The atmosphere in the room had thickened with tension, a barely contained storm that crackled in the air. Ororo stood near the window, her posture rigid but graceful, eyes flicking to Harry as she felt the weight of his silence. There was a storm in her, too, something that simmered just below the surface, tempered only by the trust she had in Harry, who stood across from Charles Xavier and Hank McCoy with an air of defiance that was both familiar and unsettling.
Charles, ever the patient strategist, adjusted himself in the armchair, clasping his hands in front of him with an air of calm. He let out a long breath, attempting to project a sense of authority, yet there was an underlying weariness in his eyes—this conversation wasn't going the way he'd hoped.
"Harry," Charles said, his voice warm but heavy with the weight of unspoken things, "I understand that your abilities are immense. And I recognize the burden that places on you. But that's why I'm extending this invitation. We offer a safe space, a place where you can refine your powers, not just survive but thrive. With our guidance, you could achieve things that are beyond even your current understanding."
Ororo shifted slightly at his words, her gaze flicking between Harry and the man she had worked with for years. The hopeful look in Xavier's eyes, the same one she had seen when he recruited her, made her uneasy. She knew what people like Charles Xavier were capable of—their visions were grand, but sometimes, it didn't account for the weight of the individual's journey. Ororo had learned that the hard way.
Harry tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied Xavier. His lips twitched into a sardonic smile. "You make it sound all very idealistic, Xavier. Like some sort of 'come join the team and learn how to use your powers' pitch. But the thing is…" He took a slow step forward, the room seeming to shrink under the weight of his gaze. "You're asking me to join something without knowing the first thing about me. And don't think I didn't notice your little 'probe.'"
Xavier blinked, taken aback for a second. "What?" he began, but the question was lost as he suddenly became acutely aware of the subtle but deliberate pressure against his mind. It was like being brushed by the wing of a bird, only for the bird to turn into a thunderstorm.
Harry's voice dropped, his tone hard now. "You tried to probe my mind, didn't you? I felt it the moment you made your move. You can't hide that from me, Charles." Harry's expression shifted from bemusement to something colder, sharper. "Don't get me wrong—I get it. You're trying to understand who I am, trying to make sure I'm not a threat. But there are lines. You don't just waltz into someone's mind without permission."
The room froze. Even Ororo, who had known Harry for years, took a step back, her breath hitching as she registered the sudden change in the air. Natasha, ever the sharp observer, felt her hand inch toward her holster, her eyes narrowing on Xavier, who was now uncomfortably still. Tonks, her face a mix of surprise and fascination, leaned forward slightly, her hands fidgeting at her sides.
"Xavier…" Natasha's voice was low, her tone dangerous, like a panther waiting to pounce. "You can't just do that."
Tonks, wide-eyed and still adjusting to the tension, piped up, her voice almost in awe. "That was... intense," she said, a touch of disbelief in her tone. "I didn't think anyone could actually shut down Xavier. That was, like, next level."
Xavier's face paled, his usual composure cracking under the weight of Harry's words. He attempted to probe Harry again, but it was like running into a brick wall. He pushed harder, mentally straining, but it was futile. Harry's mind was a fortress, unyielding, impenetrable. And it wasn't just the barrier that hit Xavier—it was the intensity behind it. He could feel the sharp edge of Harry's anger, his frustration, and the deep-seated mistrust that burned just beneath the surface. Xavier quickly withdrew, eyes wide as he realized his mistake.
"I... I wasn't trying to invade your privacy, Harry," Xavier stammered, his voice faltering slightly as he mentally regrouped. "I just... I thought—"
"You thought wrong," Harry interjected, his voice cold but not unkind. "If you want to talk to me, you'll do it the old-fashioned way. With words, not mental gymnastics." His tone was sharp, but there was something beneath it—a weariness, a weariness that was just as much about protecting himself as it was about his anger at the intrusion.
Ororo stepped forward then, her voice quieter but filled with authority. "Charles," she began, her tone steady, "you should have known better than to assume you could just read someone's mind. Harry's not like the others you've encountered. His defenses aren't something you can easily break through."
Xavier, clearly flustered and ashamed, nodded slowly, his face softening with regret. "I apologize, Harry. I should have respected your boundaries. That was a mistake."
