Marvel: Age of Hero

Sorry for having left this novel a bit aside. I had a lot of things to take care of, but I finally managed to get organized and, most importantly, finish one of my other stories (RTW), which now gives me more room to focus on this one.Starting next week, I'll be updating with 4 chapters per week, from Monday to Thursday.

I apologize for the pause, especially since I know many of you enjoy this story. I don't have much more to add—just that I hope you enjoy this chapter.

...

Owen sat seemingly calm, even as chaos reigned throughout the base. Everyone was searching for Barton, as if they could find him just by wishing hard enough. But Owen already knew how it would all end.

After living so long in this world, his memories had begun to blur. Some moments he remembered with clarity; others were little more than distant echoes. Yet there were events he knew for certain had to happen—inevitable, fixed, like anchor points in a timeline that allowed no deviation. The Chitauri invasion. The convergence that would not only unite the Avengers but also open the gates to even greater threats.

Still, many things had already changed. And yet... the key events kept unfolding.

That idea haunted him. Canon events. Was it some kind of invisible law of the universe? Something that had to happen, no matter the variables?

At times, he thought about the TVA. Why hadn't they erased him? Why hadn't that old man with the cruel gaze and staff appeared? He knew he didn't belong in this world… and yet, he remained. There were races, entities, even technologies capable of eliminating anomalies like him. But none had come for him.

There was only one explanation—a hypothesis that grew stronger with each passing day, as his power increased: Owen was part of this universe. And everything he did… was legal.

"What are you thinking about?" asked Nicolás, munching on a bag of berries he had stolen from Tony's lab. He was sitting beside Owen, legs lazily propped up on the table.

Owen turned his head toward him with a faint smile. "Wanna play a game?"

Nicolás raised an eyebrow. "What kind of game?"

Owen tapped a floating screen. A holographic image appeared before them: the security camera feed from Loki's cell. Natasha Romanoff was walking toward a chair placed right in front of the reinforced glass.

"You're about to witness a masterclass in performance. Let's bet… how long do you think our lovely spy will take to outwit the God of Lies himself?"

At that, Ororo, Jean, Thor, and General Nathaniel all gathered with interest. Even Thor frowned, intrigued.

"Are you joking? It's Loki! When we were kids, he put a snake in my bed... and the next day, he convinced me I'd probably eaten her eggs for breakfast."

A heavy silence followed.

"You actually believed that?" Nicolás asked, barely holding back laughter.

Everyone burst out laughing as Thor grunted in embarrassment.

"Quiet..." Nathaniel murmured, raising a hand. "It's starting."

Everyone turned their eyes to the screen.

…

"What did you do to Agent Barton?" Natasha asked firmly.

Loki gave a faint smirk. "Let's just say… I've expanded his mind."

"And when you win—when you sit atop your throne—what happens to his mind then?"

"Oh… this is love, Agent Romanoff."

"Guilt isn't love. I owe him a debt."

"Then tell me."

"Long before I worked for S.H.I.E.L.D., I... had a reputation. I had very specific skills. And I didn't care how—or on whom—I used them. I did things S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't like. Barton was sent to kill me. But he made a different call."

"And what would you do if I offered to release him?"

"I doubt you could."

"No. But isn't it curious… your whole world hanging by a thread, and yet here you are—trying to save one man."

"Regimes rise and fall. Doesn't matter to me. I'm from Russia. Or… I was."

"And what are you now?"

"It's simple. I'm in the red with him. I need to balance the scales."

Loki narrowed his eyes with a cruel smile.

"And do you think you can repay all your debts, Natasha? Dreykov's daughter. São Paulo. The burning hospital. Barton told me everything. Your ledger isn't red… it's soaked in blood. And you think saving one man will change that? It's the most basic kind of sentimentality. You're a child, praying to gods. Pathetic."

He leaned toward the glass, eyes burning.

"You lie and you kill. You serve liars and killers. You pretend to have a code—something to balance the horrors. But the horrors are part of you. And you'll never forget them."

Suddenly, he slammed his hand against the glass, the sound echoing through the cell.

"I won't touch Barton. Not yet. First, I'll make him kill you. Slowly. Intimately. I'll wake him up just long enough to see what he's done. And when he screams, I'll shatter his skull. That is my gift to you, cowardly little insect."

"...You're a monster."

"Oh no… you brought the monster."

For a long moment, silence thickened like a fog.

And then, Natasha raised her eyes. The terror vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating calm. A barely noticeable smile tugged at her lips.

"Right... Banner," she said in a low, knowing voice.

Loki frowned.

"What… what did you say?"

"He's your plan, isn't he?"

"What did you say?" Loki asked again, confused.

"Well, sorry to break it to you, but that won't work anymore. We've got a telepath on the team. She pulled out whatever you put in Barton's head. You're not as unpredictable as you think."

She sighed. She had suspected it from the beginning. Now it was confirmed.

But then… another realization struck her. Something far worse.

She turned to the earpiece. "He's planning to attack the Helicarrier," she said calmly.

Before leaving, she cast one last look at Loki. Not of hatred. Not of fear.

But of understanding. Of victory.

"Thank you for your cooperation," she said softly, then walked away from the cell.

