Meanwhile
Avengers Mansion
A gloved, clawed hand reached out of the darkness, carefully pressing a glass cutter against the mansion's window. The blade carved a small, precise hole before a hand slipped inside, unlocking it from within.
"Security alert. Forced entry detected." The mansion's alarm system blared. It barely had time to alert anyone before the intruder acted. A tall man clad in a skin-tight black cat suit entered. His costume obscured any defining features. Without hesitation, the infiltrator retrieved a flash-drive-like device and plugged it into the console in the foyer.
"External communications taken offline by unknown technology. Unable to send alarm." The system flickered, its failsafes overridden in mere moments.
A section of the lounge's fireplace rumbled and then slid open, revealing a hidden elevator. The figure stepped inside, descending into the depths of the Avengers Mansion.
As the doors opened into the dimly lit conference hall, he moved quickly, slipping into position at a terminal. His fingers flew across the interface, hacking into the mansion's database with a practiced efficiency.
"Accessing Avengers' personal files."
The screen is filled with dossiers, detailed breakdowns of each Avenger, their abilities, and their weaknesses. But one file stood out. Compared to the others, there was significantly less data on their shapeshifter.
The infiltrator scrolled through images, some taken from security footage, others sourced from public records. The alien's transformations were cataloged, but only in fragmented detail. And then, a photo: a brown-haired young man labeled Ben Tennyson.
A cover identity. That much was clear. But how deep did his abilities run? How many forms could he take? The infiltrator had come here to assess the Avengers to formulate a plan, but this wildcard posed an unpredictable factor. He would need to be tested.
Before he could dig further, the hangar lights flickered on. A low hum filled the underground chamber as the Quinjet touched down. Instinct took over. The intruder melted into the shadows, his presence vanishing as the craft's ramp extended.
Footsteps echoed through the space. Wasp and Captain America emerged, their voices carrying as they entered.
"Come on, Cap," Wasp said, stretching her arms over her head. "I'll show you your room."
Steve Rogers gave a small nod, rolling his shoulders. "Thank you. Maybe some quiet will do me good."
As they disappeared down the corridor, the intruder remained motionless, waiting. The hunt had just begun.
#
Despite the news and rumors that Captain America was seen alive in modern-day New York City, life continued as usual.
High above it all, Iron Man hovered, scanning the streets below through the HUD of his armor. "Alright, team, let's try out this patrol thing while Wasp is keeping the Captain busy."
"Why do this at all?" asked Hulk, who walked down the sidewalk without any hesitation. Many people opted to stand closer to the building to give the giant his proper space.
"Because, according to my PR representative, it'll be good publicity for the people to see us now and then. They'll be more assured, knowing that heroes are around.
Thor walked at a leisurely pace below as he surveyed the city with mild amusement. "Midgardians and their patrols… In Asgard, we did not 'patrol.' We rode forth in great scouting parties, seeking worthy battles!"
"Personally, I went about my day until someone or something dragged me into another situation. Been working well for a while now." Ben flew in a different area as Astrodactyl.
Hank shrugged while atop a flying ant. "To be fair, there's nothing wrong with wanting to be proactive in the community."
"Seems bothersome," muttered Hulk.
"At least give it a try," said Iron Man. "We want to keep this patrol clean. Show the city we have a quick response time while keeping minimal property damage.
Thor, Hulk, I'm looking at you, and absolutely no turning this into a contest of 'who can hit harder.'"
"You cannot restrain the fighting spirit of an Asgardian," complained Thor.
Hulk trudged down the street. "Hulk doesn't break stuff unless stuff tries to break Hulk first."
"Come on, Tony," Astrodactyl said. "What's the point of patrolling if we can't cut loose a little?"
"Yes, well, most of you didn't have to worry about getting sued for knocking over a lamp post. Property damage is a thing. Something you guys tend to forget."
Iron Man sighed. "Listen, I barely got the legal case of Thor destroying multiple city blocks dropped when we defeated Graviton."
Astrodactyl made a face. Legal teams were important. "He's got a point. We were lucky that everyone in that area was evacuated."
