[Third person POV]
Upon hearing about the Sokovia Accords, Melissa sat quietly as the debate unfolded on screen. The Avengers were clearly divided—some arguing for oversight and accountability, others warning about political manipulation and the loss of autonomy. The team was splitting right down the middle: Team Iron Man versus Team Captain America.
As the tension rose, Melissa turned to look at Tony, who was leaning into his fist on the armrest of the couch, his expression unreadable.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Tony didn't look at her right away. "Why are you asking?" he said with a small smirk. "You should already know my answer. I would never leave the fate of my actions in someone else's hands. No one can make a better judgment of a situation than the person experiencing it and getting their hands dirty."
Melissa crossed her arms, watching the screen as T'Challa's father was suddenly engulfed in an explosion. Her expression turned thoughtful. "And what if your judgment is wrong?" she asked softly.
Tony didn't flinch. His gaze remained fixed on the unfolding chase scene across the highway. "Then I learn, adapt, and grow. That's what being human is."
Melissa hummed, not quite satisfied. "Even if that mistake leads to tragedy? Even if people die because of your pride? What if following orders—just once—could've prevented it?"
Tony turned toward her, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Melissa… what exactly are you doing?"
"I'm just trying to understand where you really stand," she said, watching him closely.
Tony sighed. "If you're looking for labels, I'm Team Captain America," he said casually, rolling his eyes. "I believe his point about how governments can be manipulated is valid. Giving control to an outside force just opens the door to compromise and corruption. I built something with my own hands—I'm not handing it over to politicians."
Melissa blinked. "Wait, really? You're siding with Steve in this?"
"Well, I suppose if I think about it, I'm Team Stark then," Melissa said proudly, lifting her chin. "Our society runs on rules and laws. Structure exists for a reason. If we, the ones with the most power, act outside of those rules, we're setting a precedent—one that others will follow, but without our morals. We should lead by example."
"Cool," Tony replied indifferently as Bucky, the supposed bomber, was finally apprehended on screen.
Melissa stared at him in disbelief. "What? That's it? No debate?"
"Aha!" Tony suddenly pointed at her, grinning. "I knew it. You didn't actually care about the answer—you were just looking to start an argument!"
Melissa pressed her lips together, trying not to smile as she looked away. "No… Of course not"
Tony chuckled, then grew more curious. "Seriously though. I'm actually interested—where do you really stand? Which side are you leaning toward?"
Melissa shrugged. "I wasn't lying. I lean more toward Stark's side. I can see the merit in both arguments, but I believe there needs to be a balance. Complete independence is dangerous. An organization that acts with unchecked power, even if they think they're doing good, can cause just as much harm. Sometimes the line between hero and vigilante blurs."
Tony considered her words quietly. "Hm… I see."
The conversation drifted away as the film progressed. On screen, Steve Rogers was holding a helicopter back with sheer brute strength.
Melissa let out a cat whistle, then immediately looked away, face flushing red in embarrassment.
Tony turned slowly toward her, lifting a brow. "Now if I did that to Black Widow or Scarlet Witch, I'd be in trouble. Got it. Duly noted."
Melissa let out a small laugh but didn't turn to face him.
Tony scoffed, then added, "Fun fact: the actor playing Steve actually tore a muscle filming that stunt."
Melissa giggled. "I love when you share little trivia like that. It reminds me that I'm not just watching a different reality, but actors playing parts. It's kinda comforting."
The movie continued, transitioning into the recruitment scenes. Clint helped Wanda escape the compound. Falcon went to retrieve Ant-Man, bringing back memories of their previous encounter in the Ant-man movie.
And then came him—Peter Parker.
Melissa noticed the subtle smile forming on Tony's face the second the young hero appeared.
"What?" she asked. "Is he special or something? You're smiling like a proud uncle."
Tony grinned. "You're looking at the most popular Marvel character of all time. One of the most iconic heroes ever created."
As the scene played on, Tony enthusiastically began explaining Spider-Man's cultural importance, his role in Marvel's history, and how much he meant to fans around the world.
Melissa listened with interest, smiling at his enthusiasm as the airport scene began—with all the characters coming face-to-face in one of the biggest superhero clashes ever captured on screen.
Tony let out a wistful sigh, his eyes soft as he leaned back into the couch. "You just wouldn't understand the hype. The influence Spider-Man has on the world… it's something you have to experience personally to truly get it."
Melissa giggled, turning to face him with an amused smile. "I don't think I've ever seen you this passionate about anything—aside from your suits, of course. Honestly, I'll take your word for it. From what I've seen so far, he is pretty charming."
