The Thunder

Tony left the senator's office feeling like he had aged at least ten years suddenly. Bringing his right hand to the side of his sunglasses and ordering F.R.I.D.A.Y. to call Steve again and again until the soldier picked up, he began to absent-mindedly unbutton the tie that he wore around his neck and that now seemed like a rope.

Why was it so hot in there? And why suddenly the suit felt as it was two or three sizes smaller than it should be?

"Captain Rogers is still not answering, sir."

"Keep trying," the philanthropist growled as he walked toward the fire escape exit. He needed air. And he needed it now. Why did he seem to be the only one who could not breathe in there? Jesus.

When Steve's answering machine jumped an eighth time, Tony decided to leave a message for the blond soldier, feeling all of his frustrations bubbling in his blood:

"Captain, I know you're not very familiar with 21st century technology, but for future reference, having my name appear again and again on that bright little screen indicates that you have to get the damn phone." After hearing the whistle that followed his agitated speech, Tony let himself slide down the wall until he was sitting on the ground, breathing hard while holding the bridge of his nose between two fingers, noticing the calloused fingertips resulting from all those years working on the laboratory against the soft skin of the face.

How the hell was everything going so fast down the drain? Weren't they also humans? Dammit, could not they make mistakes!? They had saved the world countless times. And even so...

"Self-pity does not fit with someone like you, Mr. Stark," said a hoarse, deep voice behind him, making him jump. Tony took a microsecond to recover from where he was now, lying on his back, looking at the brick wall in surprise to realize automatically that the sound could not come from behind him, unless Harry Potter really existed, but Above him. . Looking up, Iron Man lowered his glasses in disbelief at the vision in front of him.

Crouched on the roof, just above him, was a man dressed in a demon suit - literally. Tony noted that the armor must've been made of some kind of bulletproof material, flexible enough to be formed into a cloth that allows to cut it and sew it together. It had a tone between crimson and wine, similar to that of dried blood -Had he chosen that color on purpose?- at which black protections were added to the chest, shoulders and knees, and Tony was betting that it would have a similar pattern in the back. Dark boots covered his legs and shins, with a pattern similar to the gloves, also wine-colored and with black reinforcements on the knuckles. On his belt he wore a kind of extendable double cane that reminded him of what a blind man would use, only it was thicker and clearly much more dangerous. A dark mesh covered the neck and part of the face, of which only a square jaw with a thin beard could be discerned -it should have 2, 3 days maximum- that surrounded a crooked mouth in a sarcastic smile, the lower lip broken, although without bleeding, and the curve of a sharp nose that was lost at the beginning of the mask with horns and red lenses that completed his costume.

"The Devil of Hell's Kitchen, I suppose," Stark commented, still agitated. The vigilante gave him another smirk. It was no surprise that the millionaire had heard of him. Newspaper headlines across the city had filled up with his picture after getting Wilson Fisk into jail.

"I see that presentations aren't needed," he commented again in that deep voice that had so frightened the millionaire the first time, catching him off guard.

"Yeah, well..." Tony sighed, fiddling with glasses in his hands. "You see, I'm not at my best, but if we open auditions to enter the Avengers, you can be sure I'll move some strings, 'kay?"

The devil chuckled. What an occurrence...

"Is that why you think I'm here?" he asked in a funny tone. Tony raised his eyebrows. Wasn't it? "No, thanks, I prefer to protect my city." Daredevil jumped then from the roof, falling noiselessly next to Tony and leaning towards him to speak in his ear in a very low tone, barely above a whisper. "I know what's happening; you have to stop it."

In the last part Tony heard a hint of danger in his voice, barely contained, but not as if he was threatening him. More as if that danger was what he wanted to warn him about.

"What have you heard exactly?" Stark inquired, uncomfortable with such proximity but unable to do anything to avoid his curiosity.

"The walls have eyes and ears," replied the man in the demon suit. "You can not let the Agreements go ahead, there's someone behind this, Mr. Stark, and it's not the Government."

The man moved away from him and went straight to the edge of the roof while undoing the gravel of his pants, releasing the red canes. Tony had been paralyzed by this. Was it true? Was someone tampering with the threads again? Tampering him? But was the watchman trustworthy? He was just an outlaw who solved his problems with punches, like that Luke Cage in Harlem, but of course... the Avengers too, even if it was on a larger scale.

"We're not alone, Mr. Stark. Look it up: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans. New York."

