Chapter 16: Aftermath and Awkward Answers – Or, "So, About That Talking Robot and the Floating City… Yeah, My Bad."
The Quinjet ride back to the new Avengers Compound in upstate New York was, predictably, a graveyard of weary heroes. The air hung thick with the metallic tang of battle, the acrid scent of ozone, and the faint, unsettling smell of burnt vibranium. Every Avenger was slumped in their seat, nursing injuries both physical and psychological. Tony, surprisingly quiet, stared blankly out the window, the weight of Ultron's creation heavy on his shoulders. Steve, ever the stoic leader, was lost in thought, his jaw clenched. Even Thor, usually boisterous, had a somber look on his face, his hammer Mjolnir resting heavily by his side.
Adam Stiels, for his part, was feeling an odd cocktail of exhaustion, relief, and a profound sense of what just happened. He was sitting next to Wanda, her head still resting lightly on his shoulder, a silent testament to the fragile bond that had formed between them. Pietro, surprisingly subdued, sat across from them, occasionally twitching with restless energy.
' Well, that was… a thing. Nearly got an entire country turned into a very dramatic asteroid. Good times. At least I got a girlfriend out of it. And infinite healing beans. Priorities, Adam, priorities. Now, for the inevitable 'what the hell just happened and why are you suddenly a magic bean dispenser' conversation. This is going to be fun. Said no one ever. '
The exhaustion was palpable. Adam felt it deep in his bones, a dull ache that went beyond physical fatigue. It was the exhaustion of constantly anticipating world-ending events, of having meta-knowledge that was both a blessing and a curse. He squeezed Wanda's hand gently, a silent comfort. Her presence, a quiet warmth beside him, was surprisingly grounding amidst the mental whiplash of saving the world.
Upon arrival at the newly renovated Avengers Compound, they were greeted by a skeletal S.H.I.E.L.D. crew (or what was left of it, thanks to HYDRA's exposure) and a surprisingly chipper Nick Fury. Or, as chipper as Fury could get, which meant his single eye wasn't twitching quite as violently as usual.
"Welcome back, Avengers," Fury's gravelly voice cut through the tired silence. He scanned the group, his gaze lingering on Adam, then on Wanda and Pietro. "You look like hell. But you saved the world. Again. Stiels, report to debriefing. And bring your… magical beans. We need to talk."
Adam gulped. ' Called it. The 'magic bean' talk. How do I explain a Senzu Bean from Dragon Ball Z to a government agency that thinks a flying car is cutting-edge tech? Maybe I'll just say it's an alien superfood. Yeah, that'll work. They'll probably want to weaponize it. Or put it in a smoothie. Definitely weaponize it. '
The debriefing was as tedious as he expected, a grueling rehash of Ultron's plans, the floating city, and the very narrow margin by which they'd avoided global catastrophe. Adam found himself explaining, in vague terms, how his "neural dampening field" had "optimized enemy takedowns," and how his "structural analysis capabilities" had "facilitated tactical advancements." He conveniently left out the part about making robots take naps and collapsing walls just because he knew where the weak spots were.
Then came the inevitable questions about the Maximoff twins. Steve and Natasha, despite their earlier reservations, spoke up in their defense, highlighting their crucial role in Ultron's defeat. Tony, still processing his guilt, remained largely silent.
Fury, however, turned his gaze to Adam. "Stiels. We have reports of… unusual occurrences on the battlefield. Healing faster than possible. And what exactly was that bean you gave Maximoff?"
Adam took a deep breath. ' Okay, here goes nothing. Or, here goes everything. Depends on how well I can lie on the fly. '
"Right. The bean," Adam began, rubbing the back of his neck. "See, it's a… it's a highly advanced, bio-regenerative dietary supplement. From… a very, very, very classified source. Let's just say, the universe is a big place, Director. And sometimes, it just… drops things on your lap. Like magic beans. Or sentient robots with daddy issues. You never know what you're gonna get."
He paused, trying to gauge Fury's reaction. The single eye was unblinking.
"It's purely organic," Adam pressed on, trying to sound scientific. "Full of super-nutrients. Instant cellular regeneration. Think of it like… a very potent multivitamin. On steroids. That tastes like grass. But in a good way. For a highly specific demographic. Mostly superheroes. And occasionally, very active squirrels."
Fury merely grunted, scribbling something on his pad. "And the remote? The one Agent Barton claimed made him repeat himself for ten seconds?"
Adam winced. Clint, the snitch. "Oh, that! That's a… a prototype temporal-displacement calibration device. Stark Industries. Still in beta. Little buggy. Sometimes it, uh, gets stuck. In a loop. We're working on it. Definitely not for playing pranks on unsuspecting archers. Definitely not." He shot a glare at Clint, who was trying to look innocent.
"So, you're telling me," Fury said, his voice dangerously calm, "that you're carrying around alien superfood, and experimental time-bending technology, and you can make people fall asleep with a glance, and you can make buildings crumble just by looking at them, and you can pull a whole menagerie of magical creatures out of a suitcase, all of which you acquire through… 'classified sources' and 'beta tests'?"
"Pretty much, yeah!" Adam beamed, relieved that Fury wasn't immediately throwing him in a cell. "See? I told you I'm a consultant on 'unusual phenomena.' I am the unusual phenomenon! It's all very meta. You wouldn't understand. Unless I used the Point of View Gun on you. And believe me, Director, you do not want to see the world through my eyes. It's a terrifying place, full of existential dread and surprisingly good memes."
Fury simply sighed, a deep, world-weary sound. "Just… try not to cause any more international incidents with your 'beta tests,' Stiels. And keep those beans on a tight leash. The last thing we need is someone trying to sell 'magic beans' on the black market."
' Success! He bought it! Or at least, he's too tired to interrogate me further. I'll take it! '
Later, as the debriefing dispersed, Adam found Wanda sitting alone, looking out at the compound. He sat beside her, offering her a thermos of tea he'd brewed with his Basic Cooking Mastery.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
She took the tea, her fingers brushing his. "I… I am. But Sokovia… my home… it is gone. And Pietro… he is so angry. And the others… they do not trust us." Her voice was low, filled with pain.
"I know," Adam said, nodding. "It sucks. All of it. Losing your home, having everyone look at you like you're a ticking time bomb. It's not fair. But look, Wanda, you're here now. With us. And some of us do trust you. I do. And I'll keep telling them until they get it. You're not HYDRA's experiment. You're Wanda. And you're amazing. And also, you saved the world. So, that's something."
He nudged her gently. "And about Pietro. He's mad, yeah. But that's okay. Anger's a powerful motivator. Just needs to be pointed in the right direction. Maybe towards… Ultron's remaining spare parts. Or towards anyone who judges you unfairly. I'm telling you, a well-placed, sarcastic comment can be more devastating than a tank."
She looked at him, a faint, sad smile playing on her lips. "You always find a way to make me laugh, Adam Stiels. Even when I do not want to."
"It's my superpower," he said, offering her another, more genuine smile. "Laughter. And naps. And infinite snacks. We're basically a power couple, you and me. You can move things with your mind, I can conjure hot chocolate. Together, we're unstoppable. Or at least, perpetually well-fed and capable of causing delightful, low-grade chaos."
He felt the warmth of her hand in his, a silent understanding passing between them. The future was uncertain, filled with more threats and likely more awkward explanations to Fury. But for now, in the quiet aftermath of a world-shaking battle, Adam felt a profound sense of rightness. He was here, with the people he cared about, armed with an absurd arsenal of powers, and ready for whatever came next. Even if "what came next" was another debriefing.
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