Stephen watched Tony work over the top of his book. He was comfortably positioned on a sofa in the main lab in the Avengers Compound. As per usual Tony was working his ass off at a table nearby. Since Stephen had joined the New Avengers, kind of after all he still had his duties as sorcerer supreme but he helped out and joined in for the exercises, but he wasn't really a member, Tony and he had become close friends. It had started with just the occasional meeting at the compound, then joining in on game nights, then hanging out together outside of the exercises, then, little by little, they had opened up to each other. It was refreshing to have someone to talk to about science considering that wasn't exactly Wong's forte. To talk to someone who had also experienced pain the way Stephen had. Chronic pain wasn't exactly a common talking point among many. But Tony understood Stephen and Stephen understood Tony. When the magic world was having a quiet day Stephen would portal to the lab and he and Tony would just enjoy one another's company. Maybe Stephen was enjoying it a little more than he should but that didn't matter. Stephen checked the time. The Rogue Avengers would be arriving in 30 minutes, fully pardoned in all their assholey glory, Stephen was fantasising about giving Rogers the shit he deserved. But alas, he couldn't, not in the way he wanted to anyway.
"It's almost time Tony." Said Stephen softly. Tony froze at the words for a full second before continuing his work.
"Well, it isn't required that any of us meet them so I guess everything is fine." Tony's voice was strained and Stephen could sense the panic building in the man.
"I guess so." Several more minutes passed in silence before Tony spoke.
"Are you sure the implant will work?" He turned to face Stephen, fingers gently tapping the Arc Reactor. "I've had enough of that witch in my mind, and having that out of the way will be a relief." Stephen stood up, placed his book down on the cushion and moved over to the brunet. He narrowed his eyes slightly as a slightly shaky finger gently ran itself along the small, healing incision on Tony's head. At the contact, Tony stiffened but slowly relaxed into the touch, as he normally did.
"It should be fine, I did enchant it myself you know." Stephen smiled, sliding his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "Besides as manager of all magic on Earth, I do have the option to limit her powers." At the mention of magic, Tony rolled his eyes fondly, lip twitching slightly. This was their relationship, teasing, banter, silence, teasing, bragging, music, more teasing, and talking. There were soft footsteps down the flight of stairs leading to the lab, Tony turned startled at the sound, he then relaxed though at the sight of Hope entering the lab.
"Hey Tony, Stephen." She walked to where they were now standing. Leaning on the table littered with tools she continued. "Sadly, the others will be arriving shortly. The council thought at least one of us should meet with them as a show of good faith." She snorted sceptically. "As if any good faith existed at this point. But since none of us is stupid I thought I should meet with them considering Carol is out with Rhodes doing god knows what, we don't exactly want the kids near them alone, Thor, Bruce, and Loki are dealing with Asgardians which is understandable considering their recent arrival, and sorry Stephen but I'm probably the least likely to tear them limb from limb out of the two of us." She sighed adding "I haven't ruled it out though" under her breath. Tony nodded along, obviously grateful at the kindness.
"Will Vision be meeting them with you?" Tony asked, failing miserably at any attempt he was making to keep his voice calm.
"He was indifferent so I guess he may or may not show up." Hope shrugged. "Honestly, I think they should be grateful anyone is greeting them at all." Tony smiled slightly at that.
'Boss, they are here.' FRIDAY said bitterly. Tony made an odd choking noise but Stephen took his hand and smiled comfortingly at him, which luckily seemed to calm Tony down slightly. Hope stood sighing,
"I'll go meet them then."
—
Hope walked stiffly up the stairs to the elevator, she really didn't want to do this but no way was she making Tony greet those ungrateful bastards and Scott. To be honest, Hope had no idea how she felt about Scott, but that didn't matter, there were more important Captain America shaped issues to deal with. Hope stood in front of the closed door to the main common area, she could already hear the voices on the other side, muffled by the walls. Hope sighed and put on an indifferent mask that she had gotten from being the daughter of Hank Pym and nodded to FRIDAY to open the door.
Entering, all the conversation stopped, and she ignored the shocked look Scott was giving her, wide eyes, jaw hanging open, the whole lot, and stared icily at the group.
"Hello, we were expecting Tony." Said the oh so punchable face of Captain America.
"Tony was unable to meet you today due to… recent personal issues." That drew a snort from half the group, but Rogers looked slightly worried, which only infuriated Hope more.
"What is it? Is he okay?" Hope's jaw stiffened at the words from the super soldier.
"That isn't your business considering it is a personal issue."
