Aftereffects of Manipulation

POV- Nathan Cross

Being woken up at 5 in the morning by Peter and Steve, who had luckily worn his super secretive disguise consisting of a hoodie and a cap, after a long night of hunting after fetching new clothes from home, the burnt clothes thrown away, was not in my list of things I had expected, or even wanted for today. "It's a Sunday, leave me be Steve."

"I'm sorry Nathan but I can't do that, not after you convinced Nat to change sides."

"You did what?!" Peter remarked, annoyed that Nat had listened to him, and the fight might not happen. "Dude, what about the money and the new suit." With a sudden shift in tone he taunts me, "Hopefully mine will be fireproof so I don't go walking around half-naked on the news." Throwing a pillow at him that he successfully dodges, I get up, still glaring at Steve.

"Can we talk somewhere, grab a coffee? You can drink coffee right?"

"Coffee and Liquor, almost exclusively, which reminds me that I need to try a coffee liqueur or an Irish coffee."

A little shocked, he grabs my arm, "You shouldn't be drinking yet, it could still have an effect on you." Shaking him off and explaining that it only has an effect so long as I intentionally limit my regeneration, otherwise has little to no effect made him relax, but then he stopped. "You're the reason Stark Tower's bar was empty."

"Guilty as charged. Nat and Clint helped though." 'I'm not taking full responsibility, they're the adults.'

"Anyway, you and Peter are wanted at the Avengers Tower, so I figured I'd pick you up. Wouldn't want Natalie to seduce and restrain the monster again right?" he said barely stopping himself from laughing.

"How's your sex life, Steve?" I ask, completely throwing him out of his comfort zone. "'Cause with super strength and stamina, just trying to find a girl that won't break is a challenge right?" With a grumble about promiscuous teenagers, he waits outside my room as I get dressed, ignoring a text from MJ on my phone. 'We can talk at school tomorrow but I doubt it will be about anything interesting. Probably her panicking over how Peter might view her now.' Tying my hair up in a casual bun, the mask tucked into my pocket should I need it, I meet up with Steve and Peter, who has to wear his suit under his clothes, which must feel so uncomfortable, even in this cold weather. Anyone looking at us would see a suspicious guy with a cap and hoodie, a rocker teen, with piercings and a distracting androgynous beauty, and a shorter teen, wearing what seems like really, really thick clothes, sweating a little.

"So no fighting happened yet?" I ask, wondering what impact my input into their lives will have.

"Not yet, but Tony seems anxious to start one."

"Well fight him in a low-roofed room or he'll kick your ass." Peter laughed as Steve cringed at my advice.

The tower was as welcoming as a border control checkpoint, which is to say, it wasn't, this isn't Canada. But being escorted by Steve and knowing that they were mostly settled made the elevator ride up fairly relaxing, as me and Pete stared at the view as we ascended, rising higher than the surrounding buildings. Being met by my super friendly and chaotically charming witch friend, we are led to the lunch room, with a small buffet of food waiting for us. Trying to remain straight-faced despite the obviously awkward atmosphere was proving difficult, so I was grateful when I was handed a coffee to distract me. Steve stood up and introduced us to everyone we hadn't already met, but to be honest, except Thor and Banner, none of the Avengers I had yet to meet were interesting. "Mr Cross and Mr Parker," Steve called out, startling us both due to his volume and formality. "We would like to thank you both for training with us, and reminding us that we are still weak in front of potential threats, and for preventing the conflict that was brewing between us." A quick glance at Tony told of his annoyance at being forced to sit here in the room with a boy that, according to Natasha's recording had viewed him as a petulant child blaming a victim because his own feelings were hurt, but he didn't speak out, instead continued Steve's speech.

"We have reflected on Natasha's words and agreed that we would not join under any nation's government, and also on a concept formed from the day you barged in here and asked to be trained." The confusion on Peter's face was apparent, as I had told him that the Avengers had OFFERED to train us both. With a growing percentage of enhanced individuals, we need a stronger force, if we plan to protect the world from those of us who would cause pain and destruction. However, as you are both 15, we would like to avoid calling you Avengers just yet, but instead, use you to deal with smaller threats and situations above the capabilities of police, and below that of us. Of course, should we call you, we would ask for your assistance in a situation such as the invasion."

"So, a hit squad?" I ask, surprised by everyone's acceptance.

Steve flinches a moment, "We prefer task force. You would be paid through a private scholarship fund, which shouldn't be difficult to believe with your grades, and provided with suits and whatever else you find that you may require."

"So like if I said I wanted to ea-"

"Urghh, as horrific as that is, yes. Should we find an ability user dead, we will provide them for you, so long as you follow the instructions provided for your squad." Noticing Peter's prompt to continue, he starts, "First, don't kill innocents, and kill only when necessary," I shrug as he moves on, "Secondly, you will be under the supervision of Clint, who'd like a more relaxed schedule, and Thirdly, You two will act as the leaders of the squad under Clint, so you'll need to decide rank."