The room was thick with unease. Even Natasha's posture relaxed just slightly, though she still regarded Xavier with suspicion. Tonks, ever the curious one, stood straighter, her mind clearly racing as she processed the events. But it was Ororo who broke the silence with a small but meaningful smile, her gaze softening toward Harry. "I'm glad to see that you're looking out for the both of us, Harry. It's heartwarming."
Before anyone could add anything more, the door creaked open. Vivian, Ororo's older sister, stood in the doorway, her presence immediately calming the room. Her sharp eyes took in the scene in front of her, a silent understanding passing between her and Ororo.
"This conversation's over for now," Vivian said, her voice calm but firm, her gaze settling on Xavier. "You've interrupted a reunion I was hoping to have with my sister, and I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave."
Xavier and Hank shared a glance, both of them taken aback by the sudden shift in tone. Hank, ever the gentleman, stood first, offering a polite smile to the group. "Of course, Mrs. Daniels," he said, his voice apologetic. "We didn't mean to intrude."
Vivian's eyes remained focused on Xavier as she gave a stiff nod, her gaze unwavering. "You've done enough for one day," she said, before turning to Ororo with a softer expression. "If you need anything, you know where to find me."
Ororo nodded quietly, her gaze soft but distant, as if she was still processing the tension of the moment. She didn't speak again, not wanting to add anything further to the storm that had already passed.
Xavier stood with a sigh, his face still flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, once again. Perhaps we can talk another time—under better circumstances?"
With that, he and Hank exited, leaving the door to shut softly behind them. As the tension began to lift from the room, Harry finally broke the silence, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Well, that was fun. But I think I've had my fill of 'mutant recruiters' for the day."
Ororo smiled, though there was still a trace of concern in her eyes. "Next time, Harry," she said with a soft laugh, "try not to steal the show quite so dramatically."
Harry flashed a grin, though the intensity in his eyes remained. "No promises, Ororo. No promises."
—
As the door clicked shut behind Xavier and Hank, the weight of the tense conversation slowly began to lift from the room. The silence that followed was thick with unspoken thoughts, but it was broken by Ororo's soft voice, gentle yet firm. She turned to her sister, Vivian, who stood silently by the door, a hand still resting lightly on the frame.
"I'll be back soon, Vivi," Ororo said quietly, her eyes lingering on her sister. "And Evan," she added, crouching down to her five-year-old nephew, her silver hair falling softly around her face. She offered him a smile that was both nurturing and strong. "You be good for your mom, alright?"
Evan, his wide eyes still full of wonder from the chaos of moments earlier, nodded eagerly. "I will, Aunt Ororo!" he declared, his voice a little too loud in the stillness of the room. His gaze flicked over to Harry, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a wry smile still lingering on his lips. "Are you really gonna open another one of those... portals?" he asked, his voice filled with an innocent excitement. "That was awesome!"
Ororo chuckled softly at Evan's enthusiasm, standing up and smoothing her tunic. "Maybe later, kiddo," she replied affectionately, placing a gentle hand on his head. "You and your mom take care of things here."
Vivian, who had remained quiet through most of the interaction, smiled warmly at Ororo. There was a knowing look in her eyes, one that spoke volumes about the care she had for her sister, even though her attention seemed focused on keeping Evan grounded in the whirlwind of events. "I'll keep him out of trouble, don't worry," Vivian said, her voice calm and reassuring.
"Good," Ororo nodded, her tone lightening. "I'll be back before you know it."
With one last, soft glance at her family, Ororo turned toward the others. Natasha, Tonks, and Harry were already huddled together in a loose circle, their quiet voices a stark contrast to the storm of emotions in the air moments before.
Tonks, who had been unusually quiet up until now, tilted her head to one side, her playful nature returning as she shot a sideways glance at Harry. "So, what do we think about all that?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity, though there was still a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Xavier's little mind read... Pretty ballsy move for someone who talks so much about being a good guy."
Natasha's expression remained inscrutable, her arms folded across her chest as she leaned against the wall. "Yeah, that wasn't a smart play," she said, her voice steady, but a touch of dry humor in her tone. "Trying to probe someone without permission? That's asking for trouble." Her eyes met Harry's, her expression sharpening. "What do you think? Should we be telling Fury about this? He's not gonna be happy with how that went down."
