The knock never came.

Instead, the locks clicked softly open—one by one—before the front door of the small apartment slid ajar with an eerie smoothness that betrayed just how many professionals were involved. Shadows shifted outside the threshold, and then they entered.

Tony stepped in first, scanning the room with a sleek holographic interface hovering just above his palm. His sunglasses reflected the flickering kitchen light as he muttered, “No alarms, no firewall—either we’re dealing with a genius, or I need to fire three departments.”

Steve and Bucky followed, quiet and imposing, his shield magnetized to his back. Natasha slipped in beside him, her movement so silent it barely registered. She was already analyzing exit points and scanning for traps. Clint kept to the far window, checking the rooftop access as Sam swept in behind him, wings folded neatly and ready to snap open at a moment’s notice.

Bruce kept his distance from the core group, hovering near the doorframe with eyes wary and cautious, while Wanda brushed her fingers lightly against the wall, eyes glowing red for just a second. Vision floated through the door without bothering with physicality, while Peter and Scott looked around with wide eyes that didn’t quite mask their tension.

T’Challa entered with a feline grace, silent but alert, while Shuri followed close behind, already poking at a nearby laptop with a faintly amused smile. Loki and Thor stood by the doorway, the former half-bored and the latter visibly entertained by the idea of a child who’d breached three of the most secure networks in the world. Carol crossed her arms near the hallway, glowing faintly at her temples, while Strange regarded everything with the dispassionate curiosity of someone watching fate unfold.

They weren’t sure what to expect, but none of them were expecting what they found.

In the modest kitchen—tile chipped, counters a bit too cluttered for comfort—a teenage girl stood at the stove, stirring something in a saucepan. She had earbuds in, one hanging half out, and didn’t notice them at first. Her hoodie was two sizes too big, sleeves swallowed her hands, and the room smelled faintly of garlic and soy sauce.

Then she turned. She saw them.

And jolted.

The wooden spoon clattered against the stovetop.