Unexpected Arrivals
Everything was a mess.
Many of the cities in the world were also hit by tsunamis.
There had been no earthquakes that could cause them, and the size of the waves was just, unreal.
The compound was destroyed.
Rhodey and Vision moved back in the tower, since May was working for Pepper, Peter moved there as well.
Carol and Stephen had their own homes. Carol lives in Louisiana, far away from the sea. And Stephen's home in New York was protected by a spell, he was relived that his fiancee Christine was living there, she was safe.
Wilson took some time to see his sister and nephews. Not offering anyone any invitation.
Barton was allowed to return to his family. Laura made it clear that the invitation was only for him, something Barton had no problem with.
Lang and Hope was allowed back to, but for more tragic reasons.
San Francisco was also hit by a tsunami, and among the casualties was Hank Pym, Hope had to go back to protect all of Pym's research. As well as grieving.
She probably also wanted a friend to grieve. Hense why Lang went with her. Also dude has a family, and while his ex wife, her husband, and daughter had not suffered because of the tsunamis, he still wanted to check on them.
Rhodey will give too Wilson, Barton and Lang that they were genuinely sorry for what they did, Rogers lied to them and used them. That doesn't mean Rhodey was ready to bee all good with them, but at least they realized that they were wrong.
Rogers and the others though......
They were a pain in the ass.
Rogers demanded that Pepper let them live in the tower again. He said that it was Avengers Tower and that they had a right to live in there.
Pepper of course, shut him up.
She told him that this was Stark Tower, and that since it was Rogers that made Tony disappear, he wasn't allowed in any of Tony's properties.
Romanoff tried manipulating Pepper by using "Tony would want this" and all of that shit, it didn't work. Maximoff tried her powers, but Strange apparently had the ability to block them (he learned of this after it happened. He had placed a blocker on the witch when they first met.) and Rogers just winned like a little kid.
Barnes at the very least. Accepted this and made Rogers shut up. Pepper using the disappearing statement really shook him up. He doesn't know what to think of the former Winter Soldier, but at least he is better than his old buddy.
The UN council made them stay on a motel that they where willing to pay for the meantime.
Rogers wasn't happy, he believed he should get the treatment of a king because he was a hero. That righteous asshole.
Now, they were all in a meeting, trying to find if the tsunamis were truly a natural incident, or a direct attack. Stephen only knew it was intentional, but he had no idea who the attackers were. Event those who briefly left had return.
They sat on the table when FRIDAY sent the alert.
"Colonel ! Incoming space ship heading towards Earth !"
"Are you serious. Aliens ? Now ?"
"Could they be the ones behind this ?" Hope asked.
"No, I don't think so." Carol said. "From all the species I know, none have the power or technology to create water based attacks at this level. At least not in forge in waters."
"They are not a threat." Stephen said. "I know that ship, and they are friendly."
Just then, FRIDAY broadcasted a message.
"Avengers. It is I, Thor !"
That brought great relif to the group. It wasn't a threat. They were friends.
"Tell them to land FRIDAY. And that we are in a deep shit right now and need help."
Bruce excepted many things when he returned to Earth. But what FRIDAY told him, he never saw it coming.
Cities being destroyed by unnatural tsunamis not being provoked by anything...he has no idea what's happening.
He looked at the pictures, those waves where abnormally huge, and there was no seismic activity to make them, what the hell?
Thor was also looking at the waves, but he seemed to have an idea.
"Bruce ?"
Rhodey looked shocked at seeing him there.
"Hey Rhodey."
"You were....in space all this time ?"
"Yeah, spent all this time as the Hulk trapped in a crazy gladiator planet. Then after a fight, which no one knows who won." He looked at Thor. "Thor saved me and got me to Asgard, where he had to fight his evil sister."
"So evil brother and evil sister ?" He asked Thor.
"To be fair there is more about Loki that has been discovered. But Hela is truly evil. But we have to find another time for that story."
"Yes, you have to tell me that story."
Steve then approached them.
"Bruce, Thor, it's good to see you."
"Hello Steve." Bruce said curtly. His last memories of Steve, attacking Tony on the word of a Hydra terrorist.
He looked at the Avengers, there were many new faces, but one was missing.
"Where is Tony ?"
Steve answered first.
"I am afraid Tony's betrayed us."
"WHAT ?"
Vision then came in.
"Before Mr. Rogers can lie again, no, Tony didn't betrayed us. In fact, it was the opposite Dr. Banner, Mr. Rogers betrayed him."
So Vision told them all about the Civil War, bringing footage when Steve tired to argue.
Bruce was furious, he could feel the Hulk's rage.
So, with green arms, he slammed Steve into the wall.