The mention of the latter left Tony perplexed. Of course, New York was an important focus in all that, but he already knew. Him and the whole world. Or was there something - someone - that had escaped public scrutiny and security radars? But that wasn't possible…

"What do you mean with...?" But the devil was gone. Tony sighed, wanting to bang his head against the wall. So immersed had he been in his thoughts that he had given him time to disappear, as if he could travel with the breeze.

His phone rang at that precise moment, and he almost sighed with joy at seeing who it was.

"Agent Coulson, I was just thinking of calling you ..."

"So," Rossi started as he raised his spaghetti full-charged fork towards his mouth, "how is everything going, (Y/n)?"

You shrugged distractedly looking at the man before you, spotting on his grey hair and nice smile as well as his inquiring eyes, sensing -knowing- he was analyzing your behaviour. Not that he had something against you, quite the opposite actually, but some habits were hard to break.

"Heard you finished your first year of College," Morgan intervened, a wide smile on his face, white teeth making a spectacular contrast with his dark silky skin.

"Not only that, she got pretty good grades". You felt a wave of warm toward Olivia, whose adoring tone was the one of a mother proud of their child.

"I saw your expedient," Reid talked then, and your eyes moved to him. "It's quite brilliant, actually. I still think you should apply to the Academy once you finish".

"So you can keep a closer eye on me and tell everyone? No thanks," you replied dryly and Olivia sighed as Derek howled at your barking.

"Pretty boy, if I were you, I'd stay out of her way for a while," Morgan laughed, glass in hand.

"She had a concussion, broken bones and multiple wounds all over her, so I regret nothing about telling Olivia and I would do it again," your eyebrows shot up, not knowing if you felt anger or gratitude toward the doctor.

"What!?" Penelope cried a 5th note about her usual pitch, which indicated she was probably a little more tipsy than she should have. "That happened!?" She demanded to JJ, who was sat at her right. When the blonde nodded, mouth still full with her food, García slammed a fist on the table, making her yelp. "When!? How!?" She turned toward Derek then, whining. "Why no one ever tells me anything!?" The huge man gave her a half funny, half apologetic look, but her eyes were already dancing from one agent to another until they finally casted over you as she pointed at your chest with her index finger. "HE HAD TO TELL HER!" was her final statement, referring to Reid, making your eyebrows shot up immediately.

"I agree," Hotch commined, his always serious tone a little out of place now he was dressed in a so normal outfit (a simple light blue t-shirt and jeans, far different from his usual dark suit).

"Of course you do, you're always on Liv's side," Prentiss laughed as she winked at you,  holding up a cup of red wine she brought to her lips.

"Have you seen her angry? 'Cause I have. He's being a smart one, trust me," Rossi joked and Olivia hitted him playfully, looking somewhere between offended and funny. He then looked at you, a knowing shade covering his eyes. "I'm still waiting for an answer here".

You breathed in before shrugging once again.

"College is fine. I'm trying to take every class I can so I can catch up with Gwen and the rest," you let your fork dance between the pieces of your meal, that was nothing else than Rossi's best recipe. You had to admit you loved this man. "Still writing music. Still causing trouble. You know, nothing new".

Prentiss seemed to doubt as she opened her mouth to close it right after, then opening it again.

"Have you had any... interferences lately?"

You shook your head and the tension that have been building up in the atmosphere lightened a little.

"But you do have cross paths with S.H.I.E.L.D.," Hotch pointed out and you nodded. "García has already started to erase any trace that had anything to do with you and your friends".

You gave her a grateful smile.

"Thank you," you whispered and Penelope's face lighted up as a Christmas tree. She couldn't help herself; you were always a sassy one, even at showing you cared, not a tender teddy bear, so whenever you gave away a little of sweetness her heart melted. To be fair, it was a very welcomed change, since usually her heart ached for you due to your old life.

"It's no problem, at all!" Garcia replied eagerly with her blonde curls jumping one over another. "Allison's being helping, ya know? That girl is a genius! - I mean, I know you're all far intelligent, but it's like she could be my blood". Seeing your smirk, she gasped, clapping her right hand over over her mouth as his left grasped Morgan's right biceps with so much force she even made him flinch. "WHAT IF SHE IS, DEREK!? SHE COULD BE MY DAUGHTER".

JJ tried to muffle her laugh as Reid seemed very much confused.

"García, you haven't been pregnant," he reminded her, but she waved it off.

"AS IF THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!"

You all started laughing out loud at her outburst. On the other hand, Derek took Penelope's glass away from her, making her pout.

