREN'S PARK ”, with pictures to show. Each one showed the woman whom he recognized as the traitor.

“Feel bad for the kids,” he commented sarcastically, throwing it on an old table next to him.

“Shouldn’t have built a park next to a river then,” she replied in an emotionless manner. “Now, I would like to go home,” she finished, giving him a dangerous stare that made him swallow what moisture was left in his mouth.

“Let’s go then,” he answered.

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Jesus Christ, they weren’t kidding , Happy thought as he struggled to keep a straight face in front of May. It proved to be a greater challenge than he expected. Why was I born with the sense of taste? , he ruefully asked God.

Happy looked across the table at Peter and Ned. They gave him complacent looks, their eyes speaking to him. ‘I told you so’, they said…

“I never knew you cooked so well, Mrs. Parker,” Happy lied, turning to face the flattered women. Lying gave him an excuse from eating. Did it make him a bad person? He didn’t know, but he also didn’t want to spend hours in the bathroom tonight. Life was full of hard decisions, and this just had to be one of them.

“Why, thank you, Happy. See, he likes my cooking,” she said, facing her nephew and giving him a triumphant look. But she was quick to turn back and face Happy. “But please, if you call me May, I’ll call you Happy,” she told him. 

A gentle smile spread onto both of their faces, both kindly gazing into the other’s eyes. “I’d like that,” Happy said.

“ Ackem !”

The atmosphere Happy and May had created was destroyed as Peter called their attention back to earth, and away from… wherever they were a few seconds ago.

“So, Happy, not that I’m not happy ,” Peter said, a joking smile on his face as he sat there waiting for someone to laugh at his pun, but only got Happy’s disapproving expression. “No, nobody's going to- ok, fine . N-not that I’m not glad to see you, but you wouldn’t come to Queens without a reason. Is everything ok?” Peter asked, a worried expression on his face.

“Oh!” Happy exclaimed, remembering why he was sent to Peter in the first place. “That’s right! Thanks for that, kid,” Happy said.

Peter’s face lifted, and the whole table watched as Happy patted himself down in his seat, looking for something in his suit.

“Wait, Peter doesn't have a mission… Does he?” May asked.

Happy’s heart dropped as he saw her face. He could see all the concern and fear in it.

It’s like this family invented puppy-dog eyes or something , he thought, his hands searching the insides of his jacket.

“No, not at all- Ah! Here it is!” he said, pulling his hand from his jacket. “There you go, May,” he said, handing a piece of paper to her as she took it anxiously.

In her hand was a red and gold envelope with The Parker Family written intricately in silver ink on the front. She looked over it before tentatively opening it, looking at the two initials, P&S, interwoven on the wax seal. Everyone watched as she took out a piece of paper and read over it carefully.

She let out a gasp. “It’s an engagement party!” she exclaimed.

“A what party?” Peter asked, his face contorting in confusion.

Ned stared incredulously at his friend, hardcore judging him. “Dude, it’s right there in the name ! It’s a party to celebrate an engagement!” Ned said.

“It’s for Tony and Pepper! I saw the engagement announcement on the news a few days ago!” Aunt May explained.

“Really?” Peter asked.

“Yeah,” Happy said, sitting up straight in his chair. “When you decided to stay the 'friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’ and left the press waiting, Tony decided not to waste the opportunity and propose to Pepper,” Happy told them, leaving out the part where he had been carrying the ring around for eight years. They didn’t need to know how long he’d been shipping them together…

“Well, I'd better get home. It’s going to be late by the time I get home tonight,” Happy said, sitting up from his seat.

Peter watched as his Aunt May stood up with him, a smile on her face. “Thank you so much! I appreciate you coming down here to hand deliver this to us. Let me send you home with leftovers as a thank you,” she insisted.

Peter watched as Happy paled at her words, but plastered on a grateful smile nonetheless.

“That would be great . Thanks, May,”

Chapter Text

(Y/n) watched the clouds as the plane flew past them, the fiery glow of the setting sun making them seem like they were made of gold and amber. It was her favorite place to be, up high in the sky and away from all the problems on the ground. While flying in her flight armor was ten times better, a plane wasn’t that half bad either.

“Hey, when do we get there?!”

Well, it is when there’s no one else with you , she thought bitterly.

At the sound of the man’s exasperating voice, (y/n)’s attention tore itself away from the window. Her (e/c) eyes stared at him, her fingers twitching as she thought about the idea of killing him right where he stood. She could do it easily, especially when he was distracted by yelling at the pilot.

“We get there when we get there,” she told him, purposefully changing the tone of her voice to shut him up.

It was obvious he was angry, he had been after being on the plane for no more than thirty minutes. Sadly, that was five hours ago. (Y/n) didn’t know how much more of this meaningless squabbling she could take. Hell, how much more could the pilot take? The (h/c) haired girl looked towards said man. His hands gripped the steering wheel, his eyes twitching as the blonde man behind him continued to complain.

Not a lot more, apparently , she thought. If anyone would know the look of desperate murder, it would be a teen.

The blonde man gritted his teeth as he sat back down on the cold metal floor, his hands twitching with the need to break something. He just needed to let loose.

I can't believe that I was sent halfway across the fucking world to pick up a child. If she's so powerful, why can't she just come back herself , he thought. 

HYDRA had certainly fallen far if he was reduced to being a pickup guy. Since the fall of SHIELD as well as HYDRA, the main heads of the terrorist group had left no loose ends. First, they lost the Winter Soldier when he reunited with Captain America. Then, they lost both of the Maximoff twins when Ultron happened. Then, they lost all their backup Winter Soldiers after some guy pitted the Avengers against each other. Not to mention that Black Widow leaked some of their most sensitive information. They were losing cards fast, and if there was one thing HYDRA hated, it was losing. (Y/n) was one of their last powerhouses left.

(Y/n) sighed as she leaned her head against the wall, closing her eyes. Time passed slowly as the flight continued, slowly inching along like a snail on a highway. (Y/n) passed the time by sharpening her various swords and knives and cleaning her firearms. The blonde man watched in horror as she did this for longer than she probably should have been able to. Blade after blade, gun after gun, as if there was no end. Once she was done with her artillery check, she went back to looking out her window. She watched as the bright sun sank under the ocean they were flying over, and the moon rose over the flat desert surface in an inky black sky. When the pilot finally told them to buckle into the seats, the two HYDRA agents did so eagerly, ready to get off the rust bucket prison they were in. They felt their stomachs drop as the plane lowered onto the ground before it bumped a few times, signaling that it had landed on the ground. The (h/c) haired girl unbuckled herself from the seat as she heard the metal mechanisms of the plane being lowered. Unlike most HYDRA bases that were physical buildings in remote locations, the one she called belonged to was underground in the middle of a desert wasteland somewhere in Mexico.

(Y/n) grabbed the small backpack that she had been given at her first mission. It didn’t hold much, only her crappy rations and the file that contained all of the mission information, as well as her targets. So, swinging it around her shoulders, she walked to the back of the plane, waiting for the floor to lower.

“Thank god. That flight was unbearable,” the blonde man muttered, walking to the end and standing next to her. He placed his hands together behind his back as he took an attention position.

“Then I guess you heard yourself talk. At least we know you're not deaf,” (y/n) said brusquely, her tone of voice not matching her words.

“You know, that mouth of yours will get you killed someday, and I’ll be more than happy to do it myself,” he told her. His voice sounded as if he was holding back, forcing it to sound calmer than it was.

“Take a number, there’s already a line for that,” she said as she stared blankly ahead.

The blonde man opened his mouth, but before he could, the rear of the plane began to open, revealing the space beyond it. They watched as it finally hit the floor, allowing them to walk onto the loading dock. The loading dock was sort of a giant garage, with numerous vehicles lined up against the walls, leaving the center open for arriving conveyances. Cars, trucks, planes, helicopters, and even motorcycles were all parked in perfect positions. Around them, people walked everywhere, yelling at subordinates or performing maintenance checks, but mostly yelling… A lot of yelling.

Well, we’re not known for hugs and kisses , (y/n) thought as she walked through the room.

Agents steered clear of her, avoiding her path at all costs like their lives depended on it. She made a beeline for the metal sliding doors, walking past various cars and people on her way. As she walked closer to the doors, (y/n)’s hand found its way to her utility belt. Opening a certain pocket, her hand fumbled through it. She felt a smooth, flat surface with bumps and lines etched into it. She pulled out her hand from the pocket, a rectangular silver card. Reaching the metal doors, her hand automatically swiped the card through a card reader on the door frame. She watched as the doors slid open, allowing her to walk into the hallway on the other side. The dim lights gave her just enough light to see where she was going and where to turn. Her steps echoed loudly against the concrete as she made her way through.

“Hey, wait the hell up!”

He’s still here? , she thought, momentarily forgetting about the blonde man she had arrived with.

She watched as irritation crept onto his face, eyes blazing. She had never worked with an adult so unreasonably angry and emotionally immature. It baffled her. How did he make it through basic training?

“You go through more emotions than the kitchen staff on liquor. Keep going like that, and they’ll use you for the child’s program,” she stated.

The hallway was silent as he took in her words carefully. The child’s program, also known as the HYDRA Preparation Academy, was where the new agents, specifically children that HYDRA had acquired, were prepped and trained for the life of an agent. It was like school in a sense, but with much more to lose if you failed a test. The lucky ones could barely walk after disciplinary meetings. It was also used as a way to get rid of traitors and double agents that had been caught within the walls of HYDRA by teaching the kids how to kill a living person. Oftentimes, they were used as moving targets for gun practice, and others for more realistic hand-to-hand combat. In the eyes of HYDRA, nothing was too far when it came to dealing with traitors. Especially nowadays, since they had to be more careful.

The blonde man stared at her, his eyes speaking his loathing for her. “Well, at least I have emotions. You’re nothing but an empty- Ahhh!”

Within less than a second, a fist flew through the air. A crunching noise could be heard, and blood spewed out from the man’s nose like water from a faucet. Pain erupted through his head, and he staggered back, hands flying up to his face. Pulling his hands back, his eyes wandered over his hands. They were covered in blood, the red liquid sticking to his hands as it poured from his hands and nose itself, dropping onto the floor in little red dots.

He looked up at her, eyes wide with unbridled wrathfulness. “Are you fucking insane?!” he yelled at her, standing up straight.

He stared up at her in horror as her voice lowered to a growl as her eyes glaring into his own. He felt his throat close up as his blood stilled, his body becoming no better than a deer in headlights.

“You forget where you stand compared to me. You’ve got a lot of nerve to be talking like that ,” she said, repeating the words he had said to her.

She felt the familiar sensation of her heart fold in on itself before it passed a second later, as if it had never happened in the first place. The blonde man hadn’t lied when he said she couldn’t feel anything. Her “gift”, as the scientists put it, was the only thing HYDRA had changed about her. She didn’t know if she’d call it a gift exactly, but the chemicals flowing through her veins allowed her to do her job without complications, and that was all she needed to stay alive. It had been years since she had last felt an emotion, leaving her world flat and blank. However, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t make a strategic reaction or change her face and voice to fit a situation. She found she could be a convincing actor, and pretending had become a second nature by now. While everyone knew that she could only pretend to get angry, they also knew she would beat and kill them all the same. In her line of work, one needed a certain level of fear to stay “safe”. Her father taught her that, and it had proved to be his most useful advice so far.

The man snapped out of his fear, his eye twitching. “Listen here you bitch ! I-”

“Agents! Stop behaving like inadequate coddled children before I disembowel the lot of you and discard your bodies for the vultures to pick at!” a gruff and raspy voice hollered out from behind them.

Both of the agents' heads whipped around to look towards the source, their eyes widening as they landed on a tall man, his shadow nearly covering them both, as the two agents moved to stand a yard apart in the attention position. Backs straight, they stared ahead, making sure not to look into the man's eyes. The pale skin of his face was marred by a scar that scaled from the edge of his hairline to the bottom of his jaw, narrowly missing his thick mustache, complementing the hateful scowl on his face. The dark hair on his head was slightly tipped with white, revealing his older age. His body was covered by a black suit, the red symbol under his HYDRA logo letting them both know who he was.

“Sergeant!” they exclaimed in unison.

The blonde man’s nose continued to leak blood all over himself. His heart beat faster as he watched the Sergeant stepped closer to them from his peripheral vision, the Sergeant’s eyes practically damning them. His eyes flashed with disgust as he looked at the man.

“Clean yourself up,” he growled, stepping back to scrutinize them both.

The blonde did as he was told and wiped the blood off his face with the black sleeve of his suit. He made sure to give a glare to the girl next to him.

“I see you managed to retrieve Agent (l/n). Kudos to you ,” the Sergeant said sarcastically.

Neither agent dared say a single word, nor breathe a single breath, to avoid angering him.

The Sergeant turned to (y/n). “So, you completed your mission, I assume?” he asked her.

“Yes, sir. I got the drive back, and the woman was dealt with accordingly, sir,” she replied.

“How?” he asked.

“May I grab a paper from my bag, sir?” she asked.

“Hurry up,” he answered, annoyance in his voice.

He watched as she slid the backpack from her shoulders before pulling out the newspaper article from the day before. She watched as he read it, like a child waiting for their teacher's reply as they graded a paper.

“Mmm… Well done. I always hated that bitch ever since she stole the last cookie in a meeting last year. She had it coming ,” he said, turning around and walking down the hall.

The two agents stood there, not knowing if he wanted them to follow or not. As they watched him walk off, they glanced at each other, asking the other what to do with their eyes. The blonde man nudged towards the Sergeant with his head, but (y/n) only shrugged her shoulders in reply. His shoulders dropped as she did so, his face giving her a deadpan look.

“Are you guys going to stand there all day or follow me?!” the Sergeant yelled, making them flinch.

Now knowing what they were supposed to do, they started walking, eventually catching up to the Sergeant's long strides. They walked in silence through the halls until they came to another sliding door. The Sergeant turned around to face them both, his gaze landing on the blonde man.

“The smell of your blood is filling the hall. Leave before I add to it,” he spoke in a grave tone.

The blonde man said nothing as he left, his footsteps echoing as he walked away. (Y/n) knew she’d never see him again, and she didn’t care one bit. In fact, she almost wished she could feel joy at the fact that she was finally rid of him.

The Sergeant turned back around, sliding a card of his own through a slot, the door sliding open in less than a second. (Y/n) followed him as he walked into the room behind it. It was a large room, lit up by giant holographic red screens covering the walls. Most held maps, others showed different databases, as the most elite agents and commanding officers of HYDRA all worked in the bustling room. The room was separated into areas that were based on divisions and their purpose, with walkways and railings to act as borders to keep things organized. (Y/n) knew this room like the back of her hand, having grown up in this base and spending many days in this exact room. Though she watched her parents work most of the time. They always told her it was important to learn their work since she would be doing the same thing when she was old enough. Turns out, “old enough” was a lot sooner than she thought.

The Sergeant walked through the room with quick steps with (y/n) in tow. Along the way, a few agents of high rank would briefly walk beside him, attempting to update him until he told them he had more important matters to deal with. After one look at the (h/c) haired girl behind him, they nodded their heads respectively to both of them and left. It was the only place where people didn’t glare at the girl for her power and ranking, and respect was given where it was due. They finally stopped when they came to a black table, it’s so smooth and shiny, it could have been considered a mirror. Sleek matching chairs were placed at its edge. (Y/n) walked up to it, standing next to one of the chairs, her hands placed behind her back. She could only sit if given permission. Her (e/c) eyes watched as the Sergeant pulled out a chair and sat down.

“The drive, agent,” he said, holding out his hand.

(Y/n) dug into the pocket that contained the drive. Once she had it in her hand, she passed it off to his own. He looked at it, inspecting it for any scratches or damage that could have been done.

Not a single scratch… Damn , he thought.

He turned it over in his fingers for a few more seconds, a gruff look on his face as he did so. (Y/n) stood still until he finally sighed, his eyes turning to her form.

“Nice work. What do you want, a sticker ?” he asked sassily.

“Depends. What kind?” she asked flatly.

“No one likes a smart ass, kid,” he told her, looking down at the table.

His eyes and hands searched the edge of the table, trying to find the USB port so he could plug in the damned thing. “Stupid ass table…” he mumbled to himself, slight irritation rising. “Ah, finally,” he breathed, pushing the drive into the port.

At once the table lit up, showing the HYDRA logo on its screen. He tapped his fingers against the screen, pulling up folders that contained the info of the USB drive. (Y/n) watched as he searched through numerous files. She stood there dutifully as he scanned through them, as still as a statue, her eyes never leaving the spot of the wall she had chosen to stare at.

An hour had passed when he finally looked up at her. “Everything's here, as expected,” he said. “You’re free to leave. Get out of my sight before I give you another mission,” he threatened.

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” she replied, turning around and walking out of the room.

She almost ran down the halls to her room. She didn’t even have to think as her legs automatically carried her past the kitchen, the mess hall, the training rooms, and the janitor's closet she used to cry in as a child. She remembered hiding inside the room with her parents as a child. The memory made her heart flip again as she continued walking. After a few minutes, she entered the housing part of the base. Her eyes scanned the hundreds of doors, searching for one singular number that marked her room.

“Five-fourteen,” she whispered, her feet instinctively stopping in front of her door. The number was faded, but still there, in the bright blue paint that stood out from the rest.

I regret throwing that fit with Dad , she thought ruefully.

Pulling out her card, she slid it through the card reader. It opened to reveal her room. It wasn’t much to look at. The floor was the same as everywhere else, made up of cold, hard tile, and the walls were a dull shade of gray. Against the wall on the right side was a twin bed. While it wasn’t the worst mattress to sleep on, it also wasn’t a five-star mattress. On the nightstand was a small lamp sitting on it. On the left side was a beat-up old dresser that held only a single item, a small-framed picture that sat on top.

It was a picture of (y/n) and her parents from when she was little. It was the only family picture they had ever taken, since photographers weren’t exactly in large demand at HYDRA, so she considered herself lucky to have it. She looked over at it, her heart flipping again as the chemical in her veins destroyed the emotion she would have felt in its place. Her dad stood in the back, his pale skin and dark hair standing out against the white background as he held a woman close to him. The woman, (y/n)’s mom, was, as she would describe, beautiful. Her long blonde hair and green eyes fit well together. In her arms was a certain little (h/c) girl that could only be (y/n). She couldn’t have been older than three years old. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail as she sucked on her thumb, her wide (e/c) eyes staring at the camera. They all smiled, their pose conveying the happiness they felt. It had been years since they had been relocated to a different base somewhere else in the world. The (h/c) haired girl searched long and hard, even hacking into the database, before she was caught. She sent countless letters to them, despite being told that they were too busy to reply, but every month she delivered them like clockwork.

Sighing, she turned towards the bed, her body singing praises at the mere sight of it. It had been a week since she had slept in a proper bed, and she was looking forward to it more than anything. So, flopping on the bed like a humpback whale to water, she let her body lie there, choosing to change into pajamas with her magic instead of digging through the dresser.

The laziness in me has won , she internally chimed.

Her body relaxed at once, and her eyes felt as if they were heavier than all the rocks in the world. A peaceful sensation passed over her, the tension of her previous mission slowly fading away until all she felt was the sleep taking over.

Finally… Some decent sleep , she was somehow able to think as her mind began to drift off into a deep slumber…

“DINNER!”

Her eyes shot up along with her body, a sniper rifle magically appearing in her arms as she glared at the door with the anger of a thousand angry hornets. She just wanted some fucking sleep.

Chapter Text

Blood was wiped off the floor, the body of a woman lying dead with a hole in the center of her forehead being the source of it. It trailed down from the hole in red lines, the warm liquid curving around her facial features. It trickled down her face, soaking into her open eyes. It made it look as if she was crying bloody tears before making its way to her nose, where it finally dropped to the concrete, making the puddle grow ever so slightly. (Y/n) watched as a janitor looked at the horrific view in utter terror. Her observant (e/c) eyes saw their pale faces twist in disgust, the lump in their throat bobbing as they tried to keep the bile inside them stay there. It’d only be another mess for them to clean as they held a death grip on the mop in their heads. 

Ah, they’re new here , she thought as she stood off to the side. Her blank stare faced the janitor as they cleaned up her mess. Her eyes followed the movements of the mop head, becoming pink from blood.

“Clean this up by the time I come back here, or else ,” she told them.

The (h/c) haired girl turned around without so much as a glance at their face. She walked down the hall in long strides, sleep begging at her eyes to close. As heavenly as sleep sounded, she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep now, so she might as well eat when it was offered. The walk to the mess hall took no time at all, and (y/n) could already smell the scent of bread in the near distance, causing her feet to move just a little faster until she finally reached the familiar double doors to the mess hall.

Breathing in the scent of the food that was coming from the kitchen, (y/n) opened the doors and walked into the mess hall. The room was filled with agents on their breaks or just chatting with their colleagues. Conversations filled the room, not allowing silence to take over for a second. Like most of the base, it wasn't top of the line. Industrial ceiling lights hung lowly from the ceiling on thick cords that gave off a white light that shined against the gray walls, with a speaker and clock placed next to each other above the door. The ceiling itself was missing a few panels, but they acted as air vents. The ground was tiled and covered in dirt and grime as a result of not having a decent cleaning since the room was first built. The seating arrangements were nothing more than metal picnic tables that lightly groaned whenever someone sat in them. The kitchen was at the other end of the hall, with a cutout counter for agents to pick up their meals. The kitchen itself was outdated, but they never bothered to replace anything. It still worked, after all. Why waste the money?

She walked across the room, making a beeline for the kitchen counter. Looking up at the menu above it, she read through the items until she came across the best thing in the whole world.

“Plate of (f/f), now ,” she said.

The old lady behind the counter glared at her as she went back to the kitchen, watching as she made her way through the room and slapped items on a tray left and right, but it wasn’t long before she made her way back to the counter, dropping the plate on the surface. (Y/n) watched as specks of different foods moved from their spots on the tray. The only thing that didn’t move was a bag of milk in the upper corner. Her heart flipped at the sight of things spilling over, moving from where they were supposed to be on the tray.

“Don’t drop it next time, hussy ,”

“Shut up, bitch ,”

(Y/n) gave one last glare before taking her tray and walking off towards the tables to find a place to sit. It was packed, but not so much that you couldn’t see places to sit in right away. (Y/n) walked over to the closest empty seat she saw, and sat down in it. Agents talked and griped about their day, complaining about the food’s taste and crappy conditions that went with living underground in a desert, but mainly the food, much to the (h/c) haired girl’s chagrin. It was true that the food wasn’t all that appealing, and looked like it was made with mold, as well as tasted like it, but she preferred it to her mission provisions.

Maybe they’d realize how much better the food is if they got sent on a trip around the world with nothing but bagged food for one and a half weeks , she thought, picking up the fork and stabbing it into her food before shoving it in her mouth.

She chewed her food, not caring if the taste in her mouth was like eating spoiled milk mixed with vinegar. Apparently, it tasted like that because it was “full of the right things for the body”. She ate in peace, swallowing every bite she put in her mouth as if her gag reflex had turned itself off for the sake of actual food. She listened to the chatter around her, people talking about how she slept with him, he did this, they both almost got in trouble, and any other piece of gossip.

Nothing new, I guess , she thought dimly.

(Y/n) slumped in her seat, feeling the exhaustion finally affecting her. Her eyes burned, imploring her to close her eyes and go to sleep. It was a pretty convincing argument.

“Ugh, god…” she mumbled to herself, carefully setting down her bagged milk and placing her head in her hands, rubbing them to relieve herself of the need to sleep in vain.

Using her hands, she turned her head slightly towards the clock on the wall, too lazy to use her neck instead. Her (e/c) eyes glanced up at it through her slightly messed-up hair. Both clock hands stood straight up, and she knew for a fact that it wasn’t because it was noon.

Midnight? Who the hell yells for dinner this late? Fuck this, I’m going to bed , she thought.

Sighing, (y/n) stood up from her seat, dusting her pants off as she did. Leaving her plate behind, she walked out of the mess hall. It was a quick walk to her hall, a quick walk to her door, and a quick swipe of her card before she walked inside her room. She groaned as she leaned against the wall next to her door, her mind slowly relaxing. Her room was a haven. There was no one to judge her, tell her what to do, nor could anyone come in without her permission unless they had a high-ranking key card. Hell, there wasn’t even a speaker inside to communicate since it was one of the older rooms on base. As long as she was within these four walls, everything could be made right.

Pushing herself off the wall, walking over to her backpack that sat on the dresser, tipped over from the weight inside it. (Y/n) stopped in front of it, grabbing the strap and moving to sit on her bed. Her hands rummaged through the bag, feeling around the leftover preserves until her hand brushed against a little box. Having found what she was looking for, (y/n) pulled it out. She looked over the cover of it, her thumb brushing over the words NORTHERN LIGHTS CLOCK AND NIGHTLIGHT COMBO, before opening the end of it and taking it out. The top of it, what she assumed to be the nightlight, was clear and dome-shaped, while the base of it was the actual clock. A blank screen showed her which direction she’d have set it in, and a small button was on the other side to control the nightlight. Going back into her bag, she pulled out a small six-pack of AA batteries, opening it and putting them inside the bottom of the clock. The small screen lit up to twelve in a glowing red, and she was quick to set it to the correct time, even if it wasn’t too far off. She turned off her lights, placed the clock on her nightstand, and turned the light on. She watched as the soft light slowly grew brighter every second it was on until it filled the room. The (h/c) haired girl watched as vibrant greens, blues, purples, and pinks shone against the ceiling. Under the soft material of her blankets, she slowly fell asleep. She didn’t even register the faint flips her heart had done.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

(Y/n) woke up to a rapid beeping noise, reminding her of the small yipping dogs she’d seen people carry in their purses. Her body limply stirred from its sleeping state, her hands slowly rising to rub the sleep from her (e/c) eyes. The beeping continued, filling her ears with its annoying scream, making her bury her head in the pillow. Unfortunately, her persistent new clock had different plans. Groaning, she finally rolled over on her back, using her elbows to prop her up. She felt air build up in her lungs, coming out of her in a long, tired yawn, stretching like a kitten in sunlight, her limbs shaking as she did so. Once again rubbing her eyes, she turned her head and looked over at the beeping clock before reaching her hand over to fumble around to try and reset the alarm. She tried the button on the side, but that only turned off the light, which she turned back on. Her hand fumbled and searched for a button to stop it. Eventually, she pressed down on the lit dome, causing it to click. The room was finally plunged into silence. Letting out a tired breath, her eyes grazed over the red glowing letters that read five o’clock. Throwing the covers off of her, (Y/n) rose out of the bed, taking off her pajamas and throwing them on top of the drawer that stood in front of her. Then, a flash of light filled the room, disappearing like it was never there in the first place. (Y/n) looked down at her body, seeing her normal black mission suit.

After reaching over to turn off the lights from her clock, (y/n) walked out of her room, making her way to the mess hall. She opened the doors, instantly walking into the line to pick up breakfast. The mornings were the busiest time of the day in the mess hall since everyone had to wake up at the same time. The line moved along rather quickly, telling (y/n) that everyone was getting the same thing. Two minutes passed before she came up to the counter, a tray once again carelessly thrown to her. She didn’t care to glare this time, for the old hag was already preparing another tray for the person behind her. Taking the tray, she walked away to find a spot to sit. She slowly stalked the tables, staying by the wall. She was ready to pounce the second someone left their seat.

“Well, if it isn’t Agent (l/n), back from the bloodthirsty mission,”

(Y/n)’s heart flipped at the sound of the fraudulently sweet voice.

Katherine Blood , she thought as she turned around to face the girl behind her.

Katherine was the only other girl in the whole base who was close to (y/n)’s age. Unlike (y/n), HYDRA didn’t catch her through a black market adoption deal, or, like most of the children HYDRA, from human trafficking. Instead, Katherine was found in a dumpster by an agent who had just finished a mission and happened to hear her crying her lungs out. When the agent had checked to see what it was, they found a baby no older than a few weeks old, covered in blood, writhing every which way in a box, giving Katherine her last name. She was taken back to HYDRA, where she was put into the training academy as soon as she was old enough. She was a tall and lean girl, her muscles hidden well, a benefit for field missions when enemies underestimated her. Her complexion was a solid shade of ivory, a result of barely ever touching even the smallest sliver of sunlight. Her eyes were a sickly shade of green, becoming almost unnatural at times, and her face was framed by long, flat, blonde hair that had a single black streak in her hair that framed her face. She was mostly seen with a smug look on her face, with a witty comment on the tip of her tongue.

(Y/n) rolled her eyes, catching a glimpse of an agent leaving their seat, ripe for the taking, as did Katherine. Their eyes met for a moment, green and (e/c) silently battling. (Y/n) was the first to move, with Katherine right behind her. They both weaved through the room, moving in between tables and dodging people as they did, only to reach the seat at the same time. Their hands slammed on the table, forearms crossing each other like an ‘x’. Their eyes bore into the others, blazing with unadulterated hatred, scowling at each other as they held their trays in their free hands.

“Back off, Blood.”

“Like shit, (l/n),”

Their dispute caught the attention of every agent in the mess hall, eyes staring at them. Some in fear, some from curiosity, but most stared in an eager excitement at the possibility of breakfast and a show. Silently, bets were already being made as each agent looked at one another, communicating with eyes and expressions alone.

“Unless you want your face to describe your surname, I suggest you leave,” (y/n) spoke, her voice quiet yet stern.

“Oh, like mommy and daddy?” Katherine asked in a bitterly snarky tone.

Something inside (y/n) snapped .

It was like time stopped. Everything, even herself, froze like living statues. Her ears stopped retaining all sound, a high-pitched ringing noise replacing it. Her blood raced in her veins in a way that it never had before. Her heart flipped painfully. She had felt it flip many times, but it never hurt like this. In a way she couldn’t describe, this flip felt off… different .

Katherine stared at her, a valiant smirk on her face, but she couldn’t deny the small twinge of fear when she saw something glaze over (y/n)’s eye, something dark and dangerous. However, she didn’t get time to dwell on the subject before a hard fist was connected with her face. She stumbled back as she felt a searing pain in her cheekbone, no doubt the future spot of a bruise. Her body was in a state of shock, not believing the audacity of this girl to strike her.

This bitch has some nerve. Just because she’s some big shot doesn’t mean she has some goddamn right , she thought angrily.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “Did I strike a chord?” she asked, lifting her brows as if she were being honest.

(Y/n) said nothing, the only thing coming from her was the seething hatred. Nearby agents backed off a few more feet, the feeling of the intense energy reaching them, and the hooked crowd that gathered around them. Above them, the lights flickered, and the atmosphere in the room dropped. Nobody noticed as an agent left immediately, face pale.

“Leave. Now,” she ordered, her voice sending shivers down people's spines. She watched as the cocky look in Katherine’s green eyes wavered ever so slightly.

“ Fight me ,”

“You asked for it, you Taylor Swift wannabe. I’m gonna rip the blonde hair out right out of your head,”

The agents in the close vicinity silently ‘ooo’ed them. That was all it took for Katherine to lash out at (y/n), rage taking control of her body. (Y/n) was quick to react, twisting her body to avoid the black-streaked blonde, catching Katherine’s fist as it came flying mere inches away from her face. Clutching Katherine’s fist in her hand, (y/n) yanked the blonde towards her, throwing off her opponent’s stance. Using it as an opportunity, she quickly pivoted on her foot, aiming for a strike at the center of Katherine’s back. Katherine turned around just in time to dodge the blow, attempting a jab. (Y/n) blocked it effortlessly, maneuvering her body to the right to avoid it, and took a small step forward, drawing her fist back to land a punch. Katherine ducked down, kicking her leg out, causing (y/n) to fall from her place, feet flying up as she landed on her back. There was no hesitation as Katherine jumped her, straddling her abdomen, hands going for her throat. (Y/n)’s hands flew up to catch them, one in each hand. Their hands shook from the sheer force of each other’s strength pushing against one another.

Their audience watched in awe, anticipation leading them to the edge of their seats. In the back, two men sat next to each other, food forgotten on their trays.

“This is better than the time two people fought over that one cookie!” she whispered, the man next to him mindlessly nodding his head.

(Y/n) and Katherine’s hands trembled as they stared into one another’s eyes. Ever so slowly, (y/n)’s hands began to move forward, and the look in Katherine’s eyes fell. The blonde girl pushed down harder and harder, but no matter what, she couldn’t seem to move her hands.

“No,” Katherine breathed.

(Y/n) used Katherine’s shock as a distraction, twisting her body to the side and making Katherine fall off next to her onto the dusty floor. Their eyes met, and Katherine’s hand formed a fist, flying for (y/n)’s nose as (y/n) lifted her elbow and sent it down to the blonde’s stomach. The blows descended at the same time, both teens feeling the numbing pain from their opponents' strike, but (y/n) wouldn’t let the pain impede her. She brought her foot up, swinging it to kick Katherine right in the face.

“Shit!” Katherine exclaimed, one hand clutching her nose, blood spurting from it. She crawled backward, standing up at a safe distance with (y/n) following suit. 

(Y/n) instantly threw a punch, hitting Katherine’s jaw, as Katherine socked her in the lip. They threw punches in a crazed state, neither of them caring about who would win anymore, their only goal being to completely ruin the person in front of them. More blood was shed, but as the fight continued, it was more Katherine’s than (y/n)’s. While (y/n) had gained a small cut on her lip, Katherine had lost a tooth, had a black eye, and a nasty purple bruise on her cheek. Finally, (y/n) gained the upper hand when she struck Katherine’s black eye, momentarily blinding her. (Y/n) took the chance she had given herself, pouncing on the girl and forcing her to the ground, her arms wrapped around her neck. The blood flowing from Katherine’s injuries seemed to increase, then slowly decline. The blonde haired girl clawed at (y/n)’s arm, gasping for breath.

“Get off of me!” she croaked, her voice getting hoarse and quiet.

But (y/n) held it steady, until the girl in her hold was barely even moving, and-

“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!”

(Y/n) and Katherine’s eyes widened, and they both looked at a pissed off Sergeant. (Y/n) was still choking the air out of Katherine, but neither one seemed to register that fact at the moment. The Sergeant looked at the two girls, covered in blood, with murder in their eyes. Anger and annoyance erupted in him. It was like they never grew out of their toddler phase.

"(L/n)! Blood! Get the fuck up, now !" he demanded.

If (y/n)'s voice sent a shiver down everyone's spine, the Sergeant's was the sound of the devil himself, and it was directed at the two teens in the center of the room. (Y/n) and Katherine scrambled off of each other, standing in an attention position.

"If you two want to fight so bad, then maybe you won't mind training the whole day, without dinner!" he said, eyes shooting darts at their heads. "Go! It'll be a long day. Everyone else, I get your bet money!" he said, a series of groans coming from agents as a result. The two girls walked away, their heads held up high.

"Oh, and Blood?” the Sergeant added. Katherine stood, facing her superior. (Y/n) continued walking, knowing that whatever he'd want wouldn't concern her. Instead, Katherine stood there, the full attention of the room on her.

"(L/n) would have killed you if I weren't here. Next time, try harder ," he said lowly, but still loud enough for the room to hear.

A lump formed in her throat as she continued facing forward, her eyes burning. "Y-yes, sir, " she said quietly, fighting the waver that wanted to make its way into her voice. She wouldn't show any weakness, not even watering eyes. It would only embarrass her even further.

Next time, I will , she thought. She continued to walk down the hall to the training rooms, where she'd have to deal with always being second best.

Chapter Text

“Peter…”

“...”

“Pete,”

“...”

“Peter?”

“Mmmm,”

“PETER!”

“ Ahhh !”

Peter jolted awake, his brown eyes shooting open. His body went into complete alert mode. His arms flew out from their place under his pillow as his body twisted to its side. His hand connected with the ceiling, steadying himself.

“What?! What’s wrong?!” he exclaimed.

Peter’s senses went into overdrive at the loud screaming voice, his mind connecting loudness with danger. His head snapped left and right, his enhanced eyesight scanning the room for something that might be a source of danger, as his hearing strained to listen for anything indicating a threat, but there was nothing. As his senses calmed down, he took in the familiar surroundings of his room, finding Aunt May standing in front of his bunk, looking up at him with annoyed eyes.

“Cut the crap Peter, it’s me . Now get up, you’re going to be late for school,” she said, walking out of the room.

Peter watched through squinted eyes as she left his room, closing the door behind her.

“Ugh,” he groaned, falling back down onto his top bunk. The brown haired boy brought his hands up to his face, each hand rubbing the eye it covered. “It’s too early to start school…” he muttered stubbornly, his brain starting to shut down as he placed his head down on his pillow.

“I don’t care! Get dressed, now!” Aunt May scolded through the door.

Peter groaned loudly at her, his tired eyes closing shut.

“But May-”

“ Peter Parker …”

Peter rolled his eyes but listened to her nonetheless. Placing his hands firmly against his ceiling, almost as if to push the boards forward. But after a few seconds, his fingers began to feel as if they were merging with the material. Peter gave his hands a small tug, but they wouldn’t budge from their spot.

Perfect , he thought sarcastically.

Peter then swung his legs over the railings of his top bunk and scooted himself off the bed, his hands still sticking to the ceiling. His body hung from it, his feet still at least a full foot from the floor. His head looked up at his hands, concentrating. In a matter of seconds, he could feel them retracting from the ceiling, and he landed on his feet with a “thump”. Peter scrambled to get ready, changing as quickly as he could, not wanting to upset his aunt. Soon enough, May watched as he emerged from the hallway and into the small area between the living room and kitchen, his eyes droopy from being woken up so abruptly.

“Good morning,” she said from her place behind the counter.

She looked over at the toaster, where two pieces of toast played inside, the red hot metal casting a warm glow from it. Her coffee sat in front of her as she stood, watching the morning news on the TV in the living room.

“Morn’n,” Peter grumbled, his arms stretching above his head of messy chocolate curls. His arms lowered slowly, walking into the kitchen and right to the fridge.

