Another day meant another excursion throughout New York. But for a certain few, it meant a visit to one of the places they desired to see the most.
But bigger plans were on the horizon.
The dining area buzzed with energy as the Loud family and their friends filled a long table with plates of pancakes, waffles, eggs, and way too much syrup. Fortunately the food was covered in Rita's expenses, though she worried even her family might be pushing the generosity she was given.
Lynn Jr. was already on her third plate. "New York food hits different!"
"Everything hits different when you eat like a competitive sport," Lori muttered.
Leni was busy taking pictures of her breakfast. "The lighting here makes toast look glamorous."
"Why are you taking pictures of your food?" Lana asked.
"To show people how different New York food is than Royal Woods food," Leni pointed out.
Lisa, meanwhile, had already constructed a miniature model of a skyscraper using sugar packets.
"Structural integrity: acceptable," she murmured.
"Wow, that's pretty," Darcy said.
"Why thank you my friend, I did work quite hard on it," Lisa said.
Lincoln was cramming food down as well. Something about being Spider-Man really increased his appetite. Given his family's budget, large meals wasn't exactly easy. But a borderline free buffet at New York was an amazing opportunity for Lincoln.
"You eat like your food's about to disappear," Stella said, then glanced at Lynn Jr. "You're almost as bad as Lynn."
"Sorry, I'm just really hungry," Lincoln said.
"Well be careful before you end up swallowing your spoon," Stella said.
At this point, Rita stood up and began tapping her glass lightly. "Alright, everyone, I have an announcement."
Everyone stopped what they were doing to focus their attention on Rita.
"Alright, I trust you all remember the main reason we came here?" Rita said.
"You mean The Tony Stark interview?" Lisa asked.
"Yes, today I will be going to the expo to see him," Rita said. "Anyone who wants to come is invited."
"I'm coming!" Lynn Jr. said instantly.
"Me too!" Lola added. "He needs to meet someone fabulous."
"Ooh! Maybe he'll like my designs!" Leni chimed in.
"I could perform for him!" Luan added.
Lynn Sr. raised his hands. "Okay, okay! One at a time!"
Clyde had gotten up and began pacing in circles. "I need to prepare questions. Intelligent ones. Brilliant ones! No...life-changing ones!"
Lisa was already writing in a notebook. "I must observe Stark's technological processes firsthand."
During the chaos, Sid leaned toward Lincoln. "It's finally happening!"
"I can't wait," Lincoln said. "A chance to meet Tony Stark is kind of like a dream come true?"
"Kind of? It most definitely is one," Sid said. "As an inventor myself, I need to know all of his secrets!"
"Don't expect him to tell you his life story, Sid," Ronnie Anne said.
Stella was seen smiling, the girl trying to stay calm but clearly thrilled. "I've always wanted to see what the Expo looks like."
"Now's our chance," Ronnie Anne said, then noticed her uncle's expression. "Uncle Carlos? You're smiling really wide. I've never seen your face stretch like that."
"I...get to meet...THE Tony Stark!" Carlos cheered. "This may just be the single greatest day of my life!"
"...Besides our marriage, right?" Frieda asked.
"And the birth of your kids? Especially me," Carlota said.
"Oh, of course! Of course!" Carlos said. "But besides the obvious, this is the best day for me!"
"Ahem!" Rita called. "I know we're all excited, but remember, this is a work trip. I'll be conducting an interview, so not everyone can come inside with me."
"So we won't get to see Tony Stark?" Stella asked.
"Some of you may, but I still need to do what my boss paid me to do," Rita said. "But Stella, you did win that competition, so you will get your chance today as well."
"Oh right, looks like I get to go to the front of the line," Stella lightly bragged.
"The rest of you can all come to the Expo grounds. There's plenty to see," Rita said.
"WOO! FIELD TRIP!" Sid cheered.
Clyde clutched his chest as realization began setting in. "I am going to stand in the same general vicinity as Tony Stark."
Lisa adjusted her glasses. "This may be the most productive day of my life. Finally a chance to see Tony Stark's genius up close."
As everyone went back to excited chatter, Lincoln looked down at his plate.
Tony Stark. The man behind the armor. The one who worked with S.H.I.E.L.D. The Association with The Avengers. The Friendship with Natasha.
So many things were on Lincoln's mind. He was excited for the Expo of course, but he had so many other things he needed to do as well.
Before long, The Loud Family had arrived at the Stark Expo, and it was every bit glamorous as they expected it to be.
Large TVs, many people, a proper display of Tony Stark's inventions, and the coup de grace, his various suits of Iron Man armor.
Towering displays stretched in every direction. Sleek holograms, rotating models of arc reactors, drones hovering in controlled patterns, and interactive exhibits glowing with blue light.
"…Whoa," Sid whispered.
"I expected this place to feel like a museum," Lynn Jr said. "It feels like we stepped through a time machine. This place is the freaking bomb!"
Lisa walked around and absorbed everything. She couldn't believe such a place was real. All of the inventions she had come across. All those she made herself. All paled in comparison to the Utopia she currently found herself in.
"…Miniaturized clean energy cores… autonomous drone networks… adaptive AI interfaces…"
Her eyes sparkled brighter with every word.
"This is beyond theoretical application—this is execution at scale!"
"So..." Darcy chimed in. "It seems like you really like this place, Lisa."
"Part of me wishes to live here forever," Lisa said.
Darcy raised her eyebrow in confusion, "Didn't you try living in a lab once?"
"That was years ago, I am quite certain I could handle it now," Lisa insisted.
Meanwhile Sid rushed up to a display showing a rotating hologram of an arc reactor. Sid was absolutely mesmerized by what was in front of her.
"I really want to know how this works..." Sid said as she tapped the glass.
"Ah, I believe I've heard of this," Carlos said as he took a look at the device. "Stark Industries developed it as a clean, nearly limitless energy source."
"So like… no batteries? Or charging?" Sid asked.
"Essentially, yes," Carlos confirmed.
"That...is so amazing!" Sid gushed.
Stella stood at another exhibit, watching a simulation of Iron Man's suit assembling piece by piece.
"…It's all modular," Stella said as she observed it even more. "Every part connects seamlessly."
"Having fun?" Lincoln asked as he walked over to Stella.
"You bet, this stuff is so amazing!" Stella said as she looked around. "If I could, I would take some of these devices home with me! I'd love to reverse engineer them!"
"Maybe you'll get lucky?" Lincoln said.
"I wish..." Stella admitted.
Meanwhile Clyde was trying a virtual reality simulator in which he was able to fly one of Iron Man's suits.
"Best! Day! Ever!" Clyde cheered as he flew around. "I feel like The Man of Steel himself!"
"Man of Steel?" Ronnie Anne asked.
Clyde paused as he focused on Ronnie Anne, "Well, it kind of works, doesn't it?"