"He has his own movie," Tony said with a smirk, "which you'll be seeing very soon."
Before Melissa could respond, the tone of the movie shifted drastically. The scene cut to Stark discovering that the Winter Soldier had murdered his parents—a raw, emotional reveal that made the air in the room go still. The tension mounted, leading into the brutal final battle.
And then, it happened.
Melissa leaned forward, eyes wide. "Holy…" she whispered as Steve and Bucky tag-teamed against Tony in the snowy bunker, each strike landing heavy and fast.
"You know," she muttered, her tone somewhere between awe and sympathy, "Stark is freaking awesome. I mean, he's clearly getting beat down, but come on—he's just a single man fighting two enhanced super soldiers, and he's still holding his own. That's seriously impressive."
"Why thank you," Tony replied, grinning smugly.
Melissa raised a brow, smirking. "Oh, now you're claiming to be him? You are the same person now?"
Tony just shrugged, clearly not denying it.
As the film reached its resolution and the scene shifted to T'Challa confronting Zemo, Melissa's expression turned thoughtful.
"I think Zemo deserves some praises as well," she said, surprising Tony.
"He does?" Tony asked, raising an eyebrow.
Melissa nodded, eyes still on the screen. "He did what no God (Loki) or android (Ultron) with enhanced computing powers could do. He brought down the Avengers. Not with brute strength or armies. Just pure intelligence and strategy. No enhancements. Just a man… with a plan."
Tony scoffed, though he couldn't deny the logic. "Yeah, well… it wasn't an Avengers movie. They were never meant to be the winners."
Melissa laughed. "Touché. I guess we can figure out who the main character and winner of each movie is based on the title."
Tony tried—really tried—not to laugh, but he had to cover his mouth to stifle it. Her comedic timing was getting better with every film, and he was already anticipating her reactions to Infinity War and Endgame like a kid waiting for Christmas.
After Civil War, the next film in their marathon was Doctor Strange—and Melissa had thoughts.
The first reaction came quickly:
"Wait, okay—I get that gods can use magic, sure. But this? This is a whole other level. Mystic arts? Reality-bending spells? We could have learned this if we stayed longer! We could've learned magic, and you chose to leave early! What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Her second reaction came mid-film:
"What if… we create our own magic system? One based on Quantum manipulation. Like, I don't know, 'Quantum Magic.' Doesn't that sound awesome?"
Tony chuckled, nodding. "You know what? That does sound awesome. Let's keep that on the table for future development."
They then dove into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, where Melissa instantly fell head over heels for Baby Groot.
"Awwwwww! He's so smol!! Protect him at all costs!" she squealed, hugging a pillow as if it were Groot himself.
Next up was Spider-Man: Homecoming.
As they watched Peter struggle to earn Tony's approval, Melissa couldn't stop giggling. "Heh… it's like watching a son try to impress his dad."
Tony just smiled, silently encouraging her to fall more and more in love with the dynamic between Stark and Peter just so it could hurt so much more.
Then came Thor: Ragnarok. And oh, was that an emotional rollercoaster.
The moment Hela crushed Mjolnir, Melissa dropped from the couch onto her knees like she had just witnessed the death of a beloved family member.
"NOOOOOO!! MJOLNIR!!!" she cried, genuine tears welling up in her eyes.
Tony stared at her, baffled. She didn't cry this much when Groot died. Or any other emotional scene played throughout the entirety of their marathon watch.
He squinted suspiciously. 'She's definitely having an affair with that hammer. I don't like it.'
And when Melissa watched Hela continue her rampage, she shook her fists at the screen. "That Bitch! That monster! She deserves to be imprisoned! No—banished!"
But then, when Asgard was destroyed and Hela fell, she stood up, fist raised in triumph.
"HAHAHAHA! THAT'S WHAT YOU GET!"
Tony sulked for the remainder of the movie, grumbling under his breath.
After Ragnarok, they watched Black Panther. Melissa used it as a breather, enjoying the rich worldbuilding and cultural beauty of Wakanda.
"I loved this," she said softly, as the credits rolled. "it's just… beautiful."
Tony smiled, his grin stretching like a Cheshire Cat.
Melissa yawned, stretching her arms over her head. "I think I've got one more movie in me before I pass out. I'm getting tired."
Tony leaned forward with a grin that made her suspicious immediately.
"Trust me," he said. "You won't be tired after this one."
Melissa narrowed her eyes. "Oh no…"
Tony's grin widened. "We're watching Infinity War."
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