Chương 2156: 24
Chapter 24: Yuri is Not Drunk Enough For ThisNotes:
I gotta say I enjoy this regular update thing. Or well being back to regular updates? Also Valhalla is an awesome game.
Chapter Text
Daisy dropped the bag of takeout in front of Tony. It distorted the holotable's image.
He startled back. "Offspring?"
"You need food, caffeine, and to stretch before you keep working on the suit." She dropped a hand to one hip and stared him down. "You're going a little crazy."
"No I'm not." Tony replied automatically.
Daisy raised an eyebrow. "Instant Kill mode?"
"And?" Tony leaned back slightly, though he had turned the holotable off.
She hooked one of the rolly stools and yanked it over and sat down. "Open up the bag old timer, one of those burritos has my name on it. Also Babysitting mode?"
"He needs it." Tony's movements were jerky, stubborn as he opened up the paper bag and tossed her one of the burritos inside.
Daisy considered her words while unwrapping her lunch. "When I was fourteen I was stealing money out of my foster mom's purse and working on a plan to have myself emancipated. What were you doing at fourteen?"
"Starting my first college degree and getting in some quality time with the house keeper's daughter." Tony narrowed his eyes. "I see your point, I don't like it."
She let it wash over her. "And how would you have felt if anyone had set up some of the programs you're made? Which you've been working on this for a while. Arrogant much?"
"You're too wise to be my Offspring." Tony rolled back. "But fair, I'd hate it."
Daisy looked at the images of the suit on the screens. "You're missing the point you know. Peter's better than either of us, he doesn't need to be us."
"Not going to say you're better than me too?" Tony deflected.
She didn't let him brush it off. "I've killed people, a lot of people and I don't feel bad about it. The ones who died for me though… those ones stick with me." Daisy considered her words. "We've both made mistakes, big mistakes. Ones that have gotten people killed. But that doesn't mean either of us would have ever let someone put us on a leash. Am I wrong?"
"No, you're irritatingly right." Tony chewed a bite of his burrito. "So what compromise of common sense are you about to bully me into? Am I turning into the nerdy kid who gets shut in lockers? Is this what that feels like?"
Daisy stared at him. "No, it's really not." She smiled slightly though. "Think less Ironsuit, more...what is that?"
"Oh you mean that suit? That's yours." Tony looked smug. "You didn't think I'm only making a new suit for the Kid did you?"
And that was...unexpected. Which probably said a bit about her, she hadn't considered it. "My powers don't play well with machinery."
"I know that Quaker Shaker, I'm wounded you think I wouldn't think of that." Tony leaned back slightly. "Adamantium weave, nothing short of vibranium is getting through. Impressed?"
Daisy hummed looking at the screens. "You're already synthesizing it?"
"It'll be ready by dinner. Also put magnets on the bottoms of your new boots. Less hanging off buildings by the scruff of your neck." Tony took a bite of his burrito and was silent for a minute. "And you're wrong about one thing Offspring."
"Oh, what's that?" Daisy kicked at the floor, lightly letting herself spin in a circle.
Tony looked at her and his eyes were...he looked at her like he cared. "Peter's not the only one who's better than me."
And...well Daisy didn't know what to say to that. So she didn't say anything. But that was fine, Tony seemed to understand that too.
Daisy knocked lightly before stepping into the medical room Peter was in. "I come bearing a gameboy, gatorade, a fresh spider mask and gloves, as well as sweatpants and a sweatshirt."
"Thank you for picking those up." Aunt May stepped over and hugged her.
"It's no problem." Daisy wasn't used to a parental figure who hugged and showed affection as much as May. But well, she was adjusting. And it was..nice. Really nice.
Darcy looked over from where she was sitting on the side of Peter's bed. "Come on then. Let's get this video done before we have Spiderman memorials or prayer circles or something."
Daisy tossed the bag at Darcy. "Whaddya need me to do?"
"Be thyself Quaker Shaker. Maybe put on your mask, even if you are in a...is that my sweater?" Darcy's nose wrinkled. "Keep it on, you make it look smoking."
"Thanks." Daisy knew she needed to say something to Peter before they did anything. She stepped over and looked down at him. Blowing out a breath she reached out and ruffled his hair. "We're going to have to work on your close quarters combat."
Peter perked up, a smile spreading across his face. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." She agreed, and god her family made her soft. "Next time no hiding, even if I'm recovering from bullet wounds."
He nodded eagerly. "For sure!"
