Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

AN1: Thank you for the support. As I have struggled with writing this story. I'm not sure when the next update will be.


June 13th 2020. Avengers Compound.

Early Morning

The next morning, just like every morning, everyone who is now living at the compound are having breakfast together. But, unlike most breakfasts as the compound there is a level of awkwardness that isn't usually present.

"Mom, Dad, is it okay if Pete and I go to the mall today?" Vance asks his father.

"Where's my invitation?" Lana asks her brothers, looking annoyed.

"We're going shopping for your birthday present. You don't get to come." Peter informs his sister.

"How about Lana, Coop and I come too and then you two can go off and do your birthday shopping, and once that's done all five of us can have some fun." Kate suggests with a grin.

"I'm definitely in." Cooper says, "Can I go?" Cooper asks, looking at his parents.

"How did mine and Vance's shopping trip suddenly involve all of us?" Peter asks curious.

"If you're going to go it's better that you all go together." Natasha says, knowing that because it's safest, "But remember, no powers." Natasha says, giving the five warning looks.

"We know." Vance, Peter, and Lana say together, the only three who have actual powers.

"Can we take one of the convertibles?" Kate asks, looking at Tony.

"Sure, as long as you don't decide to give Cooper a spontaneous driving less, again." Natasha says, giving the kids a warning look, all of whom actually manage to look a little ashamed at that. As Natasha speaks Steve and his team look a little surprised that Natasha is answering a question directed at Tony, but no one else looks even the tiniest bit surprised, which makes Steve and the others realise it must be a common occurrence.

"Yes Mom." Peter and Vance say together.

"Yes Nat." Kate, Cooper and Lana say together.

"Just be careful and if you notice anything odd, call." Laura tells the kids.

"We will. We know how to be careful in public." Peter assures her.

"Is that necessary?" Scott asks curious.

"Yes." Everyone who has been living at the compound for the past four years say together.

"Boss, Miss Potts is arriving at the compound to see you and Mrs Stark." FRIDAY reveals, causing Tony and Natasha to look at each other.

"Did you do something to screw up the company lately?" Natasha asks her husband curious.

"Not that I know off." Tony admits, "FRY, tell Pepper that Tasha and I will see her in my office." Tony requests.

"Yes, Boss." FRIDAY says.

"Like Laura said, be careful. Call if you need. And like Tasha said, don't use your powers." Tony says before he and Natasha get up and head out of the room.


A few minutes later Natasha and Tony are waiting in Tony's office when Pepper walks in.

"Pep? What are you doing here?" Tony asks curious.

"Have neither of you been paying attention to the media?" Pepper asks curious, though it wouldn't surprise her at all if they haven't been.

"We've had some other things on our minds. What's going on?" Natasha asks, feeling a little bit of worry grow.

"Not counting battels or UN meetings neither of you have been seen in public for months. You've also missed ever Stark Function since you were diagnosed, something which neither of you have done for years." Pepper says, looking at Tony, Pepper being one of the only people to know before he told everyone on his birthday as she needed to know because of what she does for the company.

"That's because I'm not exactly eager for the media to start speculating about my health." Tony comments.

"They're already doing that, and unless you want them to start digging you should come to the function tonight." Pepper says, looking between Natasha and Tony.

"Will he have to give a speech? Or would just an appearance do?" Natasha asks curious.

"Just an appearance, as long as it's both of you. That will be fine." Pepper reveals.

"With how my health's been the last few days even an appearance could be a risk." Tony admits.

"Have things been that bad?" Pepper asks, an undertone of worry to her voice.

"Yes." Natasha answers pain in her voice, "But it might be a good idea to make a public appearance now rather than when you have more bad days." She admits, looking at Tony.

"Maybe." Tony says, uncertain, trying to figure out if it is a good idea.

"I'll let you two talk about it, but for the record I think you should come." Pepper admits, "I better get to the office." She says before leaving.

