Chapter 42: Claw Machine, Skeevy Guy, She-Behemoth, and the Trapster

Have you ever been quietly reading in your room, and then your parent just comes barging in? Yeah see, that's never happened to me, but here's my case. I've been up for several hours now, I got ready, wasn't hungry so I stayed in my room. I got bored, so rather go bother other people I sat down to read. 20 minutes into my book, my "parent" comes interrupting. Except the parent is Tony Stark, and he's pounding the living shit out of my door. I grudgingly sig, rolling my eyes, taking note of the page and close my book, leaving it on my bed as I get up and open the door.

"What?" I say, annoyed, opening the door to a Mr. Mechanics McGee holding a hanger with a cover over it.

"Oh good, you're awake." He says walking right past me.

"You know I'd say something about you just barging I, but it's your tower."

"At least someone gets it." He mumbles laying out the bag. "Okay Handsy, I have a surprise for you." He says turning around and clapping his hands together. I look at him skeptically taking several steps closer.

"What..." I say, glancing at the bag. He gestures to it and I cautiously take the zipper and slowly pull it down. I was expecting, but it was not a brand spanking new suit. "Tony, what the hell is this?" I ask looking back to him.

"You have the equipment, title, all you needed was the look. Although, I was a huge fan of the little dress you'd parade around in." He says, making me smile.

"This is incredible, thank you." I say looking back to the new costume. All black, with dark blue detailing. Sleek black pants, and a matching tank top. Simple. I like it.

"Why don't you go try it on, I approximated size." Tony says taking the clothes off the hanger and handing them to me.

"Excuse me Miss, I do believe you are forgetting some items." I hear a terrible British accent (was he impersonating Jarvis?) behind me. I turn to see Peter walking through the door with a box filled with my new gear, and him wearing the helmet. He sets the box down on my bed and looks at me, or so I'm assuming. I can't really see his face.

"So I guess that test runs happening now." I say looking through the box. "Okay gimme." I say to Peter gesturing to the helmet.

"I don't know, I kinda like it." He says walking away from me.

"Yeah, but Metal Head made it for me." I say following him.

"What if I want it?" He counters.

"Then you ask for your own. Or make it! You're a fricken' genius." I say.

"True. But I like this one." He flips back and onto the ram of my bed.

Tony snickers, walking out saying, "Tell me how this ends." I wave him off, looking up at Peter as he stands, perfectly balanced on the slim frame. Friggin' show off...

"Says you." He responds to what I thought was in my head.

"Dude, come on give me my helmet." I say, folding my arms.

"Oh look," Peter says in a high pitched girly voice walking around the frame. "I'm Viper and I'm stubborn, sarcastic and sassy and I think Spider Man is the greatest, strongest, most handsome superhero."

"Alright, I'm gonna start throwing stuff." I say picking up a pillow.

"I used to be bad, but now I'm good and live with the Avengers." Peter continues. I chuck the pillow at him, but he easily dodges it, jumping back to the ground in front me. Before he can get away from me, I grab the helmet, putting him in a headlock.

"Give it Parker." I say, not able to hide my laughter.

"Okay, okay." He says laughing too. "Let me up and I'll give it to you."

"Promise?"

"Nope." He picks me up, and places me on the ground, pinning me there.

"I will bite you." I warn as he holds my wrists above my head, as he sits on me.

"Promise?" He says, mimicking me. I can't see him, but I swear he's smirking. I roll my eyes, but do knee him in the ass, considering he's sitting more on my torso than legs. He stumbles forward, grunting and I'm able to swing my leg around him, flipping him onto his back with me straddling him. "Not cool." He complains.

"What?" I ask holding his wrists down.

"Dude! You corndogged me!" He whines.

"Well I can bite you instead."

He clears his throat and says, "Just take the helmet." I slip my hands from his wrists and to his head, gently taking off the helmet.

