Chapter 12: The Report
Avengers Tower – A Moment of Peace
The sun was beginning to set over the bustling streets of New York City. Inside the towering structure of the Avengers Tower, there was an unusual sense of calm. The war had ended, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the team had a moment to breathe.
The previous day's battle with Ultron had left its scars, both physically and emotionally. But here, surrounded by friends—new and old—the weight of the world seemed just a little lighter.
In the common room, the Avengers were gathered. They laughed, shared stories, and exchanged relieved smiles. Wanda and Alex sat beside one another, their hands intertwined. Despite everything, there was a peace in the air that had been sorely lacking.
Alex still felt the pulse of the world's energy around him. His senses were heightened, and even in the quiet of the room, he could feel the undercurrent of tension that the others were trying to ignore. It wasn't just about the victory over Ultron—it was the unknown.
But for now, it felt good to just… be here. To be surrounded by others who had fought their own battles.
Wanda leaned against Alex, her head resting on his shoulder. She was finally able to relax, knowing he was beside her. The small smile on her face only deepened the sense of warmth that he felt whenever he looked at her.
Then—the door opened.
A figure appeared in the doorway, holding a small folder. It was J.A.R.V.I.S., the AI, but this time, it wasn't Tony Stark who entered. The hologram was already reading out Alex's latest examination report.
"Sir, Miss Maximoff," J.A.R.V.I.S. began, his usual calm tone filling the room. "The report from Dr. Banner and our analysis team has arrived."
Everyone's attention shifted to the AI.
"Do you wish to hear the results now?" J.A.R.V.I.S. asked, his voice soft but clear.
Tony Stark, who had been leaning back in his chair, immediately sat up. "Bring it on." His eyes gleamed with curiosity. "I've been waiting for this. Let's see what you're made of, Alex."
Wanda, still holding Alex's hand, squeezed it tighter as her heart rate picked up slightly. She knew this was important. She knew the truth would change everything.
Alex squeezed her hand back, but there was no denying the knot forming in his stomach.
J.A.R.V.I.S. projected the contents of the folder onto a nearby screen, the text scrolling in an easy-to-read format. The AI's voice broke the silence again.
"Subject Alex, age: 26. Born from Hydra's experimentation. Genetic structure differs significantly from standard human DNA, exhibiting several unique markers not found in normal humans or enhanced individuals. His skeletal structure consists of an unknown alloy, identical in properties to the material found in Tony Stark's arc reactor, known to have unmatched durability and resilience."
The room fell silent.
Alex's heart skipped a beat. He had always known something about him was different, but hearing it confirmed like this...
Wanda's eyes widened in shock, her gaze flickering between Alex and the screen. She tightened her grip on his hand as if grounding herself in him.
Tony's voice broke the silence. "Wait. You mean, your bones are made of the same material as my arc reactor?"
"Yes," J.A.R.V.I.S. confirmed. "The bones and tissues have a unique composition, composed of a metal alloy that is both nearly indestructible and highly flexible. His internal structure exhibits incredible resistance to physical damage."
The Avengers exchanged looks of disbelief.
Captain America raised an eyebrow. "So, he's basically made of the same stuff that keeps Tony alive?"
Tony grinned. "Exactly. And if that's not enough, get this—his body contains liquid metal in its bloodstream, similar in nature to the alloy in his bones. This metal is capable of adapting and reshaping itself, which explains his ability to heal at an accelerated rate."
Bruce Banner, who had been analyzing the information, muttered to himself. "That... explains the regenerative factor. I've never seen anything like it."
"I've seen a lot of weird stuff, but that…" Tony trailed off, visibly impressed. "Now we're talking."
Wanda's eyes softened as she looked at Alex. "I… I never knew," she whispered. "I had no idea."
Alex's face was unreadable, but internally, he was reeling. He had always known there was something different about him, but Hydra had kept so much from him. The truth—his true origin—was slowly being revealed, and it was nothing like what he had expected.
But the next part of the report was what caught everyone's attention.
J.A.R.V.I.S. continued, "In addition, Alex exhibits the unique ability to manipulate the elements, controlling fire, water, air, earth, and electricity at will. The full scope of his capabilities has not yet been determined, but his control over these elements is vast and can be used for offensive and defensive purposes."
The room went completely still.
The element control.
Captain America's jaw tightened. "You're telling me he can control fire, water, air, and even electricity?"
"Not just control them," Tony said, rubbing his hands together in excitement. "He can manipulate them like they're an extension of himself."
Thor stepped forward, his voice deep and thoughtful. "If what you say is true, Alex's abilities rival even my own control over the elements."
"I think it's safe to say you're not just any ordinary man, Alex," Bruce said, his scientific curiosity piqued. "You're an entirely different kind of being."
Alex looked at them all, feeling the weight of their eyes on him. He had always struggled with his identity, knowing he was a creation, but hearing their reactions made him realize the true scale of what Hydra had turned him into.
But it didn't matter. Not anymore.
"Just because I'm made of something… different," Alex said slowly, his voice firm, "doesn't mean I'm any less human."
Wanda's eyes softened, and she smiled at him—a smile full of love and understanding.
"We know that, Alex," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth.
The others exchanged glances, each of them digesting the truth of Alex's abilities. They had just discovered that he was more powerful than any of them had anticipated, but the deeper question remained: what would they do with that power?
Tony, ever the pragmatist, spoke first. "Alright, I don't know about you guys, but I think we've got a lot to talk about. I need to run some tests—see how much more this guy can do. But"—he paused, looking over at Wanda—"we need to make sure we're on the same page here. No matter how powerful Alex is, we need to be careful. We don't want another Ultron situation."
"Agreed," Steve added. "We'll move forward with caution."
Alex nodded. "I'm with you. I don't want to be a threat to anyone. I just want to help."
And with that, the room settled into a silence, each member of the Avengers processing the revelation that had just been made. The team knew that they were on the cusp of something bigger—something beyond Ultron and beyond anything they had ever faced.
But for now, they were together. And for the first time in a long time, they could finally breathe.
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