"So you up for a party tonight?" Tony asks his wife curious, once Pepper has left.

"Are you?" Natasha counters.

"Not sure, but it sounds like we don't have much of a choice." Tony admits, "We can figure out a plan to bail if I start having bad symptoms."

"That would be a good idea." Natasha says, suspecting that this could be a bad idea.

"But you know, there is no reason why we can't have some fun tonight." Tony says with a smirk.

"Very true." Natasha says, returning the smirk before kissing him.


June 13th 2020. Mall.

Lunchtime

Having left the Avengers Compound straight after breakfast, using secret exits that Tony put in after the Watchdogs started to be a major problem, Kate, Lana, Peter, Vance, and Cooper all headed straight to the mall. Once they got there Cooper, Kate and Lana all went one-way while Vance and Peter went another, to go shopping for their sister.

Having spent all morning trying to find something for their sister, who they both find incredible heard to buy for, Peter and Vance have finally picked something for her. Having picked their gifts Peter and Vance are walking into the food court where they find their sister, Kate and Cooper sitting at two tables, in the same booth, that are covered in takeout food.

"You got everything didn't you?" Peter asks, seeing them, with an amused look on his face.

"Of course we did." Kate confirms, with a smirk.

"So, what did you get me?" Lana asks curious, as her brothers sit down.

"Like I'm going to tell you that." Vance tells her.

"Your birthday is literally tomorrow; you'll find out then." Peter tells them.

"You really will." Cooper informs Lana.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop asking." Lana says, putting her hands in surrender, "But you two better have gotten me damn good presents." She informs her brother.

"Don't we always?" Peter asks with a smirk, causing Lana to give an amused laugh, and together the five of them eat while having an amused conversation.


June 13th 2020. Avengers Compound.

Afternoon.

After his and Natasha's conversation about the party Tony headed to his workshop where he has spent all day working on upgrades for everyone, including Steve and his people. His upgrades also include leaving plans for future upgrades that people like Peter, and Bruce, and Fitz, would be able to follow and complete.

As he hears someone open the door to his lab Tony suspects that he knows exactly who it is,

"I know Tash; I know I missed lunch. I just want to get this done while I still can." Tony says, not even looking up from what he is doing.

"I'm not Natasha." A voice says and Tony turns to see not Natasha like he was expecting, but Steve, "Rogers, what do you want?" Tony asks curious.

"Does Natasha really react well when you make comments like that?" Steve asks curious.

"Not usually." Tony admits, "But I need to make comments like that. It's how I handle things." Tony admits.

"How long?" Steve asks, "How long do you have to figure this out? No one's been overly clear on that." He explains.

"A couple of months would be…. Optimistic." Tony admits.

"I'm sorry." Steve tells him, completely meaning that.

"Yeah." Tony says with a shrug, "I'm sure you didn't come in here to talk about my impending death."

"No. I didn't." Steve admits, "I want to make things right." Steve admits.

"Do you think that's going to be easy?" Tony asks curious.

"No, but I'm willing to try." Steve admits, "I considered you a friend once, and I still do. I am sorry for keeping what happened to your parents from you, and I am sorry for all the grief I have caused you over the past four years. I want to work things out. I want us to be friends again."

"We were never friends." Tony says, putting down what he is doing to look at Steve, "If we were you would have saw through the front I put up, and known that I did everything I could to protect the Avengers. Everything I could to protect you." Tony reveals, and Steve looks hurt at that.

"Tony, I….." Steve starts to say.

"I don't want to dwell on the past, not when I don't have much of a future left." Tony admits.

"What are you saying?" Steve asks curious.

"You said you want to make things right, well I want to start over, because I don't know about you but I'm not the same person I used to be." Tony admits.

"I'm not either." Steve realises, "Starting over sounds like a good idea to me."

"Good, then you can tell me all about how your team's fighting has changed over the past four years, so I can make changes to your gear." Tony requests and that's exactly what Steve does.