"Still took a chunk out of my company's funds to help repair and replace everything…"
A low huff came through the radio. "Fine…"
#
The day's first crime didn't take long to show itself: a jewelry store break-in. The front window was shattered. Inside, three masked men moved fast, stuffing duffel bags with watches, necklaces, and anything that looked expensive. The alarm blared, but they didn't seem to care.
High above, Iron Man hovered, scanning the scene through his HUD.
"Classic smash-and-grab. No creativity. No effort. Honestly, kind of insulting."
"I don't lose sleep over disappointing criminals," Hank Pym said over the comms.
Iron Man sighed. "Alright, let's wrap this up."
Ant-Man shrank and flew toward a display case inside the store. The thieves were too busy looting to notice.
With a well-timed leap, he dived straight into a half-zipped duffel bag.
The guy barely had time to frown before the bag bulged and then burst open as Ant-Man expanded back to full size, sending stolen goods flying. The impact knocked the thief into a glass case.
Hank glanced at the diamond bracelet in his hand. "It says something about our social safety nets when crime is seen as the preferable alternative."
The second thief spun, yanking a pistol from his waistband
But before he could raise it, Iron Man rocketed down from the sky, landing smoothly on the sidewalk.
"Bad idea," Tony said.
The thief hesitated.
A second later, an energy blast knocked the gun from his hands.
Tony flicked his wrist, and another beam hit near the man's feet, knocking him backward over an overturned display.
The last thief bolted for the exit. He approached the door. Then the sun disappeared.
A massive shadow fell over the storefront.
The thief skidded to a stop.
Hulk stood in the doorway, unimpressed.
The thief gulped.
Iron Man smirked. "I'd suggest putting everything back before the giant green rage monster gets involved."
The thieves didn't just drop the bags; they threw them away, hands up in surrender.
Hulk snorted. "Smart."
Another crime, easily handled.
#
Astrodactyl soared above the city. "Man, flying through NYC never gets old," he muttered, glancing down at the streets below. "I get why birds love it up here." Every now and then, someone spotted him, pointing up, snapping pictures.
He chuckled. "Glad to know I'm still a tourist attraction."
Then, a sharp voice cut through the noise.
"Stop! Someone, stop him! He stole my bag!"
There.
A hooded figure darted through the crowd, moving fast, already veering toward an alley.
Astrodactyl's eyes narrowed. "Alright, buddy, let's see you outrun an alien with jet propulsion."
His wings flared as he prepared to dive
Then, a blur of red and blue swung past.
Before Astrodactyl could react, a red and blue hero swung onto the scene and fired a web that snagged the thief's ankles.
The guy yelped as his legs were yanked out from under him, sending him skidding into a lamppost.
The crowd gasped. A few clapped.
Perched on the lamppost, Spidey spun the stolen purse on his finger. "Looks like your getaway vehicle just crashed, pal." He hopped down next to the dazed thief. "Next time, maybe try a job application instead of grand theft of a handbag?
The woman rushed over. "Oh my gosh! Thank you, thank you!"
Spidey handed her the purse with a casual shrug. "Hey, all in a day's work." He gave her a playful two-finger salute before firing a web and swinging off.
Still hovering above, Astrodactyl blinked. Then, he chuckled. "Well, guess I didn't need to do anything after all. Queens has got heroes too." Shaking his head, he soared back into the sky.
#
A red sports car blew through red lights, whether the driver was panicked, reckless, or just plain stupid.
Because up ahead, a crowded crosswalk stood in his path.
Pedestrians barely had time to react before Hulk stepped forward, planting himself dead center in the street, arms crossed, looking mildly annoyed.
The driver's eyes widened. He yanked the wheel, trying to swerve. The tires screamed, fighting for traction.
Thud. The bumper tapped Hulk's shin to a full stop.
Inside, the driver smacking into the airbag. The hood crumpled slightly, like it had rolled into a parking pole. A faint wisp of engine smoke curled into the air.
Pedestrians froze, wide-eyed.