"How could you Steve ?, he was our friend and you betrayed him, and then you have the grace to lie to us, so that you can make yourself look better. Let me tell you, the Accords are the right thing, you need them to control your delusions, and you made Tony go missing, stop denying that. I swear I should let the Hulk smash you."
"Bruce stop"
It was Valkyrie.
"Val he..."
"Is a idiot and betrayed your friend, he deserves everything you said, but justice will catch him soon enough, don't waste your anger on a fool like him."
With that Bruce dropped Steve, he turned to look at the waves again. But before that, he saw Maximoff.
"WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE !" Bruce yelled again.
"Wanda is one of us Bruce !" Steve said firmly.
"Yeah right. So you betray our teammates, and then welcome terrortsits."
"She's sorry for what's she's done. She's an Avenger now."
"Yeah well count me down out the Avengers."
"What Bruce !" Steve yelled.
Natasha got closer to Bruce.
"Calm down Bruce, do you need a lullaby or..."
But before that woman could get close, Valkyrie grabbed her arm.
"I suggest you get away from him....if you want to keep your arm that is."
Natasha glared at her, and tried to get free, to intimidate her. She did nothing. It's clear who's superior.
"I suggest you do nothing Ms. Romanoff." Thor said. "Brunnhilde is the last of the legendary Valkyrie. The best warriors of Asgard. She outmatches you on every way."
Thor then turned to Steve.
"I am equally as angered and disgusted by your actions Rogers, I know the pain of loosing your parents, how dare you lie to friend Tony about that, and then beat him up."
"I was protecting...."
"No, those where offense moves. If anything friend Tony was the one holding back."
Thor walked up to him.
"If friend Tony is found dead, you won't escape my wrath." Lighting appeared on his arms.
The Avengers didn't know of this new Thor. The one that had grown and no longer attacked without thinking. A Thor that is more powerful than ever.
With that Thor turned to the pictures of the waves.
"I might have an idea on what is causing this waves."
Everyone looked at him
"Really, what ?"
"Atlanteans."
Everyone looked at him.
"Thor, are you saying Atlantis is real ?" Bruce asked.
"They are my friend, they helped Asgard defeat the Dark Elves a long time ago, my father had a great respect for them. We are allies in fact."
Considering everything that had happened the last years, Atlantis being real doesn't seem that crazy.
"I see no other explanation, you humans weren't the nicest to them, it might have been a long time ago, but from what it looks like, they want revenge."
"Not to mention the pollution, driving species to extinction....yeah I can see why they would want revenge."
Bruce sighted. He just dealt with the Ragnarok of Asgard, and he come home to deal with Atlantis !
He's gonna take a long long break after this.
Steve couldn't believe this.
After their appearance. Thor and Bruce, along their friend, singed the accords after Vision explained what they were to them.
When he tried to stop them, they told him to shut up. Everytime he tried to show them the truth behind the document, he was ignored.
Steve couldn't believe they didn't side with him, the correct side.
Thor and Bruce also said that they won't be on a team with Steve, Thor talked about starting their own team.
First the compound gets destroyed, Pepper doesn't allow them on the tower (Steve will talk to Tony about taking her power away from her, she clearly doesn't deserve it) and then Sam, Scott, and Clint get angry for something he had to do. It's so unfair !
He couldn't believe this was the way things were going.
Then there is the current situation at hand. Atlantis...
He can't believe Atlantis is real...but there is no other explanation.
"So, will you help us fight them ?" Rhodes asked Thor.
"I'm sorry...but I'm afraid I can't help you this time."
"WHAT !" Steve yelled outraged.
"My people are close allies with the people of Atlantis. Unless they attack us, we won't fight them."
"So you are gonna let Earth be destroyed !"
"My people are homeless, still shocked by the destrucion of our home. I must focus on them ! If Atlantis does become a bigger threat, then I might interfere, but for now, my focus is on them !"
Thor turned to Rhodey.
"Listen to me, I have learend the value of diplomacy. You need to try it with them. Atlanteans are not to be mess with."
"What's so special about them ?" Natasha asked.
"Well let's see. A general Atlantean is as strong as an Asgardian. Their tech is more advanced than anything you all have, except maybe for the one that you betrayed. The only down side they have is that they can't breath air."
"Then we just draw them in." Steve said, they might be stronger but they know their weakness. And he doubts that they are stronger than him.
"That's just the commoners. The regular folks. The nobles...they are in another level. They can breath air and water, are even stronger. And some of them even have extra abilities that makes them even more deadlier. This people are not to be messed with, and it is on humanity's best interested to find a diplomatic solution than a fight."
Thor gave a nod to everyone, and left back to the ship.
Bruce said goodbye to Rhodey, and also left. Ignoring Natasha's calls.
Steve glared at them as they left, he expected more from them.
