The private jet began its descent through the clouds, and Peter Parker reluctantly climbed down from the ceiling.
For the past several hours, he had spent nearly every minute testing his new Spider-Man suit.
From wall-crawling to acrobatic flips, he had explored every feature he could think of.
If Happy Hogan hadn’t been trying desperately to sleep, Peter probably would have spent the entire flight bouncing from one end of the cabin to the other.
Now, however, reality was returning.
Berlin.
Germany.
His first overseas mission.
Peter looked down at the sleek red-and-blue suit covering his body and hesitated.
Maybe he should take it off before landing?
Just as he reached for the chest emblem, Happy opened one eye.
“You don’t need to take it off.”
Peter froze.
“Huh?”
“Tony gave it to you.”
Happy rubbed his forehead.
“It’s yours.”
Peter blinked.
“Mine?”
“Yes.”
“Like…
actually mine?”
“Yes.”
“Forever mine?”
Happy slowly turned his head.
“Peter.”
“Yeah?”
“If you ask that question one more time, I’m throwing you out of the plane.”
Peter immediately shut his mouth.
But the excitement couldn’t be hidden.
This wasn’t just any suit.
This was a suit personally designed by Tony Stark.
A suit that probably cost more than every possession Peter owned combined.
His homemade Spider-Man suit suddenly felt like something stitched together from old curtains.
A huge grin spread across Peter’s face.
The Stark Initiative Program.
That was what Tony had mentioned earlier.
Peter hadn’t fully understood it at the time.
Now he did.
And he loved it.
Happy watched him quietly celebrate before continuing.
“After we land, you’ll stay at the hotel.”
Peter nodded.
“Then?”
“When Tony calls, you’ll move.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
Peter leaned back.
Simple enough.
This was basically a business trip.
A very weird business trip involving superheroes.
As the plane continued descending, Peter came up with a brilliant idea.
Keep the Spider-Man suit on underneath his clothes.
Carry the mask separately.
Then, if trouble appeared, he could simply remove his jacket and transform instantly.
No changing rooms.
No excuses.
No awkward delays.
Peter gave himself a silent thumbs-up.
Genius.
Absolute genius.
Meanwhile…
Across Berlin.
Beneath a deserted overpass.
Steve Rogers stood beside a worn vehicle.
Moments earlier, he had received critical assistance from Sharon Carter.
Through her help, Captain America, Bucky Barnes, and Sam Wilson had acquired transportation, equipment, and a path forward.
Most importantly—
They had acquired time.
Not much.
But enough.
Bucky’s expression remained grim.
Ever since recovering from HYDRA’s mental conditioning, fragments of buried memories had returned.
And those memories terrified him.
Years ago, he hadn’t been the only Winter Soldier.
There had been others.
Five more.
Each one enhanced.
Each one trained to kill.
Each one more dangerous than ordinary super soldiers.
Worse still…
The mysterious mastermind behind the recent chaos knew exactly where they were.
The bombing.
The framing.
The assassination.
The manipulation of international politics.
Everything had been carefully orchestrated.
The true target was never Bucky Barnes.
He was merely a tool.
A trigger.
A spark meant to ignite conflict between the Avengers.
Steve understood that now.
And that realization made the situation far more dangerous.
Because if those five soldiers were awakened…
Entire nations could fall.
“We have to reach Siberia first,” Steve said firmly.
Sam nodded.
Bucky remained silent.
Nearby, new allies had already arrived.
Clint Barton.
Wanda Maximoff.
Scott Lang.
Six people.
A small team standing against the weight of governments and international law.
Yet none of them intended to back down.
They were preparing the helicopter when suddenly—
CRACK!
A burst of energy struck from above.
The helicopter’s rotor instantly died.
Sparks erupted.
Smoke curled into the air.
Everyone looked upward.
A familiar voice echoed across the tarmac.
“Well…
this is awkward.”
Steve closed his eyes.
Tony.
Iron Man landed with a thunderous impact.
BOOM!
A second armored figure landed beside him.
James Rhodes.
War Machine.
Then more figures emerged.
One after another.
Natasha Romanoff.
Vision.
King T’Challa.
Government operatives.
The opposing side had arrived.
And they had come prepared.
The atmosphere instantly became suffocating.
Both groups faced each other across the runway.
Friends.
Teammates.
Comrades who had fought side by side countless times.
Now standing on opposite sides.
No one wanted this.
Yet everyone understood it was inevitable.
Tony took several steps forward.
His helmet retracted.
His face looked exhausted.
Frustrated.
Almost disappointed.
“General Ross gave me thirty-six hours.”
Steve remained silent.
“Twenty-four have already passed.”
Tony sighed.
“Come with us.”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
Tony expected it.
That somehow made it worse.
“Steve…”
His voice softened slightly.
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”
Steve stepped forward.
“You’ve got the wrong target.”
“No.”
Tony’s expression hardened.
