7

Harry managed to sleep until late morning. He was about to go and see Betsy when he got a call from the woman in question asking him to go to North London where Brian needed him.

He arrived to see Captain Britain standing in the middle of a group of police all glaring at him whilst other police kept careful watch on a large bank. Surprisingly these were armed police.

"Captain, what's going on?" Harry asked as he walked up in armour.

"Harry Potter?" A man in a suit asked. "You know this man?" He asked as he showed him his ID, Detective Inspector Patrick Masters. He was a black male of slight build in his thirties.

"Yes sir. This is Captain Britain. He's a bit like me. Special abilities and willing to help."

"Captain Britain?" Masters frowned. "Why on Earth would you call yourself something so corny?"

"I didn't name myself." The Captain Britain scowled. "But my abilities are linked to Britain."

"You can vouch for him?" Masters asked Harry.

"Yeah. He's new to this, so best to be careful on where you send him. But he can take bullets like me. I assume you've got armed suspects?"

"Detective Inspector, sorry I didn't get here sooner." A woman walked up. Her ID identified her as Allison Moorley, MI5. "Your cordon is effective but held me up." Moorley was a middle-aged woman of Asian descent.

"MI5? How much paperwork is this going to cost me?" Masters grumbled.

"Your bank robbers are being led by one of our top targets. She goes by Vixen." The woman informed them.

"More people with funny names." Masters sighed. "Can she withstand bullets?"

"No. We don't know much about her, but we know she is human. She is a major crime lord and has managed to infiltrate some very sensitive places."

"How much do you know about what's in there?" Harry asked. "Their numbers, weaponry, any bombs or surprises, hostages?"

"Local CCTV shows twenty people went in. There are over a hundred civilians inside, but we can't be sure some of them aren't plants.

"We don't know the extent of their arsenal, but we spotted a sub-machine gun."

"Are they just robbing the place?" Captain Britain asked.

"They haven't made any demands. They went in and immediately took over."

"Let me go in and look around. I can do some things that will slow them down." Harry said.

"Go ahead, Mister Potter." Moorley nodded.

%

There were a lot of guns. There were a lot of hostages.

There were no bombs though.

The woman called 'Vixen' was in the manager's office watching one of her people work on a computer.

This Vixen was an older woman, white, well-dressed… in Harry's opinion she was what Umbridge aspired to be.

Well, it didn't matter. It was time to end this.

He headed outside and de-cloaked, startling everyone.

"They seem to be after something on a computer." Harry reported. "No bombs though. I also disabled their firearms."

"So we could just storm in they can't do anything?" Masters asked.

"They could still hurt the hostages." Harry shook his head. "Knives, hands, blunt force objects, I can't do much about them without taking out the hostage takers."

"We really need to get this Vixen." Moorley said firmly. "The safety of the hostages is paramount, but Vixen is next."

"I can sneak back in and deal with the ones in the office. Captain, can you incapacitate the hostage takers?" Harry asked.

%

The operation nearly ended in disaster when Harry's phone went off in the lobby. He silenced it and rushed onwards.

But there were only a few bruised hostages and Moorley was ultimately pleased with the result.

But now he needed to find out what Fury wanted.

"Why didn't you answer your cell phone, Harry?" Fury demanded as Harry appeared in Malibu outside Tony Stark's modern, cliffside mansion.

"I was busy rescuing a bank full of hostages, Nicholas." Harry growled.

"Bank?" Fury scoffed. "Why are you getting involved in small stuff like that?"

"Captain Britain isn't well known yet. There were issues getting the police to trust him. Now why am I here?"

"We need to talk to Stark about his armour and what he intends to do with it."

Fury led him to the front door. Harry stopped him from using a device to hack the lock. "Just ring the doorbell like a polite human."

Fury stood there, mumbling deprecations to himself.

The door was soon answered by the red haired lady from the previous night.

"Hi, I'm the guy from last night. We've come to speak to Tony Stark." Harry smiled.

"Mister Potter." The woman nodded with a small smile. "I'm afraid Mister Stark has only just gotten up."

"We'll come in and wait." Fury said brusquely.

"And you are?" The woman asked.

"Colonel Fury, Agent Coulson's boss." Harry answered.

"You're from SHIELD?" She asked.

"SHIELD? What's that?" Harry frowned.

Fury looked at him, gobsmacked. "That's the name of my organisation! You've been working with me and Coulson for over a year and you never learnt our name?"

"I thought it was Strategic Homeland… something, something, something." Harry trailed off dismissively.

"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. S-H-I-E-L-D. SHIELD." Fury was exasperated.

"You should probably tell Coulson to lead with that. I sort of zone out after Homeland."

"I suppose you can come in." The woman stepped inside, clearly amused by them.

"Sorry, what was your name?" Harry asked.

"Pepper Potts." She shook his hand. "Mister Stark's personal assistant.

"Jarvis, please let Mister Stark know he has guests." Pepper called out.

"Of course, Miss Potts." The male British voice sounded from all around them.

"Erm…"

"It's an AI, Harry." Fury explained. "Like Arnie."

"Oh."

Pepper was very polite and accommodating, even offering drinks and snacks. She came back ten minutes later with more than she said she was bringing.

"You should have said you came here straight after that bank job." She admonished. "I just saw it on the news. They are torn between yours and Tony's escapades last night and yours and this 'Captain Britain' this morning."

She essentially started serving a full continental breakfast, which was when Tony Stark walked, dressed in sweats and drying his hair with a towel.

"You're not getting my armour and I'm not making you anymore." He said without introduction. "I don't care who you work for."

"Stark, your armour is inferior to anything he can give us." He jabbed a piece of toast towards Harry. "My concerns aren't about getting your armour but about what you intend to do about it."

"Whatever I have to to make sure my company's previous products are not falling into enemy hands. The convoy where I was captured? They were using Stark weapons.

"The man who helped me. Sacrificed himself for me. His family was killed by Stark weapons. Stark Industries is out of the weapons business."

"And you still built a personal suit of weaponised armour?" Harry mused with a smile.

"Personal." Stark said firmly.

"Are you going to be helping people? Like me?" Harry asked. "Stopping things like Doom, the Abomination, hostage situations, terrorist attacks?"

"Iron Man will do what is needed to protect the innocent. Wherever they are." Tony said firmly.

"Iron Man?" Harry frowned.

Fury snorted. "It's what the media dubbed his armour."

"What do they call me?" Harry asked.

"Harry Potter." Fury smirked. "Nobody knows who was in the armour last night. So they don't have a name. They called him Iron Man."

"Gotta be better than Captain Britain." Harry muttered.

"Are you going to tell the world who Iron Man is?" Fury asked Stark.