Harry, ever the cynic, rolled his eyes. "Fury's gonna have a lot to say about everything," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm more concerned about the fact that Xavier was so damn sure he could get into my head." He pushed off the wall, pacing slightly, his thoughts still spinning. "I don't trust someone who thinks they can just waltz in and play around with people's minds. That's not how things work with me."
Tonks let out a small snort of laughter, her eyes lighting up with mischief. "Yeah, I wouldn't wanna mess with your mind either," she said, her voice teasing. "Seems like you've got a few tricks up your sleeve, Harry."
Natasha's gaze flicked over to the young girl. "Don't get too comfortable, Tonks," she said, her voice firm, though there was a subtle edge of warmth in it. "You don't want to underestimate anyone in this group—especially when they're not showing all their cards."
Tonks just shrugged, unbothered by Natasha's stern tone. "Wouldn't dream of it, Nat," she replied, her voice light but her eyes serious for a moment.
Harry raised an eyebrow, his smirk shifting into something a little more thoughtful. "Maybe we should let Fury know about the mind probe," he said after a pause, his voice laced with a hint of hesitation. "But also, maybe not. It's not like Xavier is some villain—he's just a little too entitled for my liking." He turned to Natasha. "But I don't know, Nat. That whole 'I'm trying to help you' spiel was a little too on-the-nose, don't you think? What if they come back and try to use that as leverage?"
Natasha's expression softened just a little, her calculating gaze fixing on Harry. "We'll figure it out," she said, her voice resolute. "Fury won't like the fact that Xavier was poking around, but we can spin it. We just need to make sure we're ahead of the game."
Before anyone could respond, Ororo rejoined them, her presence somehow calming the space. She glanced around the room, her gaze lingering on each of them, before finally looking to Harry, a small but knowing smile on her lips. "We're ready to go, I think."
Harry gave a nod, the corners of his mouth turning up in a grin. "Time to get out of here, then," he said, his voice full of quiet determination.
Ororo glanced back toward Vivian and Evan, offering one final, reassuring wave before she turned to Harry. "Do your thing, Harry. Just... try to make it less... dramatic this time?" she teased lightly, her voice warm.
Harry's grin widened, the familiar mischief returning to his features. "Who, me? Never."
With a wave of his hand, Harry reached into the air, and the space around him seemed to ripple and shimmer. The air grew thick with energy as he opened a portal—a swirling vortex of light and energy that bent the fabric of reality itself. Vivian and Evan watched, mesmerized, as the portal grew larger, and then stabilized.
Evan's eyes widened with awe, his little mouth dropping open in excitement. "Whoa!" he gasped, completely enchanted by the display. "That's so cool! Can you make it go anywhere?"
Harry chuckled, glancing over at the young boy, his tone light and teasing. "Anywhere you want, kiddo," he said, the playful edge to his voice cutting through the tension. "But it might be best if you don't tell anyone else about this, okay?"
Vivian shook her head, though a smile tugged at her lips. "Trust me, Harry," she said with a knowing glance at her nephew. "I think we're all going to keep this one a secret."
With that, Ororo gave her sister one last nod, and the group, led by Harry, stepped through the portal, disappearing into the swirling abyss.
As the portal closed behind them, the room was left in stunned silence, save for the faint, fading echo of Evan's enthusiastic voice. "Best. Day. Ever."
—
The world around them shifted as they passed through the portal, the air changing with each step, and before they knew it, the familiar surroundings of the safehouse greeted them. The soft glow of the interior lighting was warm and inviting, and the subtle hum of the house settling back into its usual rhythm made it feel like home.
As they entered, the sound of laughter filled the air. James Potter, looking every bit the proud, lively father, stood in the middle of the room, watching over a very mischievous figure.
Sirius Black, in his animagus form as a large black dog, was sprawled out on the floor, his tail wagging furiously as a small, 6-year-old Rose Potter attempted to give him orders. Her tiny voice was commanding, though her words often sounded like the innocent playfulness of a child who had far too much confidence in her ability to "control" a giant magical dog.
"Sit, Padfoot! No, not like that! You need to roll over! Now!" Rose insisted, hands planted firmly on her hips, her face scrunched up in concentration.