"Merci, Tigré." I say, kissing his nose and standing up. I grab the clothes and jog over to the closet. "Stay here." I shout to Peter who's still laying on the floor. I quickly change and walk back out, Peter propped up on his elbows, still on the floor. "So, do I look like a superhero?" I ask spinning around in front of him. He seems to stutter for a second before answering.

"Yeah, yeah definitely. Here, let's complete the look." He says standing up and grabbing the box. I walk over to him, first grabbing the new boots. I slip them on, tying them and standing back up. I begin absent mindedly humming while Peter holds the box for me. "So how's Luc?" He asks while I clip on a belt.

"He's good." I say, wrapping a wrist cuff around my arm and buckling it.

"Just good? That's it?" He asks as I buckle the other one.

"Yup, what's this?" I ask picking up another arm cuff, trying to change the subject.

"Oh, Tony thought you might like a little something that defines you as a hero. You know, Cap's shield, Widow's belt buckle, the arc reactor, my spider insignia, and now your viper." Peter explains. I push it up my arm onto my left bicep. The cuff is made of a cool, black metal with a viper carved into it and painted in blue ink. I pick up the last piece of equipment from the box and Peter throws the empty cardboard onto my bed. I look at the black leather band with several blue compartments questionably until Peter takes it from me and pulls my right leg slightly while crouching down. I place my hands on his shoulders as he straps the bag to my thigh, his sudden movement making me stumble slightly. I see him smirk as he buckles it. "Good? Not too tight?" He asks looking up at me. I nod as he stands back up my helmet back in his grasp, but he's handing it to me this time. "Wanna run around town, getting used to the new equipment?" Peter asks.

"Yeah let's-"

"No time." We both turn to see Clint standing in my doorway, fully suited up in his Hawkeye garb. "The Frightful Four are attacking Times Square." He says. Before I can ask who the hell that is he leaves the doorway, Peter hot on his trail.

"Who's the Frightful Four?" I ask racing after them.

"Simply put, bad guys." Peter answers. As I follow Peter, I see Clint climb into a quinjet on the balcony right before it takes off. I look back to see Peter stepping into the elevator saying, "Find Steve and see what he wants you to do." I stand there baffled for a second before realizing what's happening. Bad guys are attacking, good guys are retaliating. And I'm a good guy.

"Jarvis where's Steve?" I spit out.

"Approaching you Miss." I turn and see Steve walking down the hall towards me.

"Jade, I need to know right now. Are you willing to protect and save people?"

"Yes." I say without hesitation.

"Do you trust us?"

"... Yes." I say more stern, considering I did hesitate this time. He squints at me as if trying to physically see my aura.

"Good. Now fire up those boots and meet everyone in Times Square." He says. I nod and turn on my heel, putting my helmet on and sprinting to the balcony. I stop right before the railing. My helmet seems to be coming to life as well as my nerves. No. Come on Sawyer. Now's not the time.

I take a couple of steps back as well as drawing in a deep breath. I resume my sprint, jumping on the rail and pushing off the balcony. My new boots work just as my old ones, igniting, letting me fly. I get used to the new bots easily; Tony did a wonderful job on them. I t seems Jarvis has already routed my way to Times Square, although, I don't really need it. An explosion just went off several miles to my right. I feel the boots power up and I'm blasted off to Times Square. I already see Tony, Clint, Natasha and Thor taking on who I'm assuming is the Frightful Four as I fly above them all. There's a jet to the side where I'm hoping Bruce is. It takes me a second to stop the boots close enough to the ground, but once I land I feel lost. What do I do? I've never had a team to worry about. Partner, yeah, but even then Luc and I always had individual missions.

"Viper!" Tony shouts. I snap my attention to him, but see nothing. I realize there must be an intercom in my helmet.

"Yeah?" I ask, summersaulting away from... something... I'm not sure what, it looked like a giant blob or... glop of some kind.

"Focus on fighting. People don't know you as a good guy yet, so let civilian control fall to Widow, Hawkeye and Spider Man." Tony orders. I don't respond, but look for the source of the goop shot at me. I scan the area and see a guy pointing a gun with a hose attached to it, connecting it to a compartment strapped to his back.

