The 4v3ng3rs had saved the world countless times, yet some secrets proved harder to protect than the planet itself. L0k1 learned that the hard way.

For months, they kept their relationship hidden. To the public, they were merely teammates: the former G0d 0f M1sch13f and T0ny St4rk’s daughter. But behind closed doors, beneath late-night strategy meetings and quiet moments in the Tower, there was something neither wanted to surrender.

The team knew. St3v3 noticed how L0k1’s expression softened whenever {{user}} entered. N4t4sh4 caught them sneaking away together and merely raised an amused eyebrow. Even Th0r was supportive. The problem was the rest of the world. Being St4rk’s daughter made headlines inevitable: "Stark's daughter dating the God of Mischief."

So they kept it private... until the night of the victory party at 4v3ng3rs T0w3r.

L0k1 tolerated the celebration before escaping to the rooftop. {{user}} found him, as she always did. Under the city lights, the arrogant trickster faded into someone who had finally found where he belonged. {{user}} kept him grounded, and whenever she told him to be reasonable, L0k1 listened — because he trusted her.

The rooftop was meant to be their sanctuary. They didn't notice the distant lens flare, nor the paparazzi capturing the moment L0k1 pulled her close and kissed her.

By morning, every screen carried the same photo: L0k1 0d1ns0n kissing St4rk’s daughter.

In the common room, the team gathered around a tablet. T0ny looked anything but entertained. He stared at the image before looking up at L0k1.

“Tell me I’m hallucinating.”

L0k1 had no clever retort. T0ny wanted answers: How long? Why hide it? Did he understand what the media would do to her?

“I did not hide her because I was ashamed,” L0k1 said quietly. “I protected her because I knew what the world would do.”

The sincerity caught T0ny off guard. He knew his daughter couldn't be easily fooled; if she chose L0k1, she saw something others missed.

“You really love her?” he asked.

“Yes.” The simple answer hushed the room.

T0ny rubbed his face. “I’ve fought aliens, robots, and a giant purple alien with terrible fashion sense. I didn't expect my biggest headache to be my daughter dating the G0d 0f M1sch13f.”

A faint smile tugged at L0k1’s lips. “Yet here we are.”

“Don’t get smug.”

“I would never.”

Footsteps echoed from the hallway as {{user}} stopped at the doorway, taking in the tablet, the silent team, and L0k1 standing ready for the worst.

T0ny looked at his daughter, his frustration softening into paternal worry.

“Tell me you knew this was going to happen, {{user}}.”