Marvel owns Iron-man, the Avengers and the X-men. No profit is made from this work. Reviews always welcome.

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The room was awash in the glow of countless televisions and panels hung as a tapestry over the walls. The furnishings were otherwise Spartan, just a desk sitting at the length of the room lending a view of the city offered by the tinted glass of the business tower. On that desk sat the stories of the Twentieth Century penned by many a historian, and though through those texts arguments might be made on the finer points they all told the same tale.

Standing at the window staring out at a city he knew by name only, here and there landmarks had stood the weathering march of time, but this wasn't his Berlin nor was this his Germany. Just as he had always known without him there was no Third Reich, even Hydra and it's many heads had struggled without the Red Skull. But finally for that one head cut off two had grown, and just how did the American's put it...Better late than never?

"This is the future they fought so hard for?" Johann asked of his audience.

Gesturing to the histories on his desk, to the stories that played across the tapestry of technology, he waited for effect alone knowing there was no need for her to answer him. She was the one that had proven herself worthy of the name Madame Hydra, it was to her alone he owed anything. Stalking to a small bar nearly hidden for all the televisions around it, two drinks where poured. Her heels announced her as she crept out of a patch of darkness, taking the offered drink to raise in a toast that needed no words.

"I am but back from the gulf of stars I have waged war across and I can see the disease that festers and rots on this world. They don't know the service they have done me, but they will in due time." Staring at the scenes that played out, he saw them from time to time, the Avengers.

"We stand ready for you Red Skull, we have waited and worked towards this day for so long..." Viper said, her voice awash with zeal and resolve.

"And of this SHIELD?" Johann asked looking down on her.

"They scramble for clues that leave them guessing, but just to be sure we will be covering our tracks. They won't know what to think once we're done." Viper practically purred, drinking deep her drink and savouring the burn as it reached her belly.

"Then I leave that to you Madame Hydra, there is still much of this world I need to learn, indeed there is much to learn just what motivates the men and women of this age. They've only just seen a glimpse of what lays out in the pretty starlight." Enjoying his drink with a smile befitting his namesake, it was a grin frozen in death.

He had been one man from what was otherwise an insignificant speck among the cosmos and he had led armies across worlds. He knew the mettle of mankind when pushed to the brink, he knew the beast that laid in mens hearts when they knew hunger that verged on death, and in this new century he saw just what the nations of his day struggled to craft with science created by accident, luck and by birth. His army was waiting for him and once rallied he'd set the heavens themselves aflame for the torment Prometheus suffered for his kindness.

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Peeking sheepishly out of her room still feeling a guest, Jubilee looked around the penthouse she remembered from the night before to find it awash in the light of a new day. It was quieter than she remembered, and without so many people there it looked even bigger than before. Finding the living room empty, an urge over took her that she couldn't resist, jumping onto the sofa and bouncing around without a worry of getting yelled at. Hearing the elevator open was enough to startle her, falling in a heap of limbs with only her pride hurt.

"Jarvis said you might be waking up." Pepper greeted, coffee in hand and a folder under her arm.

Popping her head up over the edge of the sofa, a smile tugged and had it's way as she saw another standing there with her dressed in a SHIELD uniform, Kitty. Pain in her ass yes, but that's what being family was all about Logan, her Wolvie, always said and right now she could do with a bit of family.

"You hungry?" Kitty asked, earning herself one patent pending 'Are you stupid?' look.

"Come on to the kitchen, new toy of Tony's to try." Pepper urged, heading there herself with Kitty.

Looking down to the shorts and T that were her pyjamas from the night before, the funny thing she had to admit was she didn't remember changing into them. Rushing back to her room and pulling open the dresser drawer, it took only a few minutes to find something she liked. Rushing to the kitchen, Pepper and Kitty were seated enjoying coffee and cookies at the island. But it was the teasing and taunting plate of syrup laden waffles ripe with berries and cream that had her feeling hungry and wondering if it was all in her head.

"Dig in." Kitty said, looking to Pepper with a smile she couldn't hide.

"You know, I've been through the system enough to know child abuse when I see it." Jubilee growled, stomping up to Kitty stand nose to nose with her, the difference in height forgotten thanks to the older girl being seated.

The words were out of her mouth though before she could take them back, a flicker of hurt in Kitty's eyes while Pepper's only showed sadness. Wondering if she was crying whenever she really was, all she felt was shame herself and spun away ready to stomp back to her room when she was brought short. Looking in shock to the hand holding her still, though she couldn't feel the touch the gesture reached her just the same.

"Tony's a bit of a workaholic with his new toys." Pepper said from her seat, giving a nod to the pair.

"He's been fine tuning the Collision Detection with Jarvis, it's still not perfect but at least I can stop you long enough to try and explain." Kitty said, slowly sliding her hand down to guide the girl to a chair.