"Good, I'm guessing Darcy briefed you on what to say?" She checked, cause honestly she kind of hated the press and just...it was not in her wheelhouse.
Peter pulled on his mask. "Yup!"
"Good, do that. And start thinking of thank you gifts for Pietro, he set back his physical therapy by a few days to get you here as fast as he did."
Peter's goggles did the weird clicking squint that she'd learned to read as a cringe or wince. "Just a card isn't going to cut it is it?"
"It's really not." Daisy leaned against the bed. "It's a good thing you're going to have time on your hands." She pulled out her mask and let it suction onto her face. "I was thinking since you're a genius you could make him something."
Peter nodded, pulling on his gloves. "Yeah, that could be cool." He looked a bit ridiculous in a hospital gown, spider gloves and mask. But it was probably what Darcy was going for.
Darcy cleared her throat while pulling out the Spiderphone. "Alright fucks, say cheese."
Daisy rolled her eyes, but stayed leaning against the hospital bed and crossed her arms. If she was supposed to be herself, well she was grumpy.
"Hey everybody!" Peter waved at the camera. "Just wanted to let you know I'm A-ok!"
She couldn't help it, she snorted. "Sure Jan."
"Hey!" Peter looked at her. "I'm not the one who got shot."
"I'm doing better." Daisy's lips twitched up. "You got clawed by a werewolf."
Peter shrugged, but his whole bearing said he was laughing at her. Which idiot. He turned back to the camera. "So don't worry, probably won't see me for a while."
"I'm tying you to your bed if you even think of going out there before the doctor gives you a clean bill of health." Daisy reached out and pushed his head to the side gently.
Peter laughed. "So uh sorry I won't be there to help you with carrying your groceries and the usual everyone. But don't worry I'll get Quake here to keep up with the trick channel. She's kinda awesome at that stuff even if she pretends she isn't."
"I'm doing what?" She snapped her head back to her idiot brother.
He had to be smiling under that stupid mask of his. "You've got like four blackbelts or something. And you've been getting into parkour."
"Fine." Daisy agreed, she noted Darcy looked absolutely delighted from where she was filming the thing on her phone.
Peter leaned towards her while looking at the camera. "So sorry for scaring you all. I appreciate all the thoughts and prayers and everything. But I'm good, just going to be very sore for a while. Bye for now!"
Darcy lowered the camera. "Good times guys. Those rumors of you being a couple, this isn't going to help."
"Come on!" Peter pulled off his mask. "We can do it again."
Darcy sniggered. "Too late Dumb Dumbs."
Daisy ruffled Peter's hair. The rumors protected him, the more people thought they were a couple the more nobody would expect Peter was a teenager. Afterall her age was publicly known. Also his indignation over it all amused her. "I'm sorry which sibling got spotted at a coffee shop with the Star Spangled Man with a Plan?"
"Tony's still having kittens over that." Darcy slid the phone into her back pocket. "And please, one coffee shop visit is already being forgotten by the public consciousness. You on the other hand? Well I've got so much material."
Daisy shared a look with Peter. She nodded and then vaulted over his hospital bed. Grabbing Darcy she let out her best evil laugh. "You are our prisoner now!"
////
Steve Rogers handed the newspaper to Bucky. "How're you feeling today?"
"Really Punk?" Bucky looked up at him, dark circles from another sleepless night, and general grumpiness from being stuck in the Hulk room for weeks now. Also with the missing arm, it left him slightly lopsided looking.
He took his new customary seat. "Well Stark's kids are kicking up the media again."
"Huh, Howard's line would be…" Bucky trailed off.
"They're something alright." Steve ran a hand through his still very pink hair. Which he was coming around on it.
Bucky made a motion like he meant to check a holster that just wasn't there. "The lawyer coming in again today?"
"Yeah, not till later. But it's looking good Buck." Steve hated how just...awkward it felt sometimes. "It's easier when there's something to punch."
Bucky actually made a sound of amusement. "Of course you'd say that."
"What can I say, I had the right idea back in Brooklyn. Just didn't know how many bullies there were out there." Steve looked over at the paper. "I want the crossword."
Bucky huffed. "You just like getting punched."
"I got a lead on a Hydra bolt hole in Canada. Going to take a team up there. You going to be ok if I go?" Steve knew Bucky would be safe here in the tower. The Hulk room could take a bomb and stay safely shut.
Bucky rifled through the paper before pulling out the crossword section and handing it over. "Don't go doing anything too stupid. Clearly most of your common sense has already been beat out of you."