Sirius obediently rolled over, but the playful gleam in his eyes made it clear he was enjoying the game just as much as she was. His tail wagged again, knocking over a small toy, but Rose didn't seem to mind in the slightest. "Good boy, Padfoot!" she cheered, her laughter ringing out through the room.
"That's enough, Rose," James said with a chuckle, kneeling down beside her. "Let Padfoot get up before he gets too dizzy."
"Not yet, Daddy! I'm the boss around here, right, Padfoot?" Rose grinned mischievously, giving Sirius another command, to which he responded with an exaggerated whine, earning another fit of giggles from her.
Ororo couldn't help but smile at the scene. The chaos of the day seemed to vanish in an instant, replaced by the warmth and normalcy of family. She glanced over at Harry, her expression softening as she saw the way his eyes lingered on his little sister, clearly fond of the sweet chaos she brought into their lives.
"Looks like you've got a lot of fun waiting for you here, Harry," Ororo teased lightly, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Harry's eyes softened as he watched Rose, his expression a mix of affection and a little bemusement. "Yeah," he replied with a grin, "you could say that."
Meanwhile, Tonks had slipped into a seat near the entrance, her ever-present energy subdued slightly as she leaned back, trying to get comfortable after the day's whirlwind events. She glanced at the scene before her, and then looked to Natasha, who was already heading toward the door, her expression as serious as ever.
"Well, since we're all here," Tonks began, addressing the group, "guess I can fill everyone in on what happened." She leaned forward, her face more serious now. "So, we go to Ororo's sister's place, right? Just thinking we'll be able to chill for a bit, maybe get some downtime and reunite with her family. And then—boom—this guy—" She gestured vaguely in the air as if to illustrate just how unwelcome Xavier's presence had been. "Charles Xavier—just waltzes in, and I mean, without so much as a knock or anything. Kinda bold, right?"
James raised an eyebrow. "Xavier? The Professor?" He shot a glance at Harry, who gave a nonchalant shrug. "The one with all the telepathy?"
"Yup. That one," Tonks confirmed. "And let me tell you, he didn't just show up to chat. He practically started rifling through our minds—without so much as a 'how do you do?' or even a proper 'good afternoon.' Had to call in the big guns—Harry, of course. He made that whole invasion of privacy situation much less awkward." She shot Harry a wink, which was returned with a dry smile from him.
Ororo's face softened with understanding. "He means well, but Xavier can sometimes forget that not everyone is willing to let him into their minds. His intentions are rarely malicious, but the method—" She shook her head, trailing off.
"Exactly," Tonks agreed. "Not exactly what I'd call good manners. But hey, it's a good thing Harry's got a trick or two up his sleeve. Otherwise, we'd still be dealing with that."
James let out a huff of laughter. "Typical Xavier, from what I've read on his files. Always thinking he knows best," he muttered, shaking his head fondly. "Did he try to get in your heads, too?"
Natasha, who had been standing at the door with her hand resting on the handle, turned back to face them. "I'll be reporting this situation to Fury," she said calmly, her voice authoritative. "We don't need to let this slide. If Xavier is really that bold, we have to be cautious. There's a lot more at play here than just a little mind reading. I'll let you know how he reacts."
The rest of the group nodded, understanding that Natasha was the right person for the task. She was always the professional, the one who kept things in line when the world started to get a little too messy.
"Thanks, Nat," Harry said, watching her leave the room. His gaze softened as he looked back at his family, taking in the sight of his father, sister, and Sirius. His mind raced with the events of the day, but for now, it felt good to be home, surrounded by people who cared.
"Well," Tonks said, raising an eyebrow, "now that that's out of the way, anyone up for some dinner? I'm starved."
"Only if you're not planning on making it sound as dramatic as that whole 'telepathic mind probe' thing," James replied with a teasing grin. "You're not going to tell me you were actually worried about Xavier, are you?"
Tonks shot him a mock glare. "Me? Worry? About a telepath?" She snorted. "Not a chance."
Harry smiled, watching the interactions with a sense of contentment. The world outside might have been chaotic, dangerous, and unpredictable, but here, with his family, he could breathe—at least for a moment.
"Alright, let's eat," Harry said, pushing the chaos of the day to the back of his mind. "I think we've earned it."