"Somehow I feel like it wouldn't suit Iron Man," Ronnie Anne said. "Anyway, hurry up with that, I want a turn with that."
Meanwhile, Rita approached the main reception area, adjusting her notes.
"Hi, I'm Rita Loud. I have an interview scheduled with Tony Stark?"
"One moment." The Receptionist said as she made the call. "Visitor for Mr. Stark."
After a brief pause, a familiar red-haired woman approached.
"Mrs. Loud?"
Rita turned to the woman who caught her attention, "That's me."
"Pepper Potts," the woman introduced with a professional smile. "Tony's assistant."
"Well it's nice to meet you, Ms. Potts," Rita said. "I'm here for my interview with Tony Stark. I'm with The Royal Woods Gazette and-"
"I'm very sorry, but Tony had to leave town early this morning," Pepper confirmed.
Rita's smile faltered. "…Leave town?"
"He got called away with the rest of The Avengers, it's a foreign mission. They're not even in the country," Pepper explained. "I'm sorry plans were changed. It came up so suddenly. Tony didn't have time to cancel."
"Well that's unfortunate," Rita said. "My boss is expecting an interview. He won't be too happy when I tell him that it's not going to happen."
"I will handle it personally," Pepper said. "How long will you be in town if I may ask though?"
"Two weeks," Rita said. "Me, my family and some friends are spending Christmas and New Year's here."
"Oh, well that shouldn't be a problem," Pepper said. "Tony should be back within that time frame. You can have your interview then."
"Well that's one problem solved," Rita said. "But this will be disappointing for my kids. It will be especially disappointing for a young girl named Stella. See she won a contest and-"
"Oh, are you referring to Stella Zhau?" Pepper asked. "I will be seeing her myself. I know it' s no replacement for Tony, but when he gets back, I will try to organize something with her as well."
"She would love that," Rita said. "Anyway, I suppose I should let my family know about Mr. Stark's prior commitment."
"Allow me to join you," Pepper said as she followed Rita out.
Back in the Expo, Lola was seen modeling a toy helmet of the Iron Man armor.
"I can make anything look good," Lola said, then focused on the nearby Benny. "Oh! Benny! Look at me!"
Benny however was too busy checking out a replica of Captain America's shield. "I wonder if the real thing is heavy or not?"
"Benny! Over here!" Lola called, to no avail. Lola took off the helmet in frustration. "Whatever, not like he could see my pretty face with this mask on anyway."
As Lincoln played with some toy repolsors, he noticed his mother on her way back. "Mom! Is Tony Stark coming!?"
"Not quite," Rita said. "Tony Stark isn't here."
Collective disappointment hit immediately, all the kids who wanted to meet Tony had their hopes dashed on the spot.
"Aww, man!" Sid groaned.
Clyde clutched his head. "My moment… gone…"
Lisa frowned as well, "How disappointing."
"Aw..." Stella lamented, then glanced at Lincoln. "Boy this stinks."
"You're telling me," Lincoln said. "Mom, why isn't he here?"
"I can explain that," Pepper said as she walked over. "There was trouble in a foreign land, so Tony had to join The Avengers in handling it."
"No none of The Avengers are in town?" Lana asked.
"Bummer, I really wanted to meet Thor!" Leni whined. "Worst vacation ever!"
"It's not for long, they'll be back soon, I promise," Pepper said.
Stella's disappointment turned into worry. "A mission? You think Nat went with them?"
"Most likely," Lincoln said.
"I hope it's not too bad," Stella said.
"I doubt it's anything they can't handle," Lincoln said.
"Now, which one of you is Stella Zhau?" Pepper asked.
"Oh, that would be me," Stella said.
"Hi, since Tony isn't here, you will be getting your picture with me," Pepper said.
"Well I suppose that's nice too," Stella said.
"And don't worry, I'll talk to him when he gets back," Pepper reassured. "We'll give you the full VIP treatment."
"Alright, that sounds good," Stella said.
"Let's go, hon," Pepper said as she led Stella away.
Clyde grumbled in annoyance, "So much for Iron Man."
"Or any of The Avengers," Sid said.
"It's just for a bit, and we can still explore this place," Ronnie Anne said. "Come on, let's go check some stuff out."
As everyone went to explore, Lincoln had a lot on his mind regarding Tony's whereabouts.
Nearby Rita exhaled while checking her notes. "I really needed that interview…I hope Jameson won't be too upset."
Lynn Sr. placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you'll get another shot. After all, it's Tony Stark. He's not exactly low-profile."
"I suppose so," Rita said.
"Just tell your boss what happened," Lynn Sr said. "Jameson may be a grouch, but he's capable of reason. Now let's try to enjoy our time together."
Elsewhere near the city, a massive figure charged straight through traffic like if the cars were nothing but toys.
"OUTTA THE WAY!" roared the monstrous Juggernaut as he plowed through a delivery truck, sending it skidding across the street.
Behind him, sleek black vehicles screeched around the corner, cutting through the chaos with precision.
Doors flew open mid-motion and armed operatives leapt out.
These weren't just any men, they were led by the one and only, Silver Sable.
"Keep pressure on him!" she ordered, voice sharp and controlled. "Do not let him gain momentum!"
Her squad opened fire, mostly non-lethal. High-impact rounds slammed into Juggernaut's back. Unfortunately for them, it did nothing to the massive tank of a man.
"IS THAT SUPPOSED TO TICKLE?!" he bellowed, slamming his foot into the pavement hard enough to crack it.
The shockwave knocked two agents off their feet, to which they immediately ducked for cover when The Juggernaut threw another car.
"Fall back ten meters!" Silver Sable ordered. "Redirect him, now!"
Her team moved instantly, coordinating like a machine. Explosives detonated ahead of Juggernaut, forcing him to veer.
He crashed through scaffolding and right into a construction zone, knocking the place apart as metal beams collapsed around him.
"Did that get him!?" Silver Sable wondered.
After a few seconds of silence however, the man bellowed out in defiance. "I'M NOT DONE!" Juggernaut burst through the debris, more furious than before.
"Quite the persistent one," Silver Sable said, then brought out her radio. "We need backup. Enhanced-level threat. Manhattan sector." She glanced up at the skyline at the towering silhouette of Avengers Tower in the distance, then back at the unstoppable force tearing through the city. "…And fast."
At the Expo, Lincoln is seen checking out replicas of the various Smart Bombs that Iron Man had used throughout his hero work.
"These looks like they'd be cool to have," Lincoln said. "But instead of explosions, maybe they can shoot out webs. Like...a Web Bomb. Capture a bunch of enemies at once."
"That's a great idea," Stella said from nearby. "I bet I could totally build something like that for you. Once I have the resources."
"I bet there's a lot of stuff here that can give me some new ideas," Lincoln said. "The possibilities are amazing!"