“I have toast waiting for you in the toaster, Pete,” May told him, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Thanks, Aunt May,” he replied, opening the fridge and reaching for the jug of orange juice. He twisted the lid open, lifting it to his lips before tipping his head back and chugging it straight from the nozzle.

“You better not be drinking it straight from the container,” May snapped, causing Peter to nearly spit a mouthful back into the jug. Though May would be amused to see that, she was equally happy as she heard him calmly put it away back in the fridge.

“Me? Really? What do you take me for?” Peter joshed, his voice becoming playful as he and May heard the toaster softly ding.

“ A teenager ,” May quibbled.

Peter opened his mouth, ready to reply with a comment that was sure to get him grounded, but was cut off as he heard a reporter on the TV.

“-But perhaps the most exciting news that’s flying around is the announcement of Anthony Stark and Virginia Potts' engagement!”

The words caught both of the two Parkers’ in their joking dispute, making them look towards the screen with all their attention.

“The happy news was first declared when Mr. Stark called a press conference and proposed to Ms. Potts in front of the whole country. They’re already planning an engagement party that is to be held two weeks from now, according to tweets that were posted by guests after receiving an invitation in the mail,”

May’s face twisted in disbelief. Two weeks? It seems a little fast. We’ll need to shop this weekend to have a tux ready by then , she thought. 

“Well, looks like we’re heading to the mall this weekend,” she told Peter. 

“Yeah. Ned will have to come along too. He’s going to be my plus one,” Peter told her.

“Ok. I’ll let his Mom know over the phone during my lunch break,” she said.

“-Thanks, Christine! On a more serious note, sightings of a strange thief have been reported from advanced technology factories all over the world. Witnesses say that a being with tentacles broke into their labs, stealing parts and devices. All witnesses who are still alive say that they are incredibly dangerous and won’t hesitate to kill. A week ago, a factory on the west side of the state was hit. Two are dead while one is in critical condition, and is currently unavailable for police questioning. No pictures or videos have been reported so far, but officials are doing everything they can to track them down. Now onto Johnathan for the weather-”

May and Peter turned towards each other, their matching brown eyes meeting one another. The seriousness in the air crashed over them like a falling glacier. May looked into her nephew’s brown eyes, and he could see the fear in them.

Critical condition and dead?! God, please don’t let him fight that , she pleaded to whoever was listening. She couldn’t let him fight… whatever it was!

… Could she?

It was his job to fight the bad guys and play a part in keeping the world safe. And she was proud of him for it, more than he could ever know. But he was practically her son. She helped raise him from the moment he was born. She cried, laughed, and grieved with him in everything. From his parents’ deaths at age four to her husband’s death three years ago, it was her job to protect him from things that could kill him in more than one way, but it was his job to do just that… 

I’ll think about life-changing dilemmas later. Peter needs to go to school or else he’ll be late , she reminded herself.

She shook her head, ridding herself of those thoughts, and cleared her throat to catch Peter’s attention. “Come on, Pete, get your backpack. You’ll be late, and you have a lot of days to make up for if you want to graduate on time,” she told him sternly.

“Oh, yeah. On it!” he said as he began to run throughout the apartment while Aunt May put butter on his toast, which he totally didn’t forget about and left behind …

In a matter of a few minutes, he was ready to go. He had all of his stuff, and Aunt May was giving him a quick hug from the side as she pushed him towards the door, even going so far as to open it for him.

“Bye, Aunt May! See you after school!” Peter exclaimed as he ran out of the apartment.

“Bye!” Aunt May replied, waving her hand as she watched him disappear down the hallway, closing the door.

Once outside, Peter raced through the city, avoiding people with a deadly accuracy only he possessed. The sun was just barely up, covering the sky in a neon-looking orange that reminded him of the Star Wars X-Wing Pilot suit he wore for Halloween last year-

Wait, Halloween’s in two weeks! Mr. Stark’s party is on Halloween! Shit, I gotta tell May- Wait, no, I gotta ask Happy first. I already looked stupid that one time Mr. Stark had a party and I ended up wearing an anime jacket to a fancy dinner meeting. That can’t happen again , he thought nervously.

He pulled out his phone from his back pocket, unlocking it and instantly tapping the Messages app and hitting Happy’s contact.

Hey, I noticed that the engagement party is on Halloween. Are we supposed to dress up?

He waited the whole bus ride, but never got a reply. He chalked it up to Happy’s busy work schedule and continued on his way to school. It was always mornings like this that he was thankful to have a bus station placed directly outside the school’s sports fields. When he finally closed the doors of Midtown High, he was just barely on time for the first hour. 

Peter flew into his seat just as the bell rang, watching as students scurried from different parts of the room to do the same before the teacher entered the room. It was like a herd of zebras when they used their stripes to confuse a predator. Colors blurred together in quick flashes, each person hoping to make it before they were caught. A mere second passed before the door briskly opened, and a dark skinned woman with short black hair walked in. Her heels clicked on the tiled floor, which echoed throughout the room. Ms. Warren was a woman in her later years, though younger than most older teachers in high school. She was a good teacher, and Peter liked her classes, but he never had a basic conversation with her. She was always seen wearing, at the very least, a tea-length skirt that went to her shins. Students never went against her because of her strict attitude, but they didn’t hate her because of it.

“Well, I see that you are all here on time. That’s good. How was your weekend, everyone?” she asked, a small and professional smile on her face. Some kids responded, mainly the ones who got along with her the best.

“Good,”

“Ok,”

“I’m tired,”

Ms. Warren shook her head and moved to stand behind her table, which had neatly stacked piles of paper all across it. “Me too, Dawson, but we have a lot to get done today, so please get out the homework I assigned over the weekend. We’re going to go over it, grade it, and turn it in. Then, we’re going to move on to the next part of the unit, and you’ll get a paper I want done by the end of class. Alright, let’s get to it,” she said.

The class got right to work, pulling out papers. Pater’s ears heard the zipping of backpacks and the whispers of students as they complained about not being able to get their homework done. Peter, being Peter, got all of his homework done in fifteen minutes when he got home from his daily patrol before Ned stopped by.

“Now, question one-”

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Pepper paced around her and Tony's highest floor. Her heels had been thrown across the room in frustration as she looked over the news articles pulled up on the holograms. Sometimes it felt like yesterday that Tony had come flying in and they had begun to argue over her twelve percent of Stark Tower. She remembered how Tony had become, dare she say, jealous when Coulson called her by her first name. God, how she wanted to keep play-fighting over her twelve percent rather than deal with the problem on her and Tony’s hands at the moment. The strawberry blonde woman stopped her pacing and instead turned to face the holographic particles. They were all based on this new technology thief who’s been breaking into major labs. She felt lucky that Stark Industries hadn’t been targeted… yet . It was always a matter of time with things like this, and, like any sane person, she’d rather not have to pay for any funerals or family death benefits for their loyal factory workers.

I got a better idea. None would be good , she thought.

Her inner worrying was cut off by the elevator doors opening, and she turned her head to see her fiancé walk into the room. 

“Finally! Where have you been?” Pepper asked, walking towards Tony. She stopped in front of him, giving him a small hug before glaring at him. “Well?” she asked.

“Geez, give me a few seconds, Peps, I got stuck in traffic on the way here,” he explained to her, taking off his jacket and tossing it onto the couch as he passed it. “So, what’s the problem?” he asked her.

“Have you watched the news?” Pepper asked him, waving him towards the articles.

“Uhh… yes and no? Why, what happened?” he asked her, a tinge of worry lining his face. While he never would have admitted it, even to the love of his life, every part of him screamed for his apprentice to be ok.

“Look!” she told him.

Taking a step towards the holograms, he looked over their contents. Relief spread through him once he saw that it had nothing to do with Peter. Or, at least he hoped it wouldn’t. Dread filled him as he skimmed over the company-stamped photos and videos, as well as various news articles. Not a single one was the same, except for a single factor that made the perpetrator stand out- the strange tentacles coming from their back. A light bulb went off in his head. That’s right, he did hear about it on the radio…

“Oh boy,” he muttered. His hands rubbed his eyes, not wanting to believe what he was seeing. “I feel like I’m getting too old for this, know what I mean?” he asked, turning to Pepper.

“I know. We’ll need to amp up security and put some of our current projects on lockdown. Most of the companies being stolen from have been rumored to have alien tech from the battle with Loki. Who knows what kind of alien or monster is after it?” she said.

“Now just wait a moment, Pepper, reports say that they’re just stealing tech. The factory on the west side dealt in robotic prosthetics as well as advanced construction equipment. I’ve also seen the private footage, and I think the tentacles are metal. So, chances are, they’re just a piece of technology strapped onto a person's back, not some monster or alien,” he said, bringing some reason to this conversation before any other explanation could be thrown out.

Pepper sighed, walking over to the couch before sitting on the edge of its backrest. She looked down at her shoeless feet, stress settling itself in her mind.

“Regardless, we can’t let our technology fall into the wrong hands. Last time that happened, you were trapped in a cave for months, and some psycho tried to kill you at a race track,” Pepper told him. 

The room was silent as she said this. Tony didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t wrong, but they could stop everything they were working on just because some thief was on the loose.

“Maybe… Maybe we should cancel the engagement party…” Pepper said in a small voice.

Tony’s head snapped towards her. He rarely ever heard Pepper speak so quietly, and it wasn’t because she had a grand idea or realization. He didn’t know she was this worried over some wannabe alien. Tony walked over to where she sat, his heart heavy as he saw her pensive expression.

“What? But you were so excited! Hell, you were the one who came up with the party in the first place. You planned everything, from the theme to our costumes,” he said, taking her hands in his.

“I know, but...” she tried to say, but her voice seemed to have flown away, leaving her behind.

“What’s wrong? Truly?” Tony asked, his eyes boring into hers.

Pepper huffed out a small bit of air in her lungs, turning her head to face Tony. “What if this is it for the rest of our lives? Sure, this engagement party is different, but what about the wedding? Are we going to have to worry about some villain destroying the world before actually saying our “I do”s? And kids! We both agree we want kids. What am I going to do when we’re raising our child with all these psychopaths trying to take over the world? I just… I don’t even know, " she admitted to Tony, as well as herself. "I want to marry you… I love you, but I’m also scared,” Pepper finished.

Tony gazed at her, unable to do anything else. He knew Pepper worried a lot, sometimes more than she should, but he could see the reason behind it. He always had a sneaking suspicion that this was how she truly felt, and he wished he could take all her fear and toss it out the window like a baseball. Sadly, he couldn’t. So, he did the next best thing.

He kissed her.

He slowly pulled away, leaning in to hug her tightly. He felt her stiffen in his arms, but only for a second before relaxing and slowly wrapping her arms around him.

“I love you, too. A-and believe me , I’m scared of everything you just listed off myself, but I don’t think we should put our lives on hold. To be honest, I think we should just say, ‘fuck this shit, I’m done’, and do what ever the absolute hell we want because we deserve that, Pepper. Yeah, there’s always going to be a crazy person, rebellious god, or maybe even a terminator robot, I don’t know- Point is … is that I refuse to let that get in the way of my life with you. Until we get kids, you’re all I need, baby. As long as I have you to pull my head out of my ass, I can beat up any bad guy,” he told her. He pulled away from her when he was done, and they both felt the air chill them compared to the comfortable body heat.

Pepper’s heart lifted with every word he said, and she couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto her face. This is one of those times where he says something smart that’s not related to making the perfect cheeseburger , she thought.

“Thanks… You’re right. Fuck this shit ,” she said, a small laugh at the end of her words.

Tony raised his eyebrows at the words she used, pulling away to step back. “See? Everything is always better my way,” he said, causing Pepper to scoff at his words.

“Oh really ?” she asked rhetorically.

“Well, yeah. I am a genius,” he stated as if it were obvious.

Which was the truth, no matter what Pepper wanted to believe in moments similar to this. He watched as she rolled her eyes at him, a disbelieving grin on her lips. He felt better knowing he had calmed her nerves, even just for a little while. He’d be there to do it as many times as needed.

“Don’t make me regret saying I wanted to marry you,” Pepper jokingly warned him, standing up and placing both of her hands on her hips.

“Too late! Our Halloween costumes already came back from the tailor!”

Smartass , Pepper thought.

And neither of them knew of the mission that was being sent to one of HYDRA’s most deadly agents. Neither did they know that it would be a treacherous road ahead, and not only for them, but for everyone in their life.

Chapter Text

(Y/n) stood alone in the center of one of the training rooms dressed in her workout clothes, a form-fitting tank top, and loose knee-length pants, with a defensive stance with her feet apart as she held her fists in front of her head. Her breathing was slow and steady as she turned in a circle, her eyes and ears sharp and alert. The room was empty- Well, not completely empty. There was a person inside, somewhere. Above her was a lone light, only illuminating the area around her, limiting her field of sight. Beyond the cold light was the large training room, which held workout equipment and an almost bare rack along the wall that held only a few handheld weapons. The walls were bare, with not even a red HYDRA emblem. That said quite a bit in (y/n)’s opinion, since they loved to remind the agents just who they had signed off their lives to.

It struck like lightning, quick and without warning. A fist flew at her, causing her to twist her body away to dodge it. She watched as the fist drew back, but before it could disappear, she seized the stranger’s wrist and twisted it. She heard them grunt as she lifted her foot to kick it towards them. Instead of connecting with the person's body, a hand gripped her ankle and pulled, causing her to lose her footing and tumble to the ground as she was yanked into the shadows. Once she was fully out of the light, the stranger topped her. Her hands flew out in front of her in hopes of landing a strike. She knew she had almost succeeded when she felt her knuckles graze their skin. A punch collided with the side of her face and forced her head to the side, and another punch was brought to her opposite side. (Y/n)’s heart flipped, snapping her out of whatever state she was in. Time slowed down, allowing her mind to stop in order for her body to lead. Her eyes adjusted, and she saw the faint outline of a fist coming towards her.

Her body kicked into action. Instantly, her hands caught both their fists and pulled her hands away from herself, forcing her opponent’s head to come towards her. The second she felt their breath fanning across her forehead, she smashed her head upwards. It pulsed with pain as she felt it collide with their nose, feeling something warm drip onto her cheek as she heard a quiet popping sound. They reared their head back, and she used that moment to push them off of her and stand up. Light flashed as a tiny metal tube appeared in her hand. Its sleek metal shone in the distant light, catching a flat rectangular button on its side. (Y/n)’s thumb pressed it, and the ends of the tube instantly extended out, forming a bo staff. She heard a rush of feet, alerting her that they were running in her direction. She choked up on the staff, her hands an even distance away from each other. They came from the darkness, a dark wooden staff flying through the air. (Y/n) blocked it, the smooth surfaces sliding against each other before being drawn back by their owners. The two staffs clashed in a flurry of attacks, the sound of wood against metal echoed within the room. Neither one seemed to let up.

Alright, I’m done , (y/n) thought as she dodged another attack from her opponent.

Her eyes studied them with a new intent, observing their attacks, surveying their movements for predictable patterns. (Y/n) advanced, pushing herself out of the small circle of light and into the shadows, surprising the stranger, but she didn’t let up on her attacks. Instead, she made them faster and forced them down harder. If she were in the light, she had no doubt that her staff would have been a blur, taking a step forward with every hit she caused. Soon, she felt it connect with more skin and bone than wood until she finally had them backed up against the cold wall. Finally, with a quick hit to the side of their head, they were down for the count. (Y/n) stood there panting as she heard their body drop to the ground and flashed her bo staff away.

Suddenly, the rest of the lights flashed on in the room, causing (y/n) to use her hand to make sure her eyes didn’t burn into ash from the heavy light exposure. She hissed at it, causing a foreign voice to chuckle darkly. (Y/n) opened her eyes and lowered her hands to see who had turned the lights on.

Standing by the steel doors was a black skinned woman whose hair was pulled back in hundreds of tiny braids into a low bun. She knew this woman well. Ms. Elor was something of a wild card at the base and was one of the traveling agents who went from base to base and reported back to the main headquarters. Her loyalty to HYDRA was like that of a crazed, love-sick woman willing to kill for her lover. She had been known to kill the people who proved "not loyal enough” where they stood. (Y/n) took it upon herself to code name her “crazy-ass psycho” when she first met her a few years ago. Whenever she wasn’t on a mission, they often sent her to do small things, like tracking down agents on base to give them new missions.

Great .

(Y/n) stared straight into her dark eyes, taking a deep breath before loudly exhaling. “I’m training,” (y/n) told her, turning back to pick up her unconscious opponent’s wooden bo staff that lay on the floor. “And as I recall, agents get a week in between missions, no matter how good they are at their job,” she added as she walked over to the rack, placing the staff in its place.

The black haired woman shook her head as she spoke in a crazy, lighthearted voice. “Oh, please . We both know that in the end, they don’t care, and whatever you may believe, you’re not exempt from all rules like you may think,” Ms. Elor stated, placing her hands behind her back and a smile on her face.

Silence hung in the air, and Ms. Elor smirked in victory. She knew what the girl on the other side of the room could do, and she reveled in the sight of watching (y/n) holding back her punches, her powers . However, she stopped it at that. While she did love to test others' limits, she also wasn’t stupid. She has watched the girl defeat- hell, kill people ten times bigger than her at a mere ten years old. She watched as she twisted a man’s arm back so far that it had to be amputated. Was she bored? Yes. Was she gutsy? Hell yes. Was she arrogant? No. She chose life.

Elor simply smiled and turned around, opening the door and stepping into the hallway. “Well? Come on. You know they don’t like to be kept waiting,” she told (y/n).

(Y/n) magically changed into her black mission suit, her bo staff disappearing with her workout clothes, and ran to catch up with Ms. Elor. “What’s my mission?” (y/n) asked her as she walked by her side, but still behind her to lead the way.

She already knew where they were going, but she had been taught that when dealing with people above you, it was customary to walk just behind their shoulder area. She was told it was to either show respect or to act as a barrier from a possible threat. In front of her, Ms. Elor cracked an even bigger smile, keeping her eyes on the path forward.

“It will be the second greatest honor any HYDRA agent could possibly receive. One of which has a great difficulty that falls into your special… skills,” she explained, her voice smooth as the girl followed her.

“That’s… great and all, but what is it?”

“What else… an assassination ,”

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Tony woke up in a cold sweat, the moonlight shining off of his damp skin. His body tensed, making him sit up at a ninety-degree angle. His hair, like his skin, was damp, making it stick to his forehead. His breathing was ragged, as if it was trying to claw its way back into his lungs.

What the hell was that? , he thought, combing his fingers through his damp hair. He was so invested in trying to regain control over his breathing that he was barely able to register his fiancée stirring into wakefulness next to him.

“Mmm… Tony?” she mumbled tiredly, her mind groggy from the sudden break from sleep. She looked at him, her brain taking a few seconds to take in his appearance. The second she did, her body went into a fretful state. “Tony, what’s wrong?” she asked, sitting up to face him.

She placed a hand on his shoulder, making him jump as if he forgot he was in his own bed. She watched his head snap towards her, and she noted his breathing had slowed down.

“ Pep …” Tony breathed as if it were a desperate prayer.

“Shh, I’m here… I’m here,” she assured him, raising another hand to rest on his cheek to ease him down. “Was it a nightmare?” she asked, her eyes boring into his.

Her mind drifted back to when they had first started seriously dating, and he’d wake up in a cold sweat, just like this. Most were about his time being held in the cave and building his artificial heart, while others were about her being in danger, but he hadn’t had a nightmare since after the New York Attack. Those had been really bad. Tony even claimed to have seen a great war over time and space, and his own death. That night, she held him in her arms for hours, trying to calm him down. It felt like a lifetime ago. Why would he be having them now? There was nothing to trigger them.

Pepper’s apprehension only grew when he didn’t answer her. “Tony,” Pepper said as calmly as she could.

His breathing started to slow down as he looked at her face, and he wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Sorry. Umm… Y-yeah, it was a nightmare,” he told her. His voice was still shaky, but it was stable enough that he could speak well enough without drawing in an extra breath.

“What was it about?” Peper asked, moving a hand so that it rubbed his back soothingly.

“I don’t know- No… I don’t remember ,” he said, correcting himself. He always had a feeling of what his dreams were, whether good or bad, but it was hard to remember any concrete details about them.

Pepper nodded her head. “Oh, ok…” she mumbled.

Guilt seized Tony’s heart as he heard her say it. To him, it seemed that now he had woken them both up at o’dark thirty for nothing, and with both of them working long hours, sleep was more precious than coffee… which they would both need more of than usual by the time they’d have to get up.

Pepper saw the look that crossed his face, and her own guilt grew. “I’m sorry, that sounded… Not how I wanted it to sound,” Pepper said awkwardly, her head lowered as she said each word.

“No, no, I got it. You can’t really comfort me if I can’t explain what it was about. I’ll be fine, I promise,” the raven haired man told her.

“Good, I’m glad,”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“You realize we have to get up in, like, forty-five minutes, right?”

“ God fucking damnit ,”

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

The next night, Peter looked through the costumes hanging on the racks, his brown eyes searching for anything that caught his eye. Ned and his Aunt May weren’t far behind, each looking for their costume to wear to the engagement party. Ever since Happy had given them the ‘ok’ on Peter’s question over text, he spent all week thinking about what he wanted to be. Ned suggested that they be “salt and pepper”. There was definitely that option, but as… "tempting" as it was, Peter didn't like the idea for some reason.

“What about a knight?” Ned asked Peter, pulling out a costume packet.

Peter’s head turned toward his friend, eyes scanning over the costume. “Mmm… What about the Star Wars stuff?” he suggested.

“Nah, did that last year. Are we going to be matching?” Ned asked.

“ That would be so cute ! I’ll have to get pictures if you guys do that!” Aunt May exclaimed over her shoulder as she looked at the face paint before walking over to another section of the store.

They weren’t that worried since the store was small. The mall had been ruled out, so they just went over to the small costume store that was only open in the fall months. In addition, it was closer to the downtown area, so Ned wouldn’t have any trouble getting home after shopping. However, in response to May’s comment, both boys’ facial expressions deflated.

“... Know what, I’m feeling pretty independent this year,” Ned told Peter, scrunching his face and continuing to look. Peter copied his friend’s expression and walked over to join him at his side.

“Me too,” Peter agreed.

“So, who do you want to be?” Ned asked him.

“I don’t know, but I’m looking,” Peter told him.

Ned nodded, and the two of them walked around the store. “What for?” he asked.

“Wha- I don’t know,” Peter replied.

“Well, we've got about… forty-five minutes left to figure it out,” Ned told him as he checked the time on his phone.

“Yeah, yeah,” Peter muttered as they passed a display case.

His eyes half heartedly scanned the items in the case, hands in the pockets of his jacket. The case held mostly fake weapons, gaudy costume jewelry, and masquerade masks. Eventually, he walked by the normal stuff and reached a patch of costumes that made him smile. The Avengers costumes. He passed by Thor’s hammer, Clint’s bow, Natasha’s guns, and he even saw Steve’s shield.

Oh god, Mr. Stark would disown me if I showed up with a Captain America pin, much less a full-on costume , he thought as he looked over the package.

Peter smiled, grabbing it off the rack and holding it out in front of him. “Hey, what about this?” he asked, a joking tone in his voice.

Ned looked over, a small smile breaking onto his face. “That's wonderful… if you’re aiming to get us kicked out,” he told his friend.

“I know, but I’d still want to see how it would turn out. I mean, sure, Mr. Stark would probably never want anything to do with me, but still,” Peter said. He turned around, placing it back where he found it.

As he walked away, a gleaming blue light caught his eye. But as soon as he turned to look at it, it was gone… Then he saw it… Then it was gone. The light blinked on and off, allowing Peter to easily find his way back over to the display case. His eyes immediately stuck to a big blue glowing pendant necklace that sat in the display case next to a pair of disregarded sunglasses.

It was like the universe was speaking to him.

“ That’s it, I found it… I’m gonna be Mr. Stark this year ,”

“Did you say something, honey?”

“Ahh!”

Peter jumped at the sudden voice, pulling a small chuckle from his Aunt May. “Calm down, it’s just me,” she told him. “So… You want them?” she asked.

“W-w-what?” Peter asked.

“Peter, you just talked to yourself. You had some sort of “epiphany” or something,” she said.

“Oh! Yeah, want to use them for my costume,” he told her, tapping his finger against the case's scratched glass surface.

“Ok, I’ll add them to the basket. I figured I could wear a nice dress and mask and call it good,” she said, smiling at her nephew and walking off.

In the back of the store, Ned looked through the costume packages, finally finding something he liked. He smiled as he nodded his head to himself, taking off to find Peter and May.

“Hey, Pete!” Ned called, walking up to the two of them. “Whatcha think?” he asked, tossing it to Peter. The brown haired boy caught it with ease, reading the label.

“Who the hell-”

“PETER BENJAMIN PARKER!”

“Sorry, Aunt May! Who the heck is Batman?” Peter asked, a look of fear in his eyes as May stared him down behind him.

Both of the teen boys swallowed the lumps in their throats. Sometimes they forget that it was always the nicest, calmest, and most level headed people who were most scary when they got angry or lost their shit. They also forgot that, at the top of the list, sat an undefeated May.

“He’s this comic book character. It’s a pretty dark but compelling series. I’ll have to send you some of my copies, I think you might like him,” Ned said, taking it back and handing it over to May, who still had a terrifyingly stern look on her face.

They watched as May pulled out her wallet, and the cashier started scanning the items they were buying. They were just about done when Peter’s phone rang. The light-hearted tune and vibrations urged him to pull it out, instantly hitting the answer button.

“Hello, this is Peter Parker. How have I currently ruined your life?” he casually asked the caller, gaining a weird look from Aunt May and a smug smile from Ned.

Of course he’s smug, it was his idea , he thought.

“I don’t have time for your pop culture references right now, kid,”

A horrible idea. Damnit, Ned , he thought as his mind registered the voice that came from the other line.

“M-Mr. Stark?”

“Great! You have a memory! Listen, I need your help,”

“Why, what happened?”

“Honestly, I didn’t even want to call you, but there could be lives on the line,”

“What is it?”

Peter heard Tony sigh. “I need you to head over to the Stark Lab factory that’s just outside of Queens,”

Peter’s eyes widened as he stepped away from his group and lowered his voice.

“The labs… Is it the person who’s been on the news?”

“Yeah, -but listen to me! Peter, whatever you do, don’t fight them until I get there, ”

“B-”

“ Don’t ! Engage ! I mean it. I know you’ve handled bad guys before, but I don’t want you dying because I asked for help. Do you understand my words, kid?”

“I-I do... Don’t worry, Mr. Stark, I’m on my way. I won’t let you down,”

“I know you won’t. Find the workers, make sure they’re ok, get them out safely, and wait for me , that’s it . Text me when you get there. Bye,”

Peter lowered the phone, shoving it in his pocket as he headed towards the door.

Ned and May glanced at each other, wanting to see if the other would know what was happening.

“Um, Peter?” May called, causing her nephew to turn around. But he didn’t stop, instead choosing to walk backward.

“I gotta go. Mr. Stark needs me,” he told them. 

He watched as her head dropped before lifting it to give him a nod of approval. Peter smiled at her, turning back around to continue out the door.

“Stay safe, and be home as soon as possible, it’s a school night!” she said, her voice growing louder and faster the farther Peter got away from her. Eventually, she heard the tingling of the doorbell, and she turned back to the cashier.

“So… Ned, sweetie, did you bring money or do you need me to pay for you?”

“I thought you were paying…”

“Oh… Well, ok then…”

Chapter Text

Peter was flying through the air as he swung from building to building, his suit fitting his body perfectly as he did. Every few seconds, he’d hear Karen give him directions on the fastest route to Stark Labs.

“Take a left at the next turn, Peter,”

“Thanks, Karen!”

“You are welcome, Peter,”

He instinctively aimed at a building on his left, pulling himself forward as his body automatically twisted and turned to balance himself out in the air. It was amazing to Peter how quickly his body had learned to swing through the air. He remembered, painfully, when he first started. He’d constantly crash into buildings, windows, and even a train on one occasion. Now, his body acted on reflex, as if he’d been doing it since the day he was born. He wondered if this was how Tony felt when he flew his Iron Man suit for the first time.

“Peter, you are about to miss a critical shortcut in reaching the Stark Laboratories within your desired time,” Karen told him.

“Shit! Where?!” he asked, his eyes widening. His head turned in every which way, looking for any sign through his mask's visuals.

“On your right,” Karen told him.

Five minutes later, Peter was amazed when the famous Stark Labs appeared in the nearby distance. He swung faster, zipping over the fences, not caring to avoid surveillance. Why hide when the “boss man” himself told him to be there? He only had to worry about being seen inside the building, not out of it. He finally landed on top of the roof, his eyes looking around for anything that could get him inside undetected. His first guess was an air vent, but he didn’t find anything. Next, he crawled along the sides of the building. For a while, he didn’t find anything other than small vents and pipe holes that were barely big enough to fit a rat inside. Then, as if Thor himself were watching over him (which he wasn’t, but Peter liked to joke about it anyway), he found a row of windows that were level with the high ceiling. 

“Alrightly, in we go…” he whispered to himself as he took a look inside the dimly lit lab.

The room looked nearly identical to how he’d expect a Stark lab to look. It was a giant and spacious room, at least big enough to hold a commercial airplane. Tables were placed in straight lines, loads of expensive gear and gadgets on top of them. Large, high-tech equipment was placed throughout the room, each having the Stark logo stamped on it. In the far-off side of the room was a separate lab that was walled off from the rest of the room. Its windows and glass door appeared to be cracked, but he couldn’t see clearly from where he was at the moment.

He leaned back from the window, taking in the actual size of the window. He’d fit through the frame, but just barely. He lifted his hand and placed his palm against the cool glass, pushing against it. It took some extra super strength to force it, but the window eventually slid open, allowing Peter to squeeze through. He crawled along the wall of the lab, eyes searching for anything that could set off an alarm. When he didn’t see anything, he continued crawling down the wall before flipping off of it and onto the floor. His landing was soundless, as were his steps as he began to walk around the room, crouching down low in case he had to make an emergency “hit the deck” maneuver. Now that he was inside, he couldn’t help but internally fangirl about the fact that he was inside one of Mr. Stark’s very own labs. Sure, it was just broken into, and it was dark… and cold… with a bat-shit crazy, high teched, murdering thief on the premises… but it was still cool, nonetheless!

Peter walked towards the rows of lab tables, looking in the space in between them. For a second, it looked like no one was in the room, and then he heard a cough. It was quiet and had a weak and raspy tone to it. His whole body snapped toward the sound, looking for anything that could cause it. He lowered himself, resting his weight on his toes and hands as he moved towards the area where he heard the cough. He hid behind one of the tables at the very end of the rows and peeked his head out from the corner. A man lay on the floor, his white lab coat stained slightly red on his side. He did not attempt to move except for when he breathed. Peter watched as he took in a shallow, shaky breath. The man’s stomach was barely rising, as if a small breath alone was too much for him to handle. Peter rushed to the man’s side, forgetting about staying hidden and focusing on the man in front of him.

“Sir? Sir, can you hear me?” Peter said, keeping his voice low in case the thief was around somewhere in the room.

The man coughed harshly, opening his eyes. His face changed to one of confusion, and then it settled on the red suited man above him. “Who are you?” he asked.

“I’m Spider-Man. I saw something sneak into the lab, and thought it might be that thief that’s been on the news lately,” Peter told him. “A-are you alright?” he asked him.

Karen scanned the man. “I have scanned his body, and he appears to have a puncture wound on his left side that needs to be addressed,” she told Peter.

“Sir, I’m going to help you get out of here,” Peter stated, taking the man and wrapping an arm around his shoulder on the uninjured side of his body.

“There’s a first aid kit by the door,” the man rasped.

Peter nodded as he helped him make his way to the door, where, sure enough, a first aid kit hung a little ways away from the handprint scanner that was right next to the door. He carefully set the man back down, propping him up against the wall. He dug through the kit, placing everything he needed next to him in record time, and found himself thanking his seventh-grade health teacher for teaching the whole class a unit on emergency first aid. While it didn’t make him as good as a paramedic, it did make him better than half the actors on Grey’s Anatomy (and this author). Just as he was done patching the man up, there was a loud crash that echoed throughout the whole room.

“ It’s them ,” the man said, a worried tone in their voice.

“Where?” Peter asked.

“I saw them walk over to the secured labs,” he whispered. “It’s where the dangerous stuff is. It’s mostly chemicals, but the documents and blueprints are in the back for extra protection. There’s also some prototypes back there. Listen to me, it’s bad news if they get their hands on it,” he rasped, holding his hand up to his mouth to cover his cough.

“Are you going to be ok by yourself?” Peter asked.

“What am I, old ?”

Peter didn’t reply, and he watched the man’s face fall into a deadpan.

“I’m going to call the police. Go ,” he grumbled.

Peter nodded, standing up to cautiously tread closer and closer to the separate lab. He came to the once unbroken glass door, its clear fragments scattered on the floor. He stepped around it, not wanting to risk injury. The lab was a mess, no doubt from the thief who was lurking in the shadows. Papers were thrown everywhere, drawers were empty as they lay on the floor, and various equipment was broken or disregarded in random places. On the cupboards were beakers and jars full of labeled containers, a few shattered on the floor in what looked like an accident compared to the rest of the room. Peter made sure to stay clear of them, not wanting to find out if there were any side effects to breathing in the fumes. The only thing that seemed unscathed in the room was the machines meant to separate and analyze compounds. Suddenly, he heard the sound of something breaking in a far-off room down a narrow hallway. 

Remember, no fighting until Mr. Stark gets here , he thought.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Peter softly walked down the hallway, creeping up to the doorway and peaking inside, and his breathing came to a halt as his eyes widened. There, standing in the middle of the room, was a figure standing in front of a table with entire casefuls of papers strewn across the surface as they held a flat circular device in their hand. They seemed to be looking over the notes, taking what they deemed useful and stuffing it into a bag that sat by their feet. They had a lean body, just barely taller than the average person. As they turned to reach over the table and grab another pile of papers, he could see the feminine outlines in their silhouette. Her body was covered in a dark green suit, black boots, and black gloves that covered her whole hand. Over her suit, she wore a beat-up aviator jacket with cream colored fur around the neck area. Her head was covered by a mask that clung to her skin like Peter’s, with a metal pair of green-lensed goggles surrounding her head. However, it was what was on her back that drew the most attention. A metal vest rested over their aviator jacket, with four long, shining, metal tentacles calmly moving around her. A sickly green glowed from between the metal plating, casting its green light in the room. And at the tips were a sort of four-pronged hand of sorts that acted more like a mouth, opening and snapping shut.

“Come on, where is it...” a female robotic voice muttered.

Peter backed himself against the wall, listening as papers rustled around. He was at a loss. One half of him wanted to walk in there with a smart ass quip like he usually did, and have a showdown to try and impress Mr. Stark by the time he got here. The other half told him to stay where he was and listen to Mr. Stark’s orders. While Stark was a bit overbearing and overprotective at times, it was always with good reason. The billionaire genius always knew exactly what he was or wasn’t ready for, as much as Peter sometimes didn’t want to admit it. The stars must have aligned that night because, for once, that was the part Peter listened to. Turning back to find the man from before, he suddenly noticed the absence of angry muttering and rustling papers.

Oh, fuck , no , he thought, fear creeping its way into his stomach.

“Spider-Man, I’m surprised to see you here,”

Peter’s whole body twisted around to face her. His stomach felt as if it wanted to empty whatever was inside it, but he forced that feeling away, and instead fell into his usual wisecracking, smart ass super persona.

“Well, it’s always nice to meet a fan,” Peter told her, straightening his poster.

“I don’t know if I’d call myself a fan ,” she snapped, one of her metal limbs rising into a strike position.

“Gee, that’s too bad… See, usually, my fans and I get some pictures together for the news, and they meet my police buddies and- AHHHH!”

Peter was cut off, his foot pulled forward, causing his back to slam onto the ground. He grunted as he was thrown into the wall, creating a large dent in the drywall before he was let go, falling to the ground with a loud thump. Peter groaned as he slowly started to get up. The green suited criminal walked closer, her metal tentacles clamping around Peter’s torso and slamming him into the wall so that he was goggle level with her. He could feel the disdain in their gaze as the grip got tighter, painfully restricting his limbs and forcing the air out of his lungs.

“WHOAWHOAWHOAWHOA! I-I-I think there’s a misunderstanding here! See, I’m more of a vanilla kinda guy! I’m not that into b-”

“SHUT UP! You ruined my life, now it’s my turn!” she yelled, her robotic voice breaking apart for a few seconds.

Another one of the robotic tentacles raised its claws threateningly, repeatedly snapping them open and closed. Bending his wrist, he aimed the webbing, shooting it all over the thief’s goggles. She recoiled away from him in shock, dropping him in the process as she screamed. Her hands went to her face, and Peter took the opportunity to web her hands as well. The woman tried in vain to pull her hands apart as she looked through her goggles, only to barely see where she was going.

“Tell me, what do you need this stuff for?” Peter asked her.

She didn’t answer him, but her tentacles did. He could almost hear them hissing as all four raised themselves and faced him with open claws.

“Shit!” Peter shrieked as she was barely able to dodge them.

Taking his chance, he ran down the narrow hall and out of the chemical room and back into the main lab. He heard various bumps and crashes behind him until she burst through the windows, glass flying everywhere in the main lab. Taking a quick look around, he didn’t see the old man anywhere. However, he didn’t get another chance to think about him as he dodged another attack from the woman’s tentacles.

“I’m going to kill you!”

“Is there any chance you’re thinking of someone else?! I have no idea who you are!”

Sadly, this only seemed to piss her off more, and her tentacles shot towards him like a bullet. Peter’s eyes widened as he looked for something that could help him in the last second and a half before he was shish kabobed. Just as the tentacle was going to strike again, the woman was blasted back by a blinding blue light. She was knocked back, crashing back into the broken windows behind her.