While Tony and Steve are in the lab Hope is working on Pym Technology's business in her office.

"Yeah Dad, I know. I'm on it." Hope says annoyed, as she speaks to her father on the phone, trying to hide her annoyance and as she speaks she notices Scott in the doorway, "Dad, I have this handled. Goodbye." She says before hanging up, "Did you need something?" she asks Scott.

"I wanted to say thank you. Cassie said that you've helped her a lot over the last few years, thank you." Scott says, clearly grateful.

"You don't have to thank me. Cass is a great girl; I've been happy to help her." Hope explains.

"Why does everyone here call her Cass?" Scott asks curious.

"She asked us to." Hope explains, and honestly Scott is shocked by that as it is another part of his daughter's life that he has missed.

"So, um, are you seeing someone?" Scott asks curious, wanting to change the subject, and honestly Hope has been expecting that question.

"Yeah." Hope confirms, "Jim, Rhodey, and I have been seeing each other for a long time."

"Oh." Scott says, sounding a little surprised, "Are you happy?"

"Yeah, very." Hope reveals.

"Good. I'm happy for you." Scott says with a smile, "Guess we missed our chance."

"We would have never worked out; I think you know that." Hope says, that having been something she realised a while ago.

"Yeah, I do." Scott confirms, "Friends?" he asks sticking out his hand for Hope to shake.

"Friends." Hope confirms, returning the handshake and a smile.


In his workout room Rhodey is doing his normal rehab work, something which he still has to do even though four years have passed.

"Hi." A voice says as Rhodey works and he turns to see Sam.

"Hey." Rhodey says, pushing on with what he is doing.

"I'm sorry." Sam says, completely meaning that, "For the part I played in this."

"It's okay. I don't blame you. I don't blame anyone." Rhodey admits, completely meaning that.

"Really?" Sam asks, a little surprised b that.

"We were in the middle of a battle; I gave the order to hit you, you dodged, Vision was distracted. It was an accident." Rhodey says, "Blaming someone, anyone, would just be pointless." He admits.

"How you doing?" Sam asks curious.

"I have good days and bad days." Rhodey admits, "Lately it's been more good than bad." He admits.

"That's good." Sam says, sounding relieved, and as he does, Rhodey stumbles a little, and Sam moves to help.

"Thanks." Rhodey says, gratefully.

"You're welcome." Sam says, "So, these things help you work?" he asks curious.

"Yeah, they're the latest version created by Tony." Rhodey explains, "Stephen used to be a neurological surgeon, so he gives his opinion." Rhodey explains, "They're the best yet." He admits.

"That's great." Sam says, sounding relieved.

"Yeah."


As she has felt like he has been avoiding her Wanda has gone in search of Vision, and she has finally found him standing by a window that has a view of most of the grounds.

"Hello Wanda." Vision greats.

"Vision." Wanda says, walking over, "How have you been?" she asks curious.

"I believe the word is, okay." Vision answers, turning around to look at Wanda, "Do you want to leave Wanda? No one here will make you stay, and if you really want to leave you should."

"I don't know what to leave." Wanda admit, "I just I don't know if it is a good idea for me to stay."

"It is." Vision assures her, "The world is dangerous Wanda, and with people like the Watchdogs out there I'm not sure if you can protect yourself." He admits, "I just want you to be safe…. And happy."

"I'll think about it." Wanda says.

"I should go, check on the grounds." Vision says before phasing though the wall, leaving Wanda alone to think about everything that was just said.


June 13th 2020. Avengers Compound.

Evening.

Hours later everyone is back at the compound and finishing dinner, or everyone except Natasha and Tony who are getting ready for the Stark event they have to go to.

"So, who's picking the movie tonight?" Kate asks curious.

"I believe it's Cass and Clint who are picking the movies." Hope reveals as they always pair a kid and an adult together to pick movies for movie nights.

