🖤EMERGE🖤

Chapter 5

I staggered backward, clutching my pounding head, my heart slamming against my ribs like it was trying to escape. In an instant, the blinding flashes were gone-and I was back in the compound. The heavy thrum of raised voices crashed into my ears. Dad, Steve and Fury were locked in a brutal shouting match that threatened to explode into something far worse.

My vision sharpened just in time to catch Thor's voice slicing through the chaos, a low growl of disdain. "You speak of control, yet you court chaos," he thundered, his presence like a crack of lightning cutting through the suffocating air.

Banner stood taut, like a fraying wire ready to snap. His voice, strained but fighting to stay even, answered, "It's his M.O., isn't it? What are we, really? A team?" He gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "No. We're a chemical cocktail set to ignite. We're a damn time bomb."

Nearly everyone in the room shifted nervously, exchanging glances, but no one dared move. Someone murmured, "You need to step away, Dr. Banner?" -a frail suggestion that was swallowed whole by the thick tension.

Dad, ever the instigator, slung an arm lazily over Steve's broad shoulders, mockery dripping from his voice. "Why shouldn't the guy let off a little steam?"

Steve shrugged him off violently, and the motion snapped the last fraying thread between them. They squared off like gladiators, battle-hardened and furious. "You know damn well why!" Steve roared, his voice vibrating in my bones. "Back the hell off!" 

I grabbed at Dad's arm, desperation clawing up my throat. "Dad, come on. Stop it-" But he jerked away, his face hard and savage.

"Oh, I'm starting to want your lover boy here to make me," Dad snarled.

The air crackled dangerously.

Steve stepped closer, eyes flashing ice. "Big man in a suit of armor. Take that away, what are you?"

Dad smirked, all ego and defiance. "Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist," he fired off, each word a bullet.

I lunged to pull Steve back, my nails digging into his arm, but he ripped free from my grasp. 

"Get off of me!" Steve barked, his anger flashing hot enough to scald.

Dad's face darkened. "Hey-don't you dare talk to her like that!" His voice a lethal whipcrack across the room.

Steve didn't even blink. "I know men with none of your charm or money who are worth ten of you," he spat. "I've seen the footage. You're no hero. You only fight for yourself. Hell, your daughter's got more guts than you'll ever have-at least she fights for something bigger than herself!" 

Dad stiffened, rage vibrating off him in tangible waves. His voice was low, lethal. "I think I'd just cut the wire."

Steve laughed bitterly, like the sound of shattering glass. "Always looking for the easy way out. You're not a threat, Stark. Just stop pretending you're a damn hero."

Dad's hands curled into fists. "A hero? You think you're one? You're just a lab rat, Rogers. Everything special about you came out of a goddamn bottle."

The room vibrated with unspoken violence as Steve leaned in, chest heaving. "Put on the suit. Let's go a few rounds," he growled.

Thor's booming laugh rumbled around us. "You people are so petty... and so tiny." 

Dad exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. The whole room was seconds from detonation, the pressure unbearable.

"Yeah, this is a team..." Dad muttered under his breath, voice thick with contempt.

Fury cut in sharply. "Agent Romanoff, escort Dr. Banner back to his-"

"Where?" Banner cut him off, turning toward us. His eyes were wide, wild. "You rented my room."