Evans House
Arthur was sitting at a table in the garage, wearing a welder's mask and soldering something. Evans was wearing a black jumper, blue jeans with a belt and sneakers. He put down his tools and took off his mask. There were traces of soot on his face. The brown-haired man took a rag and wiped his face. After that, he picked up the glasses without the face case. There you could see microchips and wires that were connected to the lenses. Evans put the case on so the wires wouldn't stick out. They were pilot's goggles that buckled in the back. The paratrooper put them on, buttoning them up. He pressed a button on the left. A line sight appeared, which pointed at the soldering iron and began reading information.
«It's working! - shouted the chestnut man, taking off his glasses and raising them up.
«Arthur! What's wrong?! - Aria walked in unexpectedly.
From surprise Arthur fell off his chair. His glasses flew out of his hands and landed right at his mum's feet. The brown-haired girl stepped on them and there was a cracking sound. Evans went pale, collapsing with a dropped jaw.
«Ouch... - Aria said, looking under her foot.
«Well, mum! - Shouted the fallen man.
Miss Evans lifted her glasses by the straps and half of the cracked lens fell out.
«Ouch... - she covered her mouth with her hand when she saw it.
«Mum... - Chestnut clutched his head.
«Took a long time, didn't it? - his mum carefully removed the casing from one lens and it broke in half.
«All night... - he replied, clutching his head.
«Sorry... - Aria smiled, and the glasses themselves fell off the straps.
«Ah!" Arthur tried to catch them, but they finally shattered.
Chestnut picked up the glasses before exhaling and placing them on the table. He put his hands in his pockets and headed for the exit.
«I'm going for a walk... - Evans said.
«This is... Careful, it's your birthday.... - said his mum, lifting half of the lens. - Don't get lost!
«I'll remember," replied the fallen man, putting on his hood.
Aria, on the other hand, sat down at the table, looking at the parts. After that she thought about it and took out her phone.
«Hello?" Evans said. - Tony, I need help," the brown-haired girl answered, propping her head up with her hand. - What if I soldered you into your costume for hitting on me? - Miss Evans smiled. - Ah, now you have some free time. You're going to tell me I'm a scary woman.
With that, Aria hung up the phone. She began to think.
***
Arthur left the house and headed out for a walk, putting his hands in his pockets. He took off his hood, fixing his hair. The brown-haired man pulled out and put on his fingerless gloves without stopping. Evans headed towards the abandoned warehouses that were visible not far away.
***
The paratrooper came to the warehouses that bordered a junkyard. Nearby was a beach littered with rubbish. And there was also a harbour with old ships. Arthur pointed his hand at an iron container. His hand was covered with black energy and he fired. A hole appeared in the iron wall. Then the brown-haired man pulled the hole apart and saw that the box was empty.
«Yeah... - Evans looked round. - I guess they're saying there's something in the containers," he scratched the back of his head.
The brown-haired man suddenly heard something fall and hid behind a container, peering out. There were drones hovering in the sky, and behind the container stood two men. One was wearing a long dark green cloak and an iron mask, and the other was wearing a simple hoodie and jeans.
«Is that all you've managed to find out? - The masked man asked, then put his hand on the drone that flew up to him and, as it seemed to Arthur, stroked it.
«Y-yes. Your research was conducted in secrecy. But I can say with certainty that a lethal outcome is simply impossible. The methods used to treat the patient did their job.
«But she was permanently confined to a wheelchair. Oh. You and your department have done well, Doctor. I transferred the money to your account and...
«Sir! S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives have been located! They are currently engaged in combat with stealth drones. We should evacuate this location. - It's coming from the drone's speakers.
The masked man nodded and picked up his companion and jumped into the water. Arthur had to lie down behind the container, because he heard explosions and gunshots. Evans made a hole in the container and climbed into it. After that he patched it up as best he could. Suddenly there was an explosion and Arthur's head shook like a gong.
