"Jarvis, could you kindly Vac-U-Form a digital wireframe? I need a manipulatable projection."
Tony said as he saw the slow-moving wave of the digital wireframe scan over his dad's 1974 Stark Expo model. Deciding to clap and snap his fingers to pass the time as Jarvis carefully scanned each model, Tony couldn't help but feel his hunch might be correct. Could this model be the blueprint to solve his current dilemma?
"1974 Stark Expo model scan complete, sir." Jarvis stated.
"How many buildings are there?" Tony asked as he grabbed the edges of the wireframe and lifted it, a complete digital copy of the model raised with his arms.
"Am I to include the Belgium waffle stands?" Jarvis said sarcastically.
"That was rhetorical. Just show me." Tony asked his A.I. as he spun the model in the air with a snap of his fingers. "What does that look like to you, Jarvis? Not unlike an atom. In which case, the nucleus would be here. Highlight the Unisphere. Lose the footpaths. Get rid of them."
"What is it you're trying to achieve, sir?" Jarvis asked quizzically.
"I'm discovering… Correction. I'm rediscovering a new element, I believe. Lose the landscaping, the shrubbery, the trees." Flicking away some unneeded model way, Tony looks around at any other fat that needs trimming.
"Parking lots, exits, entrances. Structure the protons and the neutrons using the pavilions as a framework." Tony looked up and saw that the model now looked like a nucleus; waving his hands, he expanded the 3D model. "Dad... Dead for almost 20 years, and still taking me to school."
Tony couldn't help but feel giddy as he stared at his father's discovery; even from beyond the grave, the man could still one-up him. Clapping his hands, he shrunk the model down to fit in the palm of his hand. Looking at it, Tony couldn't help but be mesmerized.
"The proposed element should serve as a viable replacement for palladium." A deep sense of relief filled his heart at that statement.
"Thank Dad."
"Unfortunately, it is impossible to synthesize." Jarvis informed him.
Tony couldn't help but relish in the challenge. For him, nothing was impossible. Instantly, he thought of hundreds of calculations and possible methods to synthesize this new element. With a smile, he finalized the plan in his mind and got up.
"Get ready for a major remodel, fellas. We're back in hardware mode."
"Not yet."
A low, muffled voice shocked Tony from his thoughts. Spinning around, he saw a man dressed in a leather jacket and a grey hoodie. He had his hood pulled up and a face mask on his head; dark eyeshadow surrounded his eyes. He stood in front of the door leading up to his house's main floor.
"Jarvis!"
"I'm sorry, sir, he completely bypassed all of my security systems." Jarvis said quickly. "It appears the systems on the main floor have still not been fixed from your battle with COL. Rhodes."
"Now you tell me." Tony said in a slightly nervous tone.
Looking to his left, he saw his armors on standby. It would take too long for him to armor up. The Mk. 5 was still too damaged to be of use. With everything going on, he never had the time to go back and fix it. Looking up at the trespasser with a glare, Tony quickly searched his brain for possible solutions.
"Who are you? What do you want?!"
The man said nothing as he walked closer to him. Tony looked at the man's chest and saw a steel chain wrapped around his torso. Feeling the sweat on his brow, Tony walked parallel to the man. He was trying to keep his distance. Eyes widening, Tony realized the man was walking in a circle. The man now stood in front of his armors!
"Jarvis, call Coulson. Now!"
"I already have." Jarvis told him. "He should be here within ten minutes."
"I'll be done before then." The intruder said he was looking at the Mk. 4 armor. "Such powerful suits."
"Is that your goal? The suits?"
Tony asked, trying to buy time. The thought of running away popped into his mind, but that would mean leaving behind all his suits with the hooded man. He could just be falling into whatever plans this person had.
"No, I don't care for your toys." The man stated, looking away. "I'm here for you, Tony Stark."
"What are you after?" Tony asked as he scanned his workshop for any possible tools he could use as a weapon. "Money?"