"I think you had enough of this two glasses ago, pretty girl," he answered to her not-spoken question, and her pout only grew.

"Killjoy".

"He is, indeed," Prentiss said under her breath, making you giggle as Olivia tried to hide her own smile.

"She also met this guy at the bar where Carisi convinced her to play" Olivia sang and blood rushed toward your cheeks against your will. You gave her a glare from the corner of your eyes, but her smile only grew, clearly pleased with herself.  You knew it shouldn't make you this angry -you had talked with Steve as you did with Peter, Quentin or even Flash, so what was the problem?- but somehow it did. And also a little embarrassed. And besides everything, you also felt gratitude toward Liv, because you also knew she wouldn't tell them who he was -which after realizing it, made you feel confused: why were you relieved by that? They already knew you had crossed paths with S.H.I.E.L.D.

"(Y/n)? (Y/n)!" a hand moved in front of your eyes, making you jump and look at Morgan, who was shaking it trying to catch your attention. You blinked as you took in your surroundings.

"Sorry, what?"

JJ raised her blonde eyebrows with a funny expression, sparks flying in her light blue eyes -the same tone of sea's waves when they came to die at coast, crushing on the sand of the beach.

"Wow, he must've really knocked you out your feet".

Your blush grew even wider as they all laughed and you whined.

"JJ, IT'S NOT THAT!" you all but screamed, resulting in them laughing harder and JJ putting her hands up as if she was telling you she surrendered, even tho her expression said quite the opposite, making you groan. "I was just thinking and got lost..."

"In a beautiful pair of eyes?" Prentiss retorted. More wood thrown into the fire, that’s it.

"In my thoughts, Emily, in my thoughts!" you groaned once again, trying to be heard over the laughter of the agents.

"Does he know mother bear over here is a cop?" Rossi inquired, that playful smile of him making him look a lot younger than he was.

"He does," Olivia assured him. Then she put on a thoughtful expression. "Not sure if he knows I've got 3 guns tho".

Jesus.

You looked at Hotch with a silent plea, but he just shook his head seeing his team and friend acting like children, laughing to himself.

"Does he know you're part of a family of FBI agents?" was Derek's turn, earning for himself a chorus of howls and agreements between the team.

"Does he know I'll shoot him if he ever does a wrong move?" JJ quiped and Emily nodded in a serious manner.

"Amen to that, sister".

You looked up at the ceiling.

"Somebody shoots me," you muttered, which resulted in Olivia elbowing your ribs in a soft way, just to let you know she had heard you and she didn't like it, what made you to grimace in return. In that moment you heard the front door opening and your heart fluttered on your chest. "Saved by the bell!" You exclaimed as you got up the table just in time for Noah to launch at you laughing. You took him in your arms, squeezing him tightly as he laughed under your fingertips.

"MOM!" Noah called then, you letting him down so she could ran at Olivia this time, eager to hug her as Calvin made his way to you after closing the door.

"Hey.." he greeted the team shyly and they all gave him polite smiles, except for Penelope, who was.. well, Penelope, waving with energy. Then his brown eyes fell on you and a huge smile broke on his face, making you feel all warm toward the teen. You opened your arms for him and he gave you a big hug, which you gave back placing your chin just over the top of his head.

"Wow," you said then,  taking a step back and giving him a look.

"What?" he asked and you smiled.

"You've grown again! Now my chin touch your head, didn't you notice?"

Calvin touched the top of his head and a smile even bigger appeared.

"I'M TALLER! I'M TALLER, MUM!" he called over to Olivia, whose expression was one of pure devotion as she saw all three of you.

"Congrats, pal!" Derek exclaimed, towering up from his chair and extending a hand in his direction. Calvin didn't even doubt as he gave him five, laughing.

"What a wonderful young man you're becoming," Emily said with fervour and Calvin blushed, still smiling through it all.

“How old are you already? 20?” Hotch joked and Calvin laughed.

“I’m 15, old man,” he answered back in the same tone, making Olivia say “Calvin!” in an awe-struck manner. “He started it!” Calvin responded quickly, making her just shook her head.

Olivia's phone started ringing then and the smile almost fell from her face. In a fluid movement she already had it in her ear, trapped between her head and shoulder, as she passed Noah into Garcia's arms.

"Benson."

She didn't even have time to keep talking when Hotch and Prentiss' phones did the same, followed closed by Rossi's.

"Hotch."

"Prentiss."

"Rossi."

As they got up to disperse around the house so they could listen better, their mates exchanged glances. That wasn't good at all.

