Chapter Text
Everyone was going about their normal business that fine afternoon in April when suddenly, a mysterious white flash of light surrounded them (conveniently nobody who wasn’t taken by the light saw this) and they vanished from wherever they were and woke up in –
“A theater?” asked Peter Parker in bewilderment. He’d been at Academic Decathlon practice (for once) when suddenly he appeared here. He was thrilled to see Aunt May and Tony Stark, as well as members of the Avengers and other famous superheroes, but slightly startled by the fact that the rest of his Decathlon team, and several of his schoolmates, were also present.
“Where are we?” Ned groaned. “Whoa, is that Captain America?”
It was indeed Captain America, glorious beard and all.
“What’s happening?” he asked, and then caught sight of Tony, who was glaring at him and Bucky coldly.
“Okay, let’s not fight, please,” T’challa said, which was exactly the opposite of Tony wanted to do at that moment. “We’re all in the same situation here. We need to figure out what happened and where we are, and then we can focus on other problems.”
“Well said, brother,” Shuri smirked.
“I found a note,” a girl with antennae said from a group containing a raccoon, a tree thing, a green-skinned girl, a tattooed man, and a human. She held up a sheet of paper.
Natasha took the writing from her and read the words. “’Dear Avengers and co, sorry for the alarm this may have caused you, but we mean no harm. We have gathered all of you here for a simple purpose: to display your past and your future, for your benefit and entertainment. Do not try to escape. Because this is fanfiction, this room you are in defies all logic so the door will appear only after we have decided you have seen enough.’ Then there’s a list of names.”
“Our names?” asked Clint, surrounded by his family.
“Yeah,” Natasha said.
“I suppose we should sit down, then,” Peter said brightly, ignoring the glare he received from Flash.
“Peter?” Tony asked incredulously.
“Oh, hey Mr. Stark!” the teen said brightly, and Flash’s look changed from glaring to shock to anger once more.
“Wait, who is everyone?” Wanda asked. Her gaze flickered to Tony and then quickly away, still unsure how she felt about the billionaire. She reached for Vision’s hand and held it tightly.
“I guess we should introduce ourselves,” another guy said. “Also, maybe say something about ourselves? I’m Scott Lang, Ant Man. Currently under house arrest for, uh, violating the Sokovia Accords.” He coughed awkwardly as the atmosphere in the room, which had been rather tense already, grew colder. He could feel Hope and Hank’s glares from the other side of the room.
“I’m Cassie!” a little girl said with a huge smile on her face, and immediately the air seemed easier to breath as everyone couldn’t help but smile at her. “And my dad’s best grandma in the world.”
This earned looks of confusion from everyone else, but Scott looked extremely proud at his daughter's words.
“I’m Maggie, Scott’s ex-wife,” Maggie introduced herself. “And this is my husband, Jim Paxton.” He waved.
Next Hank and Hope introduced themselves, and then Luis, along with Kurt and Dave. Ava and Bill Foster, along with Jimmy Woo, the FBI agent involved with Scott’s case was there as well. When Darren Cross went to introduce himself, Hank, Hope, and Scott all but growled at him.
“Okay, I guess I’ll go next,” said the human with the group of non-humans. “I’m Peter Quill, better known as Star Lord, and supreme leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy.”
Behind him the tattooed man snorted.
“Okay, we never appointed you leader,” the raccoon snarked, causing most of the room’s occupants to do a double take. “And I’m Rocket. The true leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, as most would say. And no, I am not a raccoon.”
Quill looked affronted.
“I am Groot.”
Then Drax, Mantis, and Gamora introduced themselves, along with Yondu, Nebula, and Ronan and Ego, the latter two of which the Guardians were less than pleased to see.
“What’s up everyone, I’m Peter Parker!” the teen superhero said excitedly. Then he quieted because, with his friends here, he couldn’t announce his alter identity. So he said, “I go to school at Midtown in Queens.”
There were a few questions shared among others as to why there was a group of teenagers in the midst of all these superheroes, but nobody said anything as the rest of the people from Peter’s life introduced themselves: Aunt May, Mr. Harrington, Ned, MJ, Liz and her parents, Coach Wilson, his teachers, Mr. Delmar, and Jason and Betty, among others.
“Well, I think you all know who I am,” Tony started out.
Quill raised his hand. “Yeah, sorry, you’re wrong there.”
“Does Peter Parker really have an internship at your company?” Flash blurted.