But no matter, this gives him the perfect chance to finally show the world the truth.
If Atlantis needs to be defeated, who better to do it than Captain America ?
They wanted to start a war, and Steve will fight them and defeat them.
Then the world will see that he was a true hero, and everything will return to the way it was.
"So you really can't help them ?"
"I known Atlanteans. I think there is more going in. Regarthless they have much more power than Asgard at the moment."
"I see..so they are really that strong ?"
"Aye my friend. And there is something else. Legends say that Altantis on it's time of need, is aided by a monster of the seas, with power unlike anything ever seen on the galaxy. That is something I can't afford to face right now."
"Shit.....well, like you said. your people come first. Speaking of...."
"Yeah ?"
"What are we gonna do about Loki ?"
......
.....
"I'm sure everything will be fine with my brother."
Steve felt anger at seeing Thor and Bruce leave.
"Great, just great. so Thor is out, and the Hulk is out." Sam said. "What more can go wrong ?"
"We'll manage it." Steve said. They had done things before without Thor and Bruce.
"Steve, everytime a big crisis comes in, those two are there. They are the muscles and pure power force of the Avengers." Sam countered. Steve missed the days Sam just believed in him. It was much easer when the team functioned like that.
"Well it's not like we can force him." Danvers said. "Dude wants to look after his people."
"Indeed. I also suspect Mr. Odinson himself wishes to take time to take what happened and his new position. He is making the wise choice on not fighting for now." Vision said.
"And man Bruce spent all that time trapped, I think that he needs time as well. Kinda curious on who's the Asgardian that is so fond of him." Rhodes said, looking at Natasha.
Steve still didn't believe how Bruce just ignored Natasha. Didn't they have something ?
"So what do we do now ?" Clint asked.
Steve sighted, ready to take command, but then...
"Now you listen."
Suddenly, the room turned dark for some seconds, and when the lights returned...
"Holly shit !" Spiderman yelled. "It's Batman !"
The so called Batman stood at the front of the table.
Steve had heard of him. The hero of Gotham. He wasn't impressed with the vigilante, but the public seemingly loved him.
"Hm. Avengers." He greeted. "Though not the ones I wanted to see. I missed Thor and Dr. Banner."
"What do you want with Thor and Bruce ?" Steve demanded.
"My business with them alone. I have no interested in talking to you Captain America."
"Excuse me ?"
"You heard me. I got no interest in talking to a selfish righteous asshole that only cares about himself."
Steve felt anger, and walked towards Batman.
"How did you call me ?" He demanded. "I am nothing like that. I am a hero !"
"The people of Lagos would surely agree with that. Or the ones in Romania. Lepizeig ? Or even Sokovia when you brought the one that helped Ultron to your team."
Wanda growled, her hands glowed red.
"That won't work on me ms. Maximoff. Even without Dr. Strange here, I have friends."
Wanda stepped back, shocked.
Steve felt the need to defend her.
"Don't talk to Wanda like that !"
"I talk to her like I fucking want Rogers. She's a terrorist...you all are."
Steve had enough.
He went to throw a punch at Batman, he didn't bow down to bullies.
But Batman just dodged it and then...
BAM !
"AGH !" Steve yelled. But Batman wasn't done. He grabbed Steve's face and punched him twice.
Steve fell to the floor, his nose bleeding.
"You deserve more than that." Batman growled.
Everyone was stunned. Why did no one speak on Steve's defense ?
"What do you want ?" Natasha said.
"I came to see the people that drove Earth's greatest protector away. Even those who were supposed to be his friends." He looked at everyone. "Thor and Dr. Banner, I understand, as they weren't here. But the rest of the so called Avengers are jokes..excpet for Colonel Rhodes and the Vision of course. As well as the new faces." He gave them a nod. "The rest of you are disgusting Captain America followers. The so called team cap is nothing but villains dressing up as heroes. The Joker at least knows what he is. Hell, I'd say Harley Quinn has more good on her than you all."
"SHUT UP !" Steve attacked again, but Batman early countered him and threw him away.
"What do you want here ?" Natasha said.
"I already said that Romanoff. Aren't you a master at reading minds ? Or is it just your ego talking."
Natasha stumbled back.
Batman sighted. "Well seeing as the ones I wanted to talk to aren't here. I'll be leaving now. Thought know this. When Tony Stark returns, you won't get to get things back to how you want Rogers. Not if Superman, Wonder Woman, and I have anything to say about it."
With that, the lights went away, and Batman was gone.
"Holly shit." Sam said. "He is as scary as they all say."
"Rule number one, never mess with Batman." Scott whispered.
Steve shook his head. He doesn't care what the wanna be hero wants. Steve knows who the true heroes are.
And in the end, they are gonna end up on top. They always do.