"I thought about hiding it." Stark sat back. "But with all the CCTV, camera phones, satellites, etcetera, people would figure it out.

"There's a press conference this afternoon."

"Miss Potts, an Agent Coulson is seeking entry." JARVIS announced.

"He's here to guide you through the conference." Fury explained.

Pepper left to let him in.

"Coulson deals with people like you and Harry. Gives you intel, cleans up your messes." Fury leaned forward and glared at Stark. "Don't give him too much work."

"I leave a mess?" Harry asked.

"Did you see Harlem after you left?" Fury demanded.

"Hey! That was the Abomination! And I brought people to help with fires and civilians."

"The Institute?"

"That was all the Army."

"Doom, then. You left a massive crater when you dropped him."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I suppose I should have just left him to the Fantastic Four so they could beat him to pieces or burn him up. Not like they did too much damage before I arrived."

"Director." Coulson greeted his boss with a far too pleased smile. "Losing more arguments?"

%

Harry skipped the press conference in favour of heading to the Xavier Institute. He still needed to charge Rogue's bracelet. And have that talk.

He didn't bother when he was greeted with another kiss. He decided to just see where things went. "Do you want to go out somewhere?" He asked as he charged the bracelet, sitting on a bench on the grounds with Rogue.

"Like a movie?"

"Whatever it is you want to do on a date." Harry shrugged. "When I was in school there wasn't too much to do. Just a village with a pub that served non-alcoholic drinks."

"A meal, maybe. A picnic." She nodded. "Y-You are ok with this, right?" She asked nervously.

"I've only really had one date. Didn't go too well." Harry smirked. "Of course everyone thought I was a murderer, liar or insane."

"I meant… with me being a mutant."

"If I can survive Pixie, I'm sure I can survive Rogue."

"Ah, Harry, glad I caught you." Jean said as she walked up in a white lab coat. "These bracelets, does their field cover just the skin or does it permeate the whole body?"

"I guess it goes about flesh deep." Harry said as he handed the bracelet back to Rogue.

"I need to know how deep the field goes. It would be better if you could make the field permeate her body."

"Why?"

"Well… from a medical standpoint, if she gets injured and needs surgery-"

"You'd be wearing gloves." Harry pointed out.

Jean sighed. She didn't want to bring this up. "If you have sex, will she start draining you through your penis whilst you're inside her?"

The conversation was continued with two very red-faced teens.

%

A few months later, Harry and Megan arrived at the Braddock Manor early in the morning. Harry was now in the last two weeks of his army training. His relationship with Rogue was going well.

Megan was studying computing and taking a role in organising Harry's work. She was styling herself as Harry's very own Pepper Potts, who she had taken to visiting.

Harry's work had taken a very successful turn. Spurred on by the prospect of physical intimacy, he had successfully created a rune system to permeate Rogue's body.

Tests on Hank McCoy had the blue furred man shedding that fur.

Further experiments with Reed and Bruce meant that Ben Grimm was also able to shed his stone like figure.

Harry was being considered a hero by those benefiting from his work.

Megan unlocked the door with the key Betsy had given her. Hanging their coats they headed in to the sitting room. Harry was immediately in motion as he donned his shield, the armour flowing over him as he barrelled into the hard light hologram of Jeeves as he was attempting to strangle Betsy.

Megan quickly began dragging Betsy out of the room.

Jeeves vanished from under the armoured Harry.

"Betsy, contact Brian." Harry ordered. "We need to pull the plug on your butler."

%

"This… This isn't human."

"Tony, just remember that everything you see is classified, just like magic." Harry sighed.

Tony Stark was standing in front of a massive computer in the laboratory underneath the Braddock Manor. Harry and Brian had easily cut the power but Harry insisted on bringing in an outside expert. So Tony was in the lab with Harry and Brian whilst Megan and Pepper tended to Betsy.

"Yeah, yeah. Who am I going to tell? The press still doesn't know whether to believe I'm Iron Man or not.

"I'm guessing this is the core, the processor, and these are memory or storage." He indicated various parts.

"My father never told us about this Mastermind computer. The only other person who would know is Doctor Thorn." Brian offered. "He has been coming here to continue their work."

"Ok, first of all, calling an AI 'Mastermind'? You're begging for trouble." Tony admonished. "Second, we need to speak to Thorn or turn this thing back on to figure out what went wrong."

%

It was Betsy who suggested they remove the hard light emitters that Jeeves used. Tony was going to use his armour in case Mastermind had hidden abilities.

He found himself on the end of a verbal haranguing by a teenaged girl as Megan tore into him about using an AI based armour to confront an AI enemy.

Once they had turned the computer on and everything appeared safe, Harry, Megan, Betsy and Pepper left the manor so they were out of the way.

Harry took Pepper back to LA before taking Betsy and Megan to the Xavier Institute. It was late evening when they arrived in New York and very early morning in London.

But Harry was going to see Rogue. Betsy and Megan were too hyped up to go to sleep.

They arrived to find a horrifyingly familiar scene. There were black helicopters and vehicles surrounding the mansion. Men in black with weapons and concealed faces were pouring over the place.

"What is going on here?" Harry demanded as he donned his armour.

The nearest men immediately turned and fired. Harry's shield went up and the men fell to their own bullets. Harry went invisible. "Portkey out, now!" Harry ordered his friends.

They vanished with a pop. More men started firing, when it became obvious that their own bullets were killing them they tried to engage in hand to hand.

Harry was now proficient in the use of his sword. It was part of his special training in the army along with advanced tactics for using his shield and armour.

"Stand down or I kill the girl!"

Harry spun to see an older white man with glasses holding Jubilee to his chest and a gun to her head.

"Kick his ass, Harry." Jubilee spat.

Harry sheathed his sword. There were now innocents involved and he couldn't risk cutting them with his basilisk imbued weapon.

He also needed range.

He raised his hand and stunned Jubilee causing her to collapse and forcing the man to drop her. He then stunned the man.

That's when the blood really started to fly as Harry sent cutting curses at the rest of the men. Heads and limbs went everywhere.

%

Jubilee woke up with a horrible start. Seconds ago she had a gun to her head. She saw Harry's armoured form kneeling next to her.

"What happened?" He asked without emotion.

"I- I don't know. We were heading for bed. Rogue was going to wait up for you. Then Syren screamed and there were men everywhere. They grabbed me and several others. They were unconscious."

"They didn't say anything?

"No, they just attacked."

"And the professors?"

"I heard Wolverine fighting. He was the only professor around."

"Harry. What happened?"

Harry helped Jubilee to her feet as Coulson arrived. "Another unprovoked attack on helpless children." Harry growled.

"We've got most of the kids. Colossus took them to the secure location and these men had captured five.

