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Chapter Text

San Francisco had learned to take spider-webs strung between lamp posts and Young Avengers streaking across the skyline in stride. What once would have made headlines barely earned a glance anymore — a quirk of living in the city that had adopted Spider-Woman, the superhero alias of May Parker and leader of the Young Avengers, as its protector.

But inside the warehouse that doubled as headquarters, the mood was far from casual. May paced the length of the common room, mask half-pulled back, tossing web cartridges from one hand to the other. Tommy “Speed” Shephard, May’s longtime boyfriend, lounged on the arm of the couch, arms folded, smirk tilted. Billy “Wiccan” Kaplan, Tommy’s magical twin brother, sat cross-legged on the floor, an arcane circle glowing faintly beneath his fingertips as he practiced focus spells. RiRi “Ironheart” Williams, the team’s tech genius, hunched over a cluster of drones on the table, soldering tiny circuits with meticulous precision. And Kid Loki, the nineteen year-old reincarnated trickster god of the fallen kingdom of Asgard and newest recruit to the team, sprawled in a chair nearby, already yawning as if the others’ energy exhausted him.

It was supposed to be a quiet night, another round of drills before the next mission. The team had saved the city countless times in the six weeks since May’s former mentor Liz Allan was unmasked as Queen Goblin and sent to prison for her many crimes. Aside from the lingering tension between Billy and Loki, which had yet to dissipate since their one night of passion the day Billy’s brother had been kidnapped, it was quiet. But quiet never lasted long for them.

“You’re pacing like Dad before a PTA meeting,” Tommy teased. “Just sit down before you wear a hole in the floor.”

May shot him a look. “We can’t afford to be sloppy. We’ve been stretched thin lately. Kate’s holding down New York, Teddy’s—” she cut herself short, eyeing Billy, “—occupied in space. Which means the rest of us need to be sharp.” Kate, as in Kate “Hawkeye” Bishop, had been the team’s leader before May, but she was a year into her new role mentoring a fresh set of teen upstarts back east, while Teddy, as in Teddy “Hulkling” Altman, had left the team, and his boyfriend Billy, behind months ago to help broker a peace between his people, the Skrulls, and their ancient rival, the Kree.

Billy lifted his eyes, the faint glow dissipating from his circle. He gave her a small nod. “She’s right. The team’s different now. Feels…lighter, but also like we’re missing something.”

“Or someone,” RiRi added quietly, not looking up from her work.

The weight of Teddy’s absence hung in the room. Billy tried not to flinch at the mention. Loki noticed — of course he did — and smirked faintly to himself.

May clocked it, too. She moved closer, lowering her voice so the others wouldn’t hear. “Hey,” she said gently. “Have you talked to him since…you know?”

Billy’s stomach tightened. “Since Loki and I—” He swallowed, shaking his head. “Yes, but only briefly. Only in text. And Teddy still doesn’t know.”

May’s eyes softened with sympathy, but also with the firmness of a leader who expected honesty. “Billy…”

“I know,” he cut her off, his voice low and heavy. “I know I need to tell him. But how do I explain—how do I look at him and admit it? After everything he’s doing for his people, for peace, and I’m—” He stopped, fists clenching.

May touched his arm. “You’ll figure it out. But don’t wait too long, or the guilt will eat you alive.”

Before Billy could answer, a shrill alarm shrieked from RiRi’s console. The loft’s wide windows flashed red with warning lights.

“Talk to me,” May barked, instantly snapping into leader mode.

RiRi’s hands flew across the controls. “Not local. It’s coming from orbit. Fast.”

Billy stood, heart hammering. “A ship?”

“Not just any ship.” RiRi’s eyes narrowed at the readings. “Something alien. Energy output off the charts. It’s burning toward Earth — and it’s headed straight for San Francisco.”

Tommy was already on his feet, grin sharpened with adrenaline. “Finally. Something fun.”

May pulled her mask fully down, voice steady but urgent. “Suit up. We don’t know what we’re dealing with.”

In seconds, the Young Avengers were on the move. The city blurred beneath them as Tommy carried RiRi at breakneck speed while May swung across buildings. Billy and Loki vanished in a shimmer of magic, reappearing at the edge of the Golden Gate fields.

The night sky split open with light. A fireball tore through the atmosphere, shuddering the ground as it crashed into a field just beyond the bay. Dirt and smoke plumed high, the air thick with heat and ozone. The team stood shoulder to shoulder, battle-ready.

The wreckage hissed, metal groaning, flames licking at the edges of an alien hull. For a long moment, nothing moved.

Then the hatch unsealed with a heavy hiss.

A tall figure emerged, not armored for war but cloaked in emerald and silver, carrying the crest of the Skrull Empire on his chest. His eyes scanned the young heroes — then settled on Billy.

“On guard!” May called, webs snapping from her wrists, body tensed to strike.

The figure raised his hands, empty, peaceful. “Do not strike,” he said, voice carrying the weight of a throne room across the smoke.

The team froze.

The figure took one step forward, cloak sweeping the dirt. “I am envoy to Emperor Dorrek VIII,” he said. His gaze lingered on Billy, softening. “The one you call Teddy Altman.”

Billy’s breath caught. His chest tightened.

May steadied her voice, even as her stomach dropped. “Envoy? Why are you here?”

The Skrull emissary looked at each of them in turn. Then, as smoke curled behind him, he lowered his head.

“I bring urgent news from your Emperor.”

Chapter Text

The smoke of the crash site still clung to the night air, but the emissary stood tall, his cloak shifting with a quiet authority. His green skin caught the firelight, his voice formal, practiced, carrying across the field with a rehearsed cadence.