"...Sokovia, 2004." The man spoke. "There were bombings that struck a small town. Killing hundreds."
Tony was confused as to what this lunatic was getting at. What was he trying to accomplish? It didn't matter. He just had to wait it out for eight more minutes.
"Two children were caught in those bombings. They had to watch as their parents fall to their deaths." The hooded man said coldly. "That was when a second shell landed in front of them. But it didn't go off."
The man walked over to his father's model and looked down. "There was one word printed on the side of that shell. Can you guess what it was?"
"…Stark."
Tony said as he realized what the man was getting at. A pang of guilt erupted inside him. He knew back then that his weapons were used for war but never stopped to think about what would happen if they fell outside United States control. That's why he stopped their production and focused on improving life. But that was only after he was affected by them.
"Yes… Stark." The man said as he walked up to him. "Those two children stayed still because they didn't want to set off that bomb. It was two whole days until they were pulled out. Two whole days of waiting for Tony Stark to kill them."
Tony closed his eyes and started breathing heavily. The memory of one of his weapons landing in front of him back in Afghanistan before it blew up in his face flashed before his eyes. The fear he felt when he thought that was when he would die caused him to freeze.
"That was never my life…"
"It might not have been, but you profited from it all."
The man said as he walked up to him. He was now at arm's length away. Tony couldn't find the strength to walk away. Could this man be one of the children from that story? Was Tony capable of running away from a life he inadvertently helped ruin?
"I'm not here to kill you, Tony Stark." The hooded man said as he looked into his eyes. "I'm here to judge you."
"Sir!" Tony heard Jarvis yell.
The man then grabbed his face; Tony tried to fight him off. But found that the hooded man had much greater strength than him, looking at the man's disguised face. Tony started to panic as the man's eyes began to glow a bright orange. He tried looking away but found himself compelled to stare into those glowing orbs.
Slowly, everything Tony had done in his life flashed before his eyes. Every negative act, every morally wrong thing he did. It was all too much! He saw himself celebrating the success of a major weapons test, partying like a maniac, as those same weapons were used to hurt and kill several innocent people. But as soon as it started, it all stopped.
Pushing himself away from the hooded man. Tony fell backward and landed on his back, crawling back from the man. Tony tried to regain control of his erratic breathing. Wiping off the built-up sweat from his forehead, Tony glared at the hooded man.
"What did you do?!" Tony yelled.
"I looked into your soul and saw all your sins." The man said silently. "The penance stare."
"Sir! Are you alright?!" Jarvis spoke up.
"Damnit, where's the calvary?!"
Tony asked in frustration. He kept his eyes on the intruder as he continued to stand still. Finally, he turned to look at him. The hooded man walked over and crouched in front of him.
"I was positive I would have found you guilty." The man said to him. "But it seems like you were innocent enough to escape by the skin of your teeth."
"Escape what?!" Tony asked in frustration.
"…Eternal punishment."
"Freeze! HANDS IN THE AIR!"
Tony saw Agent Coulson and some of his men run into the room with their weapons raised. He counted at least six men, looking back at the hooded man. Tony was surprised to find him unaffected by the sudden appearance of the armed men.
"Step away from him!"
The hooded man then stood up slowly and raised his hands. Turning around, Tony saw Coulson's eyes widen. Could he know this lunatic?
"What are you doing here?" Coulson questioned.
"What I had to." The intruder answered.
Tony decided it was time to stand up and walk back. He then headed towards Coulson and his men. Tony saw Coulson start looking nervous; he sighed and ordered his men to lower their weapons.
"What are you doing?" Tony couldn't help but ask.
"We couldn't stop him if we tried." Coulson said. "He's one of the Avenger initiatives hopeful members."
"What!"
•••
"Why are you here?"
Harvey didn't turn around as he heard Nick Fury's question. Looking over the ocean from Stark's destroyed living room, Harvey couldn't help but feel detached; not even all the sounds of heavy machinery could bother him. Feeling a familiar soul walk up behind him, it was Fury; Harvey decided to get this conversation over with.
