"Doctor Banner," a security guard said, stepping forward.
Bruce looked around to find a face that he sort-of remembered.
"Ah, yeah, hi," he replied.
The man merely nodded and moved the barrier in slightly, enough for Bruce to make his way through.
"I'm guessing that you don't remember me," the man said. "I'm Happy Hogan; I'm in charge of security today."
"Nice to meet you again," Bruce replied as he was let inside the building.
"Wondered how long it was going to take you to get inside," a voice stated from the shadows.
Bruce's head snapped around.
"Leave him alone," Natasha said to the archer leaning against the far wall. "At least he walked in instead of crawling through a vent."
"Hey! I had to check out Tony's security," Clint retorted.
"And what did you decide from the jolt of electricity from the trigger that you tripped?" Bobbi asked, one eyebrow raised.
Clint ignored the jibe, instead coming upright and striding across the lobby to call the elevator.
"Doctor Banner. It's good to see you again," Steve said, coming up beside him and clapping him on the shoulder.
"You too, Steve," Bruce smiled.
ooo00ooo
"You sure that it's okay for me to come?" Peter asked as he landed in a crouch beside Harry.
Harry barely even looked at the teen as he shrunk his broom before stowing it away in one of the pockets on his belt.
"For the last time, Pete, of course you're invited, too. You may not have fought with the whole team yet, but you're one of us," Harry replied. "Besides, didn't Tony invite you the last time you were at work here?"
"Well, sure, but I just thought that he was being polite or something," Peter replied.
"Well, I was, but that doesn't mean that I didn't meant the invite," Tony stated as he joined the two on the platform.
"How are you, Tony?" Harry asked.
"Good now that the workers have finally gone and we can do some partying," Tony replied. "Gotta say, though, I thought you guys would have used the proper entrance."
"Isn't this where you take off from and land in the Iron Man suit?" Peter asked, looking around.
"Hmm," Tony replied. "It's been modified a bit, though."
"Looks big enough for a helicopter," Peter stated, looking about the large platform, "or maybe a … a quinjet?"
"Got it in one, webhead," Tony beamed. "I'm having a couple of quinjets like the ones that S.H.I.E.L.D. use modified for our own use. They're not ready yet, but once they are, we can park one here."
"For those of us who can't fly," Harry agreed with a smile, flipping back his hood and cancelling the obscuris spell.
"Hey! There's nothing wrong with webbing wherever you need to go. And it's more fun, too," Peter protested.
"But flying's so much faster," Tony countered before throwing an arm around Harry's shoulders and beginning to manoeuvre the other two inside. "Come on, I'll give you a tour while we're waiting for the others."
ooo00ooo
"Finally got the band back together," Tony said. "Well, except for Point Break, but he's off godding or something. Anyway, to the band!"
Tony's half-full glass was raised high, a gesture that was mimicked by all assembled there.
After the group had drunk, Steve leant forward in his chair and placed his tumbler on the coffee table in front of him. His action was enough to garner the attention of all, especially when he deliberately made eye contact with each and every person before moving on to the next.
Finally, when all were looking at him, Steve focussed his attention on Tony.
"You had us worried, Tony," Steve began. "Reports of your death were announced world-side."
"Exaggerated, as you can see," Tony replied, spreading his arms wide.
"I heard it all the way down in Brazil," Bruce put in. "It's why I came home earlier than I'd planned."
"Harry here even came to Malibu as soon as it happened," Pepper said, placing her hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Yeah, I remember you saying that our resident wizard was a bit of a worry-wart," Tony replied.
"We were all worried," Steve pointed out, drawing the conversation back to himself. "But there's no reason we should have been."
"Exactly! I can take care of myself. Besides, I had Rhodey to back me up," Tony pointed out, waving a hand at the man seated beside him.
"Not until the end," Steve replied with a shake of his head. "To start with, you shouldn't have needed back up. Challenging the head of an evil organisation like that wasn't smart. And it was even dumber giving him your home address."
"See?" Pepper said.
"I've already apologised for that," Tony pointed out.
"I'm not saying that the Mandarin didn't need to be challenged or taken care of," Steve continued, "but there were smarter ways of going about it. Not least of it is the fact that we're supposed to be a team. And teammates back each other up. When you need backup, you call us in. That goes for all of us. We're stronger together."
"I assume that goes for you, too, Cap?" Tony asked.
"Absolutely," Steve replied. "Back in the day, I had Peggy, Howard and the Howling Commandos to back me up. Now, though, I've got all of you. Just like I've got your backs whenever you need it."
"Just try not to call on the other guy too much," Bruce pleaded. "He tends to make a mess."
The chuckle that that comment produced was cut off by a gasp.
"Bobbi?" Natasha asked. "Everything okay?"
Bobbi simply shook her head. "New York just went dark. The lights are out on the island and as far as I can see."
"Jarvis?" Tony asked.
"Agent Morse is correct. The only location with any power is Avengers Tower," Jarvis replied.
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