And with that, the group settled down to enjoy some well-needed peace—at least until the next adventure arrived on their doorstep.
—
The fluorescent lights of the SHIELD command center flickered overhead as Natasha walked into the briefing room, her heels clicking on the polished floor. The air inside was thick with tension, the kind that always lingered when something big was about to drop. She could feel the weight of her report pressing down on her, and despite the usual calm in her demeanor, she couldn't shake the sense that this meeting wasn't going to be just another routine check-in.
Fury was sitting behind his desk, his iconic eye patch casting a shadow over his face as he went over a set of transcripts. The papers were spread out in front of him, and his other hand was tapping rhythmically against the edge of the desk, a clear sign that his mind was working overtime.
"You're late," Fury said without looking up, his gravelly voice cutting through the silence like a knife.
"Traffic," Natasha replied, unfazed. She leaned against the doorframe and crossed her arms, watching Fury for a moment. The room was filled with the kind of quiet that suggested something big had gone down. "I just got back from a situation involving one Charles Xavier."
Fury's eyebrows shot up. He didn't even flinch as he continued reading the transcript. "Xavier?" He sounded almost surprised, but it was the kind of surprise Natasha was used to hearing from him—quiet, controlled, and always with a healthy dose of skepticism. "The telepath?"
"The one and only," Natasha confirmed, stepping into the room and pulling up a chair. "I had to call in Harry to handle it. He had no business being there, and honestly, I think he's starting to get too comfortable messing with people's minds." She glanced over at the transcripts, knowing that Fury was still focused on his work, but her eyes lingered for a moment. "He showed up uninvited, and Ororo's sister was not pleased."
Fury looked up now, eyes narrowed, his fingers still resting on the edge of the papers. "And you're telling me this now? After you've already had Harry play bodyguard for Xavier?" He leaned back in his chair, staring at her intently.
Natasha didn't flinch. She knew how Fury operated—always thinking three steps ahead. "I wanted to make sure you were aware of the situation. Xavier's methods aren't exactly… subtle. If he's poking around like this, we might be looking at bigger problems."
"Right," Fury muttered, before tossing the transcripts aside. "I just finished going over these transcripts from Hill's interrogation of Sinthea Schmidt, and now I've got to deal with telepaths, mutants, and whoever else Xavier's wrapped up in his little mind games. Great."
He stood up, pacing the room as Natasha sat back, letting him think. It was clear the mess they were dealing with was bigger than anything he'd expected. But that was just Fury's way—always looking for the cracks in the foundation. He rubbed his temple and then turned back toward her.
"Xavier's not someone we can just ignore, Natasha. He's dangerous, especially if he's looking into things we haven't even started to scratch the surface on. You said Harry got involved—did Xavier get what he wanted?"
"Not exactly," Natasha replied. "But Harry made it clear that Xavier isn't getting inside his head, or anyone else's, without a fight. So for now, we're in the clear. But I'll tell you one thing: Xavier wasn't there for nothing. I don't think he was just trying to make nice with Ororo and her family."
Fury gave her a pointed look. "What are you thinking, Romanoff?"
"I'm thinking Xavier has his eyes on something bigger," Natasha said. "Maybe he's looking for new recruits. Maybe he's getting intel on the situation with HYDRA. But whatever it is, it's clear he's up to something. And if he's using his telepathic skills to dig around, we need to be ready to shut that down before it spirals out of control."
Fury exhaled slowly, his mind clearly processing the information. "I'll have Maria get in touch with Stark. See if he's noticed anything unusual with Xavier's movements. We need all eyes on him. We can't afford to be blindsided by someone who knows how to get into your head without you even realizing it."
"Got it," Natasha replied. "I'll keep you posted. But I suggest you start looking into Xavier's connections, Fury. He doesn't work alone."
Fury's lips twitched upward in a half-smile, though it was more of a grimace than anything else. "I'll handle it. You just make sure you keep tabs on Harry and his little superhero group. They're walking into dangerous territory. And next time, you might want to leave Xavier to someone else."
Natasha gave him a sharp nod. "Understood. I'll be in touch if anything else comes up." She turned to leave, but then paused, glancing over her shoulder. "By the way, I'm not sure if you've read the latest transcripts, but Sinthea Schmidt's starting to crack. We'll need to move fast if we want to use her."