"Hey, where there's a will, there's a way," Stella said. "I just need to know a bit more about your web substance and-"
"Psst..." Sid said from nearby. "You two shouldn't talk so openly about this..." She gestured to the nearby Clyde who seemed to be dizzy from the Virtual Reality helmet. "Especially since we're not exactly alone."
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Clyde lamented.
"Alright, we'll cool it," Lincoln said.
Suddenly a deafening CRASH echoed across the Stark Expo Center, this taking everyone by surprise.
"What was that?!" Sid shouted while grabbing Stella's arm.
Another impact, and closer this time with glass shattering in the distance.
"Uh...is the room shaking, or is it just me?" Clyde asked.
"Probably both," Ronnie Anne said.
"OUTTA MY WAY!"
Suddenly a massive figure burst through a nearby structure, tearing through metal like paper.
Clyde froze in fear. "Just a wild guess, but I don't think that's part of the exhibit."
"No kidding!" Ronnie Anne snapped.
Lincoln's eyes locked onto Juggernaut as the brute sent a vehicle flipping through the air.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Lincoln said. He quickly looked around, unsure of what do do.
"Lincoln, are you gonna stop that guy?" Sid asked.
"Me?" Lincoln asked.
"Duh, you're a superhero," Sid said in a hushed tone. "You gotta stop him."
"I can't, I don't have my suit," Lincoln said.
"…I don't have my suit," he whispered.
"Lincoln!" Lana ran over to her brother. "That guy's tearing the place apart!"
"He can't do anything without his suit," Sid said.
"It's not even that, I don't even have my web shooters," Lincoln said.
"Don't you have that stuff on you all the time?" Sid asked.
"I took a break since we're on vacation," Lincoln said.
"You know crime doesn't take a vacation!" Sid pointed out.
"I know that, but I also expected The Avengers to be in town!" Lincoln argued. "How all of them just happened to be gone the week I'm here is just lousy luck!"
"Look, Lincoln, you're the only one who can stop that guy," Stella said. "If you don't have a suit, then we'll need to improvise."
"MOVE!" Juggernaut shouted as he started throwing more things, knocking over a pillar that separated Clyde from the others.
"Well that's convenient," Lana said, then called to the boy. "Clyde! I saw Lynn and Margo nearby! Go to them! They'll protect you!"
"What about you!?" Clyde asked.
"I'm with Lincoln, he'll keep me safe!" Lana said.
"Wait, if Lincoln's there, I should be too!" Clyde said. "He's my best friend and-"
More pillars fell, this startled the two.
"Just do it!" Lana called.
Within seconds, the group ducked behind a damaged exhibit stand. Stella began brainstorming ideas to cover Lincoln's identity.
"Okay, think!" Stella said. "You need something to cover your face."
Lana tossed the group a torn red banner. "Boom. Mask."
Sid grabbed a pair of broken goggles from a display. "For your eyes!"
Ronnie Anne yanked a hoodie off a fleeing mannequin. "Put this on! Quick!"
"Is this even gonna work?" Lincoln asked.
"Hey you wore worse when you saved me and Lily from those traffickers," Lana said.
"I guess," Lincoln said as he put everything together. "Alright, I still need some web shooters."
An idea sparked in Stella's head as she reached into her bag, "Here!"
"Huh?" Lincoln took the tablets. "You carry web shooters on you?"
"Old prototype, they may not be too strong, and there's only a little bit of webbing, so be careful," Stella said.
"I got this..." Lincoln said as he suited up. "Probably."
Without another word, Lincoln leapt up while firing a web line mid-air, swinging straight toward Juggernaut.
"HEY, BIG GUY!"
This caught The Juggernaut's attention as he turned around. "…What?"
"Catch!" Lincoln yanked a large piece of debris straight into Juggernaut's face.
Despite the direct hit, Juggernaut didn't even more."…That all you got?"
Lincoln already started to feel nervous, "Geez, even Rhino would have been a little dazed."
Juggernaut charged at the point, prompting him to desperately leap out of the way. Juggernaut then tried slamming his fists onto Lincoln, the boy frantically backing away from the brute.
"Who are you anyway!?" Lincoln asked as he avoided a punch. "Wait, let me guess...you're The Abominable Trash Can!"
"Shut up!" Juggernaut shouted as he slammed his fist down hard, nearly stumbling Lincoln.
"This is gonna be tough," Lincoln lamented.
From a nearby rooftop, Silver Sable raised a hand, stopping her Wild Pack Squad. "Hold position."
One of her agents hesitated. "Ma'am? What's the reason?"
Silver Sable watched as the masked figure swung around Juggernaut, narrowly dodging a crushing punch.
A curious smile etched on the woman's face. "…Let's see what this one can do."
Lincoln moved as fast as he could to avoid the overwhelming power of The Juggernaut. The boy worried he was out of his league, but still did his best regardless.
He moved very quickly while trying to redirect Juggernaut's momentum.
"Okay… can't stop him," Lincoln muttered, flipping over another charge. "But maybe I can steer him."
Juggernaut smashed through a support beam, this irritating the giant man.
"STOP MOVING!" The titan of a man roared.
"Can't! Kinda my whole thing!" Lincoln shot back. He fired webs at Juggernaut's legs, but they snapped instantly. "…Yeah, figured."
Juggernaut grabbed a chunk of wreckage and hurled it at the boy. Lincoln barely dodged out of the way as the debris exploding behind him.
"Geez Louise!" Lincoln shouted as he landed hard, sliding across the pavement. "Bad enough this guy's tough, but my gear isn't up to date. I gotta figure something out and fast!"
Meanwhile Stella looked on in worry as she gripped her hands together. "This is bad, I think Lincoln's about to get overwhelmed!"
"We gotta help him!" Sid said.
"How? We don't have powers!" Ronnie Anne pointed out. "If we go out there, we'll get our butts kicked!"
"There's gotta be something here we can use!" Sid said. "It's an Iron Man expo!"
"I doubt they'll have anything a random tourists can get his hands on," Ronnie Anne said.
"Come on, let's not lose hope just yet," Stella said. "The fight's still not over."
"YAAAAAAH!" Lincoln flew overhead after a mighty punch, this worrying the girls.
"Come on...isn't there at least one other hero who can help?" Lana asked in worry as The Juggernaut marched closer to Lincoln.
As he recovered, Lincoln managed to get back into a standing position against his foe. "Geez, it's like getting hit by a truck."
"You're one annoying punk," Juggernaut said as he got closer.
"Think you're the first to say that?" Lincoln asked.
He dashed in for some quick strikes, trying everything he can to knock The Juggernaut off balance. Despite how hard he hit, The Juggernaut withstood it.
Juggernaut managed to whack Lincoln down mid-air, causing him to hit the ground hard. He then grabbed Lincoln and angrily threw him across town, sending the boy crashing through some buildings.
"NOOO!" Lana called in worry.
