Not So Friendly Anymore

T'Challa sat at the head of the great hall, flanked by Wakandan soldiers and advisors, poring over a series of holographic reports projected above the table. The rest of the Avengers filed in, looking a little worse for wear but victorious. Shuri stood beside her brother, her arms crossed as she updated him on the situation now that communications had been restored.

T'Challa looked up as the Avengers approached. "You have my gratitude for your assistance in securing the communications relay," he said, his voice calm but firm. "With this key infrastructure restored, Wakanda has a fighting chance to coordinate against Hydra's forces. However, this battle is far from over."

Shuri nodded. "Unfortunately, the reports are troubling. Hydra has focused its efforts on seizing the armory. If they gain access to Wakanda's weaponry, they could arm themselves with technology far beyond anything they could create on their own."

"Who's leading the assault?" Natasha asked, stepping closer to study the holograms.

"Taskmaster," T'Challa replied gravely. "An all-too-familiar mercenary hired by Hydra. You've encountered him before, so you already know his reputation. His ability to replicate fighting styles makes him a formidable opponent, but this time, he's brought an elite squad trained to match his precision. They've fortified their position at the armory, using its defenses to their advantage."

As the team digested the news, Clint leaned against a column, arms crossed, and let out a derisive snort. "Great. Another warmonger for Spider-Man to show off his unique diplomacy skills against. Maybe this time he'll leave a few alive for us to interrogate?"

Peter shot Clint a sideways glance, his tone dry. "And maybe this time you could hit the broad side of a barn with one of your arrows? But hey, we can't all have superpowers, or relevance."

The room fell silent for a beat as Clint's face turned bright red. "You little—" he began, stepping forward, only to be stopped by Natasha's hand on his shoulder.

"Don't," she warned, her tone sharp.

Before the tension could escalate further, Tony Stark folded his arms and smirked. "Speaking of Spider-Man's diplomacy, maybe we should talk about the whole brutalizing Hydra soldiers thing. T'Challa, did you happen to notice how Parker was cutting through them like a lawnmower? Not very hero-like, wouldn't you say?"

T'Challa looked up from the reports, his gaze as sharp as a blade. "You misunderstand, Stark. Whether Peter killed them or not is irrelevant. This is Wakandan soil. Any Hydra agents captured alive would have been executed under Wakandan law. Here, treachery is met with justice. And if Spider-Man's methods ensured fewer of my people died, then he has done me a service."

Tony opened his mouth to argue but quickly thought better of it, clamping his lips shut. T'Challa returned his attention to the holograms.

"As I was saying," T'Challa continued, "Taskmaster's forces have fortified their position near the armory. We need a two-pronged assault: one to draw their attention and another to disable their defenses. Taskmaster is intelligent and will anticipate a direct attack, so we must act with precision."

Natasha leaned forward. "I can lead a stealth team to infiltrate their defenses and sabotage their heavy weaponry. Once they're vulnerable, the main assault can push through."

Thor cracked his knuckles. "A distraction is something I can deliver. With the Hulk and Spider-Man at my side, Taskmaster will have no choice but to engage us directly."

Peter smirked under his mask. "Sounds good to me. I've got some ideas for Taskmaster he won't see coming."

T'Challa nodded. "Then it's settled. Prepare yourselves. We move at nightfall. Wakanda's future depends on this mission."

---

Wakandan Armoury

The battlefield was chaos, and at the center of it, Peter, Thor, and Hulk tore through Hydra forces with merciless efficiency, their every move designed to leave a mark, both physical and psychological. Hydra soldiers screamed in terror, scattering like insects as the trio carved a path of destruction.

Peter crouched atop a wrecked Hydra transport, his symbiote tendrils writhing menacingly as they grabbed two soldiers trying to flee. He yanked them back toward him, slamming one into the side of the tank and tossing the other to the ground. "Running's just going to make it worse," Peter quipped, his voice calm but chilling. He leaped down, driving his claws into the soldier's chest, before tossing the lifeless body aside.

Thor landed nearby with a thunderous crash, Mjolnir spinning in his hand. "You seem to be enjoying yourself, Spider-Man," the god said, grinning as he swung his hammer, sending a dozen soldiers flying like bowling pins.

Peter smirked behind his mask, webbing another Hydra agent mid-sprint and yanking him back into a brutal knee strike that left the man unconscious, or worse. "It's therapeutic. You know, stress relief. You should try it sometime."