"Wolverine, Rogue, Iceman and Pyro are unaccounted for."

Harry ran those name through his head. He never referred to them by their chosen code names. "Marie." He growled.

He activated the comms he had built into his helmet and called for Betsy to return.

She arrived with Captain Britain and Iron Man in tow. "What was this, Harry?" She demanded.

"It's worse than anything I saw in Afghanistan." Iron Man muttered as he surveyed the dead men.

Harry turned and easily picked up the man who had held Jubilee hostage. "Betsy, I want to know this man's name, age, date of birth and everything he has ever done.

"I want to know where he was taking these children."

%

It was early morning when they were finally able to get a hold of Ororo and Jean. They had been apprehending a mutant who had tried to assassinate the US President. They had succeeded only to discover he was brainwashed.

Harry now knew, thanks to Jean and Betsy, that the man who took Jubilee hostage was called Colonel William Stryker. He had orchestrated the attack on the President and used it to convince him to give permission to investigate The Institute.

He had also captured Xavier and Scott.

Right now they had bigger issues. Jean had detected Wolverine, Rogue, Iceman and Pyro in Boston, they were being confronted by the police.

Harry portkeyed over and immediately punched Pyro in the face… although not hard enough to do too much damage.

The pyrokinetic was exploding police cars and aiming for the police themselves. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Defending myself!" Pyro snapped from the floor as he rubbed his cheek. "The bastards called the police on us. We didn't do anything."

"He's not wrong, kid." Wolverine said from behind Rogue and Iceman. "This is Iceman's family home. He told them he was a mutant and the kid's brother called the cops."

Harry turned and marched over to the cops. "You know who I am?"

"Another mutant like them." One of them sneered.

"Wrong. I don't have the x-gene. I have something else." He pulled his new ID from a pouch he had added.

"What the fuck is SHIELD?"

"An Intelligence Agency. One that will be breathing down your necks once I report your actions.

"Now call the fire brigade and clear the damned streets.

At that point the X-Jet arrived, hovering overhead. The cops pointed their guns at it.

"Don't be idiots." Harry sneered. "They're with me."

Harry moved back to Wolverine and the students, he grabbed Iceman and Pyro and flew them up to where Jean was waiting at the open rear door before doing the same with Wolverine and Rogue.

"Bug out Ororo." Harry called to the cockpit.

Jean helped the students buckle up. Harry raised an eyebrow at the thin, blue skinned man, but headed to Ororo.

"Where to?" Ororo asked.

"Alkali Lake, Alberta, Canada. That's where we'll find Charles and Scott."

"Unidentified craft, this is the United States Airforce. You are to redirect to Hanscom Airforce Base immediately or you will be shot down."

Harry wanted to swear. "Put me through."

"You're on."

"Attention, US Airforce fighters, this is Harry Potter, this craft is flying under the authority of SHIELD. We are carrying minors and the injured from a rescue mission.

"We are unable to divert."

"I repeat, you are to redirect to Hanscom Airforce Base immediately or we will fire."

"If you fire at this craft, I will exit the craft and you will discover just how powerful I am in my armour. If I am feeling generous I will rescue you from dying when I rip your bloody planes apart with my hands!"

"Theta Squadron, this is Colonel Rhodes. Stand down and return to base."

"Sir?"

"That's an order.

"Agent Potter, carry on."

The radio went dead.

"The fighters are pulling away." Ororo reported. "That was… unexpected."

"James Rhodes is Tony Stark's military liaison. They are also best friends." Harry sighed. He then chuckled. "I'll bet Tony threatened to come up here himself to deal with them. He's already proven his armour is better than a jet."

%

An hour into the flight things went south.

Well, they went down. They were flying north.

Storm lost control of the plane as it was forced to land without their control.

"Is that Lensherr?" Harry demanded as he looked out of the cockpit.

"And Mystique." Ororo sighed. "I thought they were both locked up."

"Me too. Excuse me whilst I go and rectify that."

Harry stormed to the rear doors, ignoring the questions from the others.

Once outside, the armoured being walked up to Magneto and froze.

Magneto smiled condescendingly at him. "Did you truly expect to defeat the Master of Magnetism in a suit of metal?"

Magneto jumped at the voice behind him. "No, you pillock. I'm actually smarter than that."

Two flashes of red and Magneto and Mystique dropped unconscious.

%

The plane was no longer capable of taking off. So Harry had to put Arnie back on and carried the whole thing the rest of the way.

It took three hours longer than it should have because it wasn't easy keeping a grip on the thing and flying at speed.

He placed the plane a mile away from the dam where Stryker revealed his base was.

"What's the plan, kid?" Wolverine asked.

"There's an entrance nearby that we can crack open. I'll lead the way and scout. Ororo, you and Logan are to get Charles and Scott and get them back to the plane.

"Jean, you and the rest stay here. Jean, will provide comms and telepathic searches whilst Marie, Bobby and John keep an eye on Eric and Raven.

"Bobby, if they try to move… freeze their feet."

"Vhat about me?" The blue skinned Kurt 'Nightcrawler' Wagner asked.

"Try not to assassinate any presidents."

%

Harry and Jean were able to find Xavier and Cyclops fairly easily. Getting Storm and Wolverine to them was an issue. The place was crawling with armed soldiers.

It didn't help that Harry found more kidnapped children who weren't from the Institute.

But that gave Harry an idea. He created portkeys to send the children to the Institute where he knew Coulson and Betsy were waiting for him.

He then went and sent Xavier and Cyclops to the jet. He had to stun Cyclops as he seemed to have been brainwashed like Kurt had been.

Harry sent Storm and Wolverine back to plane and was about to leave himself when he was confronted by an Asian woman in a business suit and skirt.

She wasn't one for words as she popped long metal claws from her fingertips.

Harry wasn't sure what to do about this as the woman was clearly a mutant. Her lack of talking made him think she was also brainwashed.

Still, she was a mutant, he was a wizard. A stunner later and he portkeyed back to the plane with her.

"All good." Harry reported. "Who woke them up?" He asked as he saw Jean arguing heatedly with Magneto. He was currently fitted with one of the spare bracelets Rogue usually carried.

"No one. They just did." Rogue answered. "They immediately started to try and convince us that Professor Grey and the others were going to get us killed."

"And your counter argument?" Harry asked.

"That he's an asshole?" Bobby offered.

"How about the fact that he was going to actively murder Marie?" Harry said as he removed his armour.

Jean stared smugly at the terrorist whilst Rogue looked like she wanted to do the murdering.

"See, John?" Rogue addressed Pyro. "All he has to offer is death."

"Huh? John, seriously?" Harry asked in disgust.