Lincoln pulled himself back up, the boy holding his sides in pain, "This guy hits harder than Rhino too! What is he!?" He looked around and saw that he was near a construction sight. "Think Lincoln...There's some loose scaffolding and a lot of heavy machinery. I can't outmuscle him, so I gotta outwit him."
Lincoln fired a web line at a crane, then another and then a few more as he began setting something up.
"I hope this works, otherwise I'm screwed," Lincoln said.
Juggernaut charged again, but Lincoln stood his ground.
Silver Sable tilted her head slightly. "…He's planning something."
As Juggernaut got close, Lincoln went in on his plan. He yanked the web line to shift the crane.
The metal began to collapse and within moments, dust exploded into the air as tons of steel collapsed directly onto Juggernaut.
"What in the-?" Juggernaut was then completely buried under the steel.
Lincoln was relieved that his plan worked. "Okay, that should at least slow him down."
Unfortunately for Lincoln, the rubble started to shift, before exploding outward. Juggernaut rose from the wreckage, slower, but very much standing.
"…You done?" Juggernaut growled.
Lincoln could not believe his eyes, "You have got to be kidding me! How are you still standing!? Are you even human!?"
"Don't remind me!" Juggernaut shouted as he punched down at Lincoln, the boy narrowly avoiding it.
"Who are you anyway!?" Lincoln asked as he backflipped away. "Why are you trashing the city!?"
"That ain't your damn business, kid!" Juggernaut shouted as he tried to flatten Lincoln under his boot.
"Sorry pal," Lincoln boasted. "You're gonna have to be faster than that if-"
BOOM
The impact echoed like a cannon as Lincoln's body launched through the air, over the overarching sight of New York City as the boy hit the ground hard while skidding across pavement blocks away.
"I just saw Lincoln again!" Sid called.
"This is getting bad!" Stella said, then looked around. "Hey, where is everyone else!?"
"The big dude must have scattered everyone, they're probably looking for us though," Ronnie Anne said.
"They're gonna be looking for Lincoln too," Lana said. "We gotta cover for him somehow."
"Don't worry," Stella pulled out a device. "I've got that planned."
Meanwhile after hitting the ground, Lincoln groaned as he rolled onto his side, his makeshift mask barely holding together.
"…Okay… that's new…" He felt so much pain as he tried to get up. "Come on...fight's not over. I gotta think of a new plan."
Suddenly a sharp click echoed behind him. Lincoln curiously turned around to find multiple weapons aimed directly at him.
Standing at the center of them was Silver Sable. From Lincoln's perspective, she was a very beautiful woman, but he could already tell this wasn't going to end well.
"You're interfering," Sable said.
"Uh...thanks?" Lincoln said. "So um...I gotta go...can you like...tell these guys to lover their guns or...?"
"Ma'am, Juggernaut is still active," One of the men said.
"I am well aware of that fact," Sable cut in while remaining focused on Lincoln. "But this one… is unknown."
"Look, I'm on your side here," Lincoln reassured. "That guy...Juggernaut your friend said? I think he's a threat and-"
"You are unverified, and also a threat," Sable gestured to the boy. "Detain him."
"Wait, you don't mean me right!?" Lincoln asked as the men all had their laser sights trained on Lincoln. "Oh no..."
As the men fired, Lincoln frantically swung out of the way and began making a run for it.
"If it's not one thing, it's another!" Lincoln shouted. "I should have brought my suit! It had better gear!"
To make matters worse, Juggernaut was still charging through town, his eyes focused on Lincoln. "I'm not done with you, punk!"
"Oh come on! Like the sexy lady with her army wasn't enough!?" Lincoln lamented, then nearly got hit with a gunshot. "FOCUS ON THE BIG GUY, WILL YA!?"
The men kept firing at Lincoln, with a few focused on Juggernaut at least, but not enough for the boy's liking.
Lincoln flipped away, landing on a streetlight before it bent under his weight. "Okay, what do I do now!?"
The men kept firing, all the while Sable kept her eye on Lincoln.
"He's quick...but he can't run forever," Sable said. "Keep your focus on that boy! And get some tanks to stop Juggernaut!"
Lincoln continued leaping and swinging through town, the boy looking back to see the angry titan and the elite taskforce both on his tail.
"I don't know what's worse," Lincoln said. "The big, angry guy with the helmet, or that lady and her army!? Supervillains I'm used to, but that squad of soldiers is definitely new!"
"Keep it up! Don't let either target escape!" Sable ordered as things got much worse for Lincoln.
This whole situation was caught by new cameras while they were broadcast all over New York, including the Stark Expo Center.
The Loud Family could see all the drama unfolding on TV.
"Didn't take long for New York to get exciting," Lynn Jr said.
"This is literally not how I want to spend my vacation..." Lori lamented.
"Don't worry, hopefully they'll catch the guy," Bobby said.
"I am curious though," Lisa said as she noticed an image of Lincoln on screen wearing his makeshift costume. "Who is that fellow?"
"Probably a local hero," Lynn Jr said.
"Yes...but somehow his movements are familiar," Lisa said.
"Yeah, they kind of are," Margo said. "It's almost like the way Spider-Man moves."
"Might be a similar hero then," Lynn Jr said.
"Too similar if you ask me," Lisa said.
"Hey, heroes copy each other, villains too," Lynn Jr said. "That big guy's no different than that Rhino creep. And both guys are basically The Hulk."
"Hm...perhaps you are correct," Lisa said.
Meanwhile Rita was frantically trying to make a call, "Come on Lincoln, pick up!"
Eventually the line was answered, and Lincoln's voice came on. "Yeah?"
"Lincoln! Where are you!?" Rita frantically asked.
In a distance, Stella, who rerouted Lincoln's number to her phone, used her voice modifier to change her voice to sound like Lincoln. "I'm near the front, watching the big fight on TV. Pretty cool, huh?"
"Pretty cool!?" Rita asked in disbelief. "Lincoln, I need you here!"
"There's too many people in front of me," Stella said. "Don't worry, I'm not alone."
"Lincoln! That's not enough to reassure me!" Rita said.
"Uh, gotta go, fight's getting good," Stella said and hung up.
"Lincoln!" Rita groaned in annoyance. "That boy and his fascination with heroes. Some good role models they turned out to be."
While this was happening, Pepper could see the trouble in town. "This isn't good. You really picked a bad time to leave, Tony." She looked toward the direction of his armory as she considered the situation. "I wonder...?"
Meanwhile, downtown, steel beams stretched into the sky as an unfinished high-rise loomed over the city. Cranes swung overhead, cables creaked, and workers had long since evacuated.
Lincoln used this place to catch his breath, the boy trying to figure out his troubling situation.
"Geez, my second day here and I'm already fighting for my life," Lincoln said. "I really hoped that being in New York would feel like a vacation since The Avengers could handle any problem. But they're not even here. Just my luck."
Not too long later, Juggernaut stormed through the site, ripping a steel beam from its frame like it weighed nothing.
