Leaving Earth Part 1

William's body floated effortlessly, his feet lifting from the ground as though the very air beneath him had surrendered. He held his gaze steady, unwavering, locking eyes with Fury below. The weight of their unspoken words hung heavy in the space between them, a silent battle of wills. There was no need for further gestures or words, William's steady ascent made his resolve clear.

The hum of his energy vibrated through the air, a subtle, yet undeniable presence. He didn't flinch, didn't break the intense stare that challenged Fury without uttering a single word. His ship, hidden in the sky, awaited him like a silent predator, waiting to reclaim its master. Slowly, deliberately, William ascended, his eyes never leaving Fury's, as if daring him to look away.

With a resounding thud, the doors to the ship slammed shut, their metallic echo reverberating through the air. The heavy sound seemed to carry with it a finality, sealing William's departure in a way that left the air thick with a mixture of tension and relief. Below, the crowd that had gathered exhaled collectively, as if the very act of William leaving lifted a weight from their shoulders.

But the peace was short-lived.

Carol's fists clenched, her jaw tight with fury. Fury's cool detachment and the situation's unresolved tension gnawed at her, the frustration simmering beneath the surface. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. She couldn't just let it slide. William's decision, his cold, calculated departure, it stung more than she wanted to admit.

Without a word, she shot into the air, her body slicing through the sky with raw, unchecked energy. The invisible ship was already moving, its sleek, hidden form gliding over the skyline of New York, carrying William farther from the scene. But Carol wouldn't let him slip away so easily.

Her fury was a silent scream, pushing her faster, higher, as she followed the ship's path, determined to catch up. The city beneath her seemed oblivious, its streets unaware of the invisible forces now in play above them. The ship and Carol were hidden in plain sight, mere shadows against the sprawling cityscape. Still, Carol's mind burned with the need for confrontation.

Below, Fury turned on his heel, his back now to the departing ship. His eyes, normally so calculating, were masked with an unreadable expression.

As Fury made his way back into the base, he was followed by Steve Rogers. Steve's face was tight with frustration, his usual calm shattered. The bright, almost reflective surface of his shield was a stark contrast to the look of anger etched into his features. The scar across it was a fresh reminder of the battle that had just transpired, a mark of something more personal than just a fight.

"I'm not done with this," Steve muttered under his breath, though Fury didn't need to hear the words to understand the weight of his meaning. The shield had been more than just a symbol of protection, it had been damaged, an affront to Steve's very identity.

Fury didn't respond. His eyes remained focused ahead, and though his expression was calm, there was an unspoken understanding between them: the situation was far from over, and the road ahead was filled with uncertainties.

As they entered the base, the hum of activity resumed around them, but the tension was far from gone. The echoes of William's departure and Carol's pursuit lingered in the air, thickening the atmosphere with the promise of more to come.

The hum of the ship's engines vibrated through the sleek, polished metal interior as William sat in the captain's chair, his eyes fixed on the distant silhouette of his mansion. The ship moved effortlessly through the sky, cutting through the air with a quiet grace that reflected its pilot's control over it. William, though physically relaxed, had the kind of focus that could cut through any distraction, his mind running over the events that had unfolded, even as the landscape below passed by like a blur.

There was something undeniably cold about the way he operated, calm, collected, and detached. Yet, beneath that, there was always the hum of readiness. His grip on the chair tightened slightly, his thoughts flickering to what awaited him when he landed. Whatever it was, he was ready.

Meanwhile, far below, Peter Parker was just unwinding after another grueling day of swinging through the streets of New York. He had barely let his body relax before his Spidey senses flared, sharp, almost painfully so. It wasn't the usual, tingling warning of a small threat in the area. No, this was different. It was a deep, unsettling hum, the kind that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, telling him that something huge was coming.

Peter didn't hesitate. His body moved on instinct, shifting from exhaustion to alertness in a heartbeat. His fingers gripped the edge of his bed frame as he grabbed the new suit Tony Stark had built for him, a gift, though it felt more like a necessity at this point. It was made from strange, nearly indestructible materials, the fabric glinting in the low light of his room. He knew that Stark had woven something special into it, something that made it nearly as durable as adamantium, though Peter couldn't quite identify the second metal. Vibranium, maybe? Whatever it was, it hummed with an alien energy, an energy that told Peter he was about to face something much bigger than usual.

Pulling on the suit, he was quick but careful, every movement deliberate as he adjusted the fit. His mind raced, trying to pinpoint the exact source of the unease that was building in his chest.

The second he was finished, he moved toward the window, throwing it open and hoisting himself onto the ledge of the third floor. The night air rushed at him, cool against his skin, but it did little to ease the tension knotting his stomach. His senses were on high alert as he crawled along the side of the building with the fluidity of a spider on a web. His eyes darted across the darkened skyline, scanning for any sign of danger. The feeling hadn't gone away.

Something was coming.

Reaching a perch on the far side of the house, Peter crouched low, his back pressed against the cold stone of the wall. His eyes narrowed, trying to catch even the faintest movement in the distance, but the night remained eerily quiet. There was nothing, yet that sense of dread still lingered, crawling beneath his skin.

Then it happened.

RUMBLE.

The ground beneath him seemed to shudder as if the very earth had been displaced. Peter's stomach dropped, and for a split second, he almost lost his balance, his legs shaking with the force of the tremor. The air itself felt thick, charged, as though something immense was descending from the sky.

And then he saw it.