"He addresses you by the name given to you by humans." Magneto smirked.

"You really need to shut up." Harry warned. "If you don't… I'll get uncomfortably creative."

"This is all we are to humans, tools and hinderances."

Harry pulled his wand and silenced Magneto. He also put a deafening charm on him.

Harry sat down and turned to John. "Were you seriously considering his offer?

"He wasn't completely talking out his ass." Pyro glared. "My parents threw me out. No one helped me until Xavier."

"You mean Xavier was the first to find you." Harry corrected. "And he found you because he was looking for mutants.

"Not abandoned children, runaways, abused victims, he was literally searching for young mutants."

"What's your point?" Iceman asked curiously.

"My point is that there are thousands of children suffering in America. None of them are mutants. John needs to realise the difference between prejudicial persecution and basic cruelty.

"Yes, his parents were prejudicial, but not every non-x-gene human is."

"But most are!" Pyro argued heatedly.

"Prove it."

"You've seen the rallies. The protests. They tried to pass laws! Twice we've been attacked in our sleep!"

"I'll grant that there are a lot of people who think that way… but not most. Most are just interested in their day-to-day.

"John, I lost my parents at age one when a fool wanted to kill me. I was sent to live with relatives who consigned me to a cupboard under the stairs and treated me like a slave.

"At ages eleven, twelve, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen I had to face murder attempts by the same man who tried to kill me at one.

"Nobody stood up for me. Nobody protected me. I had to fight. Sometimes I had friends, but the final battle was always just me."

"So why shouldn't I fight?" John countered.

"If someone tries to hurt you? Yes. You fight back to defend yourself. But what that fool-" He gestured to the somewhat scared old man. "wants, is for you to kill the innocent.

"He's a terrorist."

"He's not wrong, John." Jean said. "I've sifted through Magneto's mind to find out why he attacked us today. His plan was to find Xavier and make him use the Cerebro unit to kill all non-mutants.

"Every man, woman and child. No mercy. No consideration for if they held prejudice against mutants.

"Just genocide for all he doesn't approve of."

"You like girls, right John?"

Pyro jumped at the sound of Cyclops' voice. Unaware the professor had awoken. Both he and Xavier were observing the conversation quietly.

"Take every beautiful woman you've dreamed of, fantasised about… and imagine them dead. Because that's what Magneto wanted.

"Take every video game, movie, theme park, favourite food… there will be no more. Because Magneto wants the humans who made them dead."

"So we just hide and hope the humans don't find us? That they leave us alone? We just pretend we don't have powers?"

"Do you see Meg hiding?" Harry scoffed. "I walked around in that armour for nearly a year.

"I distinctly remember you and the Bobby using your powers to help the innocent in Harlem."

Iceman chuckled. "I remember some of the admiring looks you got that night. I also remember you returning them."

Harry sighed and stood as they heard the radar pinging. "John, just remember the ultimate consequences of following Lensherr. You'll be making an enemy of me… and I've got hundreds of people behind me just chomping at the bit to bring down monsters like him.

"Two of them are just arriving."

%

Outside the plane Iron Man and Captain Britain landed.

"Coulson is bringing agents to contain this place." Iron Man reported. "What's our mission?"

"We go in, we seal the doors behind us, you two will secure the computers, equipment and security systems and we incapacitate anyone who surrenders."

"And if they don't?" Captain Britain asked.

Harry pulled on his shield and donned his armour. "Then they can decide their own fate."

%

More than two hundred fools died as they refused to surrender to Harry Potter, a known agent of law enforcement.

Most died to their own bullets.

Some thought they were smart and attacked with melee weapons.

By the time Coulson arrived, all that was left was to process the prisoners and bag the bodies.

Harry had sent the professors and students home via portkey, he promised to have SHIELD deliver the plane.

Harry himself had one last mission. He was accompanied by Iron Man and Captain Britain.

%

It was once again night time. The President was sitting down on the most important chair in the White House.

His private toilet.

And that's when two armoured beings and a third in costume appeared in his most private room.

"What is going on here?!" He demanded as he covered himself with his newspaper. "How dare you!"

"Shut up." Harry snarled. "This is a warning. You think you can invade the home and sanctuary of innocent children? We will invade your private space.

"You think you can pull guns on innocent children?" Harry pulled his sword. "I can make your suffering eternal."

"You think you can get away with persecuting mutants? Remember that I am no mutant. Neither are they." He indicated Iron Man and Captain Britain with his helmeted head. "We won't stand for it."

"T-The United States does not n-negotiate with t-t-terrorists and threats." He tried to maintain a brave face.

"Just remember, we are happy to 'deal' with bigots and persecutors." Harry retorted. "For your disgusting attack on the Xavier School for Gifted Children, I curse you." Harry sneered behind his visor as he lifted his hand cast a spell at the man. "You piece of shit."

He then cast several more spells around the room before placing a hand on Iron Man and Captain Britain and vanishing.

They landed in LA at Tony's home. Harry deactivated his armour and collapsed.

"JARVIS, call Coulson. Tell him Harry collapsed." Tony ordered.

"Yes sir."

"Is he injured anywhere?" Captain Britain asked as he turned the young man over.

"No idea, medical scanners are next on my list to add to the armour." Tony grumbled.

"Master Harry is not taking care of himself."

Both men jumped at the short, long-eared creature.

"Dobby?" Captain Britain asked. "Why are you here?"

"Dobby is taking care of Master Harry Potter Sir." The elf said as he conjured a bed under the wizard. "Master Harry is very tired. He is not eating or sleeping for days!"

"Let's move him to one of my spare bedrooms." Tony suggested.

%

"Stupid… moronic… inconsiderate… foolish…"

"Pixie, please stop." Harry murmured as he woke up. He looked around but didn't recognise the bedroom.

"You!" She nearly shouted angrily. "What were you thinking? You went nearly three days without food, water or sleep! You nearly killed yourself."

Harry sighed as he shuffled into a sitting position. "No, I'm fairly certain it was Stryker's goons who did that.

"Where are we?"

"Tony's mansion in Malibu." Megan grumbled. "Drink these." She shoved several potion vials at him.

"How long was I out?" He asked as he downed the vials.

"Just a day."

"Is everyone safe?"

"Everyone who matters." She said waspishly. "You missed your final day of training."

"I'll make it up later."

They sat there in silence for a few moments.

"You really scared us." Megan said quietly. "You can't keep doing this. One day you really will die and it won't be because of enemy fire. You'll kill yourself."

"I didn't have a choice." Harry sighed. "I never have a choice. Brian is supposed to be Britain's champion, but I get dragged in.

"Ororo said she and the others were trained to handle these kinds of attacks. I still had to step in.