"Hey now." Steve smiled though as he accepted the crossword and pulled out his pencil. "I'm pretty sure you kept most of the stupid with you."
"I'd come with you, watch your back." Bucky didn't need to say he couldn't, that it wasn't safe.
He reached out and clapped his best friend on the shoulder. "You don't have to fight anymore. I won't let anyone make you."
"There's always a war Steve." Bucky picked up his mug of black coffee.
Steve looked at him. "Well, you can fight with Stark's daughter. She's fighting a war that won't take pieces of your soul. Or require you to carry a gun."
"You're the one who does the whole dancing monkey routine." Bucky countered.
He grinned. "I don't know, Darcy wants to get her hands on your hair."
Bucky went unnaturally still. "You wouldn't."
"Well someone has to check in on you and it's that or nothing but therapists and lawyers." Steve couldn't help laughing at the horror on Bucky's face. Besides, Darcy probably wouldn't dye Bucky's hair pink….probably.
////
Darcy flipped through a magazine while waiting for FRIDAY to finish synthesizing the new fabric for the suits. "I'm turning into a Superhero fashionista. I'm a sexier Edna Mode."
"Huh huh." Jane looked up from her notebook. "You like capes."
"Oh my Thor Janey! You recognized my reference!" She leaned forward with grabby hands and grabbed Jane. Halling her friend in, she smacked a loud kiss on Jane's cheek. "I'm so proud!"
Jane wiped at her cheek with her sleeve. "I wonder if anyone has used Thor's cape to throw him around?"
"Undoubtedly." Darcy knew she was team Jane in the weird...sorta breakup they were in. "Can you imagine his face? I bet he looked like a kicked puppy."
Jane did look kinda smug. "A dumb one."
"The dumbest." Darcy agreed as the bestest bro that she was. "So I have a date with a brainwashed Super Soldier. Thoughts on what offerings of food I should bring?"
Jane rolled her eyes. "Pop tarts. Everyone loves pop tarts."
"Wanda doesn't, which is so weird." Darcy shook her head. "She's not a fan of junk food."
Jane blinked owlishly. It was probably breaking her mind that someone didn't live off processed, preservative soaked junk. "That's something."
"I know. But between her and May, Daisy has learned to cook without explosions." Darcy pressed her hands together in a mockery of prayer. "It's a miracle. They don't teach their agents to cook at SHIELD."
Jane stuck her pencil behind one ear. "Darcy, are you doing ok?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Darcy pushed her glasses up her nose.
Jane stared at her. "Darcy."
"I'll be ok." Darcy reached out grabbing her cup of coffee and cradling it. "Peter's not even that hurt. Four puncture wounds to his right calf, his abdominal muscles and skin were fairly spredded, but thanks to Dr Cho he'll be back on his feet in no time."
Jane passed her the redvine jar. "Is it bad I'm slightly disappointed there wasn't enough werewolf left to see what Daisy would have done to it?"
"It'd be a fluffy smear." Darcy pronounced, and she meant it. "I kind of wish that could have happened too."
Darcy gave a salute to Pepper. "I'm going to miss you and Tony."
"I'm sure our time in Malibu will be cut short." Pepper threw her an amused look while packing another dress into her open suitcases. "Hopefully you and your siblings can keep out of trouble for a whole twenty four hours?" Her voice was vaguely fond.
Darcy tried to keep the gaping at the bedroom in check. Damn Tony be rich. "It'll be good for Tony to get away from Bucky. Which I'm planning on crashing the Hulk room once you two are out of the tower."
Pepper stilled. "Darcy."
"What? It needs to happen. And with Cap taking off with two thirds of the planet side avengers to Canada it means Bucky's just going to be sulking in there. I'm bringing comic books, Peter's old gameboy, and an apple pie." Darcy looked at her. "And I never met my grandparents so I'm not one emotional twitch away from doing something super stupid."
Pepper stepped to her, her heels clicking. Reaching out she touched the side of her face. "Promise me you'll take Daisy with you."
"Oh my Thor that's hilarious. Yes, I will totally do that." Darcy ignored the implication she needed an enhanced bodyguard and not just Hunter. "You're brilliant Pep!"
////
Yuri knew something was wrong as soon as she opened her apartment door. Slowly pulling her service weapon out of her holster, she molded herself to the wall. The light in the kitchen was on. She was just coming around the corner when her gun was shoved up and then she was being slammed into a wall, gun twisted from her grip, and hand at her throat.
