Combustion ✦ STEVE ROGERS² [✓]

09 | THE VISION

KATO STORMED INTO AVENGERS TOWER BEHIND STEVE, WITH LUCA AND THE MAXIMOFF TWINS RIGHT AT HER HEELS.

Steve had filled Kato in on what happened. Wanda had seen Ultron's plan to destroy the world, and so she and her brother had turned on him, aiding in the fight in Oslo. But, when the twins arrived at the tower with them, Wanda had told them why they shouldn't have given the Cradle to Tony.

"He will do anything to make things right," she'd said. "Ultron can't tell the difference between saving the world and destroying it. Where do you think he gets that?"

They heard voices as they neared the lab.

"You have got to upload that schematic in the next three minutes," Bruce was saying.

Kato, Steve, Luca, and the twins barged into the lab, where they found Tony and Bruce desperately trying to do something to the A.I. body that was contained within the Cradle.

"I'm gonna say this once," Steve snapped.

Tony looked at him. "How about 'nonce'?"

"Shut it down, Tony!" Kato shouted.

"Nope, not gonna happen," Tony said, shaking his head.

"You don't know what you're doing," Steve said.

"And you do?" Bruce asked, then pointed to Wanda and added, "She's not in your head?"

Wanda stepped out from behind Luca. "I know you're angry," she began.

Bruce scoffed dryly, rolling his eyes. "Oh, we're way past that. I could choke the life out of you and never change a shade."

Luca put one arm out in front of Wanda and the other in front of Kato, seeming to be ready to protect them both from Bruce. Though Wanda looked surprised but grateful, Kato had to withhold a scoff. Luca knew she could take care of herself. And besides, being in the sunlight had fully healed her shoulder. As far as Kato was concerned, she was completely fine.

Steve looked at the Doctor, shaking his head. "Banner, after everything that's happened-"

"That's nothing compared to what's coming!" Tony retorted.

"You don't know what's in there!" Wanda told the billionaire.

"This isn't a game-"

"The creature-"

Suddenly a silver streak sped around the lab. It was Pietro, destroying all the lab equipment and pulling all the plugs and cords out of the Cradle before giving the group a nonchalant shrug.

"No, no," Pietro said, dropping the last plug. "Go on. You were saying?"

Then, out of nowhere, a single gunshot rang out from below him. Pietro looked down, fear flooding his features when he heard the glass floor cracking underneath his feet. Then, the floor shattered, and he fell through, revealing it to be Clint who had fired the gun.

"Pietro!" Wanda cried.

Clint pinned Pietro down with his foot and then smirked down at him. "What? You didn't see that coming?"

Tony's computer beeped, and he turned to the machine before saying, "I'm rerouting the upload."

Kato's eyes narrowed. Yeah, not gonna happen.

Frantically, Steve threw his shield at Tony, and the weapon ricocheted around the room before flying off to the side. Tony quickly armored up his hand and fired a blast at Steve in retaliation, sending him flying. Kato charged at Tony in response, but then he armored up his chest and fired from that, blasting Kato away from him. She landed on her back, skidding across the floor, and she looked up as Bruce quickly slid behind Wanda as she tried to help, wrapping his arm around the Sokovian girl's neck in a headlock.