One Month Later:
United Nations' Building:
"As you all know, two tyrants that have been rampaging across the multiverse decided to pay us a visit around a month ago," Tony began, standing in front of not only the UN council, but also a large gathering of reporters and flashing cameras. "One was Victor von Doom, the ruler of Latveria, and the other was a time-travelling conqueror called Kang the Conqueror.
Both parties posed a threat to our universe as we know it, but thanks to the joint efforts of the Avengers, the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj, the forces of Wakanda and our allies from across the galaxy, this threat has been vanquished."
"Mr. Stark, reports show that the country of Latveria is no more than a scorched crater after the battle. Care to explain what happened there?"
"That was because of an orbital cannon used by the villain Kang."
"And what of Wakanda, which has been nuked with bombs surpassing the Tsar Bombs?" another reported asked and Tony shook his head.
"There is no need to worry. Thanks to the help of the Masters of the Mystic Arts, we have repaired said country and provided aid and relief to their people as I'm sure King T'Challa can attest."
"That is correct, yes," T'Challa spoke from his seat, to which the leaders of the world frowned as Tony pointed to a reporter from CBS News.
"What of Wakanda's near-infinite supply of vibranium?"
"Unfortunately, that was lost in the explosion as the bombs were lined with what I am told to be impact reflection sigils."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that as the vibranium absorbed and reflected the kinetic energy of the bombs, they instead were stuck in an infinite loop of absorb and reflect over and over until the entire mineral cave overloaded and blew up," Tony explained before turning to a BBC reporter.
"And where was Pietro Maximoff during this?" she asked and Tony smirked as T'Challa cleared his throat.
"I believe I can answer this, Mr. Stark."
"Go ahead, your Majesty," T'Challa nodded before turning to the reporter in question as several cameras turned to him.
"If it were not from the efforts of Pietro Maximoff, the citizens of Wakanda would not be here today. Before the weapons detonated, Pietro Maximoff single-handedly carried thousands of my people miles away from the blast radius.
Doing so over at the speeds he did tore numerous muscles and nearly forced all of his internal organs to collapse. Wakanda lives today because he chose to bleed for us."
A heavy silence fell over the room as he finished speaking, the reporter that had thought to get a big scoop looking a bit embarrassed as she heard the soft snickers of her company's rivals.
"I-I see. Is he recovering, your Majesty?"
"He is, and he is currently under the protection of both the Wakandan Crown and the Masters of the Mystic Arts. The young man has given enough for this universe. We shall now allow him to live out his life in peace."
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Maximoff Chalet, Swiss Alps:
"We shall now allow him to live out his life in peace."
"Told you they'd make it sound heroic," I smirked at Yelena's scoff as she sat in one of the sofas of the chalet, resting in the arms of her boyfriend who still couldn't believe his new life.
"A-Are you sure I shouldn't pay you back for this or something?" Bob, or Sentry, asked, looking a bit bewildered as I chuckled and shook my head.
"Nah, man. As long as you manage to keep that one from spazzing out, it's all good," It had taken a lot for me to get the guy to not go on a rampage, especially with how volatile his emotions were when we first met.
Thankfully, he managed to calm down when he recognised me from the live broadcast Tony and I did to the rest of the world and especially calmed down when I took him to meet Steve.
Turns out the super soldier was a very good therapist and with some help and light flirting from Yelena, the guy was now able to control some of his powers.
There was always the threat of his dark side coming out like that one time with Hulk and Thor, but nothing close to that incident has happened so far.
So much anger was released by the green behemoth that day and I think that's the first time I heard Thor shriek like a banshee when Hulk threw him head first into Sentry's chest.
"I am not a 'spaz'," Yelena grumbled, but she didn't move an inch from where she was lying, "and for the record, he keeps me calm just as much as I keep him calm."
"The 'no government tracking and no labs' helps me a lot in that department," Bob spoke, a smile spreading across his face as I laughed while she swatted his arm with a glare.
"Just for that, you can sleep on the couch."
"It's still as big as our bed here."
"...True," As she said that, I turned my head when the heavy front doors were pushed in. A sudden gust blew through the room followed by boisterous laughter.
"How was the bonding?"
"Never again," Nat spoke with a snort as she walked into the house, both her and Melina walking arm-in-arm while Alexei carried a gigantic crater over his shoulder.
"We are moving in, silver son of mine!" he shouted with a grin, putting the crater down with a heavy thud before turning to Bob, "and you and I are wrestling tomorrow! I wish to see how strong the blonde son of mine is!"
"Uh..."
"If I can help, just pin him down for a three count and you'll be fine," Bob didn't look any bit relieved by my words, but my attention was taken away as a curtain of red hair fell into my lap. "You doing okay?"
"Just tired," Nat murmured, resting her head in my lap as I smiled and ran my fingers through her scalp.