“I thought I told you not to fight until I got here!”

Shock and excitement overtook Peter as he turned around to see the one and only Tony Stark. Or, at least he hoped it was. Sometimes he was inside the suit, sometimes he wasn’t.

“Mr. Stark! I’m glad you’re here!” Peter shouted.

“Save it for later, fight club ,” Tony snapped as he landed next to Peter, his mask lifting to reveal his stern and angry face.

“I didn’t start it, she did!” Peter said, pointing towards the crazed woman who was climbing her way out of the room she was thrown back into.

Tony’s mask closed back up. “Are you kidding me? I just redid this room! This is why I can’t have nice things,” he quipped, throwing his arms out dramatically.

“I thought you didn’t like pop culture references?” Peter asked.

“Mmm? Oh no, it’s just when someone else does it. I make it cool enough to work, though,” Tony told him. They were cut off as the woman climbed through the windows.

“I didn’t think you’d show up,” the woman spoke, her metal limbs thrashing, seeming to share their master’s anger.

“Hey! Listen here, Octopus Arms, we don’t build stuff for people to steal! I’m going to ask that you get the hell off my property!” Tony told her.

“And if I don’t?” she asked.

Tony raised his hand blasters as they came to life, their bright light warning the woman that he wasn’t playing around, that he meant business. Peter glanced at him, taking his lead and raising his web shooters to aim at her. The woman scoffed at him, shaking her head as if she found the action amusing.

“The only reason you can build what I need in the first place is because you get paid to clean up your own mess, while the rest of us scavenge for the leftovers,” she told him as she walked along the walls, Tony and Peter’s weapons following her every step. She stumbled a few times due to the web covering her goggles, but her tentacles were always there to help her. “And you ,” she growled as she pointed at Peter. “ You are the reason I’m like this, and I’m not going to stop until you’re dead !” she said, leaning back on a wall a few feet away from a giant machine.

“Hey!” Tony screamed, his blasters growing brighter with each passing second. “He did nothing wrong! Hate to break it to ya, but pinning the blame on someone else is pretty pathetic, don’t you think?” Tony told her.

“Not when it’s the truth. Because sometimes, it really is someone else’s fault,” the woman said. “Sometimes, you have no control over other people's actions, and they don’t care enough to think through all the consequences,” she added, her goggles facing Peter straight on.

Peter swallowed the spit in his mouth as he tried his best to glare at her as intimidatingly as he could.

How does Mr. Stark do this so well all the time , he wondered.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be all your fault when we throw you in jail,” Tony said.

“Yeah, as fun as that sounds...” she said, the mouth of a tentacle closing to make a cone shape as it pointed towards the machine. “I have a previous arrangement to go to,” she told them.

Tony looked at the tentacles, then the machine, then the explosive warning sign, and his eyes widened.

“ Get down !” he shouted, pulling Peter away from the masked woman and down onto the ground.

BOOM !

The lab was filled with fire and smoke as alarms blazed on and off, water spraying everywhere from the ceiling. A high-pitched sound rang loudly in their ears. Peter’s muscles stung as he lifted himself off of the ground to stand up, his back feeling as though it was older than the rest of his body.

I guess those wall-breaking moments are finally setting in , he thought.

“Mr. Stark?” Peter called.

“Uuuugh… Still alive,” the billionaire sounded off as he rolled over on the ground so that he faced upward.

“Friday, care to report?”

“The thief seems to have escaped, boss,”

“Oh, great- Fantastic ,”

Peter sat down next to him as the water slid down his suit, silently thanking Mr. Stark for making it water resistant. “They got away…” he said.

“No, really? I didn’t notice,” Tony said in a dramatically sarcastic voice, his mask lifting so he could glare at the boy sitting next to him.

Silence stood between them as the alarms continued to blare, soon accompanied by police sirens that finally arrived on the scene.

“Do you think she’ll be back?” Peter asked.

Tony sighed bitterly, looking around at the wrecked lab as sirens began to reach them. “Knowing our luck, kid, little miss “Doc Oc” will be back a lot sooner than we want,” Tony told him.

Chapter Text

Tony frantically rushed through waiters and waitresses, adding last-minute touches to the decor of the fancy venue he had rented. All of the exterior walls were made of windows that overlooked the busy streets of New York City below them. A medium-sized stage was set up so that the lights of the building with a dance floor in front of it. Beyond that, tables were strategically placed so that everyone had a place to sit while still having room to put out their chairs, with a bar area next to it against the wall. The food was placed along the wall and out of the way of all the hustle and bustle that was going to come. Themed balloons, streamers, and cloth banners highlighted the venue. The room was decorated in light hues of white, purple, and orange, adding a festive feel to the large room.

“Hey, we’re missing a dish on the dessert table!” Tony exclaimed as he looked over the catering. A waitress nodded her head, rushing over to her boss to fulfill Tony’s demand.

“Out of all the things to be serious about, you’re serious about parties?”

The raven haired man turned around to face Pepper, who had a smirk on her face as she looked at him. Tony dramatically gasped, slapping both of his hands over his heart as his mouth dropped open.

“A party?” he asked, looking at her with a “serious” gaze. “Pepper, my love… the stars to my moon, the bullet to my gun, THE YEE TO MY HAW,” he exclaimed, gaining the attention of a few waiters.

“ Oh my god ,” Pepper muttered to herself, avoiding eye contact with the man she was doomed to spend the rest of her life with.

“Pep, this is not a party, this is a celebration. Those are two very different things,” Tony told her.

“What’s the difference?” she asked.

Tony looked at her, allowing her to see the gears in his head clicking and turning. His hands lowered and shoved themselves in his pockets, and his eyebrows knitted together as he pondered his wording.

“Well… A party is more of a fun get-together. An excuse to see people or get drunk, and not pay for food. This, however, is a celebration. There is an important, concrete reason for an event, and we are celebrating our future marriage, and it is not, to me, a simple party,” Tony told her.

It was always moments like this that seemed to slap Pepper across the face, reminding her that Tony actually could have a maturity level suiting his age. One minute he was saying how she was the yee to his haw, and telling her a wise speech about what a celebration really was the next.

“Well said, Tony. Now, let’s go get into our Bonnie and Clyde costumes. People will start arriving here pretty soon,” she said.

She wasn’t wrong. It seemed that as soon as they came back from changing into their costumes, guests started walking in, one right after the other. So far, none of them were dressed up in a costume, except for an old man in sunglasses who wore an astronaut suit, calling him “Tony Stank” before walking off to the food table.

“Who invited him?” Tony whispered in Pepper’s ear, his customer-service smile hiding his confusion and curiosity.

“ Who invited him ? I thought he was on your side of the family,” she whispered back with a matching smile of her own.

Time went on, and more guests filed in. A few wore costumes, mostly couples dressed in matching sets from various books and movies that Tony pretended to know or enjoy. Finally, after an hour of walking and making sure people were enjoying themselves, Tony nearly cried tears of joy at the sight of Happy strolling through the doors. He was quick to excuse himself, allowing him to talk to Happy over by the glass wall.

“Oh my god, don’t ever leave me again!” Tony told his friend.

“I wish I could, Tony, wish I could,” Happy said.

Happy was wearing his usual suit, much to Tony’s disappointment. However, to match the theme, Happy had an orange dress shirt with a purple tie, and a small pumpkin pin stood out from his black jacket on his breast pocket. Seeing that he at least made an effort, Tony decided not to comment on it.

“I’m almost ready to crack open a bottle,” Tony said, leaning against the metal pillar of the wall he stood next to.

“ No , you can’t get drunk! A- It’s too early. At the very least, wait until after sundown. B- The kid and his friend are coming, and you don’t want Peter to see his role model plastered-”

“I’m his role model?”

“ Who else would it be ?”

Sometimes, Happy found himself unable to NOT roll his eyes at Tony. Like how Tony didn’t realize that Peter looked at him the same way a six year old girl looks at a unicorn on her birthday dressed in a princess costume. Sometimes, Happy just wanted to smack him over his head. This was one of those times for both cases.

“And C- I won’t be there to drag your drunk ass to the car, and Pepper won’t have it. Hell, she’s the only one with the guts to leave you here,” Happy explained, folding his arms across his chest.

Tony pursed his lips, looking away, knowing Happy was right. Tony would never admit it, he wasn’t even sure Pepper knew, but he was never the best at holding his liquor. It’s part of the reason he used to be such a party animal.

“Fine. Speaking of Pepper, did you see her when you walked in? She went to talk to some friends of hers, and I haven’t seen her since,” Tony told Happy, craning his neck to look over Happy’s shoulder, his brown eyes scanning the room for his lady love.

“Yeah, she’s over there,” Happy said, pointing off towards the tables. The strawberry blonde haired woman let out a joyous laugh, throwing her head back as she talked to two other women at a table. Tony smiled and nodded, turning away from Happy to look at the guests who continued to arrive.

“As much as I would love to stay here and talk to you all night, I have more guests to greet and talk to,” Tony told Happy.

“Alright. See ya later,” Happy said.

“Yeah, you too,” Tony replied.

With those parting words, the two men parted ways to enjoy the party. As Happy hung out near the food bar, Tony razzle-dazzled the guests, graciously receiving compliments on the decor and even more congratulations on his and Pepper’s engagement. After a while, he and Pepper met up at the bar, the mixologist making their favorite drinks (without actual measuring, much to Tony’s pleasure). Time went by, and soon it was nearly seven-thirty when the happy couple saw the most awaited guests of the night.

“Hi, Mr. Stark! The party looks nice,” Peter praised as he walked in, a bright smile on his face.

“Yeah! This place looks awesome!” Ned said next to him, his head following his eyes as it turned to fully get a good look at the room. Aunt May walked up to them, her heels clicking softly against the floor.

 Peter was sharply dressed in black pants, a vest, and shoes, with a white dress shirt. The shirt had a single undid button that allowed the pair of sunglasses he had bought from the store to hang. Ned and May were right next to him, each wearing their costumes. May wore a shoulderless tea-length silver dress with jewelry and heels to match. Her mask was white, a crystallized cover that shone and glistened in the warm light of the room when she made even the slightest movement, her clutch purse matching it. And finally, Ned. The dark haired boy was dressed in a black suit with a black cape, army boots, and a bat-themed mask. On his chest was a black and yellow bat emblem. Around his waist was a yellow utility belt with small bags that held his phone and cash.

“Thanks, I’m glad that you all could make it in the right dress code,” Tony said, causing them to chuckle.

“Yeah. I thought more people would’ve dressed up,” May said, looking around at the clothes that people wore. “Well, except for that one astronaut. He looks familiar, though,” May stated, her brown eyes following an elderly man’s movement as he walked through the room.

I could’ve sworn I’d seen him from somewhere… Wait, is that our mailman? , she wondered.

Peter’s eyes followed her line of sight, his eyes widening once he looked at the astronaut’s face. As Peter looked at him, the elder’s voice rang in his ears, an echo of a distant memory…

“Don’t make me come down there, you punk!”

Peter nervously laughed it off, taking his sunglasses from his shirt and holding them in his hand as he swung them behind him before clapping them in front of him.

“Oh, I don’t think we know him, Aunt May…”

“Are you sure? I could’ve sworn-”

“Mr. Stark! Want to see my costume?”

Tony’s attention shifted to the excited teen in front of him, nodding his head. Peter smiled at his confirmation, his hands fumbling to unfold the sunglasses as he babbled on about how the three of them had gone shopping before the two of them fought Doc Oc together. It took a few seconds with Peter explaining his quick story with the verbal speed of an auctioneer at a farmer’s market, placing the sunglasses over his eyes.

“-But anyhoo, I finally managed to create... this!”

Pressing his hand against his chest, Tony’s eyes softened as he watched a glowing blue circle appear under Peter’s shirt, the costume amulet blinking in a fading manner, and it clicked , looking at the fancy clothes, sunglasses, and the blue light.

My god, he dressed up as his favorite superhero , he thought, feeling his heart fold upon itself.

“What do you think? I think I look pretty good,” Peter added.

Pepper gasped, eyes wide, before grabbing Tony’s shoulder and shaking him, a wide smile on her face, and her eyes shining with amusement.

“Oh my god! He looked just like you when you were younger!” she exclaimed passionately.

“What?!”

“Really!”

“When I was younger ?!”

Tony laughed breathlessly. “Haha, ha- No. No, he doesn’t. I mean, look at him,” Tony sputtered out, going next to stand next to Peter in a desperate attempt to prove his fiancée wrong. However, standing next to Peter as he was dressed up in a vest and sunglasses, smiling exactly like each other… 

He was failing miserably .

And now, May and Ned joined Pepper’s side, their smiles accompanying her own.

“This is so cute!” May cried, her hand covering her heart.

“Cute?”

Tony and Peter turned towards each other, surprised when their voices synced perfectly, not helping Tony’s dilemma.

Ned smirked at his friend. “Yeah, cute,” he said in a snarky tone.

“Watch it, man-in-the-chair,” Peter warned, glaring at Ned from behind his sunglasses.

“Ned, join Peter! I want a picture,” May insisted, ushering over the black clad teen next to her nephew. She dug through her clutch purse, pulling out her phone.

“Say cheese!” she exclaimed, a smile on her face. Tony, Peter, and Ned all smiled for her and even wrapped their arms around each other. A flash of light came and went, and she looked down at her phone, and a small smile spread onto her face.

“Can I see?” Pepper asked.

“Oh, of course! I love your costume, by the way. I can see you as a bonnie character when push comes to shove,” May replied.

“Thanks, no one has been able to guess it yet,” Pepper said. May tapped on the picture she took before handing her phone to Pepper. The strawberry blonde woman grinned, looking up at Tony before turning back to May and handing her phone.

“I like this picture. You’ll have to send it to me,” she told her.

“Awesome, I will,” May said.

“Alright, boys, go have fun. There’s a buffet of food, pop is over by the bar- No ordering anything you shouldn’t- and the dance floor right there. Knock yourselves out,” Tony said, ruffling Peter’s chocolate locks.

“Alright. Come on!” Peter called, and Ned followed him as they both headed towards the food tables.

“Man, everything smells so good,” Ned told his friend.

Both of their eyes glazed over as their noses caught a whiff of all the delicious foods that lay before them. They drooled as the smell of perfectly cooked meat and fish dissipated through the air. On another table was warm bread and pasta, the sight of spaghetti and garlic bread tempting, but it was the dessert table that made their stomachs growl. The mere thought of eating a single bite off of all the mini cakes and ice cream it had to offer.

“Which one do we start with?”

“Why start with just one?”

“Good point. I get this side, you get that side. Then, we meet up and share,”

Peter and Ned wasted no time on grabbing plates. They piled food on high, determined to try at least a little bit of everything. After grabbing everything they wanted, along with silverware, they found a table to sit down at where they wouldn’t be bothered. 

“I’ll get a pop from the bar. What do you want?” Peter asked Ned.

“Pepsi,” Ned told him.

“Alright. Keep watch and don’t take any of my food!” Peter scolded as he walked away, seeing Ned eyeing his plate out of the corner of his eye.

I swear, Ned, I will web you to the side of a building , he thought to himself.

The bar was busy, with adults sitting in the chairs and standing around the counter as the mixologist made drinks with precise speed and accuracy. Peter watched as he handed a swaying woman a drink, who clumsily walked off into the crowd. The mixologist turned towards Peter, eyeing him.

“You look a little young there. Can I see some ID?” he asked Peter.

The brown haired boy’s brown hues widened, and he shook his head and waved his hands frantically.

“N-no, you got the wrong idea! I was told that you have pop?” Peter said questioningly, lifting a brow.

“Yes, we do. What do you want?” he asked.

“Uhh, a Coke and a Pepsi, please?” Peter asked.

The man nodded, leaning down under the bar before standing back up, placing two cans of ice-cold pop on the counter, sliding them towards the boy.

“There you go,” he said before turning over to his next customer.

Peter smiled, turning around to walk back to his table, but before he could even make a full step, he collided head-on with another person, sending both of them falling flat on their butts as the pop he was carrying was splashed onto the other person. They groaned as they stood up, and Peter looked down at the person he had run into. It was a girl in a waitress uniform with (h/c) colored hair and (s/c) skin. Peter looked at her, thinking she didn’t look that much older than him. She looked like she was nearly the same age. Though there was something about her as he nervously looked in her (e/c) eyes… he saw something… bad . Like, really bad. It made his Peter Tingle go into overload. Every hair on his body stood straight up faster than Peter ever felt… and he just pissed her off.

“What the fucking hell ?” she mumbled as she stood up, brushing herself off.

Peter stared at her with panic in his eyes, mouth opening and closing with no words coming out of it. “I am so sorry!” he finally said when he found his voice, moving to help her up, the cups of pop forgotten.

“No- It’s fine . Please, stop ,” she grumbled, looking down at her soaked uniform before moving away from him.

“Again, I’m really, really sorry,” he told her.

“Sir, I said it’s fine. I’m sorry I bumped into you. I’ll have the bar make you another order and get this mess cleaned up. Goodbye, and enjoy the party,” she said before turning away and walking into the crowd.

Peter let out a nervous breath he didn’t even know he was holding in. Collecting himself, he made his way towards his and Ned’s table, sitting down in his chair.

“Look at you, Casanova,” Ned said in a suave tone with a smirk on his face.

“What?” Peter asked, confusion clear on his face.

Ned rolled his eyes, all suaveness gone from his aura. “The girl, duh ,” he said.

“What about her?” Peter questioned, taking his fork and taking a piece of his food, and shoving it in his mouth.

“Dude, you just talked to a girl! She looked our age, so it wouldn’t have been weird. Well, if you cut out the spilled pop, cause that’s just a mood killer,” Ned told him.

“No, nononono. I was getting out of that one way or another. You weren’t there… She was bad news. I felt it,” Peter explained, leaning back in his chair, looking at Ned.

“Bad news… Like, she’s “two bits crazy” bad or she’s “doing something shady” bad?” Ned asked his friend, his spoon of fruity jello stopping in mid-air.

“I… don’t know,” Peter said.

The conversation ended in comfortable silence, and the two of them ate the rest of their food, going back for seconds when they decided on their favorites. Peter insisted on telling Tony that the catering service was well chosen, and both he and Pepper were happy to hear it. Ned and Peter passed the time by walking around and seeing what famous people were there and photobombing as many pictures as they could. After they got bored with that, they decided to go hit the dance floor, where he saw his Aunt May and Happy dancing to Hot In Herre. However, he quickly regretted it.

It was something Peter defined as “something I can never unsee”... 

After (somehow) getting over the shock and embarrassment, Ned and Peter joined the crowd and danced a few songs. And after challenging Tony to a dance-off, things really did get hot in there when Tony ripped his shirt open for a dramatic flair, exposing his chest. Pepper couldn’t decide whether she was pissed or aroused. After much more thought than should have been needed, she decided both and dragged him off the floor before he could do anything else.

“I can’t believe you!” Pepper scolded as they stood at the bar, waiting for their drinks. Tony sat to her right, a smile on his face as he buttoned up his shirt, fixing his costume.

“I know, I’m not even tipsy!” he said, doing a final brushing off.

“Could’ve fooled me! I bet everyone thinks you’re fucking plastered,” Pepper told him as the bartender placed their drinks in front of them. “Oh, thank you,” she said, tipping him generously.

“Anything for the lucky couple,” he said, turning back to the other customers.

“Pepper, come on. I was having fun with the kid. You can’t be mad at me for that, can you?” he asked her, a smile on her face.

The strawberry blonde woman sighed, and she felt the ends of her lips twitch. No, you are not letting him win , she thought.

“It's too late, I already saw you smiling,” Tony said in a sing-song voice, smirking as he took a smug sip of his drink.

“Fuck you, Tony,” Pepper said, letting herself smile against her best 

efforts, trying to hide it behind her hair.

“Mmm, maybe later tonight,” he said, downing the rest of his drink, taking note of the faint blush that dusted his fiancée’s entire face. “But! I need to make the thank you speech, because I lost to a Rock, Paper, Scissors game,” Tony said.

Pepper laughed as she saw him walk away, twisting her body to look in the direction he wandered off in. “Oh, come on! Don’t be a sore loser!” she exclaimed.

Tony smiled as he heard her voice, his eyes landing on a waiter. “Hey,” Tony said, walking up to him and patting him on the shoulder. “Let’s start passing around the wine, except for the minors! They get sparkling grape juice, got it?” he asked.

The waiter nodded his head. “Right away, Mr. Stark. Would you like one first?” he asked.

“Yes, please,” Tony replied.

In a matter of minutes, Tony walked onto the stage, a tall and slim glass of sparkling grape juice in his hand. The raven haired man tapped his glass, and the music came to a halt and everyone’s attention went to him as a spotlight illuminated his presence on the stage.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Across the street, a stranger was perched on top of a building, watching his every movement. They were shrouded in the shadows, their black suit merging them perfectly so that they were unseen by any human eyes. A sniper rifle in their hands, they watched as Stark stood up on stage, noting the nervous way they shifted the weight from side to side, and the small bead of sweat that they could make out from their scope, aiming for their heart.

“There we go… right where I need you…” they whispered to themselves.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

“Hello, everyone. You know, first off, I want to thank you all for making time to be here. Even though most of us are too old to stay up till midnight partying,” Tony said, earning a few chuckles from the crowd. “Thank you, thank you. I try,” he said.

“So, I’m going to be honest with you all, I don’t have a real speech put together. I mean, I lost to my fiancé in a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. She won that with her mind games,” he told the crowd. “And then I tried- I honestly, truly did, try to write an actual speech, but everything I wrote down sounded stupid, and I’m not that great at planning ahead,” he added, taking a few steps towards the other end of the platform.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

“Stay still…” the figure cursed as Tony moved just as they put pressure on the trigger, ruining a clear shot, along with timing.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

“-but, I am great at doing things in the moment. So, I figured this would not only be better, but also more genuine. Anyone can write stuff down and repeat it, but I feel like announcing words that are purely from what you feel are more meaningful. You’re so busy staying stuck with what you already know, you don’t have time to add in any filler,” he said.

He lifted his head, eyes moving from his glass to meet Pepper’s own. And in that split second, he knew everything he wanted to say as if she brought all the answers into his mind. He watched as she motioned for him to breathe in and out, gesturing to the room of people, a smile on her face. It wasn’t smug, excited, or in a way that she would observe him. He could see the love through it.

“Love is freaking hard. Like, really, really, hard. In my twenties, I tried to find it, but failed miserably. I came close a couple of times, but it didn’t work out. So I spent the rest of the time being a party animal, and you all know that. So, I continued, built Stark Laboratories, and I ended up hiring the very same woman who is the reason we’re here today,” he said, moving to the other end of the stage again.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

“NO. STAY,” the stranger hissed as he moved again.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

“-I did think about going on a date, but I figured it’d end badly, and stayed away from that kind of relationship. She was my friend, and I felt thankful enough for that… but then the whole Iron Man adventure came around, and I realized that I needed to stop being so scared… I took a chance, and it was the best thing that I ever did,” he said.

The room was silent as waiters and waitresses passed around glasses, just as enthralled in Tony’s speech as the people they were serving.

“Pepper, I mean it when I say I am the man I am today because of you,” he said, looking up and staring into her eyes across the room. For a split second, it was just the two of them in the room. “You managed to take a… whatever kind of mess I was and turned me into something better. God, Pepper, I’m someone I can be proud of thanks to you. You picked me back up when I was down, dragged my ass out of bed when I thought it was too early, and you showed me just what kind of grit it takes to keep the best things together. The two people I want to be here the most may not be with us, but you are all the family I need, and if that family grows, I hope they’re just like you. There could be three thousand me’s, but the world would become better with just one more you,” Tony said, raising his cup in the air.

The room followed his example, raising their cups as high as their arms could let them.

“Cheers,” Tony said.

A loud gunshot was heard, blasting Tony’s glass into a thousand pieces, and the guests screamed as everything started to spiral into hell.

Chapter Text

I missed , (y/n) thought, causing her heart to flip over and over again.

“Shit,” she muttered, looking down from scope. Her (e/c) eyes looked through the windows, watching as people started to run amok in a panicked haze. She could hear the screaming and the honking of car horns as people quickly poured out of the doors on the ground floor. She narrowed her eyes as she began to search through her scope again. On the stage, Stark was nowhere to be found. She turned her scope to the ground.

Come on, you can’t be dumb enough to stay in there , she thought, watching the streets for her targets.

Finally, she watched as Anthony Stark and Virginia Potts staggered out of the venue, their hands intertwined as they looked around at the chaos that ensued around them.

“So my job is to kill Virginia Potts?” (y/n) asked as she picked up a file that was thrown her way from the Sergeant, who stood at the end of the table opposite her. They were in the higher-ups’ mission control room again, though under different circumstances. Ms. Elor was gone, having left the second the girl was there, now that her task was completed. (Y/n) looked at her superior, who shook his head.

“Not quite. That would be too easy. You’re not just killing her. Open it,” he ordered, gesturing to the file.

Flipping it open, she saw not only a picture of Ms. Potts but a man whom she knew well from her time in HYDRA.

“Anthony Stark,” she said.

“Out of the two of them, he’s the priority. Killing him while everything is hell is our best chance. He’s lost the Avengers, the Vision guy is always away, his best friend is paralyzed, and his only real ally is some amateur bugboy. He’s vulnerable , as is Ms. Potts,” Sergeant told her. (Y/n) looked away from him and back at the picture.

“I see. Not only are we killing one of our biggest enemies, but we’re also killing the woman who would inherit everything he has. The company will be in chaos, and we can take it,” she thought aloud.

“Precisely, and our guest can be given another shot at stealing his tech, seeing as she failed last time,” he grumbled, sitting down and pulling a cigar and a lighter from the inside of his uniform. He lit the end of the cigar, taking a drag from it.

“Why let her go in the first place? She’s new, and took a job she knew she couldn’t handle. On top of that, she ignored her objective for a slice of revenge. She was petty and emotional,” she said bluntly.

“Yeah, well, not everyone can be a model student like you, so shut the fuck up and get going within the next two hours,” he said as he walked away.

(Y/n) took a deep breath. She had to focus. With a history like hers, a failure of this magnitude could cost her her life when she returned to base. Her record was unbroken, and she wasn’t going to start now. Her eyes lowered to the streets, looking for Stark and Potts, expecting to find them together.

Stark won’t leave the building without her, and he won’t stand down from a fight. He’ll come up here and give me an opening eventually , she thought.

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“Tony, what happened!” Pepper yelled, her voice barely breaking through the screams and cars around them. Her heart was racing as she breathed heavily, her eyes darting from one thing to the next.

Tony watched as she began to panic, and he let go of her hand, grabbing onto her shoulders to make her focus on him, locking eyes. “Hey, we’ll be ok, but for now, we need to get our heads together and take care of this. Ok?” he said slowly, his calm voice blurring out everything else that was going on around them.

Pepper looked at him before nodding her head, taking a deep breath to soothe her nerves. She looked around, the sounds and sights of her surroundings coming back to her. 

“Alright,” she said. “Ok… We need to call the police and an ambulance in case people got hurt. Get your suit and call Peter. I’ll call Happy. No doubt he’s with May. I’ll see you later,” she said. Tony nodded his head, turning away to walk off until Pepper grabbed his hand and turned him back as she placed a quick kiss on his lips before walking off as if nothing had happened.

“Tease,” he smirked as he watched her walk into the crowd, and followed her example. Tony drew his wrist up, pushing his sleeve back to reveal a high-tech wristwatch. Pulling it up to his mouth, Tony spoke into it.

“Friday!”

“Yes, Boss?”

“Call the kid,”

“On it,”

He listened as his wristwatch went silent, and the faint sound of dialing could be heard over the loud noise of panic around him. Then, after a few seconds, he heard the young voice of Peter.

“M-Mr. Stark?!”

“Kid! Are you ok?”

“Yeah, me and Ned are with Aunt May and Happy!”

“Do you have your suit with you?”

“Yeah!”

“Good. Put it on and meet me on top of the building. We’re catching this son of a bitch right now,”

He didn’t give the teen a chance to say anything more and hung up.

“Friday, send a suit,”

Meanwhile, Peter looked down at his phone, the red screen telling him that Mr. Stark had hung up on him.

Well, it’s not like he gave me a choice , he thought.

 He lifted his head, looking at Ned, Aunt May, and Happy, who was on the phone, talking as loudly as he could to be heard over the noise. Aunt May met his eyes, recognizing the glint in them. Her mouth dropped, marching her way directly in front of him, her presence ominous and foreboding, a force of nature.

“Oh, no. No ,” she said.

“N-no, what?” Peter stuttered, his eyes unable to look away from her intense glare.

“Don’t play coy with me, young man. We are in a crisis! You are not gallivanting off to play superhero, now , of all times!” she told him.

Peter nervously swallowed and avoided her eyes, quickly putting his phone and his sunglasses in her hands as an act of sorry defiance. A mix of anger and worry flooded her as she looked down at the items, trying to get her voice together.

“What- No- Peter!” she exclaimed.

Her plea caused Peter to look in her eyes, his brows knitted upward in a pleading look. He knew she was scared to let him go, like she was every time. And it pulled at his heart, just like it did every time as well.

“Aunt May, I know you’re really worried, but I can handle myself. People are really scared right now, it’s the perfect time for them to see Iron Man and Spider-Man so that they know everything will be ok. I have to leave, but I want to do it without you being angry about it,” he told her.

Aunt May stared at him, people running past their little group, and she faintly heard Happy yelling again. As much as she wished he wasn’t, he was right. If there was any situation where seeing a hero would help, it was this one. He was also right about his second point. She needed to start having faith in him. He wasn’t stupid, and he didn’t have a death wish. She raised him to be smart, to think things through, and to be kind.

“Go,” was all she said to him, a stern look on her face.

“Thank you, Aunt May,” Peter said, smiling as he slowly pulled away.

In the mass chaos, it was easy for him to weave through the crowd and go unnoticed into the dark alleyway next to the building. Hidden behind a dumpster, he peeled his costume off, revealing the iconic Spider-Man suit underneath. Pulling his mask over his head, Peter began to scale the walls. The higher he climbed, the more everything seemed to fade. The sounds from below echoed, like yelling into a well and hearing your voice come back to you. As he reached the top, he could feel how cold the late October air was, and he shivered at the feeling of it through his suit. Once he reached the rooftop, there, looking over the edge, in all his red and gold glory, was Mr. Stark.

The metal suited man was looking over the scene below until he heard heavy panting and turned his head to face Peter. “That was quick. Had your suit on you?” Tony asked.

“Yeah, under my costume. I wanted to be prepared. Though I wasn’t expecting to be looking for a shooter,” Peter told him.

“Yeah, me neither, kid. Ok, you check the south end while I go-”

A gunshot went off as a bullet ricocheted off Tony’s helmet, making his head knock back as if he had been punched before he crashed to the ground. The eyes of Peter’s mask widened as he cried out, running over to the still suit. Is heart raced as he looked over Mr. Stark, his eyes glued to the black spot on his mask’s forehead. Just as he was about to cry out his name, Mr. Stark groaned, instantly calming Peter down a bit.

“I-I think we found them!” Peter exclaimed.

“You think ?!” Tony yelled, quickly getting up. Despite the bright full moon above them, he couldn’t see anything. “Friday, thermoscan,” Tony commanded. His screen exploded with heat signatures, highlighting any warmth from anything alive. He looked down, a mess of red, orange, and yellow blobs moving to get away from the most frequent gunshot. He brought his vision back up to look across the street, seeing a flash of red running across the roof of the building across from him before disappearing just as quickly as he saw it.

“I saw-”

“Yeah, me too!”

With no hesitation, Peter shot a web before jumping off and pulling himself towards the opposite roof.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Well, you sure did fuck up , (y/n) thought as she jumped onto another building.

She was already a good five buildings away, but she needed to be faster. With the full moon on full display directly above the city, it left little to no shadows big enough to hide or travel in, further screwing her over. She needed to get out of there if she wanted to try and save her disaster of a mission. Her heart flipped at the memory of her target stumbling back from her perfect shot, her thoughts spinning around inside her head. She didn’t get it. She had the perfect vantage point. There was no wind to interfere with her aim. He didn’t see her beforehand. She had shot him right in the head. She made sure to use a rifle that could chamber bullets powerful enough to shoot through metal. Was that where her mistake lay? Were they still not powerful enough?

No, I used the strongest bullets I have, no metal on earth can stop it except for- , she thought, seemed to freeze as the realization hit her, apparently, harder than her bullet to her target’s forehead. Vibranium , she thought bitterly.

She had read reports on how Mr. Stark was working with the country of Wakanda. He must have managed to get a small amount of their metal. As she landed on a building, she paused to take a look back at her. Her eyes picked up a flash of red and blue hot on her tail, causing her to pick up speed. Then and there, she swore that the next time she saw the Sergeant, she’d chew him out for not giving her the standard time in between missions, punishments be damned. She had been given less than eight hours to review her files, plan where she was going to stay, learn about the surrounding area, research all parties involved, figure out how to sneak into the party, plan how to assassinate Stark and Potts, and develop an exit strategy. Everything was going downhill, and it all could’ve been avoided if she had been allowed the proper amount of time to plan everything instead of rushing the process because they were worried about “missing their chance”.

If they weren’t so desperate and impatient, I could’ve done what they wanted , she thought.

Behind her, (y/n) heard the sound of someone running. Taking a glance back, she could see the red and blue clad “bugboy” catching up to her. He was faster than she expected. She’d have to fight him head-on. She wasn’t worried. If there was anything she was prepared for on this shitshow of a mission, it was a fight. In a flash of light, a handgun appeared in her hand, and she stopped in her tracks, pointing it at the hero.

“Stop before I shoot!” she yelled. Her eyes followed him as he landed on the opposite edge of the roof.

“Woah! W-we don’t need to bring a gun into this,” he said, holding his hands up, slowly walking towards her.

Her eyes widened at the sound of his voice, instantly recognizing it.

It’s the boy from the party , she thought.

Now she was being chased by a hero who knew her face. She narrowed her eyes at him, taking a step back and using her gun to conceal her face as much as possible. If he recognized her now, she couldn’t run the risk of being tracked.

“No, I think we do,” she said, pulling the trigger.

Spider-Man dodged the bullet, flattening himself against the roof as the bullet shot through the air. She pulled another shot, once again missing him as he quickly moved out of the way. Glaring at him, (y/n) exchanged her gun for a double-ended spear and ran at him, the bright moonlight reflecting off its metal surface. She watched as he quickly stood up, backing up near the edge of the building.

"Please don't. I-I really don't like to hit girls, " he told her.

"Too bad, I do," she said, lunging at him. She held her spear firmly in both hands as she jabbed it at his heart.

(Y/n)'s spear just barely missed him as he flipped back, his hands and feet allowing him to stick to the side of the building. Her foot pressed against the roof's edge, stopping her from following him. They made eye contact, and he nervously laughed as he stared down at him. A golden ax appeared in her hand, and she swiftly lifted it above her head and swung it down. Her opponent was just barely able to dodge it by rolling across the brick.

"Holy shit!" he exclaimed, watching as she pulled it from the crack she created when the blade embedded in the building.

There was another flash above him, and he heard the crack of a whip before he felt it wrap and tighten around his wrist. All of a sudden, he was yanked from the building and slammed against the concrete rooftop. He groaned as he felt that something loosen before flashing away. (Y/n) watched as he stood up, a sword flashing into her hand, pointed straight at him.

"Fight me upfront, coward," she said.

He was out of there like the ghosts of the damned sought his soul.

"KAREN HELP ME, "

… Karen? , she thought, taking off after him.

She sighed, running across the roof before jumping after him. She chased him from building to building, not once slowing down. Eventually, they came to a stop, and she sped up, knowing what he was planning. The second she jumped, she could lose him. She was in his territory, his city. She was already at a disadvantage of not fully knowing his capabilities, she didn’t need another one by being unable to track him.

Peter looked back at her one last time before facing the edge of the building. He could see the traffic lights at an intersection and hear the sound of a train running along its track. If he could land on that train, he could get her lost and lead her to an area where he had more of an advantage. As he came to the edge, a wide expanse of space was laid out before him. Sure enough, the train was making its way through tracks and into a tunnel that had enough room for him to stand on top of it. He jumped without a second thought and shot a web to the nearest building, pulling himself towards it. Letting go of his web, he glided with his side wings, landing smoothly on the train and securing himself by sticking his feet to the metal surface.

(Y/n)’s eyebrows furrowing together.

Fine.

She sprinted towards the clearing, her heart racing as she finally jumped off the building. Time slowed as she fell, the wind flying past her as she hurtled towards the streets below her. Suddenly, just as she fell halfway down, a bright light engulfed her body and began to morph into shapes. Pieces of armor formed, placing themselves on her body. Her black mission suit slowly shifted and changed, the fabric changing in texture and color.

Spider-Man watched as (y/n) landed on the train in a kneeled position as she used her hands to keep her steady. Cool grey and light muted purple fabric covered her body, the lightweight fabric whipping in the wind. They were held together with thin iron armor pieces that covered her chest, torso, shoulders, arms, shins, and feet. Each piece was shaped into a feather design, with intricate detail added to the touch, and on her back were two large silver wings that stood proudly as if they were between resting and flying.

The train finally raced into the tunnel, plunging the hero and villain into a dimly lit setting, with only the light from the inside of the train allowing them to see.

“That was the coolest costume change I’d EVER seen!” he praised, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

Her blank eyes stared him down as she took a battle stance. “Good, it’ll be your last,” (y/n) said flatly as two twin short swords appeared in her hands, matching the rest of her armor.

“What?!” he exclaimed before she surged forward, swords gleaming tight in her grip.