"Sometimes I'm the only one available, willing or capable.

"And what's the alternative? What would have happened to Jubilee and the others if I hadn't stopped Stryker taking them?"

"You've got to do better, Harry." Megan said as she sat on the edge of the bed. "You've got to do better at taking care of yourself.

"I'm not saying anything about your actions in helping. I'm talking about you eating, drinking and sleeping. Didn't they teach these things in the army?"

"Yeah… but I just get caught up in things and I get distracted."

"Then you need to change some things." Megan said firmly. "You need a permanent minder when you are in your armour. Someone like Arnie, but who understands humans need food and rest."

The door opened and Fury walked in.

"You couldn't have left a few of them alive?" He demanded.

"I only killed five. The evidence will clearly show the rest committed suicide when they fired their own bullets at themselves." Harry shrugged. "And there were at least twenty alive."

Fury just grumbled as he paced at the end of the bed. "Do you know how much chaos you caused?"

"Me? I didn't cause the chaos. I just responded to it."

"How was your little surprise visit to the President a response?" Fury challenged.

"He authorised the attack on the Xavier Institute. I responded." Harry smirked.

Fury knew the wizard wasn't going to voluntarily give him what he wanted. He was going to have to be direct and ask.

"What did you do to him? He smelt… rank and he said you cursed him."

"Well, we caught him in the loo. I cursed him to have perpetual diarrhoea. Or at least for the next month."

"And that amuses you?" Fury was incredulous at the smirk Harry was wearing.

Harry's smirk dropped. "The man authorised an attack on children. Children who had nothing to do with the assassination attempt.

"Why don't you remember what happened to the men who carried out the attack? A lot of those men I did kill."

Fury sighed and pulled a chair from the side and sat down. "Do you know what happens to smartasses and mavericks, Potter?"

"They become Colonels?"

Fury threw up his hands in defeat.

"Nick, did you really just come here to complain?" Harry sighed.

"I came to make sure you are alright." Fury glared at him. He then shook his head and stood up. "I've spoken with His Majesty. You're taking a month's holiday. Take your girlfriend, the brat," He nodded at Megan. "And relax.

"I've told Stark and Braddock that they are on call."

"I've got my training to finish."

"You just wiped out an enemy base. Consider your training complete and your exams aced."

%

Tony decided to take command of Harry's holiday. He had a hearing before a senate committee regarding his armour as the government was insisting he hand it over.

Needless to say, Tony refused… and he did so with style.

Tony had grabbed Harry, Megan and the entirety of the Xavier Institute residents and flown them to Monaco to enjoy the sights and watch him race in the upcoming event.

Regardless of his recent change of heart regarding Stark Industries… he still had a massive ego and his ego loved an audience.

"God… this is beautiful." Rogue beamed as she skipped out onto the balcony showing the coastline.

"Very." Harry agreed. Although his eyes were focused on the beauty wearing the skirt and tank-top.

"Ah' know where your eyes are, Sugah." She said as she turned and leaned back against the balcony. She smirked at him. "And ah hope they stay there."

"I can live with that." He smiled as he stepped up to her, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her passionately.

"Ahem."

The pair jumped at the intrusion. "Piotr? Try knocking!" Harry admonished his friend.

"You left the door open." He smirked.

"Oh… I thought I'd closed it."

"Why are ya here?" Rogue demanded.

"I was just checking if Harry was ok. This is his first time in another country."

"I've been to America, Afghanistan and Canada." Harry reminded him.

"Missions do not count." Piotr scowled. He then relaxed. "I am also to tell you that you will be watched when you go out." He held up a hand to halt Rogue's verbal attack. "It is only to make sure Harry is not in trouble. We will be hidden and not listening.

"We will be watching others more than you."

%

Despite the constant shadow of a chaperone, Harry and Rogue managed to make several trips, all without incident. To be honest, the biggest incident was one Harry never found out about. It involved a certain southern belle trying to sneak into his room at night.

She'd had her hand on the door when she heard Wolverine's growl behind her.

She didn't know whether to be embarrassed at being caught, or upset that she didn't make it.

Whatever her feelings, Harry was very confused by Rogue blushing whenever Wolverine walked past them growling.

But the main event for the holiday was to watch Tony race. As Jean had observed, the man had an ego and a fairly large case of narcissism. Fortunately neither was enough to make him an unbearable asshole.

Just a regular asshole.

Wolverine's words.

In preparation for the race Xavier had asked Harry for a discreet set of telepathy inhibitors. He was now wearing a pair of lenseless glasses.

"All these people, it is very loud, no?" Xavier asked as they watched from the side-lines. Tony had arranged premium seating to accommodate the Professor's wheelchair.

"Yeah, not my favourite." Harry grimaced.

"The press of thoughts is even worse. With sound, I can put my fingers in my ears. But telepathy like mine, Jean's and the Cuckoo's makes an event like this torturous."

"But you still find it hard to cope without the additional sense." Harry commented.

Xavier nodded. "If you take a discreet look, you will see Jean is holding Scott tightly. The sisters are somewhat glued to Miss Gwynn."

Sure enough, Harry saw it was true. He also saw that they were very jumpy, looking around as if someone was touching them.

"Harry, if we were to turn your hearing off and make you walk through the school during class changes, you would be jumping too. Everything you see in your peripheral vision suddenly becomes a potential danger."

There was a scream and then a crash. Tony's car was in pieces. Other cars were careening wildly as they tried to avoid crashing.

In the midst of it all a man was throwing electric whips around with a look of malicious glee.

Harry stood and put his shield on.

A heavy metal hand landed on his shoulder. He looked and saw Colossus glaring at him. "You are on holiday. We will handle this."

"Carry on, Mister Rasputin." Xavier smiled softly.

"Iceman, Pyro. Put out the fires." Colossus ordered as he ripped the metal fencing apart and stepped onto the track.

The two mutants quickly followed.

The man with the whips was clearly targeting Tony. He was so focused on his prey that he never noticed the man of metal approach him from behind until he ripped the harness powering the whips from his torso.

He was, quite frankly, dumbfounded.

By this point Tony was in his armour and helping Pyro and Iceman to safely stop the fires and pull the drivers from their wrecks.

Iron Man made a big point to greet and thank the three mutants as friends. It helped stop the local police from pointing their guns at the wrong people.

Still, the four had to go with the police to give statements.

%

For the last two days of the holiday Tony was uncommonly subdued. He engaged everyone, but he was often seen sitting alone with a drink and frowning or staring at nothing.

"What happened?" Harry asked as he sat down at the table in the bar.

"Are you allowed in here?" Tony frowned.

"I'm nearly nineteen. I also have no desire to drink alcohol. The last time I took a substance that could affect my mental state I wound up trapped in armour.