"I am trying it!" Thor bellowed with laughter, throwing Mjolnir through the air. The hammer struck a fleeing Hydra transport, obliterating it in a burst of lightning and flame before returning to Thor's hand.

Hulk, meanwhile, was busy proving why he was the team's unstoppable powerhouse. He ripped the turret off a tank, holding it like a battering ram before slamming it down on a cluster of soldiers. The ground shook with the impact, sending shockwaves that knocked even the nearby reinforcements off their feet.

"You two talk too much," Hulk growled, grabbing a Hydra agent who was trying to crawl away. He held the man aloft before tossing him into a group of reinforcements like a human bowling ball. "Hulk smashes. That's it."

"And you're very good at it," Peter said, webbing another soldier and slamming him into the ground with enough force to leave a crater. He turned to Thor, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "See, Thor? This is how you keep it simple. Smash, toss, repeat."

Thor chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, is that how it's done? Perhaps I should try your method." With a swing of his hammer, he sent another tank flying into a group of Hydra forces, the explosion lighting up the battlefield. "Though I daresay my style has its own charm."

Peter leaped onto the remaining tank, tearing open the hatch and yanking out the operator. "Knock, knock," he said dryly, before tossing the man to the ground. As the soldier tried to crawl away, Peter's claws extended, and with a single strike, he ended the man's escape attempt.

Hulk roared nearby, smashing a tank into scrap metal before turning his attention to a fleeing officer. "Hulk catch puny leader!" he growled, sprinting after the man and grabbing him by the leg. With one brutal swing, Hulk sent the officer flying into the wreckage of a downed vehicle.

"Is that fifteen points for an officer, or do we call it ten for poor execution?" Peter joked, glancing at Thor.

Thor laughed, spinning Mjolnir once more. "Oh, I think fifteen for creativity. Though Hulk will argue for thirty."

"Thirty's pushing it," Peter quipped, webbing another Hydra soldier and flinging him into the side of a truck with a sickening crunch.

The three continued their grim work, their banter making the slaughter all the more terrifying for the Hydra forces. Each kill was precise, brutal, and served to drive home one undeniable fact: there was no escaping them.

At one point, a Hydra agent dropped his weapon and fell to his knees, trembling. "Mercy! Please!" he cried.

Peter approached slowly, his claws retracting as he tilted his head. "Mercy?" he repeated, his tone mockingly thoughtful.

For a moment, the soldier's face lit up with hope, until Peter's hand shot out, grabbing him by the throat. "No," Peter said coldly, before slamming the man into the ground and leaving him unconscious.

Thor shook his head, amused. "You do have a flair for dramatics, don't you?"

"It's part of the job," Peter replied, turning his attention to the last cluster of soldiers trying to make a stand.

"Let's finish this," Thor said, raising Mjolnir high.

"Hulk already finished," the green giant grunted, tossing the remains of a tank aside.

The three advanced together, their teamwork seamless despite their vastly different styles. By the time they were done, the battlefield was eerily quiet, save for the crackling of fires and the groans of the wounded.

Peter looked around, taking in the destruction. "Think they've gotten the message yet?"

Thor chuckled, resting Mjolnir on his shoulder. "If not, we can always send another."

Hulk grunted, cracking his knuckles. "Hulk ready for more."

Peter smirked. "Good. Because Taskmaster's next."

With that, the trio turned and began making their way back to regroup with the others, leaving behind a battlefield that would haunt Hydra's forces for years to come.

Thor, Peter, and Hulk's relentless assault had the intended effect, Hydra forces poured out from every corner of the battlefield, desperate to stop the trio's rampage. Peter perched atop the twisted remains of a Hydra transport, watching the chaos unfold.

"This is working a little too well," Peter said, sending a webline to yank a fleeing soldier back toward him. The man screamed as Peter's symbiote-clad fist connected with his helmet, knocking him unconscious.

"Let them come!" Thor bellowed, summoning a lightning storm that scorched the ground and left a dozen soldiers incapacitated. "The more they send, the fewer they have to defend their resources!"

Hulk slammed both fists into the ground, creating a shockwave that sent debris and soldiers flying. "Hulk smash more! Bring puny Hydra!"

Unbeknownst to the Hydra commanders, their attempts to overwhelm Peter, Thor, and Hulk were playing right into the Avengers' hands. In the shadows, Natasha, Steve, and Hawkeye moved swiftly and efficiently, targeting Hydra's heavy weapons and supply caches.