Peter was barely able to dodge the blade as it sliced past the eyes of his mask as she swung her sword through the air. His fist lashed out on instinct, striking her on the side of her torso, briefly knocking her off balance. Her feet stumbled over one another before catching herself quickly as she turned to face him. Seeing his opening, he lunged at her with a swinging fist. She dodged it with ease, swiftly kicking him. He yelled as she kicked his ribs, his vision blurred as the kick launched him towards the edge. On instinct, his feet stuck to the train as he swung his hands behind him, shooting two webs to the train's surface and pulling himself back as hard as he could. His back slammed against the metal surface of the train. His eyes had barely opened when he saw a sword coming for his head, making him roll over to avoid it. The girl’s swords pierced the metal, and they both heard the faint sounds of screams from the people below them. He watched as her eyes widened, a sudden realization hitting her as well as him.

There are people under us , (y/n) thought, lifting her head to face Spider-Man.

Narrowing her eyes at him, she summoned her handgun, aiming it towards their feet. He followed the line of sight of the gun in her arms, realizing what she was doing.

“Put the gun down!” he yelled, aiming his web blasters at her.

They stood in silence as they stared at one another. She had him, and he knew it.

No matter what, it’s in my favor. Whether I manage to shoot someone or not, it'll cause a panic at the very least , she thought.

“Back off,” she told him. Even with her eyes trained on her aim, she could sense the fearful conflict within him. “I said back off. Now,” she repeated.

He watched as she prepared to take fire. He knew she wasn’t faking it. He heard it in her voice. (Y/n) waited, knowing the outcome. The train exited the tunnel, and the moonlight illuminated the world around them. He sighed in defeat and lifted his hands, slowly taking three steps back. She lifted her arms, changing her aim as she began walking towards him. She crept closer until the barrel of the gun pressed up against the center of his chest. For a second, she thought she could see the beating of his heart.

“I don’t usually aim for the heart since it takes longer for someone to die, whereas a clean shot to the head is done and over with,” she explained, tightening her finger over the trigger. “But you’ve caused me enough trouble. I can make an exception for you,” she finished.

She watched as the eyes of his masks seemed to close, and how his adams apple bobbed as he swallowed.

“You’re sick, you know that,” he told her in a cracking voice, the emotion wavering between disgust and fear.

“I’ve heard worse,” she said as she pressed the gun further into him.

“KID!”

Peter watched, frozen, as a flash of blue light shot her, throwing her off the train. In her place landed Iron Man, his hand blasters dying down from their recent shot.

“You alright?!” Tony asked, his metal mask lifting so he could look over the teen in front of him. The bullet completely missed his body when he blasted the girl who was shot off the train, leaving the stunned hero unharmed.

Peter stood frozen in time, his mind forcing his entire being into a state of shock.

I almost died… , he thought as his hands began to shake.

True, he had been close to dying a few times, but he could always see a way out of it. This time, he stared death right in the face. The bullet would have ripped right through him, and he had no way of escaping it. But Mr. Stark had arrived...

“Peter! Answer me!” Tony yelled.

“Mr. Stark?” Peter mumbled in a dazed tone.

Tony let out the breath that had refused to leave his lungs, relief filling him and swallowing him whole. “Thank god,” he whispered, before glaring straight at him. “What the hell were you thinking?!” he screamed.

“What?” Peter asked, looking up at him, the eyes of his mask conveying his confusion. What was he thinking? WHAT WAS HE THINKING?! HE ALMOST GOT SHOT. THAT’S WHAT HE WAS THINKING.

“What do you mean?!” Peter asked.

“Why was there a gun pressed against you?!” Tony yelled.

“It was either me or them!” Peter yelled back, gesturing to the roof of the bus.

“That’s it, we’re done. I’m telling Aunt May,” Tony scoffed. Anger fumed off of him in waves, and all he could see was red as he walked towards the edge of the train, getting ready to take off. But before he could even look up, a silver short sword was thrown at his feet.

“Nice of you to join us, Iron Man,”

The two heroes looked up in alarm, Peter’s eyes widening as he looked up.

“Holy shit,” he said.

(Y/n) was flying in the air, the wings of her armor spread out on either side of her before they closed back along her back. She swiftly landed on the moving train, glaring at both of them. She had scratches all over her body and the metal pieces of her armor, and the light fabric was ripped along the edges.

“Who are you?” Tony asked, his mask once again lowering to cover his face.

The sword that was embedded into the metal of the train disappeared in a flash of light as a bo staff appeared in her grip. She took a sturdy fighting stance, planting her feet firmly on the metal.

“Your executioner,” she told him bluntly.

She dashed forward faster than they could process it, the wind seeming to work in her favor rather than against her. In one quick motion, her staff hit against them, shoving them off the side of the train as Iron Man had done earlier. The two heroes screamed as they fell, crashing harshly against the concrete. Small cracks formed underneath them from the sheer pressure of their fall. Pain erupted through their bones and muscles as if they wanted to let the whole body know that they had a crash landing.

“Friend of yours?” Tony groaned as he lay there.

“No, not exactly,” Peter told him.

“Such a shame, she seems so nice,” Tony said sarcastically.

The iron suited man pushed himself up, looking around him and taking in their surroundings. Large metal shipping crates were stacked on top of one another like wooden buildings that children stacked. The moonlight gleaming off the smooth surfaces allowed him to read the pairing of letters and numbers printed on the sides of the crates.

“Ugh, where are we?” Peter asked, following his role model’s lead and sitting up.

“Uhhh… Friday?”

“You are in a storage unit area on the east side, sir,”

Tony shot up, pulling Peter with him, straightening himself on his feet. His muscles felt like they were screaming at him, and his back was killing him. 

“Come on, we gotta make a plan, ” Tony said hastily, looking around for anything he could use.

“What?” Peter asked.

His question caused the iron suited man to freeze, looking back at him. Through the mask, Peter could feel the angry shock that he was feeling. Tony could not believe that this was his best option to fight with right now. How was he still alive at this point? The truth was, not even Peter himself knew the answer to that question.

“Wha- Ha- How have you not been killed in a fight yet?!” Tony exclaimed, dramatically throwing out his arms, but Peter only shrugged his shoulders, causing Tony to groan at the teen’s careless attitude. “Dear Lord, help us all…” he said under his breath.

Looking around at the storage area, the wheels in his head were turning as he tried to build a plan. It had to play to their new setting, and apply the skills that they both had. Their opponent was skilled in combat, and on top of that, she seemed to have powers. Not only that, she seemed confident she could beat them. Maybe too confident? But more than that, she was also alone . Pondering these facts, Tony and Peter's best chance would have to be teamwork, and somehow overwhelm her so she couldn't have time to think, or do a magical switcheroo on her weapons. They could try taking her by surprise somehow. Even if she was expecting it, it was still two against one…

Suddenly, Tony’s head snapped towards Peter, voice clear and confident. “Kid, I know what to do,”

Chapter Text

(Y/n) watched the two heroes collide into one another, causing them to fall off the side of the racing train. She only heard a faint series of screams and crashes before they faded into the distance.

It’s not over , she thought.

Turning towards the direction where her targets were, the metal wings on her back spread outward as she jumped up. The wind gave her a speed boost as she looked around for a spot nearby to land. She found a small clearing outside of a metal fence and lowered down, only letting herself fall the rest of the way when she could safely land on her feet. Looking past the fence, which had a suspiciously big hole ripped through, she saw metal crates stacked neatly in rows. Looking into the aisles between them, she could faintly see evidence of a crash. Long, clear scratches headed further into the aisle, past the towers of crates that blocked her sight, with small pebbles following the trail. Just to be sure, she looked behind her, seeing, a short ways away, a human-shaped dent in the dirt.

Well…

At least they made it easy for her.

Suddenly, a sharp pain hit her side, making her flinch. Taking a deep breath, (y/n) leaned against the metal fence. Her breaths were shaky as she allowed the pain to settle in her lungs and torso, and her hand gripped her side. She looked down at her midsection, seeing the pure black scorch marks in the iron of her armor where she had been shot. She cursed at herself, the pain from the pressure of her hand causing it to flinch away, and her heart flipped repeatedly. While her flight armor gave her an amazing advantage, it was horrible at protecting her against heavy attacks, like a superpowered energy blast. It was designed to be almost weightless, allowing her to fly with little resistance and breathe easier when she was higher up in the atmosphere with thinner air. The fabric was the same way, being thin and holding little weight to itself. While she was able to heal faster and better than most people, it wasn’t something that happened instantly. Luckily, it wasn’t bleeding badly, being more burned than anything. She could take care of it later. Right now, she has a mission to finish. Looking ahead, she found that she couldn’t see Stark or Spider-Man, but she knew they were there.

They probably set up a trap , she thought.

She changed into her black mission suit as a handgun flashed into her hand. As quietly as she could, she slipped through the metal wire of the broken fence, sticking to the shadows as she entered the area. Her eyes and ears were sharpened, becoming hyper-aware of her surroundings. She slunk against the crates, her foot skimming the line between light and shadow on the ground. Safely in a hiding spot, she looked out into the aisle, finding the craters and small cracks that had formed where Iron Man and Spider-Man had finally crash-landed. From her spot, she tried to find any sign of the two heroes, but she barely heard a whisper from the city beyond the fence.

I need to take a look , she said, the thought of moving into the dim light making her heart flip.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly came out from the darkness, her steps slow and tense, ready to change stances at a moment's notice as she walked up to get a better look. One was larger than the other, but they were no more than half an inch deep. More of a shallow imprint now that she could see it more clearly. The smaller one had more of a body imprint than the larger one, which looked like a tall rock had been dropped. There was no sign of blood from either of them, making her narrow her eyes. They were both alive, though, probably in a lot of pain..

Then they couldn’t have gone far, she thought.

Then, her whole body froze up as her ears strained as she heard the softest series of footsteps on top of a crate. Her reflexes kicked in, turning around and shooting in the direction of the sound. On top of the crate was Spider-Man, barely being able to dodge the bullet she shot at him. He screamed as he dropped down to the cold metal surface.

“Now!” he called out. In seconds, the ground behind her shook, and her eyes widened.

Fuck , she thought.

(Y/n) turned around just in time, ducking as a fist flew at her, her heart flipping. Her eyes followed it as the iron armored superhero surged forward, stopping himself before he could fully pass her. Twisting his body, he aimed another blow at her jaw. (Y/n) deflected it with ease, making sure to keep her injured side away from him as she raised her gun, aiming for his forehead.

From behind them, Peter watched as she raised her gun, his heart beating anxiously. “Hey!” he screamed, jumping down from his spot.

As he landed, he raised his wrists and aimed them towards the two sparring bodies. He watched their heads turn in his direction just as he launched the two strings of web at his enemy. The (h/c) haired girl caught sight of the silver strands coming at her, and instantly reacted by grabbing Mr. Stark and pulling him in front of her as a shield before the webs even reached her. The webbs connected with the back of Mr. Stark’s armor, and before he could even move to stop himself, she lifted her foot and kicked Mr. Stark in the stomach, hard . A loud “thump” reverberated from the force of it, and the iron clad man was sent flying towards Peter. Luckily, he was able to catch him with ease, though his arms and legs buckled at the sudden weight and shock. A flash of light caught their attention, and they saw a battle axe appear in her hands as she ran at them.

“Upupupupup!” Peter screamed at Iron Man, hitting his shoulder over and over again as his other hand gripped the opposite shoulder.

A pair of high-pitched screams echoed through the air as they barely escaped the battle axe, cutting through the air by flying upwards. Iron Man pushed his hands out in front of him on instinct, activating the flight mode. His hand blasters lit up to life, forcing them to fly back away from the battle axes' sharpened edge. The world flashed past them both in a blur until it stopped abruptly. Accompanied by a few quiet pops, a piercing pain exploded along Peter’s back, causing him to cry out as his back arched. They crashed to the ground in a heap, each man rolling off the other.

Even through his helmet, Tony had heard the sickening noise and instantly turned around. “Kid!” he yelled, sitting up and looking him over as his body tensed up.

Peter groaned as he lay on the ground, taking deep breaths to steady himself. The pain flared and died in waves as he tried to focus on the sound of his friend’s voice.

“I’m fine… I’m fine,” he said, allowing Tony to let the air out of his lungs, his shoulders dropping. “But next time-” the red and blue hero added. 

“-when I say up , I don’t mean your hands , I mean your WHOLEFREAKINGBODY ,”

“Oh, I’m sorry ! Next time, I’ll make sure to stop and think about the meaning behind your words as we’re about to be decapitated !”

“Now is not the time for this!”

“You started it, short stack!”

“Because I didn’t know I’d have to explain it!”

“WE WERE BEING ATTACKED-”

A familiar flash of light broke apart their bickering, heads turning to find the girl in front of them as she held a sword in her hand. The blade extended to just a little over half of her height, and the handle was wrapped in a mix of leather and cloth. It reflected the light and cast shadows as the medieval form of it captured the attention of the two, its magical and older world design adding to its grace and appeal. It was a knight's weapon, through and through.

“Move!” the iron armored man yelled as he shoved his partner over as she lunged at them.

However, neither of them was prepared as she summoned a whip in her other hand and cracked it towards Peter. In the time frame of a mere moment, Tony watched as the tail of the whip wrapped around Peter’s arm before he was pulled from his place on the ground. The teen didn’t even have the time to scream as his body was forcibly launched through the air, his form disappearing as he crashed down somewhere else in the storage unit. Tony’s heart dropped as his eyes followed him, but he wasn’t given time to even react before the whip disappeared and the girl swung her sword down at his head.

“Shield!” Tony cried, holding his hands up.

The grooves and cracks in his forearm glowed a pale blue as the metal broke apart and reformed, changing into the shape of an oval. Looking over the edges of the shield, he watched as the girl’s sword clashed against it, a solid “bong” reverberating throughout the air. Pulling back her sword, she raised it above her head and hit the pommel of her sword against his head as hard as she could.

“Ahh!” he cried.

Everything inside his head exploded . It was as if he had been temporarily sent into another realm after being smashed between two buildings. A pain pulsed through his entire head as a wave of nausea swept through him, confused for a moment on what had happened. A multitude of colors covered his fading vision as the rest of the world faded with it. His armor suddenly became too heavy to bear. He could faintly sense his head being pounded into the ground. Faint alarms sounded off as red lit up his glitching screens. Friday’s voice tried to break through the head fog, but all that came through were incoherent noises as her voice began breaking up. Then, suddenly, fresh air hit his face. Through his double vision, Tony looked up, seeing a strangler looking down at him, his mask in their hand. He knew he was in danger and that he needed to move, but his body just wouldn’t react to it. Before he could even remember who was above him, a fist slammed itself against his face, causing another round of color to invade his sight.

(Y/n) was knelt beside him, drawing her fist back before it struck against his face, over, and over, and over again. She didn’t stop even as blood spilled from his face as the blood from her knuckles mixed with his own, and his eyes wouldn’t even quiver to open anymore. Her body refused to stop, determined to fulfill her job. If she could at least terminate her most important quarry, then perhaps her superiors wouldn’t be as furious at the mess she had made and, not only let her live, but give her a second chance to kill Potts as well. When she finally ceased her assault, her knuckles burned as her fist and his face were bruised and painted red with blood. Below her, the mighty Iron Man lay on his back, defeated, unable to even try to put up a fight.

Her fist shook as her (e/c) eyes emotionlessly gazed at his face, her heart flipping in her chest as she did. It was small and fleeting, and for a second, she questioned if it was ever there or if it was her body playing tricks on her. Ignoring the pain and exhaustion that started to eat at her stamina, she picked up the sword that lay at her side. Gripping it with both hands, she lifted it above her head, the weight of it shaking in her hands as she pointed it towards the man under her.

Looking at his face one last time, she-

“ AHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

It was as if lightning struck her, burning her from the inside. Her Whole body seized up, each muscle cramping all at once as her nervous system, every cell , every neuron , every pathway , was scorched through, inflamed hotter than an inferno. She screamed as she dropped her sword, clattering to the ground, her body freezing up as she fell over in spasms and twinges. Electricity coursed throughout her body, white bolts briefly flickering on her skin as her voice began to fail her. Before she knew it, she was lying on the cold ground. Colors swirled together before her eyes, and different sounds morphed in on each other. She willed her body one last struggle to move in vain before her body gave in, and the world turned black.

Peter sat up from his spot as he cut off the taser web, breathing heavily as he watched it zip back into his web blaster. He glared at her body as her fingers slightly twitched, particularly her trigger finger, as if her body was still desperate to fight off his sudden attack. Eventually, even her finger slowly came to a rest, and he felt a wave of relief wash over him like warm water in a bath. His hands reached up to tear off his mask, instantly going to his mentor’s side.

“Mr. Stark! Wake up!” he yelled, his voice cracking as his brown eyes looked over his battered face. “No, no, not you too. Mr. Stark, please, WAKE UP!” he screamed, shaking Mr. Stark’s shoulders.

There was no response as Peter’s eyes shone with tears, his lips quivering as his head fell against the chest plate. Then, as if God himself had blessed him-

“Ugh… Oh God , you're one of those ugly cries, aren't you?”

The voice was quiet and tired as it spoke, a bit ragged, but Peter would know it anywhere. His head shot up to see Mr. Stark’s mouth fall open as he took slow breaths, as if it hurt to do so.

“Mr. Stark! You’re ok!” Peter exclaimed, sitting up as a smile broke onto his face.

“I am, astonishingly, insulted . After all the shit I’ve been through, you think I can be killed by some chick with deluxe costume changes and a decent right hook? I think you should be fucking grounded from your suit again,” Mr. Stark told him, a thread of irritation in his voice as he rasped out his words and cracked open his eyes.

“Ok, fine. Whatever you want, just- I’m really glad you’re ok!” Peter cried, wiping his eyes.

“Me too… Pepper would have killed me,” Mr. Stark breathed out.

Peter watched as he rested his head against the ground, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Nice job on the taser, kid,” he told Peter, a small smile gracing his bloody and bruised face.

“Thanks… You rest up, ok?” Peter asked him.

“Yeah… yeah, that sounds pretty good to me,” the raven haired man sighed, closing his eyes.

Peter let out a small yet timid chuckle before pulling his mask back on. “Hey, Karen, call an ambulance please, a-and Happy, please,” he said.

“An ambulance is on its way. Calling Happy right now,”

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

“OH MY GOD!”

“Pepper, babe, it’s not that bad-”

“THAT BITCH BROKE THREE DIFFERENT SPOTS ON YOUR FACE AND GAVE YOU A CONCUSSION!”

“Yeah, well, I also almost got bombed in a terrorist attack. Takes a lot to top that,”

Pepper mumbled a list of curses at him and rubbed her temples, unable to even look at him anymore. They were in a small infirmary room that was clean and calmly decorated with shades of white and ivory. There were two beds with a drawn back curtain in between them. Tony lay in the one closest to the door, one left, while Peter lay in the other one on the right that was closest to the window. Three chairs lined the wall that the beds faced for visitors they didn’t have yet, and for good reason. Pepper was very close to killing Tony herself.

Why does he always worry me? God, why bless me with a handsome genius if he’s just going to put himself in deadly situations? , she thought.

After an ambulance picked them up, they were taken to a hospital that Tony had built that was connected with Stark Industries. It was perfect for situations like this, where identities needed to remain secret while receiving proper care. Peter lay in his own hospital bed, looking out the window. He had been checked over by doctors and nurses, despite not having any concerning injuries, but Tony had insisted that it needed to be done. So, Peter sucked it up and did as he was told, not having the energy to fight it after everything that had happened. Now, they both lay in bed with their wounds clean and dressed at the mercy of Pepper Potts.

"I'm sorry," the strawberry blonde haired woman said, taking a deep breath and looking at both of the males in front of her. "I'm just glad that you're both ok, " Pepper stated, going to sit in one of the chairs that faced the beds on the opposite end of the room.

The brown haired teen turned to face her, a polite smile on her face. "Thanks, Ms. Potts. Did you hear anything from my Aunt May yet?" Peter asked as his eyes pleaded for an answer.

"Yes, I called her as soon as I found out about you guys. She and Happy are driving here right now," Pepper told him. Her response calmed him down as he allowed himself to sink into the bed.

Tony was the opposite. He got no relief, his whole body on guard as his mind was focused and alert. "Wait… what about… her ?" he asked, his eyes darkening at the mention of the (h/c) haired assassin.

Pepper looked down at his question as if she was hoping to avoid the whole situation altogether. "She, umm… She was taken to the containment units at Stark Tower. She's being kept under, but her body is burning through anesthesia. We've never seen anything like it," she told him, her voice shaking with a fearful uncertainty. "Tony, whoever or whatever she is, she's enhanced . Like, a “Steve” kind of enhanced, but it’s not artificial, it’s natural," she spoke.

“Ok… Did you manage to dig anything up about her?” he asked, combing his hands through his hair.

“The government is looking through all of their files and sources as we speak,” Pepper told him.

The conversation halted as the door slammed open, the wall shaking from the force as the door bounced off of it. If it wasn’t for the doorknob stub, there would have been a fresh new hole in the wall. In the doorway was a panting red faced May, her hair askew and glasses barely hanging on the edge of her nose. She still wore her costume from the party, albeit all other accessories had been abandoned in her mad dash from the party to the hospital.

“Peter!” she exclaimed in a haggard breath, her body taking in air as she talked. “You’re- You’re ok! Woo… That was a long way…” she said, lowering her head and closing her eyes, her hair covering them.

Happy came next to her in a similar state, red faced and exasperated. “Peter, Tony, you guys are alive!” he said.

At his comment, Tony gasped, his mouth dropping as he widened his eyes, feigning offense. “Were you expecting any less, or hoping that we’d be done in?” he asked him, his voice dripping with fake concern, a small smile fighting its way on his lips. They stared at each other as Happy walked in, a smile on his face.

“Seriously, so glad you didn’t die,” Happy told him, sitting in the chair next to Pepper.

“Hi, Aunt May,” Peter spoke from his bed, giving her a small wave.

“Peter!” she gasped, making her way to stand next to his bed, her eyes looking him over as she looked at the bruises on his skin.

“Hi… What happened to Ned?” he asked.

“I sent him home. No way was I going to keep him in that mess any longer than he needed to be. Honey, are you ok?” she asked.

“I’m good, I promise. After a building falls on you, everything seems small,” he replied, stealing a joke from Tony.

“I don’t care about that, I just want to know if you’re alright,” she asked, her voice stern as she stared him down. Her head suddenly whipped around, facing the raven haired man in the opposite bed. “He is, is he?” she asked.

“Yeah, he’s fine. Although, I did get pissed when a gun was pressed up against his chest,” Tony said, glaring straight at the brown haired teen across from him.

“You almost got shot?!” Aunt May screamed, her eyes were blown with worry as she turned back to her nephew.

“He almost got stabbed in the head with a sword!” Peter shot back as he pointed at Mr. Stark, who glared at him as his mouth dropped.

“Oh really?! What about you? I had to save you!”

“You’d be dead if I didn’t electrocute her!”

“You wouldn’t have been able to electrocute her if I didn’t save your butt!”

“Save my butt?! I got freaking whipped across the unit !”

“Boys! Please, be mature for a few more minutes,” May deadpanned, walking over to sit next to Happy in her chair, an annoyed look on her face.

Pepper stepped up, gaining everyone’s attention. “May’s right. We have more pressing matters to deal with,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “We have to interrogate the girl and find out what to do with her,” she said.

Chapter Text

The first thing (y/n) knew when she woke up was that she was strapped down. Her chest calmly rose and fell as her heart flipped wildly inside her. One moment, everything was black, then the next, a bright light shone painfully in her eyes, stinging slightly. Adjusting to the blaring light above her head, she lifted her head to look around and take in her surroundings. Checking herself first, she looked over her chest and saw that her body was strapped to the table by thick metal cuffs. They circled tightly around her arms, legs, and torso tightly, ensuring that she only had room to breathe. The room she was in had gray walls, as well as a gray ceiling and floors. A small beeping sound made her head snap upwards to look in the area behind her. At the very top of her vision, she saw a heart monitor with a moving green line, noting how the line jumped irregularly when her heart flipped. She lifted her head as high as it could go while lifting her fingers. Sure enough, she saw a small medical clamp on her ring finger. Her eyes wandered from her hand to the front of the room, immediately noticing her reflection in a long mirror on the wall. Next to it was a long horizontal mirror, where she only saw enough to see the other end of the room behind her. The last thing she took note of was the table and chair placed in front of the table she was strapped to.

An interrogation room , she thought.

(Y/n) let out a sigh as her head fell back against the table, closing her eyes to avoid the brightness from the light above her. She closed her eyes, focusing on the feeling of every muscle in her body. She focused on the feeling of the blood pumping through her and the slight discomfort of being strapped down on the table, sensing everything she could. Then, in a desperate attempt at using her raw strength, she surged all of her energy into her arms. They slammed against the cuffs, a loud rattling sound in response to her efforts. She continued until her arms began to shake, and her body gave out. All of the air she’d been holding escaped her in one breath, leaving her panting from the effort she had just put out. Her whole body slumped back into place.

“Ok… one more time,” (y/n) muttered to herself.

“Yeah, that won’t work out too well,” a voice said, its cocky tone echoing throughout the room.

Stark , the (h/c) haired girl thought. She lifted her head and looked over her chest, coming face to face with her failed target.

He looked at her, leaning against the open doorway with his hands in his pockets. He was no longer in a costume, nor a metal suit, but casual black pants and a light gray long-sleeved shirt that he rolled up to his elbows. His head was patched up, and she could see a nasty red and purple bruise on his eyes and nose. His face was somber as he glared at her. She glared right back with an actor's anger as best as she could from her position. It must have worked, from what she could tell, because she watched as his shoulders stiffened. Stark shuffled uneasily in his place in the doorway, looking away from her and towards a random spot on the wall. 

“What? Surprised to see me alive?” he asked.

The only answer he received was continued silence.

“Ah! I see. Let me guess, you steal a uniform, break into my party, try to shoot me at said party, cause a panic, and then try to not only kill me, but my fiancée as well, all in the same night , and you won’t say a word . Can't believe I spent twelve hours waiting for this,” he spat out, walking in front of the mirror with his arms crossed across his chest.

Twelve hours? It must be near noon by now. Times running out , (y/n) thought.

Tony scoffed as he faced the ground. He thought he’d be done dealing with people like this, but he never got a break. It was still going after all these years, just one deadly hurdle after the other, rolling with the punches. Taking a breath and breathing it out, he looked back up at her.

“I don’t know what this is to you, but you’re in some real tuff shit right now,” he told her.

She didn’t so much as make a sound or move a muscle.

“Know what, fine. Let’s do this the old-fashioned way,” he said.

At once, the table she was lying on beeped and started to move. The back portion of the table rose while the leg portion lowered. Her head turned in all directions, watching as the table slowly formed itself into a chair. Her arms were raised next, coming to rest leveled with her waist as the extra straps around her torso and thighs seemed to shift to contain her better for the new position. (Y/n) looked up to face Tony head-on, staring him down, and he almost laughed at her for that.

“Oh, please, you are in no place to act like that. I mean, you’re the one who's currently being held for questioning,” Tony stated as he adjusted his position to cover the mirror at a different place.

(Y/n) watched as he glared at her, never once turning his back on her. The action reminded her of the way an animal would stand in front of their young, from the look in his eyes to the stance he held towards her.

“Well, say something. Anything,” he said bitterly.

“...”

“...”

Tony sighed, rubbing his eyes. Closing them, he felt them burn as light tears sprang in reaction, like water dripping on a hot pan on a stove.

“Are they there?”

Her voice came so suddenly, Tony almost flinched, but settled for jerking his head up.

“What?”

(Y/n) rolled her eyes at the man in front of her. “Behind the mirror. Are they there?” she asked again.

Tony’s heart dropped at the tone in her voice as his eyebrows furrowed together in pretend confusion. “Is who behind the mirror?” he asked.

“I’m not stupid, Stark. If there’s a mirror, someone’s behind it,” she said emotionlessly with a blank face. “So, tell me… who’s behind it?” she asked him.

Tony stared at her, the hairs on the back of his neck rising faster than he would want to admit.

“Fine, let me guess. Based on the way you seem to be, let’s use the word, protecting , my view from the mirror, I’m going to take a wild guess and say, Virginia Potts,” (y/n) said, not missing the way his eyes changed as she spoke that name.

His eyes darkened like many of her targets did when they were ready to spill blood. “I’d tread carefully if I were you,” Tony said in a dangerously deep voice.

Let’s see how I can work with this , she thought.

“But, if it were just Ms. Potts in there, you wouldn’t be pacing around so much, you’d stay where she was. So, there must be more people in there. I’m going to take a wild guess and say Happy Hogan, maybe even your “partner”, as you called him. I recognised his voice from the party and saw his face. He must be fifteen, sixteen maybe- and the way you shot me when I was about to shoot him, and shoved him out of the way when I was going to cut you both down? It’s almost like he’s a son figure-”

“ I suggest you stop it ,”

“- which I find rather strange, considering your therapist's notes on your personality and mind maps. I don’t know if you’ve seen those notes, but you tend to only interact with people who can help you in some way, with few exceptions. Is that how you met Spider-Man? However, I’m going to guess you didn’t expect to care about him so much. Is there a chance it’s fueled by your past feelings connected with your father-”

“ STOP ,”

(Y/n) indulged him and did as he said. Her eyes studied the angry wrinkles on his face and the fury in his eyes that hid the fear underneath them. Slowly, her eyes left Tony to stare past him and directly into the mirror.

Behind the mirror, two government workers observed the interrogation, horrified looks on their faces, but it was nothing compared to the looks of pure terror on the woman and the teen. Pepper stared at the back of Tony’s head, worry lining her face clear as day, and Peter… he couldn’t look away. (Y/n) was staring at him dead in the eyes, like she knew he was there in the very spot where he stood. He found his hand began to shake as he looked into those cold, unfeeling eyes. He knew that the girl on the other side had no way of actually seeing him, but a small part of him felt as if she did. After all, she had found so much about who was on the other side of the wall by only watching how Tony stood, and the limited information she had learned the night before. A sudden hand caused him to jerk upwards, his bones almost jumping out of his body. 

“Hey, Peter, are you ok?” Pepper asked him, her hand rubbing comforting circles on the back of his shoulder.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he nervously nodded. He didn’t think his voice would give the poor woman next to him any reassurance.

Back on the other side, Tony was seething, and (y/n) simply sat back and watched him. If her speech wasn’t enough, her attitude was making it worse.

“ You got some nerve, kid ,” he snarled, taking a step forward in (y/n)’s direction.

(Y/n) tried to lean forward with her cuff, adding emotion into her voice as she glared back at him.

“I think you’ve made a mistake, Stark. You have no idea how much nerve I got. I’ve trained too hard and survived too many times to have it all be washed away because of some inexperienced child and old man in a tin- oh, I’m sorry, iron - can. The only reason you’re alive is because your partner doesn't know how to die and saved you from my sword before I cou-”

(Y/n)’s voice cut off, her eyes widening in realization. She clenched her fists as her heart uncomfortably clenched in her chest, a foreign feeling, not her normal flips, in her veins that spread from her heart flips, the light flickering once above her. Both sides of the wall watched her, speechless, as her dangerous gaze settled on the man in front of her, who had to use every ounce of self-control not to back away.

“My sword… Where is it,” (y/n) demanded, spitting her words out in a controlled but commanding manner.

A small look flickered in Tony’s eyes as the words were delivered like a miracle from Thor. We have a bargaining chip! , he thought. His body straightened up, and a confident aura began to radiate from him, replacing the fearful one.

“Oh, that little knick-knack? It’s in a secure location, far, far away from you ,” he told her, putting his hands in his pockets, leaning on one leg more than the other.

“Bring it here,” she said.

“Why the hell would I do that?!” he asked her.

“It’s mine . That sword is my property. No one else should be touching it!” she exclaimed, her heart folding in on itself as her voice rose.

She felt it again. That extra spike in her veins that made her fingers twitch, her fists just itching to throw a punch and feel that pain in her knuckles, but as quickly as it came, it disappeared. Once again, the emotions were locked away, but she knew that feeling.

Anger , she told herself.

She felt her heart flip at the thought. She hadn’t felt it in years, and it was so small, but she knew it all the same. How was she feeling it? Was something wrong with her? Her mind drifted back to her fight with Katherine in the cafeteria, and how she was ready to string that scrawny head of blonde hair. Her thoughts were broken when a small chuckle was heard from the raven haired man, a small but strained smile on his face as he tried to hold it back. She put a glare on her face. She’d deal with it when she got back to HYDRA. She had more pressing matters at the moment.

“Pfft- Haha! I’m so-haha! Sorry! Haha, oh, haha!” Tony laughed, placing his hand on his chest so he could steady himself.

(Y/n) stared at him as he continued to crack up, and her (e/c) eyes flickered towards the mirror with a what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-him look on her face before looking back at Stark.

“What’s so funny?” she asked him.

“N-nothing! Ha, haaa…” Tony said, calming himself down until the only thing left from his laugh was his smile that couldn’t seem to go away. “Sorry. It’s just that the first thing that sounds somewhat normal for your age is the ol’, “It’s my property! I own it! Give it back!”, bit!” he said, lowering his voice to add his flair of dramatic effect to the last statement.

“Bring it here. I can’t even use it, I just need to see it,” she told him.

Tony stared at her as one side of his smile curled upwards into a smirk. “Oh, yeah , right . You’d find a way since you’ve got so much nerve,” he said, emphasizing the words she’d spoken to him. She glared at him in response. “Well, this was fun, but I've got more important things to do than deal with some teenager who clearly has her morals mixed up. Anywho- Ciao!” he called as he headed towards the door.

“Stark? Stark, get back here- ANTHONY EDWARD STARK!” she yelled as she watched him close the door.

Tony closed, cringing at the volume of her voice as she said his full name. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered as he walked down the hallway of his basement interrogation floor and towards the next door.

He opened the door to the other side of the mirror, walking in. It was quiet, save for the sound of the (h/c) haired girl cursing as she tried to break free of her chair.

“Tony,” Pepper said as she walked over, giving him a worried look. Peter followed her, standing off to the sidelines as he made sure to keep his back on the glass. Tony’s eyes flitted over to the brown haired boy off to the side before focusing on Pepper.

“How was everything on your guy’s end?”

“I WANT MY SWORD BACK YOU SON OF A BITCH!”

“...”

“...”

The room watched as (y/n) yanked her body every which way in her seat before she gave out, screamed “fuck!” and finally stayed still, giving up… for now.

Peter watched her nervously. “She seems pretty pissed…” he said as he pointed his thumb in her direction.

“Oh, we know, kid. We know ,” Tony said, sighing as he faced Pepper again. “Did you guys scan that sword by any chance?” he asked her.

“No, but I saw how she reacted and called Happy to do it, ASAP,” she told him.

“Perfect,” he said before turning towards Peter. “Ok, things went better and quicker than expected, and your Aunt May won’t be here until at least three, right?” he asked him.

“Yeah, three to three-thirty,” Peter replied.

“Ok, then you go up and hang out with Happy,” Tony told him. "Unless you want to stay here for when she gives another try at breaking free?” he questioned, raising his eyebrows as he gave Peter a look only he could perfect.

Peter’s mouth opened and shut like a gasping fish as he looked back and forth between his mentor and his almost murderer. “Uh, n-no. I’m pretty good. I’ll go to meet Happy there. Where am I going exactly?” he asked.

“Just get into the elevator and tell FRIDAY to take you to Happy. She’ll help you along the way,” Tony told him as he patted Peter on the back.

“Thanks, Mr. Stark,”

“Yeah, no problem,”

The couple watched as the teen walked out of the room fairly quickly, closing the door softly behind him. Next to Tony, Pepper sighed, rubbing the palm of her hand across half of her face. It was then that the man could see how little sleep she had gotten last night. He remembered waking up in the hospital and seeing her lying uncomfortably in two of the chairs pushed together to make a makeshift bed.

Note to self. Get foldable guest cots for the hospital , he told himself.

“This is just one big mess,” Pepper whispered to him.

“What do you mean? We just got something we can use as a bargain,” he told her, gesturing his arm out towards the glass. “Even if we don’t find anything in the scans, it has value to her. I call that a win for now,” he said.

Their conversation was interrupted when one of the government workers walked up to them with a phone in their hand as if they had just gotten off a call. “Umm, Mr. Stark?” they asked.

“Yeah?” he replied.

“I just got off the phone with Secretary Ross. He heard what happened and is coming here to deal with things, quickly ,” they told him, putting the phone in their breast pocket inside their jacket.

“What? Why?” Tony asked.

“Unfortunately, I don’t know. Oh, but Commander Rhodes is on his way as well, and will be here a bit earlier than Ross,” they said.

“Ok, thanks,” Tony said as they walked towards their coworker, and he turned back to Pepper. "This is going to be so fun ,” he mumbled.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Peter leaned against the counter as he watched Mr. Stark’s scanner hover over the sword as a colored laser scanned it over from one end to the other. When it finished, it would make a couple of beeps before it started scanning again with a different color. Happy stood next to Peter with his arms crossed, a concerned look on his face as he observed the brown haired boy.

“You alright?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m just wondering what the different colors are for, that’s all,” Peter told him, briefly glancing Happy’s way.

“Oh, I think I heard Tony talking about how the different colors mean it’s scanning for different things, like weight, blueprints, materials, stuff like that,” Happy said.

“Ok…”

“...”

“...”

“You sure that you’re ok? You seem tense,”

“ I'm not tense ,”

They both stood in silence as Peter paid attention to the whirring of the machine before sighing and turning to his friend. “I’m sorry… Ok- fine, maybe I’m a little tense, but don’t please tell anyone,” Peter begged, giving the older man a famous Parker puppy dog stare.

Fucking hell, it’s like it goes straight to your soul , Happy cursed as he gave Peter a small nod. “I won’t, but it’s not a bad thing to be tense right now. It’s perfectly understandable,” he told him.

“I know, but everyone thinks I can’t handle anything like this, and I want to prove that I can help and deal with whatever comes at me. I can’t do that if I freak out from just being stared down on the other side of a one-way mirror, Happy,” Peter explained, turning back to watch as purple light ran across the metal weapon.