Meanwhile three helicopters from Silver Sable's squad were still pursing him.
"Keep distance!" one pilot shouted. "We can contain—"
"Buzz off!" Juggernaut shouted as he threw the beam at one chopper, causing it to spiral out of control.
"We're hit! We're going down! Mayday! Mayday!" The person shouted.
The second tried to pull away, but The Juggernaut leapt up and slammed into it mid-air.
The chopper spiraled, smoke trailing behind it as it collided into another helicopter, sending them both falling.
The third veered wildly, barely avoiding collision.
"Oh no!" Lincoln shouted in worry. The helicopters landed hard. The pilots may or may not be alive, but Lincoln knew that he had to do something.
"Even if they were chasing me, I can't let them die," Lincoln said as he swung up. "They better not betray me as soon as I rescue them though."
One helicopter was seen dangling off a platform with the pilot still inside.
Lincoln leapt up and used his webbing to attach to the end of the first helicopter, hoping to pull it up to safety before
"This is much more difficult than I expected, I hope this webbing holds!" Lincoln said. Unfortunately the web began to snap. Lincoln made a quick choice to attached the tail to the web again and leave it tied somewhere.
It wouldn't hold, but it was enough for him to rush over and use his webbing to pull the pilot out before the chopper fell. Thankfully it crashed into a pile of sand and loose material instead of concrete.
"You...you just saved me," The pilot said in disbelief.
"Yeah, you're welcome, now get out of here before that big guy comes to finish the job," Lincoln said before swinging off.
He made his way toward the second helicopter. The man was pinned in his seat, so Lincoln managed to pull him out just before the aviation vehicle caught fire.
Once the man was free, Lincoln grabbed the chopper and flung it into the air before it exploded.
"That was way too close," Lincoln said.
"Hey, thanks for the help," The guy said.
"No problem, now go, hurry," Lincoln said.
Lincoln flung over to the third helicopter. The pilot had fallen out of the cockpit and landed on the ground below. Thankfully it wasn't a long fall, but the guy still looked really hurt.
As Lincoln made his way over, the helicopter above was about to fall.
"Not good!" Lincoln shouted in worry. He swung underneath it, pushing upward with everything he had. "…I… can't… hold… this…" The weight dragged him lower, the boy getting closer to the ground with each passing second.
At the last second, he angled it and allowed it to slam into a stack of wooden pallets and steel rods.
Lincoln hit the ground hard beside it, rolling across the dirt. He looked to the side and saw the guy. Fortunately his teammates were quick to pull him away.
Silver Sable looked genuinely surprised by Lincoln's decision to rescue her men.
"Hm...interesting choice," Sable said. "He could have left them for dead. Perhaps there is more to this boy than even I expected."
"Do we still pursue him?" Her teammate asked.
"...Let's see how his battle with Marko turns out," Sable said.
Lincoln looked up at Sable's chopper, the boy genuinely confused by her presence. "What's with this lady? Who's side is she on? Why does she even want this guy?"
"YOU!" Juggernaut was already charging again and tried to punch Lincoln but he leapt out of the way.
"How are you so strong!?" Lincoln shouted. "Are you a mutant!?"
"No, not me, I'm not the mutant of my family," Juggernaut said. "I'm just that damn strong!"
"How did you get so strong if you're not a mutant!?" Lincoln asked. "What do you just do a lot of push-ups and sit ups? I bet you drink plenty of juice too."
"Oh a comedian, huh!?" Juggernaut said. "Think you're funny!?"
"I've picked up some tips when it comes to being funny by trusted people," Lincoln said.
"Well funny guy, I hope you're ready to get turned into a human pretzel!" Juggernaut said.
Lincoln shuddered a bit, "Somehow, you're only the second scariest person to tell me that."
Juggernaut rushed to attack while Lincoln got into a defensive position, ready to do what he needed to do.
Elsewhere, inside a secured Stark Industries facility, Pepper Potts continued keeping an eye the live feed.
"This boy...he couldn't be that Spider-Man kid I heard about, could he?" Pepper wondered. "He's from Royal Woods..." A realization occurred to her. "Just like The Louds..." She couldn't think about that, she instead focused on what she came here to do.
With The Avengers away, she had to do something to keep the city safe.
"…Tony, I hope you don't mind." Pepper turned toward a computer to activate it. "Prep the Hulkbuster Armor."
The Armor rose from a containment pod. The woman looked amazed. The same armor used to keep The Hulk under control must now be used to stop this rampaging individual.
"I hope I know what I'm getting myself into..." Pepper said in worry.
Back at the construction site, Juggernaut continued his showdown with Lincoln.
"Alright, time for Round Two," Lincoln kept a high ground to avoid The Juggernaut's attacks. "Maybe I can wear him out or something. He's gotta get tired at some point, doesn't he?"
Juggernaut continued smashing through the construction site as Lincoln web zipped around while also throwing as many objects as he could at The Juggernaut.
He tried using beams, he tried using concrete, even nearby dumpsters.
Anything he could throw, it was aimed at The Juggernaut. Unfortunately the behemoth withstood everything.
"For Pete's Sake, how do I stop this guy!?" Lincoln asked in disbelief.
"You can never stop me..." The behemoth said. "Do you know why!?"
"I bet you'll tell me," Lincoln said.
"Because, I am The Juggernaut, Bitch!" The man shouted.
"...Wow that was cringe, you just lost so much intimidation factor with that bogus line," Lincoln said, then ended up dodging a beam thrown at him in a Matrix Style backbend. He focused his attention back at The Juggernaut. "You're still a loser!"
Juggernaut leapt up and threw a punch down at Lincoln, the boy frantically dodging and trying to come up with another plan.
"What do I do now? If I'm not careful, it's all over!" Lincoln thought to himself. Suddenly he noticed a huge chunk of armor overhead, one that was familiar to the boy. "No way...is that...?"
Sable noticed this as well, "Iron Man?"
Juggernaut turned around to see The Hulkbuster armor. "Well, well...what do we have here?"
Pepper, despite her worries, looked ready to fight. She only hoped it would be a success. The armor straightened, servos humming with power.
"It's him!" Lincoln excitedly stated. "He's back early! I knew The Avengers couldn't stay away too long! At least not all of them."
The disguised Pepper marched over to Juggernaut.
"Stand down," a voice echoed from inside.
"Huh...somehow I thought his voice would be a bit deeper," Lincoln thought to himself. He swung up beside the massive suit. "Nice entrance, by the way."
"Thanks kid, now try to run along, this is dangerous," Pepper said.
"I can't just leave, this guy's strong," Lincoln said. "You'll need help."
"Even ten of you wouldn't be enough!" Juggernaut boasted.
"Someone's got an ego," Pepper turned to Lincoln. "I suppose I could use a sidekick here. Just be careful and try not to let yourself get hurt."