«Attention! All clear, we can go! - the brown-haired man heard, covering his mouth to keep his voice down.
«But there might be something in the containers here - and then the trainee's ears perked up, turning pale.
«A team will arrive tomorrow, and they'll deal with it.
And then there was a hallelujah. Evans started to listen. He waited until it was quiet. The brown-haired man coated his finger with black energy and cut his way out. Arthur stuck his head out, looking around. There was no one around. The paratrooper climbed out, stood up, and shook himself off.
«Just satanic luck.... - Evans looked round the containers. - Anything will... Nah, if I steal anything from here, they'll find me and bury me....
Chestnut looked around and saw the wreckage of one of the drones. He walked over and looked inside it. Arthur found one large black coloured chip with light green patterns on it. The kid took out memory cards and chips.
«Well, I don't think they'll be much use for these.... - Evans put them in the pockets of his sweatshirt, then ran to the pier on the beach.
Before doing so, he connected the wires that held the chips and memory cards. Suddenly, Evans stopped at one of the containers, which was different from the others.
«Something's not right here... - he examined it from all sides.
Arthur found a hexagon-shaped plate and touched it. Suddenly the Sigma symbol flashed on the plate and a door opened. Inside there was a white case with a black Sigma symbol nailed to the centre and a steel nightstand on the bottom right and left. Chestnut walked over and pulled out the case. He pressed the latches and cold steam came up from the case. After that, the case opened. Inside were four flasks with four glowing liquids, red, blue, purple and green in colour. Arthur struggled to open the flasks with all his strength.
«Do they weigh a tonne? - he asked, and then looked at what was inside.
Inside one of them was a bracelet coloured to match the colour of the flasks. The other had steel figures: a cube, a pyramid, a sphere and a cylinder (not a hat, but a geomitric figure! 😠 -Author). Evans grabbed everything and ran from there at full speed.
***
Aria sat in the kitchen looking at the glasses she had broken.
«Well, how do you fix them without Tony...? She put them on the table. - It's not like a car or a computer.
Just after that, the doorbell rang. She got up and walked to the door, grabbing her laser pistol. After that, the brown-haired woman opened the door, pointing the gun.
«Whoa... Isn't that a bit of a warm welcome for a friend...? - Tony asked, dressed in a business suit and with dark glasses on his nose.
«It's fine for you - Evans lowered her weapon.
«Rude as always, but beautiful," he smiled.
«I'll shoot you in the knee," she pointed the gun at his legs.
He only raised his hands.
«Come in," the brown-haired woman nodded toward the kitchen.
«You're not even going to pour wine? - The dark-haired one asked.
«So, which knee should I shoot? - Evans took the safety off the gun.
«Don't! - he ran into the kitchen.
«She left the gun on the top shelf.
The brown-haired girl came in after him.
«Well, what do you need fixed? - Stark asked, looking around.
«You didn't see the glasses on the table?" she leaned her shoulder against the door frame, tilting her head sideways.
«What? These? - he looked at the table and examined the broken glasses in his hands. - Interesting specimen. Who made this?
«My son, Aria replied.
«Son? Does he go to university?
«He turned ten today, Evans said.
«What? Are you kidding me? Where could he have assembled and soldered this? - he asked. - It takes a lot of finesse.
«Shall I show you my garage? - The brown-haired girl asked.
And then Tony's jaw dropped open. Aria corrected him.
«What kind of a crooked person could have broken them? - The dark-haired man asked.
«I'll shoot you in the elbows for being crooked....
«Don't! - he showed a white flag.
«Can you fix it? - She asked.
«Will you come to dinner with me?
Miss Evans picked up the pan and wiped it with her hand.
«'I've got it...' - Tony replied, then took off his jacket and looked at his electronic watch, then took off his glasses as well. - Okay, I can do it in half an hour, bring the soldering iron.
«So sooner... - she walked towards the garage with a slight wiggle of her hips.