“I think you do.”
Bucky’s jaw tightened.
The tension continued rising.
Then another voice broke the silence.
King T’Challa.
“My father is dead.”
His gaze settled upon Bucky.
“And I intend to see justice done.”
The pain behind those words was impossible to miss.
Steve understood.
He truly did.
But understanding didn’t change the truth.
“Bucky didn’t kill your father.”
“Then prove it.”
No one had an answer.
Not yet.
Natasha stepped forward.
Her expression unusually serious.
“Steve.”
The old familiarity remained in her voice.
“Do you really want to fight us?”
Steve looked around.
Tony.
Natasha.
Rhodes.
Vision.
T’Challa.
Friends.
People he trusted.
People he respected.
And yet—
“I don’t have a choice.”
The words landed heavily.
Tony stared at him for several seconds.
Then he rubbed his face.
“Great.”
His patience finally snapped.
“Fine.”
He activated his communicator.
“Kid.”
Everyone frowned.
Kid?
“What kid?”
Sam muttered.
Tony smirked.
“You’ll see.”
Behind a nearby airport vehicle.
Peter Parker’s eyes widened.
His cue had arrived.
His heart immediately started racing.
This was it.
His first real superhero mission.
His first operation alongside the Avengers.
His first encounter with Captain America.
No pressure.
Absolutely no pressure.
Peter nearly hyperventilated.
Then he remembered Tony’s instructions.
Get the shield.
Simple.
Easy.
Probably.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
Peter inhaled deeply.
Then moved.
WHOOSH!
A red-and-blue blur launched from cover.
Everyone’s attention shifted.
A web shot through the air.
Captain America’s eyes widened.
Too late.
THWIP!
The web attached directly to the vibranium shield.
The shield flew free.
Steve instinctively grabbed for it—
But Peter was stronger.
The shield ripped from his grasp.
A second web followed immediately.
THWIP!
The web grenade exploded around Steve’s wrist.
SNAP!
Instant restraints.
For a brief moment…
The battlefield fell silent.
Everyone stared.
Including Steve.
Including Tony.
Including Peter himself.
Wait.
That actually worked?
Peter landed dramatically.
Shield spinning in one hand.
Perfect superhero pose.
Perfect balance.
Perfect entrance.
He couldn’t help smiling.
Tony immediately pointed.
“See that?”
“See what?”
“I told you the kid was useful.”
Peter beamed beneath the mask.
“Thanks, Mr.
Stark!”
Then he paused.
“Although…”
Tony groaned.
Here we go.
“I think my landing could’ve been cooler.”
Rhodes burst out laughing.
Even Natasha looked amused.
Peter continued enthusiastically.
“Oh, and while we’re discussing things—”
“No.”
“What?”
“We’re not discussing it.”
“But I didn’t even say—”
“I know exactly what you’re going to say.”
Peter pointed accusingly.
“That’s profiling.”
Tony ignored him.
“Focus.”
Peter sighed dramatically.
Then he turned.
And finally looked directly at Steve Rogers.
Captain America.
The Captain America.
The legend.
The living symbol.
Peter’s brain immediately stopped functioning.
“Oh wow.”
Steve raised an eyebrow.
“Oh wow?”
“You’re actually real.”
“…Yes?”
“I mean, obviously you’re real.”
Peter pointed at him.
“But you’re like…
historically real.”
Sam buried his face in his hands.
Tony looked ready to leave.
Peter kept going.
“You’re in my textbooks.”
Steve blinked.
“Okay.”
“And gym class.”
“Gym class?”
“Yeah!”
Peter nodded enthusiastically.
“We watch those old training videos.”
Tony immediately lost control and laughed.
Natasha turned away to hide her smile.
Even Steve looked embarrassed.
Peter realized what he had said.
“Oh no.”
He pointed at himself.
“I’m a huge fan.”
Then pointed at Steve.
“No wait.”
“That’s not right.”
He froze.
“My idol?”
Worse.
“You’re my fan?”
Much worse.
Peter covered his face.
“Oh my God.”
The entire airport fell silent.
Then Sam Wilson started laughing.
Then Rhodey.
Then Natasha.
Within seconds, half the airport was struggling not to laugh.
Even Steve couldn’t stop a smile from appearing.
Only Tony Stark looked completely satisfied.
Because at that moment he realized something important.
Peter Parker had just managed to make both sides forget they were about to fight.
For one brief moment…
The Civil War stopped.
And everyone simply laughed.
Unfortunately—
That moment wouldn’t last.
Because the next second, alarms began sounding across the airport.
Both teams immediately returned to combat stances.
The smiles vanished.
The laughter faded.
And the reality of the situation returned.
Friends stood on opposite sides.
Neither side willing to surrender.
Neither side willing to retreat.
The battle everyone had been trying to avoid was finally here.
The Avengers were about to go to war with each other.
And Peter Parker was standing right in the middle of it.