Marvel: A Tale of Shadows

Only half an hour passed when there was knocking on the door. Felicia stood up and answered the door to see it was her father.

Walter's face lit up, "sweetie I-" Felicia ignored him as she grabbed the bags he was holding and walked back inside. Walter stood at the door confused for a moment, before he stepped in and closed the door. He looked around and saw the small shabby apartment. When he looked over and saw Felicia quickly unpack the bags he brought.

She brought one of the cups that were labeled with her name and smelled it, "mmm… caramel. It looks like they gave me an appetizer, those monte cristo things I love and a sampler plate. As for you two, one of you got an omelet while the other got 'funky monkey french toast' whatever that is."

Ethan raised his hand, "I will take the funky monkey french toast. What drinks did she send?"

"Hmm… my coffee. A watermelon juice that she marked with my name. An apple and orange juice as well." Felicia then sets the box with an omelet near Walter while pulling a fork out of one of the drawers. She also set the orange juice near him.

Ethan was putting the finishing touches on the second laptop. Then he turned to his food and started eating. While the computer started booting up there was a skeletal grim reaper swinging a scythe back and forth, it was the operating system he had designed. "So what type of place are you thinking of?" He asked.

Felicia seemed to think for a moment before she nodded her head. "I am thinking that I want a penthouse. Something with a view, as well as multiple stories. I will also want better security but I want it to be near campus."

Walter frowned when he heard this, "I doubt there is a place like-"

"Ah! I know a place, I can get you a spot." Ethan replied, interrupting Walter and surprising them both.

Felicia blinked in surprise, "cool."

Walter shook his head, deciding to ignore it for now. "Anyways, will one of you explain what happened last night? I saw the police cars around the sorority house."

Felicia flinched but grumbled, "well…" She then told him what happened last night.

—-----------------------------------

Meanwhile at Stark Industries Headquarters in New York.

"What do you mean you can not find him?" Tony Stark was screaming angrily into his phone. Pepper sat at the desk typing on her computer, frowning at Tony's outburst. "Detective Watanabe according to the police reports and the news reports he is three times the size of a normal human and armored to the teeth in technology and metal plates. How can you not find him? I did not think he would be hard to miss?"

Pepper continued typing on her computer. She at the moment was organizing reimbursements for the students since their technology was stolen in a Stark Industries facility. She also made sure to pay for Ethan's treatment, as well as a few minor injuries that occurred during the incident.

"The street cams don't show him on the system? Huh? Must be some type of cloaking tech the students had. I will look into it." Tony sounded more relaxed this time. Tony walked over to a laptop he had open and started looking through the file. "None the less the next time you hear about him send me the location. I am staying in New York for a few days so I should be able to help." He then hung up the phone.

"The treatment for the injured person has gone through, apparently he was in the hospital for only a day. But I am surprised you want to deal with this personally." Pepper continued typing, writing out memos and sending emails.

"Yeah I know but I don't like it when supervillains create themselves using tech made from something I helped achieve." Tony explained. "How is your friend doing?"

Pepper frowned, "from what I understand all you provided was the idea for the facility you barely did anything else. The only reason it got off the ground was because of me. So what are you really angry about?" Pepper asked, but this time she stopped typing and crossed her arms while she stared at him.

Tony smiled nervously then turned towards her, "okay so maybe I am angry that those guys came and screwed up your project. That… and it won't look good if some two-bit thug managed to break into a Stark facility even if it is a public place. It will look even worse if the thug managed to become a supervillain."

"Do you mean like Whiplash, Beetle, Chemistro, Boomerang, Stane with the Iron Monger armor, or how about Living Laser, Arthur Parks?" Pepper asked sarcastically as she started working again.

Tony grunted, "fine. You didn't say anything about your friend?" He started to look up the information on 'Spider-Man' who supposedly fought the Rhino.

"He's fine. He was only in the hospital for a day." Pepper explained, then she smirked as she thought of something. "And I didn't say he was a friend, I said an old acquaintance. But to be more accurate I would say he was more of a lover than anything else."

Tony stopped typing and whipped his head around to look at Pepper, "you? You had a lover?" Tony asked, genuinely surprised.

"Yes, and a very good one." Pepper leaned back in her chair and smiled, "hell, seeing him again makes us want to call him up to 'reminisce' about the old days." Tony was stunned and didn't know what to say but Pepper chuckled. "I am kidding. I got a chance to talk to him at the hospital. Apparently he is extremely happy in his current relationship, which is better than when I met with him last time. It was when he was dumped by his partner at the time."

Pepper seemed genuinely happy for a moment, "that's good." Tony stated, "you know with all these villains appearing there are also some heroes. Like this Spider-Man."

Pepper continued for him, "or the Incredible Hulk, Wasp also known as Hope van Dyne, the Mighty Thor who took down the wrecking crew in passing, I also heard that Reed and Susan have obtained powers."

