Arc Eleven. Chapter Three-Hundred Four. Family Affairs

As well as Enhancing Yelena and Cindy, now that Ghost had settled, there was the issue of Melina and Alexsi. While Ivan was content to just wear his harness, and Melina was happy working in the lab with Gwen, Alexsi had come to visit Peter.

“So, I hear you are giving Yelena a new formula.” and the normally jovial and nonsensical man was in serious mode today. He sighed and sat down at the kitchen table. “I want to get a new formula as well.” he waved his hand “I am not used to sitting, well I am, being in prison there is not much else to do, but I am still young.” and as he looked down at his stomach, “young enough.”

Peter leaned back, looking at the coffee mug sat on the table. “Enhancing you is a risk, and your not as healthy as you think, plus that,“ and Peter motioned to the ankle monitor Alexsi was wearing, Peter leaned forwards, “Also, the warehouse next door is more than just yours. The homes are yours, and you are welcome to stay as long as you like, but the training rooms, the bathhouse and everything else belongs to everyone.”

Alexsi waved a hand dismissively “bah, I have been behaving, who said something eh? One of your American prudes, too scared to amid that this,” and he motioned a hand down himself, “this is peak Russian performance. They just don't like being reminded how a man should look,” and Peter sighed and ran a hand over his face, blunt it is then, he thought to himself.

“Nope, your daughter complained about you and Ivan double-teaming Melina in the bathhouse. Your daughter complained about you walking around naked when she’s trying to study and train. Your daughter complained about the smell and the noise. You’re not a fucking child, stop acting like one.”

Alexsi stiffened “well, yes, after being in prison certain urges, well. Okay, I am sorry. But uh, I mean, look,” and he motioned to the warehouse. “I am not used to this luxury, is like a hotel, so I am sorry, and eh maybe not so much for Melina, she likes you know,” and he grinned and shrugged.

It had been finally finished, and as it was a home in itself and now not a bunch of contained houses a few changes had been made.

Peter had removed the two homes on either side of the bathhouse, and cut a corridor archway into them, with double security doors, blast-proof and resistant to most types of energy as well. The missing homes had been extended out from the side two, and there were now larger double homes at each corner. Peter had taken office flooring and laid out thick luxurious carpet in neat squares across the floor, with thicker more wear-resistant flooring between in black as pathways. The old training mats were gone, moved next door and permanently attached to the floor.

The kitchen area was now lined and had proper drainage, so spills could be washed away, with a second catering table in the same style as the first neatly surrounded by comfy chairs and a sofa on the other side. Peter had found the original makers sticker on the underside and trawled second-hand sites to get one that matched. There were potted plants everywhere, as Gwen insisted on some greenery, and promised to take care of them, and while the homes had been reduced to twelve, it was agreed that there had to be a limit.

Nakia, Cindy, Eddie, Ivan, Yelena, and Melina were all permanent residents next door, and Scott and Maria took a home for when they were in New York. Fury shook his head, “I've got plenty of safe houses.” but Peter really didn't mind, he could find his own gargoyle to skulk on.

As Selene and the other Augments had been quiet since the Sentinel attack, and Emma had stopped taking his calls. The other warehouse had plenty of space for more if a need arose.

“So, if I behave, can I get fixed?” Alexsi asked hesitantly.

Peter nodded, “fixing you isn't the issue, you might need six months to adjust anyway. Natasha mentioned nerve damage, and let's face it, you’re a fat slob, even the normal formula will leave you sick as it cleans up whatever mess you’re in.“

Peter figured that being blunt with Alexsi was the best option. He had a habit of ignoring things he didn't like, or brushing off bad news with deflective humour, but Peter knew. He was too old and very out of shape. Removing the Red Room Forumla would be painful and leave him weaker than most. Natasha was in top form, and de-powering her left her sick and helpless, and she had made him promise not to do anything that would ultimately hurt her father.

“I know that look, and yes. I have been trying Peter, but after so long, it is hard you know.” 

Peter nodded “I just don't want anything to go wrong, and it can. We also need to wait until your sentence is up.” Peter hadn’t taken the device apart but he knew it was more than just an ankle monitor. He wouldn’t put it past Coulson to have added in a gene scanner, to make sure they didn’t enhance Alexsi. 

Alexsi nodded, “But if it works, you can talk to Fury for me? Maybe Steve too?” and 

Peter snorted and shook his head “Uh uh, not my team, not my call.” 

Alexsi shrugged, “It was worth a shot, now, how long and who do I talk to?” 

Peter took out his phone and send a message to Liv, “Liv is currently dealing with Nakia and Yelena, you need a full physical first, but we can do that with Melina, and then it's up to Liv.”

Peter sighed, they had been unable to find a medical doctor they felt they could trust, and while Liv had the relevant education she didn't have the actual bit of paper, the bit they really needed. 

Idiot, he thought to himself and he tapped out a message. After a few minutes, his phone buzzed and he smiled, “Right, so we now have another patient, but once he’s cured, we’ll fix you, as long as he agrees.”

