AN: This is the original beginning of I will see your nation cast down.
It's never had more than a rough edit by me and a brief read over by a few... select others.
"Evie!" Ethan whisper-yelled then looked back at his mom to make sure she hadn't noticed what was going on. "Evie!"
They had been spending the morning shopping for clothes for the big party at Daddy and Mommy's company, when in one store Mommy had ran into a lady she hadn't seen in a long time. It became clear when the two women had sat down that their conversation wasn't ending anytime soon, and Ethan found himself trying to keep his quickly bored little sister from wandering off.
In the last half minute, his sister had finally given him the slip and had disappeared into what was a sea of dresses to the little boy. He could hear his sister giggling from somewhere but didn't see her, and after giving his mom one last look to see if she had noticed what was going on, he made a decision. He headed in the direction he thought Eva had gone, and he crawled on the floor with the hopes of finding her without being seen by the store's staff.
"Evie! Come here! Evie!"
He searched for what seemed like forever but was actually only a few minutes when he found his sister. Eva was in a left corner of the store that was far away from where their mother was. She was giggling at a man who was doing tricks with a yo yo. Ethan watched as she clapped her hands in delight.
The man smiled at her, taking the yo yo in hand before asking her, "Here, sweetheart, would you like to give it a try?"
"I don't know how," she said shyly.
"I'll show you how. It's really easy."
"Okay," Eva said, taking a step closer to him.
Ethan was on his feet and charging across the room, saying, "Noooo, you leave my sister alone!"
The man looked around to see if they'd been noticed then said, "It's okay, sport. I just wanted to show your little sister a trick."
Ethan took Eva's hand. "Come on, we're not supposed to talk to strangers, Evie!"
"That's right, Evie , you really shouldn't talk to strangers!" the man said.
Ethan noticed that the yo yo had disappeared from the stranger's hands, and he had a look on his face that scared the little boy. "Leave us alone!"
The man lunged forward, grabbed Eva's arm, and shoved Ethan to the floor. Eva screamed as the man picked her up in his arms. He covered her mouth with his hand. Ethan got up in a flash and kicked the man's leg even as Eva bit his hand. He yelled, and dropped her to the floor, clutching his hand. Once he saw that the little girl had bitten him hard enough to draw blood, he lunged towards them again.
"You little BRATS!"
Ethan had bent over to pick his little sister up to make sure she was alright and didn't notice when the man came at them again. But fortunately, the entire store had taken notice what was going on and one of the salesgirls had stepped in between him and the children. She didn't stop him though, as he shoved her out of the way, and was going for the children again when Happy appeared, his gun drawn.
"Hold it right there!"
The would-be kidnapper finally stopped.
"Hands in the air where I can see them! And go stand up against the wall!" Happy ordered, not taking his eyes off the man, about to tell children to go find their mother when Pepper appeared.
"Ethan! Eva! Oh my..." she cried as she took both of them in her arms.
"Someone call the police now!" Happy said to one of the salesgirls.
"Happy, you're bleeding!" Pepper exclaimed, noticing the blood soaking his shirt collar.
"Yeah, because this... bozo here hit me over the head, and then dragged me into the alley. I'm just glad that I woke up and stopped the guy before he could do whatever he was planning."
The entire ordeal lasted, unfortunately, for the rest of the day into the evening because once Tony had heard that his family had been "attacked" he had flown to the police station in his Iron Man suit. Which in turn had had the unfortunate consequence of drawing the attention of the media. Once the police had finished their interviews and had taken statements over what had happened, they'd told the shaken family that they were free to leave.
Neither Tony or Pepper had been eager to leave once they realized that a mob of reporters had gathered outside the police station. It was one thing to have to deal with the press and paparazzi themselves but they had made an effort to keep their children out of the public's eye as much as possible.
While the police had been sympathetic to their plight, the lieutenant in charge of the precinct made it clear very quickly that he wasn't willing to have any of his officers act as personal bodyguards to the Stark family. With Happy taken to the hospital for overnight observation, and since it wasn't a real option for Tony to clear the way with Iron Man, they had had to finally call in security members from Stark Industries. Waiting for the security team to arrive had in turn added over two hours more to their ordeal, as the members had to wade their way through the media mob.
Steve stared at Tony for a long moment, struggling with how to word with the question that he needed to ask without making it sound like he had already turned his back on the other man. Finally he decided that there was no other way to ask the question other than coming out and saying. He just prayed Tony wouldn't take it as badly as he was anticipating.
He sighed, and looking straight into his teammate's eyes he asked, "Did you do it, Tony?"
Shock was the first emotion to enter Tony's eyes, followed by what was definitely hurt, then a cold anger. He swore at Steve before saying, "Of course I didn't do it! How… I guess you do think as little of me as I always thought you did."
"Tony-"
"No, thanks for confirming it before I made the mistake of turning to you for help!"
"I believe you," Steve said with as much sincerity as anything he had ever said in his life, and seeing the confusion on the billionaire's face continue, "I'm sorry that I had to ask that question but it had to be asked, which I think you already knew."
Tony hesitated, then gave him a grudging nod yes.
Steve sighed before he added, "I needed to know so any doubts could be put to bed before the storm that we all know is coming even gets started."
Tony stared at him a moment then said, "Are you sure that you believe me? I mean I know that we haven't always seen eye to eye. But I promise you that I didn't do this. I didn't kill those people."
Steve looked him in the eye for a long moment, and then nodded, "I'm sure."
"I may have entertained the idea of blasting Bowen into oblivion for two minutes but I never seriously considered going through with it. I mean be honest, guys, who among us wouldn't have had the same thought if this… slimeball had tried to take to take one of your kids?"
Steve nodded, "Yeah, I probably would have. Only I think my thoughts would have centered on the variation of snapping his neck instead."
"Point is that even you, Captain America, would be like any other father when it comes to the guy who dared to make an attempt to kidnap your daughter.
"Anthony Edward Stark, I am placing you under arrest for the murders of thirteen New York City police officers, and one civilian Leonard Bowen." One of the marshals began, nodding to two others who stood behind Tony.
Tony felt them pull his arms behind him as the first one continued, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read them to you?" The handcuffs locked tightly around his wrists in time with the last words.
Tony gave a somber nod, then said, "Yes, I understand."
"Don't say another word, Tony, not until you see your lawyer. You hear me?"
Tony's eyes met with his best friend's, nodding his understanding as the marshals began to march him past them and out of the building. As the elevator doors closed, his eyes locked one more time with Rhodey's and then he was gone.
"JARVIS, is Pepper aware of what just happened?"
"No, General, she is not. With Mrs. Stark in the midst of all of the Avengers' progeny, I did not think it prudent to alert her right then."
"Tell her to come upstairs now but so not tell her what's happened. If you have to, let her think it's Tony who wants her to come up."
"Very well, General."
"And do not, whatever you do, let her have either of the kids with her when she comes!"
EN: Please if you like hit the kudos button or comment. I am also available at my Tumblr: Anon is currently turned on for my Ask box there!
My apologies if some chapters are rough or jarring. Some of what you will read is as complete as it is going to get writing and or editing wise.
