Chapter 78

As they arrived in New York, Nina and Peter were met with the aftermath of what was clearly a titanic struggle. The devastation was evident, stretching across what used to be Krieger's new project site. It was a day later that they managed to find Miles, and Nina sent him a quick message.

"Miles, meet us on the roof. We need to talk."

Nina paced back and forth on the rooftop, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, while Peter stood beside her, concern etched onto his features. As Miles came into view, both of them turned to face him.

"Hey guys," Miles started nervously, "I guess you've seen..."

"What happened?" Nina interrupted sharply, her gaze piercing.

"Right," Miles stammered, "Well, umm... So, there was this group called the Underground, led by... my friend, Phin. And they were trying to take down Roxxon because... because of what Nuform did to her brother. Things escalated, there was this fight... and..."

"And?" Nina prompted, her tone stern.

"...And I had to stop her. She was gonna blow up the reactor, it would've taken out the whole of Harlem. I... I didn't know what else to do," Miles finished, looking down at his feet.

Peter stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on the young Spider-Man's shoulder. "Hey, it sounds like you did what you had to do, Miles," he said softly, "And it seems like you did a good job. You saved Harlem."

Nina took a moment, taking a deep breath to calm herself before speaking, "I am not pleased with you going into this without letting us know, Miles. But, I also see that you managed. You made tough calls, you stepped up... just like a real hero." Her tone was softer now, even carrying a hint of pride.

"And... a lot of people saw my face," Miles blurted out, looking anywhere but at Nina and Peter. "My mom knows who I am."

Peter was about to say something, but Nina beat him to it, "What?!" she exploded, her eyes wide. "Miles, do you have any idea how dangerous that is? Especially for someone like you, who has people close to him? Any one of those people could spill and put your mom, or your friend Ganke, in danger!"

"Nina, calm down," Peter tried to soothe, holding up his hands, "We'll figure this out."

"No, Peter, I can't calm down!" Nina shot back, "This is serious. This is a kid's life we're talking about!" She shook her head, rubbing her temples, "...I'll be at the apartment."

"Nina, wait..." Peter started but she had already turned, her jet boots flaring as she shot off into the city.

Peter turned to Miles, sighing deeply. "Miles," he started, his voice calm but serious, "Nina's just... she's worried about you. We both are."

"I know," Miles replied, his voice small, "I just... I didn't mean for it to happen."

"I know, Miles," Peter nodded, placing a hand on Miles's shoulder, "Just remember, you've got people looking out for you. You don't have to do this alone."

"I'll remember that, Peter," Miles nodded, a small, determined smile playing on his lips, "I promise."

Peter landed smoothly on the balcony of Nina's apartment, the city lights providing a soft glow behind him. He pushed open the glass door and found Nina sitting on the couch, her arms crossed and a worried expression on her face.

"Nina," Peter said softly, moving towards her, "We need to talk about this."

"I know," she replied, her voice strained, "I'm just...worried, Peter."

"We all are," Peter assured her, taking a seat beside her on the couch, "But we need to trust Miles, just like we trust each other."

A silence fell between them, before Nina finally nodded, "I suppose you're right."

Four weeks had passed since the incident in Harlem, and Miles had quickly adapted to his new circumstances. With the damning evidence against Krieger made public by Aaron Davis, the Roxxon CEO was arrested and Miles' life started to regain some semblance of normalcy. Peter couldn't help but admire Miles' new suit.

"I like it, Miles," Peter grinned, "Some parts of the job get easier, huh?"

"Yeah," Miles nodded, "But some parts... they're still difficult."

"That's why we're here," Peter assured him, "And remember, no one goes unchecked. That's part of our oath now."

One evening, as Peter and Nina were snuggled up on the couch, engrossed in a movie, Nina's phone buzzed on the coffee table. She picked it up to see Steve's name flashing on the screen.

"Steve?" Nina answered, pressing the phone to her ear, her eyes still on the screen.

"Nina, we have a critical mission," Steve's voice came over the line, "We need you."

Peter looked at Nina, concern lining his face, as she nodded, "Okay, Steve. I'm on my way."

***

Upon entering the Avengers Tower, the metallic clank of Nina's armor echoed through the space, drawing the attention of her fellow Avengers. Tony, being Tony, was the first to comment.

"Finally decided to join us, huh? Too busy playing house with web-boy?" Tony teased, a playful grin on his face.

"Hey, at least I'm not living in my girlfriend's shadow," Nina shot back with a smirk, glancing pointedly at the pictures of Pepper Potts scattered around the room. Tony pretended to be hurt, clutching his chest dramatically.

"Low blow, Ivy, low blow," he said, though the smirk on his face indicated he was far from offended.

Steve, ever the voice of reason, cleared his throat and drew everyone's attention to the table where holographic images were being displayed. "Alright, let's focus. We've got a mission. A big one."

The holograms shifted to display a base in Sokovia, with the Scepter glowing ominously in the center.

"We've tracked down the Scepter. The one Loki used during the Chitauri Invasion," Steve began, his expression grave. "It's currently in the hands of Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, one of HYDRA's big players. He's been using the energy from the Scepter to power some seriously advanced weaponry and has been experimenting on humans, trying to give them... abilities."