"So Stark is just being the usual asshole." Hissed one of the group. Before Hope could retort Scott muttered.
"Shut it, Clint." To the offender. Scott was doing a cycle of staring at the floor, at her, and then at the floor again.
"So anyway." Said Rogers hurriedly, "I am Steve Rogers, that's Clint Barton, Wanda Maximoff, Natasha Romanoff, Sam Wilson, and Scott Lang." Hope raised an eyebrow slightly, not even looking at his outstretched hand.
"I know." Unfortunately, "Hope Van Dyne," she introduced. At the remark, Rogers looked slightly surprised.
"How could you know?" He's asked, Hope had to hold back an eye roll.
"Well obviously it couldn't be because you're all famous, and my father made Scott his suit." That first made Rogers redden and then look even more shocked. "Well unless you want to be perfectly honest and say that Scott stole the suit from my father causing an extensive investigation into whether or not we were, or had contact with, known terrorists." The expression on their faces was almost amusing, a mix of both shock and outrage at the terrorist comment. Hope almost smiled.
"Hope, I am so, so, sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen." Scott said looking horrified.
"Sure you didn't." She said crisply.
"There goes Stark, ruining even more people's lives with his whole intent to break down the Avengers." Muttered Wanda. Hope rounded on her fury in her eyes.
"Yes, it definitely wasn't your fault for recruiting Scott and making him steal the suit in the first place." She said sarcastically. "For your information, it is because of Tony that my father and I aren't still on the run considering his frankly alarming defence of us especially considering he had only woken up from the state you left him in two days prior." Hope breathed deeply, collecting herself and ignoring the stunned silence from her outburst. "But I guess that's what real friends do for each other." She finished sweetly.
"I-I…" sputtered Rogers. Luckily at that moment, Vision walked in. At the sight of the group his face quickly turned expressionless.
"Viz?" Smiled Wanda starting to move forwards towards him.
"Miss Maximoff." He replied curtly before going to stand next to Hope.
"Almost done" Hope sighed running a hand through her dark hair.
"Would you like me to finish for you?" Asked Vision, almost completely ignoring the Rogues.
"Thanks, Viz." Hope smiled. Visions smiled slightly back before turning to the others.
"Due to relatively recent damage to multiple floors in the Compound." Wanda winced at that, still obviously heartbroken at the cold shoulder. "Your new rooms are located on the East Wing, you are all prohibited from the West Wing lacking invitation, where the other Avengers are staying." Vision continued interrupting whatever tirade was about to happen as Clint opened his mouth furiously, "FRIDAY is no longer available to you upon your beck and call. Only the people whitelisted are allowed to communicate freely with her and none of you is on that list." Rogers interrupted at that.
"But what if we want to talk to one of you?"
"If you wish to communicate with the Avengers individually you may message them via your StarkPhones which are awaiting you in your rooms. Response may not occur though." Most of them, minus Scott who was still following the cycle of looking at the floor then at Hope, looked outraged at that. Any meeting's or training sessions will be communicated via your StarkPhones as well. All are required and not showing up without council approved absence will mean instant termination of your probationary period. Your rooms are that way." Vision pointed down a hall. Then without another word to the Rogues, they headed back through the door to the West Wing, leaving silence behind them.
"Well that went well," said Clint sarcastically. Steve turned to the others a shocked expression still on his face. He saw most of them looked either awkward or angry. Scott was staring at the door Hope and Vision had left through with an odd expression on his face.
"Who does Stark think he is?" growled Wanda, hands glowing slightly. She looked hurt and angry.
"I'm sure it's just Stark's influence making Vision act that way." comforted Clint.
"But he's keeping us out of half the compound!" she hissed at the group.
"He thinks he's the owner of the Avengers Initiative and well the most important person in the world." sighed Sam tiredly. Steve sighed too, then placed his bag by the door and sat at the counter by the kitchen. The others followed behind except for Natasha who went and stood on the other side of the counter.
"He's playing the long game, Stark is just hiding and sulking, waiting for us to beg his forgiveness." Clint muttered, "like that's going to happen."
"But Hope said it was a personal problem," said Scott uncertainty. "I know her and she wouldn't lie. Well, she might've once but most of the time she wouldn't lie." Sam snorted.
"No offence man but she didn't seem overjoyed by the sight of you." Scott looked down again and then back at the door.
"Well this place looks not that different," said Steve in a feeble attempt to change the subject.
"Except it does. Tasha, I'm starved can you check the cupboards?" Clint groaned, rubbing his face with his hands. Natasha turned and began to rifle through the cupboards.
