Deliberate Mistake by Winter Spider
If you were to be able to cut tension with a knife at any point in history, you would probably be drawn to this moment. One man stood out from all the rest, because he was facing the rest of them, hands clenched together, tears streaming silently down his face.
"I understand what I did was wrong, and there's no way I can change the past, and I- I'm, I'm sorry, for everything".
"I do not know if I speak for anyone else in this room, but I find this boy's words truthful and therefore I believe James should be pardoned from all past transgressions, no matter how grievous". Said a man from the corner of the room, he stepped forward, and as he did, twelve eyes looked at him, some in curiosity, some in disgust.
"No" someone whispered. Everyone looked for the source of the voice and came to Tony. "No."
"Excuse me?" Steve said, getting visibly defensive. "how DARE YO-"
"Steve" came the quiet voice of James Barnes, who had grabbed on to his arm sleeve. "Let him go"
Steve faltered. "But Buck, he isn't forgiving you" he said in desperation.
"Not everyone does, or ever will, I'm pretty sure Natalia won't ever forgive me for shooting her, and I am certain Tony will never forgive me for the murder of his parents, some things cannot be helped" James said quietly.
"But" he started again.
"No" came the response of two voices at once. Natalia and James just looked at each other "I do forgive you, you just weren't playing your cards right"
James shot Natalia a small smile, which she returned in the same fashion.
"This guy should not be able to walk in here and brainwash everyone" Tony shot Clint a small glance. "He knew what he was doing, you don't just get that much intelligence from Hydra training, you don't just learn some the stuff you did Barnes, your intelligence, your skill, your mind, no matter how small, went into the Winter Soldier, or else he would be nothing without you." Tony finished off his little rant in a yell. He turned around to face the wall.
Everyone was quiet after that, until James broke the silence. "Yes, you are right, and I am so sorry"
"You maybe now, but you were not then"
"Again, your correct, if I said you were lying that would be hypocrisy, and if there is any way to mak-"
"NO!" Tony screamed, turning around. " OH NO. YOU TAKE AWAY MY PARENTS, MY CHILDHOOD, AND THEN YOU WALK IN HERE AND SAY YOUR SORRY!? YOU DELIBERATELY MURDERED THEM! You say your sorry?" Tony's voice broke as he sobbed. Tears were streaming down his face in a completely un-Tony like way. No one had ever seen Tony get upset, and now he was screaming and crying. No one knew what to make of him.
James just looked at his with sad eyes. "yes."
He turned and left them then, he had caused too much trouble as it was. Never again he promised himself.