"Now, what happened?"

"That man, I talked to him. Ivan Vanko. His father worked with mine on the arc reactor." He tapped the glowing circle in his chest. "His father was deported when the government found out about his shady dealings."

"And?"

"He called my family thieves and butchers. Butchers I get… but thieves?"

"How many people have made one of those?" Harry nodded to Tony's chest.

"Me, my father and this Ivan guy. That glowing light on his chest was an arc reactor."

"You think his father taught him?"

"No one else would know how."

"Tony, you made one of those in a cave, with guns pointed at you whilst you had a massive hole in your chest.

"Your father made one that needed an entire building.

"Ivan still couldn't make it as small as yours… and he was dumb enough to leave it exposed in battle."

"But did my father really steal it? The arc reactor?"

"I'll see if Fury knows anything." Harry promised. "But Tony, remember, the guy called you a butcher, are you really going to believe the homicidal maniac who nearly killed hundreds of people?

"I wouldn't trust his definition of 'thief'."

%

They were finally heading home. Harry was technically still on holiday, but he was back at the palace with Megan.

"Ah, Mister Potter, Miss Gwynn, come along, we need to get you ready." Adam Hunt, one of the King's staff bustled them inside.

"What's going on?" Megan asked.

"A very important ceremony." Adam beamed. "Miss Gwynn, if you would please go with Mrs Pence, she will see you appropriately attired."

Harry was soon shoved into a suit with a long-tailed coat. He then met up with Megan who was dressed in a light blue skirt, jacket and white blouse.

"Ah! Mister Potter!" Mrs Pence bustled them over. "Could you seal up Miss Gwynn's coat?"

On closer inspection he could see it was held together at the shoulders with safety pins so it could bypass her wings. He looked at Megan who just shrugged. A few waves of his wand and Mrs Pence removed the pins.

"You both look wonderful." She beamed. "Now, follow Mister Hunt and he'll guide you through it."

There were quite a few people in the large red carpeted room. The most prominent being the King himself, dressed in a similar suit to Harry with his medals on display. Standing at his side, just off the dais, was the Lord Chamberlain. A sword rested on a pillow.

Harry couldn't help himself from trying to remember if he had stored his sword in his armour. He had. But that brought the realisation that he was the only male in a long-tailed coat with a shield on his back.

But then he remembered Megan's wings and decided it didn't matter.

"All of you know of the exploits of Harry James Potter in his armour." The King addressed them all. "You have seen the news reports.

"What you do not know is that his exploits started many years ago. They include rendering personal aide and protection to Our person."

That revelation caused a lot of silently exchanged looks.

"You may also have noted the frequent presence of Megan Gwynn at Harry's side. What is not often publicised is her support of Harry.

"They are a formidable team.

"Megan, step forward and kneel."

Megan was clearly nervous as her wings fluttered somewhat spastically. Harry kept a close eye on her to make sure she didn't start spreading her hallucinogenic dust.

Harry was surprised when the King dubbed her Dame Megan.

He wasn't sure what to do when the King dubbed him Sir Harry… he didn't think enlisted men could be knighted. It could cause a bit of an issue with superior officers.

"You look concerned, Sir Harry."

The newly knighted wizard turned to see Colonel O'Malley standing there in dress uniform. Harry immediately braced in lieu of a salute.

"At ease." The Colonel said with a hint of warning. "You do realise that you have been dismissed from the Army?"

"Sir?"

"Sir Harry, your dedication to the military was never in question. We knew that if we sent you out you would obey orders.

"But you are meant for things much greater than scrubbing fatigues and sweeping bullet casings."

"I- I wanted to serve, Sir."

"We know. And you will. I realise you only just returned, but you are to be the official liaison to SHIELD on behalf of the King under the authority of MI6.

"Your duties will involve communicating with Colonel Fury and responding to threats that exceed the capabilities of local law enforcement or the military.

"You won't have a desk or office with MI6, and you won't be answering to their senior agents, but you will be using their authority along with SHIELD's."

"When you aren't out in the field, you will be free to pursue your own interests and missions." The King said as he approached with Megan on his arm. "We want you to continue your work with runes.

"We are not sure you realise, but your armour and rune based tools have already started the general populace questioning how they work.

"You have successfully laid the very first foundation for bringing magic into the open."

"Really? Considering Tony Stark's escapades, you'd think they'd assume I use technology."

"And now you are beginning to think like Reed Richards." Hank McCoy smiled as he approached, completely furless. "Your Majesty." He greeted with a bow.

"Doctor McCoy, We are pleased you could make it today."

"I am honoured to be invited." Hank responded. "Even if it is as a representative of the Xavier Institute."

"Hank, what did you mean Harry is thinking like Reed?" Megan asked.

Hank beamed at the girl. "Ah, Dame Megan. What I meant is that Harry was thinking of referring to magic as advanced technology."

"But I don't." Harry frowned.

"No, but if you start saying it, very few will think to believe otherwise."

"I guess Marie couldn't make it." Harry changed the topic.

"Miss D'Ancanto was invited, but her schedule, along with Miss Granger's, is currently ruled by her schooling." The King explained. "Dame Megan would normally be restricted by the same issues, but as she is privately tutored it is not an issue."

%

"Potter, you're back on the clock. Meet me in Malibu."

Harry glared at his mobile phone as he lay in bed. Fury had already hung up.

%

"Tony… what are you doing?" Harry asked.

Tony Stark was currently lounging in a huge donut that acted as a store sign. He was eating donuts. In his Iron Man armour.

"Did you pay for those?" Harry added.

%

Harry was soon seated next to the armoured but helmetless Tony in the donut shop opposite Fury.

A female SHIELD agent walked up in a black body suit. She had red hair.

"You're fired." Tony calmly stated.

"That's not up to you." The agent stated as she sat next to Fury.

"Tony, Harry, I want you to meet Agent Romanoff." Fury introduced her.

She looked to Harry. "I've been working as a SHIELD shadow. Once we found out Tony was ill, I was tasked to him."

"Ill?" Harry asked, looking to Fury.

"His arc reactor is poisoning him." Fury said calmly. "He needs to find a replacement or he'll be dead within weeks."

"A replacement arc reactor or…"

"Palladium is what makes his reactor work. That's what is poisoning him." Romanoff explained. "He needs to find a new substance to make it work."

"Won't that just result in a new form of poisoning?" Harry asked. "Surely the solution is to prevent the palladium from entering his blood stream.

"From what I saw when Brian Braddock and I examined the original, the reactor was simply powering the magnet to keep the shrapnel from your heart."

Harry didn't notice Fury and Romanoff exchanging pointed glances. He was too busy squirming under the pinning gaze of Tony.