Natasha crouched behind a pile of rubble, her silenced pistols taking out two Hydra soldiers guarding an artillery cannon. "Cannon clear. Moving to the next one," she whispered into her comms.

"Copy that," Steve replied, using his shield to deflect a grenade and then throwing it into a squad of soldiers guarding a missile launcher. The launcher exploded in a ball of fire, taking the squad with it. "That's one less launcher for Hydra to use. Keep the pressure on."

Hawkeye, perched high above the battlefield on a makeshift sniper perch, let loose a volley of explosive arrows. Each arrow found its mark, obliterating mortar stations and scattering soldiers. "Hey, Nat, remind me to thank Spider-Man later," he said into the comms. "I haven't had this much target practice in years."

"Focus, Barton," Natasha replied curtly, but there was a smirk in her voice.

Back on the front lines, Peter and Thor continued to draw more Hydra reinforcements.

Peter swung low, using his symbiote to trip a line of soldiers before webbing them to the ground. "You know, for a supposedly well-funded evil organization, these guys are really bad at adapting."

Thor laughed, throwing Mjolnir into a transport that had just rolled onto the field. The vehicle exploded, sending debris raining down. "Perhaps they're overwhelmed by our charm, Spider-Man!"

"Or maybe they're just stupid," Hulk added, smashing through a reinforced barricade like it was cardboard.

Peter leaped onto the barricade and gestured dramatically toward the Hydra forces, now hesitating to advance. "Ladies and gentlemen, your finest warriors!" he called mockingly.

The taunt worked. Hydra forces rallied and charged forward, weapons blazing. Peter flipped into the fray, dodging bullets and retaliating with brutal efficiency. His symbiote tendrils lashed out, disarming soldiers and slamming them into the ground.

"Steve, Natasha, how's it looking on your end?" Peter asked over the comms, kicking a soldier into the path of an oncoming Hydra tank.

Natasha's voice came through, calm and focused. "We're making progress. Most of the heavy weapons are down. Keep them distracted a little longer."

"Take your time," Thor said, smashing his hammer into the ground and sending a dozen soldiers flying. "We're quite enjoying ourselves!"

Hulk grunted as he used a Hydra jeep as a battering ram. "Hulk not tired yet. More puny soldiers!"

Peter rolled his eyes beneath his mask. "You two are way too into this."

The battlefield was a storm of chaos, but it was clear the Avengers' plan was working. Hydra's forces were being spread thin, their heavy weapons neutralized one by one. It was only a matter of time before their position became untenable, and Taskmaster would have no choice but to make his move.

---

As the Hydra forces swarmed out of the armory, Peter, Thor, Hulk, Steve, Natasha, and Hawkeye took the lead. Behind them, the Wakandan forces stood ready to close any gaps. Meanwhile, She-Hulk had remained behind at the Great Hall to guard T'Challa and Shuri, ensuring no surprise Hydra attack would disrupt their strategic operations. Tony Stark and Hank Pym had also stayed back, working tirelessly to repair Wakandan infrastructure now that communications were restored.

The chaos at the armory ramped up as more Hydra soldiers poured into the fray, attempting to halt the Avengers' advance.

Peter darted ahead of the group, the symbiote surging around him in waves as he tore through the ranks. A soldier lunged with a bayonet, but Peter caught the blade with his bare hand, the symbiote shielding him from harm.

"Nice try," Peter said mockingly before shoving the soldier backward with enough force to send him crashing into a group of his comrades. "But you're gonna need more than that."

Thor hurled Mjolnir into a cluster of Hydra soldiers, the hammer colliding with a tank they had been attempting to use. The resulting explosion sent debris flying, scattering their ranks. Thor summoned the hammer back to his hand with a confident grin.

"Do they ever tire of failing so spectacularly?" he mused.

"They're persistent, I'll give them that," Steve replied, his shield deflecting a hail of bullets as he pushed forward.

Hulk smashed through another squad, grabbing two soldiers and slamming them together like cymbals before tossing them aside. "Hulk likes when they keep coming. More fun to smash!"

Peter, leaping over a barricade, chuckled at Hulk's enthusiasm. "Save some for the rest of us, big guy."

Hawkeye, perched on a ledge, loosed arrows with surgical precision, taking out any Hydra soldier who tried to flank the team. "You know," he quipped, "it's almost like they want to lose. Who sends this many guys into a meat grinder?"

Natasha, firing controlled shots at a Hydra officer trying to rally his troops, smirked. "Maybe they haven't gotten the memo that we're unstoppable."

