Secret AIM Facility - Long Island, NY - Saturday Morning

[imafuturist]

After the complete clusterfuck that was yesterday, Tony was going for a tried and true method of coping called 'go beat up bad guys for touching his stuff.' It was super fun.

And he did promise to let this version of Steve hit the armor for stress tests, but hitting AIM seemed like a way better plan. So, hitting AIM it was.

"If you see anyone in ridiculous yellow outfits, they're the bad guys," Tony said, looking through the list of Stark technology on the premises that was helpfully listed by JARVIS after a quick scan of the place. He was going to blow up so much stuff today.

It almost made up for the fact that he was in Long Island.

[for the captain who would be confused if Tony said 'Assemble!']

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[heroic_jawline]

Steve, in his pockets o' plenty version of his suit (so blue. so spangly. so impractical.), nodding along, eyes focusing on potential areas of infiltration and egress.

His phone, thankfully, had stopped ringing today. So much oversharing from complete strangers. So much. "What did they take again?" he asked.

[imafuturist]

IT WAS SO SPANGLY, STEVE. JUST ACCEPT THE SPANGLE.

"Oh, a little of this, a little of that. They really like trying to retro-engineer my tech," Tony replied cheerfully as what looked like angry beekeepers started to emerge from the terrible little warehouse (why was it always warehouses?) to engage them.

[heroic_jawline]

"Wow, and they picked those outfits to evildo in?" said Mr. Who Should Not Be Talking Shit About Anyone's Costume. "Kinda noticeable."

[imafuturist]

"Wait until you see their boss," Tony replied dryly. Because seriously, MODOC was no laughing matter.

Wait. Yes he was. He was the biggest laughing matter ever. Even Thor laughed at that guy.

He was moving forward, firing a repulsor at the terrible (seriously poor quality) laser guns.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve had his shield at the ready in case people were stupid enough to try to shoot at him.

(People were always stupid enough.)

[imafuturist]

Well, they also worked for an evil tech firm, so. Stupidity was guaranteed.

Stupidity and blindly attempting to charge the Avengers in the hopes that superior numbers would make up for a lack of fighting skills. Enjoy that one, Steve.

"Oh, naughty, naughty. You guys have been stealing from the military," Tony said, flying up to take aim at a little pile of old Stark missiles. The explosion was... relatively minor.

[heroic_jawline]

"Should I give 'em a lecture?" Steve asked, flinging his shield to knock a bunch down like bowling pins.

[imafuturist]

"A stern talking to," Tony agreed. Because seriously. Why just fight when you can banter?

[heroic_jawline]

And Steve's "I'm Very Disappointed in Your Life Choices" looks were deadly!

One lifted a poorly-made ray gun in Steve's direction. "Son, just don't," Steve told him, then threw the shield.

[imafuturist]

"I think he learned the error of his ways." With a concussion, Tony?

Tony did lazy little circle of the building, tracking energy signatures and other Very Scientific Things. "Wait, is that--"

Yes, Tony. It was MODOC bursting through a wall like a deranged Kool-Aid Man. Which was a reference totally lost on poor Steve.

[heroic_jawline]

Steve burst out laughing. "Stark, what the hell."

Sorry, MODOC.

[imafuturist]

MODOC was having none of this. None.

"I am MODOC! Mental Organism Designed Only for Conquest!" Yeah. "I will destroy you for interfering with AIM!"

Tony meanwhile, just sighed and landed next to Steve. "I honestly thought he was still locked up in jail. Just avoid his 'mind blasts' and you'll be fine."

Yep, he totally finger quoted 'mind blasts'.

[heroic_jawline]

"Your life," Steve muttered, trying to take MODOC seriously and failing.

[imafuturist]

MODOC went with an inarticulate screech of rage like a teenage girl before shooting a bolt of energy. From his giant head. Let's be real here, he was all giant head.

"You are so lucky if you don't have one of him back home," Tony replied moving a little to the side to avoid it. "Creeps the hell out of Jan."

[heroic_jawline]

"Don't blame her a bit," Steve said, dodging as well. "What happens if you get hit?"

[imafuturist]

"It's like getting shot. With a rocket launcher." So. There was that. "Really made Thor mad when he got hit once."

"You stand no chance against the might of AIM!" MODOC shouted in the background. Because really now, he was a genuine threat, guys. Guys, stop ignoring him.

[heroic_jawline]

"That would sting," Steve agreed. "Do you ever win, um, MODOC? I'm new. Tryin' to get caught up to speed."

[imafuturist]

"AIM will be victorious!"

Tony had to chime in with a, "Nope. I mean. There was that thing with the Cosmic Cube, but I'm pretty sure it was because the Red Skull was involved."

He was at least a competent villain.

MODOC took great offense to that, waving his tiny, tiny arms to gesture forward another wave of yellow beekeepers. "Attack theeeeeem!"

[heroic_jawline]

"Well, at least they're excited," Steve said dryly, lifting up his shield.

[imafuturist]

"It's adorable," Tony agreed, taking a shot at MODOC with a tiny missile to match those tiny arms. It sent MODOC careening to the side a suitably comical fashion.

"But the whole world domination through technological superiority ruins it."

[heroic_jawline]

Steve didn't snicker at the poor, angry, lopsided villain.

"Especially when they're stealing your stuff."

[imafuturist]

"Precisely why blowing things up here is fun." A beat. "And should be alerting SHIELD any minute now. Even if they are a little slow."

[heroic_jawline]

"Well, thanks for lettin' me get first crack at them before the others got here," Steve said with a tiny smile. "This was...enlightening."

[imafuturist]

"Steve, he's a giant floating head."

MODOC drifted by on the other direction. Still screaming that he would defeat them as a plume of smoke followed him.

"You can be honest."

[heroic_jawline]

"I fought a guy who ripped off his own face to show off his newer, redder face, then woke up 70 years in the future to fight actual aliens...but yeah, this is the weirdest thing I've seen," Steve said, watching MODOC.