Tony chuckled, "maybe I should-"

"Then there are the ones that popped up in New York alone, Iron Fist, DareDevil, Power Man also known as Luke Cage, Knightress also known as Jessica Jones, and now this the Spectacular Spider-Man." Pepper continued while making it a point that the majority have gathered in New York, "not to mention the X-Men and Xavier Institute. Honestly though it is kinda weird that the majority of them are gathering with New York as the focal point."

Tony laughed this time, "not as weird as you might think."

Pepper was confused, "what do you mean?"

"Don't you remember this is the city of new beginnings where people can start again." Tony explained, "but like you said that probably is not a good thing. Which is why I was thinking about making a team so the heroes are organized."

Pepper frowned, "will this be the latest Stark enterprise project?"

"Yes I am thinking of calling it… The Defenders of New York or maybe just Defenders." Tony explained, "not to mention we will be keeping Fury and his 'Avengers Initiative' idea in check."

Pepper shook her head, "are gathering groups like this the smartest idea?"

"No," Tony sighed, "which is why I am making a group that will work with the police, so the people feel they will have more control."

"Okay, well anyways. You can handle that project by yourself. I am kind of too busy with helping Xavier Institute with setting up programs that work with other schools." Pepper told him. "Not to mention blocking the sanctions from the government and giving money to the police so they don't mind your 'help' with the super criminals."

"Supervillains." Tony corrected her.

"I refuse to call them that." Pepper glared at him.

—--------------------------------------

At the same time at the Xavier Institute.

"Well there's that plan down the drain. I can't believe someone robbed that Stark thing. Thankfully our students had not set up their equipment yet." Scott voiced his annoyance.

"It isn't completely a disaster Mr. Summers. We still have the chess tournament. Which is one of the few activities we can participate in and not be advantaged in." The Professor explained.

"Mmm… about that professor, we have myself, Havok, and Forge as mentors but I am still worried." Jean told him. She had a feeling that something else was going on in the city, but it was just out of reach.

"I will ask Ms. Potts for help looking into security. But the tournament is in a month's time and it should be fine. Not to mention Scott, that the Stark facility will be back up and running so Forge's science, robotics, and technology club can go back there." Charles explained while moving his chair around the desk.

"But professor it isn't safe." Scott was on the verge of screaming, 'because all those normal humans are racist'.

"Logan can you go?" Charles asked Logan, a gruff and hairy looking canadian. "And Storm can you go with Forge and Havok when they go to the Stark facility. I have a feeling your Weather Sciences students can learn about some new technologies for studying if they go with them and talk to other schools." He told an African American woman with white flowing hair.

"I would be delighted and I am sure that Angelica, Jeffery, and Illyanna would love to go out." Ororo stated in a soothing voice.

"Fine but I still think this is a bad idea professor." Scott stated. He hated the idea of 'being normalized'.

—----------------------------------------

At an apartment across from a conspicuous warehouse.

"I thought I told Fury I wouldn't need any backup or help?" Steve told the three people that had unceremoniously joined him in the apartment.

"Oh I am just here to introduce myself, for the time being I will be your new contact at Shield. Big fan by the way." The man with a receding hairline offered his hand to shake and Steve accepted it, "my name is Phil Coulson."

The red haired woman waved at him, "I am Natasha, but I go by Nat or Black Widow." She had a Russian accent that sounded suppressed. She then continued setting up surveillance equipment.

The blonde haired man waved at him while he stowed what looked like a quiver of arrows by the door, "You can call me Hawkeye or Clint. Unfortunately that," He pointed at the conspicuous warehouse. "Became a target for Hydra. So now we have to at least watch it and be prepared to be involved."

Steve frowned then shrugged, "okay then in that case we can have one man shifts until someone a little too curious shows up." He then sat down at a table and started eating his sandwich.

Coulson shrugged and left. "I am heading out then, I will drop by every once in a while."

—---------------------------------------

At another apartment looking at the same warehouse.

"Silvermane really wants us to just sit and wait?" Grim Reaper asked in his gravelly voice while holding a pair of binoculars and looking at the warehouse.

"Yes, commander." A plain looking man responded. He looked average in just about every aspect.

Beetle shook his head while he was seated at a table playing blackjack with three of the other Hydra goons that were stationed with them.

—----------------------------------------

At an unnamed forest somewhere in a forest east of Russia.

"Are you certain Mystique?" A white haired man asked. He wore a red helmet on his head. The woman with blue skin and red hair nodded. "Very well, take Blob, Toad, and Pyro. I want you to break in and steal the data. More than likely you will clash with both Shield and Hydra, but the Brotherhood doesn't back down." She was dressed in white and black combat gear.

"Understood. But are you sure you don't want me to take Quicksilver as well?" Mystique asked. She was confused why she wouldn't bring one of the best people for a retrieval mission.

"It will take you roughly two weeks to get there and get prepared." Magneto told her, "I am having another team with Quicksilver go to Europe for something."

Mystique gave a slight bow and left. While Magneto was left to his thoughts.

—-----------------------------------------

In Asgard in a young man's room.

"This is a disaster waiting to happen, I can't let my moronic brother hold the throne in his current state. Even if I am adopted I should seize the throne so my adopted people won't suffer under the current crown prince's moronic rule." This black haired young man spoke in anger.

