For Pietro, hatred was not a switch that could be so easily flipped. The missiles that had destroyed his home may not have been launched by Tony Stark's hand, but they had been forged in his factories and bore his name. That was an indisputable, blood-soaked fact. And in the Battle of New York, the Plumbers had fought alongside the Avengers, Stark included.
So, he had to know. If the day ever came when he and Wanda decided to claim their pound of flesh from Stark, where would the Plumbers stand? Would they help? Or would they stand in the way? If it was the latter, then no amount of money, no number of villas, would be worth the price of their vengeance.
Ben met his intense gaze without flinching. "The Plumbers are a peacekeeping organization, Mr. Maximoff, not a family counseling service," he stated, his tone cool and professional. "We do not mediate our members' personal disputes, nor do we, as a rule, interfere in their private lives."
The message was clear, delivered with the precision of a corporate lawyer. That's between you and Tony Stark. I won't get involved. He wouldn't help them, but more importantly, he wouldn't stop them.
A slow, dangerous smile spread across Pietro's face. "That's enough."
He sprang from the sofa, all his previous tension replaced by a crackling, impatient energy. He slapped the dust from his pants. "So," he said, his grin widening. "When do we leave?"
A few hours later, a sleek, black Quinjet dispatched by Norman Osborn touched down on a private Primus Technologies airstrip. Ben stepped out, followed by the Maximoff twins, who stared in awe at the glittering skyline of New York City.
"The Plumbers' orbital headquarters is still under construction, and most of Manhattan is a rebuild zone," Ben explained as he led them into the colossal Primus Tower. "You'll be staying here for now."
The building soared into the clouds, a titan of glass and steel that had, since the collapse of Avengers Tower, become the tallest structure in the city. Its scale was dizzying. Ben had already allocated entire floors to Dr. Connors and his scientific staff for their labs, but even with each scientist claiming several levels, the building remained cavernously empty. Much of its vast space was still unused.
I really need to start a proper recruitment drive, Ben thought. Relying on Osborn's corporate infrastructure for everything from legal battles over Spider-Man's costume rights to HR was becoming inefficient.
As if on cue, Bruce Banner approached them, looking more relaxed than Ben had seen him in weeks. "If you're looking to build a legal department, you could give my cousin a try," he offered. "Her name is Jennifer. Just graduated from law school."
It seemed the debate between him and Otto had reached a conclusion.
"Have her come in for an interview," Ben said with a nod, making a mental note. He knew exactly who Jennifer Walters was destined to become. Bringing She-Hulk into the fold early couldn't hurt.
Banner's gaze shifted to the twins. "And they are?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Our newest members," Ben introduced them. "Wanda and Pietro Maximoff."
Wanda gave a shy, reserved nod. Pietro, on the other hand, was a bolt of lightning. He zipped forward, extending his hand enthusiastically. "You can call me Quicksilver," he announced proudly. "It's my hero name. I came up with it myself."
Banner shook his hand gently, a bit taken aback by the boy's exuberant energy. He wasn't particularly good at dealing with hyperactive teenagers. "Otto and I are proceeding with the research on the Mind Stone," he said, gesturing vaguely toward the elevators. "I should get back to it."
So, Otto had won. Ben wasn't surprised. For a true scientist, the allure of an Infinity Stone—a fundamental key to the universe's deepest truths—was impossible to resist.
"Be careful, Dr. Banner," Ben cautioned. He then turned to guide Wanda and Quicksilver to their new quarters. "You can stay here for now. I'll take you shopping for some new clothes later, or you can go on your own."
He handed them each a pre-loaded Primus debit card. "We'll test the extent of your abilities tomorrow. Then I'll introduce you to the rest of the team."
The flight from Sokovia, combined with the time difference, meant that though they had left at night, it was now morning in New York. Wanda looked drained, but Pietro was practically vibrating with unspent energy. Ben figured it was best to let them rest and acclimate.
Pietro, however, had other plans. He snatched the card from Ben's hand, his eyes wide with excitement. "Rest? No way! Where can I buy video games in this city?"