Tony looked after her.
«What a woman... And without a husband, he said.
The dark-haired man sat down and removed his electronic watch and put his glasses away. Stark crunched his fingers and pulled a multitool out of his pocket.
***
Arthur ran towards the house with a briefcase under his armpit. Four bracelets were visible on his wrist, and a sphere almost fell out of his pocket. The brown-haired man looked around and seeing no one, he sprinted forward, flying slightly. He stopped in front of a house, riding lightly on his soles. Evans walked quietly into the house and immediately tore into the basement. Tony, who was sitting in the kitchen soldering new glasses didn't even pay attention, and neither did Arthur to him. Aria wasn't paying attention either because of the mixer. At this time Arthur went down to the basement, taking a bag. He put everything he found in the container and made a hole with black energy. Then Evans put the sack in it and used white energy to seal it up. Nice and smooth.
«Let it lie there until the right time..... - the brown-haired man patted the floor.
Then he left the cellar, flew quietly over the doorways and was at the door. Arthur quietly stepped out again.
«Oh! Arthur! - heard the chestnut man and turned round.
It was Gwen. She was wearing a white t-shirt with a pink spider on it, a black miniskirt and shoes.
«'Oh, hi,' Evans said, raising a hand.
«You're usually out early - Stacey walked over, tucking her hands behind her back.
«Well, today's the day.
«Yeah, happy birthday by the way - she smiled. - Grow big and strong.
«I'm already strong enough to lift you with one hand - he replied.
«Come on.
«Don't you believe it? - Evans asked.
«You're strong, but not that strong," Gwen grinned.
Arthur thought for a moment, then took her by the waist and lifted her above his head.
«Oh, Mum! - She shouted.
Then the chestnut began to hold her with one hand.
«Any more questions? - Popadan asked.
«Put me down! - Shouted Gwen, waving her arms.
Arthur calmly put her down.
«All right, let's go after Peter, let's play - Evans smiled, running towards his house.
«Wait!" the blonde ran after him.
Chestnut only smiled.
***
Tony put his jacket back on while Aria got ready.
«The glasses are ready, and my watch and glasses are undone.... When you go to help, you should get parts - said Stark.
«But thanks anyway," said Evans.
«Okay, call me if you need anything," the doorbell rang suddenly. - Oh, here's a present.
«What?" she asked.
Tony went to the door and opened it.
«Thank you - he took some box with three holes on each wall and another one, closing the door with his foot. - 'Here's a present for your son.
He put the two boxes on the table.
«Be careful with the one with the holes," Stark said, heading for the exit.
«What?" Aria asked and heard the door slam. - Well, Stark...
She carefully opened the box with the holes in it. The brown-haired girl immediately covered her mouth with her hands.
«'Ootoooo, what a cutie,' Evans smiled.
Evans' backyard
Arthur sat cross-legged and looked up. Gwen and Peter had run home, for they had been called.
«Yeah... I don't know, this is probably the worst birthday ever," Evans said, and lay down with his hands under his head.
He looked at the sunset and then at the shard that hung around his neck. The brown-haired man squeezed it, and then a wave of silver travelled through his hair and eyes. The paratrooper yawned and stood up, crunching his neck. Arthur headed for the house, putting his hands in his pockets. The brown-haired man stepped in, closing the door. It was dark inside, as in.... You know what I mean.
«What the hell? - Evans started fumbling for the light switch.
«Surprise! - shouted as soon as the lights came on.
It was Aria, Natasha, Gwen, Peter and Flash. They had birthday hats on their heads, balloons all around, boxes of presents on one table, and cake on another.
«Happy Birthday! - shouted Peter and Eugene, smiling widely.
Evans only smiled broadly.
«Grow big and strong - Nat smiled.
Gwen turned pale at hearing such a wish. Arthur, on the other hand, grinned sideways.
«What? - asked Romanoff.
«Nothing... - Evans scratched the back of his head.