“By decree of Emperor Dorrek VIII,” he announced, “you are summoned to attend his coronation upon Throneworld, seat of the Skrull Empire. The Emperor requests the presence of his allies and friends, and I am charged to escort you without delay.”

The team exchanged looks, uncertainty rippling across their faces.

“Wait,” RiRi said, arms crossed. “You’re saying—like—right now?”

“Coronations don’t exactly work on Earth Standard Time,” Loki drawled, his smirk cutting through the tension. “Tedious pageantry, layers of ceremony, endless speeches. Truly dreadful.” He flicked his wrist, conjuring a shimmer of illusory crowns floating above his head. “Unless, of course, one is the guest of honor.”

May adjusted her mask, processing. “If Teddy wants us there, we go.” She turned to the team. “Agreed?”

Billy’s throat went dry, but he nodded with the rest.

Tommy clapped his brother on the back, trying to be supportive without yet having the words.

“Agreed,” Billy echoed faintly, though his stomach was churning.

The emissary bowed his head. “Then come. Time is short.”

The Skrull craft’s interior was sleek, alien metal glowing with soft green veins of energy. RiRi’s eyes lit up instantly, scanning every surface. “Do you even know what kind of processing power this thing has? What it runs on? The engineering is—”

“—something you’ll be tearing apart in your head the entire ride,” May finished with a grin. “I get it. I’m kind of the same way, but about the coronation itself. An alien royal ceremony? Who gets to see that?”

RiRi smiled back, the first flicker of genuine excitement she’d let show in weeks. “Yeah. Not bad for a Tuesday night.”

At the rear of the ship, Tommy leaned toward Billy, voice lowered. “I know this is…complicated. But hey—” he nudged him with a grin—“we’re going to another planet. That’s epic.”

Billy let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah. Epic.”

Tommy’s grin softened. “You’re not alone in this, you know. Whatever happens with Teddy—you’ve got us. You’ve got me.”

Billy glanced at him, gratitude tugging at his lips, but before he could answer, Loki’s voice slithered in from across the cabin. “Touching. Positively heartwarming.” He propped his chin in his hand, eyes glinting mischievously. “If you two get any closer, I may swoon.”

Billy flushed, turning away, while Tommy rolled his eyes so hard it was almost audible.

Some time later, the ship broke through a veil of stars, revealing a vast planet wreathed in emerald light, spires piercing the atmosphere like jeweled daggers. Throneworld.

The landing bay swelled with banners and armored Skrull guards. Teddy stood waiting, draped not in casual garb but in ceremonial emerald robes, a crown of silver filigree resting lightly in his hands. He smiled as the team descended the ramp, his voice carrying warmth that cut through the pomp.

“My friends. You honor me by answering my summons.”

RiRi whispered under her breath, “That’s…a lot of Skrulls,” but May elbowed her gently, keeping her smile wide and diplomatic.

They followed Teddy through the grand corridors, servants and guards bowing as he passed. But once he’d dismissed his retinue and led them into his private quarters, the grandeur fell away. His shoulders slumped, his voice dropped.

“The coronation is real,” he admitted. “But it isn’t why I called you.”

May tilted her head. “Go on.”

“There’s a faction,” Teddy said. “Anti-Kree reactionaries. They call themselves the Pure Skrulls. They see peace with the Kree as betrayal. They’ve already made threats against the accords. If they move before the coronation…everything I’ve worked for could collapse.”

The air tightened around them. May met Teddy’s gaze, her voice steady. “Then we’ll help however we can.”

Relief flickered across his face. But as the others began debating next steps, Teddy gently caught Billy’s arm.

“Can I steal you for a moment?”

He led him to a balcony overlooking the sprawling Skrull city. “I’ve been waiting for this,” Teddy said softly. “Just to see you. To have you here. To tell you how much it means to me that you came.”

Billy forced a smile, but the weight of his secret pressed hard against his ribs. He wanted to return Teddy’s warmth. He wanted to step into the embrace waiting for him. But his feet felt rooted, his heart locked.

“I’m glad I’m here too,” Billy said finally, though his voice was thin, distant.

Teddy’s smile faltered, confusion clouding his features.

Chapter Text

The balcony air was crisp, tinged with the metallic scent of Throneworld’s atmosphere. Teddy leaned against the railing, the emerald city stretching endlessly behind him, but his eyes were fixed only on Billy.

“I know you’re keeping me at arm’s length,” Teddy said softly, voice edged with vulnerability. “I have been distant…you are right to be frustrated, but I’ve missed you, Billy. Every day. Every night. Sitting through endless meetings with generals and diplomats, I thought about you. I kept wishing you were here with me. I wanted to call a million times, but it never was the right time.”

Billy’s chest tightened. The earnestness in Teddy’s tone wasn’t a weapon, but it might as well have been. Each word was another stone added to the weight already pressing down on him.

“I…” Billy started, his throat dry. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you already.”

He clenched his fists. The memory of that night — the grief, the desperation, Loki’s relentless charm — it swirled inside him, shame and longing colliding. He forced himself to meet Teddy’s gaze.

“Ted, when Tommy was kidnapped, and I thought we might lose him, I—”

The chamber doors burst open.

A cluster of Skrull advisors swept inside, cloaks trailing like shadows. Their faces were hard, their eyes flicking to Billy with thinly veiled disdain. One muttered something in Skrull tongue, too low for Billy to catch, but the sneer said enough.

“Your Majesty,” the lead advisor intoned, bowing stiffly. “The council awaits. Preparations for the coronation cannot wait another moment.”