She opened her mouth to...she didn't know what only to still. "Quake."
"Detective Watanabe." Her voice was cold, her eyes colder as she stared at her. "You should get a better lock on your door." And then she dropped her.
Yuri rubbed at her throat. She glared at the retreating back of the hero. "Sure, why don't you just invite yourself in." She only slightly stomped as she shut her apartment door and followed Quake into her tiny dining room. Pausing she looked at the second person in her apartment. "You're that reporter."
"Amira Ahmed." The woman waved. "And good to know I'm not the only who has these idiots breaking into her apartment."
She let out a sound of pure frustration. "Is there a reason you're here or do I need to arrest you for breaking and entering?"
"I was putting it off, but since you decided to pull Spiderman in as your new enhanced partner it's time we talked." Quake pulled out three beers from the fridge, like it was her apartment the ass, and set them on the table.
Yuri crossed her arms. "Talk about what?"
"The Maggia crime syndicate." Quake's fingers twitched and the bottle caps landed on the table.
Amira took one of the beers. "I'm still chasing leads on the ATCU and their Hydra connections. I appreciate the invite, but I don't have the time to chase a whole new nest of monsters. I'm busy enough and I just found a connection between the ATCU and the Navy."
Yuri's breath was quick as she processed that. "The Maggia? How?"
"I did research on the police Spiderman and I were going to have to work with. Law enforcement and vigilantis don't have a historically good relationship. Nor does law enforcement have a good relationship with those of us from poor neighborhoods." Quake shot her a glare daring her to argue.
Yuri pulled a chair out and took a seat. "You know about my father then?"
"That he was as dirty as they come and on the Maggia payroll? Yeah." Quake took a drink from her beer. "But that's not the only thing I found. You've gotten a negative reputation with your superiors. You got that reputation for the right reasons though. Hardline stance on corruption, organized crime, etc. And good enough your brass just keep passing you off instead of firing you."
She grabbed the offered beer. "So what, you think you can blackmail me?"
"Nope. I'm offering to help you bring down the Maggia." Quake replied dryly. "Also why would I bring a reporter to a blackmailing?"
Yuri took a drink. "You blackmail people often then?"
"Former SHIELD." Quake waved at herself. "I've done a lot worse than blackmail."
Amira looked between then. "I'm sorry, clearly I'm not going to be particularly useful with this venture. But do you have to threaten each other?"
"Sorry." Quake's mouth tightened slightly. "You don't take Spiderman as your only backup again and I take down your mafia for you."
"Deal." Yuri got the hostility. She'd gotten Quake's partner hurt, badly, on her watch. Why Quake was willing to go after the mafia she didn't know. Even the FBI didn't do much to curtail them. But she wasn't going to let a chance to have this kind of help slip by. "How do you think you can just hand me the Maggia?"
Quake took a swig, her body relaxing ever so slightly. "SHIELD spy, remember? I figure we do this the mostly legal way."
"What I don't know I can't arrest for." Yuri drummed her fingers on the table. "You mean it?"
She nodded. "I mean it. I figured once things had calmed down we'd help you take care of it. But if you're going to be dragging us in as your backup anyway? Well I'm more suited for your problems then Spiderman."
"Alright." Yuri got up and opened up her gun safe. Pulling out the files she stepped back to the kitchen table and dumped the stack on it. "This is what I have so far. Nothing actionable without warrants or actual support from my bosses. But I've been keeping an ear to the ground."
"Which you don't have." Quake finished for her opening up the top file and frowning as she looked through it. "We'll have to make sure the case we build is legal. But I'm technically a government consultant so that should help."
Amira spoke up. "I might be chasing other leads, but I can get you in contact with a reporter who can help. And one who's actually from New York."
"That would be helpful. We're also going to need to call in some other help if we want to do this without it spirling out of control." Yuri took control of the meeting. This was her project afterall. "The Maggia are led by Don Vicente Fortunato, but there are four other Don's in the organization. The one I'm worried about, and who will make your help incredibly valuable for," She gave a look at Quake, "Is Joseph Martello. But since he became enhanced they've been calling him Hammerhead."
Quake nodded. "I can handle him. He's not even that enhanced, they just replaced his skull with steel."
"You're willing to take down the families though? Because once you start you can't stop. They won't let you." Yuri looked at the vigilante/superhero sitting at her table. She saw nothing but resolve. Huh, they were going to do this then.
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