"Don't know who the hells you is, but prepare to be trapped!" He shouts jumping down from an overturned car.

"Yeah, and I don't know who the hells you is, but your grammar and that line was awful." I say facing him. His scowl grows more at my comment as he points his gun again. I sprint to my right, dodging each blast he shoots and end up taking refuge behind the car catching my breath and think of my game plan. Okay, this guy's only defense seems to be his goo-guns, shouldn't be too hard to take care of.

"I'd think the Avengers new addition would be a little bit more impressive than you." I look to my left and see his shadow approaching. I take a deep breath before rolling to a stance and jumping onto the hood of the car. I look around and see the slop he keeps shooting at me has different things stuck to it.

"Yeah, and I'd think if you were planning on terrorizing New York, you'd have picked a better weapon than a glue gun." I say.

"Why you little-" He says shooting again. I jump over it and onto the roof of the car and kick this guy in the jaw, making him fall over and drop his gun. I could shoot him with the goop right now, but that wouldn't stop - what did Clint call them? The Frightful Four? - from getting a hold of it. I have to figure out a way to clog or break his pack. He tries to stand back up, but I jump off the car and onto his back, but I do nothing except maybe knock the wind out of him. He tries reaching for his gun, but I step on his hand.

"Get off me!" He grunts.

"Nah, I'm good." I say scanning the area for Peter. His webbing should be perfect for clogging this guy's gun. I finally spot him swinging by some guy in a red and purple suit with some kind of claw for a hand going near the surrounding public. Peter shoots the claw with his webbing and as he swings around him, causes the guy to hit himself in the head and some shockwave emitting off the claw at himself. "Yo Spidey!" I shout, but don't see him look over because the guy under me elbows my leg with his right arm, causing me to stumble and fall off him. I push myself up, but am met with the barrel of his gun.

"What do you think of my glue gun now?" He says, ready to shoot me. Right before he pulls the trigger through, Spidey swings directly into him, knocking him back several feet.

"You know Trapster, you and your gang really bug me sometimes." Peter says landing holding his hand down to me. I take it and stand. "Get it, cause I'm-"

"Cause your Spider Man, yes hun, I get it." I cut him off. "So this is the Trapster?" I ask.

"Yeah I'm the Trapster." I turn to see him standing up. Before I can react, I feel Peter pull me into his side and before I know it, I'm swinging through the air.

"We have to clog his-" I try telling Peter, but am cut off when I'm ripped from Peter and slam into a building. I don't break the window, but I am stuck to it. I look down, trying not to focus on how high I am, but more on the pale, yellowish goop around my wait. I struggle for a moment before remembering Peter. I'm actually about to shout his name, but catch myself. "Peter." I say in a hushed voice, hoping the intercom in my helmet works.

"Yeah?" I hear.

"You have to clog his guns. Shoot your webbing at the barrel of the Trapster's gun." I look around and see Peter doing as I say. He's on the same building as I am and shoots towards the Trapster. My screen enhances as I look down at him. The Trapster pulls the trigger on his gun, but when nothing comes out he continues to pull it until - KABOOM!!! - I flinch slightly at the explosion, seeing goo fly around the Trapster and leaving him, well, trapped. Covered, head to toe, in glue. I almost laugh at the shocked look he has.

"Nice work Viper, can you get down?" I hear Cap say through the intercom. I look around for a moment and see Steve fighting the claw guy - I swear if his name is Claw - his shield protecting him from the man's shockwaves.

"No, I'm fine." I say as I continue to struggle. I contemplate trying to cut myself free, but decide I'd just end up getting a knife stuck. I prop my feet and hands against the building and push with all the force I'm able to muster. After several minutes, I do break free, but that leads to me tumbling through the air. My boots power on, but because I'm facing the ground, that just plummets me faster. I manage to turn myself so I fly adjacent to the ground, but everything happens so fast I can't stop myself from flying directly in front of Tony as he sends out a repulsor blast. I feel a hell blazing pain across my stomach as I skid to a halt a good distance from all the action. I find it hard to catch my breath for a moment, but Tony's voice urges me to sit up.

