Masks

There was a flash of reddish light before something knocked Tony off his feet.

A young man wearing a silver-and-blue outfit sneered at them. He moved in a blur, avoiding a repulsor blast.

"You didn't see that coming?"

He didn't wait for an answer before rushing at Tony again. He struck the older man hard, sending him crashing into a nearby boulder. Tony slumped, eyes wide in pain. Blood began to run from his scalp down the side of his face. His hand went to his chest. Bruce hurled a batarang. It exploded. The speedster was thrown back by the concussive blast.

Bruce tapped his comset, once, a wordless signal, while hurrying over to where his husband lay.

Lightning flashed across the clear sky, blasting toward the spot where their attacker stood. He yelped, and retreated as swiftly as he'd come.

Too late.

He was lifted by a violent gust of wind, slammed to the ground. Thor was on him before he could escape.

The Asgardian made short work of the Enhanced, who soon found himself chained, hobbled and being dragged into the building by a very annoyed Avenger.

Bruce assisted Tony inside as well. His expression made their prisoner turn slightly pale, and shut his mouth on whatever he'd been about to say.

"We can take hostages too," Bruce said. "Assuming your masters don't consider you expendable. They do have a tendency to do that."

The man spat bloodily onto the floor. "Just like Stark."

"I beg your pardon?" Bruce asked in an ominously soft voice.

"So, you know me." Tony smiled, showing teeth. "Care to introduce yourself? I have to say, I usually do that before I get hands-on with someone."

"I will say nothing else." He turned sullen, staring at the floor.

"You think not?" Bruce cracked his knuckles.

* * *

Fury strolled into the Tower lobby as if he owned the place.

He found his path blocked by a very unimpressed Pepper, accompanied by Banner and Happy.

"We need to talk," he said, glancing past her as if looking for something. Or someone, rather. "Stark's gone too far off the reservation this time--"

"We really don't." Pepper didn't back down. "Leave, Fury. " She could have been more diplomatic, but she wasn't inclined to do so. She wanted to make it very clear to him that she wasn't going to let him intimidate or manipulate her into going along with whatever his latest agenda was. Not this time. They all had enough to deal with without SHIELD poking their noses any further into Tony's business.

"Leash your pets," she added icily. "Or I will. "

A startled flicker in his eyes made her want to slap him down hard. How gullible did he think she was? Rogers' crew disappeared and he just happened to stop by at the same time?

"Is he all right?" the spy asked after a moment, scowling. "Rogers mentioned a scuffle, but he said no one was seriously injured."

"Not your concern, either way. Pick a side," Pepper told him. "We're done with you playing both. Now get out."

Fury raised both hands in surrender as Banner took a warning step forward. "Understood. If you could ask Stark to call, when he's at liberty, I'd appreciate it."

Pepper watched to be sure he'd actually left. He disappeared into the crowd walking down the busy street, not looking back.

"Um, Miss Potts?" one of the reception staff beckoned her over to the front desk.

"What is it, David?"

"I think you might want to see this..." he gestured at his laptop, which was displaying a news broadcast.

Pepper's stomach dropped as she caught sight of a photo of Tony, and Bruce--and Catrin. "Oh, no..."