Teddy glanced back at Billy, regret etched into his expression. “We’ll finish this. I promise.”

And then he was gone, swept into the tide of emerald robes. The doors closed with a thud that reverberated through Billy’s chest.

He sank into one of the ornate chairs, burying his face in his hands.

The door creaked open.

“Hey,” came a familiar voice. “So…how’d he take it?”

Billy looked up. Tommy leaned casually against the frame, grin lazy but eyes sharp.

“I didn’t tell him,” Billy admitted, voice low and raw. “I wanted to, I tried, but then the advisors came in, and…god, I’m such a coward.”

Tommy stepped inside, moving closer. His tone was oddly deliberate. “Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if he didn’t take it well.”

Billy frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Tommy’s smile softened, almost tender. “Because then maybe you and I could finally stop pretending. Maybe you could be with someone who actually gets you.” He reached for Billy’s hand, fingers brushing over his knuckles. “With me.”

Billy blinked, confusion flooding him. “Tommy, what—?”

And then “Tommy” leaned in and kissed him.

For a second Billy froze, shock and guilt tangling with the kiss. But as the lips pressed against his, the illusion shimmered — and the disguise dropped. Tommy’s blond hair darkened to black, his features sharpening into familiar, mischievous elegance.

Loki.

Billy shoved him back, heart hammering. “What the hell, Loki?!”

Loki chuckled, settling into a chair as though the whole thing were a harmless prank. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. I was only trying to lighten the mood. You’ve been wound so tight ever since we got here.” He tilted his head, smirk tugging wider. “Besides, would it really be so terrible if Teddy let you go? If you finally stopped torturing yourself and let us see what we could be?”

Billy’s jaw clenched. His magic crackled at his fingertips, but he forced it down. “I’m not doing this with you.”

Loki’s smile flickered, wounded for a moment before he masked it with another sly grin. “Suit yourself. But you’ll have to choose sooner or later, Wiccan. And gods do so love games of destiny.”

Billy turned on his heel and stormed out of the chamber, the sound of Loki’s quiet laughter echoing behind him like a curse.

Chapter Text

The state dinner was a blur of green silks and silver goblets, each toast more ornate than the last. Candles flickered against gilded walls, casting dancing shadows over the assembled nobility. Musicians played soft strings in the background, every detail calculated to project grandeur and stability in equal measure.

At the Young Avengers’ table, the tone was decidedly less solemn.

“Remind me again why the soup course needs five different spoons?” Tommy whispered, twirling one like a baton between his fingers.

“Because Skrull etiquette is…scrupulously ceremonial,” Loki replied, smirking as he elongated his tongue in mimicry of a nearby courtier. “Though frankly, I find the theatrics amusing. There’s something endearing about mortals playing at divinity.”

Tommy stifled a laugh, and Billy caught the look they shared. A pang shot through him, sharp and unwelcome. The way they both cut through pomp with irreverence — it was too familiar, too close. He tried to focus on his plate, but the realization gnawed at him: they had more in common than he wanted to admit.

The dessert course — crystalline confections that glowed faintly under the candlelight — was only half finished when Teddy rose from his seat, catching the team’s eyes with a subtle gesture. They excused themselves, slipping through side corridors until they reached a smaller chamber, stark and utilitarian. Waiting there was a Skrull general, her posture rigid, her face carved from stone.

“Our intelligence has confirmed what we feared,” she said. “The Pure Skrulls are not merely agitators. They’ve infiltrated the ranks of the military — possibly even command. Their intent is clear: to stage attacks outside the palace walls, to incite panic, to make it appear the Emperor values foreign peace over his own people.”

Teddy straightened, his ceremonial robe falling heavy around him. “The people must see stability. If we strike too hard, we look like tyrants. If we do nothing, we look weak. Which is why I need them—” he gestured to the Young Avengers “—to intercept the rebels. Neutralize the threat. Capture them alive.”

The general frowned. “Alive? These are traitors.”

“They are Skrulls,” Teddy countered, his voice ironclad. “If we kill our own, we feed the rebels’ story. If we capture them, we find the command cell.”

May stepped forward, her mask gleaming in the low light. “Understood. We’ll handle it.”

The night outside was restless, the hum of alien energy shields reverberating faintly as the team took positions along the perimeter. May crouched on a crenellation, issuing quiet directives.

“Billy, Loki — keep a perimeter ward. RiRi, eyes on the skies with the drones. Tommy, run recon laps and be ready to intercept. No one slips past us.”

An explosion tore through the silence before her sentence had even finished. The ground shook, a plume of emerald smoke rising from beyond the wall. Figures surged out of the haze — Skrull rebels in jagged armor, their movements disciplined, coordinated.

“Showtime,” Tommy muttered before streaking forward in a blur.

The clash was instant. Billy’s hex bolts collided with plasma fire, while Loki conjured a shimmer of illusions to splinter the enemy’s focus. RiRi’s drones darted overhead, unleashing concussive blasts, but the rebels pressed hard, their tactics sharp enough to suggest insider training.

RiRi tried to counter with a wide-beam pulse, but one of the rebels slipped past her guard, plasma blade raised high. For a heartbeat, she thought she was done.

And then a golden streak blazed through the night.

A figure in dark armor and a glowing star-emblem chestplate slammed into the Skrull, knocking him sprawling. The newcomer pivoted midair, helmet gleaming, and unleashed a torrent of radiant energy that scattered the advancing line.

The rebels faltered, their formation breaking just long enough for the Young Avengers to push them back.

When the dust settled, the stranger hovered above the courtyard, catching his breath, energy still crackling faintly around him.