Hulk glanced down at the barely dented car, then at the driver, unimpressed.
A familiar voice broke the silence. From the sidewalk, Hank Pym, suited as Ant-Man, shook his head.
"Well… that could've gone worse."
The driver groaned, still slumped against the fully deployed airbag.
Hulk snorted, stepping back like he was making room for a tow truck.
"Puny car."
#
Near the sidewalk, beneath a tall, large oak tree, a young girl sobbed into her mother's shoulder.
Up above sat a fluffy orange cat.
"Mittens, please come down!" the mother called.
Mittens, however, was unmoved. The cat simply yawned and blinked down at the onlookers.
Someone suggested calling the fire department.
Then a sudden gust of wind rippled as Thor descended from the sky. He landed in the park with a solid thud. "Fear not, young one! This feline shall be earthbound once more!"
The mother exchanged a glance with some of the bystanders, amused, but not at all surprised by Thor's signature dramatic flair.
Thor, oblivious to the chuckles, turned his gaze upward. With a single leap, he shot into the sky and reached eye level with Mittens.
The cat, completely unimpressed, stared at him with the casual indifference only cats could master.
Thor furrowed his brow. "Strange beast… why dost thou resist?"
Mittens flicked his tail pointedly.
Then, to the horror and delight of the watching crowd…
The cat hissed.
Instead of snatching the feline outright, Thor extended his hand slowly, letting Mittens inspect his fingers. A tense moment passed. Then another.
Finally, with all the grace of a monarch granting an audience, Mittens stepped onto Thor's arm, tail flicking in mild annoyance.
Thor's grin widened.
"A battle of patience well fought!"
Thor descended as grandly as he had arrived, landing with impeccable precision in front of the girl. Kneeling, he cradled the cat in his powerful arms. "Behold! Your feline companion, rescued from the clutches of peril!"
The girl's tears vanished, replaced by pure joy as she took Mittens into her arms.
The cat purred begrudgingly, clearly relieved to be back on solid ground.
She giggled, wide-eyed with awe.
"Thank you, Mr. Thor!"
A soft round of applause rose from the small crowd, thoroughly entertained by the spectacle.
From the sidelines, Hank Pym smirked. "Hey, a win's a win. Small victories count too."
Nearby, Astrodactyl hovered lazily, arms folded as he watched. "Gotta say, didn't have 'Thor: God of Thunder and Cat Whisperer' on my bingo card."
A low chuckle rumbled from Hulk, standing with his arms crossed. "Tiny cat. Big hero."
Thor ignored the teasing, simply standing tall, looking every bit the victorious warrior.
The mother thanked Thor profusely, grateful beyond words, before ushering her daughter away.
As they walked off, Mittens twisted in the girl's arms, shooting one last, unimpressed glare over his shoulder at Thor.
#
Their patrol had been quiet so far, a few minor disturbances, nothing serious. No major super villains. It's expected, they supposed. Then again, they should have known better. Everything was calm until it wasn't.
A sharp, high-pitched alarm erupted from their communicators, flashing "ALERT" in bold white letters.
Hulk's brow furrowed.
Then, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s calm but urgent voice came through the comms.
"Alert. Reports of giant creatures emerging from the water at Ellis Island."
A holo-image projected from Iron Man's gauntlet, the digital map zooming in on Ellis Island. The live feed flickered with static before refocusing.
And what they saw was horrifying and strange.
A massive, dough-like entity pulsed and writhed, its grotesque form absorbing everything in its path. It was out of an old sci-fi movie.
Tendrils slithered across the ground, wrapping around statues and benches, breaking them down..
Civilians screamed, scrambling to escape as the entity engulfed the ground beneath them.
Iron Man's tone turned sharp. "Avengers! Assemble!"
Silence.
Still looking at his communicator, Ant-Man barely glanced up, his tone completely deadpan. "Besides Janet and Steve, we're all right here."
Iron Man turned slowly. Stared.
Ant-Man shrugged.
A brief, awkward beat.