“I see. Well, don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone,” he told him.

“Thanks, man,” Peter said.

“But, you know, if it makes you feel better,” Happy started. “I know some guys, with a lot more experience than you, who would have run before that girl even guessed who was behind the mirror,” Happy told him.

In the small sliver of Peter’s face that he could see, a smile started to break out on the teen’s face. The sight of it made a small weight lift off Happy’s shoulders. He exhaled as he watched it with him, a calm and serene atmosphere draping itself over them.

A small beeping sound rang through the room, and the scanner turned off, the lights turning off as it powered down and went limp as it hung about the sword. Happy stood up straight with Peter following his example, walking in front of the sword.

“FRIDAY, what does that mean?” he called out.

“Scanning is complete, Mr. Hogan,” the AI said.

“And?” he asked.

“The sword is composed of some of the strongest metals on earth, making it nearly unbreakable. The materials on the handle are Egyptian cotton and Italian leather, though it’s worn down. Multiple hand and fingerprints cover the surface, as well as minor traces of hydrogen peroxide and blood. Underneath the wrappings are two names etched in the metal,” she said.

The two of them looked at each other, then back at the sword. Names? What kind of secret agent would be stupid enough to put their names on something like a sword they use? It had to be something else. Perhaps a code?

“What are the names, Friday?” Peter asked as he stepped closer to the sword.

“One is Adam, while the other is (y/n),”

Peter and Happy’s eyes snapped up to each other, both of them wide with the excitement of their discovery.

“Oh my god,” Happy gasped. “You know what this means?” he asked Peter.

“We have her name!” Peter exclaimed as a full grin broke out on his features, and raised a fist before pulling it back down towards his ribcage with a delighted “yes!”.

Happy lightly slapped Peter’s arms, a small smile on his face as well. “Come on, we gotta tell Tony!” Happy said as he walked backwards to the door.

“What?” Peter asked, taking a small, hesitant step towards his friend. “But… What about the sword?” he asked.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be safe in there,” Happy said as he walked through the doorway, disappearing into the hall.

Peter groaned as he jogged to catch up with him, but not before he took one last look at the sword. He shivered as his Peter Tingle acted up, causing all of his hairs to stand on end. Something was going to happen, something big . Whether it was good or bad, he didn’t know yet, but he'd find out sooner than later…

Chapter Text

All of HYDRA was on edge. Every base, hideout, lab, or storage unit was on red alert, preparing for any worst-case scenario that could come up during the event that they became compromised, especially (y/n)’s base. At the moment, it was on the receiving end of a long list of hate mail and threats from HYDRA HQ, and the one receiving them was none other than the Sergeant. The old man grumbled to himself as he sipped his coffee, pacing the computer desk area that was placed a few steps higher than everywhere else in the room. Screens all across the room were flashing from images to documents, as others were showing satellite images of New York. They were doing everything to find an exact location on Agent (l/n).

“Sir?” a woman asked as she stood in attention behind her superior.

“Yes?” he asked.

“I have some news, sir,” she told him.

“Well, don’t just stand there waiting like we have all day! Spit it out!” he shouted, his voice resounding against the wall of the room, abruptly silencing the rest of the workers. “Get back to work!” he yelled, turning around to face the agent behind him, her face decorated with alarm as everyone else in the room scrambled back to work as if nothing had happened.

“Well?!” he said.

“Y-yes, sir, sorry, sir. We just found the location of Agent (l/n),” she said.

“The location… Is it good news or bad news?” he asked.

“I’m afraid it’s bad news, sir. She’s in Stark-”

“Fucking hell!” he exclaimed before she could finish her sentence, shutting her up and causing a tiny bead of sweat to form on her neck.

She quickly wiped it away while he wasn’t looking, not wanting to show signs of weakness in his presence. “B-but I do have good news, sir!” she quickly added. The Sergeant took a deep breath, a vein twitching in his forehead.

“It better be good,” he grumbled, holding his hands behind his back as he glared at her.

“Do you know the current Sergeant Major of the base?” she asked him.

“Mike?”

“Yes,”

"Wait, Mike from the Christmas party, or Flasher Mike?"

"Umm, Christmas Mike,"

“Alright, go on,”

“Well, he recently had a heart attack while… participating in nightly activities,” she told him slowly as she spoke her last few words.

“Good for him. There are worse ways to die nowadays,” the Sergeant said

“Anyways… I recently received word that HQ decided to promote you to his rank,” she told him.

The old man stood there in stunned silence as he heard the agent’s words come out of her mouth. He was going to become a Sergeant Major. And not only that, but Sergeant Major of the base.

Damn, I just stepped up a few ranks , he thought.

“Thank you. Anything else?” he asked.

“Yes, sir. What do we do about Agent (l/n)?” the woman asked him.

“Same as all the other agents who are stupid enough to get captured on their missions. Give them two days before they’re added to the new target list,” he told her darkly.

“B-but sir, it’s (l/n)’s first failed assignment, and she’s sixteen. Not to mention, she’s an important asset to HYDRA. Shouldn’t we send a recovery team and put her through disciplinary action?” the agent asked, an imploring look on her face.

The Sergeant looked back at her as she asked him that. Her whole body froze as he glared at her, the look in his eyes rendering her nerves to stop reacting as her heart completely stopped and her veins turned to ice. She watched with fearful eyes as he stepped right in front of her.

“Listen here, and listen well,” he started. “I won’t deny that Agent (l/n) is a good gun to shoot when we need it, but she failed- and not a little fail, a big fail. At the end of the day, we can always train another gun. Agent (l/n) had her chance, and I will not play the pity card just because of her age, or if it’s her first failure. If she’s not back here in two days, I will see to it that she never walks on God’s green earth again. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we can’t afford to have any more secrets let loose, too much is at stake. Now, unless you want me to send you to the academy’s stabbing classes, I suggest that you turn around and leave… You’re dismissed ,” he told her.

Eyes full of terror stared wide at him, shining with tears at the mention of his threat. The agent swallowed what little spit she had in her mouth before nodding her head.

“Yes, Sergeant Major,” she said before walking out of mission control and passing a certain green eyed blonde who had just gotten done eavesdropping.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

(Y/n) struggled against her chair, causing an annoying piece of her hair to land on her face. Her wrists ached from pulling against the cuffs on the arms of the chair. Her ankles were ok since she had her boots covering them, but the strain was starting to get to them. She sighed before blowing her stray hair away from her face, only for it to fall back to its original place. (Y/n) groaned quietly as she twisted her head in every direction possible in vain.

Alright. I need a plan. I have about a day and a half left before they send someone out to kill me. No assassinating, no fighting, no nothing . Just break out of this chair, get my sword, get out, and get back to base , she told herself.

It was easier said than done. If it could, it would have scared her how well this chair suited to hold someone like her. She started to focus on conserving energy for when she finally would break out. She had sat there in silence for hours on end with nothing but her mind to fill the quiet. For entertainment, she imagined all the things she’d say to the Sergeant once she got back. Sure, she’d probably get sent to the academy for a week, but everyone knew that it wasn’t her they’d have to worry about. It’d be worth it, though, for the pleasure of cussing . Him . Out . Then, she decided to plan an escape route. However, it ended fairly quickly as she remembered that she didn’t know the layout of the tower, and didn’t even know exactly where she was in it. For a fraction of a moment, she wondered if she was even going to get out, and wondered if she should be planning on how to fight off an oncoming HYDRA agent. Worst case scenario, she couldn’t find a way to break out of Stark Tower, and HYDRA would send her undertaker. Her life would end here, probably in this very room, as a prisoner. A short life full of training her for missions, and she would go out as if her contribution never mattered. Her heart flipped softly at that last thought, but it felt different. Usually, her flips were fast and left a bit of a thump, almost like the beat of a war drum. This one wasn’t as hard, and it was slower with a lingering feeling even after the flip had passed. She could say that it even seemed to have a strange weight to it.

That was weird , she thought. Never felt one like that before , she thought.

She passed the rest of the time in a dreamless sleep until the sound of a lock clicking caused her eyes to flash open as her head lifted just as quickly. She came face to face with a certain, and regrettably familiar, cocky billionaire.

No talking this time, unless it’s to intimidate him , she told herself.

“Hey, kid. Been about an hour since I last saw you. What’s up?” Stark asked with a happily sarcastic voice. “Oh, right, you’ve been stuck in that chair all day. My bad ,” he said as he leaned back against the wall next to the mirror, and just like that, there was the abnormal heart flip that (y/n) was wondering about earlier.

Damn you , she thought as she watched him tap his foot on the ground like he was waiting for an answer.

She stared at him, but he didn’t flinch back like before. His back was straighter, his eyebrows were raised, and she could feel his confidence roll off him in waves. Something happened while he was gone, meaning he thinks he has an edge on her.

This has to be related to my sword. There’s nothing else it could be , she thought.

“So, let’s cut to the chase, kid…” he said slowly as he left the wall so he could look down at her as he straightened up his poster. “... Or how about, (y/n) ,” he said, the glint in his eyes growing just a bit brighter as he said her name.

The sound of her name leaving his lips made her heart flip uncomfortably in her chest as one word was repeated in her head.

-FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK-

“Pretty name. I think it suits you, deep, deep, deep, deep down,” he said to her, her attention never leaving him. “Though, I want to know who’s Adam, hmm?” Tony asked her, raising an eyebrow. “We didn’t touch your sword or lift the handle wrappings, we, uhh, we scanned it. So, don’t worry about that,” he told her.

Tony watched as she sat there, expressionless in her chair. He needed her to say something. He got her talking before, and he was pretty confident that he could get her to do it again, especially if this sword had any value to her, and he had to do it before Secretary “Asshole McRoss” got here. As much as he was desperate for answers, he didn’t feel like letting Ross break half the country’s child safety laws. However, that was the future. Right now, he was interrogating a teenage assassin who refused to talk.

Come on, Tony… She got angry when she realized we had her sword. It didn’t have anything useful on it, besides her name and this Adam guy. Must be family or something, he thought.

“You know, you’re one of the least talkative people I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting. Do you not talk much with your friends while you practice shooting or something?” he asked mockingly, his voice irritatingly playful.

Take me out of this chair and I’ll show you what I do at a gun range , the (h/c) haired girl mentally commented. Hell, we wouldn’t even have to go to a range , she added.

“Nice sword, by the way,” he commented. “When I went to the lab to check it out, it was great craftsmanship,” he said as (y/n) continued to watch him like a hawk.

“Although (y/n), I do have a few pointers on the craftsmanship,” he told her, keeping her face in his peripheral vision.

Pointers? What pointers could he have? Building armor is a completely different skill and making a sword , she thought.

“For example, the sides of the cross-guard could have been a little more even, and the pommel was just a bit too big- but that’s my opinion, it's not as if they're important,” he said as he subtly observed her body language, beginning to pace his original path again. God, he hoped his ten-minute wiki search paid off…

Not important? They act as a counterweight. Too big, I fucking knocked him unconscious through his helmet with my “too big” pommel- NO. Ignore him. Do not engage , she thought as her hands tightened into fists and her heart flipped slowly.

Tony noticed her eyes glued to the floor as if she was trying to block him out. He needed to keep going.

“The rain guard and the fuller looked like they were done by an experienced but still amateur blacksmith,” he continued, walking in and out of her line of sight to mess with her. “Oh, and don’t get me started on the central ridge-”

“ Don’t insult my Dad’s work ,”

The words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. Unknown to either of them, the computers behind the mirror glitched for the briefest moment.

(Y/n)’s body froze as she instantly began questioning her reasons for saying that. She could briefly detect that strange foreign feeling in her heart, so minuscule she thought maybe she had imagined it. Despite being so small, it gave just enough to add the slightest touch of genuine malice deep within her eyes. She could feel it in them, as strange as it was, and it sent her mind into another spiral of trying to think of possible explanations for it. However, she forced them down.

No. I can solve this annoying problem later when I’m back at base. Stark learning that I have a Dad doesn’t count as important HYDRA information. I’m still in the clear , she reminded herself.

Tony stood there in front of her, a bit of glee blooming inside of him as he tried his hardest to keep a straight face.

Finally , he thought as he leaned against the wall. He let silence fill the room for a moment before speaking again.

“So… Dad, huh? What about Mom?” he asked her.

She sat there in silence.

“Touchy subject then?” he questioned.

She stared at him, still not answering.

“Are they dead? Mine are dead, so it’s ok if yours are,”

“... I know. I observed the footage for training purposes,”

Tony stiffened up at the mention of the footage. Moving images of his dad being shot while his mother was choked, crying in the passenger seat. Memories of the grainy video graphics as he realised one of his most trusted friends kept the very person who murdered them from him, and how he had to fight them both off… Training purposes ? His parents were murdered for some stupid blue stuff in a briefcase, and they didn’t even have the decency to keep it locked up, but instead showed it to a child to help her do the same thing?! Decades old grief and anger were brought to the surface of his mind. His eyes hardened as he blinked away the slightest bit of moisture from them. 

And (y/n) didn’t miss it.

“... Touchy subject?” she asked him as she stared straight into his eyes.

Tony glared at her as she spoke those words, and she shoved his hands in his pockets.

Dear God, is this what it’s like to talk with me? , he wondered as he changed the subject.

“So, HYDRA trained you at a summer camp or something? What’s that like?” he asked her.

“What do you think?”

“Hugs and kisses? How many are there?”

She didn’t even dignify his question with an answer.

Tony closed his mouth, pressing them together as he nodded his head. “Ok, old topic. You said Dad made the sword, what about Mom? Agent?” he asked, keeping his voice level as he hid his desperation for answers, but not well enough.

If the constant questions didn’t give him away, she didn’t know what could. He was more insistent than he was a few hours ago. He must be on a time crunch. When interrogating, those were never good. That meant that her time in this location was limited. However, it also meant that she’d have more chances to get out of this chair.

“You know what, Stark? There is something you should know,” she told him, leaning her head forward. The glint in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed as he took a step forward, keeping his distance from her.

“What?” he asked, pulling his hands from his pockets to fold them across his chest, giving her a hard glare.

“You might as well leave, because unless some pretty complicated shit happens within the next twenty four hours, you’re not getting anything out of me,” (y/n) told him darkly. 

Tony's body froze as his mind registered (y/n)'s words carefully. "Twenty-four hours?" He breathed. Tony stared at her, a shred of worry going through them. "What happens in twenty-four hours?" He asked her.

Both their eyes connected in a battle to see who would be the first one to lose. Even the small occasional noises in the room seemed to stop and stand by in suspense. As he hatefully stared into her eyes, he noticed something off. Her eyes were blank. They still held their (e/c) color, but there was no depth. There was no glint of light, no lighter or darker spots, not even flecks of similar colors in them. Just solid (e/c). Like everything that made it real had been sucked out from it to start over from scratch, as if there was nothing behind them, no soul, no emotion, just… emptiness.

Tony’s eyes started to burn, but he refused to close them, even as his eyes watered, as he couldn’t take it anymore. The last strike was cast when (y/n) blew in his direction, forcing his eyes to close, a blissfully refreshing feeling as his wounded pride allowed anger to grow in him.

“What was that for?!” he exclaimed as he turned away to rub his eyes, soothing them back into a comfortable state.

(Y/n) leaned back into her original position. “I won, didn’t I?” she asked him.

She stared at him as he calmed down, wiping away the moisture that spilled over from closing his eyes. If it weren't for the cuffs on her feet, she would have indulged herself. The atmosphere dissipated as a knock sounded through the room before opening. The same government agent from before leaned in, his hand on the doorknob.

“Sir, sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Rhodes is here and requests your presence immediately,”

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Rhodey stood alone in the lobby as the sunlight shone through the glass door and windows, illuminating the room. The room wasn’t anything special to look at. It had plain gray marble floors and white walls and ceiling, with two black couches for guests to sit on. He hadn’t been there long enough to consider it, but he didn’t want to anyway. It had been late when he got the call from Pepper that Tony had been put in the hospital after their engagement party was “interrupted”. He hadn’t been able to attend the party since he was still healing and getting used to his new mechanical leg braces. However, when he watched the chaos unfold on the nightly news, a horrified look crossed his face. He instantly booked a cab and drove it to New York City as fast as he could. Now, here he was, waiting for Tony’s arrogant ass to show up.

The calm silence was broken as a small ding from the elevator sounded, and the doors slid apart to unveil the one and only Tony Stark inside. Rhodey's eyes instantly landed on the medical bandaging and lightly colored patches of skin from the now faded bruises that still held a troubling amount of color to them.

“I cannot believe you,” Rhodey said as he glared at the crazy billionaire.

Tony threw out his arms as he walked towards Rhodey, a calm look on his face. He walked at a hurried pace, eager to see a familiar face that could give him some sanity back after a grueling second round of interrogation.

“Oh, come on! What did I do to you this time?” he asked. As he finally made it to Rhodey, their hands clapped together and pulled each other into a brief hug before pulling apart.

“I swear, the second I leave you for longer than a week, you get stupid enough to get yourself killed. Tell me,” Rhodey said with a drop or two of irritation on his tongue, a small chuckle emitting from him as he wets his lips. “How does someone as rich and intelligent as you forget to hire something as simple as SECURITY!” he exclaimed.

“... Me , obviously,” Tony replied with a straight face.

Rhodey shook his head, walking away from Tony and towards the elevator. “Know what? Ju-Just glad you’re ok man. I'm so happy. Great. Fantastic! Let’s go, Senator’s on his way, and I, for one, don’t want to be late,” Tony groaned as he turned around on one foot, begrudgingly following the dark skinned man.

Their footsteps made a light sound as they walked inside the elevator together. Straightening up, Tony put his arms across his chest, looking up towards the ceiling of the lift. “FRIDAY, take us to the business floor, please,” Tony said.

“Yes, Boss,”

The elevator moved, the two men’s stomachs dropping for a half-second before returning to normal as they stood.

“You look beat up,” Rhodey told him.

“No shit, Sherlock,” Tony replied.

“I heard that kid, Peter, was there. That true?”

“Yeah. Saved me, but we just barely made it out alive. I’ve had close calls before, but this takes the cake,”

Rhodey nodded his head, and the elevator once again dinged and opened its doors. They walked into a hallway, and headed towards the closest door, and walked into a meeting room that Tony had argued with Ross just days before this whole mess. Rhodey sat in the seat closest to the window as Tony took a seat next to him.

“Where is everybody? Thought they’d be here,” Rhodey stated.

“Pepper is, but I told her not to worry too much, and that I’d handle this meeting. Happy is with Peter, and they’re on the lab floors, keeping an eye on the sword,” Tony explained, making himself comfortable in his chair.

“Sword?” Rhodey said, lifting an eyebrow as the other dropped and his mouth opened slightly. “Like, the medieval weapon used by knights and stuff?” he asked.

“Yeah, the girl almost stabbed me with it,” Tony said simply.

“Girl? What girl? And stabbed ?!” the dark skinned man asked, confusion prominent in his voice, as well as his eyes.

Tony sighed, letting his head fall back against the chair and lazily turning to look at his friend. “I forgot, neither the press nor the media know about that…” he said, barely audible for the other man to hear. Quickly leaning up in his seat, Tony set his elbows on the table and rested on them, giving Rhodey his full and undivided attention.

“Alrighty, sit tight, Rhodey, it’s storytime , and you have A LOT to catch up on!”

“Oh dear Lord, help me…”

Chapter Text

“-and I literally just got done interrogating her again. Now, be honest… Is that what it feels like to argue with me?” Tony asked.

Rhodey sat diagonally from him, a deadpan look on his face. “That’s what it’s like to even talk with you. I think karma has finally decided to deliver, and I’m not surprised that it came in the form of a teenage girl. They’re as savage as they come,” he said, leaning back in his chair.

They had been sitting in the room for an hour now, with Rhodey painfully listening to every party of Tony’s “totally undramatic” retelling of what had happened the night before. Not only did Tony make some very stupid mistakes in security measures that gave him a huge headache, but Rhodey was also still having a hard time wrapping his head around the fact that there was “magic” in the world now. He was getting better, with each crazy magical event, scientific miracle, or abomination, but it still threw him for a loop sometimes.

Rhodey shook his head as he stared at the table. “Crazy world nowadays, huh?” he said.

“You have no idea,” Tony replied.

“I mean, first we get attacked by a rebellious god with daddy issues,”

“I sent a nuke into space,”

“Then you and Banner create a weird, magical, robot-human together,”

“Why do you have to explain it like that?”

“And now we have a band of good-guys-gone-bad, who ran off to become vigilantes while on the run from the government of basically the whole world,”

“I didn’t start that one, can’t blame me,”

Rhodey slightly smiled at him as they sat in comfortable silence, staring at the table's surface. “Since when did everything go downhill?” he asked.

“I think this whole mess started the second Mr. Stark decided to become Iron Man,” a voice spoke from the doorway.

Tony and Rhodey’s heads turned towards the direction of it to see the straightened posture of Secretary Ross. He was as sharp as ever with a black suit and his graying hair neatly slicked back. A small file envelope was held securely under his arm and next to his rib cage as he strode over to the table, gracefully dropping the file on its surface.

“I mean, it’s like you created a whole universe or something!” Ross exclaimed.

Tony’s head nodded slightly as a smirk grew on his face at Ross’s words, and he turned to look at Rhodey through a side glance. “You know, I think that’s the greatest compliment I’ve ever been given, and it wasn’t even from someone I want to listen to,” Tony said in a voice that caused Ross to silently seethe with a barely contained rage.

Rhodey sighed as he watched the interaction. He didn’t know what else he expected from his best friend, but this certainly wasn’t it.

At the very least, he could take something with a serious attitude for once , he thought in vain.

By this point in his life, he knew that not acting serious was Tony’s way of acting serious… in a really counterproductive way. It was a habit that took some effort to see, as well as a high level of patience that no one had time for.

“Ah, Commander Rhodes. Wonderful to see you here,” Ross greeted, a feeling of gratefulness that there was someone other than the cocky genius to talk to. “Your presence is just what we need,” he added.

“What for?” Rhodey asked, leaning forward to give Ross his full attention.

“You see, while everyone has been worrying about Mr. Stark and Mr. Parker, and rightfully so, I’ve been stuck behind a desk for the past ten hours trying to find anything I can about that assassin. I did manage to find something, but the trail ends where it starts. The only reason I have this is because of a shady informant from someplace deeper than the black market,” Ross explained, pointing at the file he had tossed on the table. Placing a hand on it, he slid it over to the two men on the other side of the table.

Tony stared at the file as he picked it up, flipping it open. It was a HYDRA file, and it showed none other than the familiar face of (y/n). Her profile picture showed her signature stoic expression, her dead eyes staring straight into the camera. As his fingers felt for the next page, they slid against the back of the file. Tony’s eyes furrowed in confusion, until it clicked.

“There’s, uh, not a lot of information here, is there…” he noted, his voice trailing off as he looked at the single page.

Ross nodded, pulling a chair out and sitting down in it. “That’s all I could find. That single page is the only thing that proves her existence to the world. We don’t know her history, but that single document holds her age, abilities, and statistics,” he explained.

Oh, great! A baseball card for assassins! , Tony thought sarcastically.

He looked over the information on the page in front of him, taking it all in his mind and thinking up ways it could be useful the next time someone had to have a “lovely” little chat with the murderous ray of sunshine in his basement. His eyes scanned the words, reading each fact with a fascinated interest as if he were reading about a new technology for his suit.

Name : (Y/n) (M/n) (L/n)

Age : 16

D.O.B. : (day)/(month)/2000

Graduation of HYDRA Training Academy : Winter of 2013.

Credentials : Magical ability called Requipt; Enhanced Strength; Enhanced Healing; Enhanced Durability; Can speak and read multiple languages; Trained in battle analysis; Trained to give and withstand multiple torture techniques; Skilled in multiple combat styles and techniques; Skilled with multiple weapons.

Successful Missions : 118

Failed Missions : 0

Kill Count : 98

Tony’s eyes locked onto that number, unable to look away. His blood froze inside his veins, and the air in his lungs stopped. Ninety-eight… she only needed two more, then it would’ve been one hundred. A sinking sensation settles in the pit of his stomach as he thinks about it. He almost became number ninety-nine, and Pepper…

“Tony… You alright, man?” Rhodey asked. His voice seemed to cut through whatever the raven haired man was thinking, and his friend’s eyes fluttered as he handed Rhodey the file.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Tony told him.

Ross stared at Tony, a knowing look on his face. “Let me guess, you saw the kill count?” he asked. Tony’s gaze snapped to him, confirming Ross’s conjecture. “We think her mission was to murder you and Ms. Potts, but you were her main objective, seeing as she could have killed your fiancé with little to no problem, but chose to go after you,” he said.

“Woah, hold up,” Tony said, lifting his hands in a halt position and turning in his chair to face Ross. “I-I understand me, but why does HYDRA want Pepper dead?” he asked.

“We don’t know, but we do intend to find out when we interrogate her, rest assured,” Ross told them.

Tony’s head snapped up, a look of morbid worry on his face. “Interrogate?” Tony asked, his eyes and head turning to meet Rhodey’s in an anxious and slightly wary gaze.

One look was all it took to tell that they were on the same page. They both knew that the government didn’t play any games, and they’re interrogations weren’t merciful. It was true that the girl in question was an experienced sniper who seemed to wield no emotions, but she was still a teenager. It was like if they were to interrogate Peter…

… Sort of…

“I-I know this may sound stupid, but… How ?” Tony asked.

Ross raised a brow. “How do you think, Mr. Stark?” he asked sarcastically, an irritated look in his eyes.

“Umm- Well… Uhh…” Tony stuttered, shifting a pleading gaze towards the man next to him to help his case. His heart lifted with internal triumph as he saw Rhodey sigh and put on, as Tony liked to call it, his “scary Commander face”.

“Sir, with all due respect,” Rhodey started. “Wouldn’t it be a bit illegal to do that kind of interrogation on a minor, even under these circumstances?” he asked.

They watched as Secretary Ross sighed, closing his eyes as if he was collecting himself and trying to hold back a litany of words. From across them, he slowly rose from his seat, grabbing the edge of the file with his fingertips, and slid it over to him as he looked it over.

“It says here that she’s trained to withstand different forms of torture, meaning that she knows coping methods. Now, gentlemen, does that sound like someone who should be given a chance to turn the tables?” he asked them. “I’m surprised that you’re even thinking this, Mr. Stark. She was ordered to kill you and your fiancé. I wouldn’t be as lenient,” he said.

“I’ll consider it a compliment,” Tony said in a snarky tone, his eyes holding a dangerous gleam in them.

“This is not up for debate, Stark. It was already agreed that she is to be taken into military custody and extracted of what she knows about HYDRA, by any means necessary!” Ross exclaimed, his anger rising by the second.

“Listen here, chief , I know full well that she was supposed to kill me. Pepper was a surprise. Yes, that pisses me off, that shouldn’t be a surprise, but I draw the line at blood and gore. I’ve talked with her, I can already see how this will go. Sure, you can talk her into revealing a useless detail or two, but she’s not going to give up any important information. She’d rather die than give you anything!” Tony yelled. He was on the edge of this seat, desperate to make the hard-headed Secretary of State see reason.

“I agree wholeheartedly with Tony, sir,” Rhodey stated, rushing in to back up his friend. “And, once again, with all due respect, sir, don’t you wish you had taken a similar route when you had the chance?” he asked, causing Secretary Ross’s face to contort with confusion.

“What are you talking about?” he demanded sternly.

“It may not be the same scenario, but you had a run-in with Banner years ago, and you had more than one chance to make a more peaceful decision, but you didn’t. While everything turned out in the end, don’t you think it could have been better if you had chosen a better option?” Rhodey asked.

The room fell into an uneasy stillness as Ross found himself unable to answer the dark skinned commander, rage cutting deeper into a line that was just ready to snap at a second's notice. However, he had to compose himself. Losing his cool wasn’t going to help him. Taking a long breath in, Ross forced his anger down and cleared his head.

“That was a different situation. My daughter was involved, Commander Rhodes. I’m her father, it’s my job to protect her . I wasn’t going to risk my daughter’s life on the chance of an enraged radiated green man who had little chance of calming down,” he told them, looking both men dead in the eyes. “I’m not saying it was the right decision, far from it, but look at the damage that HYDRA has caused, not only in the present, but the past as well. Now we have reports of people like Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and that teenager in their ranks. If she’s willing to commit the crimes of an adult, then she should expect to answer as one. 98 people … It’s not just a number on a page, it’s the number of lives she’d taken,” he reminded the two men on the opposite side of the room.

“While I don’t disagree with what you’re saying, sir, there has to be another way,” Rhodey insisted.

“Ditto,” Tony said.

Secretary Ross sighed, looking back at (y/n)’s profile. While looking at it didn’t change how he felt, a small optimistic voice in his head told him that there was always a small chance, while the larger and smarter part of him said that it was unlikely. In his line of work, people rarely changed, whether they were given the chance or not. The child assassin has already killed more people in sixteen years than some of the government's best in nearly half their lives. She was raised to kill and didn’t know any other way of life. This wasn’t exactly a very hopeful case, but…

“Then what do you suggest I do? Hmm?” he asked them, causing Tony and Rhodey’s eyes to widen at his inquiry.

“What?” they asked simultaneously.

“If you’re so intent on finding another way, then what do you intend to do if you don’t think being taken into military custody is the best choice?” Ross asked again, staring blankly at the shocked looks on their faces. “Umm… I kinda need an answer,” he said.

As if Secretary Ross had lifted some sort of spell on them, Tony shook his head, focusing back on the task at hand.

“Oh, w-well- Umm…”

“You mean to tell me that you vouched for her life and freedom when you have no alternative in mind?”

“He makes it up as he goes, sir,”

“Strings you along half the time?”

“You have no idea, sir,”

“YOU GUYS, I’M LITERALLY RIGHT HERE!”

Tony looked back and forth between the two of them, a dumbfounded look on his face as he did.

And they say I need to have better timing . No, stop it! Think Tony, think… , he told himself. He had to figure out something, and quick-

“Redemption!” he blurted out before his brain could even process it. They just completely bypassed his mind before tumbling out of his tongue, but whatever happened, whatever he said, it was too late to take it back or recover from it.

“Redemption?” Ross asked skeptically, making Tony mentally cringe at the tone of it.

“Uhh, yeeeeaaaaahhh,” he said hesitantly.

Rhodey leaned in, lowering his voice to a harsh whisper. “What the hell, man?!” he asked.

“I don’t know, it came out before I could even think on it!” Tony whispered back. Rhodey rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat. 

“Hmm… and how would this work?” Ross asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well…” Tony said nervously, racking his brain for answers. “We’ve done it before, with Wanda and Quicksilver,” he said hesitantly.

Rhodey looked at Tony, and the painful attempt he was making, on the verge of pure desperation. As Tony’s best and longest friend, he can say that there were very few times Tony had ever genuinely had trouble winning an argument, but he’s never seen him do so in such a frantic manner. Not only was it a painful attempt, but it was also painful to watch.

“I think what he’s trying to say is that if HYDRA’s first two magical agents could be swayed so easily after only a few short encounters, then what are the odds that we can do the same thing. Besides, think about what we could learn from her, freely, without any violence or bloodshed,” he said, giving his friend a place to pick up from.

It was as if the heavens had parted and sent a sensible angel to help the suffering genius. A sudden wave of gratitude washed over Tony as he was able to form a coherent thought. “He’s right. We could learn HYDRA secrets that haven’t ever been known to outsiders. How they fight , how they train, how they think . Maybe even a few important locations? Not to mention, I could figure out how her powers work,” he said, tapping his temple with his index finger.

“And if you’re wrong?” Ross asked them. “You could barely stop her the first time, and Spider-Man electrified her on a stroke of luck. Forgive my pun, but lightning rarely strikes twice,” he pointed out.

“We’ll train him. We’ll up security, make sure that if we need to, we can stop her,” Tony said, practically pleading.

“And if it fails?” Ross asked.

“Then you can take her into custody,” Rhodey said, causing Tony to swerve in his chair to look at him.

There was a long pause as Secretary Ross looked from one man to the other. While Tony was physically playing it cool to mask the cosmic sized network of anxiety in his head, Rhodey was leaning back, anxious, but as level headed as any Commander would be even in the heat of battle. However, as minutes passed with Ross staring from the men to the picture of (y/n), Rhodey could feel the tension in him building. Across from them, the older man nodded his head, contemplating what the two men had told him. It was a good deal, he’ll admit. The beginning was sketchy, but their arguments made sense.

“Well?” Rhodey finally asked.

“...”

“...”

“...”

“ Fine . It’s November 1st, I’ll give you until May. That’s six months. You better hope this works, gentlemen,”

Chapter Text

“ What did you agree to ?” Pepper asked, her voice low and threatening to match the glare she was throwing at her fiancé.

“I already told you, me and Rhodey-”

“- Not me , I had no idea what this man was thinking-”

“- I decided that we should try… You know… steering a wayward child towards a brighter future?”

Pepper sighed, dropping herself into the chair. Pepper, Tony, Rhodey, and Happy were all in the meeting room that Secretary Ross had left a little over ten minutes ago. Tony had filled in the other two people in the room on what had happened, and there were mixed reactions, to say the least.

“I don’t disagree with that, even though she’s trained to kill people, and we’re ,” Pepper said, waving her finger back and forth between them. “The people she was sent to kill! I don’t hate this… “redemption” idea, I think it’s great…” she said. However, there was a sense of something unsaid in her voice.

“I’m sensing a but , somewhere in that sentence,” Tony said.

Pepper sighed, the simple action bordering on an annoyed groan. “ But … Have you thought this out at all?” she asked him, her blue eyes communicating all the worry in her mind.

All eyes landed on Tony, their gazes eagerly awaiting an answer. Tony’s mouth opened and closed, practically gasping for any words that could tumble out of his mouth. “Yes, I have,” he said, an air of fake reassurance and confidence in his voice as he pieced together a reply.

“Then where is she going to stay?” Pepper asked. She stared at Tony, and he noticed the challenging gleam in her eyes, making him more determined and stubbornly unable to back down.

“Here,”

“Where? She can’t stay in a chair for seven months. And what about food? She tried to break out the last time we gave her food. What about using the bathroom? What about hygiene? Oh, and she’s a girl , she has "stuff" to do once a mon-”

“Ok! I got it!” Tony exclaimed, holding his hands out in front of him and shaking them rapidly. “We have some kinks to work out here,” he said.

Happy scoffed at the billionaire’s statement, a small smile playing on his face. “That’s an understatement,” he said.

“I thought you were supposed to be on my side?” Tony asked, swerving in his chair to face him.

“Well, realistically, who do you think is going to have to watch her? I mean, I already have to keep an eye on one ambitious teen with good intentions, and that’s hard enough. I don’t need another one with bad intentions instead,” Happy explained.

“I know I already agreed with you,” Rhodey spoke up from his seat, kneading his hands together and resting them on the table as he faced Stark. “But everyone has a point. I love the idea, but it’s easier said than done in the real world. This might be the one thing that you can’t do,” Rhodey said.

Those words echoed in Tony’s head. He believed that anything was possible with enough effort, and so far, he’d proven those words to be true. Looking back on his life so far, nothing has ever stopped him. He wanted to make a giant pure energy generator, so he made it. Make a powerful metal suit that can fly and shoot laser beams like Star Wars? Built in a day and a half . Become a superhero and save the world? Been there, done that. But helping people… He was still working on that. He knew that it would never be finished, but that only drove him to try harder to achieve it. And nothing was going to stand in his way.

The raven haired genius stared at the strawberry blonde woman across from him, their eyes connecting with the others in a locked gaze. Neither of them attempted to look away. “Hey, guys? Can I talk with Pepper alone for a second?” he asked, breaking eye contact to look at Rhodey and Happy.

“Sure,” Rhodey said, lifting himself out of this chair. He took a second to steady himself before walking towards the door.

Tony watched as Happy opened the door, allowing Rhodey to walk out first. “Oh, Happy,” he called.

Happy sighed. “Yeah?” the other man replied.

“Take some food down to Sunshine in the basement. You know, since you’ll be watching her so much,” Tony said, his last few words having a jokingly truthful ring to them. Happy silently groaned as he walked out the door, muttering slight curses in Tony’s name. “Please and thank you!” Tony exclaimed.

"Shut it!" Happy yelled as he walked down the hall, the door slowly sliding behind him.

The door closed, and Pepper once again looked at Tony, giving her undivided attention. “Well?” she asked.

Tony got up from his chair and walked over to the other side where she sat and pulled out the chair next to her, turning it till it faced her direction. Pepper did the same, resting her arm on the table and the other on her lap as Tony forwards in his chair on the edge of his seat.

“Look, I know stuff has been stressful-”

“It’s been more than stressful,”

“Understood. But I can’t help but feel as if it’s something that I need to do,”

Pepper scoffed, shaking her head and folding her arms across her chest. “I know, Tony, and I don’t want to stop you. It’s a great thing,” she told him. “But I don’t know if it’s possible,” she said.

“You know better than anyone that those kind words only make me want to do it even more. I’ve only felt like this a few times in my life, and all of them have led to great things. Starting my company, becoming Iron Man, asking you on a date, and now this. Call it a gut feeling, o-or a sixth sense. She was going to be taken in by the government , Pepper. I couldn’t just do nothing,” he said, his voice soft but firm as he told her. His words were genuine as he talked, maintaining eye contact with her to try and convey the weight and meaning behind them.

Pepper stared at him, her eyebrows curving upwards. Her heart beat just a little bit heavier at his words, and a small smile made its way to her face. Tony watched as she scooched over to the end of her seat, his body taken over by the slight nervousness that appeared within him. Even so, as Pepper wrapped her arms around him, she calmed down, moving to return the action.

Tony exhaled a long breath, relaxing into the hug. “I didn’t know what you were going to do, but this is nice,” he said.

“I just don’t want things to go downhill because of this. I want to have a life with you,” she said.

“Me too. I wouldn’t risk that for the world , but I know I can help someone here,” he said.