Peter had spoken to his mom about Curt, and they agreed to de-power Curt, and get Shield off his back, but Peter enquired. Curt was a doctor, a medical doctor specialising in genetic illnesses, which led him to begin working with Osborn on the formulas. After a hefty negotiation, he would be AIM’s chief medical officer and was perfect as he still held board accreditation in New York, and was a licenced surgeon.

First through, as ARCA was being written to heavily restrict those with Enhanced status into military or governments positions, Curt needed to be depowered, and as he was fairly fit already, the process would only take a few days of adjustment, a few days to fit him with the CLS and even without a fully integrated arm, he could still examine and sign off on treatment for Alexsi.

“Melina?” Peter asked and Alexsi shrugged

“My wife is on the fence. She has seen Gwen's work, and while she will be glad to be rid of the rubbish one, she is unsure if it is worth getting another. She was always happy in her lab, and she has that. But uh, visas?” and Peter nodded

“I had them all ready to go before the attacks began. You’re all sponsored by AIM, even you, but uh, It’s Romanov now, Natasha was insistent, even Yelena.” 

Alexis sighed, “Little Natasha always has to have the last word. it's fine, I have had so many, one more is not a big deal.”

Peter sent another text. “Right, papers will be here in a few weeks, and we can deal with you and Melina then. But really, no walking about naked, “

Alexsi laughed, “You tiny Americans are so prudish,“

Peter laughed, “Uh, no, it’s to stop you being embarrassed. Yelena was wondering how Melina was able to see something so small.” and Peter patted him on the shoulder, “Wear a towel big guy okay?” and Alexsi slumped

“No respect for papa, not even from my son in law.”

“Oh, and stop drinking my cider, buy your own,” Peter yelled at him as he headed back to the training areas.

Alexsi followed behind suitable chastised and Peter heard him mumbling, “not even drinking your stupid cider, always blamed. Ask Yelena, ask Melina where your cider is. Real men drink vodka, now that, I drink,” and Peter smirked and shook his head.

Fury and Wrath were off training somewhere today, the quinjet was a valuable tool to have, but getting around the various licences to buy fuel was an issue. 

Right now the temporary solution was to make their own, and Liv was in the process of replacing its older turbines with repulsor arcstar lift thrusters, but with everything, even with Ivans's help, it was slow going.

“Right, as everyone is here. No hogging the bathhouse. Nakai, you and Yelena are welcome to use mine, as long as you realise that most of us bathe naked. Eddie, Cindy, and Alexsi, The flag system will be used, as well as a rota system. Mark down what hours you're using it, and those are your times. No fighting, make arrangements, I'm not babysitting a bunch of delinquents who cant share a bathhouse when their homes have showers.” As he looked around at the hesitant faces “other than that, don't care, don't trash the place, sleep with who you like, do what you want, clean up your mess and I really don't give a shit what you do here. Just, no fighting.”

The bathhouse on this side was not as extravagant and was two single pools, one gi enough to swim in, and another for relaxing in, with small water jets. No showers, or baths, the homes had been fitted with showers and nobody had asked about getting a bath either. But, Peter wasn't about to start policing his tenants. They were adults and what they did, and with who was none of his business, as long as the palace was kept clean he didn't care.

“Right, now. Eddie and Cindy, we’re waiting to fix our Doctor, but once he’s off Shields radar, we’ll get you both checked over. Cindy, Extremis is fine, and Ghost should be able to handle it without unbending you. Nakia, Extremis, and check up, and Alexsi, check-up and then we’ll see. Yelena though, we’ll talk about that in private.” and Yelena nodded, “and Eddie, just a medical. But, Shuri should have sent over some data,” and Nakia handed him a tablet, “thanks, yup, Gwen investigated the purple heart serum, and while it's great it's also poisonous. Logan, he’s got metal poisoning from having the same stuff melted to his bones, Gwen and Shuri figured a way to neutralise it, but it's your call. We cant make you, but you know. Maybe not dying at 50 cause you have toxic gunk in your veins.”

Nakia tutted, “The Dora all live to at least a hundred, and were in good health until the last few years. It is not as bad as you are saying, but yes. It will still kill you.” and Eddie shook his head

“I mean, how technical is that? Can I read it?” As Peter lifted the tablet and took a quick look, 

“Yeah I can understand maybe half of his, but go ahead.” after uploading the files to the secure AIM server, he handed the tablet to Eddie, “just, you know, no taking that out the building.”

Eddie looked at the file, Headed ‘Virbranium modified foliage and its effects on human intercellular interactions’ and he handed it back, “yeah, not even gonna try. I’ll trust your word on this, so, Extremis too?” and Peter nodded

Eddie looked down at himself, “will it, uh, you know?” and as he waved a hand in front of his groin, Peter laughed.

“No more than the purple heart should have, but uh, we can have someone check, not me though.”

“Wait, Extremis makes you?” and Alexsi did the same thing, and Peter shook his head

“I am not touching that one, “ and as he grinned, “Ask Liv. She’ll be happy to explain it.”