Hulk snorted, arms crossed. "Less talking. More smashing."
Astrodactyl narrowed his eyes, studying the mass on the holo-feed. "What the heck is that?"
Iron Man boosted higher. "Doesn't matter what it is. It's wrecking our city. We stop it. Now."
#
Tourists screamed and sprinted in every direction as grotesque masses slithered up from the water. The dockside became a writhing nightmare of pulsing slime.
Astrodactyl flared his wings overhead, surveying the chaos with wide eyes. "This is new."
Down at the docks, ferry captains blared their horns desperately, urging civilians onto overloaded boats. Ropes snapped, moorings broke, and several ferries were already pulling away, but some remained, pinned by the creeping tide of goo.
Above the mayhem, J.A.R.V.I.S. fed live tactical readouts into the Avengers' comm channels. Several civilians were trapped behind fallen debris, cut off from escape by the advancing sludge.
"Alright," Tony said, hovering above with thrusters blazing. His HUD blinked with hazard markers. "Priority one: get these people out before the goo monsters decide they want dessert."
Hulk roared and plowed through overturned carts. He swept up whole clusters of civilians into his massive arms before leaping back to the remaining ferries, carefully depositing the terrified passengers before bounding back into the fray.
Thor launched skyward, spinning Mjolnir with a rising roar. The hammer gathered a swirling cyclone of wind, sending a powerful gust across the docks. The swirling gale forced the slimy masses back, clearing paths through the tide and buying precious moments for civilians to sprint toward safety.
Astrodactyl swooped low, firing off pinpoint energy blasts. Each shot struck the ground near the blobs, erupting into bursts of force that created makeshift trenches and barriers, momentarily slowing the creatures' advance.
Ant-Man shrank down to the size of an ant, weaving through the stampede. He darted between flailing legs and shattered wreckage, using his helmet's comms to shout directions to lost civilians. "Left! Duck under that bench! Go, go, go!"
A mother tripped with her child. Instantly, Ant-Man grew back to full size, grabbed them both, and bounded over a collapsed lamp post, shrinking again mid-air to squeeze through a tiny gap in a crumbling wall. They made it to the ferry ramp just as it pulled away, gasping for breath.
As the last ferry roared into open water, J.A.R.V.I.S.'s voice crackled across the comms:
"All civilians accounted for. The island is clear."
Iron Man exhaled before turning to face the writhing horrors still advancing. The creatures were pulsating masses of translucent ooze.
"Alright," Tony muttered, repulsors charging. "Now we hit 'em." Twin repulsor beams shot from his palms, slamming into a blob, only for the energy to vanish into its gelatinous body. "…Well, that's a problem."
The blob quivered, then lurched forward.
Thor hurled himself into the fight, lightning crackling around Mjolnir. "Have at thee, foul beast!" His hammer struck the creature's center. The goo rippled, then snapped back like elastic. Before he could react, the sticky mass latched onto him, creeping up his arms and dragging Mjolnir down. "…I am stuck. Again."
Hulk slammed his fists into another blob, sending shockwaves through the ground. The goo jiggled, then absorbed the force completely. Hulk scowled. He hit it again. Nothing.
Above, Astrodactyl unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, only to watch them pass through the creatures without effect. "Okay," he muttered. "These things don't play by the rules."
On the ground, Ant-Man dodged a tendril and pulled out a handheld scanner. Scraping a sample onto his glove, he watched it pulse unnaturally. A moment later, the scanner beeped.
On the ground, Hank ducked under a lashing tendril and whipped out a scanner. A goo sample writhed on his glove as the scanner beeped urgently. "They appear to be some kind of man-made, biological life form."
Thor strained against the goo, still dragging him down. "You say 'man-made' as if that is something to be proud of, insect-man!"
Hovering higher, Tony scanned the field, frustration creeping into his voice. "Guys, my repulsors aren't doing squat. We need a new plan fast."
Astrodactyl snapped his wings open, dodging another lunge. "It looks like dough... it acts like dough... maybe if I "
"Whatever it is," Tony cut him off, "do it now!"