Peter turned to glance at Hawkeye, his tone dry. "Clint, maybe they heard your jokes and thought surrendering wasn't an option."

Hawkeye groaned. "You just can't let me have a moment, can you?"

Peter didn't bother to respond, flipping over a soldier and landing with his symbiote-coated hand on the man's chest. The soldier screamed as Peter shoved him into the dirt with enough force to leave him unconscious.

The Hydra forces seemed endless, but their morale was clearly faltering. The Avengers pressed on, cutting through their ranks with relentless efficiency.

Eventually, the team regrouped near the armory's entrance. Thor's armor was scorched, Hulk's fists were covered in dust and ash, and Peter's symbiote writhed around him, eager for more.

"Looks like we've got their attention," Peter said, glancing at the waves of reinforcements still streaming toward them.

"Good," Steve said, adjusting his shield. "Nat, Clint, keep covering us. Thor, Hulk, Spider-Man, let's push into the armory and take these guys down."

"Finally," Thor said, twirling Mjolnir. "Let us see if Taskmaster himself is ready to fall today."

The group charged forward, their combined strength a terrifying force as they stormed the armory. Peter took the lead, his claws and tendrils ripping through Hydra soldiers who dared to stand in his way. Thor and Hulk followed close behind, their raw power devastating anything in their path.

Inside the armory, the Hydra forces were more concentrated, using the facility's defenses to try and hold the Avengers back. Peter didn't hesitate, leaping onto a mounted turret and ripping it free from its stand before hurling it into a group of soldiers.

"You'd think they'd stop trying after the first hundred," Peter muttered as he advanced.

Thor slammed Mjolnir into the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked several soldiers off their feet. "Let them come!" he bellowed. "They are but gnats before the storm!"

Hulk roared, smashing through a reinforced wall and scattering the troops behind it. "Hulk says Hydra is squishy!"

Natasha's voice crackled through their comms. "We're keeping the perimeter clear. Keep pushing, Taskmaster's not going to wait forever."

Peter grinned under his mask as he advanced toward a group of officers desperately shouting orders. "Oh, don't worry. We're not stopping until we're done."

The battle raged on as the Avengers continued their assault, determined to secure the armory and eliminate the Hydra threat once and for all.

---

The Avengers fought their way deeper into the armory, relentless in their assault. Hydra forces fell one after another as Peter, Thor, Hulk, and the rest of the team pushed forward. Explosions echoed through the building as defenses crumbled under their combined might.

As they entered the central chamber, they were greeted by a towering device, surrounded by Hydra engineers frantically working to activate it. The contraption pulsed with energy, and its size was almost as intimidating as the heavily armed guards surrounding it. At the base of the machine stood Taskmaster, his iconic skull mask glinting under the harsh lights.

"What the hell is that?" Natasha asked through their comms, perched on a nearby ledge as she and Clint continued to provide cover fire from a distance.

Steve grimly surveyed the scene. "That's the key to their plan. That thing looks like it could take down the Wakandan shields. If they succeed, T'Challa and everyone in the palace will be exposed."

Taskmaster noticed their arrival and stepped forward, drawing his sword and shield with a flourish. His posture oozed confidence, his gaze unwavering even in the face of the approaching Avengers.

"Cap," Peter said, his voice cold and steady, "you want me to rip him apart now or later?"

Steve shook his head. "No. Thor, Hulk, Spider-Man, your priority is that machine. Take it out before it's fully operational. I'll handle Taskmaster."

Thor grinned, twirling Mjolnir. "Gladly, Captain. Let us see if this contraption can withstand the wrath of the gods."

Hulk cracked his knuckles, baring his teeth in anticipation. "Hulk smash machine!"

Peter gave a mock salute. "Try not to get yourself killed, Cap."

The three powerhouses charged toward the device, Peter's symbiote shifting into jagged blades as he tore through the Hydra guards. Thor's hammer crackled with lightning, smashing into the base of the machine and sending sparks flying. Hulk grabbed a piece of heavy machinery and hurled it at a group of engineers, scattering them like bowling pins.

Meanwhile, Steve squared off against Taskmaster. The mercenary wasted no time, lunging forward with his sword. Steve deflected the strike with his shield, but Taskmaster's movements were eerily familiar, too familiar. He mirrored Steve's every move, turning the fight into a deadly chess match.

"You've fought me before, Rogers," Taskmaster said, his voice distorted by his mask. "I've seen every trick you have. You're predictable."