Murmurs echoed around the room, but Steve raised a hand for silence.

"Our mission is simple. We infiltrate the base, destroy it, and capture the Scepter. We can't allow HYDRA to continue using it."

He looked around the room, meeting the eyes of his fellow Avengers. "We've got a big fight ahead of us. Let's get ready."

***

Beneath the blackened night sky of Eastern Europe, the Avengers assembled, each figure a silhouette against the dark backdrop. In a stark contrast, the Hydra base was lit up with artificial light, stark and foreboding against the inky darkness. It was an ominous spectacle, a foretelling of the battle to come.

Iron Man and Nina took to the sky first, their powered suits roaring into action. From above, they looked like two comets, a streak of red and a streak of green cutting through the darkness. They launched a pre-emptive attack, their advanced weaponry lighting up the sky with brilliant flashes of energy that left the Hydra soldiers scrambling. Their attack was calculated, each move designed to create an opening for the ground assault.

On the ground, Captain America, Thor, and Hulk advanced. Cap, his shield in hand, led the charge, his strategic mind working overtime as he spotted vulnerabilities in the enemy line. Beside him, Thor wielded Mjolnir with devastating efficiency, the God of Thunder living up to his title as he summoned lightning to strike their adversaries. Hulk, on the other hand, was pure raw power. His roars echoed across the field as he tore through the Hydra soldiers with a terrifying strength.

Covering their rear were Black Widow and Hawkeye, their long-ranged attacks providing crucial support. Black Widow, agile and deadly, picked off enemies with her twin pistols while moving fluidly to avoid incoming fire. Hawkeye, with his unerring aim, launched arrow after arrow, each finding its mark with lethal precision.

Despite their might, the Hydra soldiers were numerous and well-equipped. The Avengers were met with fierce resistance as they pushed towards the heart of the base. Enemy fire lit up the sky and the earth trembled under the force of the battle. But the Avengers were unyielding, their resolve unbreakable. Each member of the team trusted in their comrades, their unity making them a formidable force.

As the first light of dawn started to paint the sky with hues of pink and orange, a new challenge emerged on the battlefield. From the heart of the Hydra base, two figures emerged, their presence a stark contrast to the soldiers they commanded. They were Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, the enhanced twins who had survived exposure to the scepter's energy.

Pietro, a blur of blue as he moved with superhuman speed, was a force of nature. He moved with an agility that was almost impossible to follow, his swift strikes landing before they could even be seen. He seemed to be everywhere at once, a relentless hurricane of motion that left the Avengers struggling to anticipate his next move.

Wanda, on the other hand, was a spectacle of power. She was a storm of raw energy, her psionic abilities manifesting as a glowing, crimson force that pulsed around her. She manipulated this energy with a frightening precision, launching psionic blasts that sent soldiers flying and shielded her brother from incoming attacks.

The twins were formidable opponents, their powers allowing them to hold their own against the Avengers. But the heroes were not deterred, their determination never wavering even in the face of this new challenge.

Seeing Hawkeye struggling against Pietro's swift assault, Nina dropped down from her aerial position to lend him support. She met the speedster's rapid assault with her own barrage of attacks, her advanced suit enhancing her physical capabilities. It was a high-speed game of cat and mouse, each strike, dodge and parry executed with lightning-fast reflexes.

Despite their speed and agility, Pietro and Nina's battle was brutal, the impact of their attacks echoing across the battlefield. But as the sky lightened, the tide of the battle shifted. The Avengers managed to capture Strucker, pulling the reins of the battle into their hands.

Yet, even with Strucker's capture, the twins didn't yield, their resolve as steadfast as the Avengers'.

Inside the Hydra base, Tony Stark finally laid eyes on the scepter, its alien energy pulsating with a foreboding glow. He reached out to take it when he felt a sudden jolt, a surge of energy that sent him spiraling into a terrifying vision.

He saw the Avengers fallen, their lifeless forms scattered across a desolate battlefield. The sight was horrific enough, but it was the sight of a larger Chitauri invasion on Earth that made Stark's blood run cold. It was a world ravaged and desolate, the result of a battle lost.

His friends... His comrades, dead or dying. Stark was no stranger to fear, but the sheer terror of that moment was something he hadn't felt in a long time. When he returned to reality, he was still standing in front of the scepter, but everything had changed.

Looking up, he found himself staring into the vivid green eyes of Wanda Maximoff. He didn't need to ask to know she was the cause of his nightmarish vision. There was an unsettling satisfaction in her gaze, a silent message that spoke volumes. And then, without a word, she stepped back, a silent concession allowing him and the Avengers to take the scepter.

Confused but compelled by his vision, Stark didn't hesitate to grab the scepter and signal for extraction. As the Avengers left the destroyed base, they watched as Wanda and her brother disappeared, swallowed by the ruins of what was once Hydra's stronghold.

With Strucker in their custody and the scepter in their possession, the Avengers had dealt a great blow to Hydra. The organization was in shambles, their once formidable power now a fractured mess. But as the dust settled, Stark could not shake off the haunting image of his vision. It was a threat... a warning of what was to come, and he was determined to prevent it at any cost.