“Name’s Nova,” he called, his voice steady. “Been patrolling this rock ever since word of the peace accords broke. Figured someone had to keep an eye out.”

RiRi lowered her gauntlet, heart pounding, her eyes locked on the young man who had just saved her. “Guess you’ve got pretty good timing,” she said, trying to sound casual, though her chest still thrummed with adrenaline.

Nova smiled beneath his helmet, the faintest flicker of warmth in his voice. “Yeah, I’ve been told that before.”

As the team regrouped, the fires of battle dying down, RiRi couldn’t help but glance at him again. Space, it seemed, had surprises waiting for all of them.

The ground rumbled.

A second explosion — larger, closer — ripped through the night. The blast shattered part of the palace wall a hundred yards away, rubble raining down as fire and ash consumed the homes clustered nearby. Screams rang out.

Billy was already moving, panic coursing through him. He shot into the air, hovering above the flames, chanting frantically as glowing sigils spiraled from his hands. For a moment, a shimmering barrier pressed against the fire. But his control wavered, emotions spiraling, grief and guilt roiling in him like storm clouds.

The barrier collapsed.

Flames roared higher, knocking Billy backward, smoke choking his lungs as he began to lose altitude. His vision blurred, the world narrowing to heat and ash.

“Billy!”

Loki was there in an instant, leaping into the inferno with the ease of someone who’d danced with fire all his life. He caught Billy mid-fall, smirking even as genuine concern flickered in his eyes. “Honestly, darling, if you wanted me to sweep you off your feet, you only had to ask.”

He winked, but his arms held Billy with surprising gentleness as he carried him clear.

RiRi streaked in next, thrusters whining as she released her suit’s fire suppressors. Foam and mist surged, smothering the blaze until the flames sputtered and died, leaving only smoking rubble in their wake.

Loki touched down, setting Billy carefully onto solid ground. Billy coughed, sucking in lungfuls of cooler air. He looked up, dazed, at Loki’s roguish grin.

“Thanks for the assist,” Billy said finally, though the words came out softer than he intended. His gaze lingered a beat too long. He wondered if Loki noticed — and feared he absolutely did.

Loki only chuckled, brushing soot from Billy’s sleeve with a flourish, like he’d won some private game.

Chapter Text

The next morning dawned dim and hazy, the green skies of the Skrull Throneworld shrouded by smoke from the night’s fires. May stood with Teddy in one of the high balconies of the palace, overlooking the city. From up here, the scars of the attack looked smaller, the streets buzzing again with morning trade and workers repairing broken stone. But May could hear the echo of screams still, and she could feel the unease hanging over the city like fog.

Teddy’s expression was calm, regal even, but his hands were clenched on the railing.

“They won’t stop,” May said softly. “They’ll try again. Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, but they’re not just testing defenses anymore. They want to make this personal.”

“They always do,” Teddy replied, his voice even, almost detached. “Rebellion thrives on fear. They want the people to see me as vulnerable. They want to whisper that I’m too distracted by peace talks…too distracted by…” He trailed off, not needing to finish.

“By Billy,” May supplied gently.

Before he could answer, the balcony doors opened. Two Skrull advisors strode forward, faces grave. They bowed briefly before presenting a data-slate.

“The rebels we apprehended last night have been interrogated,” one announced. “Our intelligence suggests another strike is imminent. This time, their aim is not chaos — it is you, Emperor. They intend to stage an assassination.”

May tensed, waiting for Teddy to react. But Teddy only leaned back against the railing, arms folded.

“I’ve faced assassins before. You don’t grow up as half-Kree, half-Skrull without making enemies.”

The second advisor stepped forward, her voice clipped. “That is not our only concern. We must speak frankly, Your Majesty. It is not only the rebels who watch you — it is your people. And they see your…consort.”

Teddy’s head snapped up. “Billy?”

“Yes,” the advisor said. “He is powerful, yes, but erratic. Last night he nearly lost control of a fire ward. And at the state dinner, he was brooding, unresponsive. The court noticed. Your enemies will notice. We worry that his instability could be turned against you — a weakness for your detractors to exploit.”

For a heartbeat, May thought Teddy might actually lose his temper. But instead, his voice dropped lower, steadier, carrying that unshakable weight that made him Emperor.

“Billy Kaplan is not a weakness. He is my strength. His power is unlike anything the galaxy has ever seen. His heart is stronger still. I don’t care if my enemies whisper. Let them. I will not push aside the person I love to appease fear.”

The advisors exchanged uneasy glances but said no more. They bowed out, leaving May and Teddy alone again.

When they were gone, Teddy looked to her, his jaw still set. “They’ll never understand.”

May touched his arm. “Maybe not. But Billy needs to hear what you just said. From you.”

Later that day, a chill had swept through the palace. Billy paced his quarters until May found him. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, watching him wear a path into the carpet.

“Teddy’s advisors don’t trust me, do they?” Billy muttered without turning.

May hesitated. “They think you’re volatile. They said you could be used against Teddy. But he defended you, Billy. To their faces. With me standing right there.”

Billy finally looked up, eyes tired.

May stepped closer. “That’s why you have to tell him the truth. All of it. He deserves that much. And he clearly loves you enough to listen.”

Billy swallowed, throat dry. For weeks he had carried the secret like a stone in his chest. Maybe it was time to set it down.

Teddy was waiting in his chamber, still in his ceremonial robes, the weight of empire draped across his shoulders. His face lit up when Billy entered.

“This is a welcome surprise,” he said warmly, pulling Billy into a quick embrace. “I’ve missed you.”