"Viper, are you okay?" I prop myself on my elbow and hold my stomach with my other arm. I take a deep breath and look down at my wound. My skin's raw and actually charred a bit from the blast. "Jade!" Tony says again.

"I'm fine!" I say sternly, releasing a shaky breath. I stand up, pushing aside my pain and take in the scenes before me. Thor's taking on a really tall and muscular chick, Iron Man and Widow are battling a guy on a hover plate in a purple, almost mechanic suit, and Steve is still dealing with claw guy, now with the help of Hawkeye. Most of the civilians are out of harm's way, but Spider Man swings around picking up the stragglers. As I look out, I see Cap's shield hurtling at my head. I duck and stumble to the side finding a car to support myself on. Steve's shield comes skidding to my feet. I look down at it and straighten. Come on, Sawyer. You're a part of a team a team now and you can't let them down. Stop pouting in the corner and be a hero. I pick up the shield and find Steve. He jumps out of the way of one of claw guy's waves while Hawkeye shoots an arrow, grappling his feet and making him fall. I hurl the shield to Steve as best I can. He has to dive a little to catch it, but he sends me a nod of thanks. I return it and look around again. There's so much... damage.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for destruction, but at the right time and place. This is Times Square. Thousands of people go through here every day and were hurt here. This need sot end. Now. Okay, Trapster's taken care of, all that's left is claw guy, the she-behemoth, and skeevy floaty guy. Oh shut up, I'm in the middle of a fight, you expect me to have the best nicknames right now? Okay, well Clint and Steve seem to have a hold on claw guy, skeevy dude is in the center of everything with Tony and Natasha and Peter seems to be trying to help Thor with she-behemoth off to the side.

"Jarvis, everyone has an intercom, right?"

"Yes Viper."

"Okay patch me into everyone." I say, standing up on the car to get a better view. "Tony do you think you can move your little scuffle back?" I say, a plan forming in my head.

"Does it look like I can?" He gruffly says back. I roll my eyes as I watch him send a repulser blast to the man, but he dodges it, as well as Widow trying to get him from behind.

"Viper, what are you doing?" Steve asks.

"Hold on." I reply. "Widow, can you get this guy to keep looking at you and Metal Head?" Her reply is a nod to me and her moving alongside Tony. I use what little room the roof of this car gives me as a running start and push off, my boots turning on as I do so. "Tony move out of his view!" I shout. He abides as I fly behind this guy and sock him in the back of the head. Right before he spins around, I cut the power in my boots and land right below him. As he turns he sees Tony and, like I hoped, thinks he's the one who hit him. Without another thought, the guy moves over to Tony who resumes fighting.

"Okay, you got him to move, now what?" Tony asks.

I run back to the car I was on and say, "Steve come here!"

"Viper, what-"

"Please! I have a plan. Just come stand on this car." I cut him off. He still doesn't move from Clint and claw guy. "Clint, do you have a hold on him?" I ask. Clint doesn't say anything, but does hold claw guy tighter. "Steve, please." I quietly say looking over to him. He finally runs over to me.

"What's your plan?" He asks joining me.

"Stand here." I say moving hi next to me, my mind moving too fast to answer his question. "And hold your shield up like this." I move behind him and push his arm up to the point where I want it, and angle it right too. Out of the corner of my eye I see the quinjet everyone came in... shake. "Is Bruce in the jet?" I ask.

"Yes why?" Steve answers.

"Someone might want to go check up on him." I answer. Steve looks over his shoulder and sees the jet move too.

"Widow go." He orders. Without hesitation, she runs towards the jet.