Pepper smiled and let out a short and breathy chuckle. “I know. And that’s part of why I love you,” she said.

And there they sat in each other’s arms, the warm sunlight filtering through the window as the stress seemed to slowly start to fade away.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Tonight was (y/n)’s last chance to escape before she’d be put on HYDRA’s kill list, and she still had no way to get out of her damn chair. She already ruled out brute strength and tried summoning different armors and weapons. Some armors would be too bulky and didn’t let her move, or they only made her situation worse by causing the people behind the mirror to rush in with tasers. They all resulted in failure, and she even lost a gun due to dropping it when she tried to shoot her meal giver, a man she recognized as Harold Hogan, or Happy. As a result, she had her first meal taken away before it was brought back a few hours later. To further the punishment, she had to be fed like a one-year-old by having him feed it to her. It was no more humiliating, miserable, and awkward for her than it was for him.

That was yesterday, and she had no choice but to sit still and do what they told her, “behaving” herself. It was all she had left, to lie low and strike when someone had their guard down. It wasn’t likely, but it was her last option.

When I get back, this will be held over my head for the rest of my life , she thought, twisting her wrists in a feeble attempt to soothe the chafing feeling of her skin against the restraints. Let’s face it. At this point, it’s if I make it back , she corrected herself.

For the hundredth time since she’s been there, she sighed, allowing her head to rest against the headrest of the chair. Every second in the chair made her restlessness grow, with no way to get rid of it. She could feel her muscles practically begging her to do anything, even having a good stretch would be good enough to get rid of the physical ache.

A small knock suddenly resounded through the room, catching (y/n)’s attention. She watched with empty eyes as Happy walked in. Her eyes took note of the plate of toast in his hand, melted butter spread all over the warm, golden bread, shining in the light of the room. It had been the same meal she’d been having to eat for the past two days, but she didn’t care.

Still better than the rations , she reminded herself.

“Hello again,” Happy said dryly as he walked behind her, pulling one of the carts that used to hold her heart monitor in front of her. He placed the plate on the cart, once again walking behind her to grab a wheeled stool for him to use. “Still chatty as ever, I see,” he muttered.

(Y/n) said nothing as she frowned at him, eyes dark and threatening.

“It’s your favorite. Toast… again,” he said, taking the toast and breaking it up into smaller pieces. His heart felt as if it had dropped into his stomach as he did, already dreading the extreme awkwardness of it all.

(Y/n) glared at him as he lifted the piece of bread to her face. She felt as if the chair was twisting her bones, making it impossible to find a comfortable sitting position. Her heart flipped as she turned her head, and her face scrunched up. Happy sighed, setting the piece back down on the plate. His face wasn’t that different from hers. (Y/n) could see the clear disdain for the situation on his face. And if it wasn’t for the damn chemical in her blood, she knew for a fact she would have been feeling it too.

They could have chosen any other method, and I’d prefer it more than this , (y/n) thought as she kept her eyes closed.

Happy’s thoughts weren’t too different from hers. If I knew this was how I was going to spend my time, I wouldn’t have accepted this job , Happy thought ruefully. “I can’t do this anymore,” he muttered.

“Me neither,” (y/n) quietly groaned, still refusing to open her eyes or even turn her head.

Happy’s mind didn’t seem to register that this was the first time she had spoken in front of him, his mind still reeling at the fact that this was his life right now. He went from assisting and protecting Tony, to dealing with hard-headed children, and, apparently, force-feeding them. With that last thought, something small in Happy snapped. Not in an explosive way, but more so in a realization sort of way. Happy rubbed his temples, two sides of himself battling over his better judgment and self-control.

At the unusual sound of silence, (y/n) dared to open her eyes, just barely. When she saw that Happy was doing nothing, they opened more. She watched as his eye twitched, and the way he was glaring at the toast as if this whole ordeal was its fault. His foot was rapidly tapping against the floor, the light sound echoing in the room. Then he placed his hands on his pockets, allowing (y/n)’s attention to latch onto the outline of a small rectangular bump in his left pocket.

The remote , she thought. The memory of Tony pushing a button flashed through her mind, almost making her wrists twist in the cuffs. She could finally escape. A lot was riding on this, and she had to play it cool and not lose her head.

(Y/n) turned her head back, leaning on the headrest. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take. You guys might as well starve me,” she said flatly.

“I’m not that far from agreeing,” Happy mumbled to himself.

“Might as well… This is only the beginning,” she told him.

Happy’s hand grasped the space between his hand in the fabric of his pants. She could see the conflict growing on his face with every word she said, and she could practically taste her freedom already. You can do it. Just a few more words , she told herself.

“I think it’s stupid. I mean, I can feed my damn self. All I need is one hand,” she said.

Happy’s eyes turned to meet her own, catching the meaning behind her words, and finally taking note that this was the first conversation she had ever had with him. Immediately, his mind went on high alert, moving his hand away from the remote and resting it on his knee. He wasn’t stupid, he’d heard a first-person account of what the girl sitting in front of him was capable of, as well as reading her file, all before he even met her. She was a person who was trained to kill to accomplish her goals or die trying. Now, all of a sudden, she starts talking. If that wasn’t something to be suspicious of, he didn’t know what was.

Happy sighed, a serious grimace on his face. “How do I know you won’t do something underhanded?” he asked her, his eyes staring hard and stern as he spoke.

She didn’t reply at first, but he could tell she had an answer in her mind as she was making and breaking it to fit her situation. Finally, she spoke, her voice flat and even as she did.

“...You don’t, but what you do know is that I’m strapped to a chair that I can’t break out of with government workers with weapons behind that mirror. Even if I was going to try something, I’d say your chances are more than fair,” she explained, glancing up at the mirror briefly before looking at him again.

She doesn’t know they’re gone? , he inquired to himself.

She had to know that they were gone… Right?

After the deal with Secretary Ross was dealt with, he, along with the rest of the government workers, left the building and went back to… wherever it was that they were before. Happy didn’t know, and he didn’t want to, but they were gone. Was she just acting on the safe side and assuming they were still there? Not many people have been in the room, except for him and Tony, and she hadn’t seen anyone from the government walk into the room. Did they really act as a threat to her, or did she think she could take them?

He sighed, standing up from his chair, looking at the deadly HYDRA agent in front of him. I’m really gonna regret this. I can feel it in my knees , he thought.

(Y/n) watched as he reached his hand down into his pocket before pulling it out, pointing it at her. His thumb rested on a button, and he glared at her, his voice low as he talked.

“You try anything, you won’t even have the liberty to so much as breathe without having a red dot on your head. Got that?” he asked.

She nodded her head. Happy gave a stiff nod before he cautiously walked towards her, anxiously anticipating her to do something underhanded. Nevertheless, as he crept closer, she stayed still. Finally, he stood next to her on her left and placed the remote at the outside base of the cuff. (Y/n) watched as he pressed the button, a beeping sound resounding from it as the cuff folded back into the chair. As soon as he was there, Happy pulled back from her as if she were a blazing fire whose only intent was to burn everything to ashes. (Y/n) raised her hand, a bone chilling series of joints and bones popping at the long awaited feeling of freedom. She twisted it every which way, moving her arm as she silently revelled in the feeling of her muscles getting a chance to move. She pressed her knuckles down on the arm of the chair, a cracking sound making Happy wince.

“Ok! You made your point! Stop doing that and eat,” he ordered her, a disgusted shiver running up his ears registered the disturbing sound. He watched with wary eyes as she eventually set her eyes on the toast, and reached out her hand, and…

She ate it.

That’s it. That was all she was doing, eating. No guns, knives, or anything else she could use that was deadly. She just sat there eating her toast, one bite at a time.

This isn’t so bad… , he thought.

Yet, the feeling in his gut wouldn’t go away. As he watched her eat, regret flooded over the feeling, his mind chastising him for his decision. Something was going to happen, and when it did, he’d have no one to blame but himself. Things continued like that for a few more minutes, with (y/n) sitting there peacefully eating her meal as Happy was about to have an internal nervous breakdown. They didn’t talk, and the room was fairly silent. She didn’t move any part of her body other than her free hand, nor did she look at him or talk. It should have calmed him down, but the uneasiness he felt seemed to increase tenfold.

“I’m done,” she told him, making him jump the tiniest bit. Her voice was flat as she wiped the crumbs from her mouth with her palm. “But before you cuff me, let me ask you something,” she said.

Happy’s body tensed as she talked, already not liking where this was going. Great, it is the gun incident all over again , he thought worriedly.

“What is it?” he reluctantly replied.

“Where am I? Stark tower?” she asked.

Happy internally screamed. “Yeah, in the basement. Also known as one of the most fortified places in the whole building,” he told her, walking towards her left side again to cuff her.

“So I’m in, like, 200 Park Avenue, right?” she asked him, his face scrunching up in thought as she placed her arm on the arm of her chair.

Happy looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully as he placed the remote next to the cuff and pressed the button. “Uhh, yeah, I think so…” he said, turning and making a beeline towards the door. “Bye,” he called as he opened and closed the door.

He closed the door behind him before rushing down the hallway. His heavy footsteps echoed in the empty hallway as he reached the elevator. “FRIDAY, take me to Tony, please,” he called.

“Right away,” FRIDAY answered, the elevator softly jerking upwards as she did. He made it. He was still alive, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. It could be because she was dangerous in general, but she was confirming her location. If she was planning something later tonight, they’d need to be ready.

Meanwhile, alone in the room, she pulled her arm up from the chair. Her heart gave a quick and light flip at the sight of the empty cuff on the chair, the metal shining dully in the light. Her plan had worked. While confirming her location, she also managed to distract Happy, allowing her to pull her hand away while he wasn’t paying close attention. It was a slight movement to the side, barely avoiding the thick metal. Fortunately, the government agents behind the mirror didn’t notice either.

I don’t have time to think about my luck. It’s now or never , she thought.

In a small flash of light, (y/n) summoned a handgun and fired a couple of rounds straight at the mirror, making sure to spread her bullets out. The loud sound echoed through the room, and no doubt throughout the hallway as well. Against the force of the bullets, the glass shattered, hitting the ground like a thousand drops of rain, exposing the room behind it. She stared as the other side of the glass was dark, void of any living thing.

It was empty .

Where are the government workers? Did they leave? Are they on break? Are they just outside the door? No, if they were outside the door, they would have run in , she thought frantically, her mind pulling her through a million different questions, creating a possible solution to each one. She shook her head violently, forcing her crowded brain to become clear enough to think. No. It doesn’t matter. Concentrate on getting out , she told herself.

With her goal in mind, (y/n) took in a deep breath before letting it out. Her gun disappeared from her hand, the light in her hand growing and taking a longer shape until a sword sat comfortably in her hand.

Flame sword , she thought as she looked down at it.

It radiated an intense heat that others would back away from, but she held tightly, feeling nothing more than a cozy warmth from it. The blade was a sleek black color, decorated with a golden bronze metal, as curved orange lines glowed throughout the blade, resembling rivers of lava that flowed from a volcano. Her head snapped towards her other hand, which was still tightly cuffed. She carefully lifted her sword before resting the blade of it against the metal of the cuff before hastily, but carefully, slicing through it, watching as it slowly slid through like a knife cutting butter. She watched as she was just barely a hair away from cutting through before pulling the sword away and stabbing it into the floor in front of her feet. She ignored the smell of smoke before she reached over and grabbed the area of her forearm just before the cuff. Gathering all her strength, (y/n) pulled on it with all her might as her restrained arm pushed against the metal as well. Her arms shook from the force, her arms straining from the stress of fighting against the metal as it groaned. Then she heard the relieving sound of the metal snapping apart, and her arm flew from the chair. The broken bit of metal clattered against the floor as (y/n) nearly hit herself in the face with her fist and arm.

“Finally,” she muttered as she massaged her wrist, her eyes moving to her ankles, narrowing at the cuffs holding them down.

She made quick work of them as she did with her wrist, and found herself stretching her whole body in front of the cursed chair within moments. Her body shook as her back arched and her arms and legs contracted, and another series of cracks and popping sounds came from them. Flame sword tightly in hand, she looked at the door in the interrogation room, as well as the door in the mirror room. No doubt both were locked.

“Might as well,” she whispered, looking at the interrogation room's door.

Backing up, she ran at the door as fast as she could and slashed at the door. Instantly, heat spread from the sword into a fiery blaze. (Y/n) closed her eyes as her nose was filled with the smell of smoke, and a small explosion flooded her ears. Her body rushed through it without any problem, and she opened her eyes to see a wall quickly approaching her. She threw out her foot as it slammed against the wall, stopping herself from crashing into it. (Y/n)’s sword disappeared from her hands as she turned her head to look around. The door was slashed and blackened by her sword as glowing metal was dying around the surface where her blade had touched.

Now what? , she thought.

Before she could continue that train of thought, a red light danced across her vision, followed by a loud buzzer noise. The alarms . Her head snapped between her left and right, her brain trying to decide which direction to run. As she turned to the right side of the hall, her eyes caught the undeniable gleam of elevator doors. She ran down the hall, instantly pressing the elevator button. She watched as they opened all too slowly, immediately rushing inside the second they were wide enough for her to slip through. Her eyes instantly scanned the walls, her eyes finding the buttons. However, her heart flipped as she saw that all the buttons’ lights were off. She pressed the button to the ground floor, but nothing happened as the alarms continued around her.

“Why won’t the buttons work?” she asked herself, the doors closing in front of her.

“The buttons are not needed, miss,”

(Y/n)’s body jumped at the sudden womanly voice. Her body instinctively took a steady stance, and a gun formed in her hands. She held it in front of her, pointing it around the elevator as her eyes darted around, searching for the source of the voice. “Who’s there?” she asked.

“I am FRIDAY, Mr. Stark’s personal AI system,” the voice explained. “I run the building, as well as the elevator. The emergency alarms have been set off, and you must leave the building immediately. Where would you like to go?” she asked.

(Y/n) looked up at the ceiling to see a small speaker next to a ceiling light. She glared at the speaker, her arms lowering down with her gun still in her hands. “Take me to the ground level,” she demanded.

She tensed as she felt the elevator start to rise, her grip on the handle of her handgun tightening slightly, half expecting something to jump out from nowhere. The lift was silent as it moved upwards, except for muffled mechanical sounds from beyond the four walls. All of a sudden, the small space came to a jerking halt, causing the (h/c) haired girl to once again glare at the speaker.

“What happened? Why aren’t you moving?” she asked.

“I’m sorry, but you are stuck in between floors on Mr. Stark’s orders. You will remain here until further notice,” FRIDAY said.

“In between floors? FRIDAY, what floors?” (y/n) asked, her voice rising with each unanswered question.

She waited in vain as no reply came, and she sighed as her gun disappeared. She stood there, staring calmly at the doors. She had to get out of here. She was so close, she could practically taste freedom. There had to be a way out.

“A way out…” she whispered to no one in particular.

(Y/n) paced the perimeter of the elevator. She repeated that phrase over and over as her thoughts ran rapidly. Ideas efficiently flew through her mind, but as each idea came up, she’d reject it due to its questionable probability.

“A way out, a way out… I just need a way out of here,” she said calmly to herself.

She reached the wall, her back resting against it as her body slid to the floor. She tilted her head upwards and stared at the ceiling, her mind drawn blank. Was this really the best she could do? She couldn’t believe that she was barely able to last three minutes out of that stupid chair before ending up here when she probably wasn’t even a whole floor away from it, and now, she was going to die within days.

There's no cutting our way out of this one , she thought.

Her mind seemed to focus on that thought.

“Huh… cut my way out…” she muttered to herself.

Her eyes traveled upwards to the ceiling, unable to look away from nothing in particular. Then, she saw it. A thin, barely visible line where two separate pieces of metal were pressing into one another. Then, it was as if she was hit over the head with a stick, it struck her. The emergency exit…

“Wait a minute… Oh, yeah. It’s all coming together, ” she breathed, standing up as her flame sword appeared back in her hand.

Chapter Text

“Peter, be careful,” Ned said nervously as he watched his friend quickly mix various ingredients into the beaker.

Peter scoffed at him, his brow raising as he smiled at him. “Come on, man, do you know how many times I’ve done this?” he asked cockily. He continued to add the final ingredient before pulling out a stirring stick and glancing at the door. “Ned, can you keep an eye out? I don’t think Mr. Cobwell will be out for much longer,” he told Ned as he quickly began to stir the mixture.

His back was to the rest of the class, and he was trying his best to hide what he was doing. He had to admit, it was nice to have someone to watch his back while he made his web fluid and not to worry about being caught. His school life in general had become so much easier now that Ned knew his secret. Despite not being too long ago, he had delightfully forgotten what it was like to do everything alone.

“On it,” Ned said, his eyes focused on the door.

Peter stared at the beaker intently as it started to change from a pale yellow to clear, slowly becoming thicker to stir through. “Come on, come on, come on…” he muttered as he watched, patiently waiting for the reaction he needed.

Ned watched in fascination as he began to see little specks of white form on the surface. Unfortunately, his fascination was cut by the sound of a door opening, causing his head to snap in its direction.

“Peter! Hurry up!” he whispered frantically, tapping his friend on the shoulder simultaneously.

“He’s here?!” Peter said quietly, briefly glancing towards the teacher’s direction to see him walk back towards his desk. Turning back to the beaker in his hands, he saw little bits of spindly webs form rapidly from the foam. “Finally,” he breathed.

“Quick, put it away!” Ned said hastily to Peter as he watched Mr. Cobwell casually stroll through the class, looking at the work of his students.

“Nice job, M.J.,” he said as he passed the blunt teen as she wrote down her notes. She didn’t spare her teacher a glance, but she nodded her head, humming her proof of acknowledgment.

Peter hurried up and placed the beaker down into an open drawer at Ned’s knees, just barely able to push it closed as Mr. Cobwell came up to them.

“You boys doing ok? Nothing confusing you two?” he asked, genuine friendly concern on his face.

Ned and Peter both nodded their heads a bit too eagerly. “Yup, we’re doing just fine,” Ned assured, his voice steady but forcefully strained.

“Alright, then. Just let me know if you need anything,” Mr. Cobwell said, walking away.

He continued to walk around the room, checking up on different pairs and looking over their work so far. Ned and Peter watched as he got farther and farther away from them, only letting themselves breathe again when he sat at his desk and typed away at his computer. 

“That was close, man,” Peter said, glancing around before opening the drawer again, looking down at his brand new batch of web fluid.

“Yeah, no kidding,” Nedd agreed, grabbing their worksheets. “I’m glad we finished it early, though. Is this why you were always so hell bent to get done in this class?” he asked Peter.

“Yeah, most of the time,” Peter said as he reached into his backpack and pulled out a few empty vials and uncapped them. He proceeded to carefully take the beaker and fill the vials with his web fluid and then cap them back up as tightly as he could, and put them safely inside his backpack. Peter took as much time as he needed, knowing he couldn’t afford to spill it.

“So, before you started making your web stuff, we were talking about… what happened at Stark Tower ,” Ned said, whispering the second part of his sentence.

Peter’s hands fumbled, causing the web fluid to almost drip out as he slowly poured it. “I, uh, told you. It was an eventful day,” Peter growled as he continued his work.

“Did that chick you fought do anything? Oh god, she didn’t try to kill you, did she?” Ned asked him, concern swimming through his voice as much as his eyes.

Peter picked up the last vial, his hands freezing in their place. The vivid feeling of the gun pressed up against his chest made his heart tighten as he swallowed dry spit in his mouth. However, the scene was quickly replaced by a new one, and he was standing in that dark room again, behind the mirror. If he focused on that memory, he could still feel her eyes staring through that pane of glass, knowing he was there without actually seeing him. Then there was his Peter Tingle. It was never wrong, and it’d flare up like a bad allergy whenever he’d walk near her.

“Y-yeah, but I managed to take her down. She almost killed Mr. Stark, though. After that, we brought her in, and he tried to ask her some stuff, but she turned it around and knew who was watching. It was really intense. Even the government workers were nervous,” he told Ned as he finally capped the vial. The web fluid was filled to the brim, its color a milky white. Looking at the empty beaker, he placed it back down in the drawer and pushed it closed.

Ned nodded as he listened to Peter’s brief retelling, his inner fanboy nerd craving all the details of the battle that the brown haired boy had experienced. Despite that, he knew that some battles were harder for him to talk about, and he remembered that as he heard Peter talk about Mr. Stark.

“That’s rough, buddy… You ok?” Ned asked him, leaning on the edge of the lab counter.

Peter exhaled as his eyes met Ned’s, and leaned against the counter as well. “Yeah, I’ve had closer calls, but I still would like to avoid her,” he said.

The chemistry lab’s quiet chatter was cut apart as a loud ringing echoed through the room, everyone’s attention focused on Mr. Conwell’s desk. The man in question turned away from his computer, moving to pick up the black inline phone on his desk and placing it next to his ear.

“Cobwell speaking… I’m doing fine, and you?” he spoke into the phone. “That’s great. What do you need?” he asked.

He nodded his head, and his eyes moved up, searching the classroom for the person mentioned. His search ended when his gaze landed on Peter, and a small feeling of happiness exploded at the prospect of possibly leaving class, regardless of the reason.

“Alright, I’ll tell him… Thank you, bye,” Cobwell said before placing the phone down and fully facing Peter. “Parker! You’re going home. Your aunt is on her way. Get outta here,” he said, turning his attention back to the computer.

A full smile split onto Peter’s face as he picked up his backpack and his books without any hesitation. “See you later, Ned,” he told him gleefully.

However, everyone could hear the small, undeniable words in his eyes whispering, “see ya later suckers, I’m outta jail!”.

As he walked out of the classroom, he could feel the jealous scowls from numerous classmates, except for Ned, who simply waved goodbye. Peter walked down the halls without looking back, enjoying his freedom. The small walk was quiet as he made it to the office, where he sat in a chair, waiting for Aunt May to show up. He wasn’t waiting long when the bubbly woman rushed into the room like she was a chicken with its head, not even looking at him as she hastily signed him out.

“Peter, get in the car, you go to got- got to go!” she said hastily, her words twisting around as she spoke. His Peter Tingle spiked up as he heard her words fumble. It was the worst sign that something was wrong.

“U-um, Aunt May, what happened?” he asked her, a small nervous laugh finding its way into his voice.

“ Family emergency ,” May said bluntly, shortly smiling at the office lady before walking out of the school and to a car out in the front.

His eyes widened in realization as he recognized the sleek black paint, as well as the driver sitting in the driver’s seat. “W-what’s Happy doing here?” he stuttered, turning his head to face Aunt May.

She pushed him towards the car, reaching for the door handle and pulling it open. “Mr. Stark called, he said something happened, and he really needs your help,” she told him, pushing him inside as she slid in next to him.

“What?! Like, now ?” he asked her, bewilderment in his voice.

He stared into her eyes and looked for anything that might hint towards all this being a prank or a false alarm, but it felt too real. While she had accepted that he was going to continue being Spider-Man, she did so begrudgingly with the enthusiasm of lactose-intolerant drinking milk. So, the sight of his Aunt May rushing him into a car that Happy was driving while talking about Mr. Stark was worrying. She was never one to, quite literally, push him towards danger. That meant that something serious must have happened for her to willingly go with all of this. However, he kept his face as calm as he could, not wanting to appear as nervous as he felt.

Now's the time for that , he thought.

May nodded her head. “Yes, now . Happy is going to drop me off at home and explain everything that’s happened so far,” she told him.

“That’s g-great, uh, when do I start?” Peter asked.

“Right after I give you an update on the situation, kid,” Happy chirped in from the front seat.

Everything seemed to go by fast as Happy pulled out from the school, drove through town, and dropped off May at their apartment building. Before Peter could so much as say a word, Happy drove off, telling Peter to change into his suit as he drove. They needed to find a low profile area where they could let Spider-Man out of the car. And so, Happy started to tell Peter how (y/n) had escaped, telling him how she had melted her way out of the chair, blew down the door, and sliced her way through the elevator’s emergency doors-

“Wait a minute. She what ?” the boy asked, raising a brow at Happy.

Happy groaned as his eyes traveled from the road to his surroundings. They still needed a place where Peter could get out in his suit without either of them being seen. But it was hard to find one in the middle of Queens. 

“She slashed the top of the elevator. Cut a hole right through it and climbed her way up the elevator shaft. Practically destroyed the doors to the lobby,” he said.

“Ok, got it. But… Why do you need my help? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you guys want it, but why?” Peter asked.

Peter was now fully dressed in his suit, aside from his head mask, which was held in the grip of his hands as he sat on the edge of the seat, leaning forward. Happy, for obvious reasons, was looking away from him in the front seat. All Peter could see was the back of his head. If he sat right, he could look at Happy’s eyes in the rearview mirror, but other than that, all he had was Happy’s voice.

“Because she seems to be heading through Queens. We’ve been trying to track her all day, but she’s good. The best we could get was a blurry face shot before some subway stairs, and that’s with all of Tony’s best surveillance working on it. So far, we think she might be trying to reach somewhere along the East River,” Happy told him.

Happy risked a second in the rearview mirror, they’re eyes briefly connecting for a second before Happy tore them away. He sighed as he came to a red light and quickly turned to face Peter. Their eyes connected, the look in Happy’s face softening as he looked at the teen while his voice still had his sharp, though dulled, edge to it.

“Look, kid, despite what you may think, we all know what you’re capable of. Tony trusts that you can find and handle her. You know Queens better than anybody else, and you can think quickly on your feet. You’ve already fought her once, so you already know what her abilities are and how she fights. It also helps that you can stop a bus with your bare hands. We wouldn’t pull you out of school if it wasn’t important,” Happy said, turning back just in time as the red light changed to green.

Peter continued staring at the back of Happy’s head, a new feeling of determination in his heart. Though short and simple, it was one of the best pep talks he’d been given yet. After the ones Mr. Stark had given him, of course. As Happy drove down the street, his eyes scanned the road, finally finding a small saving grace.

“Perfect! A parking garage,” he muttered excitedly to himself. The last moments were spent in silence as Happy drove up floor after floor until he came up to the most deserted one. “Ok, mask on and get out,” he ordered, and Peter did as he said.

Pulling on his mask, Peter opened the door, stepping out. Happy had chosen the perfect location to make sure they weren’t seen. He had parked on the opposite end of the floor by themselves and away from a small group of five cars. They were all empty, and not a single person was in sight. Peter walked over to Happy’s window, which was already rolled down, with said man wearing large black sunglasses as he looked at him.

Peter focused on him. “Ok, so you want me to just swing around and look for her?” Peter asked quietly.

“Pretty much. We’ll send updates on sightings to your AI- Yes , we know she’s activated- and let you take it from there. If you find her, tail her and wait for backup if you can. If combat is needed, try to do it away from civilians. We don’t need another ferry incident ,” Happy told him.

Peter’s shoulders slumped at the mention of his biggest mission flop. “Alright, I get it,” he told Happy shyly as he began to walk towards the edge of the floor.

If she’s heading towards the East River, then she’s most likely escaping by water, meaning she probably has a boat… Flushing Bay has a couple of docks, so that’ll be the best place to start , he reasoned. His mind started to fill with different ways she might be heading with every step closer to the end of the floor.

“Hey, do everyone a favor and try not to get killed. May is scarier than she looks,” Happy called out as he watched the red and blue hero step onto the concrete ledge.

Peter smiled underneath his head mask as he looked back at his friend. “Don’t worry, I won’t! And I’ll find her too!” Peter said as he leaped off the building, starting his search for (y/n).

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

(Y/n)’s eyes traveled over the framed subway map on the wall as crowds of people walked past her. She wore a dark blue hoodie that she had stolen from a vendor without being noticed. The hood was pulled over her head, the material having weight to it. The size was larger than she needed and hid her frame perfectly while also helping her blend in. She had her hands shoved in the pockets, hanging loosely inside it. She still had on her mission suit underneath it, but the hoodie managed to make it look like she was wearing a normal pair of black pants and boots.

After breaking out of Stark Tower, she ran to the nearest subway station, ducking her way past as many cameras as she could. She’d spent most of her day underground, only going up if she needed to. The last time she did, it was to get from Manhattan to Queens, and immediately, she felt eyes on her. It stuck with her the entire way until she finally went underground again, making her stick to the subways as much as possible for the remainder of the journey. Unfortunately, the particular train she’d managed to get on didn’t get off anywhere near Flushing Bay, meaning she’d have to brave the surface the rest of the way if she wanted to make it to her rendezvous on time.

“Shit,” she cursed under her breath. She sighed as she turned away from the map and towards the stairs that led up to the busy streets where she’d no doubt be found.

But you’re running out of time. The getaway boat leaves at seven , she told herself.

Her eyes narrowed as she grabbed the tip of her hood and pulled it down further before taking a step towards the stairs. As she walked up, she put herself in the center of the crowd the whole way. When she stepped onto the sidewalks, the first thing she noticed was the air. She no longer smelled the stuffy, stale air that was trapped underground, but cool, fresh air that seemed to fill every part of her lungs. Granted, it wasn’t clear country air by any means, but it was an improvement. The second was the sky. However, not in a good way. It was painted a dull blue as it slowly faded and turned into yellow as it got closer to the horizon. The sun was nowhere above her head, and she couldn’t even see the sunlight hitting the high windows of the buildings above her.

Damn, that last ride took longer than I thought , she concluded, looking over the area.

The map told her that Flushing Bay wasn’t that far and that it was northeast of where she was. So (y/n) took off down the sidewalk, weaving her way through the crowd. She quickly walked through the streets looking around wildly for any signs that could point her to Flushing Bay, and even resorted to… socialization by asking for directions. People stomped past her, some of them occasionally bumping into her before mumbling a quick “sorry” before going on their “merry” way. By the time she looked up, there was a noticeable difference in the amount of blue left in the sky, making her heart do a small flip.

Let’s see… The lady said that I needed to take a left, and it would be straight on from there , she thought as she looked around.

She was standing at the end of an open alleyway that was fairly lit in an empty part of the city, now that more people were starting to arrive home for the night. Then, the petty thieves would start to come out of whatever shadows they hid in, which meant more people would get in her way. Or, more specifically, more people she’d have to kill, and since she was already on close watch, (y/n) didn’t need the extra hassle. She looked down at the other end of the alley before taking a glance behind her to make sure no one was following her. Seeing nothing that could pose a potential threat, she continued to walk down the alleyway.

Then, just as she began to near the other end, she heard the sound of metal crashing to the ground. On reflex, a large firearm appeared in her arms as she turned around towards the direction of the noise. Her body stiffened as it took the proper stance, and her eyes calmly looked around in every direction as her ears focused on every sound and its cause. She briefly focused on the light dripping of water onto the ground from an old pipe onto a steadily growing puddle on the ground. She even heard a rat scurry out of the alleyway into some dark crevice, no doubt. There was nothing for her to sense, but she kept on listening, her gun pointed in front of her as her eyes searched the area.

She took a step down the alleyway, looking for the source of the crash. As she walked further into the alley, she lowered her finger over the trigger. Her eyes scanned over everything, looking for clues. In the yellow light, she saw an old broken pipe no longer than her arm. A good portion of it was orange with rust, as the ends were jagged and cracked.  As she came up to it, she tapped it with her foot, yanking it back as a giant spider dashed out of it faster than she could see it. (Y/n)’s her whole body jerked back from it, her finger almost pressing down on the trigger. Her eyes darted around, searching for it, but it was nowhere to be found. Like it just disappeared into thin air.

And I thought the rats were supposed to be big , she thought as she looked at the shot where the monster spider had been moments before. It was just a dumb bug. Now that I know that, I can get out of here , she told herself.

(Y/n) kicked the pipe away from her, dismissing her gun in a flash of white as she turned around and started to walk down the alleyway again. Just as she was about to enter the street lamp’s light again, she heard a hissing sound, and her foot was stuck to the concrete, unable to move. In an instant, her fighting instincts kicked back on, and there was a flash of light as a sword appeared in her hand. It was thicker and bronze with a slight curve to it at the end. She held it in both hands as she pointed it towards her opponent, her body twisting as best as it could with one foot stuck in place.

“Who’s there?” she called out.

She looked around, finding nothing but herself within the alley. All she was met with was darkness as she twisted herself as much as she could with a stuck foot. Then, she heard him , and her desire to kill went from zero to ten in an instant.

“You look a little lost there. Need help finding Stark Tower?”

She knew that voice all too well by now. If it could, her blood would’ve boiled at the mere sight of him. (Y/n) looked up to see Spider-Man, her cold, emotionless eyes staring right into the white of his mask. There he was, perched on the edge of the building above her, looking down at her. Her eyes flickered down to see a familiar giant “spider” that crawled onto the center of his chest and fit itself into the emblem on his chest.

She should have known.

“It’s you,” she said as she stared him down.

Chapter Text

This guy doesn’t quit , (y/n) thought.

Her gaze locked with Spider-Man’s eyes, or at least where she assumed they were. She narrowed her eyes, giving him the most intimidating look she could muster. In all her missions, never had she come across an opponent so… bothersome . Every time she seemed to hit him, he just came back like some eager, pugnacious cockroach that was too stupid to die. She glanced upward at the sky. The sun was getting closer to the horizon, making her silently curse the young suited hero. She was already cutting it close as it was, and she didn’t need a repeat of the other night. She had to end this and get out of there. Whether that meant the oversized bug standing at the top of the building lived or not, she didn’t even care anymore.

“You know, we should really stop meeting like this. I have been looking for you, like, all day ,” Peter exclaimed in a lighthearted tone to mask his nervousness. The events of Halloween were still fresh in his mind, and he almost half expected her to rip through his webs and come at him with a fleet of bullets flying at him.

“I’m flattered,” (y/n) told him with a sarcastic voice. “I’m sure every girl wants to hear as she’s stalked, alone , on her way home,” she added bluntly, folding her arms across her chest and leaning on her leg that was webbed to the ground. The eyes on his mask grew, mimicking his eyes as they blew wide at the meaning of her words.

“Oh, geez! That's not what’s happening here! I’m just-”

“So you didn’t spend the whole day following me just to corner me in an alleyway as it’s getting dark out?”

“This is different! You tried to kill someone! You’re a criminal!”

A dark look passed over her blank (e/c) eyes, and Peter thought for a second she was going to get angry. Despite the look on her face, she stayed as calm and composed as ever, her voice unwavering as she spoke to him from below.

“So you’ve never committed a crime before? What about breaking and entering into private property, or stealing files and belongings for proof? What about the “occasional” physical assault? Those are crimes that come with the job, don’t you think?” she asked, causing Spider-Man to silently stammer at her query. “And what about just being a hero in general? What about the lives you’ve made worse? The criminals who had no choice but to turn to illegal means to live, so that the people they love can live, or the ones you’ve caused to be taken . Tell me, have you thought about the people who should be out breathing right now? What about all of them?” she asked emotionlessly as she stared at him.

For a brief second, an image of his uncle filled his mind. Everything came back to him. The grief, the sadness… the guilt . He thought of The Vulture and his family. They were happy . He was a man who was just trying to save his family from poverty, but he was sent to jail, and his wife and daughter had to move as a result. He didn’t think that justified illegal weapon trafficking, but Peter could still see where the man was coming from. Peter thought about it often. He’d spent countless nights in bed wondering what he could have done differently if there was another way to have handled it. He remembers not getting any sleep and waking up exhausted the next morning, with that deep feeling of regret in the pit of his stomach. Not wanting to eat, drink, or feel. The desire to stop thinking, even for a moment, just to have a second to himself, that would distract him from the lives that should have been alright to this day. Peter finally snapped out of his quickly darkening thoughts when the girl at the bottom of the building clicked her tongue, looking away as she unfolded her arms to let them hang at her sides.

“I know for a fact that I’m not a hero by any means. I’m a killer. A gun. I’m not good in any sense of the word, but I’m not completely a villain either. Most of the lives I’ve taken haven’t been civilians, but criminals, terrorists, or other hired guns. I simply take the side that most benefits me, and that happens to be the side HYDRA is on,” she told him.

Silence passed as they stared at each other, watching to see who would make the next move. It came a lot sooner than they both wanted when a small beeping came from the (h/c) haired teen. Her hands flew to check her pockets and utility belt until she found the object making the noise. Her pager . Her escape boat was almost at the docks. Was it that close to seven?

She looked back at him. “As much as I love talking about this subject, I do have somewhere to be,” she said, a gun flashing in her hand as she aimed at his head.

Peter’s eyes widened again, a small curse slipping past his lips as he hit the deck, a loud gunshot ringing through the air. What the hell is wrong with her?! , he thought as he lifted his head to chance a glance at her, but she was already gone. All that was left behind was a small, sliced pile of webbing with burned ends. Great . Now he had to chase a magical bringer of death through the streets of Queens! It was like she was trying to become his cardio trainer.

“ Again ?! She has to be shitting me- Get back here !” he shouted.

He scrambled back up and shot a web at the building across from him before he began his journey from rooftop to rooftop. He ran along the edge of the buildings, his eyes searching for a head of (h/c) hair. One of the benefits of it being later in the day was, barely anyone was out. Without a crowd to blend in with, finding her again was easy.

Ahead of him, (y/n) ran as fast as she could, not even bothering to trouble herself with looking behind her. She knew he had to be hot on her tail, but she’d deal with him when he caught up. She just had to run as fast as she could to avoid him. Her eyes searched wildly for anything that could lead her to Flushing Bay. Finally, she found a directional sign at the end of the street she was fast approaching.

Strip mall, bus stop- The bay! Take a left , she listed off mentally.

The soles of her boots skid against the sidewalk as she came to the corner, her body nearly crashing into the sign before she continued to run. Just as she passed the corner, she felt a light slap on her back before she was yanked backward. A gasp escaped her as her feet swung into the air, her head and back smashing against the concrete, causing her to let out a pained groan. She sat up slowly, wincing at the dull pain she felt at the back of her head from lifting it. She turned her body to look behind her to see a long, silvery string of webb stuck to the center of her back, leading all the way back to-

“JUST STOP RUNNING FOR ONCE, WILL YOU!” a familiar voice yelled from behind her, gasping for breath as if it was going to keel over.