He sat at his desk and looked over some of his book that he uses for his magic as he looked he found a spell he could use. It would take some time to gather the resources needed. A pound of dirt from Midgard. The blood of the target. The bone of a human mutant. The silk of a spider weaver or the blood of two spider beings. The ashes of a murderer from a chosen place.

"The dirt, Thor's blood, and the ashes should be easy to obtain. As for the bone of a human mutant and silk of a spider weaver… ah looks like I will have to do research." The young man wrote down the information and went to the Great Library of Asgard.

When he went in he searched for the Midgardian Mutants and Spider Weaver. For the mutants there were several books. As for the Spider Weaver there was only a single book and it was locked away in a secure section and the only way to get access would be to get the King or Queen's permission. That would be troublesome to do so he would have to get the book or information from just asking Frigga, his adopted mother, the queen of Asgard.

He quickly read up on the mutants while in the library. It appears they are a subspecies of human that has appeared within the last five thousand years. They can range from weak or strong but with each iteration there are the good and bad sides. Always resulting in a final battle or war. Usually with good siding with humans and them winning in the end.

But within the last two thousand years one other subspecies has appeared that can utilize their gifted alien altered genes. Making five subspecies in addition to the original human species. There were mutants with a latent mutant gene. There were the Inhumans that had alien altered genes. There were the user's of magic. Then the users of chi. Then finally the chemically altered humans.

It was honestly amazing that there was such an enigma of the human genome. It is like it adapts to survive in the most deadly situations. Loki smiled when he understood this. The chances of his moronic brother having something else to fight and not focusing on coming back just increased by tenfold. Now as for getting the bone. It should be easy. The most recent book said that there should be groups of them gathering now.

Next he went to his mother's palace. He was genuinely curious about these Spider Weavers. He walked towards the palace and as he reached it he saw his blonde haired moronic brother coming out huffing in anger.

He knocked on the ajar door and stuck his head in, "mother?" His mother, a beauty even in her advanced age, was sitting on the couch in her living room. She was rubbing the bridge of her nose. But when she heard her adopted son she looked up and smiled.

"Loki, to what do I owe the pleasure?" She asked as she beckoned him in.

Loki obliged and entered the room, "well I was going to sate my curiosity about something. But now I am more curious about Thor's latest tantrum."

Frigga gave a long sigh indicating that it was probably one of his frequent problems.

Loki smiled as he sat across from her, "in that case is it related to fighting, food, or women?"

Frigga chuckled when she heard her son's words, "unfortunately it is related to all three this time. It appears your brother has become infatuated with the intricate food of earth, he desires to protect the mortals from threats that are becoming seemingly more frequent, and finally he has become infatuated with some Doctor Foster."

Loki's mind started turning but he sighed nonetheless, "he should just sleep with the women and get it over with. As for the food, get the recipes. As for the fighting, well that makes sense historically this happens on Midgard every once in a while."

Frigga frowned at her son's remarks, "I agree with the remark on food. As for the woman, I honestly wish he would stop sleeping around and just pick a woman." Loki just shrugged at that, as his brother was a moron, it came with the territory of a musclebound idiot. "But since when do you know so much about Midgard that you would know their strength increases every once in a while?"

Loki smiled, "I was recently doing research about a spell I wish to cast and one of the components mentioned a human mutant so naturally I went to research it."

"Ahh! So that is why you came to me to ask more about the human mutants?" Frigga asked, wishing to change the subject.

"No actually I believe I found all I can get without going to Midgard and personally investigating," Loki watched Frigga's smile turn into a pouting face, "but nonetheless I did come to ask about a subject that I doubt I can learn about easily. Mostly because the only book on the subject is behind a ward only accessible to you or father."

Frigga tilted her head in curiosity, "Oh? There are actually a good number of them. But the only ones your father read were the ones I labeled as dangerous or threats. However, I did read all of them." There was a tone of smugness in her voice, "which subject?"

"The Spider Weavers" Loki answered, more curious than ever.

Frigga seemed to think for a few minutes, "hmm… is this for a spell?" Loki suddenly felt nervous because of her guess.

"Yes."

Frigga nodded, "then I am guessing it needs either silk or the blood of two of its apostles. Well either way this isn't one of those subjects I can just start spouting about. Funnily enough the only way to learn anything is to read the book. It is cursed in that way. Thankfully the Weaver isn't a danger, or your father and this kingdom would have already fallen to ruin."

"Really!?!" Loki was surprised, for a creature to do that they would have to be powerful.

"Yes it really is, but like I said the book is cursed so I can only teach you while in the presence of an apostle but it shouldn't take me long to find one of those. Give me a week to prepare a spell I need then we will go to Midgard." Frigga told him.

"Midgard?" Loki asked.

"I cannot explain, now then help your mother with gathering some things." Frigga told him while making a list in her head of ingredients.

As for Loki, he was now glad he didn't steal the book. As for his brother, Loki felt if this kept his and his mother's attention long enough they might just forget about his ongoing problems.