CHAPTER ONE —
( Why be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent when you can be an Avenger? )

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Evelyn Parrish was compromised.

More than a year had passed since the extensive repairs on Stark Tower began, and just a couple of months later, Tony Stark's name was once again a gleaming beacon within New York City. Soon after, Bruce Banner moved in with Tony Stark, alongside the spirited Eliza Jones. After a prolonged period of travelling—escaping the shadows of his alter ego, The Other Guy—Bruce returned to the United States, welcomed by Tony's open invitation to stay at the Tower for as long as he desired.

Meanwhile, Eliza, weary and disappointed by the corruption of S.H.I.E.L.D., sought refuge from the chaos of her previous life. She longed for the freedom to indulge in her passions again, living life on her own terms and relishing each moment without the restrictions of her former job.

On a cold, rain-soaked night, the remaining Avengers finally made their way to Stark Tower. However, their arrival unfolded in a manner that no one could have anticipated.

Hawkeye arrived first. Pepper was away, visiting relatives out of town, leaving the two scientists to bond over a football game that flickered on the screen, illuminating the dimly lit space, while their tech-savvy friend hogged the bowl of popcorn. As they watched the players scramble for the ball, Bruce furrowed his brow and voiced a lingering concern: "No news from our friends at S.H.I.E.L.D. after the whole Washington, D.C. fiasco?"

Eliza lounged on the couch, her legs casually propped up, a bowl of popcorn cradled in her hands. With a playful smirk, she interjected, "Am I not a friend?"

Tony, opting to ignore her teasing, shook his head in frustration. "Nothing."

Bruce leaned forward, the weight of worry etched on his face. "We should at least try to find them... what if they need help?"

"I've tried, Bruce," Tony replied, the helplessness in his tone unmistakable. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, the reality of the situation pressing heavily on his shoulders. "Seriously, I have. But S.H.I.E.L.D. is an organisation full of spies. They know how to vanish without a trace. If they don't want to be found, they won't be." He let out a resigned sigh, the glow of the TV casting shadows across his features. "The only person I know is even remotely safe is Maria Hill. She's my sole lead, but it's a grim reminder of how fucked up everything is when even she has no clue where the rest of them are."

Eliza shrugged nonchalantly, her fingers playing with the remnants of popcorn. "That's exactly it. They're spies. Of course, you're not going to find them," she said, her tone dripping with certainty. "Even I've looked, and if I couldn't dig them out, that really says something."

They were taken aback when J.A.R.V.I.S. chimed in, alerting them to an unexpected visitor waiting downstairs.

"Speaking of the devil, that's Barton," Bruce remarked, his eyes flickering to the security camera feed as he recognised the familiar face. "Wonder what he's doing here?"

"Well, let's find out," Tony replied, his curiosity piqued. As the elevator doors slid open, Clint stepped out, drenched and wild-eyed, an air of urgency surrounding him. Tony, ever the host, ambled over to the bar, mixing Clint a strong drink, while Bruce dashed off to fetch a towel for their unexpected guest.

Eliza peeked up from her spot on the couch, her brows arching in surprise. "Hey there, Barton. It's been a while."

"I need your help," Clint stated, urgency tinging his voice as he accepted the glass of liquor from Tony. S.H.I.E.L.D. was in shambles, and all their secrets had been laid bare for the world to see. Nick Fury was dead, and Black Widow's whereabouts remained a terrifying mystery. Clint's desperation was noticeable as he explained his presence; he was there to seek their assistance in locating her and the Gemini. His fingers, cold and trembling, tightly gripped the glass as if it were a lifeline. Both Tony and Eliza exchanged concerned glances, aware of the futility of their attempts to track them down; they had already tried and come up empty-handed.

"First, take a deep breath and dry off," Bruce urged, a calming presence in the storm of Clint's anxiety.

Once again, J.A.R.V.I.S. interrupted the tense atmosphere, his voice cutting through with an urgent security breach announcement. At that moment, Natasha Romanoff made her dramatic entrance into the building. The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing her in disarray—mascara trickling down her cheeks like the rain that drenched her red hair, which hung limply on her shoulders, clinging to the fabric of her jacket.

Bruce, alarmed, sprang to his feet so abruptly that his chair tipped over with a clatter behind him. Tony raised an eyebrow in surprise as Clint, momentarily setting aside his drink, rushed across the room to envelop Natasha in a wordless yet passionate embrace. The world around them receded as they clung to one another, the weight of their unspoken bond palpable in the air.