"This doesn't involve you."
"It does when you target one of my people!" Fury said in irritation. "You think you can just walk up to Tony Stark, attack him, and walk away?"
Turning around, Harvey saw the director and the woman he fought all those nights ago. She was looking at him differently from before, but she still had that look of focus on her.
"Technically, he didn't attack Stark." The woman Fury called Widow said; she then turned to him. "Hello again."
"…Hello." Harvey greeted.
"What exactly are you doing here, Miller? This isn't exactly your playground." Fury asked. "Oh, I know you've been driving around New York as the Ghost Rider. I'm up to my neck with reports saying a flaming skeleton is attacking criminals on the city streets."
"I'm… visiting." Harvey said.
"Oh, a little sightseeing. Give me a break." Fury stated as he walked up to him and stood next to him. "You and the Dunphy family came here for the Stark Expo."
Harvey was slightly shocked that Fury knew that but ultimately guessed the man kept tabs on him. He would expect nothing less from the super spy. Nodding slightly, Harvey looked where Stark was causing a loud commotion in his workshop.
"I came here to punish his soul." Harvey answered. "But… it turns out Stark isn't as bad as I thought."
"Punish his soul?" Fury looked at him oddly. "Just what can you do?"
"I guess you'll have to find that out." Harvey said as he began to walk off.
"Where do you think you're going? We're not done here." Fury told him with his hands on his hips.
"There's some business I need to take care of now that I'm done here." Harvey said as the red-headed woman held an arm before him, stopping him.
"Listen, Harvey. I'm sorry about before." Widow said. "If we're gonna be working together, I'd like it if we started on the right foot."
"I'm Natasha Romanov."
Harvey looked at the woman as she held a hand out. A part of him wanted to ignore her and keep moving, after all, Pietro and Wanda were waiting to hear what happened. Harvey also didn't want the Dunphy's to feel like he's abandoned them either. Grabbing the woman's hand, Harvey nodded.
"Harvey Miller. Plus, I never agreed to join your super friends group." Natasha nodded and let go of his hand.
As Harvey was about to leave, an idea struck him. Turning to look at an angry-looking Nick Fury, Harvey walked back to him. The director gave him a questioning look.
"Forget something?" Fury asked sarcastically.
"The bombings in Sokovia back in 2004. Can you get me all the information on what happened there?" Harvey asked Fury.
"Why would I do that?" Fury said. "Why should I help you?"
"In exchange, I'll help your little group when there's trouble." Harvey said seriously. "You have my word."
Fury said nothing as he stared at him for a while. Finally, the man nodded his head and held out his hand. Harvey looked down and felt like he was making a deal with the devil. With a sigh, he grabbed the man's hand and shook it.
"I'll let you know when I find something." Fury told him as he walked off. Natasha followed behind and nodded at him; they left the room.
With that, Harvey decided it was time to leave and headed out of Stark's front doors and lifted his arm; soon, his flaming motorcycle drove up to him. Getting on, Harvey drove off and headed to the twin's location.
•••
"It can't be…"
Pietro said as he held his head. Wanda just sat silently on the bench, hugging herself tightly. The speedster then started pacing around and looked upset. They were all currently in Central Park, the Turtle Pond behind them. Harvey himself was sitting on the other side of the bench.
Harvey just finished telling them everything that happened. After Pietro dropped Harvey off where he said Stark lives, they waited in anticipation for him to come back. Pietro was positive that Harvey's penance stare ability would have found Stark guilty. But when he returned, they were in disbelief when he said the man they hated their entire lives was found innocent by the spirit of vengeance.
"Are you positive? Maybe your judgment was wrong!" Pietro then stopped and glared at the ground. "How is he not guilty?"
"Harvey." Wanda said, causing him to look up and stare at her. "Can I… see for myself? What you saw?"
"You want to look inside my mind?"