Fury's expression darkened as he returned to the transcripts on his desk. "I'm aware. That's why I'm staying here. I'll take care of Schmidt. You handle Xavier."
With that, Natasha left the room, her thoughts already moving toward the next steps. She wasn't sure how the situation would unfold, but she knew one thing for sure—this was far from over.
And as for Xavier, Natasha was willing to bet that wherever he was, he wasn't done stirring up trouble yet.
—
The soft hum of machinery filled the air in the infirmary of the safehouse, the delicate balance of magic and technology swirling together as if the two had always belonged. Rhodey, propped up in his hospital bed, was an odd sight—half-recovered from a near-fatal spinal injury and surrounded by an eclectic mix of high-tech gadgets and arcane enchantments. His body was a battlefield between science and magic, his every breath a testament to the efforts of his friends to get him back on his feet.
Tony Stark, his signature smirk in place, was hunched over one of the leg braces attached to Rhodey's lower limbs. The thing was a masterpiece—an intricate blend of Tony's cutting-edge technology and the magical prowess of Tonks, who had contributed a series of healing runes and protective wards that would keep the brace functioning no matter the circumstances. It was a hybrid of sorts—half-repulsor-powered, half-magic-infused—a little something extra for Rhodey to wear while his body mended.
"Hold still, Rhodey," Tony muttered, the words coming out more like a command than a suggestion as he fiddled with the control panel of the brace. "This might sting a little."
Rhodey raised an eyebrow, his voice dry but amused. "Sting? Tony, I've been shot, blown up, and nearly paralyzed. I think I can handle a little sting."
"Right, right," Tony said, not even looking up. "Just making sure it's calibrated perfectly. You know—science stuff."
Howard Stark, standing beside his son, shot Tony a sidelong glance. "You sure you've got this? The runes on this thing aren't exactly your forte, are they?"
Tony didn't flinch at his father's jab, his smirk only growing. "Pops, don't worry about it. I've got the tech part down to a science, and Tonks' magic...well, I'm not an expert, but I can definitely appreciate good craftsmanship."
Howard sighed and adjusted his glasses, looking at the diagnostic screen. "This will work," he muttered, half to himself. "The only question is how long it'll last before he gives us the 'I'm fine' speech and tries to run off on his own."
"Hey, I am fine," Rhodey chimed in, his voice rich with that familiar, dry wit. "And for the record, I'm just waiting for the moment I can get out of this bed and punch someone in the face—preferably Hydra-related."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Now you're talking. But we might need to wait on that. For now, though, let's focus on getting you mobile again."
As Tony finished his adjustments, Howard stepped back, examining the progress with an approving nod. "Well, it seems to be working," Howard said, his tone the dry, no-nonsense voice of someone who's seen it all. "At least you'll be able to walk again, even if it's on some fancy tech-and-magic crutches."
Rhodey looked down at his legs, where the braces now locked in place, glowing faintly with a mix of repulsor energy and runic light. For the first time in what felt like weeks, he felt the pull of hope—a glimmer of what could be again.
"Alright, Tony. I'm willing to give this a shot," Rhodey said, swinging his legs off the bed and gingerly placing his feet on the floor. "But no promises, alright? If I end up flat on my face, I'm blaming you."
"Deal," Tony replied with a grin, not even looking up as he fumbled with a tablet. "Pops, you ready to run diagnostics? We need this thing to be foolproof. No more 'accidents' like that one time with those drones."
Howard didn't look up from his work. "I was not responsible for the drone army going rogue, Tony. That was a software glitch, not my fault."
Tony paused and gave his father an incredulous look. "Please, Pops. We both know you didn't even notice the glitch until it was too late. You were too busy inventing flying cars or whatever."
Howard gave his son a look that could've melted steel. "You know, I had to deal with the fallout of that, right?"
"Yeah, yeah. You're still grumpy about it," Tony muttered, looking back to Rhodey. "Okay, Rhodey. Ready to try this thing out?"
Rhodey hesitated for a moment, then slowly pushed himself up, his legs giving way for just a second before the braces kicked in, lifting him to his feet with a gentle hum of power. The pain in his back had receded, replaced by the low, reassuring hum of the tech beneath his skin. He straightened up, then took a cautious step forward.