Looking up, (y/n)’s eyes locked on Spider-Man’s hunched over form on the sidewalk, heaving in the air like a beached whale.

“I… I-I-I can’t take all this running… G-geez- Are you in track ?!” he asked her with a hoarse voice, nearly coughing out his lungs in the process. He was hunched over with his arms straightened and resting on his knees.

(Y/n) stared at him, her face blank. “I don’t have time for this,” she mumbled.

Standing up, a sword flashed into her grip. It was a long, metallic silver color with bright red jewels lining the middle of the flat of the blade. The handle was a dark brown with bronze edging in the grip, pommel, and blade, which divided it into equal angled sections. With a swift slash, she cut through the hero’s web, a small trail still hanging off her back.

“Don’t make me use this,” she told him, brandishing it.

Peter looked at her, taking in her fighting stance, and did the same. “That’s a pretty cocky thing to say considering you lost the first time,” he quipped.

“That’s a bold statement, considering I almost put a bullet in your chest until Stark saved you,” she retorted as she pointed the tip towards him.

Peter watched her, and his Peter Tingle came on, and the hairs on his neck and arms shifted underneath his suit. She was planning something, soon. “Ok, I get it. We’re even,” he said.

“Not really, but I’ll let you pretend. I underestimated you, child, and I won’t do it again,”

“I’m not a child, I’m a m- It’s right there in the name - Ahh !” he screamed as she pounced at him, his reflexes once again saving him as he turned. 

The blade cut through the air mere centimeters away from his nose. And as she continued moving, he saw her eyes and locked onto them. Just as Stark had seen hours earlier, they were bland and empty. No depth, or lighter and darker hues of (e/c). Emotionless, cold, and empty.

Just as she was about to pass him, (y/n) swerved back on her last step in his direction and swung at him. Peter quickly ducked and shot a web at her closest foot and stood up, pulling it up along with him. The (h/c) haired agent’s back once again slammed on the ground. The air in her lungs rushed out through her mouth, and she nearly lost her sight for a few seconds as the pain in the back of her head increased slightly. Taking in a deep breath to regain it, she flicked her wrist and the red jewels on her blade faintly glowed, a magical light spreading to the bronze colored metal that was dividing it. Peter watched in amazement as the sections popped and separated from each other, the only thing connecting them was a dark brown metal wire going through each jewel. But by the time the glow went away, the sword whip’s transformation was complete.

Damn, I need one of those , he thought in awe.

His hidden fascination was cut off as she waved her arm, the curving blades following her movement gracefully, cutting the web stuck to her back in the process. Peter backed away from (y/n) and out of range. (Y/n) shot up to her feet and ran at him as the sound of the blades ringing against each other filled the atmosphere. As she pulled back her hand, she pulled it forward, whipping it at him. He dodged it swiftly, a tinge of regret forming in his chest.

“Sorry in advance!” he exclaimed as he pulled back his hand as it formed into a fist before slamming it against her face.

Her head turned in the direction of his punch, her body following her head. She staggered back, her sword whip falling limp from the handle in her hand. Her other hand flew up to her mouth, where she was already feeling a warm fluid flowing from the blazing cut, and the taste of her metallic blood bursting across her tongue. She looked up at her opponent, spitting a large glob of red spit at his feet and swallowing whatever was left in her mouth.

“If you’re going to punch someone, mean it. Don’t apologize like a coward,” she said bluntly, once again taking a stance.

(Y/n) moved to strike again, her sword whip curling as she cast it through the air. Peter let out a small scream as he bent backward. His back cracked and popped as he practically made a ninety-degree angle in a direction that didn’t look natural. He groaned as he raised his hands and pushed off his feet. He flipped with an accidental grace, landing in a crouching position.

“Ooooh, oh… My back hurts in so many places it shouldn’t yet… Oh, wait, t-that kinda feels nice, now,” he said to no one in particular.

A flash of light caught his attention as he remembered the reason for his pain, and he watched as the HYDRA agent’s foot came closer and closer to his face. With a great speed that even surprised himself, Peter grabbed her foot just before it could kick him in the mouth. 

Before (y/n) could even react, the suited hero pulled her foot forwards, and she came crashing to the ground on her back… again, and the pain in her head increased… again. I’m starting to see a pattern here , she mentally noted.

As she looked up, she saw Spider-Man standing up, looking down at her. Her instincts kicked in, but as she went to move her hands and feet, she felt resistance in the way. Looking down, she saw her hands webbed beside her waist and her feet webbed together. Pulling again, she was only able to shift them an inch, making her groan.

“Listen, I don’t want to fight you any more than I’ve had to already,” Spider-Man said, holding out his hands to try and pacify the struggling girl. “Please, we don’t want to hurt you. I promise ,” he told her, his voice trembling with a genuine sincerity that (y/n) had never heard before.

“I don’t give a shit,” she said, throwing in as much disdain as she could make up.

“I don’t know how many promises have been broken for you, but I just want to try and help you,” he pleaded.

“I have gone through life just fine without the-”

She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes caught on something past him. In her peripheral vision, she watched him turn around cautiously, then back at her. Turning to follow her vision, he saw that she was staring at a store. There wasn’t anything particularly special, just a closed deli shop. The lights were all off, save for a red glowing clock right by the door, along with its hours.

“Umm… is something wrong?”

“The clock,”

“Uhh, yeah? What about it?”

Six fifty-seven , she thought.

She didn’t answer him as she stared at the barely visible white dot not too far from his head, as it stood out against the slowly darkening sky. The flipping in her chest started like a bronco in a ring, unbroken and spirited. And it only continued to intensify until it became uncomfortable. For a second, she thought she would have sensed a sliver of emotion run through her. If she did, she didn’t catch it quickly enough.

The hairs all over Peter’s body went haywire as he watched her stare, and a small crack formed by her left hand. But just as it had started to grow, it stopped. And then he felt a wave of power wash through him. It felt alive and dangerous. He looked down at (y/n), his eyes wide with trepidation.

There was a flash of light that engulfed (y/n), and when she reappeared, she was donned in a set of armor. The armor perfectly matched her flame sword. It fit her body frame perfectly, as she flexed her muscles in it. Like the sword, it was a sleek black metal with glowing lines that imitated rivers of lava, but it had red metal lining where one part or section of armor ended. All the glowing rivers sprouted from a singular pool that was placed over her heart, the rivers giving an illusion that the supposed lava was flowing from it. And like its matching weapon, it radiated heat.

Peter watched as she started to pull against his webs again, but this time, he watched as smoke rose from where her hands and feet struggled against them. He watched as they sizzled and bubbled until they snapped, small flames of fire slowly dying down from them.

“H-how’d you do that? Normal fire isn’t can’t burn through them!” he asked her, his words quivering as he did. His hands trembled slightly at his sides as he watched her stand up.

“I’m done with you,”

Without so much as another word, she went at him.

Peter could only watch as she flew at him, landing a scorching punch right into his shoulder, making sure to dig her knuckles right into his skin. A wave of heat forced his eyes to close, and he felt a searing hotness scorch his shoulder. It was as if his skin was suddenly branded, and he let out a pained cry. Opening his eyes, he watched as the black gauntlet burned through the tough material of his suit. Karen’s voice spoke into his ears as his body stumbled back from the force of the hit.

“Peter, some web combinations may not be available due to the sudden damage to your suit's shoulder area,”

“Not now, Karen- oof !”

Peter couldn’t speak any further as he was punched in the gut, making him stagger back and double over, and clutch his stomach. He looked up just in time to dodge what would have been a strike to his rib cage, moving to the side. He shot a web to the higher part of the building next to them. He jumped, practically flying through the air as he pulled himself up. His hands and feet lightly slammed against the bricks, and seconds later, he felt the tingling sensation of his feet and one of his hands sticking to the building.

(Y/n) looked up at Spider-Man. Their eyes clashed together in a stare that could have killed the other if eyes had the power. Even as blank and empty as they were, one could look and feel the unwavering will power behind those (e/c) hues and know she meant business. Her opponent knew it too, as he began to raise his wrist and aim it at her. She watched as the web shot out of his wrist, making its way towards her, and her eyes briefly widened.

Just as her legs twitched to instinctively move out of the way, she stopped. No, she’d been dodging his webs the whole time, and now she had dragged on this fight longer than it needed to be. Just as she faced the web head-on, a memory popped into her head…

“Dad, you’re being too hard!” (y/n) exclaimed from her place on the training floor. She looked up at her Dad, who was both smiling and panting as he held her sword in his hands.

“Well, we’re training. You didn’t think I’d go easy on you, did you, sunshine?” he said, teasing her with his nickname.

“Dad, stop joking… And stop pointing my sword at me,” she snapped, pouting as she pushed herself onto her feet.

“Maybe if you had won, you wouldn’t be in this problem. Do you want to know how I keep beating you today? It’s the most important thing you can learn if the person you’re fighting is a little tough,” he said, his face growing serious as he kneeled to her height.

“...What is it?” she asked, bitterness mixed in with her curiosity.

“ I used your own strength against you ,”

Her arms moved on their own, moving one forearm to cover her face while the other tensed at her side, ready to be of use as her armor flashed away. The web silently connected to her forearm, and she didn’t waste a second. Wrapping her arm around the silvery strings, she grabbed it with her other hand, pulling it towards her. The moment happened as if it were in slow motion. She felt the tension in every part of her body as her muscles pried the red and blue suited hero from the building, causing him to fly at her. Her heart beat calmly in her chest as she stared him down. It was as if it were just the two of them at this moment. Her vision was centered on the ever-growing sight of Spider-Man, and she drew back her fist before throwing it forward, connecting with his jaw. Time seemed to speed back up as she watched him crash to the ground in a series of groans and sighs as well as a couple of mumbled broken words that she couldn’t, nor bothered to, decipher. His body lazily moved around, trying to stand up but failing. He landed on his side instead and looked up at her dumbly.

“A small tip,” she started as she used her flame sword to cut the string of web from her arm. “Next time you have to punch someone, go for the jaw. Knocks 'em straight out,” she told him as his head fell to the ground, her sword flashing away in a white light.

She didn’t even look at him another moment. She just ran . She ran as the police started to show up, disappearing just as they had arrived on the scene. She followed the signs that would lead her to the docks and her getaway boat, except it would be nowhere in sight. She would get there, and it would be nowhere in sight. Standing at the edge of a dock, she’d freeze as reality set in. She didn’t know what else to do, and soon she realised that there wasn’t anything to do. She stood there until the moon rose and stars started to appear, staring out at the bay, looking at the city lights on the other side, her mind empty. Even as she heard sirens and running footsteps coming towards her, she made no move to escape or fight, even as she was tackled and webbed as Spider-Man appeared. She didn’t answer back to whatever he was babbling about, or react to being completely restrained from the waist up, so that the only thing she could do was walk. She didn’t even move as she was shoved into a high-security van and forcibly strapped back into a chair at the bottom of Stark Tower.

It wouldn’t matter soon anyway.

Chapter Text

“Y-you should eat, you know?” Spider-Man said as he pushed a plate of peanut butter and jelly sandwich towards her, but all she did was stare at him with a blank expression.

They were back in the room she had been in the day before, the broken remains of the metal door placed against the wall in the hallway. The chair she was strapped in was new, having extra thick cuffs, and a built-in alarm that would shock her if she tried to move too much. Though she hadn’t done anything to activate it yet. Her fire armor had long since been switched out for her normal black mission suit to make herself comfortable in her last days of life.

Across a fold-up table was Peter in a plastic chair, fully suited. Until they knew she wouldn’t at least try to kill him, Tony gave him strict orders to keep his suit, and more importantly,  his mask, on. After practically cocooning her top half in webs and walking her into Stark Tower like a dog on a leash, Peter had been put in charge of keeping an eye on her. However, the (h/c) haired girl hadn’t done so much as talk to him. The most movement he’d seen her do so far was shift herself so she could be more comfortable.

“Not hungry,” (y/n) mumbled quietly.

Peter sighed. “I was told that you haven’t eaten anything since yesterday. Did you at least eat while you escaped?” he asked.

“No,” she replied.

“Then you should eat. Don’t you think?” he said, trying to reason with her.

(Y/n) sighed and straightened her sitting position, never breaking her eye contact with him. “I'm not going to cooperate for you any more than I did for the last guy,” she said.

Peter’s face scrunched up in confusion as the eyes of his mask shrank before they widened back. “Are you talking about Happy?” he asked.

“Yes, but he wasn’t happy in the least,”

“Oh yeah, that’s Happy,”

Silence took over after that. Seconds ticked by, agonizingly dragging into minutes. Never once did (y/n) take her eyes off him. It was almost like she was a doll. Sitting in a stiff and firm posture, eyes blank and staring at him for seconds at a time before blinking, but the staring alone was enough to make him want to squirm in his seat.

“Can you stop it?” he asked her in a nervous but irritated tone.

“Stop what?” she asked back.

“Watching me,” he told her. “It’s rude, and it’s freaking me out a little,” he added.

“Why?” she asked bluntly.

Peter raised a brow, which resulted in his right eye growing slightly bigger than his left. “ Why ? Because it makes me uncomfortable. Doesn’t it make you uncomfortable?” he asked her.

“I wouldn’t know,” she told him.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“That’s not your place to know. Besides, I was thinking about how disappointing it is that you’re the last person I’ll be seeing ever again,” she said.

Peter’s eyes went back to normal as he took his turn to stare at her. (Y/n)’s words seemed to fly in his head before crash landing, sticking in his mind. Ever again? What was that supposed to mean? He didn’t think she meant to die, but it was safe to say she wasn’t a kidder.

“Again? What do you mean again ?” he asked her.

His voice was calm but underlined in an apprehensive pressure that (y/n) was sure to notice, but she didn’t answer. All she did was stare at him. It was something in the silence that started to make his heartbeat quicken in worry.

“(Y/n)-”

“I’ll handle it from here, kiddo,”

Peter whipped around in his seat to see Tony standing in the broken doorway. His arms were folded across his chest as his eyes flickered over the two teens in the room.

“M-Mr. Stark!” the red suited hero exclaimed as his eyes fell on him.

“Bask in my presence later, I’ll talk to her. Get in the room,” Tony said with an uncharacteristically peaceful voice. The raven haired man jerked his head towards the mirror, and his pupil nodded his head.

“I take it back. He’s more disappointing,” (y/n) quipped.

Peter got up and walked out of the room, making sure to avoid touching the scorched and broken door on his way out. He turned towards the door at his immediate side and opened it, heading inside the familiar room behind the glass. It was a bit darker this time, as fewer lights were lit, making the light coming through from the mirror the most illuminating thing in the room. Peter pulled off his mask as he walked up to it and watched Tony sit in his chair. He leaned against the fold-up table on his elbows, using his left hand to push the plate closer to her.

“Kid was right, you know. Probably should eat,” he suggested.

(Y/n) shook her head, giving him her best glare. “Don’t think so. I don’t like being fed like a baby. Feels degrading,” she said back.

Tony hummed, slowly nodding his head before picking up the sandwich in his hand. “Well, if you won’t, I will. Bad to waste a good sandwich like that,” he told her before taking a big bite out of it.

The (h/c) haired agent watched as he chewed it up with no reaction, except for a barely noticeable smile on her lips. “... Taste good?” she asked him.

“Mmm, widdle heavy on da peanut budder,” Tony spoke through the food in his mouth, covering it as he did so in case food flew from it on accident. He spent a few more seconds chewing before swallowing, setting the sandwich back down on the plate.

“You know, I think you were a bit more talkative with the kid back there. Any reason?” Tony questioned her, lifting a brow.

“No offense, but he’s a bit nicer than you… and less annoying,” she said.

Tony gained surprise as he slapped his hand over his heart and leaned back in his seat. “I. Am. Wounded ,” he gasped at her. “A blow I’ll never recover from,” the genius added.

(Y/n) could only look at him from across the table. I’d rather take Happy at this point , she thought.

“Not a fan of dramatics?”

“No,”

Tony sighed as he leaned back against the table, looking off to the side. “Great, another Rhody,” he muttered.

“Hm?” (y/n) hummed.

“Nothing- The real topic should be what you were talking about before I came in here,” he said.

(Y/n) noted his shoulders tensing, his eyes narrowing and focusing in on her, and his eyebrows furrowing together. He was serious about this.

“... Nothing you need to worry about,” she said.

“Normally, I’d take those words and throw them out the window, and I’m still feeling normal. So suck it up, buttercup. You’re going to tell me what you meant by “ever again” by the time the day’s over, one way or another,” Tony promised.

“I said it was nothing for you to worry about-”

“Open your mouth,”

“...”

“...”

“I beg your pardon?”

Tony stood from his seat and walked over to her, dragging the chair behind him. Once he was next to her, he set down the chair and plopped down in it. “Open your mouth. Make this easier and tell me which tooth it is,” he ordered.

“Tooth? What tooth?” she asked. Taking advantage of her talking, Tony held her jaw, keeping it open as he looked in her mouth, taking notes and inspecting her teeth like a dentist in an office.

“You know, your suicide tooth? The one you bite down on or something to kill yourself with? I thought HYDRA made you guys have those… At least, Steve said you did,” Tony said.

He moved her jaw every which way as he looked in her mouth, as (y/n) started to resist. She jerked and pulled relentlessly as Tony continued to look at her teeth in a battle of wills. Her jerking caused the alarm to turn on, and she felt a small shock go through her body, making her yelp out in a muffled manner. Only when Tony was satisfied with his search did he let go of her before backing away to a respectable distance, wiping his hands on his shirt.

“Bottom's good, though you could use a good floss,” he noted. “Well, on to the top,” he said to himself.

Watching his hand come closer, (y/n) pulled her head away, once again feeling the shock go through her body. “STOP IT! I don’t have one! I didn’t get a chance before I was sent off, you psychopath!” she told him.

Tony took a relieved breath as he raked his hand through his dark hair, slumping in his chair. “Oh, thank god,” he sighed. “I thought I was going to have to poke a pencil back there or bring in a real dentist,” he said. (Y/n) ignored him as she yanked her head away from him.

“Now that I know you can't become a martyr, what did you mean by “ever again”?” Tony asked as he stood up and moved back across the table.

“Why would I tell you?” (y/n) asked him, her voice raised a little bit.

Tony stared at her as if she had grown an extra head. Suddenly, a wave of sadness came over him. It was as if she didn’t care about her own life as much as he did. He, who was a complete stranger and enemy. Was that a normal thing in HYDRA? He assumed not. He thought that all of HYDRA only cared about themselves. It was like she just… didn’t care .

Tony looked dead in her eyes as his voice became stern as he talked to her. “Because if it concerns your life, I make it my point to know. I don’t know how things are run over at HYDRA, but we make it a point to not let you get killed here,” Tony informed her.

(Y/n)’s only reply to him was silence. Tony, even Peter, could see that she was thinking, calculating her options and risks. From his place behind the mirror, he remembered what she said while he had webbed her in the alley.

“I simply take the side that most benefits me,”

Was that true? Was that what she was wondering about now? Or did she still feel a sense of loyalty somewhere in her? She mentioned her father earlier, so he assumed that she must have been raised within HYDRA.

If they raised her, and her parents are a part of HYDRA, then there’s not much chance she’ll betray them… Right? , he thought.

Inside the room, (Y/n) stared at Tony with unblinking eyes. “Why do you want me alive? What do I do for you? I already told you that I'm not telling you anything. You might as well send me wherever I'm going. It'll be less trouble for you,” she advised him.

Tony chuckled, shaking his head while it hung down a little. It wasn’t an amused one, as much as he thought it should be. He was a multi-billionaire. Obviously, he wasn’t disappointed about a lot of things in life. It was more of him reaching his breaking point. “I’ve met a lot of stubborn people in my life, but you seem to already be in the top five, and I barely know you,” he said in a falsely impressed tone of voice.

“Is that something I should be happy about?” the (e/c) eyed girl asked.

His quiet laughing came to a gradual stop, and he lifted his head to look at her. “No, but what you should be happy about is that we will protect you from whoever is sent to kill you. We’ll protect you from them, I promise,” he said.

Peter watched as (y/n)’s eyes stayed on Tony's for a second too long, and he could just barely see her lean back in her chair. He watched as Mr. Stark leaned back in his chair as well. However, it wasn't in a smug way, but to mirror her actions. He wasn't trying to coax information from her, but convince her to work with him, and he, apparently, had just hit a very important main point in his speech.

“How’d you figure it out?” she asked.

Her query caused a bright smile to spread on his lips, and his eyes lit up and danced in the light of the room. “I hadn’t… until now ,” he told her, his voice full of triumph.

Once again, her eyes widened, though it was significantly bigger, and her hands didn’t clench. “What do you mean, until now …” she asked, her voice small and sounding as if it was getting farther away.

“I pulled out the oldest trick in the book, and you fell for it !” the billionaire cackled, the look on her face making him want to double over, maybe even slap his knees.

Her heart flipped quickly as she watched him chuckle, and she turned her face away from him to look at the mirror instead. “Kill me now,” she said.

Behind the mirror, Peter had a small smile on his face as he watched the scene in front of him. A sliver of teeth was showing behind the fingers of his hand as he internally laughed at the scene in front of him. “Sorry, goes against my morals,” he said quietly with a light-hearted whisper.

Tony slowly stopped laughing and faced her again. “No, he won’t help you,” Tony said, answering her. His smile had shrunk to a calmer size and was directed at her. The atmosphere of the room grew into a comfortable silence as (y/n) sighed and let her head fall against the headrest. “And a good thing too. Kid’s not a murderer like you,” he told her.

She didn’t answer him, nor did she give any hint that she was listening. Tony looked at her, his smile disappearing. This is going nowhere… At this rate, she just let herself get killed , he thought. His heart got heavy at the very concept of it.

Time to speed things up .

(Y/n)’s head lifted from the headrest when she heard the sound of the plate sliding against the table. Half of the sandwich was torn off, leaving the side that Tony had eaten in his hand. She turned to look at him as he stood up from his chair and began to walk towards the doorway.

“What are you doing?” (y/n) asked him, causing him to stop just before it.

He turned around to face her while pointing his thumb in the direction of the hall. “Uhh, leaving?” he stated simply.

“Why?” she asked.

Tony and (y/n)’s eyes once again locked into a staring contest of sorts. “Because I know when to back down. I’ll be back tomorrow, but before I do…” he said, his voice trailing off. (Y/n) lifted her brows at him, waiting for him to continue. “I want you to know that murder or not, I’m too stubborn to let you die. And if you truly love your parents, wherever they may be, then you’re going to get that little spark of spunk from before and refuse to let someone beat you. If they love you half as much as you love them, they'd be pretty sad and pathetic if you just bit the dust,” he said, taking his leave and walking out of the room as he popped his half of the sandwich in his mouth.

Peter turned around as the door opened and Tony came into sight. “Oh, hey, Mr. Stark,” he greeted.

“Hey, kid,” Tony spoke in a muffled voice as he walked up next to Peter, his eyes staring at the (h/c) haired girl. Her gaze still lingered on the doorway where Stark had been seconds before.

“What now?” Peter asked his mentor, his eyes shifting back and forth between Tony and (y/n).

Instead of answering him first, Tony pulled out the chair’s remote from his pocket before pointing it at her and pressing a button. Instantly, the cuff on her right hand folded back into the chair, allowing her movement. She looked confused at first and flexed her hand, which released a series of cracks from her joints. Her focus didn’t stay on her hand for long as her eyes traveled to the sandwich on the plate. Taking a glance at the mirror, she cautiously reached out and grabbed it. Tony and Peter watched as she began to scarf it down, her eyes kept down low and away from the mirror.

“Now we begin phase two,” Tony finally replied.

“We had phases?” Peter asked.

“You act like I never have a plan, kid. I think that was an insult,” Tony jested, a small smirk on his face. “But in all seriousness, you now have a partner in your “Stark Internship”,” he told the teen next to him.

“Am I going to die?”

“No, but you might feel like it, though,”

“Oh great ,”

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Footsteps echoed loudly through the halls of one of HYDRA’s most secret bases. They were like rolling waves of thunder in contrast to the quiet setting of the lit hallway. The source of the footsteps was a young woman with her hair pulled back into a tight bun, carrying a small tray of food as well as a notebook with a new pack of pencils, a sharpener, and erasers. Coming up to an elevator, she balanced everything on one hand as the other pushed a red button next to it. The doors slid open, allowing her to step inside as she pulled out a card from the breast pocket of her black uniform. Once the doors were closed, she looked for the button she needed amongst the rows of similar buttons. After finding the one she needed and pushing it, a robotic voice spoke from the speaker.

“Going to this level requires an access card. Please insert your card into the slot below,”

She followed the instructions and inserted her card into the slot. As she pulled it out, there was a beeping sound, and the elevator started to lower. After a minute, the elevator doors opened again, and she walked out.

She walked down a hallway of metal doors with keypads on the door handles and metal bars so you could see into the rooms. The woman was in the lowest level of any HYDRA base. The cells were dark, the only light filtering through the bars on the door. They weren’t filled with much, except a mattress on the floor with a small toilet and sink on the right wall. Since it was one of the best-hidden bases, only five prisoners were occupying them, but after today, it would go back down to one. The academy needed live targets for the shooting drills.

The woman walked to the very last cell, peering in through the bars. This cell was a bit bigger than the rest, and there was actually a pillow and blanket made neatly on the mattress, as well as a mirror above a sink, with a small trash can to sit next to a toilet. Papers were scattered in small piles near the mattress, while others were taped on the wall. Words, numbers, letters, and sketches were scribbled all over them. Sitting on the bed, shrouded in the shadows, was a small, huddled form of a woman facing the door.

The HYDRA agent entered a code into the keypad before opening the door and leaving it open as she walked in. “I got your food, as well as a hot cup of coffee this time. Food still tastes like shit though,” she said in a blank voice.

The woman on the mattress looked up, her green eyes briefly reflecting the light from the hallways. They were old and worn, but alive nonetheless. Her dull blonde hair was matted and pulled into a messy ponytail with strands of hair falling on her face.

“Food’s food down here, and I doubt they’ll make it better for me,” she said.

“Hmm… Can’t argue with that,” the other woman said. “But you should still eat it. Oh, and I got the stuff you needed to keep on writing the calculations,” she told the green eyes woman as she set the stuff down on the floor.

“Ok. Here, take these. They’re done,” the green eyed woman said as she picked up the piles around her mattress and gave them to the HYDRA agent.

“Thanks. Enjoy your meal, Kate,” she said as she walked out of the cell and closed the door. The keypad automatically locked, and she turned to walk down the hall and to the elevator.

The green eyed woman’s eyes widened, and she jumped up from the mattress. She ran full force against the door, her pale hands gripping the bars as she tried her best to keep the agent in her vision. “Wait, stop! I almost forgot to ask!” Kate yelled, her voice filling the silence of the hallway.

Hearing her friend’s plea, she stopped but didn’t turn around to face her. “What is it?” she replied.

“How… How is (y/n)... I heard something happened to her, but no one else will tell me anything. Please, I have to know,” Kate begged, her voice quivering.

The agent’s head lowered as her heart became heavy. Looking down the hallway, she saw that it was empty before she leaned in, lowering her voice ti barely above a whisper. It was a physical ache as she delivered the news. “She got captured and was put on the list,” she said.

Kate gasped. “But she’s only sixteen! They can’t do that! What about the rules?” she whispered back, momentarily forgetting to keep her voice down.

“They’ve changed the rules since the fall. We can’t take any chances anymore,” she said.

Kate’s eyes started to well up with tears, and her head started to shake as she processed her words. The shaking slowly spread through her body. Her throat felt as if it was convulsing, repeatedly becoming uncontrollably tight before opening up as she began to take deep breaths.

No, not again , she thought as she sank down to her knees.

“I’m… I'm sorry, Kate. I really am,” the agent said as she began to continue walking down the hall, leaving the green eyed woman alone in her cell again.

Kate didn’t register her words. All she could think about was her daughter. Her head turned to the mattress before her body followed. Crawling on her knees, she lifted the mattress, revealing a pile of papers. Letters from (y/n). She picked up the most recent one that was sent two months ago. It was more like a report than a letter, but she couldn’t blame her. HYDRA didn’t teach people to write so they could send letters. 

Tears plopped down from her sunken cheeks onto the paper as she hugged it close to her chest, her cries not even having the strength to fill the silence of the room.

Chapter Text

Archive said I needed 10 characters. Hi, again :)

Chapter Text

“This isn’t what I expected when I agreed to this, Stark,” (y/n) said as she sat on a lab table with her arms at her side and feet hanging off. Wires were connected to various parts of her body, mainly on her temples and fingers, but one on her back and over her heart as well.

After leaving her to consider his offer, Tony had been surprised when he’d come back three hours later to find that she had managed to free herself from the chair with one hand, and, instead of running, had chosen to sit in the folding chair. Not only had she accepted his offer, but she even agreed to negotiate any conditions he had in mind. After thirty minutes of bargaining, they’d come to an agreement, shaking hands for good measure. While (y/n) was free to roam the building, she had to have a tracker on her and be watched at all times, either by his AI system or a trusted associate. However, his reasons were more due to the (h/c) haired girl being a target rather than being a deadly assassin. On her end, (y/n) got her own room and was granted permission to use her powers, as well as the training facilities. Lastly, Tony was allowed to satisfy his curiosity and learn about her powers. Or, attempt to, at least. While he was more gifted in engineering and physical science, biological science tended to confuse him. However, Tony refused to pass up the chance after… recent events.

“I didn’t get a chance to do this with Wa- Scarlet Witch ,” Tony explained as she looked at her scans that were showing up on the hologram screens in front of him. “She was a HYDRA experiment before she joined us. Know her?” he asked.

“I’ve heard of her, but she switched sides during Ultron. Didn’t know much about her other than she had powers, and HYDRA had her locked up somewhere to be used as a gun,” she said.

Tony nodded his head in response, and she watched as an image of her body sitting down on the table showed up. The image was a blue outline of herself with little detail, focusing mainly on her internal workings instead.

“Alright, so far so good. Lift your hand, please,” he instructed.

(Y/n) did so before setting it back down at her side.

“Perfect… Let’s see. Everything looks pretty good… Vitals are fine, obviously, blood pressure normal, you don’t appear to have any health conditions… You have one of the healthiest- Where the hell are your hormones ?” he exclaimed as he enlarged the body scan on his screen. His face scrunched up in a mix of slight worry and curiosity as he looked over it.

“It’s fine, Stark, you can move on,” (y/n) commented, causing his head to quickly face her.

“It’s “ fine ”? Do ya care to elaborate ?” he spoke.

“What you’re seeing is normal-”

“Normal?! You have next to no levels of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins- I-is that normal ?” he asked in disbelief. He stared at her with wide eyes as she stared back at him.

“Yes, it is for me,” she answered him.

Despite her reassurance, Tony still stood there gaping like a fish, his head going through possible scenarios where more than half of her hormones weren’t active. Sure, it was possible to have low amounts, but not completely have no trace of them. “How? Were you born like this? Cause this...” he said, standing back and gesturing to the brain and body scans with both his hands to emphasize his point. “This isn’t normal,” he told her.

“That information is classified,” she said bluntly.

Tony clicked his tongue in irritation. That was another agreement. (Y/n) refused to give away any HYDRA secrets until she knew that they wouldn’t double-cross her in any way. The information in her head was the only cards she had to play here in enemy territory. Protected or not, Stark wanted information, and she was the only source he had… even if she didn’t actually have anything to give him . Despite growing up in a HYDRA base, she was never granted any valuable knowledge. She was born with powers, so her time in labs wasn’t anything groundbreaking. She wasn’t high enough in the hierarchy to have any information on other bases, operations, or important names. Hell, they didn't even tell her the location of her own base, much less the location of others. The information she did have was a map of her base, the meal schedules, and what times the showers were normally empty. She knew nothing that was of interest to them. They thought she did, that would be enough to ensure her safety until a better chance came along.

The moment was interrupted as Spider-Man came running into the room with his feet screeching against the floor. He was still suited up, on Tony’s orders, carrying a black backpack gripped tightly in his hands. “I got it!” he breathed out, taking another long breath before standing up straight and handing it to (y/n).

The black bag was big, long enough to cover the length of her back from her nape to her hip bone. It was old and worn, with one or two stitches that could barely be seen due to skillful repairs and the color of the fabric. It had three main openings in the front, middle, and the very back, as well as two smaller side pockets. It had been with (y/n) since her first mission, but still held itself together despite all the shitty situations it’d been put through. If it were alive, she was sure as hell it would sigh at the mess she was in if it could.

(Y/n) took it from his hand. “Thank you,” she said, holding the bag in her lap.

“Sorry it took me a while, but I had to look at different buildings to find it,” Spider-Man told her. “Next time, try giving me more descriptions than ‘abandoned building within 10 miles of the venue’. It’s New York, there’s a lot of them,” he added before backing away from her to stand by Mr. Stark.

She didn’t know what it was, or why, but the feeling of having her backpack back, with its worn strap and familiar weight and presence, made her shoulders slowly lose their tension. Her heart flipped inside her chest as the weight settled on her lap. It was like a switch had flipped, and the screens turned red as they let out a few short beeps, zooming out from her brain and then back in at her heart.

“Woah, what happened?” Tony said as he looked back at the screen. With his eyes not leaving the screen, he snapped his fingers before pointing at (y/n), his eyes narrowing as his brows knitted together. “Hey! What’d you do?” he asked her frantically.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Don’t play that game. My stuff is going haywire!” he exclaimed as he tried to calm his machine down.

Spider-Man took a step closer to the screen, reading the alerts listed on the screen. “Irregular heart movements, unexpected nerve action, activity in the pituitary gland… What the heck is happening?” he read off, one of his eyes growing to show his concern.

(Y/n) gripped her bag a bit tighter as she stared at Tony and Peter, the wires starting to make her skin uncomfortable. “I already told you, it’s classified information,” she said again in a monotone type of voice.

Tony groaned, slapping both of his hands over his face, dragging them down before looking at his partner. “Basically, she’s missing all her hormones,” he told him.

“No,” (y/n) cut in. “I’m not missing all of them, just the ones that are deemed unnecessary,” she said. Her response caused the two men to straighten up and face her.

“ Unnecessary ?” Spider-Man repeated. “They’re hormones. They’re all important for bodily functions, reactions, thought processes, mental health, and emotions. It’s impossible to have them without hormones!” he told her.

“Exactly. I don’t need the ones connected to emotions. I don’t feel them. Any emotional hormone production has essentially been shut off. Instead, I feel physical sensations whenever I’m supposed to have emotional ones. It’s easier to survive a fight when you can think straight. It’s allowed me to be good at my job by getting rid of nerves, guilt, and rash decision-making,” she explained as she pulled her feet up to sit Indian Style on the table.

Tony nodded his head. “And, ironically, you feel them through your heart,” he said.

“Yes,” (y/n) replied.

“Is it artificial, or were you born with it?” Peter asked her. His question seemed to have struck close to home, causing her to close her mouth. Instead, she stared hard at him in silence.

“That’s-”

“ Confidential . Yeah, yeah- I got it,”

A few more seconds of silence followed before Tony’s lips thinned out on his face, and he began to feel the awkwardness in the room. Clearing his throat, he gained the two teens’ attention before clapping his hands together.

“Ok! Well, this was all fun, and, uhh… enlightening, but he does have to go home. His Aunt is already pissed off that I’ve kept him this long, and it’s nearly one a.m.,” he said as he put a large smile on his face and walked out of the room, waving his hand towards him as he looked at the teen.

Peter’s eyes widened. “Oh! Umm, b-bye,” Peter stuttered as he walked out of the room, following his mentor as he was escorted out.

Tony and Peter walked side by side down the hall, the sound of their steps mingling together as they walked towards the waiting area of the floor. Tony walked with a bit more speed than the teenager next to him, causing Peter to have to jog every couple of seconds to keep up.

“Hey, slow down a bit!” Peter exclaimed as he finished his latest mini jog.

Tony rolled his eyes as he continued to keep his pace. “Oh please, I’m not even walking as fast as I can. Besides, Miss Magic back there said something about you needing to work on your stamina. If you want to get better, that’s the first thing you’ll need to work on,” he told Peter without even looking at him.

“What? When did she tell you that?” Peter asked.

“While you took forever finding her backpack. If you can’t find a bag on a rooftop- and that’s easy compared to finding people- I don’t know how you can handle harder stuff,” he said.

“Come on! How many buildings are in New York? And she didn’t give me much to go on, either,” Peter defended himself, throwing his arms out.

Tony shook his head as he came up to an elevator, pressing the button on the side and looking up at the ceiling. “Take him to the garage, FRIDAY,” he said.

Peter sighed as he went and tore off his mask. “Mr. Stark, I know I’m new to this kind of stuff, but I can learn and get better. I promise ,” he pleaded, his brown eyes boring into Tony’s.

Tony swore he could feel his very soul tremble.

Damnit, Tony. Don’tbreakdon’tbreakdon’tbreak- , he thought before he groaned.

“Fine. Next week, you begin training. I’ll find a trainer or something,” he said, his voice showing the irritation and shame at the loss of his will of steel. He lifted his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose as his elbow rested on his other arm, which was now held across his stomach.

At his strained words, Peter’s eyes lit up at the news. A bright smile broke out on his face, and he straightened up, his grip tightening on his mask. “You will not regret this, I promise!” he said with excitement in his voice.

“Yup,” Stark strained out. “Happy will pick you up next Friday. We’ll be fully moved upstate by then,” he informed, just as the elevator doors spread open. Peter bounced inside as he threw his smile at Mr. Stark.

“You will not regret this!”

“ Too late ,”

“See ya next week!” he said, lifting his hand to give his mentor a small wave goodbye.

“You too,” Tony said as he lifted his hand and waved back as the doors closed.