"What? Palladium isn't radioactive so it must be a contact issue." Harry said as he shuffled uncomfortably. Unfortunately Tony's gaze was making him babble nervously. "The slot for the reactor is just a metal tube with a high powered magnet at the bottom."

Harry sighed and sat back closing his eyes as he tried to block out Tony's unnerving gaze. "Don't know why you don't just let me vanish the shrapnel. If that's too much I could make a runic based magnet."

Tony spoke softly but somewhat annoyed. "Harry." The wizard opened his eyes and turned his head, still leaning back. "The reason I hate working with magic is because I can't use it. Because I can't use it, I don't consider it in my work.

"I've never thought of asking you to permanently fix my heart."

"That's Pepper's job." Harry scoffed.

Tony was a little taken aback by that. He loved Pepper… he just didn't realise anyone else knew.

"I'd have to ask a proper healer to supervise any procedure on your heart." Harry said as he sat forward. "But, I know you. You aren't going to stop having the power source for your armour in your chest.

"You still need to find out how the palladium is entering your body and block it."

"There might be an alternative solution." Fury spoke up.

%

Tony was off with Fury back to Tony's mansion. Apparently there was a lead from Tony's late father. This left Harry with Agent Romanoff.

"So… you're a spy spy?" He asked as they walked to her car, a small but sporty black convertible.

"I am an undercover agent." She confirmed. "Why are you coming with me?"

"You're going to see Pepper at the convention centre, right? You can give me a lift."

%

Harry was supposed to be at the Stark Expo that evening anyway. He had been officially invited as a representative of the Crown.

Fury also told him he was to make sure Stark didn't do anything stupid.

Stupider.

Romanoff had told him how Tony had wound up in a giant donut. The billionaire had decided that as this was his last birthday he would enjoy himself… to the max.

He'd put on his armour and gotten drunk.

What concerned Harry was that Tony's best friend had absconded with one of the suits of armour. Specifically the War Machine variant.

The Iron Man platform was meant to protect the user so they could render aid and handle dangerous situations without worrying about enemy forces or lethal environmental hazards. It had a range of weapons, but they were designed to control the situation.

The War Machine platform was meant to end the situation. It was built to destroy. To kill.

This was a great concern to Harry, Fury and the King as it meant a military entity had access to the Iron Man technology. Unfortunately there was nothing they could do at the moment.

"Pepper." Harry called out to the red head not currently walking with him.

Pepper Potts turned and smiled at the young Brit. "Harry, you're a bit early. But I see you've met Natalie."

"Fury called me in to help with Tony's little bender." Harry explained. "SHIELD Agent Romanoff here gave me a lift."

Pepper looked at the other red head who was glaring at Harry. "Why would an agent of SHIELD need to spy on myself or Tony?"

"I was assigned to make sure Stark didn't do what he did last night." Romanoff glared at him.

"Why? You clearly failed." Pepper now glared. "I believe it goes without saying that you are fired."

"Tony already did." Harry smiled. He then looked at Romanoff who was still glaring at him. "Relax, your cover was blown anyway. Tony would never keep this from Pepper.

"Besides, spying on someone like Tony is a really bad idea. Especially when he is supposed to be an ally."

"Where is Tony?" Pepper asked, deciding to ignore her former employee.

"Fury took him somewhere. He had some important information for Tony. I can't say anything at the moment, but if Tony doesn't, I will."

Pepper nodded slowly.

"Whoa, two red hot tamales in one place!"

"I'll give you a million dollars if you get me out of here." Pepper growled at Harry as a man in a grey suit pranced up behind her.

"Hey Babe, you ready to ditch Tony and upgrade to a sportier model?" The man grinned as he leaned into Pepper's personal space.

Harry simply reached out and slowly pushed him back.

"Whoa! Easy on the merchandise." The man glared at him.

"You were making Miss Potts uncomfortable. You have a poor understanding of respect." Harry looked at him with disgust.

Recognition lit up the man's eyes. "You're Harry Potter! Dude, I'm Justin Hammer, I own Hammer Industries and the arms business.

"How about you and I go somewhere, find some hot ass and discuss- Hey!"

Harry had grabbed the man by the shoulders, spun him one-eighty and shoved. He then took Pepper and hooked her hand in his elbow and led her off. "You don't need to pay me. But if he shows up again, I'm not waiting. Either grab on or get left behind."

%

It was six o'clock when the Expo kicked off. Tony was not yet there.

Harry was standing next to Pepper as she grimaced with embarrassment as they watched Justin Hammer 'wow' the audience.

"I just want to be certain… his name is Hammer." Harry asked as he watched the spectacle with disgust.

Multiple groups of armed android styled drones popped out of the stage floor and saluted.

"Justin Hammer." Pepper nodded, her hands covering her face.

"I'd swear it was Justin Hammy."

There was a snort from beside him and Pepper put an arm around his waist. "Thanks Harry. I needed that."

"Well… I was only half joking."

"- Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes!"

"What!" Pepper gasped. "Rhodey?"

On the stage the War Machine rose up from underneath.

Harry frowned as he noticed a streak of light in the night sky approaching the open roof. "Tony?"

"Harry… you should probably get up there." Pepper said worriedly. "I'm going to the control booth."

"I'll escort you." Romanoff said as she stepped up.

"Didn't I fire you?"

"I never really worked for you." She smirked.

"SHIELD had better hope that our accounting department reflects that." Pepper said with disdain as she walked off.

Harry grimaced as he watched the potential nightmare walk away. He turned his attention to the stage. Tony and Rhodey were arguing with their faceplates open.

Hammer was goading the crowd with cheers of 'fight'.

Harry put his shield on and summoned his armour. He then flew over the crowd to the stage. "What is going on?"

"Vanko. He's alive." Tony growled.

"I… I didn't know he was supposed to be dead."

Tony turned to Hammer. "Where's Vanko."

"Who?" As indicated by his previous displays, Justin Hammer was a horrible actor.

"Answer the question." Harry ordered.

"Behind you!" Arnie barked in his helmet.

Harry span around to see Rhodey with his arm raised and ready to shoot.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Rhodey said frantically.

"Is that you?" Tony asked with concern

"No! I'm not doing anything! The whole armour's locked up."

Around them the drones suddenly pointed at them.

"Tony, get out of here!" Rhodey said with a hint of panic.

"Let's take this outside." Tony said as he dropped his faceplate and shot into the air.

Rhodey was hot on his tail.

Harry turned to the drones who were a fair bit slower at taking off. He raised his hands and fired his most powerful blasting hex. Of the fifty drones he partially disabled six.

This was going to be a long night.