Harvey said to her. Wanda knew a question like that wouldn't exactly be taken well. But she wanted to see the truth. Wanda wanted to know if she could finally put her hatred behind her so she and her brother could move on.
"Please…"
Harvey stared at her but then looked down. It seemed he was having a mental conversation with that demon of his. With a nod, he stood up and sat in front of her. Nodding at him in thanks, her hands glowed crimson; her Chaos Magic allowed her to place weak illusions on those she touched. She was still practicing, but she had a decent handle on it. It also allowed her to look within one's mind and see what they saw, like hitting rewind on a videotape.
As she was about to place her hands on Harvey's temples, he grabbed her hands gently. Harvey looked at her with a severe expression.
"Wanda. Just focus on the part where I was with Stark." Harvey said. "I had to convince Zarathos not to burn your soul while you're in there, but that's only as long as you stay at that part. Okay?"
"O-Okay." Wanda said shakily.
Focusing on her powers, she closed her eyes and concentrated. Slowly, she found herself within Harvey's mind. To her surprise, it was covered in fire; panicking slightly, she found herself not burning due to the flames. Turning around, she yelled at the sight of a giant red skull surrounded by blue fire.
"Focus, witch. Harvey may have allowed you in here, but I will not tolerate you messing with his mind." Zarathos spoke. "Do what you came here to do and leave."
"I-I will!" Wanda said shakily.
Lifting her hands, she slowly released her magic. It soon formed a large round disk, and when it was solid enough, an image appeared of Harvey jumping down a large hole in the floor. This must be Stark's home. From there, the events from when he spoke to Stark and when he used the penance stare played out for her. She watched as everything the man did in his life replayed for him, all his misdeeds and mistakes. But she never saw him personally unleash any weaponry onto innocent people.
His only crime was his ignorance for not thinking that his weapons could be turned on innocent people and himself. Wanda looked down and wanted to cry, but as she was about to dispel her magic, the images of Harvey speaking to a dark-skinned man in an eye patch played. Wanda's eyes widened when Harvey made a deal with the man for any information on the bombings that hit her hometown. He agreed to do something for the man, whatever it was, Wanda didn't know. A feeling of appreciation grew in her chest as she smiled.
"That enough." Zarathos said, cutting off her flow of magic and dispelling her spell. "Leave."
With that, she was forcefully pushed out and back into her body. With a gasp, she fell forward into Harvey's arms; her brother yelled her name. Taking deep breaths, she slowly sat back up and looked into Harvey's eyes. Now that she took the time to look at him, she noticed they were a beautiful orange. Shaking her head, she stood up and looked over at her brother.
"It's true... It's all true." Wanda said slowly.
Her brother's eyes widened, and his face morphed into defeat and acceptance. He sat down next to Harvey and sighed deeply.
"What do we do now?" Pietro asked.
The three stood in silence; the light splashing of the pond was the only noise they heard. Harvey then stood up from the bench and looked at them both.
"Train. Continue to get better with your powers and abilities." Harvey said. "I'm going to find out who did that to your home and parents."
"When I find out who it was, We'll go after them! The three of us. We'll get justice for everyone whose lives were taken away that day." Harvey said as he held a fist in front of him. "How does that sound?"
Pietro looked at Harvey in surprise. He then stood up and held out his fist. Harvey smiled and bumped his own into her brother. The two boys then turned to her and smiled; this caused Wanda to let out a small chuckle. Walking over, she put her fist in and held it there.
"Then we agree." Harvey said. "From here on out, we're a team."
"We'll find whoever did this." Pietro said in an assertive tone. "I swear."
Wanda nodded and looked back at the joined fists. She never would have believed this would have happened from their trip to New York to learn more about Tony Stark. Wanda no longer felt like a giant weight was weighing on her shoulders. Now, she had a new goal to accomplish.
Looking over to her new friend, he noticed her stare. Harvey then smiled at her, a smile that exuded confidence. She was sure that they would find all those responsible. Wanda spoke her following words with a powerful conviction.
"We'll make them pay. No matter what."