Chapter 3
The class still had over two hours left of the tour, and after Peter left, and Ned and MJ went to go find Pepper, they all went over to the gym, to try and train a bit with the remaining members of the team.
There were a few stations, each run by a group of the Avengers. Loki, Wanda, and Stephen had one specifically for magic. Loki could sense who had the most potential and would call them over. After a while, the student could summon a ball of light that at most would light their way. In a rare moment of generosity, Hank Pym had let Scott and Hope bring two of the extra suits, so there was a small flock of Wasps and Ant-mans. Thor, Rhodey, and Sam were doing more traditional fighting tactics, teaching the kids how to defend themselves, whereas Natasha was teaching them martial arts with Clint. Thor had brought his hammer and was laughing while the students tried, and failed, to lift it.
“Has anyone seen Tony?” Clint muttered to Natasha. “Or Steve, or Bucky, or Peter, for that matter?”
“I got a text like two minutes ago, they’re on their way.”
“Do we get to beat up that Flash kid?”
“Of course. I promised them I’d wait until they got here.”
“If you beat up the kid, we could get sued. Attempt to scare him psychologically instead.” Rhodey had heard what the pair had said, and secretly supported the whole idea.
“Heya kids! Has anyone been able to lift the hammer?” Tony and Bucky strolled into the room and stopped by Natasha. “I’m sure one of you is, what was it, Thor? Worthy?”
“Indeed, my friend. Only those who are worthy can lift my hammer.”
“Great!”
Natasha and Clint sidled over to Tony and Bucky, simultaneously watching as MJ and Ned slid back into the room, and went over to Loki.
“Where the fuck is Steve and Peter?” Clint murmured.
“They’re still up on our floor. Neither of them wants to come down that much. I think Stevie’s exact words were, ‘He doesn’t deserve anything from us.’” Bucky looked grimly joyful. “How soon can we aggravate this kid?”
“Well, I’m pretty sure MJ can lift the hammer. Shall we bait him?”
“No baiting.” Tony marched up. “It’ll happen on its own, look.”
Flash had wandered over to Thor and was right in front of MJ to lift the hammer.
“I hope he chokes,” Natasha said contemplatively.
“Tasha!”
“Fine.”
The group watched with interest as Flash marched up to try and lift the hammer. And failed. Spectacularly. He had tried to grab it with one hand, and it didn’t even budge. He then tried two hands, bracing his feet. Instead of the hammer moving, he instead fell on his ass. MJ snicked behind him, and he twisted to leer up at her. “I’d like to see you do any better.”
“Okay.” MJ walked up to the hammer and grinned at Thor, who grinned back. She then loosely grabbed the handle and lifted. The hammer came up smoothly, and she turned around to Flash, brandishing the hammer.
“What was that about me doing any better?”
This was where Bucky paid extra attention, listening very closely for Flash’s muttered response.
“You cheated, there’s no way a girl could lift Thor’s hammer. I bet Penny Parker made them help you.” He tilted his head. “Or did you suck their dicks too?”
“What was that?” Bucky, Tony, Natasha, and Clint were upon him.
“A girl?” Pepper was upon him now, too, arm slung around Natasha’s shoulders.
“What did you call Peter?” Tony was dangerously close to harming Flash.
“Nothing?”
“Oh, that’s not correct. I heard you say something quite different.” Bucky was flicking a knife up and down in his hand.
“I’m sorry?” Flash squeaked.
“How much time does this bastar-kid have on the field trip?”
“An hour and a half.” Pepper glared at Flash, who flinched back at the combined fury of Pepper Potts and Natasha Romanoff.
“Aw, cute that you think you’ll be here any longer. Let’s go. Kate?”
Kate jogged over and raised her eyebrows. “Can you escort this kid down to the lobby? He can wait there with his teacher.”
“Sure.”
The was a muffled cheer from Ned, and Loki was looking entirely too satisfied.
“Lokes, what the fuck?”
“Nothing you need to know.”
“They’re all gone, ‘cept for Ted and MJ, who are helping out Brucie Bear in R&D. That asshole will have some hell coming for him.” The group marched onto Tony’s floor, minus Natasha and Pepper, who had gone up fifteen minutes before, to check on Steve and Peter.
“Everyone shut the fuck up.” Bucky was grinning at the scene in front of him.
Steve and Peter were wearing matching hoodies and wrapped in blankets. Steve lying flat on his back on the couch, passed out, hand dangling over the edge, while Peter was lying on top of Steve, in full out octopus mode. Natasha and Pepper seemed to have made it upstairs, and that would be about it. The pair were curled around each other on the couch, Natasha’s hand draped over Pepper’s hip, and Pepper’s palm pressed over Natasha’s heart.
“They’re too adorable. Take a picture.”
Tony pulled out his phone and snapped a few from every side. “They’re gonna hate us.”
“Worth it once they see that Natasha is drooling just a bit.”
“‘M not. Shut the fuck up.” The team turned in alarm to see Natasha blinking blearily at them.
“Run! Everyone for themselves!”