Jordan stood in the hallways of the Avengers Compound, staring at the Quinjet as it ascended into the sky, carrying the team toward their mission. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of frustration and determination swirling in his mind. He knew the team thought he wasn't ready for a real fight—Cap had made that clear. But there was something inside him, a deep instinct, telling him he couldn't sit this one out. He had to prove he was more than just someone with dangerous, uncontrolled powers.
*You can't just hide behind them forever,* he thought. *If they need me, I need to be there.*
The doors to the control room slid open, and Jordan quickly ducked out of view, pressing himself against the wall. He wasn't sure what he was planning to do yet—he just knew that he wasn't going to let this chance slip by. He had to learn how to control his abilities, and what better way than in the heat of battle?
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**The Escape**
Jordan waited for the sounds of the Quinjet to fade into the distance before slipping into the nearest storage closet. His plan was simple—sneak into one of the backup suits and follow the Avengers. They'd never know he was there. The team wouldn't be thrilled, but that didn't matter. He needed to prove he could be an asset.
Inside the storage room, a row of Iron Man suits lined the walls, each one glowing with faint blue lights. Jordan eyed them warily. He had seen Tony suit up a dozen times but had no clue how to operate the high-tech armor. *Not today,* he thought. Instead, he quickly grabbed a black suit, the kind they kept for emergencies, designed to blend in with the shadows. It wouldn't give him super strength or flight, but it'd be enough to keep him out of sight.
Sliding into the suit, Jordan barely had time to adjust before he started hearing voices in the hall. His pulse spiked as he sprinted toward the door. It opened just in time for him to duck out of view, and he slipped through the compound's back corridors, careful not to alert anyone.
Once he reached the hangar bay, he breathed a sigh of relief. The Quinjet was still in the air, far enough to give him a head start. He quickly hit the emergency launch pad, activating one of the smaller, backup jets. It was a simple craft, not as sleek as the Quinjet, but it would do the job. The jet's engines hummed to life as the hatch opened, and Jordan climbed in, securing himself into the seat.
With a quick look at the console, Jordan managed to fire up the thrusters and take off, heading in the same direction the Quinjet had gone. His heart was racing—not just from the thrill of breaking the rules, but from the excitement of finally being a part of something bigger than himself.
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**The Encounter**
The jet's autopilot system set a course for the city where the rogue bot had been reported, but as Jordan flew closer, he saw something else—a different type of chaos unfolding. The Quinjet had already engaged the bot, but they were having trouble keeping it under control. The robot was huge, towering over city blocks, with glowing red eyes that scanned the skyline for threats.
Jordan's pulse quickened. The Avengers were already in danger. He couldn't wait for them to call him in. He had to act now.
He powered up the jet, coming in low and fast, dodging between skyscrapers to stay out of the bot's line of sight. He had no plan, just a gut feeling that if he didn't act, they'd be overrun.
As he approached, Jordan switched the controls from autopilot to manual, setting the jet on a collision course with the rogue bot. It was a reckless move, but in the moment, it felt like the only choice. His hands gripped the controls tight, and for the first time, he felt something other than fear. It was a strange kind of confidence—a force he had no name for but knew was growing inside him.
When the jet was only a few hundred feet from the bot, Jordan slammed the throttle to full speed, rocketing forward. The bot's laser cannons fired, but Jordan had already juked to the side. The explosion rocked the air behind him, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he focused on what he had to do next.
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**The First Real Test**
As the jet skidded to a halt in a nearby alley, Jordan's heart was thumping in his chest. He had barely avoided the bot's shots, but now it was time to face the real test—fighting this thing on the ground.
Jordan leaped from the jet, landing on the pavement with a heavy thud. He hadn't anticipated the full weight of his jump, and he nearly toppled over before finding his balance. The bot, unaware of his arrival, continued to wreak havoc on the city, shooting down police drones and sending debris flying in every direction.
Jordan's eyes narrowed. *This is it. You can do this.*
He sprinted toward the robot, feeling the power within him flare up. His vision shifted as the world seemed to narrow, everything focusing on the massive target in front of him. He could hear the hum of his energy building, but he didn't let it overwhelm him. He had to be precise.
The bot spotted him just as he reached its legs. It lifted a massive foot, aiming to crush him. With reflexes faster than any normal human's, Jordan dove to the side, narrowly dodging the crushing blow. His heart pounded, but he didn't hesitate. He charged up his energy and fired his laser-like heat vision directly into the robot's exposed joint.
The blast hit with the force of a missile, and the bot staggered, its leg buckling under the pressure. Sparks flew as it tried to compensate, but Jordan didn't give it the chance. He blasted again, this time hitting its torso. The sound of metal sizzling and cracking filled the air.
"I can do this," Jordan muttered, stepping forward. He was starting to feel the flow of his power, each move coming with more control than before.
---
**Intervention**
Just as the bot began to topple, the Quinjet swooped down, and Cap's voice crackled through Jordan's comm. "Kid, what the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm helping," Jordan snapped, though his tone wasn't one of defiance—it was determination.
Tony's voice joined in, tinged with irritation. "I *told* you to stay back!"
Jordan didn't have time to explain. The bot was still coming down, and he needed to finish the job. He launched himself into the air, using the power that had become his own. His legs burned with the speed and strength he'd never known before. He aimed one last shot, a concentrated burst of energy directly at the robot's head, and in a blinding flash, it crumpled to the ground, defeated.
Jordan landed softly, his chest heaving, but his eyes burned with triumph. He had done it—he'd taken down the bot.
---
**Aftermath**
The Avengers landed shortly after, surrounding the smoking remains of the robot. Cap approached Jordan, his jaw tight. "You disobeyed orders, and you put yourself in danger."
Jordan stood tall, his fists clenched at his sides. "I did what needed to be done. I'm ready."
Tony crossed his arms. "I'm not saying you didn't do good, kid, but breaking protocol like that? It's not a habit you want to get into."
"I wasn't going to just sit around and wait for you guys," Jordan shot back, his voice steady. "I'm not a liability anymore. I'm an asset."
Cap nodded, his gaze softening slightly. "You've got guts. And you've got power. But you've still got a lot to learn. If you want to be part of this team, you need to do things the right way."
Jordan didn't argue. He understood. But he wasn't going to let that stop him. He had a place here now—whether they liked it or not.
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