Immediately afterwards, Arya put Stark's repaired glasses on him. Chestnut took them off and examined them.
«What the...? - He looked at his mum, but she only smiled.
Natasha then held out a long rectangular box.
«It's from me - smiled the redhead. - You can open it later.
«Here it is from me," Eugene held out the wrapped object. It was shaped like a cocoa fruit. - It took me a long time to pick it out.
«I don't even know what's in here... - Evans said playfully.
After that the brown-haired man removed the package. It was an American football. Instead of brown it was white, and instead of white it was black.
«Cool - Arthur tossed the ball.
«And this is mine. Peter held out the box.
The brown-haired man took the box and opened it.
«Oh, my mother! - His hair stood up and he jumped back, dropping the box.
«Ah! - Aria jumped on Natasha when she saw the contents of the box.Inside was a plastic transparent box and inside it was a small tarantula.
«Where did you find this monster?! - asked the two Evanses.
«At the pet shop.... - he replied.
«Found something to give as a present... - said Arthur, then carefully took the box without touching the spider's cage.
«Put that monster away! - shouted Aria.
Evans only closed the box and gave it to Parker.
«Parker, you'd better give that monster away, me and Mum won't survive a neighbour like that," said the brown-haired man.
«Pete, you should have given me a tarantula," said Flash.
«I'm sorry. - Peter shrugged.
«Well, here's my present," said Gwen, holding out a box.
Arthur took the box and opened it. Inside was a white scarf with one black and one pink end. The brown-haired man put it on, tying it so that the ends were in the front.
«Warm, comfortable, and nice," he smiled.
Stacy smiled broadly.
«Ah, here's another present - Aria took out a box with holes in the walls.
Arthur took the box and examined it. Nothing could be seen through one of the holes. Chestnut put his ear to the box.
«There's someone breathing in there... - Evans said.
He set the box down, then opened it. Evans' eyes immediately lit up. Inside was an American bulldog puppy. All white.
«Ooh, wow, what a cutie ... - said Gwen.
«And this is all to keep an eye on him - Aria set down a second box.
The brown-haired man opened the box and the first thing he pulled out was the collar. It was blank in the name place for a nickname. Evans thought about it for a moment, then pulled out a marker and started writing.
«Here... - Arthur showed the name on the collar.
«Locke... - they all read it at once.
«Why Locke? - Aria asked.
«Because a Bulldog has enough bite to bite through bone, he answered.
«Logically, a real "lock" - said Natasha.
«All right! Let's eat cake! - Aria shouted, and then she took the box off.
The cake was three tiers. On the bottom were figures of Thor, Hulk, Wasp, Ant-Man, on the second: Iron Man, Falcon Eye, Black Widow and Panther, and on the top - Captain America.
«Well, somehow - Aria sent the cake with icing sugar.
«Where do they make cakes like that...? - Eugene asked.
«I do - answered the brown-haired girl calmly.
«I'll have Captain America, Arthur raised his hand.
«I'll have Wasp, raised Gwen's hand.
«Iron Man, raised Peter's hand.
«The Hulk! - The Flash raised his hand.
Natasha, on the other hand, pointed to herself. Aria started slicing the cake. They scooped up a slice each with their forks.
«Delicious! - they all shouted at once.
Then everyone began to celebrate.
***
Arthur sat up and watched as everyone went to bed in the hall. Evans grinned, then looked at Locke, who was sleeping. The brown-haired man pulled a basket out of a drawer, after which he folded the puppy into the basket and covered him up. Then he looked at the others. Popadan took his mum on his shoulder and carried her upstairs. There he put her in his bed. Then Natasha, whom Evans laid on the couch. Next came his friends, whom he laid on the floor and tucked in. Arthur himself sat down in the armchair.
«Best birthday ever... - Evans smiled, closing his eyes.
Meanwhile, the Fractal around his neck glinted.
To be continued...