Wanda, deciding that fighting the jet lag was a better option than trying to sleep, agreed to go with him.
Ben watched them go with a small smile. "You two are going to get along great with Peter and Harry."
High above the streets of New York, a figure clad in living darkness swung through the concrete canyons. Peter Parker, wrapped in the Venom symbiote, felt invincible. He hadn't taken the suit off since the battle with the Chitauri. It was a second skin, a whispering shadow that promised him strength he'd never dreamed of.
So many tasty little morsels down there, the symbiote hissed in his mind, its voice a gravelly purr. Hearts, livers, lungs… even their filthy intestines smell delicious! Let's just pop one of their heads like a grape!
Peter sighed. Venom was a bit of a potty-mouth, and its culinary preferences were horrifying, but Peter couldn't deny the rush it gave him. He was faster, stronger, more confident. They were, for now, in their honeymoon phase. The symbiote was slowly influencing him, but Peter's innate goodness was a stubborn fortress, and the changes were subtle, almost unnoticeable.
Pay attention, Peter chided mentally. I was telling you about Ben.
Who cares about some cousin? Venom retorted, its focus entirely on the buffet of humanity below. It had been days since it had a decent meal, and its hunger was a gnawing void. The only thing that truly registered was fear. Just keep me away from that weird guy. The one who changes shape. He's not trustworthy. He knows things.
"When can I eat them?" Venom whined.
"Never," Peter said firmly, launching a web line higher.
I want to crunch their skulls like potato chips! the symbiote fantasized, its glee disgustingly palpable. Then pour boiling water into the hole and slurp up the brain soup! Mmm… delicious!
A long, black tongue snaked out from the mask and licked Peter's face.
"Ugh, you are so gross!" Peter recoiled. "We can't eat people! And we definitely can't scald their brains with boiling water! We're superheroes, Venom. We don't do bad things."
Okay… Venom whispered, a picture of feigned sincerity.
Peter nodded, relieved. "I'm glad you understand."
Then can we eat the heads of scumbags? Venom asked hopefully. Or old people? They're going to die soon anyway.
"NO!" Peter shouted. "And if you ever, ever think about eating Uncle Ben or Aunt May, I swear I will kill you myself!"
This isn't fair! Venom shrieked in his head. That's not okay! This is not okay! You're abusing me! If you don't let me eat, I'm going to sue you! I'll report you to the Alien Protection Association!
Thirty minutes later, Peter burst through the front door of his house, his arms laden with a mountain of cheap chocolate bars. Inside, his aunt and uncle were in the kitchen preparing dinner. They stopped and stared.
"Peter?" Aunt May asked, spatula in hand.
"Whash wong?" Peter asked, his mouth already full of chocolate, wrapper and all.
"You look… weird," Uncle Ben and Aunt May said in unison.
"Weirder than last semester," his uncle added, referring to the period just after the spider bite when Peter's appetite could out-eat a small farm.
"Um… just hungry," Peter mumbled, scratching the back of his head. "You know. Puberty."
Uncle Ben frowned. "I don't remember puberty having those particular symptoms."
"It's normal, Uncle Ben," Peter said, digging himself deeper. "You'll understand when you get to my age."
His uncle just stared, utterly baffled. Realizing his mistake, Peter quickly changed the subject. "Hey, uh, where are Ben and Harry?"
"They're not back yet."
"Okay! I'll just be upstairs then!" Peter said, fleeing up the stairs.
Once in his room, Venom's head emerged from his shoulder, chomping on a chocolate bar. Who are Ben and Harry?
"My cousin and my best friend," Peter said, exasperated.
Wait, you never told me you had a cousin! Venom exclaimed.
Peter slapped the symbiote head. "I was literally just talking to you about him on the way home!"
Oh my god! I didn't know! Does he look like you? I bet he's delicious!
Peter's expression turned dead serious. "I'm warning you," he said, his voice low and firm. "You stay away from him. Don't even think about it. You mess with Ben, and you'll be in more trouble than you can possibly imagine."
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