"You got it!" Lincoln said, then took a second to think about the voice, "Also, Mr. Stark? Is there something wrong with your voice? It sounds off."
"Oh um..." Pepper tried going for a deeper voice. "Never mind it young man."
"Uh...okay?" Lincoln said. "Hey, you're okay with me helping, right?"
"Of course," Pepper said. "It's always good to have young heroes ready to risk their lives for the greater good. Only together can we-"
"ARE YOU TWO DONE TALKING?!" Juggernaut shouted.
"Hey! It's rude to interrupt!" Lincoln scolded. "Geez, I heard New Yorkers were rude but-" Juggernaut threw a rock that Lincoln quickly dodged. "Jerk!"
"We'll talk later," Pepper said as she readied herself for battle.
"That's an interesting piece of armor," Lincoln said. "Is it used for buff guys like this one?"
"Yeah, something like that," Pepper said. "We don't call it the Hulkbuster for no reason."
"Hulkbuster?" Lincoln asked. "Wow, that's pretty awesome."
"It is, but we'll talk about that later," Pepper said.
"We'll be fine if we work together," Lincoln said. He then looked up at the Hulkbuster again. "Still really cool, though."
"Thank you," Pepper replied.
"TAKE THIS!" The Juggernaut threw a punch that Pepper managed to block, though not without some heavy resilient.
"Oh wow, you actually stopped him!" Lincoln said.
"Yeah but he's still a lot stronger than I expected him to be!" Pepper said as she leapt back. "Given how much work that was put into this suit, that's fairly amazing."
"It doesn't matter if Iron Man is really here, I'll crush him!" Juggernaut charged again. "JUST LIKE I'M ABOUT TO CRUSH YOU LITTLE BOY!"
Lincoln managed to web Juggernaut's legs to at least anchor him just long enough for a counterattack.
"Try hitting him high!" Lincoln ordered.
"Worth a shot," Pepper said. The Hulkbuster's massive arm swung and hit hard, causing Juggernaut to stagger back a step.
"Ha! He can stumble!" Lincoln excitedly pointed out.
Juggernaut recovered quickly and began swinging wildly.
Pepper blocked the attacks, but the impact started echoing through the armor.
"His durability is off the charts!" Pepper commented. "Is he even human!?"
"That's what I'd like to know!" Lincoln tried kicking Juggernaut's head, but could not get through this helmet. "What's this thing made out of!?"
"Back off!" Juggernaut grabbed a beam and tried to whack Lincoln but the boy dodged, causing Juggernaut to whack himself instead, this dazing the man slightly.
"Guess the only thing strong enough to hurt him is himself," Lincoln said, then had an immediate idea. "That's it!"
"Got a plan?" Pepper asked.
"Yeah…we gotta use his own strength against him," Lincoln said. "It's not going to be easy though."
"Nothing ever is," Pepper said, then took a whack that sent her flying back.
Lincoln was quick to swing over to check on the woman, "Hey, are you okay!?"
"I'm fine," Pepper insisted as she got to her feet. "The armor takes most of the impact at least."
"That's good," Lincoln awkwardly glanced down. "Thanks for showing up. I've always wanted to work with an Avenger. At least one that was willing to cooperate."
"Hey, you were doing just fine yourself," Pepper said. "Just keep it up, I bet you'll do fine."
"Still, isn't there anyone else who can help?" Lincoln asked. "I'd even take Black Panther at this point."
"He's in Wakanda, he had to return some artifact," Pepper said. "Funny, he mentioned being in a place called Royal Woods, and mentioned a flirty cat and an annoying little boy in hero pajamas."
"ANNOYING!?" Lincoln asked in offense, then quickly dodged some debris.
"YOU TALK TOO MUCH!" Juggernaut shouted. "FIGHT ME!"
"WE'RE TRYING!" Lincoln shouted back.
Juggernaut roared and charged again, prompting Lincoln to fire a web line.
"Come on!" Lincoln said.
Pepper powered forward as well, blocking Juggernaut as Lincoln tried using his webs to yank the helmet off.
"I bet this is softening the blows!" Lincoln said. "If I could just..."
Juggernaut punched Pepper away, then grabbed Lincoln's webs and started swinging him around and sent him crashing against some cinderblocks.
"I really hate this guy..." Lincoln lamented.
Meanwhile Sable continued to observe the battle. "Something about Iron Man feels off. Is that really him? Or an imposter. Still, that armor is very interesting to say the least. As for that boy, well I think he is starting to adapt. For his sake, I hope he straightens out soon, otherwise he is in for a painful loss.
The battle was still being broadcast on TV. Stella was nervously biting her nails, hoping that Lincoln wouldn't be hurt too badly.
Sid noticed her tension and slowly took Stella's hand in hers, hoping it would calm her. It worked a little as Stella gripped Sid's hand tightly.
Lana was seen trembling. Her brother was in danger because of a monster, and the tension was getting to her. Ronnie Anne placed her hands on Lana's shoulders to still her worries.
Lana tried to relax, she tried to remind herself that Lincoln's strong. But that worry never fades.
Clyde was just watching without the added stress of knowing it was his best friend, though he did look around to see if Lincoln was around. He was woefully unaware that his own best friend was the superhero on TV fighting for his life.
At the Construction Site, The Juggernaut kept rampaging throughout the construction site. Dust swirled through the air as steel groaned and snapped all around.
Lincoln stayed close to Pepper as he tried coming up with a good enough plan to stop this behemoth, "Pepper, we need to find a way to remove this guy's helmet."
"Yeah, it would make him vulnerable," Pepper said. "It won't be easy though."
"Yeah, it will probably be tricky," Lincoln said. "But, being tricky is my specialty."
Juggernaut roared and charged again, a sound and sight Lincoln was growing weary of.
"Time to shut your big mouth up," Lincoln said fired webs at a suspended load of steel beams. He then fired another line to a crane joint.
"Hey, big guy!" Lincoln taunted. "Bet you can't hit me!"
"NOT SMART KID!" Juggernaut shouted.
Lincoln leapt over the first chance he got to yank the web lines down. He knew this wouldn't stop him, but he just needed Juggernaut to slow down for a second.
"Iron Man! Go!" Lincoln called.
The Hulkbuster surged forward with a full-force punch that collided with Juggernaut, redirecting his momentum straight into a reinforced concrete support.
The impact managed to crack the helmet, even just a bit.
Lincoln then leapt onto his back while clinging to the armor. "Okay…don't die, don't die, don't die-"
Juggernaut reached back, trying to grab him, which Lincoln managed to avoid until his hands found the edge of the helmet.
"GET OFF YOU PUNK!" Juggernaut shouted.
Lincoln pulled as the helmet, but nothing happened.
"…Yeah, figured it wouldn't be easy," Lincoln lamented.
"Need assistance?" Pepper asked.
"That would be great!" Lincoln called.