Steve gritted his teeth, pressing the attack despite the overwhelming challenge. Blow for blow, Taskmaster met him, countering every strike with precision. Slowly but surely, Taskmaster began to gain the upper hand, his relentless assault forcing Steve onto the defensive.

"You can't beat me," Taskmaster sneered as he slammed his shield into Steve's chest, sending him stumbling back. "All your strength, all your skill, it's mine now."

Steve gasped for breath, barely managing to block Taskmaster's next attack. The mercenary's sword scraped against the edge of his shield, sending sparks flying. With a well-timed kick, Taskmaster knocked Steve to the ground and stood over him, raising his blade for the killing blow.

Before he could strike, a black tendril shot out of nowhere, wrapping around his arm and yanking him backward. Taskmaster slammed into a wall with a grunt, his sword clattering to the floor.

Peter landed between Taskmaster and Steve, his symbiote coiling around him like a living shadow. "Cap, you okay?"

Steve nodded weakly, pulling himself to his feet. "Yeah. Thanks, Pete."

Taskmaster recovered quickly, lunging at Peter with a knife. But Peter's symbiote moved faster, forming a shield that absorbed the blow.

"You're not fighting a Boy Scout anymore," Peter said, his voice cold and venomous. "Let's see how good you really are."

Taskmaster attempted to analyze Peter's fighting style, but the symbiote made it impossible. Every movement was erratic, unpredictable. Peter's hands morphed into claws, hammers, and tendrils, each attack throwing Taskmaster further off balance.

Thor and Hulk, meanwhile, had decimated the remaining Hydra forces, ensuring no reinforcements could interfere.

Taskmaster, battered and bruised, lay on the ground but refused to give up. He tried to push himself up, only for Peter to place a foot on his chest, pinning him down.

"You're beaten," Peter said, his tone cold and unyielding. "Surrender now, and I'll ask T'Challa to let you go. Tell us everything you know, and maybe you'll walk away from this."

Taskmaster chuckled bitterly, coughing as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. "You think I'm scared of you, Spider-Man?" He spat the words with venom, glaring up at Peter. "Do your worst."

Peter tilted his head slightly, his mask hiding the flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "Don't tempt me," he warned.

With defiance still burning in his eyes, Taskmaster threw a desperate punch at Peter. Without flinching, Peter caught the fist in his hand, his grip tightening like a vice.

"That's going to cost you a rib," Peter said matter-of-factly, his voice calm but ice-cold.

Taskmaster's eyes widened in confusion, and then in pain, as Peter placed his other hand on his ribcage. No theatrics, no symbiote, just raw, natural superhuman strength. Peter applied just enough pressure to crush one of Taskmaster's ribs.

A sickening crack echoed in the air, followed by a sharp, guttural scream from Taskmaster. His body spasmed beneath Peter's hand, the pain so intense that his breath came in short gasps before he finally blacked out.

Peter stood, dusting off his hands as if he'd just completed a mundane task. "Guess he wasn't as tough as he thought," he muttered, stepping over the unconscious mercenary.

Thor approached, resting Mjolnir on his shoulder as he surveyed the scene. "Remind me never to wager against you in battle, Spider-Man."

Hulk snorted. "Taskmaster didn't stand a chance. Hulk could've smashed him faster."

"Yeah, but I'm more efficient," Peter retorted, giving Hulk a casual shrug.

Thor laughed heartily. "I think we make quite the team."

Steve jogged up, taking in the sight of Taskmaster's limp form. His expression was serious, but there was a hint of relief in his eyes. "You didn't have to break his rib, Peter."

Peter's lenses narrowed slightly as he turned to face Steve. "He'll live, Cap. T'Challa wanted him alive, and now he has a chance to ask Taskmaster all the questions he wants. If you wanted me to use kid gloves, you should've asked before I got here."

Steve sighed but didn't argue further, knowing the stakes were too high to get caught up in moral debates.

Thor clapped Peter on the shoulder. "Well done, friend. Now, shall we return to deliver this one to T'Challa?"

Natasha's voice crackled over the comms. "Device is destroyed. Hydra's pulling back. We've got this wrapped up. You're clear to head back."

Peter glanced over the rubble of the destroyed machine, then back at the others. "Mission accomplished. Let's get out of here before Hydra decides to make another stupid play."

Together, the Avengers regrouped, Taskmaster's unconscious form slung over Thor's shoulder. Their mission was a success, but Peter's unwavering brutality left a mark, not just on Taskmaster, but on his teammates as well.

Thanks for reading everyone

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