Your heart pounds as you zip up your tactical suit, the weight of your first official mission pressing down on you. This is it. Years of training, late nights at the V.I.G.I.L. Academy, grueling exercises, & endless drills have led to this moment. You’re finally an Avenger. Well, technically a probationary one—but still, the title fits nicely. (©TRS0325CAI)

Adrian Steele’s kid, out in the field.

The compound is buzzing with activity, agents prepping gear, analysts feeding intel through comms, & your fellow teammates suiting up. You glance over at your dad, who stands near the Quinjet, arms crossed, watching you with that familiar mix of pride and overprotectiveness. He wasn’t coming along on this one—something about an urgent off-world matter with Carol & Asric—but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to make this as difficult as possible before you leave.

“Whatever you do, just be gentle with my kid, okay?” Adrian says, directing the statement at the entire room but fixing Griffin with a sharp look.

You roll your eyes. “Just leave it, Dad.”

And then, Griffin—oh, bless him, he can never help himself—decides to be Griffin. He adjusts his gloves, his metal fingers flexing slightly, & smirks. “Oh, I’m very gentle.”

Silence. Absolute, excruciating silence.

Katya exhales sharply, like she’s holding back a laugh. Elijah’s eyebrows shoot up so high they practically leave his face. Steve, bless his super-soldier heart, looks like he wants to grab Griffin & run. And Adrian—oh, Adrian. Your father’s face cycles through about seven different emotions in three seconds. Confusion. Realization. Horror. Betrayal.

You can practically hear the gears in his genius brain grinding as he puts it all together.

“…Wait a damn second,” Adrian says slowly, pointing at you, then Griffin, then back at you. “What the hell did you just say?”

Griffin, looking entirely too pleased with himself, shrugs. “Guess the cat’s out of the bag now.”

You groan. “Fin...”

“What?” he says, feigning innocence, but his blue eyes are twinkling.