Billy let the hug linger, then pulled back, his stomach twisting. “Teddy…I’m not here with good news.”

Teddy’s smile faltered. “What’s wrong?”

Billy took a breath and forced the words out. “When Tommy was taken. When everything with Queen Goblin was happening. I was overwhelmed. I felt…I felt like I was drowning. And Loki—he was there. He pushed. I let him. It only happened once, but it happened. And I should have told you.”

The silence after his confession was suffocating. Teddy’s eyes darkened, not with rage but with hurt, the kind that cut deeper.

“Was it just that once?” he asked quietly. “Or is there more between you and him?”

Billy shook his head, quickly, ignoring the steadying kiss that helped them defeat Queen Goblin, the flirtatious kiss just yesterday, and all the other almost moments of tension between he and Loki in the months since they met. “No. Loki wants there to be, and he makes that clear, but I don’t. I love you, Teddy. That’s all I want. I just…made a mistake when I felt too weak to stand on my own.”

Teddy looked away, his jaw tightening. “I wasn’t there for you. You needed me, and I was half a galaxy away, pretending I could balance both worlds singlehandedly.”

“No,” Billy said firmly, stepping closer. “Don’t you dare blame yourself. This is on me. I made the choice, not you. I won’t let you carry my failure.”

Teddy’s eyes softened then, though the hurt lingered. He reached for Billy’s hand, fingers brushing hesitantly before tightening around his.

“I want to forgive you,” Teddy admitted. “Because I love you. But Billy…forgiveness doesn’t fix everything.”

Billy nodded, tears burning behind his eyes. “I know.”

They stood together in silence, hand in hand, the distance between them somehow both smaller and wider than ever.

Chapter Text

The palace had settled into uneasy quiet by nightfall. RiRi had sequestered herself in one of the armories, half the panels of her Ironheart armor spread across a worktable. Alien alloys gleamed under the dim light, circuitry from both Kree and Skrull sources scattered around her like puzzle pieces.

“You’re going to burn yourself out,” came a voice from the doorway.

RiRi glanced up. Nova leaned casually against the frame, helmet tucked under his arm, his boyish grin catching the light.

“Please,” RiRi said, not even looking away from her gauntlet. “This is me relaxing.”

Nova stepped closer, watching as she soldered a Skrull power conduit into her armor. “You know, when I was your age, I wasn’t building next-gen weaponry out of alien scraps. I was just…thrown into a helmet and told to fly.”

RiRi smirked. “So you got a miracle pass, huh? Just wake up one day and—bam—space cop.”

“Not quite.” He sat on the edge of the table, legs swinging. “One day my dad disappears. Leaves behind this helmet. I put it on, and suddenly the whole galaxy’s looking at me to live up to a name I barely understood.” His eyes dimmed for a moment. “Wasn’t much choice. I just…had to be Nova.”

RiRi set down her gauntlet, studying him. “See, that’s the difference. I didn’t inherit anything. No alien blood, no super-suit falling into my lap. Just me, my brain, and a lot of busted nights in my garage. Every line of code, every circuit board—built it myself. It’s not legacy. It’s work.”

Nova looked at her with something between admiration and awe. “That’s why it’s cooler.”

There was a pause—long enough for both of them to feel it. RiRi leaned forward, meeting his gaze, her voice softer. “You really think so?”

“I know so,” Nova said, and when he smiled this time it wasn’t cocky—it was earnest.

RiRi kissed him before she had the chance to second-guess it. Nova responded instantly, his arm sliding around her waist, pulling her closer, sparks of something electric buzzing in the air between them. For once, she let herself enjoy the moment, not analyzing, not overthinking—just two young heroes finding a little light in the dark.

Across the palace, May sat with Tommy on a secluded balcony overlooking the city. The air smelled faintly of ash, but the stars beyond the green sky shone bright.

“You know,” Tommy said, his arm draped around her shoulders, “you looked terrifying in there today. Alien generals twice your age nodding along, rebels scattering because Spider-Woman shows up…it’s wild. I still remember our first mission together, chasing Mysterio’s kid out of a warehouse.”

May chuckled, leaning against him. “We’ve come a long way from smoke machines and cheap holograms.”

“You’ve come a long way,” Tommy corrected, kissing the top of her head. “I mean, look at you. You’re running this team.”

May turned her head up to him, smiling. “And you seem pretty content with that.”

“Content?” He grinned. “I’m thriving. Get to fight, get to run, get to annoy everyone—and I’ve even got a new sparring buddy in Loki. Finally, someone who talks as much trash as me.”

May laughed, the sound soft against the night air. “I’m glad. You deserve a friend like that.”

They shared a kiss then, slow and familiar, the kind of kiss built on years of trust and battles won and lost together.

Billy walked alone through the palace halls, the weight of confession still pressing on his chest. He barely noticed the ornate Skrull banners overhead until a voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

“Rough night, sorcerer?”

Loki leaned against a pillar, his smile sly but not cruel.

“He knows,” Billy said simply.

For once, Loki didn’t smirk. “And?”

Billy exhaled. “We’re…still together. For now. He forgave me. But it’s…complicated.”

“Complicated is the air I breathe,” Loki replied, though his tone softened. “Listen. You know what I want. I’ve never hidden it. But if being with him makes you happy, then…” Loki shrugged, a flicker of something genuine beneath his usual bravado. “I’ll settle for seeing it from a distance, rather than not seeing you at all.”

Billy looked at him, unsure what to say. There was no witty retort in his throat. Just gratitude, and confusion, and a pull he wished wasn’t there.

“Thanks,” he managed quietly.

