[Third Person's PoV]
"You... You guys know this mouse?" Steve asked, glancing incredulously between the mouse and Tony.
"He's with me," Tony said wearily, holding out his hands awkwardly.
Master Splinter leaped gracefully onto Dr. Cho's shoulder, delicately caressing her cheek with his tiny paw. In a voice far deeper than anyone expected, he said, "Mademoiselle, it pains my tiny, beating heart to part from such a vision of beauty. Though our meeting was brief, may it mark the beginning of something truly magnifique. Let this not be our last encounter."
With that, he jumped into Tony's waiting hands, then climbed onto his shoulder.
Tony and Melissa exchanged a look that was equal parts amusement and exasperation, while Steve stared, utterly dumbfounded, unable to process what had just happened.
Shaking his head, Steve decided to focus on the task at hand. "We'll discuss that later," he muttered, then turned to Dr. Cho. "Where's Ultron?"
Dr. Cho blinked, snapping out of her daze. "He just left. Like I was saying, he tried to upload himself into a new body, but the power he'll wield if he succeeds… it's beyond anything we've seen." She gestured to the cradle. "The power doesn't come from the body itself but from the gem embedded in it. Its energy is uncontainable. Destroying the cradle isn't enough—you'll have to bring it to Stark."
"First, we need to find it," Steve said, tapping his comm. "Did you all get that?"
"Which part? The talking mouse or the uncontainable power?" Clint retorted. "Don't worry, we got it. We're on the lookout."
A moment later, Clint's voice came back over the comm. "Found it. Highway intersection. Looks like one of the trucks from the research facility. Sending you the location now."
The blue lenses in Steve's cowl activated, highlighting the truck's position and distance.
"Keep eyes on it. Don't lose it. We're on our way," Steve ordered, holding out a hand toward Melissa.
Melissa's symbiote extended from her stomach, pulling a briefcase that she handed to him.
"Follow close behind," Steve said. He slung his shield onto his arm and sprinted toward a window, shattering it as he leaped through.
In midair, he pressed a button on the briefcase handle and hoisted the shield back on his back. It unfolded and reconfigured itself into a sleek motorcycle just before he landed. He swung onto the bike, landing with a controlled bounce, and took off with a roar.
Not far behind, Tony vaulted through the same shattered window. As he fell, his symbiote constructed a motorcycle beneath him. Melissa followed, shooting two tentacles to grab onto Tony's waist and pull herself close as the bike materialized below her.
The three landed simultaneously. Their symbiotes formed helmets over their heads, even creating a tiny white one for Master Splinter, who slapped his visor down and perched securely on Tony's shoulder.
"Yippee-ki-yay, motherfuckers!" Splinter exclaimed as Tony's bike sped after Steve's.
"Language!" Steve yelled instinctively.
Clint and Natasha burst into laughter over the comms, while Steve winced, realizing he'd done it again.
Tony appeared right beside Steve as they weaved through traffic, Steve did a double take and sighed.
Hearing him sigh Tony knew what he was going to say before he said it. An image of Tony's drivers license appeared in the corner of Steve's lenses.
"I have my driving license, don't you worry mister, I'm not breaking the rules, Captain Law and Order~" Tony said just as Steve opened his mouth to speak.
He opened and closed his mouth before deciding it wasn't worth it.
"So can we please talk about the talking mouse? I'm dying to know" Natasha's voice came through, clearly amused.
"Yeah, Master Splinter, why are you here, shouldn't you be back home?" Melissa asked, looking at the small mouse that was standing on Tony's shoulders with its arms stretched out basking in the wind, feeling the air against its fur.
"Phttt! You guys named it Master Splinter, that's so adorable" Natasha said trying not to laugh while Clint was chuckling in amusement, the only two at the moment understanding the reference to the name.
"Well if you must know, young lady–!" Master Splinter started indignantly, "I saw you both planning to go on a trip, I, under the impression that I was part of your family, thought it would be a family road trip…" He started sounding a little hurt as he went on.
"HOWEVER! To my dismay, it appears that I was wrong! You two were planning to leave me like some commoner house pet to guard the fortress! Preposterous! The Audacity! The betrayal…" He said the last word solemnly.
"Sorry–" Tony began feeling a bit bad but Master Splinter stuck his hand out.
"Shush! I'm not done with my tale!" He said as they continued weaving through traffic the truck got closer and closer.
"I was not going to be some commoner house pet, I was more than that! I still had my pride! So I decided I was going to come no matter what! So when I heard you went to retrieve your last parcel of food, I snuck my way inside, without any of your knowledge!" He said triumphantly.
"I remained inside as you lot explored the realm of the Quantum, and when that giant explosion happened I thought we would be goners. But thank my lucky stars we managed to make it out in one piece. As you all went out and introduced yourselves, I grew to became quite peckish. So I ate as I waited, I unwillingly fell asleep. And when I awoke you were all getting attacked by robots, and just when I was about to make my introduction, just when I was about to show the fury of my furry paws… I saw her… The True definition of Asian beauty… My Mademoiselle!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"And then I somehow found my way half across the world coincidentally enough…" He finished by rubbing the back of his helmet.
"If you loved her so, why did you leave her and come with us? I mean I would have thought you would be pissed off that we left you behind?" Melissa asked.
"Because of Fate, my young maiden!" Master Splinter exclaimed passionately, "I somehow found myself in a whole new world, halfway across the world as far from everyone as possible! And yet… Against all odds, against all coincidences, we reunited."
Master Splinter let out a heavy, heartfelt sigh, "It must mean my journey with you all is not over… That the place I belong is not with some beautiful woman I just met… But with my family… With you guys"
"Aww!" Melissa, Tony, and Natasha exclaimed in a heartfelt manner. Melissa has a hand on her chest as she was touched by his words.
Master Splinter looked back towards the distance, in the direction of the research facility, "Just as fate reunited us against all odds, if our love is truly meant to be, then this surely won't be our last meeting…"
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