"There's not much except coffee, more coffee, even more, coffee, some crackers, pop tarts and whatever's in this bo-" she suddenly froze as she opened the box.
"What is it?" asked Wanda now intrigued.
"Nothing," Natasha replied, calmly placing the box back into the cupboard. Clint moved quickly next to her and grabbed the box.
"Clint, we really shouldn't" she hissed but Clint ignored her bringing the box back to the counter. Opening it the group all looked inside. Steve furrowed his brow, inside was a lot of cylindrical, orange box's.
"That's a lot of pills," said Sam picking up an orange box. "Doesn't have a name." he pulled the box towards him.
"What kind are they?" asked Steve a sick feeling in his stomach.
"Guys this doesn't seem like a good idea…" said Scott standing up and taking a cautious step back. He glanced at Natasha who was leaning against the cupboards looking wary.
"Well, there are some anti-depressants, anxiety meds, pain meds, and barely touched bottles of pills for insomnia." At the end of Sam's explanation, Clint gave a long whistle.
"That's a lot of drugs, I wonder who they're for." He looked at Natasha. "You know don't you." she didn't respond and Clint continued to rummage through the box. He looked back up at Natasha and was about to say something when a glowing orange circle appeared in the room and a man stepped out.
'Boss, you need to take your medication.' informed FRIDAY. Tony groaned and turned his chair again. Stephen looked back up from his book.
"Where are they," Tony grumbled ignoring the amused look Stephen was giving him.
'Yeah about that…' FRIDAY began, 'they are in the main common area.' Tony froze.
"And?" he whispered.
'The Rogues have not vacated the area.' Tony groaned, even more, breathing getting a bit faster at the point that FRIDAY was making. Stephen looked at him and Tony was surprised to say the man was smiling slightly.
"Can I get them?" he asked, "I would love to freak them out completely by just portalling in there full wizard." Tony couldn't help grinning at the idea.
"You are amazing." Tony sighed smiling. "FRIDAY, make sure to get a picture of their reaction." Stephen snickered and stood up.
"Do you think the cloak would be a bit much?" Stephen questioned.
"Maybe," replied Tony. "We can freak them out with the cape another time." at the despised word Stephen grimaced.
"It's a cloak, Tony."
"Whatever you say Gandalf." Stephen smiled rolling his eyes then portalled out of the room to the Sanctum to get wizarded up.
As Stephen stepped through the portal to the common room, an overly serious expression on his face he almost burst out laughing at the expression on the Rogues face as they saw him and got all defensive. Then Stephen noticed the box they had been looking at and his expression darkened. Without a word, he strode up, grabbed the box and pulled one of the pillboxes out of Wilson's hand and ignored the words being shouted his way.
"You can't take that it's not yours!" Stephen just had to stop at the absurd words said by Rogers.
"That's rich coming from you," Stephen replied with a calm anger. He didn't even have to turn to sense the knife thrown in his direction. With a quick motion, the dagger was flung through a portal into deep space. He turned back to them.
"Seriously?" He sighed as he saw the motion made by the witch. He was going to enjoy this. The red magic swarmed towards him and he flicked it away with a small motion. The look on their faces at this was laughable.
"Are you done yet?" he asked sounding bored.
"Who the hell are you." hissed the witch.
"Someone more powerful than you Miss Maximoff so I recommend you stop before I have to limit your powers."
"Why on earth would you be able to do that!" Clint growled.
"Well it's my job." he turned back around and left through the portal.
Back in the lab, Stephen burst out laughing. Tony looked at him surprised.
"What happened?" he asked as Stephen handed him the box still chuckling.
"That was so… enjoyable." he grinned at Tony. "They almost had heart attacks when I appeared from nowhere. Then when they attempted to attack me and I just brushed off the witch's magic they looked ready to die then and there." Tony snorted at that opening the box and swallowing the required pills.
"How long do you think I could stay down here before they go on a rampage?"
"Sadly only a couple of days." Stephen sighed sitting down next to him before realising he was still in his dark blue robes. He stood back up.
"I will be right back," he said opening a portal back to his room in the sanctum. "I just need to change." Tony mock pouted.
"Shame, you look so good in robes." he jumped up and leaned against Stephen. "It's very sexy." Stephen reddened looking at the man unamused.
"I'll just pretend it's the drugs saying that." but he couldn't keep the smile off his face. Tony sighed dramatically collapsing onto the sofa.
"You wound me." Stephen rolled his eyes smirking at the man before heading back into his room.