A massive shadow fell over the house, blocking out the stars. The sleek, monstrous silhouette of a ship filled the sky, its engines thrumming powerfully as it made its descent. Peter's eyes widened as he realized the ship was coming in fast, too fast, too large to fit in the confines of the yard. It barely made it, but its landing was precise, the ground shuddering once more under its immense weight.

For a moment, Peter simply froze, his breath caught in his throat as he assessed the situation. Then, without wasting any time, he swung to the other side of the house. His movements were instinctual, his body moving through the air with a fluid grace, landing softly on the roof of the opposite side. His eyes searched the horizon, then quickly snapped to the landing zone.

The ship's doors hissed open with a mechanical whine, and through the dim lighting, a familiar figure emerged. A figure that sent a jolt of recognition straight through Peter's chest. His heart skipped, his pulse quickening as the figure's identity became clear.

William.

Peter's eyes narrowed as he watched his brother descend from the ship, his posture as confident and collected as ever. But Peter didn't hesitate, there was no room for suspicion, no time for confusion. His legs tensed, and with a single, powerful push, he launched himself from the rooftop, swinging toward the figure with all the force of a lightning strike.

In an instant, Peter reached him, wrapping his arms around William in a tight, almost desperate hug. It wasn't just a greeting, it was relief. Peter didn't care that they had only just reunited after so much time apart. What mattered was that his brother was here. Safe. And that meant everything.

"Glad to see you made it back in one piece," Peter muttered, his voice thick with a mix of relief and affection as he pulled back slightly, eyes still locked on William's. 

The soft, rhythmic patter of their footsteps echoed through the mansion's grand entrance as William and Peter walked side by side. The tall, imposing doors closed behind them, muffling the sounds of the outside world. For a brief moment, there was an unusual stillness, broken only by the faint hum of the mansion's inner workings. The weight of everything that had happened hung in the air, but it was a comforting weight, one that spoke of family, of home.

As they made their way through the hall, the distinct sound of laughter reached their ears, and soon after, a squeal, a high-pitched, unmistakable giggle that only Harley Quinn could produce.

Ekon, you little rascal, William thought with a smile tugging at his lips. The mischievous sounds of Harley chasing her puppy echoed through the halls, the playful energy filling the mansion with a sense of warmth. The chaotic but joyful noise was one William had grown accustomed to, and it was one he realized he missed more than he cared to admit.

He quickened his pace, his smile widening, and before Peter could react, William had crossed the distance and was wrapping his arms around Harley from behind in a warm embrace.

"MMM I missed you!" William said, his voice low, genuine, and full of affection.

Harley froze for a split second, her bright blue eyes widening in surprise. But it was only a moment before her lips curled into that familiar mischievous grin. Her face flushed a soft, rosy red, an expression of both surprise and delight. She tilted her head back, her hair cascading over her shoulders, and cooed in that distinct, teasing tone.

"Puddin' hehehe!" she purred, leaning back into his embrace.

William chuckled, his arms tightening briefly around her. There was a comfort in it, a connection that spoke volumes in the silent moments they shared. The chaos and unpredictability of their relationship was something he had grown to treasure, even in its more unexpected, chaotic moments.

Peter, on the other hand, watched the reunion with a quiet, amused expression. His hand instinctively moved to unfasten his suit, peeling away the layers of advanced technology that Stark had designed. As the suit came off, William's eyes caught something that immediately snapped his attention away from Harley.

A faint glow from Peter's wrist.

It wasn't the subtle hum of something familiar. No, this was different. A sharp, unnatural glow that made William's eyes narrow into thin slits, focusing intently on the bracelet that seemed to pulse with energy. His breath hitched for a split second, and without hesitation, he moved toward Peter. The joviality that had filled his face moments before vanished, replaced with a growing concern.

Peter didn't notice his brother's shift in mood at first, too focused on the act of removing his suit. But then, the grip on his wrist was unmistakable. William's hand wrapped around his arm, steady but firm, the look on his face one of rare intensity.

Peter looked up, startled by the weight of the concern in William's gaze. There was a sharpness to it, a protective edge that made Peter pause, something he hadn't seen in his brother for a while.

"What's up, William?" Peter asked, his voice a little quieter now, sensing the change in atmosphere.

William didn't release his hold, his fingers tightening slightly as he studied the glowing bracelet. His voice was calm but laced with something more serious, something Peter hadn't expected.

"They arrived shortly after the law passed, and I didn't exactly have a choice… being a citizen," William explained, his tone almost flat, but there was a tremor of unease beneath it.

Peter felt the weight of his words, but what stood out was the hidden meaning behind them. The law? The arrival of something... or someone? And the choice being taken out of his hands? It sent an uncomfortable ripple through Peter's chest.

His mind quickly worked through the possibilities, and with a sinking feeling, he realized that whatever this glowing bracelet was, it wasn't something that was meant to be worn lightly. The casualness of the explanation didn't match the gravity of the situation. William was concerned, deeply so, and that fact alone sent a cold shiver through Peter.

Without another word, William's eyes flickered toward Harley for a moment, a silent acknowledgment between them. She seemed to sense the change in the air as well, her playful demeanor shifting into a more alert stance as she watched her two companions closely.

Peter turned his wrist slightly, glancing at the glowing bracelet with furrowed brows. "It's not… bad, is it?"

William didn't answer immediately, his gaze intense and calculating. The weight of the situation hung in the air like a storm cloud, and for a brief moment, the mansion seemed quieter, more solemn.

"Not yet," William said, the words heavy with a mixture of caution and uncertainty.