Project Sol : (Superman x Marvel)

NEW YORK

TONY'S PENTHOUSE

Sol's POV:

I woke up to sunlight beaming down through glass ceilings, a warmth I had come to love. For a second I didn't move. Just lay there on Stark's obnoxiously overpriced sofa, staring up at the sky.

It had been a month since I had made the deal with Fury, to help the Avengers on my own terms. His only condition – having to train with them to control my regular lapses in control.

SHIELD had offered me a secure facility, promised me protection. I'd smiled, nodded – and chosen the billionaire with the god complex instead.

My wrists tingled slightly, the reminder of something new. I flexed my fingers, feeling the smooth cold weight of the bracelets hugging my wrists. My original collar repurposed and redesigned. Adjustable, calibrated – a failsafe I'd asked for the first day here. Because whilst Clark could hurl tanks and fly at supersonic speeds, he'd never formally learnt anything beyond throwing a punch – his powers playing a major role behind it.

So here I was, stuck in my overpowered body, learning to fight like a human, only stronger, faster and with lot more attitude.

I swung my legs off the couch, reluctant to get up. Ever since I'd worn the limiters, my solar intake had dropped significantly, something I needed before my powers grew beyond my control. But a side effect – limited solar powered regen, and weaker invulnerability. Meaning I felt each and every one of Natasha's kicks, punches, stun batons… don't even ask.

I groaned in pain as I stumbled to my feet, already dreading today's training session.

TRAINING ROOM – LATER

When I arrived, Natasha was already waiting, eyes sharp and full of provocation

"Ready to get your ass kicked?" she teased.

I cracked my knuckles, "Bring it, Romanoff."

Her serum enhanced body against my severely limited physique.

We moved. Fast. She was fluid, deadly, calculated. I was raw. Fast, yes. Strong? Obviously. But she still managed to dance and weave through my punches. We exchanged blows, - her aiming for weak spots, me struggling to read her next move.

"Faster," She snapped. "Again."

I grunted, blocking her next jab. "You do know I could snap a tank in half, right?" 

"And if it knew judo, you're probably screwed."

Fair.

She wept my legs out, and I landed hard on my back, for the 5th time this morning.

"You're fighting less like a sledgehammer," she said, offering a hand. "But not like a scalpel yet."

I took her hand, pulling myself up with a groan. "Can't I just use heat vision for everything?"

"Try that with me and you'll be eating through a straw."

SHIELD HELICARRIER – LATER THAT DAY

the team gathered in the debriefing room. Tony chewing on something already, blueberries? Banner scrolled on his tablet, finger tapping rhythmically. Thor looked like he hadn't blinked since yesterday. And Steve was … Steve – serious, arms folded, probably judging my posture.

I straightened up just in case.

I stood near the back, arms crossed, hoodie zipped halfway, an earphone in my left ear.

Was it wildly inappropriate, probably.

But did I really care? – nope. and in my defence, some habits are too hard to break.

Fury's voice cut in, sharp as ever.

"Dr. Banners reports have tracked Loki's scepter to these coordinates, Sokovia, Eastern Europe.

He tapped a remote, Holograms flared to life – a massive castle, heat signatures, troop counts.

"The facility is surrounded by a energy barrier, suspected to be sourced from the scepter. There's been reports of 30 children missing from surrounding orphanages, suspected to be used in enhanced experiments. You are to prioritise capture of enhanced targets."

I sighed; this was going to be a long day.

THE QUINJET

EN ROUTE TO SOKOVIA

I sat by the window, watching the terrain blur beneath us. The steady hum of the engines oddly comforting. My mind drifted, foot tapping the floor.

I thought about the ship – my ship. The one I hadn't been back to since my release, which kept circling in my thoughts, like a moth to flame. I'd use it someday, build a place away from this chaos. My own Fortress of Solitude.

The mission ahead was already a headache. Magic, another one of Superman's iconic weaknesses. Wanda – the Scarlet Witch was one of – if not the most powerful magic user of all time.

"Stay away from Wanda, stay away from Wanda." I muttered underneath my breath, trying to reinforce the message.

"Sir, unidentified aircraft approaching from the east. Thirty meters. Closing fast." JARVIS' voice cut clean through my scattered thoughts.

Steve looked out the glass. "I don't see anything."

"Yeah, well," Tony muttered, tapping rapidly on his wrist console, "either we're being stalked by a ghost or someone's packing tech we haven't seen before."

A shimmer in the air. And then – black alloy broke through the clouds. Angular, fast and silent. Painted with a subtle red 'X' on the side.

Bruce leaned forward. "That's not Hydra."

"Nope," Clint replied. "But it ain't SHIELD either."

An alert blinked. Incoming Transmission.

"Let it through." Steve ordered.

Tony sighed. "Alright, let's hear it from the mystery squad."

"This is Cyclops of the X-Jet. You're in classified airspace. Identify yourselves."

Steve raised a brow. "Did he just say Cyclops?"

Tony grinned. "Somebody's got a good gamertag."

He flicked a switch. "This is Tony Stark. You've got about 6 seconds to explain what the hell you're doing tailgating us over HYDRA turf, or I start flinging rockets."

"We're here for the children HYDRA took," Cyclops replied, his voice crisp and controlled.

"You're not UN-Cleared. Who authorised your presence here?"

Bruce's walked to the front. "Hold on, before we answer. Who even are you guys?"

"We're the X-Men"

Clint frowned. "I've heard whispers, SHIELD files, enhanced people, born with powers, not given them. Mutants."

Natasha nodded slowly, "I've seen the word before. Off-book operatives. They work underneath a man known as Professor X."

Clint muttered, "SHIELD's got redacted files on a few mutant teams. Most people thought it was conspiracy crap."

"We don't have time to explain," Cyclops continued. "Hydra's been abducting powered kids. Some of ours. This op is precision-timed. We can't afford complications."

Steve stayed calm. Firm. "Then maybe don't sneak up on an allied aircraft and bark orders."

"You're not our allies." A new voice came over, gruff and blunt. Canadian accent. "You Avengers love walkin' blind into fires. Always did."

Tony smirked. "Okay, someone skipped therapy."

"You're out of your depth, Stark." Logan's snarl filled the intercom.

Steve kept his voice measured. "Listen. We're not here to step on toes. But if you're who you say you are, then you know Hydra doesn't play fair. We're going to finish our job — you don't like it, take it up with Fury."

Silence

"We'll handle the southern flank. Stay clear. This isn't your war." Cyclops' cold voice echoed.

"IF HYDRA'S involved? Its everyone's war." Tony grimaced.

[The comms cut]

Sol's hands curl into fists, nails biting into his palms. He hasn't said a word since the X-Jet appeared.

Sol's POV:

"That… That was Cyclops, and Wolverine. The ACTUAL Wolverine. Here? How the hell are they here??"

"….And SHIELD knew. Of course, that one eyed bastard knew."

He leans back, trying to breathe.

His eyes flicked to the rest of the team. Calm, professional. Like this was just another Tuesday.

It hit him again; he was way out of his league.