A full minute passed before they finally released one another, a hesitant breath escaping Natasha's lips. Bruce dashed away to fetch a towel while Tony pulled out a bottle of vodka in a rare gesture of generosity. Meanwhile, Clint, still visibly shaken, began to voice his concerns, his tone laced with urgency.

"Where have you been? How did you get here? How could you disappear without telling me?" Natasha fought to suppress a smile, secretly warmed by his concern.

"Every identity I've ever had is now exposed," she replied, her voice steady yet tinged with a hint of vulnerability as Bruce returned with a towel. "My enemies are ruthless. I barely escaped with my life this time. This was the only sanctuary I could think of. It's not easy for me to come here," she confessed, locking eyes with Tony. "But I promise, I won't overstay my welcome—"

"You can't go back out there," Clint interrupted, his voice rising in alarm. "Not with those people hunting you!" They exchanged glances, aware that the final decision rested on Tony's shoulders.

"Um," Tony hesitated, glancing between them, then broke into a slight grin. "You know what? Both of you stay here for as long as you need. I don't mind at all. Right, Banner? Eli?"

"Not at all," Bruce replied

"Little Red can stay. She's awesome," Eliza chimed.

It was an hour and a half before Steve Rogers and Evelyn Parrish arrived, their silhouettes barely distinguishable through the relentless downpour. When J.A.R.V.I.S. flashed the live security footage, the scene revealed not just two figures on the curb but three. Steve stood tall, his drenched clothes clinging to his muscles, while Evelyn, eyes wide with urgency, was at his side. Between them, they supported a third figure—an unconscious man, partly obscured by a heavy coat that was soaked through with rain.

"I know this guy," Natasha said, her gaze narrowing in familiarity at the man being hoisted between them. "That's Evelyn and Steve's friend, Sam Wilson."

Evelyn's voice crackled through the intercom, firm yet laced with panic. "Anthony! Open up! We need help!"

A press of a button was followed by a tense, seemingly eternal pause before the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.

"Captain!" Bruce greeted, concern etched across his features.

"Please," Steve pleaded, urgency colouring his tone, "Our friend, Sam..."

"What happened?" Natasha asked, the weight of the situation shadowing her voice.

"He needs medical attention," Evelyn interjected, her voice steadier than her heart felt. "And Bruce is the best doctor I know."

With practised efficiency, Bruce took control of the situation. "This way," he instructed, leading Steve and the stricken Sam into the elevator while leaving Evelyn to recount their harrowing tale. But before she could find the words, Natasha and Clint, overwhelmed with relief, enveloped her in a tight group hug.

Evelyn finally began to speak. They had spent countless miles searching for Bucky, a quest that spanned half the continent and concluded in the dark, stormy night of New Jersey. There, they faced off against HYDRA agents as they tried to capture the Winter Soldier. The revelation that their very own Annihilator was caught up in the chaos was an unexpected twist for HYDRA, compelling them to attempt to capture her as well, leading to Sam's grievous injuries. Bucky had managed to escape, but not without Sam, Evelyn, and Steve fearlessly holding back the tide of agents.

"Sam wasn't so lucky; he took a brutal beating," Evelyn recounted. "We had nowhere else to turn."

Moments later, Bruce and Steve returned, a cloud of tension hanging above them. Curious and anxious, Evelyn looked to Bruce for any updates on Sam.

"He's sedated, but stable," Bruce assured her, a hint of confidence in his voice. "Nothing I can't fix." Evelyn exhaled, her relief flooding over her as she pulled Bruce into a grateful embrace.

"I'm sorry," Steve said quietly to Tony, their situation heavy on his shoulders. "We might be here for a while..."

"It doesn't matter," Tony replied. "Honestly, I'm long past caring. These two," he gestured toward Natasha and Clint, who were hovering protectively beside Evelyn, "have already made themselves right at home. And Eliza acts like she owns the place, so it doesn't really make a difference. You're all welcome to stay as long as you need—make yourselves at home, even your, uh, stranger."

"Sam Wilson," Evelyn spoke.

Tony offered Evelyn a faint smile, but as she turned her gaze away, guilt washed over her, the memories of her part in the death of his parents seeping back into her thoughts. Tony raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued, but he chose not to speak on the matter.

More towels were passed around, drinks flowed like a sweet river, and laughter filled the air as everyone caught up with one another. The football game on the screen faded into oblivion, disregarded by the animated gathering. Suddenly, a fork of lightning dramatically split the sky, followed by a thunderclap that rumbled like a grand trumpet announcing the arrival of royalty.

An uncanny silence enveloped the room, a collective pause that held everyone's breath. "Well," Tony finally broke the stillness. "I figured it'd only be a matter of time."

