GreekGreenGlass
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🕑 Added 2025-01-06 15:26:15 +0000 UTCAfter the Avengers gathered in the small town, Leon and Natasha took charge of assigning tasks but did not participate directly in the battle.
Tony Stark, perhaps driven by instinct, had assigned young Peter Parker and Typhoid Mary to protect the evacuated civilians rather than engage in combat. Tony felt that Peter's inexperience made him ill-suited for the fight, while Typhoid Mary's unstable mental state posed a potential risk. Moreover, Tony wanted to ensure that the evacuated civilians were safe from opportunistic predators who might take advantage of the chaos.
After all, war, no matter how justified, is rarely clean or honorable—it's about winning, sometimes at any cost.
When Leon eventually appeared and the tide turned decisively in their favor, the battle ended with a hard-won victory. Peter, for his part, took the situation in stride; his sense of responsibility outweighed any frustration about being sidelined. Protecting people, after all, was still a vital part of the mission.
Typhoid Mary, however, was livid. Her more aggressive personalities—Bloody Mary and Typhoid—thrived on combat, and being relegated to the sidelines was a personal affront. Worse still, Leon had appeared during the battle, but she had been stuck elsewhere, unable to prove herself to the man she admired. Her simmering frustration nearly drove her to attack Tony outright.
The tension between them grew so palpable that neither Peter nor Mary attended the Avengers debriefing.
...
Meanwhile, Tony stood on the balcony of Stark Tower, wearing a crisp white shirt and holding a thick-bottomed wine glass. The city stretched out below him, alive with activity. Though the strange cold wave had come and gone, its suddenness left people uneasy, speculating about its cause.
Logan lounged on a nearby sofa, a cigar in one hand and an expensive glass of whiskey in the other. Storm sat to his left, her arms crossed, while Colossus occupied the seat to his right. Logan glanced at Tony's back, about to speak, when the elevator chimed.
All heads turned as the doors slid open. Nick Fury, flanked by Maria Hill, Professor Charles Xavier in his wheelchair, Clint Barton, and Peter Parker, entered the room.
"Director Fury, Professor, Peter!" Jean Grey greeted them warmly, standing alongside the others.
Fury acknowledged her with a nod and moved to the center of the room. Tony finally turned around, taking a measured sip from his glass.
"Do I need to find you all some chairs?" Tony asked, his voice laced with dry humor.
"If you're offering to fly down and get them, be my guest," Fury shot back without missing a beat.
The brief exchange ended as Fury's expression grew serious. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'll get straight to the point. Today's battle may be over, but it's just the beginning. Based on intel from Jane Foster, Dr. Selvig, and others, we're looking at a larger, more dangerous threat on the horizon."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the room. "Next time, it won't be a handful of Frost Giants threatening to turn the Earth into an ice cube. It'll be armies—armies arriving in battleships."
Logan took a drag from his cigar, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Well, that's disappointing," he muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Fury's one good eye fixed on him. "Anyone can feel disappointed, Mr. Howlett. But the Avengers don't have that luxury."
Professor Xavier spoke up, his calm demeanor contrasting with Fury's bluntness. "Director Fury is right. The Earth's survival and the future of human civilization depend on our ability to work together. The enemy may be formidable, but united, I believe we can face any threat."
Charles's words carried a quiet conviction that resonated with everyone in the room. Even Tony, known for his rebellious streak, found himself silently respecting the Professor's insight.
Nick Fury folded his arms, addressing the group once more. "As people who were in the thick of the fight, what are your thoughts?"
Cyclops, standing near Jean, was the first to speak. "The government's response was appalling. We faced an army of Frost Giants, including massive beasts with thick hides, and Laufey, who could've frozen the entire planet. Yet there was no meaningful military support. Tanks were slow to mobilize, and the Air Force was nowhere to be seen."
He adjusted his visor. "If it weren't for the incredible efforts of Sergei and Pietro, we wouldn't have lasted long. It's clear we can't rely on the government in these situations."
Fury remained stoic. "There are reasons for that, Scott. First, the government believed the Frost Giants were targeting Thor Odinson specifically. They weren't willing to risk war with an alien civilization over him. Second, the weather during the battle—thanks to Storm—was so unstable that sending in fighter jets was impossible. The electrical storms would've fried their instruments, making them liabilities rather than assets."
Storm raised an eyebrow, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "How convenient for them."
Fury continued undeterred. "The bottom line is that the government doesn't act unless it sees a direct threat—or a benefit. That's reality. But that's why the Avengers exist. We do what others won't."
His words hung in the air, a sobering reminder of the burden they all carried.