Popping up on the bar stool and staring down at the plate, it looked as real as anything but seeing how they were watching her so expectantly she tried tentatively for the fork first. Just like anything she couldn't feel it, but she imagined the cold metal warming to her touch and twirled it around once getting used to it. Closing her eyes and trusting them, she looked down to the plate of waffles and dug in. Shock turned to surprise as she cut a clean slice through them, trying it again and then stabbing her fork through the neatly cut piece for her first bite. Feeling silly and hungry and stupid all at the same time, once it passed her lips for an experimental chew she couldn't believe it.

"Holy shit! Shoot, I mean holy shoot! I can taste it!" Jubilee gasped, digging in for another bite and feeling that knot of ghostly hunger fading.

"Kitty played guinea pig for Tony earlier, he's still working on things with Phil but this is more...a fine tuned memory he recorded." Pepper explained, finding herself able to enjoy her coffee again seeing how eagerly her guest was enjoying her breakfast.

"You guys all did this for me?" Jubilee asked, rubbing away at the tears that weren't there but knew should be.

"Yes, but there's some fringe benefits for us. These strawberries, not something I can enjoy, deathly allergic. But..." Pepper said, snatching one up to enjoy for the very first time ever.

Seeing the enjoyment writ across her face, Jubilee looked to Pepper for permission that was given by smile alone. Tentative again just as with the fork she reached for one, popping it back and giggling between every virtual bite.

"The Choco milk?" Jubilee asked now pointing to the tall frosty glass sitting beside her plate.

"Drink that at your own risk, you know how I hate the stuff. It might've coloured me bias for the taste test." Kitty laughed, having a sip of her coffee herself.

"How can ya hate Choco milk?" Jubilee asked aghast.

"Because I made it how you do, I swear I'm going to the dentist tomorrow just to see how many cavities I got from it." Kitty replied, rolling her eyes right back at the brat sticking her tongue out at her.

Guzzling it down and digging back into her waffles between stealing strawberries, she couldn't believe that it was all just a lot of play food made just for her. Cleaning her plate just the same and finishing her chocolate milk, the strawberries never seemed to get any fewer despite all she had eaten.

"Now I think I know why Tony keeps trying to apologise with strawberries." Pepper said, popping another back to enjoy.

"So like...how are you able to...?" Jubilee asked, giving up on words and just pointing to the delicate fruit in question.

Looking just like an expensive hair clip, Pepper plucked it free and placed it down on the table. Staring it, the hints of all the geeky stuff that Kitty liked could be seen in the metal, a spider web of gold running to the gem that looked like it belonged on costume jewellery.

"Prototype interface, lets us go down the rabbit hole to crash your tea party. Not quite ready for us to take you to Malibu yet, but Tony says he'll get there in time for us to go hit the beach come the weekend." Kitty said.

"I'm sorry...I thought it was that fake stuff I saw Phil drinking..." Jubilee whispered, pushing her plate away and feeling the fool for her reaction.

"Well...apology accepted. Maybe I'll go hit up a proper burger joint when I got a moment, that way you can have something to look forward to for lunch." Kitty said, trusting the software for a hug.

"Go run a brush through that hair, then we'll take you for a tour of the Tower." Pepper teased, finding herself under those eyes so full of apology.

"Wait...you mean...?" Jubilee asked to get a nod, rushing back to her room to hit the vanity.

Left alone again and looking to another, fresh cups of coffee were poured trusting that they'd have enough time for a chat in the time granted for their friend to figure out all the new hairstyles she had just a point and click away.

"We'll have to go out for drinks sometime for the long version, but the short version is once you get to know him Logan he's just a big teddy bear. Time came there were a couple of girls that needed one, an orphan and a runaway. Jubilee lost her parents, car crash. Logan found her, or she found Logan...they're always arguing how it went down, but anyway she ran away from her latest group home having the kind of smarts and mouth that can get a girl in trouble if you don't know her." Kitty said with a sadness as she told the tale.

"And the runaway?" Pepper asked, reaching across to take her hand.

"The runaway found Logan just when she needed him, right when she thought no one wanted her and she didn't deserve to be alive. He helped her understand herself in more ways than one, and if it kills her she wants to pay that forward." Kitty replied, tears in her eyes and smiling off to the room of her favourite pain in the ass.

"I think she's doing a wonderful job, and drinks it is, someday when you're ready to tell me the long version." Pepper said, raising her mug in toast and promise between them.

"How do I look?" Jubilee shouted gleefully charging out of her room sporting a new do, complete with hot pink highlights and twin tails.

"I think we created a monster." Pepper laughed, setting her hairclip again and snatching a strawberry.