Ben grinned. His mind was already racing.
"Oh, I got this."
He slapped the Omnitrix, and a brilliant green flash filled the air.
When it cleared, Astrodactyl was gone. In his place stood Upchuck, a squat, frog-like alien with a massive mouth and stubby arms.
Still tangled in goo, Thor blinked. "…Truly, now is not the time for jokes."
Upchuck cracked his knuckles and leaped at the nearest blob. His mouth stretched impossibly wide, then GULP.
A massive chunk of slime disappeared into his throat. It didn't seem like the dough creature would be coming back.
Silence. Iron Man blinked. "…No way."
Upchuck smacked his lips and patted his belly. "Oh yeah. That'll work."
On the ground, Hulk paused mid-swing, watching as Upchuck slurped up another massive chunk of creature like it was noodles. "Huh." He looked at the goop clinging to his own fists. Then, with a shrug, he grabbed a glob of dough monster and shoved it into his mouth.
"Not bad." He grunted, chewing thoughtfully. Then he reached down for another.
Ant-Man, scaling a nearby statue, watched in horror. "Are we seriously doing this now? The Hulk… is eating the monsters too?"
"They're food now, apparently," Iron Man muttered, still processing.
"Not bad."
Iron Man threw up his hands. "Oh, come on!"
Upchuck wasted no time, bouncing from one blob to the next, devouring them at a breakneck pace. Each gulp erased another mass; his stomach swelled, then instantly shrank. One by one, the creatures disappeared.
Finally freed, Thor shook off the lingering goo and adjusted his cape. He looked between Upchuck and Hulk, a mix of bafflement and reluctant admiration.
"…This realm never ceases to amaze me."
Iron Man hovered, arms crossed. "…I cannot believe this is working."
Upchuck burped before smirking. "Hey, some of my best plans are the dumbest ones."
The writhing, pulsing dough creatures continued to multiply with every passing minute. But things were finally looking up, surprisingly, thanks to Upchuck.
The small, green, wide-mouthed alien devoured chunk after chunk of the blob creatures, slurping them into his trans-space storage like a living vacuum cleaner.
Iron Man hovered above, still watching in disbelief. "Okay, I admit it. Eating the monsters is… shockingly effective."
But the blobs were learning.
They were artificial, yes, but not unintelligent. As Upchuck and Hulk's consumption rate increased, the creatures began shifting tactics. No longer content to simply absorb random objects, the blobs converged, sliding with unsettling speed toward their most immediate threat.
Within seconds, dozens of gooey tendrils surged toward Upchuck, coiling around his body.
Multiple masses slammed into Hulk, engulfing his arms and legs like living tar. "RRAAGH!" Hulk tried to tear himself free, but the creature's elastic biomass absorbed his strength like a sponge. The more he struggled, the more they compressed. He was losing leverage.
Upchuck vanished from view, completely swallowed by the writhing mound. Then an explosion of energy ripped through the mass surrounding Upchuck.
BOOM!
Bits of dough splattered across the battlefield like batter from a blender.
From the smoking crater burst Upchuck, coughing, gagging. He looked up, saw another wave of blobs surging toward him. In a flash of green light. Upchuck vanished. Astrodactyl took his place. Wings flaring, Ben shot into the sky with a sharp screech of energy, just barely escaping the grasping tendrils."Azmuth? I need a read on these things."
Azmuth's voice came through."Preliminary analysis confirms your friend's hypothesis. They are artificial. What I can tell you is that its genetic structure isn't stable, explaining its rapid regeneration and growth."
Astrodactyl's brow furrowed. "So what can we do?"
"I will need some time to perform a proper analysis and run simulations on the genetic structure. Its instability may also be a vulnerability… if exploited correctly."
"But we can stop it from growing, right?"
A pause. "Potentially, yes."
#
Meanwhile, Ant-Man shrank down and zipped between chunks of fallen debris, narrowly dodging a shifting mass of dough monsters. He tapped into the open comms, his voice tight with concern.
"Uh, guys? They're... merging."