"Wait!" I shout as she passes us. "Give me one of your electric rods." Not giving a second thought, she throws on up to me and continues running. I hold the rod as I make one last adjustment on Steve. "Thor, Spidey, keep the she-behemoth right where she is. And when I say so, move out of the way." I say looking over at them, but stay at Steve's side. I can feel him looking at me, my stomach, as Peter and Thor reply an okay. "Alright, Hawkeye, is there any way you can get the claw machine (there ya go Sawyer!) over there to shoot Cap and I?"

"What?!" Steve, Clint, Peter, Tony and Thor all say at once.

"Just do it!" I shout. Clint moves the guys arm out from behind him and presses something on the claw that makes the shockwaves activate. He aims right at Steve's shield and right before it hits, Steve pulls me into his side, causing me to shriek from the pain. As the waves his the shield, I grab Steve's arm and angle it towards what's-her-face. "Now!" I scream, gripping Steve's arm tighter. The pressure on the shield ceases and I gently move Steve's arm down, Steve still holding onto me, and look to see if my plan worked.

And the she-behemoth is down! The woman lies unconscious on the ground as Peter and Thor apprehend her.

"Great work, now what about me?" Tony says frantically still fighting skeevy guy.

"Do not worry Stark." Thor says getting ready to help.

"Thor wait!" I shout, leaving Steve and jumping off the car. "Tony have you tried short circuiting his suit?" I ask.

"Yes, but I don't have enough power on my own." He answers.

"Thor again, on my mark, light the bastard up." I say. He nods.

"Viper, you can't kill him." Steve says behind me, jumping from the car.

"I don't plan to." I say.

"That much energy-"

"Will knock him out." I cut him off. "When I flew up to him I got a better look at his armor. It's not going to kill him, I promise." I don't wait for Steve's affirmation as I turn and run towards Tony. "Tony, you and Thor are gonna blast is suit when I say so." I say running over.

"But-"

"Tony, listen." Steve orders. I turn on Natasha's rod and run, my boots igniting once I'm close enough to skeevy guy. I fly up behind him again, and using both my hands, ram the end of the electrified rod into the shoulder of his suit.

He twitches for a moment and I fly away as quick as possible saying, "Go!" I see the light from both Thor's and Tony's blasts and even with my helmet, I have to cover my eyes. When the light diminishes, I look back and see skeevy guy twitch and spaz in the air a moment, almost comically, before dropping like a brick. I let my boots extinguish once I'm close enough to the ground. I look around, seeing tony pick up skeevy guy, Clint pushing around claw machine, Thor hefting up she-behemoth and Steve lugging the Trapster to a SHIELD truck that seems to be pulling up just now. I let out a breath and sag my shoulders, leaning back against a building.

"Viper, get to the jet. We need to get that wound patched up." Steve says. I look down at my stomach and my left arm, covered in my own dried blood. And just like that, the lasts drop of adrenaline is seeped out of me. I clutch my stomach with my already bloody arm and make my way to the jet. As I go though, more and more people emerge from buildings and are returning to the scene. There are sirens in the distance and several news vans have already showed up. I straighten, not liking the idea of my first televised report as a good guy being showed making me look weak. I finally reach the jet, everyone already situated. I sit across from Bruce, Natasha whispering in his ear and his shirt ripped in a multitude of places.

"Are you okay?" Peter asks sitting next to me

"Yeah, I'm fine." I say looking down at my still bleeding stomach.

"Jade maybe I should look at-"

"I'm fine." I snap, cutting Bruce off. He puts his head back down and I almost feel bad about barking at him like that. He was only trying to help. Minutes later, we're back at the tower and I walk in through the balcony, taking my helmet off and shaking my hair out. I'm ready to go to my room to clean myself up, but Steve stops me.

"Jade-" He starts grabbing my shoulder, but I push him off.

"I'm fine. Besides, I've had worse." I say continuing down the hall.