"Pfft, you're just jealous. I'm stylin' and I know it." Jubilee fired back, grabbing one herself before finding herself manhandled to the elevator.

"Collision off! Collision off! Dammit Pryde, I know this is your fault!" Jubilee grumbled from between the two ladies.

"Nice try brat, fool me once. Next stop, ground floor." Kitty chuckled, hitting the button for the lobby and looking forward to taking their time back to the top.

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Holding the bag, Logan felt the strength behind the punches Steve threw in rapid succession. Already two had burst under the torment and that said something. Hearing the crack and snap of the reinforced fabric tearing, a pile of sand started to pool at their feet with Steve looking down in frustration.

"Feel like a few rounds in the ring bub?" Logan asked, giving a nod off to the ring that was the centrepiece of the gym.

Breathing hard and snagging his water bottle, Steve drank deep and looked to the Canadian that left him wondering just where he knew him from impossible as it was. Towelling off his sweaty brow and looking again to the ruined bag, he met the steely eyed gaze thrown his way.

"You're serious?" Steve asked, laughing in surprise.

"I got fifty bucks that says just how serious I am." Logan replied, throwing a thumb to the lockers where his wallet was.

"Fifty bucks, you're sure?" Steve asked, throwing the towel over his shoulder to look down at the man.

"Cheaper 'n a new bag and yer up ta three ya owe Stark now." Chuckling as he headed off to the ring, Logan looked back to see if he'd been taken up on his offer.

Heading off to the ring and reaching for a pair of gloves, already Logan was climbing in completely ignoring them instead just wrapping his knuckles like he was ready to have a go at a bag. Dangling the pair he had in question, the look he got back was that of a man sure of himself and his fifty bucks. Tossing them down and climbing into the ring, Steve stepped up and looked down at the man.

"Good clean fight?" Steve asked, Logan butting his fists to his in agreement. "Jarvis?"

Fading into existence beside them, the virtual butler made an odd ref but as he held up a bell and hammer that was something to work out another time. Staring into the eyes of the man who had just challenged him, there wasn't any doubt to be found. They were eyes that had seen things, the kind of eyes he could never forget after all those battles across Europe. The bell rang and the first punch was thrown, finding himself already on the defensive as Logan pressed his attack.

Finding an opening and throwing one of his own, it felt like he'd just punched a wall, wondering just how hard this guy's head was. Ribs, stomach, jaw were hit fast, dancing back to get some distance between him and the Canadian.

"You're tougher than you look." Steve said in compliment, Logan smirking back at him and trying to close the distance.

Using his reach and some fancy foot work to keep the man at bay, a jab was dodged and left his defences with an kink, one Logan freely attacked. Two quick lefts and a right to his stomach were had knocking the wind from him, meeting them in kind with a right to the ear and a left to his jaw. Backing off again and squaring up his fists, that was when he saw it, beat red flesh turning a healthy shade again.

"Quick healer, huh?" Steve asked.

"Quick healer." Said with a smirk, Logan eyed him looking for an opening.

Feeling a bit better about cutting loose, any thoughts of hurting the man were getting fewer while the thought of having fifty bucks riding on this match came to the forefront. Charging in and faking with a left hook, two quick rights to the ribs had the desired effect of knocking the wind out of his opponent. Surprised to see just how fast the man could move, an opening he didn't even realize had him tasting blood with an uppercut square to his jaw.

"You hit like a truck." Steve said, dancing back to get some distance again.

"Back at ya Cap." Logan answered, already the bruised flesh of his ribs healing.

What to anyone else might have been a quick fight became men matching their unnatural endurance against another. The chit chat died with everything said with fists and the tense their eyes met looking for the other to blink first. The bell was ignored, Jarvis vying for their attention until he gave up and vanished from the ring. With punches echoing throughout the gym, joined by the grunts of pain and gasped breath, neither knew just how long they had been at it when both stood on weak legs and fought for breath.

"Yer a tough son of a bitch, I'll give ya that." Logan said, sucking breath and chuckling at the bloody grin he saw.

"Should have seen back in Brooklyn, I could do this all day." Steve laughed, all those scrappy fights coming back to him as fond memories.

Offering his hand, Logan took it with a firm shake that declared the match a draw. Guzzling water and heading off to the showers, with his head pressed to the cool tiles under the hot spray he figured he found something worth more than a few bucks in that ring, the mettle of a man he'd be trusting to have his back.

"Brooklyn boy huh?" Logan asked, drinking deep the water from the shower to gargle and spit.

"Born and raised." Steve said with all the pride he had for his borough.

"I know a Deli that in that neck of the woods that serves up a mean corned beef on rye, light on the rye. You in?" Logan asked, cranking the shower cold and suffering the spray.

"Never could say no to a good corned beef on rye."

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