Gone for a couple of months – years? – and it's like he's never been to America. Waking up seventy years later to an all new, all different New York – with traffic jams and skyscrapers and noise pollution every other corner he turns is one thing, but Norman Osborn as the new Daddy in town? Jesus Christ. Steve Rogers turns off the television when his imagery nausea gets too bad. Osborn yapping about his version of peace, justice and liberty makes the hair on his very forearm stand on ends. He sighs, and leans into his straight-back wooden chair, the dining table he's resting his elbow on devoid of leftovers, courtesy of one Tommy Shepherd. He thinks he saw Tommy not too many hours ago. Not the whole person of course – more like a flicker of his profile, or his shadow. The number of times he'd told the kid to stop for a hot second, and walk like normal humans do. Steve was young once. What goes into his left ear, pours right out of the right.
Steve knows another one with no regards for the lethality of speed, or the value of taking life easy, one minute at a time. That man, wise as he is beyond his age, loves the air zipping past him as he cuts through it, breaking supersonic when he feels like it. Made hundreds of flying suits of armour to serve the purpose.
Steve hasn't seen Tony Stark after the whole shenanigans with the magic bullet. Bullshit if Tony has never been on his mind since. He's thinking of Tony now. His cell phone lies dejectedly in front of him, its screen dark. The last message he received is still burnt into his retina.
Tony's vitals are still weak, but growing stronger each day. I'm sorry I still can't tell you where we are, but rest assured, he's safe where he is.
Dr Donald Blake is kind enough to text him regularly about Tony's condition. It's one of the many regrets roiling in his chest – not reaching out to Tony soon enough. He's watched the news, read the papers, heard the rumours. The last year hasn't been kind to Tony. What Osborn did to him? Oh, Osborn will get what's coming. The Avengers will see to it. It's nothing personal – Steve crosses his arms across his chest – assault is assault, especially with intent to cause grievous injury to a fellow citizen, unarmed, weakened as Tony was.
They told him Tony deleted his brain. How the heck was that even possible, Steve can only justify with a shake of his head and Tony-does-what-Tony-does-best. By some obtuse miracle that stunt didn't kill him. It was supposed to, and when Steve learned about it after the fact, he was too weary-hearted to be surprised.
It's better this way. Maybe. Tony, hidden somewhere, unconscious. Asleep. Oblivious to the circus in town. Away from Steve. He wonders if Tony has heard of his return from the dead.
He wonders if it tore Tony apart.
He still hasn't figured out what to say when they finally meet face to face. Sooner or later. Probably sooner than later. Can't keep avoiding each other forever.
"Is Tony alright?"
Steve turns to the fridge where Jessica Drew is suddenly leaning against, ankles crossed and a knowing, sad smile playing on her lips. Her Spider-Woman getup is sporting some mud on the knees, but Steve says nothing of it. These folks, their hearts are in the right place. No sanctions, no laws can hold them back if they know they're needed. At least one person was protected today.
"You're brooding again, Steve."
Steve huffs in indignance. "I do not brood."
"Is Dr Blake updating you on Tony's condition? Is he getting better?"
"He is. It's… taking longer than expected." Getting hurt – sometimes, really bad – in line of duty comes within the territory. This job? The number of times he sat beside Tony's bed, and Tony by his, he's lost count. This has to be one of the rare touch-and-go's that Steve is absent from. Despite the bad blood between them, knowing that a brother is fighting his battle someplace else keeps Steve up at night.
"You're worried."
"I'm always worried."
"When he wakes up, you're taking a day off from Avengers duty. You two need to sort things out pronto. Nuh-uh, no buts, Cap. Last time you don't talk to each other, you almost tore this country apart. And then, you died. Fun times. Once is really enough. Please."
"Thank you. I appreciate your concern," Steve begins to rise from his seat, "but, the goings of the world continue with or without him. Time waits for no man, Jess."
"… No, it does not."
"We can't be twiddling thumbs with Osborn in charge of national security –"
"Cap!" The ruckus Clint is kicking up – it's a small house. It's going to wake everyone up! And Clint being Clint, he yells for Steve three more times as he races down the staircase before he finally pokes his head through the door. "Turn on the TV. Any channel will do. Oh hey, Jess."
Ignoring the renewed sense of dread, Steve obliges, and turns up the volume. More people are filing into the kitchen, making up the volume as they watch what's going on live from Broxton, Oklahoma. Asgard floating above the fields is old news by now, but seeing it in flames, wrought in smog and fires?
"Is that Thor?" Steve catches a whisper from the back, and his heart seizes. Isn't Dr Blake supposed to be keeping a vigil over Tony? Thor is a wreck, lying in a pool of his blood in the centre of a crater. Broken. Defeated.
These images you are seeing are live. The Mighty Thor is being brought down by Norman Osborn and his Avengers. Word from Osborn's camp is that this is in retaliation for the Chicago incident last night. We have been given unprecedented access to this initiative and we will keep reporting live for as long as – hold on, hold on!
"This can't be real…" Jess shifts beside him.
Yes, we have just received word. Thor is down. I repeat, Thor has been taken down. Oh, my goodness, stay with us… we're still trying to piece together –
Steve rounds the dining table and sizes everyone up. "Avengers! Listen up!"
Following the events of Stark: Disassembled, Tony lies comatose after his cognitive reboot. Under the vigil of Dr Donald Blake, he is kept safe, emhidden/em from the public eye - even from recently revived Steve Rogers. Osborn lays siege on Asgard, and Steve calls the Avengers to arm. His voice reaches Iron Man, and Iron Man heeds it. Between healing a divided nation; between mending a broken body and reforging a shattered bond - is forgiveness impossible after all?
[Basically, an in-depth exploration of all the emfeels/em that are missing from Siege].