%

"Get your boss on the line and tell him we need help." Pepper ordered Romanoff. "X-Men, Fantastic Four, Captain Britain… call them all before this becomes a massacre."

"How do you expect them to get here?" Romanoff asked.

"Magic. Call Pixie if you have to."

"Ma'am, Iron Man has hacked in, he wants to talk to you." One of the techs called over to Pepper.

"Tony?" She asked as she saw his face on the screen, surrounded by the black of his helmet.

"It's Vanko. Ivan Vanko. Hammer must have faked his death and now he's hacked the War Machine and all these drones."

"I'm on it Stark." Romanoff said over Pepper's shoulder before running off.

"Tony, not all the drones are targeting you. Some are targeting civilians." Pepper warned.

"I'm doing my best, but even with Rhodey calling his suits shots, I'm having a hard time dodging these things."

"Harry is hacking and casting. He is making a dent but-"

"Dammit… there are more drones incoming. Talk to you later!"

%

In a way, Harry liked the drones. There was no killing to worry about when he attacked them, sliced them, ripped their limbs off.

Unfortunately, this was not a training mission and real civilians were in danger.

There was a crack of thunder and lightning as clouds filled the skies.

"I told you ah' should've come with you sugah." His favourite southern drawl came over his radio.

"Marie, I didn't think I'd get to see you till tomorrow. It's got to be nearly midnight in New York."

"We're on the clock and in uniform, sugah. Call me Rogue." Came the amusement.

"I don't know why you bother. It's not like I use a code name."

"Harry, I'm online and ready to provide intel." Came his favourite welsh accent.

"Forget all damage except human. Point me and everyone else to civilians being targeted." Harry ordered.

"On it."

"Beast is trying ta hack the Hammer mainframe." Rogue informed him.

There was a bright orange flame soaring beside him. "Hey kid!" The Human Torch greeted him. "Heard you were throwing another party."

"Johnny, is Sue here?" Harry asked as they rolled out of the way of two drones they were approaching. Harry sliced his with his sword as they passed and Johnny cut his with a tightly controlled flame.

"She's on the ground."

"Pixie, find out if Nightcrawler is here. Have him hook up with Susan Storm and then direct him and Sue to imminent threats to civilians."

"Done."

He could hear her muttering about him not having issues with giving her a codename.

He ignored it.

"Harry, James and I are about to sit down to a lovely game of Bridge with Ivan, but we're lacking a fourth." Tony said in a posh accent. "Would you care to join us?"

"En route." Harry responded as he peeled off.

%

Harry approached the biodome from above. He could make out Tony and Rhodey being held by electrified lines. It was time for the old tried and true.

He wasn't as high as he'd like, but he pointed his sword down and flew as fast as he could. At the last second he altered his sword very slightly causing it to slice down the front of the suit Vanko was wearing. The impact of his body on Vanko sent the three combatants flying back.

Harry pulled himself out of the soft dirt that was once a pristine lawn.

"Are you trying to test my ability to be destroyed?" Arnie asked irritably.

"Don't be silly, Arnie. I'd have to ask the Hulk to do that." He shook his head to clear the sod from his visor and then raised it.

Iron Man and War Machine were trying to pick themselves up.

"Dead?" War Machine asked as he managed to get to his feet.

"Probably not. I aimed for his weak spot, but it is possible the impact of my armour killed him. Depends on how good his armour is."

"Weak spot? He- would you get me up?" Iron Man asked irritably as he struggled from where he was trapped in the limbs of a tree.

Harry and War Machine both moved to pull the red and gold hero up.

"What weak spot? We both hit him everywhere." Tony scowled as he and Rhodey raised their face plates.

Harry tapped Tony on the chest with the hilt of his sword. "It is very nice and flashy… but it is a glaring weak spot."

Tony was wide-eyed. "Wait… that was actually his arc reactor? What a fricking moron!" Tony tapped his own chest. "This is just decoration. There are several inches of armour between me and my arc reactor."

%

Harry was a just a little bit confused when Pixie apparated to him with Rogue.

"This is new." He said as he tapped his girlfriend on the nose with his gauntlet. It made a nice 'dong' sound.

"Colossus' idea." She shrugged. "Poor darling was terrified you might go on a rampage if something were to happen to a delicate southern belle like moi." She smirked.

She was currently wearing her thick X-Man uniform… over her shiny metallic skin.

"You do know how to change back… right?" Harry asked worriedly.

Megan was glaring at him. "You're just worried she'll be too hard to get ya dick in!" She punctuated her statement with a smack to his armoured chest.

The look on Harry's face with his raised visor was enough to make Rogue laugh. Clearly Harry hadn't been thinking of that… but he was now.

"Great party you threw here, kid." The Thing grinned as he came up in all his rocky glory, the rest of the Fantastic Four following.

Sue looked a little woozy.

"You ok, Sue?" Megan asked.

She levelled a weak glare at Harry. "Someone had the 'amazing' idea of having Nightcrawler teleport me to civilians in need of an immediate shield.

"It was not fun."

"Sweetheart, you literally saved hundreds." Reed said as he supported her.

Harry was quickly freed from Sue's ire. Reed was now trying to remember if the couch was comfortable.

"Malenkaya sestra, you are well?"

They turned to see Colossus walking up with the rest of the X-Men.

"What?" Harry asked.

"He is calling Miss D'Ancanto 'Little Sister'." Beast answered with a big blue furry grin.

"Da!" He said as he patted Rogue on the metallic hair. "Is little sister. But not little little. Illiyana is little little sister."

Colossus was extremely proud of his little sister and would show almost everyone his pictures of the adorable little blonde tot back home with his family.

"Where's Stark?" Cyclops asked.

"Off making sure Pepper doesn't kill him." Megan shrugged. "Think we're done here?" She looked around at the police standing nearby and looking like lost puppies.

"Yes, you are." Romanoff said as she walked up dressed in a sturdy looking cat suit in black. "We appreciate the help, but it would be best if you left the area before the press gets any closer."

"Good… I'm dying for some sleep." Pyro groaned. "It's a good thing this was so easy. Iron Man doesn't use combustibles. I can't touch that. But Hammer's drones had jet fuel. I could have sneezed on them and made them explode."

"You did." Iceman glared. "I had to protect the civilians."

Pyro smirked and patted his shoulder. "That's why we make a good te-eeeuuagh!" The pyrokinetic leapt away as his hand froze over.

"Potter, you should get some sack time yourself." Romanoff told him. "Fury wants you to meet Coulson in New Mexico. Details on your phone."

"I trust that Fury is remaining cognisant of what happened the last time Sir Harry was run ragged?" Beast asked archly.

"That's what his partner's for." She gestured to Megan with her chin.