Roy spent the following days largely detached from the chaos of the outside world. From the comfort of his mansion, he occasionally glanced at the news—Avengers battling robots in Sokovia, civilians running for cover, explosions lighting up the skyline—but he didn't concern himself with the details. He had his lovers, his family, and his own plans; the world would wait.
One morning, his phone buzzed. It was Tony.
"Roy, come with me," Tony said eagerly. "I want to show you the new Avengers building."
Roy raised an eyebrow but smirked. "Lead the way, genius."
The two drove through the city, the sunlight glinting off the car as Tony chattered excitedly about the renovations. When they arrived, Tony threw open the doors with a flourish.
"Welcome to the new Avengers headquarters!"
Roy stepped inside, taking in the clean design, the sleek labs, and the bustling heroes. He was introduced to the new faces of the team: Wanda Maximoff, Sam Wilson, Rhodes, and Vision.
Roy's eyes widened slightly when he saw Rhodes suited up in Avengers gear. "Rhodes? Really? You joined them?" he teased, unable to hide a smirk. Rhodes looked embarrassed but laughed along.
"Apparently," Rhodes muttered, scratching the back of his neck.
Roy then greeted Wanda, Sam, and Vision warmly. Wanda, seeing Roy for the first time, couldn't help but feel her heart race at the sight of his long silver hair and piercing blue eyes. She approached him shyly.
"Hi," she said softly.
Roy gave her a reassuring smile and gently patted her head. "It's been hard on you… losing your only family," he said quietly. "But you have a strong heart. You'll move forward, I promise."
Tears welled up in Wanda's eyes, and without thinking, she threw her arms around him and cried. Roy held her carefully, letting her vent her emotions, his presence calm and comforting.
After a few moments, Wanda pulled back reluctantly, wiping her tears. "Can… can I meet you again sometime?" she asked softly.
Roy nodded and handed her his phone. "Keep this," he said simply. Wanda's eyes widened, and she treasured the number as if it were gold.
Roy scanned the room and spotted Steve. His mind briefly noted how slowly Steve was regaining his fame after the scandal—the public forgiveness piecemeal and grudging. Roy didn't dwell on it; Steve, or the others, didn't matter to him beyond the few he truly cared for—Tony, Rhodes, Natasha, and now Wanda.
Roy leaned back slightly, watching the Avengers move around the building with professional efficiency, a faint smirk on his face. "They're doing their thing," he thought. "Good… but this world doesn't need me yet."
As he was about to leave, his phone buzzed again. A message from Helen Cho. Roy smiled faintly. "Ah… this should be interesting," he murmured, sending a quick reply. Tony glanced at him from the passenger seat.
"Texting someone?" Tony asked, curious.
Roy smirked. "Someone I promised I'd keep in touch with. Let's go, genius. You've got a lot to show me, but I have my own things to handle."
The two left the Avengers building, the city sprawling beneath them, unaware of how quietly one man's presence already shifted the balance around him.