(Attendance please…)
….
The two children, a girl and a slightly older boy, barrelled down the stairs, their happy laughter filling the farmhouse.
They made a beeline straight for Clint, launching themselves into his arms for a group hug.
Clint, his tough archer exterior melting away, hugged them back tightly, a genuine, joyful smile on his face.
He lifted the little girl, kissing her on the top of her head. "Hey, buddy!" he said warmly. "How have you all been doing? Look at your face… don't tell me you haven't been eating your vegetables again. Because if not, then it will be bad, just like you promised me."
The little girl, Lila, looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Did you bring Auntie Nat?" she asked, her voice hopeful.
Natasha, who had been sitting quietly at the table, stood up, a rare, soft smile gracing her features. "Why don't you come and see for yourself, munchkin?" she said. Lila eagerly ran to her, and Natasha enveloped her in a warm hug.
Gojo, meanwhile, was observing this domestic scene with an expression of utter bewilderment, as if he'd wandered into a zoo exhibit he hadn't been expecting. "So, am I the only one who's completely confused here?" he finally blurted out, looking around at the other Avengers.
"Or was I the only one genuinely surprised? Because, honestly, I thought he didn't even have a girlfriend, let alone a wife and children… Huh. Don't tell me, this is a secret family, right? Classic spy stuff."
Steve, ever polite, stepped forward. "Sorry for barging in on you all like this, Mrs. Barton," he said to Laura.
"Yeah," Tony added, a touch of his usual flippancy returning. "We would have called ahead, but we were operating under the distinct impression that you, uh, didn't exist."
Clint chuckled, ruffling his son's hair. "Yeah, well, Fury helped me set it all up when I first joined S.H.I.E.L.D.," he explained. "He kept it completely off their files, off everyone's radar. And I'd like to keep it that way. I figured it would be a good, safe place for us to lay low for a while…"
Lila, having extracted herself from Natasha's hug, now turned her attention to the most unusual-looking newcomer. She toddled over to Gojo, her eyes wide with curiosity as she looked up at his white hair and dark, round glasses. "Wow," she said, her voice filled with childlike wonder. "You have white hair! And cool glasses? Do you work with my daddy?"
Gojo squatted down to her level, a playful grin spreading across his face. He gently, perhaps a little too roughly, patted Lila's head. "Of course, I do!" he declared in an overly dramatic, booming voice.
"Do you know how many times I've helped your dad? He always relies on me! I'm practically his partner... We're still working out the details."
He leaned in conspiratorially. "Hey, do you want to see something cool?" he whispered, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses.
"You know, I can even make people into superheroes. Just like that!" He snapped his fingers. "Do you want to play with the awesome me?" he finished, his voice now a goofy, inviting singsong.
Lila, clutching a small, well-loved teddy bear, beamed, her eyes shining with excitement. It was clear she hadn't heard something so thrilling in a long time. "Really?" she gasped. "Can I go, Daddy? Please? I'll eat all my vegetables! All of them!" she pleaded, looking up at Clint and Laura.
Clint, though a little surprised by Gojo's sudden offer and his daughter's enthusiastic response, managed a smile.
"Yeah, why not, sweetie?" he said. He then looked at Gojo, a slightly warning tone in his voice. "Though, don't do anything too dangerous, Satoru. Keep the superhero-making to a minimum, okay?"
Gojo looked offended, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "Who the hell do you think I am?" he exclaimed.
"I am the most capable, most responsible person in anything and everything! Responsible is my middle name… well, not really, but you get the idea."
Lila, not waiting for further permission, grabbed Gojo's pinky finger with her small hand and began to eagerly drag him towards the door, clearly ready for an adventure.
It was evident that living in such isolation, while safe, had its disadvantages for the children; they rarely had the chance to play with anyone new.
That's why Lila was so incredibly happy at the simple thought of playing with someone, even if that someone was a very strange, very powerful adult with white hair and a goofy smile.
….
Meanwhile, at a Secure Military Location – United States
Far from the peaceful, hidden farmhouse, the atmosphere was one of grim determination and controlled urgency. Rows of soldiers, clad in combat gear, were being briefed and equipped.
They were preparing to roll out on a high-stakes mission, an operation with a single, clear objective: capture Gojo Satoru, dead or alive, though alive was strongly preferred.
The military had already established a perimeter around Avengers Tower, anticipating the team's return, ready to apprehend the individual now being branded as a potential terrorist.
General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, a man known for his unyielding nature and his long, contentious history with super-powered individuals, was the commander of this entire operation.
The reports that had landed on his desk, the ones detailing Gojo Satoru's abilities and his alleged HYDRA origins, were almost too good to be true.
If they could just capture this "Gojo Satoru" and bring him in for study, for experimentation… the reports openly suggested that the process by which he gained his powers could potentially be replicated.
Ross envisioned it: entire squads, even an army, of super-soldiers, each capable of toppling a threat like the Hulk.
At that point, the need for initiatives like the Avengers, with their independent agendas and often frustrating disregard for authority, would become obsolete.
The United States would have full, unshakeable control. Ross had been promised significant rewards, promotions, and accolades if this operation was successful.
The final go-ahead, the direct authorization from the President to secure this "HYDRA experiment" at all costs, was already in motion, and could come as soon as it come.
For now, they were operating within the tighter constraints of existing military regulations. But once that presidential green light came through, the gloves would be off. Gojo Satoru would be in their hands, sooner or later.
The Avengers were powerful, yes, but even they would find it difficult to openly defy a direct order from the President of the United States, especially when it concerned a perceived national security threat.
The potential was staggering. If they could indeed produce super-soldiers based on this "Gojo Satoru" template, America would become the undisputed leading power on the planet.
They could repel any future alien invasions like the Chitauri attack on New York with ease. Even beings like Loki and Thor, literal gods from another realm, wouldn't pose nearly as much of a problem. The world order would shift, decisively. Of course in favor to the America.
A soldier, his face set and serious, came running up to General Ross, who was hunched over a holographic map, meticulously forming his plan of action. The soldier snapped to attention, saluting sharply.
"Sir!" the soldier reported, his voice crisp. "Avengers haven't returned to the Tower, or any other known Stark property. We are still actively monitoring every known property belonging to Tony Stark, and any suspected hidden bases or safe houses. It seems, sir… it seems someone may have already informed them about something. They are most likely in hiding."
Ross looked up from the anonymously sent report he had been rereading, his eyes narrowing.
"A leak?" he growled, his voice a low rumble of displeasure. "Or a spy within our own ranks?" He slammed a fist on the table.
"Find out how they knew so fast! I want a full internal review, immediately! And double-check everything! Triple-check! I want them back on our radar as soon as humanly possible if they're in hiding. They can't stay hidden forever."
The soldier hardened at the direct order, his posture even more rigid. "Sir, yes, sir!" he replied, then turned on his heel and hurried off to carry out the General's commands.
Ross watched him go, a grim satisfaction mixed with frustration on his face. The hunt for Gojo Satoru was ON.
….
A/N: So, How was it? And a BTS Pietro and wanda are fully tied and unconscious in the barn at clint house side. And they wont be conscious for a while. Nick fury will be in the next chapter.
Q: Should Gojo go with Tony to retrive Jarvis or with captain to retrieve vision body in cradle for Jarvis.
-Captain
-Tony
And as always thanks for demicatoru/loadedDemigod for suggestions.
And join my discord for discussion if you like. Or about sharing your thoughts.
you can join my discord server: https://discord.gg/5Y7uZ2kN2Y
Or in short just click in join via invite link in your discord and enter this code: 5Y7uZ2kN