"That doesn't mean losing that much blood won't affect you." I do hesitate at his words, but continue to my room. I lightly push the door, not caring if it closes once I'm inside and rip off my shirt, tossing it to the floor. I go to the bathroom and wince when I look in the mirror. Black, red, pink... It's disgusting. I grab a washcloth and wet it before dabbing it along my abdomen. I feel almost guilty looking at the white cloth, now ultimately ruined because of me. It's dirty with my blood and the stain will never go away. I suck in a sharp breath as I touch a tender spot and I'm about to continue cleaning until I feel heat behind my almost bare back and two arms wrap around me, the hands placed over my own and stopping me from continuing. I look up and see Steve.

"I don't need your help." I say, trying not to blush, as he looks down at my stomach, pulling the washcloth from my hands.

"Mine? No. A doctor's? Yes." He replies looking down at me.

"Steve-"

"Jade you clearly need stitches, let us take care of you." I look back down at his hands and give a small nod. He guides me out of the bathroom and I'm headed for the door but stop at him saying, "Don't you want to... cover up?"

"Steve, I have a giant gash across my stomach and you want me to put on a clean shirt, doing nothing but ruining it?" I ask. He only nods and gestures for me to continue through the door. I continue to hold my stomach as I walk inside the elevator, but as we move up, I grow more and more light headed. I stumble trying to find the wall, but Steve's right there. He catches me before I go tumbling down and picks me up as the doors open. "Steve..." I weakly say, him carrying me through the sliding glass doors into Bruce's lab.

"Jade, don't say you're fine." He orders sternly. I try to nod, but I don't think he notices. Black dots start to dance across my vision as he sets me down on a table and Bruce walks out of a back room putting on a new shirt.

"I thought she didn't want me looking at her?" He asks Steve.

"You need to." Steve replies. Bruce doesn't hesitate, moving right into action getting all the things he'll need to sew me back together.

"Steve get that IV." Bruce instructs pointing to an already prepped IV. Steve wheels it over to me and Bruce dads my inner elbow with something cold and wet. I can't muster the strength to lift my head and look, but I'm sure it's just a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol. I feel a small prick seconds later as Bruce says, "This is just to get your fluids back Jade. Now I'm going to start on your stomach." I try to nod, my eyes closing as I do and ragged breath going through my lips. I don't know what Bruce is doing but I feel a massive pain along my left side and wince, a groan pushed out of me. "Steve hand me that syringe." Bruce says. I see Steve's hand above me as he hands a needle with a clear liquid in it to Bruce.

"What is that?" I ask.

"Morphine." Bruce answers.

"Don't bother." I manage before a horrific coughing fit erupts out of me. I feel Steve clutch my arm and he lifts me up slightly so I clear my throat easier. I feel liquid drip down from my mouth and know its blood.

"Jade, this is going to hurt." Bruce says as Steve gently set me back down.

"It's okay." I say. "I'm about to pass out anyway."

A/N: Hello friends... We are still friends right? I know I've kinda fallen off the face of the planet... But I'm back! And I am soooooo sorrrrryy!!! And I have a reason, a terrible one at that, but I started school again and with my honors classes and newspaper, things got a little out of hand for me... I promise though I'm gong to try to be more prudent, it's just difficult. But here's a long chapter, the longest I've written, and I hope you like it! I mean, Viper is a hero now! And she has all new gear and a new uniform! Pretty awesome right? Please tell me what you think of her first fight/mission as a good guy and also what you think of her new uniform! If you hadn't already guessed, the picture attached is Jade's new costume. I'll include her new helmet in the next chapter, but if you don't want to wait head over to my pinterest! Everything that has to do with Viper is in a specific folder there and more will be added to it, so be sure to check it every now and then.

Okay, again I'm sorry for being soooooooo late on this update, I really will try to fix that. For now, wish me luck on my upcoming math test and the first edition of my schools newspaper. Okay, it's actually a magazine, but whatever. And really, I'll need it. My first article was on horror movies, but now we're coming out a week late, so it'll be outdated and now I'm writing an Autumn Haul/Essentials blog type thing. And you know what, you guys can help me! As well as commenting about Viper, go ahead and tell me some things that mean fall to you and what you have to have during the season! Okay, awesome, thanks guys, I love you!

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