"I thought you were on leave?" asked Calvin, who had only been living with Olivia for 3 months after the death of his paternal grandparents and after a judge decided that his biological mother was not in a position to raise him. Of course, the fact that her own son didn't want to go back to her, but with Detective Benson - now Lieutenant Benson- was also a very important point in favor of the decision he'd finally made on his custody.

"And we are, Calvin," Spencer replied with a serious face. "But also... we had a couple of issues to resolve and it looks like something has happened related to it."

Calvin nodded thoughtfully. He didn't seem angry, just a little downcast, but the boy understood. Derek gave him a squeeze on the shoulder. Hotch returned to the room with a serious look.

"JJ, would you mind taking the boys out?" JJ nodded, already knowing the subject the calls were about if it was her they didn't need there. After all, she had been talking about the subject in question with Olivia since a couple of weeks ago, let alone that same morning.

"What do you think about going to have an ice cream and do some Skype so you can talk to Henry?" Noah's face brightened at the thought and Calvin gave the blonde a warm smile when she winked at him.

"You too, (y/n)," Olivia interjected. Giving her a look, but without saying anything, you nodded and got up from the chair one more time, fixing the leather jacket you were wearing.

As you walked towards the door with the little ones and JJ, however, the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end. You didn't know what, but something very bad was about to happen...

Once in the police station, inside of one of their huge interrogation room, they all sat down diligently.

"Garcia?" Hotch asked and she nodded, always ready.

"During the last two months there have been a series of killings along the East Coast, covering the entire state of California," the blonde said while typing on her computer so that moments later the tablets of her companions began to whistle, indicating that they had received the information. "The modus operandi is reminiscent of the one used by convicted Cletus Kasady, with whom unfortunately our family in New York has already had to meet."

Olivia nodded, glancing at her team. Except for Amanda and Barba, most weren't there when it happened, but they would have read about it in the newspapers. Carisi went from one file to another, his expression more and more horrified by what he saw.

"It was the serial killer that the Unit helped trap about 4 years ago, right, Lieutenant?" Sonny asked and Olivia nodded.

"That's right, Carisi. Kasady is responsible for the death of 11 people in our state. He doesn't have a preference in gender, age or race... Women and... children... were brutally raped before being murdered, and he assaulted them again post mortem".

Finn had to suppress a shiver at Olivia's words. It wasn't the first time they had dealt with that kind of thing, but when it affected children... They couldn't always control their reactions.

"Kasady is an extremely sadistic killer," Reid then added. "All of the victims were abducted and he kept them by several days; they showed signs of torture, such as cuts, burns or strangulation marks, and the cause of death could not be completely clarified, as he smashed their victims with machetes, making it impossible to know what stab had been the fatal one".

"Besides sadistic, he is a narcissist and feels a total disregard for human life, since he doesn't find meaning in it, which makes him extremely dangerous," Hotch concluded.

Amanda settled back in her seat and pointed toward the panels.

"This is all too well, I guess, but Kasady is on the death row, and these murders have been committed in another state, isn't it possible that we have a copycat?" offered the blonde detective. Rossi and Prentiss exchanged a glance before Prentiss spoke.

"Kasady escaped from prison 8 weeks ago, leaving behind 5 dead guards and 3 other inmates," Amanda dropped her head in her hands while Finn let out a "son of a bitch" in a low voice. "It was not disclosed by order of Interpol in agreement with the FBI."

"Do we know anything about his life in prison before he left?" Barba asked then, who had so far remained silent at the back of the room.

"The last thing we knew about him was that he was visited by a journalist named Eddie Brock a week before he escaped..." Garcia commented, looking at his notes, "but we have not been able to contact him, nobody knows where he is".

The implacable prosecutor grimaced.

"Fantastic".

"In the last two months he has managed to kill 12 other people with nothing to connect them with each other," Rossi hesitated a second before continuing. "We think it is quite probable that his plan is to return to New York to organize a great massacre."

"This reminds me too much of William Lewis," Amanda murmured only to realize that her comment had been heard by everyone and they were exchanging looks between her and Olivia. Rollins opened his mouth like a fish out of water but not really knowing what to say. "Lieutenant, I-"

Olivia straightened her back and with a wave of her hand indicated that nothing was wrong.

"Amanda is right," Olivia said. "And that is why we must proceed with great care, we will help the FBI as much as we can and we will watch the streets of New York with more care than ever," she turned around, glanced at all his companions and pressed his lips in a thin line. "Something tells me that if we do not stop him this could end in a carnage."