Loki dipped his head, that roguish smile returning, though his eyes betrayed something sharper, more tender. “Don’t mention it. Ever. Seriously, don’t. I have a reputation.”

Billy chuckled despite himself, and for a moment, the storm inside him eased.

Chapter Text

The morning of Teddy’s coronation should have been triumphant. Instead, the chamber felt heavy, weighed down by expectations larger than the gilded Skrull banners hanging overhead.

Teddy sat before a wide obsidian table, hands folded, when the hologram flickered to life. A Kree statesman appeared in pale-blue regalia, face composed in a mask of polite sternness.

“Congratulations, Emperor Dorrek VIII,” the Kree envoy said, bowing his head. “Today you bring hope to two peoples long at war. But let us be clear—the peace you inherit is as fragile as spun glass. Do not mistake today’s pageantry for permanence. Every choice you make now will be remembered—for good or ill.”

The hologram dissolved before Teddy could reply. He exhaled slowly, jaw tight. It was no blessing, only a reminder of the weight he carried.

Moments later, the chamber doors parted. May strode in, flanked by Teddy’s military advisors. She was clad not in her Spider-Woman suit, but in simple battle armor befitting a royal protector. Her steady eyes met Teddy’s, speaking more than words could manage.

The generals spread a map across the table. “All known vantage points have been sealed. Our best sharpshooters are stationed atop the palace spires. Any potential infiltration through the tunnels has been blocked.”

A political advisor interjected, “The failed rebellion has, if anything, strengthened your image. The public sees you as a figure of unity. Which is why the rebels are desperate. If they cannot tarnish your name, they will attempt to end it. Today is their last chance.”

May’s voice cut through the murmurs. “I wish Kate Bishop were here. Nobody reads a threat from a rooftop like her.” She placed her palm flat on the map. “But you’ve got me. And I’ll keep you alive, Teddy. I promise.”

They locked eyes—a flicker of understanding, of trust forged in fire. It lingered just a moment too long before the advisors cleared their throats and the briefing continued.

When the chamber emptied, Billy entered. He was barely recognizable: his robes were rich purple, trimmed with Skrull insignia, his dark hair perfectly groomed by attendants who fluttered around him with the last touches of pomp. At his side hung a silver medallion, the symbol of a consort, chosen to affirm his place at Teddy’s side.

For a heartbeat, Teddy softened, seeing him there. But the grandeur of the outfit, the rehearsed stiffness of the attendants, made intimacy impossible. Billy managed a small smile, though his eyes betrayed unease.

“You look…” Teddy began, but the words faltered. Too much to say, too little privacy.

Billy straightened the clasp at Teddy’s chest, their hands brushing. For the barest moment, warmth passed between them. But with the attendants still bustling nearby, they said nothing more.

At last, the great doors opened. Together, Billy and Teddy stepped onto the sunlit platform.

Below them stretched the Skrull capital—balconies and plazas overflowing with subjects, their cheers rising like a storm. Emerald banners rippled in the wind. Drums thundered.

May stood at Teddy’s back, eyes scanning the horizon, every nerve taut.

Billy glanced sideways at Teddy, overwhelmed by the sheer strangeness of it all. A fairy tale, he thought, if fairy tales ended in coronations instead of weddings.

And then—

CRACK.

The sharp cry of energy fire tore through the air.

Screams erupted as the first shot rang out, followed by another. The coronation platform shuddered.

The rebels had made their play.

Chapter Text

Outside the palace gates, RiRi hovered beside Nova, her Ironheart armor glinting with its new alien upgrades. He floated just a few feet above her, casual in his stance, visor gleaming.

“Not bad flying,” RiRi said, smirking. “For someone who doesn’t have to build his own suit from scratch.”

Nova grinned beneath the helmet. “Not bad tech—though I bet I could still beat you in a drag race around this city.”

“Yeah?” she challenged, letting her armor hum louder as though revving an engine. “Might have to take you up on that. Winner buys dinner.”

“Pretty sure I’d rather lose,” Nova shot back.

They laughed, the flirty tension electric, but the levity broke with the crack of chaos inside the palace. Screams. Energy blasts.

RiRi turned, her HUD filling with alerts. “Something’s going down in there—”

She didn’t finish before another explosion rocked the outer wall. A squad of armed rebels surged forward, charging the gates.

“Guess we’ve got our own mess,” Nova said, slamming his fist into his palm.

“Try to keep up, starboy,” RiRi quipped, blasting off into the fray.

Inside, Billy stumbled as the first shots rang out, the coronation platform tilting in his vision. He struggled to his feet, disoriented, searching wildly for Teddy. Guards had swarmed over him, shielding their emperor with their own bodies. For a moment Billy’s heart clenched—was he hit?—but then Teddy’s face emerged beneath the press of armor, alive.

Billy raised both hands, chaos magic spilling from his palms. A shimmering forcefield snapped into being, arching around the platform like violet glass. Bolts of plasma ricocheted harmlessly off the dome. For the first time since the attack began, Teddy and the others could breathe.

Billy’s chest heaved, his arms trembling. But Teddy was safe. That was enough.

The platform became a battlefield. May, Tommy, and Loki shed their ceremonial guard uniforms, their disguises giving way to action.

Tommy blurred into motion, zig-zagging through the panicked crowd in streaks of silver lightning, searching for the shooter. Loki stood tall at the platform’s edge, twin daggers in hand, carving through rebels who clawed their way up the stairs. His magic shimmered, multiplying his image into three taunting specters, confusing the attackers as they swung at shadows.

May leapt skyward, webshooters firing, kicking a rebel back down into the mob before flipping to land beside Loki. “Try not to stab everyone,” she snapped.