Tony ignored the Terran but answered Flash. “Yes, in fact he is my personal assistant. And, for the unfortunate few who have no clue who I am, I am Tony Stark, genius, playboy, philanthropist, I could list more but we’d be here all day. Also, I am Iron Man.”
“Oh my god, Tony,” Pepper smiled, rolling her eyes. “He really likes to overdo it, so I apologize. I’m Pepper Potts, CEO of Stark Industries.”
“I am Happy Hogan, and I work for Mr. Stark,” the man said in a rather monotone voice.
“I’m Rhodey. Tony’s best friend and also War Machine.”
“I am Steve Rogers.” This earned a snort from Tony. “Better known as Captain America.”
“I’m Bucky Barnes,” his long-haired friend introduced himself next. “Formerly known as the Winter Soldier.”
There were also several of the men back from Steve’s days in the military, along with Red Skull who no one was particularly happy to see.
With all these faces present, Steve couldn’t quench the feeling of disappointment that a certain Agent Carter was not among them.
“I am Captain Marvel,” a blonde, seemingly human woman said next. “I came to earth briefly a while back, but these last few years I’ve been visiting other planets.”
“Nick Fury, head of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” the man with the eye patch said next. He cast an analyzing look around at everyone with these words and said nothing more. Carol couldn’t suppress a snort at his intimidating atmosphere.
Agent Hill and Coulson were also present.
“I’m Maria Rambeau, and this is my daughter Monica,” the black woman sitting near Carol introduced herself, also smiling.
“Yon Rogg,” said a man with unnerving eyes, standing by the two women and the younger girl. The three of them and Fury gave him a look filled with loathing.
“Hello, mortal friends, I am Thor of Asgard, god of thunder!” the man boomed, beaming.
Next to him stood Loki, whose appearance didn’t go to well with those who knew him and fought him. Thor looked expectantly to his brother, but when the dark-haired man refused to say anything, Thor instead introduced Loki to everyone. Then came Jane Foster, Sif, Fandral, Volstagg, Hogun, Frigga, and Odin, as well as Valkyrie, whom nobody recognized because she came from a future time.
Wanda and Vision went next, followed by Bruce Banner.
“Natasha Romanov,” the spy said rather coldly. She was too busy scouting the room, looking to see if there really were no exits or escape routes she could use. While she couldn’t deny her curiosity, the idea of truly being trapped with no way out bothered her. And right now, it certainly looked like the room was completely sealed. Wouldn’t they all suffocate eventually, if there were no openings, though?
“Clint Barton, or Hawkeye,” the archer introduced himself. “And this is my family: my beautiful wife, Laura, and my three children, Cooper, Lila, and Nathaniel.”
"Sam Wilson, the Falcon," the man sitting next to Bucky and Captain America said.
“I am Doctor Stephen Strange.” a man with a cape and tunic, and also rather nice cheekbones, went next. “And before you ask, yes, that really is my name.”
“The Ancient One,” the woman dressed in yellow stated. “The fact that I did not foresee this circumstance is rather unusual.”
“Wong,” the next sorcerer said shortly.
“Mordo,” the green-tuniced man said, glaring coldly at both Strange and the Ancient One. Where he was and how he got there he didn’t know, but he knew that the Ancient One was supposed to be dead. She must be using the dark magic once more in order to resurrect herself. And with Strange here in this mysterious room, clearly some foul play was afoot.
The remaining sorcerers were simply relieved that, while other villains were present, it appeared Kaecilius and Dormamu were not there.
Black Panther went next. “I am T’challa, King of Wakanda.”
“Princess Shuri of Wakanda, the real brains behind our country’s successes,” his sister smirked, while T’challa simply rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Okoye, Nakia, W’Kabi, M’Baku, Ramonda, and Ross were also present, as well as Killmonger and even Klaw.
“I’m never going to keep all these people straight,” Tony commented.
“Is that everybody, then?” Steve asked.
“Think so,” Natasha replied. “Let’s get this over with.”
The large ensemble made their way to the seats in front of a large screen that had been present (but not mentioned) the entire time, sitting in clumps of people that they knew and feeling anticipation and uncertainty growing inside them.
Once everyone was seated, as if on cue, the room darkened and the screen lit up before going dark. White words appeared on the screen:
"Thank you, heroes, for your understanding. We have gathered you here, once again, for your entertainment, but also to educate you on matters that have passed or are yet to come. Take note of what you see here today."
The words faded out and were replaced by:
"First, we will be viewing…"