The Hulkbuster punched Juggernaut hard in the stomach to stun him briefly, then grabbed Juggernaut's arm and locking it in place. "Do it!"
Lincoln was about to pull when he remembered a tip that Lynn gave him once. Lift with his legs, not his back. So Lincoln positioned himself better and pulled harder and harder until the helmet finally tore free.
"YES!" Lincoln cheered.
"NO!" Juggernaut lamented as he tried to grab Lincoln again, to which the boy avoided it.
"Finally!" Lincoln wiped some sweat off his head. "I really owe Lynn big time."
Juggernaut staggered back while angrily clutching his head. "YOU LITTLE RUNT!"
Lincoln grimaced at the sight of Juggernaut's face, "Wow...kind of ugly, aren't you?"
"UGLY!?"
Juggernaut's rage exploded, causing Lincoln to wince at the overwhelming power this man was putting off. "…Okay, yeah, he's mad."
"Kid!" Pepper flew over in the armor. "Quick! We gotta strike while the iron's hot!"
"Uh, right..." Lincoln said as he got into position. "Let's do this!"
"I am going to grind you into dust!" Juggernaut shouted as he went for another punch.
Lincoln landed on his chest and threw a punch across the man's face. For the first time, damage was dealt.
"Ha!" Lincoln continued throwing punches, nailing the brute hard with each shot that was landed, then finished it off with a kick.
Pepper rushed in and landed a few blows herself, hoping to weaken The Juggernaut even more.
"You think..." Juggernaut spit some blood out. "You think that's enough...to stop me!?"
"Honestly, I'm kind of hoping it is," Lincoln said.
"WELL GUESS AGAIN!" Juggernaut rushed in with a punch to Lincoln that sent him hurdling toward a wall. Lincoln managed to land well enough to rebound into a double fist punch into Juggernaut's face, knocking some teeth out of the brute's mouth.
Pepper then grabbed the man and slammed him face first against some concrete and hit an uppercut to send him flying.
Lincoln move in once more, starting with a web to the eyes of Juggernaut.
"Hit him hard!" Lincoln called.
"Oh it!" Pepper said as The Hulkbuster powered up, with the repulsors glowing bright.
Juggernaut broke through the webbing just in time to received a powerful hit from Pepper.
Her strike hit him square in the chest, amplified by his own forward momentum.
The ground shattered beneath him as he was driven back through scaffolding and into a reinforced pit of concrete and steel.
Despite that, Juggernaut was still moving, but only slightly. Lincoln grabbed some debris and aggressively flung it at Juggernaut's head and whacked him hard, knocking the man for a loop as he reeled back with one more punch.
Putting his back into it, Lincoln managed to nail Juggernaut violently hard across the face, knocking the man hard enough for him to finally fade.
Within moments, Juggernaut had fallen to the ground, a mighty thud occurring right afterward.
Lincoln took a breath, the boy amazed by what he managed to pull off. "I did it..." He turned to Pepper, offering a thumbs up in support. "…We did it!"
The Hulkbuster powered down slightly, Pepper looking relieved. "Team effort."
Lincoln looked at the helmet resting on the ground nearby. "…Guess even unstoppable guys have weak points. Or just really good armor."
"It's impressive armor to withstand so much," Pepper said as she picked it up. "I should take this back to the lab."
"Well still, thanks for all of your help, Iron Man," Lincoln said.
Pepper then removed her own helmet, revealing her true identity to the boy. "Actually...I'm just his assistant."
"Pepper Potts!?" Lincoln asked in disbelief. "Wait...you're a superhero!?"
"Well, not exactly," Pepper said. "I just back Tony up sometimes when he needs it. I'm really good at Rescue."
"I don't believe it," Lincoln said.
"What's wrong? Never seen a female do superhero stuff?" Pepper asked.
"Oh I have, I know Black Widow," Lincoln said.
"Ah, so you are Spider-Man," Pepper theorized. "I had a feeling you were."
"You did?" Lincoln asked.
"Between your fighting style and your use of webbing, I figured it was you," Pepper said. "Funny that you came here at the same time as The Loud Family."
"There's a reason for that," Lincoln said.
"I think I know," Pepper said. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I'll leave decisions like that to you."
"Thanks," Lincoln said, then glanced at Juggernaut. "What about this big guy?"
"Allow me..." Sable said as she made her presence known. "I am Silver Sable, leader of The Wild Pack. I had been tasked with hunting down this man, Cain Marko, who you now know as The Juggernaut."
"Who is he?" Lincoln asked.
"That is a need to know basis," Sable said. "All I will tell you is he has ties to a villainous organization, and I need answers. Plus, his powers look like they might come in handy."
"Are you authorized by the US Government to do this?" Pepper asked.
"It is perfectly legal," Sable said.
"...Very well," Pepper said. "Well I should return." She turned her attention to Lincoln. "See you later, young hero."
"Yes, see you later, ma'am," Lincoln said, then waved off Pepper. He then turned his attention to Sable. "So...what now?"
"Now, I suggest you go," Sable warned.
"Uh, so we're cool then?" Lincoln asked.
"...We will meet again, very soon," Sable said as she made her leave.
Lincoln did not like the sound of that. But he'd rather not make enemies out of this woman, so he quickly made his leave.
Back at the Expo, Stella joyfully hugged Sid, the girl overwhelmed with joy. "He did it! I'm so happy!"
"Of course he did, he's Spider-Man," Sid said as she hugged back.
Lana sighed in relief as well as Ronnie Anne smirked to herself, "That damn Web-Head, he's always gotta get us so freaking worried."
"Hey, he won, that's all I care about," Lana said. "And he had Iron Man's help."
"Isn't he out of town?" Sid asked. "Also...I'm not sure that's really Iron Man."
"Well whoever that was, I'm glad he was there," Lana said.
"Or she..." Sid commented. "Perhaps there's a Mrs. Iron Man."
"Then he must really like large women," Ronnie Anne joked.
Meanwhile with Sable, even as she left, she turned around to face Lincoln once more as she made a small note.
"That boy...his movements are quite familiar..." Sable said. "I must analyze this..."
Later on at the Expo, Lincoln had quickly switched out of his make-shift costume into his civilian clothes.
"Lincoln!" Stella rushed in, hugging him tightly. "You were amazing today!"
Lincoln blushed a little before awkwardly hugging back. "Uh… thanks. It's nothing."
"Nothing?!" Lana ran in next, nearly tackling him. "You fought that giant dude and didn't even get squished!"
Lincoln chuckled nervously. "Yeah… close one."
"Who was that guy anyway?" Lana asked.
"All I got is that he calls himself Juggernaut," Lincoln said. "I didn't really stick around for introductions."
"Juggernaut…" Stella nodded. "Sounds about right."
"I won't lie, that's kind of a cool name," Lana said. "it sucks that it belongs to a villain though."