“They’re trying to kill us!” Loki retorted, driving a knee into a Skrull mercenary’s chest.

“And that excuses you looking like you’re enjoying it?” she shot back, sweeping the rebel’s legs out with her webs.

Beyond the walls, RiRi and Nova worked seamlessly. She rocketed above the rebels, blasting suppressive fire from her repulsors while Nova streaked like a comet through their lines, knocking three soldiers off their feet at once.

“On your left!” RiRi called, and Nova peeled into a dive, scooping up a rebel before he could detonate a grenade. They touched down in unison, chaining their strikes.

For all their banter, they moved like two halves of a whole, their chemistry undeniable. RiRi’s heart hammered faster than even her suit’s sensors could register.

“Not bad for a first date,” Nova teased as the last rebel was slammed to the ground in restraints.

RiRi smirked, flushed. “This is foreplay for you?”

“Only when it’s with the right partner.”

Inside again, Tommy burst from the crowd, dragging a struggling man in nobleman’s robes by the collar. He tossed him at Teddy’s feet with a grunt.

“Found your shooter. Looks like this wasn’t just rebels—it was an inside job.”

Gasps rippled across the platform. Teddy’s eyes burned as he looked down at the would-be assassin, then out at the terrified, angry crowd. Slowly, he straightened, brushing off the hands of his guards.

“No rebel,” Teddy said, his voice carrying over the crowd, “no traitor hiding in our ranks—will dictate the future of the Skrull people. Not today. Not ever.”

The audience erupted. His words rolled like thunder, drowning out the fear. Teddy turned to the high priest, standing stunned with the crown in his hands.

“Let’s finish this,” Teddy said firmly.

And in that moment, despite the chaos and the blood, the ceremony resumed. The crown was lowered onto Teddy’s brow, and the roar of the crowd became deafening.

Billy, watching from behind his shield, felt something catch in his throat. For all the fractures between them, for all the truths left unsaid, he had never loved Teddy more.

Chapter Text

The throne room of the Skrull Empire was built to intimidate.
Columns of black stone rose to impossible heights, carved with scenes of wars long past. The new banners—green and gold, bearing Teddy’s sigil—hung freshly unfurled, their edges still crisp from the loom. Yet the air that filled the room was heavy, tense.

At the center sat Emperor Dorrek VIII—Teddy Altman, once a hero among the Young Avengers, now a ruler with the weight of a galaxy pressing down on his shoulders.

Before him, in chains, knelt the would-be assassin. The Skrull nobleman’s armor had been stripped from him, revealing a face both defiant and uncertain. His eyes darted between the guards, the advisors, and the figure on the throne.

Teddy’s voice was calm but firm. “You attacked your emperor. You endangered civilians and soldiers alike. You’ll explain why.”

The nobleman hesitated. “You…you are not what I expected, Your Majesty. They said you were soft. Too human. A child of Earth who forgets his own people’s ways.”

Teddy rose from the throne, descending the steps one at a time. The chamber fell silent.
“I haven’t forgotten anything,” he said evenly. “Who I am—what I am—is both. Human and Skrull. The boy they called Hulkling and the emperor standing before you—they’re the same man. That’s who I’ve always been. That’s who I’ll remain.”

Something shifted in the nobleman’s gaze, a flicker of respect cutting through the fear.

“I believe you,” he said at last. “Then you deserve to know the truth. The rebellion wasn’t mine to lead. I was a soldier, nothing more. The true architect…is Gravik. A loyalist of Empress Veranke. He claims your reign is blasphemy, that peace with the Kree desecrates everything she built.”

Murmurs spread through the court. The name was familiar to all—Gravik, a radical firebrand who had refused every offer of compromise since Veranke’s fall.

Teddy’s generals immediately stepped forward. “Your Majesty, we can issue a warrant. Bring Gravik in before he rallies more insurgents—”

“No,” Teddy interrupted, raising a hand. His tone remained even, but the steel beneath it was unmistakable. “If I can make peace with the Kree—the empire that slaughtered my ancestors—I can speak to my own people before resorting to chains.”

May, standing among the Young Avengers to his right, gave him a subtle nod of approval. She recognized the courage in that choice—the same idealism she once saw in his time as a hero.

Teddy turned back to his staff. “Send word. Tell Gravik that his emperor invites him to parley. Peace, if he’ll take it. Understanding, if he dares to seek it.”

The advisors exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared object. The order was given.

After the council dispersed, the Young Avengers lingered near the base of the throne. For a moment, they were simply friends again—no titles, no armies, just the team that once fought side by side.

Tommy flashed his trademark grin. “You know, I think I get it now. The crown, the command voice, the whole regal vibe. You were born for this, man.”

Teddy smiled faintly. “I don’t know about born. But it feels…right.”

RiRi clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ve got this handled, Emperor. The galaxy’s lucky to have you.”

He shook his head. “You’re all the reason I got this far. But you’ve got lives to get back to, cities to protect. I can handle things from here.”

There was a beat of silence, the kind that always follows a long goodbye. They each gave their farewells—hugs, nods, quick quips—and headed back toward their quarters to prepare for the journey home.

All except Billy.

He lingered in the doorway, half-hidden in shadow, watching Teddy as the last of the guards cleared the room.

“Everything okay?” Teddy asked, not turning. He didn’t have to. He could feel Billy there.

Billy stepped forward, words catching in his throat. “I just—seeing you like that. Commanding the room. Owning it. You were incredible.”

Teddy turned now, a smile softening his features. “You make that sound like a surprise.”

