Chapter 135: Avengers and X-Men, Assembled
One day until the operation.
S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ, Avengers briefing room.
Nick Fury had pulled them all in — Avengers and X-Men both — to go over the plan.
"That's the situation," Fury said, his voice flat and final. "Hell's Kitchen itself isn't the problem. Ethan Cross and his people are the problem. They have the kind of power that can destabilize global peace. Cross has to be eliminated. As for his crew — convert whoever you can. Anyone who won't come quietly, take alive."
He paused, then added: "Good luck. Steve will handle assignments."
And with that, Fury turned and walked out. He had his own things to deal with.
Reed Richards hadn't heard a word of the briefing.
He'd spent the whole time studying the room. Looking at each face. Running calculations.
This many heavy hitters, all in one place. He could feel the shape of it — what it would mean to lead this group rather than just participate in it. Fury wanted them pointed at Ethan Cross because Fury couldn't control that kind of power. Reed understood that immediately. What he also understood, though he kept it entirely to himself, was that the Fantastic Four's position wasn't much different from Hell's Kitchen's. Stay outside the system and eventually the system came for you.
Ethan's mistake wasn't building what he built, Reed thought. It was making enemies he didn't have to make. Too young. Too direct. If it were me—
He stopped himself, and almost smiled.
If everything goes according to plan, it won't matter. The Avengers will need a new leader. And "Avengers" is such a clumsy name. I'll have to think of something better.
Beside him, Johnny had no idea what was going through Reed's head. He leaned toward Sue and whispered, "Why do they want them alive? Why not just take them out?"
Sue gave him a look that said stop talking.
Ben, however, had no such filters. He wandered over and said plainly: "What do you think? Government gets their hands on powered people — it's either a lab or a brainwashing program. Take your pick."
Sue immediately told him to be quiet. She glanced around the room.
Most of the faces she saw wore some version of the same expression: resignation.
When Fury's footsteps faded, Steve Rogers stood.
He looked around the room slowly — Avengers, X-Men, all of them — taking in the complicated array of expressions looking back at him.
"I know none of you want to be here."
His voice was steady. He meant it as acknowledgment.
"But for the sake of global stability, to prevent Hell's Kitchen from becoming a precedent, to cut out the source of the problem — we have to move. I'll be leading the charge personally."
He delivered it like he believed it.
The applause he got in return was sparse. Clint managed some. Johnny contributed a few claps, mostly out of reflex.
Everyone else seemed to be looking at something slightly to the left of Steve's face.
Professor Xavier was gazing at the middle distance with the serene expression of a man thinking about something else entirely. Probably wondering whether S.H.I.E.L.D. was going to end up looking like Hell's Kitchen someday. Wondering where mutants actually fit in any of these scenarios.
Wolverine was in the corner with a cigarette, not bothering to look up. He didn't care who the opponent was. He never did. He just wanted to know where he came from.
Natasha had one hand pressed to her forehead. This pep talk was somehow worse than no pep talk.
Banner didn't care about any of it. He hated violence. He wasn't here for the mission — he was here because S.H.I.E.L.D.'s protection was the only thing keeping the military off his back, and their labs were the best shot he had at reversing what had happened to him. He'd had enough of the other guy.
He'd already spotted Hank McCoy across the room and started drifting toward him. Two scientists, both with transformation problems, plenty to discuss.
Storm was quietly furious. She knew Ethan had mutants in his corner. She didn't understand why she was supposed to go to war against her own kind on behalf of a federal government that had never done much for mutants in the first place.
Most of the people in this room had no personal grievance with Hell's Kitchen. They were here because joining the Avengers had come with strings attached.
Steve noticed all of it. He didn't let it show.
"Fine," he said. "You don't have to want to be here. Just don't get in my way."
His voice dropped, and something genuine came through.
He knew half these people would pull their punches. That was their business. He had his own reason for being here — and it had nothing to do with Fury's mandate.
Bucky.
"One more thing," he added, before he left. "Don't underestimate him. The Lord of Hell's Kitchen is not a joke. You go in careless, you might not come back out."
Then he walked out.
Above the building, Ikaris had watched the whole thing through the glass with the detached amusement of someone watching a nature documentary.
"Your teammates are interesting," he said to Carol. "They don't look particularly eager."
Carol made a dismissive sound. "I don't need them. Honestly, I still don't understand why Fury needed a three-day window. He's wasting everyone's time."
She turned to Ikaris with a particular brightness in her eyes. "We've got hours before anything happens. Let's warm up."
Ikaris took one look at that expression and immediately started backing away. "Absolutely not."
Carol grabbed his hand and launched them both into the upper atmosphere before he could finish the sentence.
Back in his office, Fury stood at the window.
He'd expected exactly this. Every reluctant face, every absent applause. He'd planned for it.
He turned toward the couch.
"I'm going to need you," he said.
The man sitting there looked back at him.
He was identical to Nick Fury in every visible way.
☆☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you