From his aerial view, Ben saw it too. The creatures weren't just regenerating anymore. The smaller blobs were sliding together, fusing into larger, pulsing masses of semi-sentient goo that oozed hungrily across the plaza.
On a rooftop overlooking the chaos, Iron Man hovered, locking onto the growing nightmare below.
"Good thing Cap's not here," he muttered, eyeing the disgusting scene. "Pretty sure this wasn't a thing in the '40s. He'd probably lose it. Honestly? I'm halfway there myself."
A tendril whipped up toward him. Tony cursed under his breath and blasted higher with a quick burst from his repulsors, keeping just out of reach.
Avengers Mansion
Wasp knocked gently against the doorframe. "Cap? Steve?" No response. She waited before stepping inside.
The room had clearly been put together with care, wood-paneled walls, vintage furnishings, and an old phonograph in the corner. It was Tony's attempt at recreating a 1940s sitting room.
Steve sat on the edge of the bed, holding a black-and-white photo. He and Bucky were standing side by side in their original uniforms.
Jan stepped in quietly, taking it all in. "Tony really tried to make it feel like the '40s," she said softly, offering a small smile. "Right down to the stitching on the couch. Said it might help ease the adjustment."
Steve didn't answer. His thumb ran along the edge of the frame. Jan moved a little closer.
A soft beep cut through the silence.
They both turned. The old turn-dial radio on the dresser clicked and shifted, revealing a small glowing interface. JARVIS's voice came through, calm and clear.
"Excuse me, Miss Wasp. A guest is requesting entry at the main gate."
Jan smiled faintly. "As close to the forties as you can get minus the talking computer." She chuckled. "Though I bet Howard would've loved that."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Jan eased into the nearby armchair. "You've been quiet since the mission. Just wanted to check in. You doing okay?"
Steve looked at her, then back down at the photo.
"When I first woke up, I honestly thought I should've stayed asleep. The world I knew was gone. The people I fought beside... gone." He paused. "I'm a soldier after the war, we used to talk to me, Bucky, the others about what we'd do when it was over. A little house, maybe a family. Peace. But I didn't wake up to peace. I woke up to a world that moved on. That didn't seem to need Captain America anymore."
Jan didn't speak. She just listened.
Steve's voice grew steadier. "That's changed. Meeting people like Logan, like Laura, seeing what they're up against. Hydra didn't die. It just got smarter. It's still out there, hurting people."
He set the photo gently on the nightstand and stood. His shoulders squared, his voice steady.
"There are still people who need someone to stand between them and what's coming. If I can be that if Captain America can mean something again, not just to the past, but right now, then maybe this all starts to make sense."
Jan's smile returned, warmer this time.
"You already do," she said softly. "You always have."
The moment is broken when a loud explosion erupts from beneath them, shaking the whole mansion.
"I need my shield!" Cap announces as they run to the halls.
"C'mon! We're almost there!" Wasp urges, zooming ahead of the rest in her miniature form.
"Wasp, wait!" Cap calls out, but she's already too far ahead to hear.
Wasp zipped around the corner, wings buzzing, then froze midair.
Hovering ahead in the hallway was the "intruder."
An oversized, grotesque ball of dough pulsed with sickly life, its bloated body quivering with each lurching movement. Two spindly arms and legs dangled uselessly from its sides, more for show than anything else. Its slimy skin shimmered under the flickering lights, and from the center of its mass, a jagged-toothed maw leered at her. Its doughy yellow eyes locked onto her, mindless and hungry.
Even worse, it phased right through the marble columns, splitting and reforming with a wet, nauseating squelch.
Wasp gagged, wings faltering for a moment.
"Ew!" she blurted, recoiling.
But she recovered quickly, smirking as a familiar mechanical whir-click filled the air.
J.A.R.V.I.S. had activated the mansion's internal defenses.
From a hidden panel in the floor, a compact missile turret snapped into place, locking onto the blob with a sharp beep.
FWOOSH-FWOOSH-FWOOSH-FWOOSH!
