Wayne’s Super Brain hadn’t even spun up before Susan changed the subject.
“Alright, drop it for now.”
Her face turned serious.
“Reed analyzed the energy signature that silver guy gave off earlier today.
Same frequency band showed up on multiple planets that got completely wiped out.”
“So what he said was real.”
Susan looked out the window at the stars.
“The threat from Galactus is legitimate… Have you ever run into him out there?”
Wayne gave a small shake of his head.
“Never met him.
Heard of him, though.”
Susan’s eyes brightened.
She stayed quiet while Wayne laid out what he knew about Galactus.
The raw power levels were enough to make her pause, but the more she thought about it… Galactus might not actually be able to take her cute Wayne.
That brought back the line Johnny loved repeating: “My brother’s invincible.”
Even if the other guy came from space.
The knot in her chest loosened a good amount, but she still wasn’t about to let Wayne handle it alone.
“Tony Stark called Reed.
He wants to sit down and figure out a plan together… We said yes.
More hands on deck never hurts.”
She explained that Stark Tower was still being rebuilt after the Battle of New York, so the meeting was happening here at the Baxter Building.
Wayne didn’t react one way or the other, so Susan let it go.
She leaned against him, closed her eyes, and made it clear she planned to sleep right there.
Wayne stared at the ceiling and spoke in a low, slightly awkward voice.
“Susan.
Your room’s next door.”
“Shh.
I’m tired.
Sleeping here tonight.”
She nuzzled into his neck.
“This way you don’t have to be scared of the dark either.
You’re welcome.”
“…”
Since when was he scared of the dark?
Who the hell ever heard of Superman afraid of the dark?
He glanced at her.
Her breathing had already evened out.
Wayne kept staring at the ceiling a moment longer, then gave up and closed his eyes.
…
The next day a Quinjet settled onto the landing pad on top of the Baxter Building.
The ramp dropped and the original Avengers filed out: Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Thor, Hulk Bruce Banner, original Ant-Man Hank Pym, and the original Wasp Janet van Dyne.
In this universe the Avengers had formed more like the comics version.
No S.H.I.E.L.D.
pulling the strings.
Just the heroes deciding to team up on their own.
“Baxter Building welcomes you, Captain Rogers.”
“No, the Avengers should be thanking you for the assist, Mr.
Richards.”
Reed stepped up and shook Steve’s hand.
A few polite words later everyone got the quick introductions.
Johnny and Steve locked eyes and both looked stunned.
Neither had expected to see a face that similar.
Johnny leaned toward Wayne and muttered,
“Damn bro, you called it.”
The Captain really did share the same face as the Human Torch.
When the talk finally reached Wayne, Tony cut in.
“We’ve met, kid.
That stunt you pulled during the Chitauri invasion scared the hell out of me.”
They hadn’t exchanged more than a few words during the Battle of New York, but Wayne wiping out the entire Chitauri force in seconds and then casually tossing Loki into a cell had left Tony, and Loki himself, completely speechless.
“Since you already know each other, that makes this easier.
Let’s head inside.”
Reed led the group into the Baxter Building.
As Tony walked past Wayne he tossed out a grin.
“Say hi to the Kents for me.”
“…”
It was the Storms who adopted me.
Wayne knew Tony was just messing with him.
His connection to Susan and Johnny was public knowledge.
Anyone who bothered looking would find the whole story in five minutes.
They filed into the conference room.
Reed brought up the projection first.
The energy frequency from the Silver Surfer had shown up on multiple planets that no longer existed.
That was enough reason to treat the Galactus warning as real.
Tony and the others didn’t argue.
Their own data matched.
Then came the next point.
“Thor, your old man say anything useful?”
Thor’s brow furrowed.
“The great All-Father Odin advised me it would be wisest to abandon Midgard.”
Johnny nearly came out of his seat.
What the hell did that mean?
Ben clamped a hand on his shoulder and held him down.
Without that, the hot-headed Human Torch would have tried swinging on the Asgardian even knowing he’d lose.
Thor understood the weight of what he’d just said.
“Rest easy.
The God of Thunder will defend Midgard to his last breath.”
He had rejected Odin’s advice.
His friends and the woman he loved were on Earth.
Walking away was never an option.
“Looks like Galactus really is that dangerous if even Odin’s this cautious.”
Reed waved a hand.
A holographic spaceship appeared.
“My plan is to track the residual energy trail, use the warp drive to reach Galactus’s position, and negotiate.
Convince him to leave Earth alone.”
“Hold up.”
Tony raised the hand holding his pen.
The pose looked casual, but his face was dead serious.
“What if negotiations fall through?
You got a backup?”
Wayne answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“No problem.
If talks fail, I’ll just go beat him up.”
He expected the scientists to be the first ones objecting.
Instead it was Steve.
“Kid, I know you’re strong.
Stronger than Thor or the Hulk.”
“Hey, I object to that.”
Thor started to protest.
Steve ignored him.
“Doesn’t matter how strong you are.
I will not support sending a child onto the battlefield.
That would be our failure.”
Steve looked around the table.
“Galactus is too dangerous.
We cannot put this on a kid’s shoulders.”
Wayne: “Even if the kid can lift the Sun with one hand?”
“Yeah, even if the kid can… What the fuck?!”
Wayne’s calm delivery completely broke Steve’s composure.
“Ahem.
Captain.
Language.”
“I know, Tony.
Thanks.”
Steve dragged in a long breath, forced himself steady, and met Wayne’s eyes again.
“Yes.
I still stand by it.
Even if this child can lift the Sun with one hand.”
It was principle.
Wayne held the stare without flinching.
“And I stand by mine.
I’m not sitting here while Susan and Johnny are in danger.”
Johnny couldn’t find words.
He just clapped Wayne hard on the shoulder.
Susan pulled him into a tight hug.
Steve stayed quiet for a long moment, then let out a heavy sigh.
He couldn’t force someone else’s will.
If only he were stronger, a child wouldn’t have to step onto that field.
Thor rested a hand on Steve’s shoulder.
“He is a warrior.”