“It’s not,” Billy admitted quietly. “But…it’s different. You’re different.”

“Maybe.” Teddy took a step closer. “But not with you. Not where it matters.”

The air between them stilled.

“I meant what I said back on Earth,” Teddy continued. “I’m still yours, if you’ll have me. I can put the past aside—what happened, what we’ve both done. Stay a while longer. We’ll figure out the rest together.”

Billy blinked, caught off guard. The offer landed like a weight and a gift at once.

“I—I need time,” he said finally, voice trembling despite his effort to steady it. “I just need to think.”

Teddy nodded, eyes heavy but understanding. “Then think. Just…don’t disappear before you do.”

Billy gave a small, uncertain smile before turning away. The throne room doors closed behind him, echoing through the marble hall.

Teddy stood alone beneath the green-gold banners, the emperor and the boy warring quietly inside him.

Chapter Text

The corridor to Billy’s quarters seemed to stretch forever. Every step echoed against the emerald stone walls, a rhythm to the thoughts clashing in his mind.

He loved Teddy. He had always loved Teddy.
Teddy had been his anchor when grief over Cassie drowned him, his voice of calm when his own magic threatened to spiral beyond control. When the world blurred into chaos, Teddy was the steady pulse that guided him home.

But love didn’t erase the guilt that had been gnawing at him since the day he’d fallen into Loki’s orbit. It didn’t erase the spark of danger, of freedom, he’d felt with the trickster god—a spark that terrified him because it reminded him how fragile fidelity could be.

He reached his door—and found Loki waiting there.

The god lounged against the frame, arms crossed, looking as if he’d been standing there for hours purely for the sake of appearing casual.

Billy sighed. “If you’re here to play games, pick someone else. I don’t have the energy.”

Loki tilted his head. “No games. Merely curiosity. You stormed off from His Radiant Majesty’s chambers with all the mood of a thunder god. I thought I might check whether he’d said something dreadful—or whether I should thank him for giving me an opening.”

“Don’t,” Billy warned, half-smiling despite himself.

Loki stepped closer, mischief curling his lips. “Oh, come now. Don’t pretend you don’t enjoy the banter. I’ve been hoping to get under your skin before we return to your lovely little mudball of a planet—metaphorically, of course.”

Billy’s laugh came unbidden, weary but genuine. “You’re impossible.”

“Only mostly,” Loki said.

Billy sank against the wall, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Teddy asked me to stay. To be his royal consort. But I can’t. I can’t hide out in a palace while my friends keep fighting the good fight back home. And I can’t distract him when his people need him.”

He paused. “I think that means… we’re done. Me and Teddy.”

Loki’s expression flickered—surprise, then something softer. He straightened, hands folding behind his back in an exaggerated bow. “So, I’m to be the consolation prize?”

Billy met his gaze, wry. “Ending things with him doesn’t mean jumping into your arms.”

Loki grinned, placing one long finger gently against Billy’s chest. “Then perhaps just into my bed?”

Billy snorted. “Goodnight, Loki.”

He brushed past him, but the faintest smile ghosted over his lips as he walked away.

Elsewhere, on the palace veranda, RiRi stood beside Nova—Sam, as he insisted she call him. The alien moonlight caught the green metal of her armor, making it shimmer like liquid glass.

“So,” she said, arms crossed. “We’re leaving soon.”

“Yeah,” Sam replied. “But I was thinking… maybe there’s room for one more on that ship of yours. Peace accords seem pretty stable now that the big guy’s wearing a crown. I’d rather figure out what’s next with you.”

RiRi arched a brow. “You sure you can keep up with a girl who rebuilds her suit between every battle?”

Sam smirked. “Guess I’ll just have to learn fast.”

She laughed, stepped forward, and kissed him—metal and starlight reflecting in the moment. When they pulled apart, she whispered, “Welcome to the team.”

Hours later, Billy stood once more in Teddy’s chamber.

Teddy looked up from the documents spread before him—royal decrees, military dispatches, the endless duties of an emperor. The sight made Billy’s chest ache.

“The ship’s leaving soon,” Billy said quietly. “I’m going with them.”

Teddy’s eyes dimmed, though his voice remained steady. “You’re sure?”

“I am.” Billy stepped closer. “You’ll always have my love, Teddy. Always. But your world needs you. Your people need you. And mine need me. I can’t be the emperor’s whispered-about consort while my family fights for the future back home.”

Teddy rose, closing the space between them. “You could stay—for a little while. Just until things settle.”

Billy shook his head. “It’s not my place. You belong here. And I—” His voice cracked. “I belong out there.”

He kissed him then. Soft. Lingering. Final.

When they parted, Teddy’s hand remained on his cheek. “You’ll always have a home here,” he said.

“And you’ll always have my heart,” Billy replied.

He turned before his resolve could crumble and walked out, leaving the emperor alone with his crown and his ghosts.

The shuttle cut silently through the void.

Billy sat by the viewport, head resting against May’s shoulder, eyes glassy but peaceful. “You did the right thing,” she whispered.

“I know,” he murmured. “Doesn’t make it hurt less.”

Across the cabin, Tommy and Loki bickered over the elaborate etiquette of the Skrull court, each trying to out-mock the other’s impersonation of royal bowing protocols. Their laughter filled the ship, light and sharp as static.

RiRi sat near the cockpit, her hand brushing Sam’s as they watched the stars streak by. Neither spoke; their glances said enough.

The Young Avengers were heading home—changed, bruised, but together. The galaxy stretched before them like an open road, and for the first time in a long time, Billy felt it: hope.

Whatever came next, they’d face it side by side.