Title: That September Day
Author: Sgt. Pepperony
Fandom: Avengers (MCU)
Rating: T/M for mentions of 9/11 during and after the event, mild language and portrayals of post-traumatic stress.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the MCU characters. Song from 'Empty Souls' by The Manic Street Preachers.

So, this year marks the 15th anniversary of the attacks that occurred on 11th September 2001 and I was curious as to the response by characters like Tony, Pepper, Rhodey, Steve, Wanda and Pietro, especially since Afghanistan played a vital part in Iron Man, the trauma inflicted on Wanda and Pietro due to almost dying in similar circumstances, and Steve's identity as an American icon.


Exposed to a truth we don't know.
Collapsing like the Twin Tower,
Falling down like April showers.

Los Angles, 11th September 2001

05:50

"Tony! Tony! Wake up," Pepper pleaded as she tried to wake Tony, who had yet to wake as he had spent the previous night drinking and gambling in the local casino. "Please!"

Tony grumbled as his eyes tried to adjust to the light and he could tell that something was genuinely wrong when he saw Pepper's face filled with shock and panic. "Pepper, what's going on?"

Pepper grabbed the remote and switched on the television, going straight to CNN news where the headline banner read 'BREAKING NEWS' and the image of the North Tower of the World Trade Centre engulfed in smoke. The news anchor was explaining that only five minutes earlier a commercial airline had flew straight into the building.

The only words that Tony could express was, "Holy shit."

"That was my reaction," Pepper replied. "You think this was an accident?"

"I need to call Rhodey." Tony immediately ran to his office, followed swiftly by Pepper and asked JARVIS to call Rhodey, who was in The Pentagon. The phone was picked up on the first ring. "Hey, what the hell is going on, I just saw the news?"

"Okay, between you and me, there have been some reported hijackings on commercial planes."

"Planes. As in more than one?"

"Listen, we don't know the full situation yet, but I suspect it's going to be bad."

"I think you're underestimating here Rhodes. Just keep me updated. I think I am going to get a lot of calls today."

Tony hung up the phone and rubbed his hands over his face.

"You think this is just the start?" Pepper asked, her voice filled with dread.

"I think this is going to be the start of something bigger than just today Pep."

-o-

06:02

"Do we even know who could be behind this yet?" Tony asked down the phone to someone in the White House. "Where is the President?"

"He's in Florida Mr Stark."

"Right, well as soon as he gets back, can you get him to call me personally. If this is where I think it's going, the army is going to need more weapons." Tony just glanced at the screen for just one moment and the whole room when silent, save for Pepper dropping her coffee mug on the floor. "Okay, did you just see what I just saw? Get me the Secretary of Defence."

-o-

06:35

"This is definitely not an accident," Pepper finally said. The shock of seeing the second plane go into the South Tower had rendered her speechless while Tony was trying to deal with multiple calls from various generals and military officials. JARVIS had been doing his best to handle the priority of each call but given the amount it was becoming far too overwhelming.

"Pepper, call Rhodey, see if he has any new information," Tony ordered.

Pepper nodded and immediately dialled Rhodey's number. Again he answered on the first ring, "James, it's Pepper. Tony wants to know if there is anything new."

"I don't know Pep, everything just seems so jumbled and confused at the moment. Apparently up in Rome, New York, they were expecting a training exercise and thought this was it. Clearly it isn't anymore. It definitely looks as though we are under attack. All I know is that the President is bound for Air Force One."

"Have all the flights been forced to land?"

"I haven't heard anything but I will keep you posted."

At that point there was a loud bang coming from Rhodey's end of the phone and Pepper could hear the phone drop. "James? What was that?"

"God I hope it's not what I think it is."

-o-

07:00

"James is okay. He wasn't in the part of the building that the plane hit," Pepper told Tony who was staring in horror at the television screen. "What's happened now?"

"The South Tower just collapsed."

Pepper put her hand over her mouth. The amount of dust and smoke that filled the screen looked like an apocalypse had just descended over Manhattan. "This is not going to end is it?"

"This is just the beginning Pepper. This just does not end today."

"You think this is going to start a war?"

"War. Maybe wars. I can imagine Stane is happy that we might be getting profits out of this."

"Tony, that's cynical even for you."

"Pep, look at the screen. I am not the only one who is going to see this as a golden opportunity for money."

"Why would someone do this?"

"I don't know. I don't think we're going to get all the answers to this Pep."