"I get it, but we're going to have to take it slow for now."
"You still have not healed?"
"Turns out that tearing apart your body while running on an empty stomach results in injuries that take a while to heal even for a speedster," Melina hummed at my reply as she sat down in the love-seat, Alexei deciding to take the third sofa for himself.
"What are we watching?"
"News."
"Bah! Put on The Method."
"We're not watching the Method for a seventh time, Alexei."
"Why not? It's good show."
"No, put on Love Island."
"Ugh, no."
"Nat, let your sister pick," I hid my smirk as Nat rose from my lap to give Melina an incredulous stare.
"Excuse me, but this is my boyfriend's house. That means I get to pick what we watch."
"I wouldn't mind watching Love Island," I replied, laughing as she turned to me with a flat stare.
"Really?"
"Not in the slightest, no. Put on some Pewdiepie or Markiplier."
"U-Uh, I don't think I can watch any more horror gameplay videos," Bob chimed in and Alexei snorted.
"Pansy. Real man sees ghost and you punch through its head."
"Oi, don't call my boyfriend a pansy."
"Yes, Alexei. Do not call my son-in-law a pansy," Melina agreed, but that just made the couple in question blush as Nat and I shared an amused smirk.
"Well, it looks like the chalet's going to be lively for the next couple of days, huh?"
"That it is," she muttered, leaning into my chest as I wrapped an arm around her while watching the family begin another argument.
"... I thought you loved Love Island?"
"I do, but I don't want Yelena to win."
"Right, you sisters like fighting."
"Pietro!"
"Speaking of sisters," I muttered as the door was opened once more, Wanda waltzing in this time with a happy smile as Vision came in moments later.
"Pietro!"
"Wanda, I'm alive. You don't have to shout my name every time I don't respond."
"If you don't reply, how do I know you're alive?" she asked as she hugged Nat and I over the back of the sofa while Vision nodded in greeting.
"Evening, everyone. I wish we did not intrude on such a late time, but Wanda was insistent on making sure that Pietro was not, and I quote, 'being a suicidal moron this late'."
"No problem, Vis. I'm used to her worrying," I replied, chuckling as Wanda let out an indignant gasp and playfully smacked my shoulder. She did look a lot happier to see me than when I first saw her, having decided to treat my other's death as no more than a fake-out.
Was that a sign of an unstable mind? Yep, but as long as she didn't go full Scarlet Witch, I think everyone was going to be okay.
"Just for that, you're no longer the best man."
"The only other options are Tony, Thor, Hulk and Steve," I replied, not surprised when she just stared at me before rolling her eyes with a huff, "and don't worry about me running. Right now, the fastest I can go is from here to the fridge."
"Good, let's keep it that way until we need you to pull someone from space again."
"Nonsense, Natalia!"Alexei bellowed with a grin. "A true warrior of spirit does not rest until he has broken every bone in his body. Bob! Me, you and Pietro will be running twenty times up and down the mountains to determine who is the fastest among us."
"Alexei, I need help unpacking the kitchen boxes, remember?" Melina spoke up at the pleading looks from Bob and I, drawing a snort from the man.
"You have your mind-control soup to find others."
"One more word about my soup and I will test the latest batch on your vodka."
"You wouldn't dare," he replied, to which she just smiled calmly as she went back to reading the book she had picked up from the table.
I on the other hand smiled as I watched the room. Wanda was giggling at something Vision whispered to her as they sat on the sofa next to Bob and Yelena, who had decided to settle for a simple episode of Malcolm in the Middle.
Alexei on the other hand opened the crate he had been carrying, pulling out a bottle of vodka and downing half the bottle with a blissful smile.
"You're smiling," Nat whispered, looking up as I looked down to stare into her eyes.
"Just happy, honestly. I got a hot girlfriend and enough money for the both of us to live comfortably for the rest of our lives."
"Same," she muttered, leaning into my grasp with a giggle. "So, what's the first thing we're doing as retired heroes?"
"...Want to go to Italy?"
A/N: And with that, we're finally done here!
A much shorter story than most, but hey, at least I finally finished a Marvel Story.
The next one, we're continuing with either Second Son or Devilish Gaming. Who knows, though?
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Good Ba-bye~!!
A/N: And that, my brilliant readers, is the official, definitive, and deeply earned final curtain on this incredible, high-velocity journey! Pietro went from running cross-country bets with Tony Stark's black cards to single-handedly saving an entire civilization, managing the world's most volatile superhero, and earning his absolute, unmonitored peace in the mountains alongside Natalia and their beautifully chaotic family.
Thank you all so much for reading, reviewing, and tracking the speedster metrics with me across this entire story! It has been an absolute, legendary run from start to finish.
Until the next adventure...
Ba-Bye~!!