Sighing, he raked his hands through his hair. He stood there in front of the elevator, wondering what he had gotten himself into. If my children end up like this, I think I might maroon myself in the desert again , he decided before making his way back to the lab.

As he made it back to the room, he walked inside to find the girl still sitting in the same place and position. Her bag was open in her lap as she ate a small bar with its wrapper peeled back. Upon his entry, her face turned towards him, her chewing pausing as she made eye contact with him.

“What’s that?” he asked, vaguely pointing at the snack in her hand.

Swallowing what was left in her mouth, he wrapped the bar back up and placed it in her bag before zipping it up. “A ration bar. I got hungry,” she said simply.

“Oh,” Tony replied. “Ok then. Come on, I’ll show you your room,” he said as he started to walk away.

“I get a room tonight?” (y/n) asked.

“Uhh, yeah . Unless you’d rather sleep on the lab table?” he asked, his voice carrying from the hallway.

It didn’t take long for (y/n) to catch up.

“Don’t get excited about it. We’re moving upstate tomorrow at ten o’clock, so you’ll be sleeping here for tonight only,” he told her as he walked back to the elevator. They stood in the elevator for a few short seconds before exiting and continued walking down another hallway.

The hallway was lit fairly well with simple ceiling lights, showing off the well kept dark gray tile floors and light grey walls. Dark brown doors lined the walls every fifteen or twenty feet, their metal frames shining in the bright light. Each one looked identical to the next.

“So, before we go in,” Tony started, catching her attention. “Remember that this was once the Avengers Facility. The windows are perfectly bulletproof,” he told her as he came up to a door and opened it. Holding it open, he waved his hand towards the room, and (y/n) stepped inside.

She understood why he felt the need to remind her. On the wall opposite of the door was a large window that crossed from one side to the next with long white curtains for people to use if they wished, though they were closed. Bright moonlight filtered into the room. The polished wood floors were a light grey color, while the walls were a dark grey. A few feet to her right was a dresser with a mirror above it on the wall. A bed with white and red sheets lay in front of her, on the wall to her left. To her left was a desk, as well as another door. The large and open space looked nice, overall.

“Like it?” Tony asked her.

“I think a broom closet would be safer,” she criticized, her eyes never leaving the dark city scenery outside the windows.

All she could think about was the vantage points a sniper could have from the other side.

Tony groaned at her, his shoulders slumping, making his arms hang in place and dangle. “Well, there’s a bathroom past that door. If it makes you feel ‘safer’, then sleep in the tub, kid,” he said.

“Alright,” (y/n) responded as she walked further into the room and tossed her backpack gently on the bed.

“Like I said, we’ll be leaving at ten tomorrow,” he said. (Y/n) turned around to face him, noting the way his shoulders immediately straightened out, his eyes becoming hard and cold as he glared at her. “Pepper, my fiancé, will be unpacking. You even try to hurt her in any way, shape, or form, I swear to god … I will turn you over to the government without a second thought. Kapeesh?” he said harshly, hissing out his last words in a nasty tone.

Capable of feeling fear or not, he intended to let her know he meant it.

(Y/n) nodded, understanding him completely. “Yes, sir,” she said.

He stared at her for a few more seconds before clearing his throat and scratching his jaw.

"Alright… Well, that's it, I guess. Uh, there's food in the kitchen, and we'll get you some clothes tomorrow," he said. 

He got no reply except for the nod of her head as she looked at him. An awkward silence took over, and Tony took that as a sign to leave, closing the door softly as he began to make his way to his room for the last time. (Y/n stood in the room before she turned her gaze away from the door and back to her backpack to pull out her ration bar. She walked around the room as she ate her food bar, getting acquainted with her surroundings. If she had to fight here tonight, she wanted to know what could give her an upper hand. So far, she had a chair from a desk, and a window to throw her opponent out of. Not much if her life depended on it, but she could make it work. She was sure of it. Next, she checked the bathroom. It was a moderate size, big enough to have room to walk around in, but not enough to be too much for a bathroom. It had a sink and mirror with a toilet next to it by the door, and a bath and shower combo with a small closet at the end. She couldn't help but think that it would be the perfect size for a small bed for tonight.

If I take the millions of pillows on the bed and the blanket, it should be ok for tonight , she thought, looking back at the perfectly made bed in the other room. Tossing the wrapper in the mini trash can in one fell arc, she turned and walked back inside to the bedroom.

She walked back to her bag, opening it more to look inside. She hadn't checked her stuff inside as thoroughly as she should have. Spider-Man didn't look or act very graceful to her. The first thing she pulled out was a small handful of ration bars and set them aside in a pile next to her. She didn’t know why she still ate them if they tasted horrible, but she’d finish them all for the sake of never having to eat them again. Reaching back in, she pulled out a large black folder and opened it. Inside were the paper files she was given to review on Stark and Potts.

Big help that was , she thought sarcastically before tossing the folder next to the ration bars.

Next, she pulled out a large folded bundle of soft, dark green fabric. Unfolding it, it revealed itself to be a large tie-blanket. While one side was dark green, the other side was a dark yellow with blue and pink flowers on it. That side wasn’t as soft, but wasn’t coarse, nor had it lost the soothing feeling to the skin either. But she didn’t care about the blanket right now, but what was folded in it. Carefully shaking it loose, a small rectangular object fell onto the plush surface of the bed. Tossing the blanket aside, her fingers gently curled the metal picture frame. Picking it up, she stared at the picture of her parents and her younger self. (Y/n) usually never brought it with her on missions, but since this whole fiasco was sketchy from the very beginning, she figured that it wouldn’t hurt to have something for luck.

“Some idea that was,” she mumbled to herself, carefully putting it back in her bag, the ration bars soon to follow.

She spent the rest of the day unable to keep her eyes off the windows, sitting on the bed with her sword in hand. She ate another bar or two before setting up the bathtub with her backpack close and the family picture right next to it, watching her

Chapter Text

“Beat it, Blood!”

“But I’m telling you, I can handle it! If anyone should get a chance to kill her, it should be me !”

“I said no ,”

Katherine stomped down the halls of HYDRA, trailing after the Sergeant Major as he rushed away from her. It had been a few hours since (l/n) had been added to the kill list, and the very first person to sign up for the job was none other than Katherine. Like many others, Katherine was always watching the kill list for new targets available, jumping at any opportunity to prove herself and get out of the base. The moment came when (y/n) was finally put up on the kill list, she’d been going around like a woman on a mission (so to speak). To put it simply, she was… highly insistent.

“I came third in my class at the academy, survived solo missions for two years now, and I specialize in stealth . For fuck’s sake, that’s what you need!” she growled as she gritted through her teeth.

The Sergeant Major stopped abruptly, causing Katherine to nearly crash into his back before he turned around and looked down at her. The blonde backed up, her heart beating a little bit faster as he glared at her. Her throat went dry, and her hands trembled the slightest bit, making her put her hands behind her back.

“Blood,” he spat out like it left a bad aftertaste in his mouth. “We don’t need you. Every fight you’ve gone up against her, you've lost . There are plenty of perfectly capable and experienced agents here who stand a better chance against (l/n) than you. I’ll send them instead,” he said in a low voice, his harsh words rumbling like thunder and striking Katherine like lightning.

Her green eyes seemed to glaze over with a familiar sense of hatred. The kind that festered and boiled in every part of her body until all she wanted to do was let it out in the most horrifying, grotesque, and goriest way possible. As Katherine began to breathe harder through her nose, the Sergeant Major turned away and began to resume his walk down the hall. In an anger-driven haze of judgment, she ran after him.

“Then who is? I’ll join them,” she said, trailing after him.

The Sergeant Major sighed as he walked a bit faster, his fists clenching tighter by the second. “You’re testing my patience, and that’s never a smart thing to do ,” he snarled, not even bothering himself with turning around to look at her. “When will you realize that you’ll never be on the same level as everyone else? They will beat you into the cold. Hard. Ground . Because that’s where you started, and that’s where you’ll end. And more than that, I’d bet my bottom dollar that you wouldn’t last a whole day on this mission before you’d end up dead in a ditch. We don’t need stealth, we need skill, which you lack at the moment,” he snarled at her.

Katherine’s feet seemed to refuse to take another step, her legs becoming stiff. Her heart squeezed itself as she listened to his words. A wave of sadness washed over her, her throat clenching as she tried to keep from yelling out.

“Then who are you sending after (l/n)?” she yelled as the gap between her and The Sergeant Major grew with each second.

“Ms. Elor. She’s qualified ,” he stated rather simply.

“And if she isn’t?” Katherine asked, her voice steady, yet wavering as she finished the question.

For the second time that day, the Sergeant Major stopped and turned towards her. Instead of wearing a scowl on his face, he wore a pleasant expression, like he had a small vision of happiness.

“If by some divine mistake Ms. Elor fails, then you’ll get your chance… But I don’t think you’ll live through it,” he said. With those last parting words, he turned around and walked away.

Katherine stood alone in the empty hallway, staring dumbly into space. 

Great, first chance I get, and they send one of the top agents after her. That’s fair , she thought bitterly.

Sighing, she turned around to head back to her room. She walked back, seeing red and ignoring the agents she passed, the janitors cleaning the occasional specks of blood from the floors and the walls, even passing a full-blown brawl without so much as a glance. Words circulated through her head like a broken record, spitting them out of her mouth before they went back in through her ears, making her unaware of the person heading right for her.

“Not good enough… I’ll show them. I’ll train harder than anyone here. I’ll kick their asses and kill them in cold- Oof !”

Katherine was cut off mid-rant as she was practically rammed into by a giant stack of boxes. The force of the blow caused her to lose her footing. Momentary panic went through her like she missed a step on a flight of stairs, and, dramatically, saw the last hour of her life flash before her eyes. However, before she fell to the ground, she was jerked back up seconds before she hit the ground. A sharp pinching feeling pricked her arms and the sides of her waist, making her hiss at the slight feeling of pain.

“What the hell?!” she exclaimed as she looked around, her eyes almost bulging out of her head as she took in the sight of mechanical tentacles and their large four-pronged mouth clamped around her.

“Hey, what’s the big deal?” a girl’s voice snarled, irritation evident in it, from behind the stack of four boxes towering over her head. She didn’t sound much older than Katherine was. Setting down the boxes, Katherine finally saw who she was dealing with.

“Oh god… It’s you,” Katherine said as she glared back at her with an equal amount of irritation. “Little miss Doc Oc ,” she grumbled.

The girl who ran into her had on a dark green suit with her tentacle vest and worn aviator jacket over it. Her head covering mask was gone, revealing her face. The clear, dark copper skin of her face was framed by even darker wavy hair. She had big, dark brown eyes that caught the dim lighting perfectly, as well as full lips that were curled into a frown.

“That’s not my name,” she said in a low voice. “It’s Liz Allen,” she told her.

The blonde rolled her eyes with a scoff before centering back on Liz. “Whatever. Just put me down!” she demanded, her arms struggling against the metal clamps on her.

Liz folded her arms across her chest as the tentacles let go of her, and Katherine fell gently on her feet as she dusted herself off. “You should probably think about how to hold on a little less tightly,” she said.

“They kinda have a mind of their own. I’m more connected to them than they are to me,” she explained.

As she talked, she watched one of the mouths seem to straighten up a few stray strands of the blonde’s hair before she swatted it away. It recoiled back as if it could feel a fear of her, moving to hide behind one of its brethren.

“... Weird…” she mumbled to herself, one of her brows lifting to mirror her weirded-out-ness.

“Enough of this. Grab two of those boxes and help me carry them,” she said, pointing towards the stack as she picked up a few before walking past her.

“ Excuse me ? Why should I help you?” Katherine asked, turning her head to look at her.

Liz sighed before pausing in her step and letting her head droop towards the floor. “Because you ran into me . And I can’t see where I’m going with them stacked that high,” she said.

“But I-”

“Have something better to do?”

“...no…”

“That’s what I thought,”

Where the fuck does she get off talking to me like that, as if she’s not on the same level as me? , the blonde thought.

Katherine’s vision went red as she begrudgingly picked up the boxes, cursing every god in the universe for creating Liz Allen. While she followed the girl, violet thoughts of death and bloody murder casually floated through her mind until a feeling of catharsis washed away her anger. As she walked, she took note of the hallways, noting that they weren’t walking towards the normal residence rooms. It wasn’t until she saw inside a room that she realised that they were in the science and health departments of the base, meaning they were heading into a lab. Katherine had only ever been inside these rooms for injuries or illnesses.

Finally, she saw Liz walk up to a door and slip a key card clumsily into the slot while balancing her bags in one hand. As Liz opened the door and walked in, Katherine followed. She stared dumbfounded at the lab as she walked in. It was a semi-large room with high cement walls. They were covered in mold and grim, with one wall half painted black. There was no free or plain wall, with one taken over by a large lab table, one by a desk with presumably a million different scenes, another tech on it, a slim-fit bed, and a nightstand placed next to each other across the wall, and finally a dresser next to the door.

It’d look bigger if there weren’t so much crap , the green eyed girl thought.

She let herself dare to look upwards to see that just below the ceiling was what Katherine guessed to be at least fifty separate pipelines, one of them dripping water into a small bowl on the floor.

“What a… grand setup you have here…” she quipped sarcastically as she dropped the two boxes in front of her, gaining a groan from Liz when whatever was inside it clattered as they crashed to the ground.

“Has it occurred to you that maybe IT’S FRAGILE,” Liz told her as she hastily set the boxes down on the lab table before speeding to the others.

Katherine watched as she picked them up and sent her a pretty, harmless glare. “Mmmmm… Nnnooo, not really, but I also didn’t really care, if I’m being honest,” she said as she pulled her lips thin and mockingly nodded her head.

“Look here, bottle blo-”

Liz’s voice disappeared as she heard the clicking sound and the feel of cool metal no more than a second later. Her breath hitched in her throat as her eyes slid up to see Katherine standing over her with a gun pointed at her head. Even the tentacles that were once moving on her back became still as statues.

“Don’t finish that sentence. The last person to call me that ended up dead in the Mediterranean outside of Spain. I’ve killed others for less than that. Either Katherine or Blood will do,” she said slowly.

Liz let out a quiet, shaky breath and nodded. The gun was instantly removed, allowing her to stand up and get away from the blonde psycho in her room. “A bit overkill, don’t you think?” she mumbled to herself, setting the boxes next to the others before sitting in the rolly chair in front of her desk. 

“Hey, anyone else in this shithole would have already blown your brain out in the hallway. Only reason I didn’t was because I already got one head honcho angry with me,” Katherine explained as she casually walked around, taking in what little the room had to offer. “I never thought I’d see a room crappier than mine,” she stated.

“E-excuse me?” Liz asked, her brows knitting together.

“Your room is shit. I mean, so is mine, but yours takes the cake,” Katherine said.

Liz shook her head as she looked down and pressed a button on the metal vest, and the tentacles on her back went limp, the metal colliding with whatever they landed on. Liz shrugged off the vest like a backpack before picking it up, dragging the arms across the floor in the process, and setting it up next to the boxes. “Well, if you hate it that much, then leave. I got other stuff to deal with,” she said, making her way back to the chair before jiggling the mouse that was next to the keyboard.

Katherine scoffed at her, folding her arms as she sauntered over to her, leaning against the desk. “Oh yeah? Like what?” she asked.

The question took the dark haired girl back, her hands freezing in their place as she stared at the screen in thought. What made it her business? This “Blood” chick wasn’t her friend, nor was she even an acquaintance. Hell, she just held a gun to her head a few seconds ago… But, in the two months that Liz had been staying here, this was the kindest interaction she’d had. Being seen as the new agent in the middle of a HYDRA base in the desert was a bit lonely, as pathetic as it sounded to Liz. She was a people person, always was. She was used to being around her friends nearly 24/7, whereas now, she didn’t have any. Blood wasn’t perfect (by any means), but Liz was desperate. If she had a chance at getting along with Katherine, she’d take it.

It wouldn’t hurt to try. Plus, I don’t have to tell her everything. Baby steps , she thought.

“I… got someone who ruined my life. I want revenge. Badly,” Liz told her as she began to type away, her body snapping out of its daze.

“So does everyone else. What’s the problem? Are they hard to find? Tough to kill, maybe?” Katherine inquired.

“Easy to find, easy to kill. I just need the opportunity,” Liz explained.

The blonde teen let out a breathy chuckle. “Join the club… Do they think you’ll just die the second you get there?” she asked, her voice growing quieter as she spoke. Her arms slumped as she looked down at her feet, sheepishly looking towards Liz from the corner of her eye.

“Yeah, they did. Said I wouldn’t last two days,” Liz said, swallowing the small lump in her throat.

“And more than that, I’d bet my bottom dollar that you wouldn’t last a whole day,”

Katherine could still hear the Sergeant Major’s voice echoing in her head, unable to leave completely. “At least they said two days. I was told one…” Katherine told her.

“Did they say you’d end up in a ditch?” Liz asked her, her hands pausing their movement as she turned to look up at the blonde’s wide eyes.

“Yes! They said the same to you?!”

“They did!”

“Those assholes !”

“ I KNOW !”

For what seemed like no reason at all, the two girls burst out laughing. Liz threw her head back, practically hollering to the ceiling, meanwhile, Katherine simply hung her head and chuckled controllably. They continued like that for a good few minutes until a beeping sound came from the ceiling. The laughing stopped, with Liz lifting her head back into a proper position, while Katherine looked straight up, her face filled with alarm as she reached for her gun.

“ Dinner’s in five minutes ,” an old, crotchety voice said before the beeping sound came and went.

“What the hell was that ?” Katherine asked, putting her gun away at the mention of food from the voice. “Was that the old lady from the kitchen?” she asked.

“Yeah. They tell you mealtimes through the speakers. Don’t you have one?” Liz asked, standing up from her chair and heading for the door. Katherine followed her, glancing up at the speaker until Liz closed and locked her door, putting her room key in her aviator jacket's pocket.

“No. Normally, someone screams at us from the hallways or knocks on our doors, but I have had an older room with the other agents since I grew up here. Plus, I don’t have a mini lab, so there’s that,” she explained, walking next to Liz and shoving her hands in her pockets.

Liz smiled as she heard Katherine talk. “Well, regardless, I’m glad to be eating with a friend again,” she said, her heart leaping at saying the word friend again.

“Woah! Backup,” Katherine exclaimed, throwing her hands out from her pockets and to her sides. “In here ,” she started, pointing up and making a spinning motion. “We don’t do… well... f-fREindS ,” she said, taking her time to process the new word added to her vocabulary. Her face scrunched up like she was eating something bitter and sour.

What a drama queen , Liz thought playfully as she toned down her smile. But as hilarious as that last thought was, she was able to do it. “Alright, what about… Ally?” she said tentatively, an excited glint in her eye despite Katherine’s attitude.

“That’s fine, but if you are going to be this happy and yippy all the time, I think I might go die in the desert,” Katherine said.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Ms. Elor walked into the main mission control room, her back straight and hands held tightly behind her back, a confident aura clinging to her as she did so. Her suit was perfectly washed and pressed as she made her way through the all too familiar room, receiving looks of respect and inferiority complexes from those around and passing her. She carried herself with pride as they did, her status as a high ranking agent showing through. She walked through until her eyes landed on the person she was looking for. She found him yelling at an unlucky agent, his voice low but booming through the room.

“-And if I hear one more word out of you, I’ll send you to the academy as target practice!”

“Yes, sir! Sorry, sir!”

“Then get busy!”

That was him, alright.

“Sergeant Major ,” she called. The man turned around at the sound of her voice. “Congratulations on the promotion, sir,” she said.

As usual, his face twisted into an angry one as he marched up to her. “Where have you been? You were asked for, thirty minutes ago ,” he told her. He didn’t wait for a response before walking off, an offhand signal to follow.

Ms. Elor picked it up, following him to the secluded touch screen table. “I was taking a shower after an early dinner. It’s my pre-mission routine,” she stated, taking a seat at the table.

“I don’t care,” The Sergeant Major mumbled as he tapped on a file icon, causing the screen to be filled with (y/n)’s files and news reports on Stark’s Halloween party. “Focus on this instead,” he ordered, sliding the different files towards Elor.

“Hmm,” she hummed as she looked through them, tapping and zooming in on the ones that caught her eye the most. “Seems like she failed,” she said simply.

“Yeah, no shit. Read further,”

Ms. Elor stopped at the story of what happened, silently reading it. “It says here that the culprit was caught, but tried to escape, only to be caught again…” she read aloud. “She has to be under Stark’s watch. She’s young, he probably pities her,” she told the Sergeant Major.

“I know all that, I already read through it. This is a simple kill mission. Get in, kill her, and get out. I hate to give compliments, but you’re good at your job. You’re one of the only people who could possibly complete this mission,” he told her.

“I’m flattered, but even then, I’m skeptical. I’ve watched her grow, and I’ve seen her train. I mean… Adam and Kate trained her. Kate was smart, and Adam was like a male black widow. Nobody messed with them ,” Ms. Elor said, finally looking up. 

“The time limit has passed. The longer she’s alive, the bigger the risk of her becoming compromised and telling Stark everything he wants to know. Find her, kill her, leave. I don’t care if you see Stark or anyone else, you go . Understand?” he asked her. He looked up, catching the gleam in her eye. Her whole face seemed to ooze a sort of glow, reflecting it from the scream.

She replied with a voice as smooth as silk. “Why, of course. Where is the arsenal?”

Chapter Text

Peter had waited all week for his first training session. Even Aunt May was happy at the news that he'd get some official training, and Ned was especially excited at the idea of Peter becoming an even cooler hero than he already was. As expected, they both ended up fanboying over the whole situation the whole week. When the morning finally came, he packed a small bag with extra sweat clothes, water bottles, a lunch bag, and, just in case, he even packed his suit and extra web fluid. Then, finally, Happy came on Saturday morning and drove him upstate. Now, he was finally here ! Peter looked through the windows of the car and watched as they passed the gates, making him nearly bounce in his seat. Though, due to Happy's thin line of sanity and patience, he settled for frantically bouncing his leg instead with a small and controlled smile as question after question poured out of him.

"Have you met them before?"

"Regrettably,"

"Are they, like, crazy strong? Are they like a specialized hero trainer? Is that even a thing?"

"Yeah, and it is with Tony, "

“Do they have, like, a super cool backstory?”

“I hope it turns into a backstory and not a murder podcast,”

“Do they use weapons or martial arts?”

“Both,”

"Wow! Really? Then what about-"

"OHMYGOD. YOU’LLMEETTHEMSOONENOUGH," Happy groaned as he pulled up in front of the front double doors.

Peter closed his mouth shut, pulling his lips thin. "Sorry, Happy," he apologized in a quieter tone.

Happy sighed. "It's fine. Just get in there, but one thing, " he said, grabbing Peter's attention.

"Yeah?" Peter asked.

"Just… when you feel like you're going to die, just remember. It's all for your sake," Happy told him.

Peter stared at Happy, a nervous, breathy chuckle escaping his lips.

"Ha, funny joke, Happy," Peter said as he looked at Happy. The older man's face remained unmoving in a serious expression, his eyes revealing no hint of a laughing matter, no matter how much Peter hoped to find it. “R-right?” he asked, uncertainty creeping up his back.

He's not that serious… is he?! , Peter asked himself.

"Sure… a joke…" Happy muttered loud enough for Peter to hear him, causing the teen to swallow thickly.

"B-but they're not… that intense, right?" Peter stuttered out, gripping the small bag that was thrown over his shoulder.

Happy had to. He had to say it.

For comedy's sake.

"... It was nice knowing you,"

Kicked out of the car before it drove away, Peter had no choice but to move forward. As he walked down the halls of the estate with FRIDAY's direction, his heart began to beat faster as if he were already training. Somehow, during the week long excitement, he had forgotten the actual training part where he'd be broken down and sweating enough water to fill a pond. His muscles would scream and ache until he probably cried for it to stop. The gasping for breath as if he was being abused and running the fitness gram pacer test...

Stop it, you'll be fine. You're going to train, and everything will work out , he told himself as he walked into the elevator, his mind not stopping as he kept reassuring himself. When the elevator stopped, Peter walked out, his body doing what his mind was too distracted to do. I mean, Mr. Stark wouldn’t get a trainer to kill you before you could actually use what you learn , Peter reassured himself as he walked down a new hallway.

“Peter, you just passed the door to the gym,” FRIDAY told him.

It was like a blanket that was unknowingly draped upon him was suddenly ripped off, and his head swiveled around on his neck as he looked around. He was in a more homey looking hallway, with warm auburn wood floors and milk colored walls. It was a completely different atmosphere from Stark Tower.

“Oh… Thanks, Friday,” Peter called out, not getting an answer in return.

The chocolate haired boy turned around, walking back to the pair of double doors he passed. They had a window on the upper half of each one, allowing him to look into the huge gym inside. The white brick walls had various racks and climbing equipment. At the very top wall, opposite the doors, were long windows stretching the entire length of it, bringing a majority of the light into the room. The floor was smooth, polished concrete, littered with all kinds of workout equipment. Peter was sure he’d use everything, at the very least. In the center of the floor, where everything surrounded it, was a large, black, square mat. However, as he saw his trainer, he froze.

Inside was (y/n), standing in the center of the mat.

At first, he thought he was in the wrong gym. Mr. Star was rich, he had to have more than one, right? However, cold dread filled him as he saw her doing warm-ups while wearing workout clothes that consisted of a tight tank top and loose knee high pants, with her feet bare and her hair tied up out of her face.

“Holy f-”

“Language!”

“Ahh!”

Peter let out a scream as he whipped around to see Mr. Stark standing behind him. The billionaire's arms were outstretched, prepared to catch him at any moment if he chose to run. Mr. Stark stood there, watching as he stuttered over his words, beginning and restarting his sentence as he pointed towards the door.

“Why?!” he finally asked clearly, his eyes wide and full of panic.

“Kid, I can explain,” Mr. Stark told him as he moved to the right when Peter tried to walk away.

Seeing as Mr. Stark would just continue to block him, he stopped, looking into his eyes. “That would be great because she is going to kill me the second I walk through those doors!” Peter exclaimed.

The billionaire sighed at his not completely inaccurate over exaggeration. “She will not kill you! I already gave her the “only stun, not kill” talk,” Tony told him.

“That shouldn’t even be a talk!” Peter said.

“That’s beside the point. The point is, (y/n) is the best option there is. I have no idea how to train you, SHIELD is over, and Cap and Barton were the ones who were in charge of breaking in the newbies,” Tony explained, seeming to have finally calmed Peter down a little bit.

“What about Black Widow? She seems like she’d be good for training,” Peter suggested.

“You’re not only wrong, you’re stupid. We tried, but she was a bit too intense. Plus, a lot of stuff went down after you left,” Tony told him. “Short story, she kinda joined Cap,” he added.

Peter groaned as he turned around to look through the windows, regretting his sudden move. He froze as he was met with a pair of waiting (e/c) eyes staring back at him. (Y/n) stood with her arms crossed across her chest, her weight shifted into one leg as she stood there waiting.

“Look, she doesn’t want to be there any more than you do. Took a lot to convince her to train you,” Tony told Peter, as he walked next to him.

“What made her agree?” Peter asked, turning to look at his mentor.

“Mmm… said she was getting bored training by herself,” Tony answered.

“Oh, yay! I’m a sacrifice !” the teen said with fake enthusiasm dripping from his voice.

A moment of silence passed before Tony turned around and started to walk down the hallway, taking Peter’s attention away from (y/n). “Whether that be true or not, you need this. So be an adult and go in for me,” he exclaimed as he continued, leaving Peter alone.

(Y/n) watched from inside as Peter finally opened the doors, walking into the room.

“About time. I was starting to think I’d have to drag you in, Parker,” she said.

“You know my name already?” Peter said in a nervous tone, making him pause just as he passed the doors.

“Stark allowed me to look at some parts of your file last night,” she told him.

“Oh, great ,” he said in a low tone that was somewhere between the mood of sarcastic and fearful.

(Y/n) hummed to herself as she looked over his choice of clothing. T-shirt and swim trunks… better than nothing , she noted. “I guess your clothes will do, but I suggest buying actual workout clothes. Oh, and take off your shoes,” she ordered.

Peter looked down at himself. Actual workout clothes? This was his gym outfit he used when his normal gym uniform was in the wash! And no shoes? Why? Despite all his questions and doubts about her methods, he listened, took off his shoes, and put them in the bag as he slipped it off his shoulders.

“What’s in the bag?” (y/n) asked.

“Nothing much. Food, water, extra clothes…” Peter told her as his voice trailed off, tossing his bag near the door and walking the rest of the way to the mat. “So, have you ever, like, taught someone before?” he asked her.

“No,”

“Oh…”

“But I remember very clearly how I was taught,” (y/n) reassured him.

Peter nodded his head, taking that final step onto the mat. “Then what first?” he asked.

“Physical assessment,” she asked him, grabbing his arms and yanking him to take her place in the center. She moved his arms to stand in a t-pose and continued to walk around him in a circle.

“W-what are you doing?” Peter stuttered as he kept the pose, only allowing his head to follow her.

She didn’t answer him, making Peter sigh as he gave up and looked in front of him. He watched as (y/n) passed him, taking another circle around like some sort of vulture. After a few seconds, he watched her come back around again, stopping this time around.

“How was your physique before you got your powers?” she asked, staring dead into his eyes.

“Well, I was really busy with band, quiz bowl, not to mention homework-”

“You didn’t work out at all, did you?”

“Not unless it was for gym class,”

(Y/n) nodded her head and placed her hands on her hips. “Anything else?” she asked him.

“I used to wear glasses and contacts, but my eyesight got boosted up like crazy after the spider,” he said.

“Ok. You can put your arms down now,” she said.

Peter lowered his arms at once, awkwardly placing them at his sides.

“Well, this is a minor setback, but it’s going to feel like the final plane of hell, even more than it already would,” she told him.

“What do you mean by that?” Peter inquired.

“From what you told me, everything you are now is because of your powers. There is no natural strength, only what you have now. You’re an already finished building an underdeveloped foundation. Luckily, you’re not a building, and we can still develop a foundation for your strength and fighting skills,” she explained. Her words caused him to look at her in shock, and wonder at the same time. 

That… actually sounded rational , Peter thought astoundingly. Still slightly surprised at his revelation, Peter blinked a couple of times but was able to find his voice. “Ok… how do we do that?” he questioned.

“Easy, you train. Get ready, we start now,” she told him, getting into a sturdy position with her feet spread and firmly planted, her arms up and ready in an outward striking distance. “When you fight, you have no form. To people like me, it’s a giveaway to your background. Fighting is not just moving your body, it’s also thinking on your feet and observing your opponent. Luckily, you’re already good at that. You just need to develop your body to be on the same level as your mind. Understood?” she asked, but the room was quiet as she got no reply, causing her to look behind her.

“Parker?” she called.

“Hang on a second,” Peter said, crouched down as he rummaged through his bag.

(Y/n) stared at him. “What are you doing?” she asked him.

“Getting my web blasters so we can train,” he stated.

“We’re not using weapons,” (y/n) said bluntly.

Peter’s hands stopped rustling through his bag and turned to face her. “But… I thought we were training?” he thought aloud, turning to face her as he did.

“We are. Before we train with weapons, we train your body first. A weapon is only wielded as well as the person can wield themselves. And you? You wield like shit . It’s a miracle, the things you were able to do with basically no idea of how to do it whatsoever,” she explained.

“Thanks? I guess?” Peter said. That… sort of sounded like a compliment, from the right angle. Right ?

Better than nothing , he figured. Peter sighed before he turned around to face his bag again, zipping it back up. (Y/n) watched as he stood up, walking over and standing next to her.

“What do I do now?” he asked her.

She responded by motioning for him to copy her by taking her previous stance. Peter did his best, but as (y/n) looked over, she saw numerous mistakes. It was barely a minute into training, and she already wanted to reconsider using weapons. At least her heart flips would feel less uncomfortable.

This boy has such a long way to go , she thought, throwing him a glare.

It made the skin on him crawl as his Peter Tingle caused his arm hairs to rise… Again. Yeah, because Mr. Stark had the grand idea to pair you up with a super powered psycho killer , he thought.

(Y/n) looked into Peter’s eyes as she walked over next to him and got into position again. “Lift your arms before I break them into position, and tell your feet to get a grip on the ground before I nail them there,” she demanded.

And this (dear audience) was a reflection of the many weeks to come.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Tony sat in a chair inside the gym as he watched (y/n) beat the living daylights out of Peter. He was semi-relaxed, with his old voice recorder in his hand. It was on and ready for his new log series, and it was fully dedicated to the “growth and development” of the full seven months that he’d have (y/n) for. He wanted to call it the Highway to Hell series, but Pepper gave him her mom glare and made him rename it (which already made his heart happy thinking about the future). All that aside, he just loved the chance to play commentary and tease the teens in any way he could.

“It is currently weekend number three of kid’s training sessions, and wow , does he suck at fighting. Can’t imagine the number of times his lunch money was stolen,” Tony spoke into the recorder.

“Was that really nessesar- Ahhhhh !”

“Pay attention, Parker!”

Tony smiled as he watched Peter get kicked in the ribs and flipped around like a rag doll at the hands of (y/n). It was like having a more violence prone TLC drama show right in front of him as he leaned forward in his chair and brought the recorder closer to his lips, lowering his voice just a bit.

“But on a more serious note, Lancelot seems to be adjusting to Program Redemption as well as you could expect her to. Still think she’s secretly plotting to kill us all, but nothing other than that. I have no alerts from the security systems or FRIDAY, yet,” he told it as he watched (y/n) deadlift Peter from the ground with one arm and set him on his feet again.

Peter stumbled as his tired and beaten body did its best to get into the position she had been teaching him for three weeks now. It was better than weekend one, but he still had the tendency to mess up his footing every few minutes.

“I heard that,” (y/n) said as she briefly turned to Stark before Peter, like he was being taught, took the chance of momentary distraction and lunged the best he could. But it was all in vain as (y/n) switched back to him and kneed his gut, making him fall to his knees. Tony closed his eyes, hissing at the severity of the blow, listening as he groaned in pain on the floor.

“If it wasn’t for her little emotion problem, I’d say she’d have anger issues,” he commented off handedly. “Back on topic, she does nothing but train, clean, sharpen her weapons, and eat so far. Won’t stay in a windowed room for more than two hours at most. The gym is an exception because she says you can’t find an angle to shoot a person from outside. Keeps her curtains open in her room. Kinda gloomy in there,” he noted.

(Y/n) rolled her eyes and ignored that last sentence as she held Peter in a chokehold on the mat.

“But, she’s complied with the agreement, and even let me run two more tests. Although it’s crappy right now, I can detect large surges of power from her, much to her displeasure ,” he said, mumbling the last few words.

(Y/n) abruptly stood up, taking Peter up with her as her arm was kept securely around his throat. His back was pressed against her side, making him stand at an odd angle. Peter yelped in surprise as his hands flew to grip her forearm to stabilize himself. Choking sounds flew from his mouth as he tried to pull her arm away, even just the tiniest bit.

“Stark, if you have nothing better to do, then get out. You’re causing a distraction to both of us. Unless you want to become an example?” she told Tony, who swallowed the spit in his mouth.

“Haha, no thanks,” he said, a nervous chuckle on his tongue. She watched him sit up in his chair and walk towards the doors. “You know, I think I’m going to look for Pepper. See ya later, kid,” he said as he opened the doors and hastily walked away, the doors closing after him slowly.

“Hmm,” (y/n) hummed as she suddenly let go of Peter, making him crash down to the floor in a jumbled heap.

Peter gasped in a series of deep breaths as he rubbed his throat. The (h/c) haired girl took a step away from him to give him room, as well as air. A few seconds filled with heavy breathing passed before Peter moved to roll onto his front and finally push himself off the ground to his feet.

“ What the hell ?!” he yelled as he glared at her unmoved face.

“What? Did you want me to kill you instead?” she enquired.

“ No ! But you didn’t have to completely close the airway that last couple of seconds!” he told him.

(Y/n) glanced down at his tightening fists and the way his muscles tensed underneath his skin. His brown eyes seemed to glow with a dark fire in them.

“Then maybe you should have done something instead of trying to pry my arm away. Most of the time, it doesn’t work, anyway. The best chance is to go for the face or hair if you can,” she told him, stepping closer. 

Peter’s body went into panic mode as his eyes widened in fear as he backed away, taking a defensive stance (y/n) taught him. Seeing this, she stopped and crossed her arms. She looked at him, sweaty and tired, and her heart did a flip.

“Your stance is off again,” she stated.

Peter felt as if he would blow up. As he glared at her with hateful eyes, he felt as if he could stab her with a knife. “I don’t care! Just-” he stared, but just as he felt his voice start to rise, he reined it back in.

As cliche as it sounded, yelling wouldn’t get him anything or anywhere right now. (Y/n) couldn’t feel anything, so yelling at her when she couldn’t even get mad back would only make him even madder. He’d run into a personal self-made cycle of hell twice already, and they all ended with his ass on the mat, adding to the soreness he was already going to feel later that night. (Y/n) didn’t take kindly to “disrespect from subordinates”, as she’d said.

Must be a HYDRA thing or something , he had figured the first time it happened. Peter stopped altogether as he saw her begin to move closer, and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he focused on calming down to the best of his ability. After exhaling, he opened his eyes, looking at (y/n) as he spoke with a strained sternness in his voice. “Look, I just need, like, a five minute break or something. Get a drink of water, maybe a small snack. That’s all I ask,” he pleaded, staring straight into her blank eyes.

“No,” she said.

“What?! Why?!” he asked, forgetting all about not getting mad.

“Because these two days are all you do to train. You come here for five to six hours for two days, and then you go back to your normal routine. I’m not stupid. It’s obvious that you don’t do the exercises I give you, especially the ones for your reflexes. Those are the most important ones,” she said in an unmoved voice.

Her words caused Peter’s mind to wander off, leaving him to try and grasp them again over and over. Eventually, he gave up, and (y/n) gestured towards the center of the mat.