Four micro-missiles launched, exploding against the creature with rapid bursts.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
The monster ballooned grotesquely with each blast, its body stretching to the breaking point before snapping back with a wet slap. It burped out a foul cloud of smoke, completely unfazed.
Wasp grimaced.
"Ah? Okay. You're fat, disgusting, and, lucky for me, slow."
She dove in, unleashing a storm of bio-electric stingers. Thin arcs of yellow-green energy peppered its surface, leaving hissing black craters wherever they struck. The blob writhed and gurgled in pain.
She seemed to have the upper hand.
Then it shrieked and lurched forward.
"Okay, I take it back! Not slow!" Wasp yelped, banking hard as the creature's jaws snapped shut inches from her.
She blasted it as she retreated, trying to slow it down, but her stingers only seemed to make it angrier. Its eyes narrowed into furious slits, and it lunged again.
As Wasp dodged frantically, Captain America burst in from a side corridor, shield up and ready.
Timing it perfectly, Steve leapt, slamming his shield into the blob's side with full force. The impact sent ripples through the monster, but it barely budged.
Before he could pull away, a doughy arm swung out and smashed into him, hurling him into the wall hard enough to spiderweb the marble.
"Aah!"
Wasp wheeled back, peppering the monster's face with stingers to draw its attention away. Smoking holes opened across its doughy hide, and it shrieked again.
But now it was focused entirely on her.
It lunged upward, maw gaping impossibly wide.
Wasp tried to pivot, but it was too fast.
With a loud, wet sluuurp, it swallowed her whole.
"No!" Steve shouted, scrambling to his feet, panic flashing across his face.
The monster gurgled, lurching toward him, its body bloated and rippling with satisfaction.
Then bright yellow flashes sparked from inside its translucent mass.
The creature staggered, confused, its movements sluggish.
Its body bloated, bulged, and then.
SPLAT!
The blob exploded in a rain of steaming, slimy muck, coating the hallway and Cap in sticky dough.
From the mess, a pair of slimy insect wings fluttered free.
A tiny, coughing figure rose out of the goop, dripping head to toe.
Wasp floated unsteadily, hacking up slime. "Okay, that was disturbing."
Steve chuckled as he peeled a goo off his shield.
But before they could regroup
CRACK!
A sharp blast of energy zipped past Steve's ear, striking Wasp mid-hover and sending her spinning into the floor with a cry.
"Ahh!"
Steve whirled, shield raised.
Standing atop a shattered pillar was a figure in a deep purple baron's coat, yellow boots, and gloves that gleamed. A tight purple mask covered his face, but the arrogance in his posture and the still-smoking pistol in his hand left no doubt.
The man spoke, his voice smooth, mocking, with a faint German accent.
"Captain America," he said, savoring the words. "It's been a long time."
Steve's grip tightened on his shield. His jaw set.
"Zemo," he growled.
#
AN: Special thanks to Seana, Jebest4781, vividlearner744, OmegaDelta, Henry Stickman, fearmegu, Kitsune Robyn, Dragon lord, Shooter1344, Ajax Roranson, trey, Asaf, DJC, Alex, nighnight, SpeX, Smoking_ash12, AF360, Adam, yosief, VaneixusPrime, Bowsmen, JamPoe81, Lord McDeath, Alex, Mystbornwolf, A Nameless Hobo, BigTyson, Andr, A Vlogs, Nezih, Giorgie, Mahomed, puggle, Awesomesauce, Blacklionpride24, eric, Space core, asdo, Satan King, Dale, Elemental Lord, Rad Bman, Tyler, Spartano, THEREAL, Peter, Jose, WeirdoNerdo, Adam, Gage, Anthony, Louis, Homicidalbunny, Mariom, Jonas, The Main Man, Jackson, Marc_13, Erudual, Hunterruin, Zero, Thanatus, W01F, Mishary, Jan Osa, Lemon, Nicholas, Michael, Hydro, Jack, SirSlaps, Seraphtor, Dplet, Sky, Aaron, Lettered Wolf, Just Graham!
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