Looking over at Peter, who was too nervous to stand proud in a room of superheroes, I ask, "Do you want to be the leader, or am I going to have to do all the mission reports?" Having sat on the edge before, the words mission reports seemed to launch him into the position of vice-captain, glad to have escaped more paperwork.

"So how is the squad being made? Who's in it?"

T'Challa puts forth his sister, Shuri for the role, making me gape like a fish. "But isn't there a rule about there only being ONE panther," I ask, immediately regretting it.

"Normally yes, but she is both intelligent and fiery, and I fear what may happen if she finds out about this team and is not put on it." While he doesn't comment on my information, he holds my gaze, cocking his head slightly then smiling weirdly. 'Maybe Bast just told him to back off. I hope so.'

A few possibilities come out, such as Yelena, should Nat get in touch, and I put forward a potential archer, Kate Bishop.

Peter, confused as to who she is, pipes up, "Who's that? I've never heard you talk about her."

"She's an archer, like Clint, but our team is seriously lacking in long-range fighters right now. Not that she won't need training. In addition to a few mutants, I think we'll have a good team."

"Mutants, like Magneto?"

"I was thinking someone more in our age range, but yeah. The hate groups target them and there's word of government facilities, funded by HYDRA, targeting and hunting down kids. So yeah, if we can provide them the opportunity to be seen WITH the heroes, protecting people, maybe we can alter some people's views on them."

Steve looked at Nat and Bucky, "Is he right, was the mutant treatment that bad?" It could be forgiven for him not to know, as before WW2, mutants were rarely discussed, and after he came back, he'd been too busy catching up to the present to recognise the mutant issue.

Bucky nodded, "Yeah, the whole reason for the super soldier serum in the first place was to make soldiers with powers similar to some of the mutants, however, with mutants like Magneto, it just seems pointless." I look at Wanda with a questioning look on my face. She matches it, unsure why I'd be confused at the mention of Magneto. 'I wonder if Magneto's her dad in this world, or maybe she was adopted.'

"Anyway the mutant initiation may have to wait a little while we establish the team itself, and get suits for everyone, including the princess," I comment, drawing a snort from T'Challa.

"I wouldn't call her that if I were you."

Accepting the stupid position as it would grant me and Peter training, equipment, suits and a paycheck, we eat, and by we I mean everyone else around me except Vision, who seems to share my suffering. As we were leaving I left a note for Bucky and Wanda each, telling them both that Thaddeus Ross was an incredibly annoying prick who would continue to get in their way, and to either mind-control him or kill him.

Explaining the situation to May was relatively easy, once we explained that Peter was Spider-Man, and that we weren't going to stop regardless, so at least this way we were getting paid for it.

The next morning-

"Pete, can you grab me a coffee while I finish making breakfast?"

"Yes, Captain," he says mockingly, "wait like human food?"

Smacking him with the spatula I reply, "Of course human food, I only really need to eat once a day, and that's because I spread the food over several days rather than binging. And just because I can't eat it, doesn't mean I can't make it."

Being greeted all day with pats on the back and hugs from those that really enjoyed the festivities last Friday, I spot MJ looking at me nervously. Apparently, so had Peter as he cooed in my ear, "Go on lover-boy. Break yet another heart."

With a sigh, I take her to an empty spot in the cafeteria. "So what's this about, because I haven't told anyone how far we went, and I'm not going to date anyone just yet so...?"

A little distracted, she nods, "Ok, that's part of the conversation I wanted to have, but I also wondered if you could show me your tattoo again?"

"Trying to get me shirtless Miss Jones? I'm not that easy."

"Just do it you narcissist, I'm not trying to make a move, just show it to me." A little confused I begin to lift my shirt, but her gasp and shock force me to remember the news program from Saturday.

"Shit."

"You're him, you're Leviathan," she whispered eagerly. A mood I instantly quell using my calming pheromones.

"Tell anyone and I will rip you limb from limb Michelle," the cold glint in my eye warning her of a VERY real threat.

"I won't, I swear. This is just so exciting, a real superhero. I must admit I'm surprised that YOU would help others, but it seems I don't know much of anything about you." With a moment of hesitation, her hands rubbing together, she asks quietly, "Can I talk to you about it, and maybe be more...normal, with each other? After seeing how kind you were on Friday, how considerate, and then finding out that I was entirely wrong about you I want to start over." Her voice now little more than a whisper, "If you want."

Looking at her I can't see the same zealous eagerness some women have for Spiderman and Captain America, but a hint of fear. That I'll say no. That I would refuse her attempt at friendship after her explanation. She was genuinely nervous about making friends, something I knew from watching the films, so I shrugged, accepted her offered handshake and walked back to Ned, Peter and Liz, who came over with the excuse of talking about the party, but based on the blush and fidgeting fingers, she was just as gushy for Pete as he was for her. With the conversation being steered to Leviathan's news report, we all discussed the new hero, as I ignored the looks from MJ the entire conversation, and sent Pete a text stating, "She recognised the ink." A startled glance up from his phone and he realised why she'd been acting so weird today. So I've been hired as a babysitter as if I were in the Young Justice universe and outed as a superhero by the chick I had screaming my name 3 days ago, WTF.