In the next heartbeat, another flash of lightning illuminated the scene, revealing Thor's impressive, stocky figure as he descended onto the balcony. Tony swung open the door with a flourish, and the god strode in with a gust of wind, sending several throw pillows spiralling through the air like startled birds.

"I apologise for my untimely arrival," Thor announced, his voice rich and booming. "But I have been living on Midgard for over a moon now and merely wished to check on my... friends and dear niece..." His gaze swept over the shell-shocked, wide-eyed heroes assembled in the cozy living room. Raising an eyebrow, he added, "Did you all just arrive here now?"

Tony gathered himself before anyone else could react, a sense of purpose washing over him. In that fleeting moment, he realised this was how it had all been meant to unfold. While he didn't fully believe in fate or coincidence, the boundaries of logic seemed to disperse as he surveyed the scene around him. He glanced at Thor, the Asgardian's presence a reassuring blend of strength and warmth. Clint was lively on the phone, his voice a mix of urgency and casual bravado. Bruce and Natasha stood together, their quiet conversation a sanctuary in the bustling room, while Steve, leaning close to Evelyn, whispered secrets that made them both smile. Eliza, entirely at ease on the couch, had just ignited a blunt, the pungent smoke curling around her like a lazy fog.

It felt almost nostalgic—just like their first meeting. The Avengers were assembled once more.

Unfazed, Tony sprang into action. "Anymore drinks, anyone?"

"Actually," Natasha said, "I think I'll have a hot cocoa or something."

"Hot cocoa? Really?" Tony raised an eyebrow, but Clint interjected before he could push further, "You know what? Me too."

"And me, please," Steve added, a warm smile tugging at his lips.

"I as well—whatever hot cocoa is," Thor bellowed, the curiosity shining in his eyes.

Evelyn smiled. "I'll have a vodka."

"Same here," Eliza echoed, her tone light and carefree.

Tony couldn't help but point at the two women. "And that's why we're best friends."

Bruce watched the exchange with a grin, sensing the vibrant energy that pulsed through the room. Things had just gotten a whole lot more interesting.

With a dramatic sigh, Tony nodded, cradling the weight of their requests. "Alright then, five orders of hot cocoa and vodka for Evie, Eli, and me." Before he retreated to the kitchen, Natasha's voice rang out, laced with sincerity.

"Stark?"

"Yeah, Red?" Tony casually replied over his shoulder.

"Thank you," she said earnestly, her tone cutting through the heavy atmosphere. "It's a pretty bad time to be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent." Clint, Steve, and Evelyn nodded along, their expressions sombre.

"Especially for someone like me," Evelyn added, her voice tinged with despair. "I've been a brainwashed assassin for HYDRA, and I've done terrible things." She looked at Tony with appreciation. "But thanks, Anthony."

In a moment of sincerity, Tony gave Evelyn's shoulder a gentle pat. "Sure thing, guys. It's the least I can do. Anyway, why be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent when you can be an Avenger?" His smirk flashed before he slipped away into the kitchen.

The room was filled with stillness as everyone exchanged glances

"He's right, you know," Bruce said good-naturedly, attempting to lighten the mood. "Clint?"

"Yeah?" Clint responded.

"Use a coaster for your beverage, please." Bruce's tone was teasing yet firm. "Evelyn and Captain, could you both dry off with some towels before you turn the floor into an ocean?" He gestured to the spreading puddle. "And Natasha, you're perfect where you are—well, good where you are." Bruce cleared his throat, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks. "Eliza, could you stop smoking, please? Oh, and Thor?"

"Aye!" Thor boomed, his voice as thunderous as the rain outside.

"Could you do something about this rain?" Bruce asked

Evelyn and Steve promptly snatched towels from Bruce, and in a playful moment, Steve stuffed his towel into Evelyn's face, wiping it with a grin, only for Evelyn to counter by doing the same. Just then, Tony reappeared, balancing a tray filled with mismatched mugs and distributing them as the rain, as if by some unspoken agreement, suddenly ceased.

Watching his friends settle into comfortable chatter, Tony finally set down the tray and stood back, hands confidently resting on his hips. There would be some explaining to do to Pepper later, but he relished the unexpected joy of companionship for now.

Sharing wasn't so bad after all.

AUTHORS NOTE
My babies are all together under one roof once more :')
Like my first book, I'm hoping to slowly edit this book. However, I will be posting chapters before editing them just for the people who want to reread my old books. They will be marked as 'unedited' and will be written quite poorly, hence the revamp.
Don't forget to like and comment!!!
Love you all, Pheebs/-rosepetal