…

"Looks like the God of Lies just got deceived," Owen commented with a mocking grin, resting his elbows on his knees as he glanced at Thor. "I don't know what currency they use in Asgard, but you might want to find an exchange booth to give me ten dollars."

Thor snorted, crossing his arms and looking away.

"Who else bet that the lovely spy would come out on top?" Owen asked, scanning the room with a triumphant look.

Tony raised his hand without even looking up, followed shortly by Banner.

"Tsk," Nicolás clicked his tongue, annoyed at losing the bet.

Just then, the door opened, and Natasha stepped inside, right behind Fury. Everyone turned to look at her—as if she were an actress returning to the stage after a flawless performance.

"A round of applause from the audience!" Tony announced with a smile, and several light claps followed. Natasha, however, looked completely bewildered by the scene.

"What the hell are you all doing?" Fury growled, visibly irritated. "Shouldn't you be out there looking for the cube?"

"That's exactly what we're doing," Banner replied calmly, pointing to one of the screens. "If the cube shows up, the system will alert us immediately."

"You'll get your cube back—no fuss, no drama," Tony added, swiveling toward another monitor. "But since we're already here… what exactly is Phase Two?"

At that moment, Steve walked in with firm steps, carrying a pair of oddly designed weapons in his arms. He dropped them heavily on the table.

"Looks like General Nathaniel wasn't lying," he said seriously. "Though I had my doubts. S.H.I.E.L.D. is building weapons using the cube's energy."

"Rogers…" Fury started, trying to explain. "Gathering everything related to the cube doesn't mean—"

"That you were lying to me," Tony cut in sharply, activating his interface.

Suddenly, all the monitors around them lit up, displaying blueprints for advanced weaponry. Secret projects. Prototypes of mass destruction. But what truly disturbed them was what lay hidden between the lines: analysis reports on how these weapons could affect Jotun… mutants… and even Hulk.

Owen narrowed his eyes. Phase Two was supposed to be about defense. But this—this went far beyond that. One of the files detailed experiments on Jotun biological tissue. How was that even possible? Had they managed to steal a corpse after the war?

They were supposed to intercept that truck. Then again… it was Fury. The man always had contingency plans.

Even Nathaniel frowned.

Ororo and Jean visibly tensed, their breathing growing shallow. And for just a second, Banner let Hulk peer through his gaze. Just a second.

Thor stepped closer, visibly affected, and stared at a schematic showing an energy weapon tested on the frozen skin of a Frost Giant.

Nathaniel took a single step back.

"We're leaving," he said, his voice so deep and commanding that the air itself seemed to vibrate. "From this point on, V.I.T.A.E. will act independently. We don't need S.H.I.E.L.D.—not if they're developing weapons to destroy us."

Without another word, he turned and walked out.

Owen shot a cold glance at Fury and followed his commander without hesitation. One by one, the rest of the group followed. Jean. Tony. Ororo. Nicolás. Even Thor walked out without a word.

"You're welcome to join us, Rogers," Banner said, closing his laptop and sliding it into his backpack.

Steve said nothing. He looked at Fury for a long moment… then turned and walked after the others.

Fury was left behind.

Alone… except for Natasha.

No one asked for explanations. No one expected them. Maybe, Fury thought, it was just his paranoia. But who in their right mind would accept weapons being developed against their own allies?

What if those weapons fell into the wrong hands?

What if they already had?

After all… S.H.I.E.L.D. was crawling with spies.

…

Outside, a violent wind whipped against them, but Jean blocked it effortlessly, projecting a psionic field that allowed the team to move forward without flinching.

"Did you bring it?" Nathaniel asked, not looking back.

Owen raised a black suitcase, amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Always prepared," he said with a crooked grin.

They all boarded the V.I.T.A.E. aircraft, which sat ready with its engines humming. As they entered, Owen paused for a moment at the ramp and glanced at the sky.

A S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft streaked overhead.

And for a split second, Owen saw him—Barton, perched high above, his bow drawn and aimed directly at the Helicarrier. He was smiling.

Owen spun around.

"Move! Let's go!" he called out, urging the others inside.

"What about Loki?" Thor asked seriously as he took his seat.

"Don't worry. He'll be free soon enough," Owen replied, dropping the suitcase beside him. Ororo took the controls and launched the aircraft.

Seconds later, an explosion thundered behind them. Everyone turned instinctively.

Steve stood from his seat, concern etched across his face.

"Relax," said Tony with a wave of his hand. "They've got emergency pods. The agents will be fine. But they're about to lose one very expensive toy."

"The Helicarrier attack…" Banner murmured. "General, did you know this would happen?"

"Of course," Nathaniel replied flatly. "But if Fury had shown even a shred of honesty… maybe you would've saved the place," he added.

"If Loki escapes again, it'll be chaos," Steve said, visibly tense.

"Don't worry, Captain," Owen said as he opened the suitcase. Inside, secured in a containment capsule, was Loki's scepter. "Without this… he'll have to come to us."

The V.I.T.A.E. aircraft soared away into the skies. Behind them, the Helicarrier—its turbine engulfed in flames—began its descent toward the ocean, like a wounded titan falling from the heavens.