"I can feel it," he said, surprised. "This is...working."
Tony grinned, his cocky confidence making a brief appearance. "Of course it is. We don't do things halfway."
But before Rhodey could take another step, the sound of footsteps made everyone pause. Ted Tonks, Andromeda's husband and the magical healer behind much of the enchantments, stepped forward with a cautious expression.
"Tony," Ted said, his voice measured, "we still need to run diagnostics on his healing magic. The braces are doing their job, but it's important we don't rush his recovery."
"Relax, Ted. The guy's itching to walk again," Tony said, not missing a beat. "I'm not going to rush anything. Just giving Rhodey a little nudge."
Ted frowned. "I'm serious, Tony. You've got to remember that magic and tech are...different. They don't always play nice."
Howard finally spoke up, his tone firm yet conciliatory. "Ted's right. We need to be cautious. Magic can work miracles, but it also has its limitations. If we push too hard, we could make things worse."
Rhodey, still testing his balance, rolled his shoulders and exhaled slowly. "I get it, Ted. No need to turn this into a lecture. I'm just happy to stand again. It's a damn miracle—tech or magic, I'll take it."
Tony gave a small chuckle. "Not a miracle, Rhodey. Just a little Stark ingenuity, with some help from our magic experts."
At that, Andromeda stepped forward, shaking her head with a knowing smile. "You two are the worst at listening," she said to her husband, before turning to Tony with a more serious expression. "But the good news is his healing is progressing well. We've got time before we need to push any further. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon."
"Understood," Tony said, his voice still light, but now laced with the smallest trace of respect. "But while we're on the topic of marathons… I've got another project in mind. Something to really give Hydra a run for their money."
Rhodey turned toward Tony, eyebrow raised. "Now you've got my attention. What's the plan?"
Tony's eyes gleamed with the kind of look that usually meant trouble. "It's simple. A little payback for Hydra. I'm designing a new suit of armor. For both of us. Something that combines tech and magic. And I think it's time we brought in some reinforcements."
"Reinforcements?" Rhodey asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You mean I'm going to get my own suit? Like the big leagues?"
"That's exactly what I mean," Tony said with a grin, glancing over at his father. "We're going to need some magic for this, though. So I'm thinking we reach out to Lily Potter and Gideon Adler. They've been helping out with some of Dad's other projects, and their expertise could really give us the edge we need."
Howard, still preoccupied with the diagnostics, didn't miss a beat. "You're right. Lily's got an incredible talent for runes, and Gideon has a knack for enchanted tech. We can't do this alone."
Ted, who had been silently processing everything, finally sighed. "You guys are getting ahead of yourselves, but...I suppose this could work."
Andromeda shot her husband a look. "If we do this right, Ted, it will work. But they'll need time—and patience."
Tony, never one to back down, gave a cheeky grin. "Patience is overrated. Besides, Hydra's not going to wait around for us to finish our magic-tech hybrid suits. We'll hit them fast. And when we do, it's going to hurt."
Rhodey, now standing tall, adjusted the brace and gave Tony a firm nod. "Alright, Tony. Let's make them regret it."
"Exactly," Tony said with a satisfied grin. "And just for the record—never mess with a Stark."
---
Hey fellow fanfic enthusiasts!
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Whether you loved it, hated it, or have some constructive criticism, your feedback is super important to me. Feel free to drop a comment or send me a message with your thoughts. Can't wait to hear from you!
If you're passionate about fanfiction and love discussing stories, characters, and plot twists, then you're in the right place! I've created a Discord server dedicated to diving deep into the world of fanfiction, especially my own stories. Whether you're a reader, a writer, or just someone who enjoys a good tale, I welcome you to join us for lively discussions, feedback sessions, and maybe even some sneak peeks into upcoming chapters, along with artwork related to the stories. Let's nerd out together over our favorite fandoms and explore the endless possibilities of storytelling!
Click the link below to join the conversation:
https://discord.com/invite/HHHwRsB6wd
Can't wait to see you there!
If you appreciate my work and want to support me, consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support helps me keep writing and bringing more stories to you. You can do so via PayPal here:
https://www.paypal.me/VikrantUtekar007
Or through my Buy Me a Coffee page:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/vikired001s
Thank you for your support!