"Still, you pulled it off Lincoln," Stella said. "And you even got to work with Iron Man!"
"Was it Iron Man?" Lana asked while narrowing her eyes. "I heard otherwise."
Lincoln rubbed the back of his neck. "…Not exactly. I'll explain later."
"LINCOLN!"
Clyde came rushing in, slightly out of breath, eyes wide with concern.
"Are you okay?! Where were you?! That whole place went crazy and you just...disappeared!"
Lincoln forced a calm smile. "Sorry, I got caught up in the crowd. I'm fine now."
Clyde grabbed his shoulders, scanning him like a worried parent. "You could've been hurt! That big guy, he was throwing helicopters! HELICOPTERS, LINCOLN!"
"…Yeah, I heard," Lincoln said.
Clyde started pacing.
"I mean, what if you were closer?" Clyde asked. "What if something fell on you? What if you got trapped? What if...what if...?" He stopped, gripping his head. "I don't even want to think about it!"
Lincoln felt bad for Clyde. He hated keeping the secret from him. He had contemplated telling him, though his friends did argue both for and against the idea. Ultimately, Lincoln was about to make a choice.
"…Clyde," Lincoln began.
Clyde looked up immediately. "Yeah?"
"...Just curious...what do you think of these heroes?" Lincoln asked. "Like Spider-Man, or the guy who just helped us? Like, you don't find them weird, right? People with powers?"
"No way, I would never discriminate against a mutant," Clyde said. "In fact, they deserve equal rights, and total freedom. No more Mutant Registration, they have a right to keep it a secret."
"Uh...to be fair, I would like to know if the person sitting next to me could accidentally nuke an entire city by sneezing," Stella said. "Not to judge, but to be prepared."
"Point is, I'm all for mutants, especially the heroes," Clyde said.
"Cool, so you're okay with Spider-Man?" Lincoln asked. "No judgement?"
"No, but man, I don't know how he does this stuff," Clyde said while shaking his head. "Swinging around...fighting guys like that? I'd be terrified all the time!"
"Uh, right...better them than us, right?" Lincoln asked.
"I'd still worry," Clyde said. "Like, if I knew someone close to me was doing that? I'd lose my mind worrying! I'd never sleep again! I'd probably follow him everywhere just to make sure he didn't get hurt!"
"Uh...right..." Lincoln said.
"…I mean, I already worry enough about you just crossing the street," Clyde said. "And your sisters...that's a minefield. No offense Lana."
Lana was about to retort, but she knew Clyde had a point, "Eh..."
"…Yeah," Lincoln said quietly. "That'd be… a lot."
Clyde nodded rapidly. "Exactly! I bet you'd feel the same way."
Lincoln forced a small smile. "…Yeah. I get that."
"Lincoln!" Sid called. "Stella! Clyde! Lana!"
"Coming Sid!" Stella said as she made her way over with the others. "I'm guessing that we should probably head back soon. Everyone's regrouping."
"Yeah," Ronnie Anne added. "Before our folks start another city-wide search."
"That already happened once," Sid said. "I don't think New York could handle a sequel."
"Oh, it definitely can," Lana said.
Everyone started walking to find the adults.
Sid stayed back to talk to Ronnie Anne in secret, "Did you hear half the stuff Clyde said?"
"Yeah, it's nuts," Ronnie Anne said. "I'm not surprised, I mean, look who raised him."
"You'd think a boy with two fathers would be more tough and macho," Sid said. "You know, double the masculinity?"
"No offense to the red haired one, but he's very submissive, so I'm not surprised," Ronnie Anne said. "The other one, he's a bit dramatic too at times, but I'd say he is a better example of what Clyde should be like. Worried, but confident. In time he'll get there."
"I suppose I can't blame Clyde," Sid said. "I worry about Lincoln too. Maybe me knowing was a mistake?"
"I bet there's something here that can wipe memories," Ronnie Anne teased. "I'll just wipe yours."
Sid's eyes widened in surprise, then began to tear up in sadness, "You would...you'd actually to something like that to me? You'd leave me out of something so cool!?"
"Huh? No, I was joking," Ronnie Anne said, then noticed Sid's expression worsening. "Oh for the love of...are you seriously crying about this!? What the hell, Sid!?"
Meanwhile Clyde stayed close to Lincoln. "I'm just glad you're okay, man. Seriously."
Lincoln nodded. "Yeah…me too."
Lincoln knew he couldn't tell Clyde. Not yet. It pained him but he would not do anything that might jeopardize Clyde's safety.
"Lincoln!" Lynn Jr ran over to check on her brother. "You alright? You had us worried!"
"I'm fine, thanks to you," Lincoln said.
Lynn cocked her head in confusion, "Huh? How?"
"Let's just say that the advice you give me can help in stressful times like these," Lincoln said.
Lynn wasn't sure what Lincoln meant, but she did like having her ego stroked. "Well, it's the least I can do for my little bro. Now come on."
With Lincoln by her side, Lynn Jr was able to reunite her brother with the rest of the family.
Later on, Pepper had returned as well, and explained the situation to Rita.
"So I got a message just now from Tony," Pepper said. "He might be gone longer than expected. So I wouldn't expect to meet him during your stay."
"Seriously!?" Rita asked. "I was promised an interview!"
"I know, but things do come up," Pepper said. "But don't worry, I will interview you on his behalf."
"...Well, I suppose my boss will be fine with that," Rita said. "I just feel sorry for Stella. She really wanted to meet Mr. Stark. It would mean the world to her."
"I know, and I hate to disappoint her," Pepper said. "If anything, we'll do a rain check and, with a lot of luck, Tony may at least go to Royal Woods. I can't promise anything, but it's the best I can do for now."
"I appreciate the effort," Rita said. "Truth be told, my son was also looking forward to this. He loves superheroes. He always goes on and on about Ace Savvy and The Avengers."
"Boys are typically like that," Pepper said. "Hopefully things work out."
"Well, it's been a long day, I'm going to go to the hotel," Rita said. "Maybe tomorrow we can do something calmer."
"Have you visited The Statue of Liberty yet?" Pepper asked. "They're going to revamp it soon. They're cleaning it entirely and adding Captain America's shield."
"That sounds nice," Rita said. "I'll consider that."
As Rita left, Pepper rubbed her chin in curiosity.
She went to a room to pick up a file on Spider-Man. According to the data here, Spider-Man is from Royal Woods, and the alter ego of Lincoln Loud.
"I had a feeling..." Pepper said. "Tony doesn't know what he's missing..."
Elsewhere Silver Sable was analyzing a video feed
"Based of his mannerisms and fighting style, it might be safe to say that this boy is actually Spider-Man from that small town in Michigan, Royal Woods I believe it's called," Sable said. She turned the video feed off as she made plans. "Looks like I have a brand new target. Watch your back, Spider-Man..."
Lincoln stopped one threat, but more was on the way.