"Yep." Clint and Cassie say together.

"You have movie nights?" Wanda asks, sounding a little surprised.

"Yep." Everyone who has been living at the compound say.

"We do movie nights once a week. Sometimes more during summer." Hope explains, "Cinema room in ten. Normal people get snacks ready." She instructs, "Everyone should be there. It's how we bond." She admits, and everyone exchange looks.

"Sure, sounds fun." Steve admits, and the others nod.


A while later everyone except for Tony and Natasha are sitting around the cinema room, where there is a lot of food.

"Everyone ready for the movie?" Laura asks curious.

"Yep."

"Yes."

"Play it."

Everyone around the room says.

"Well, I hope you all enjoy your movies." Tony's voice says and everyone turns to the door where Natasha and Tony, both dressed completely formally, are standing Natasha in a long dress, and Tony is a tux.

"Wow, Mom, Dad, you guys look great." Peter says with a smile.

"Thanks Pete." Natasha and Tony say together.

"You guys do look great." Lana informs them.

"Well, we better get going. Don't wait up." Natasha says and she and Tony head out of the room, and once they do they head straight to the garage where they get into one of Tony's fastest cars and speed to the city.


It has been a little while since Natasha and Tony left and ever since then the residents of the Compound have been watching movies together in the cinema room.

"Vance?" Steve asks, but Vance is too focused on the movie, "Hey, Vance?" Steve asks, putting his hand on Vance's shoulder, trying to get his intention, but the second Steve places his hand on Vance's shoulder Steve, and everything in range, including furniture and food, go flying away from him.

"I'm sorry." Vance says, sounding both terrified and ashamed, before running out of the room.

"What the hell was that?" Scott asks shocked.

"Vance doesn't take well to being touched." Clint reveals, "With his history it's not surprising." Clint reveals.

"He's scared; I haven't felt that much fear in a long time." Wanda admits, feeling shocked at what she is feeling, as usually she is pretty good at not sensing emotions, but Vance's emotions are currently overwhelming her.

"FRIDAY? Where has he gone?" Peter ask worried.

"Mr Vance has gone to the library." FRIDAY answers.

"His safe place." Lana realises, "Let's go." She says and the two of them hurry out.

"You okay?" Rhodey asks concerned, as he helps Steve back to his feet.

"I'm fine." Steve assures him, "I'm worried about him." He admits.

"Does he lose control like that often?' Sam asks curious.

"No, never." Hope answers. It being clear that she is concerned.


June 13th 2020. New York City.

Night

Having no idea that their son just had a major flashback Tony is pulling up at the event that he and Natasha are going to be attending.

"You got this?" Natasha asks her husband.

"Ask me that again after an hour of being around these people without drinking." Tony says, getting out of the car and walking around to Natasha's side where he opens the door for her, something he only does when they go to events.

"Here we go." Natasha whispers to Tony as they get out of the car, and they both make their way towards the door, needing to pause to get photos taken with the media as they go.

After almost ten minutes of dealing with the media Natasha and Tony walk into the function.

"How long before we can leave without it being suspicious?" Tony asks curious.

"I'd say at least an hour." Natasha admits.

"Well, then, we better make good use of that hour." Tony says with a grin, turning around and facing Natasha, sticking out his hand, "Dance?" he asks curious and Natasha just smirks as she takes Tony's hand and together the two of them head to the dance floor where they quiet happily dance together.


June 13th 2020. Avengers Compound.

Night.

Getting to the library minutes after Friday informed them that they would find their brother Lana and Peter both try to entre but they find the door blocked from the inside.

"He's blocked it." Lana realises, sounding worried.

"Yeah." Peter says, "Vance? It's Pete." He calls and he waits for a responds, but after a few minutes he gets none.

"Vance, it's Lana. Talk to us." Lana says, her voice showing less concern than her brothers, but that's because it's who she is, but just like when Peter asked Lana gets no response, "Okay, we've got to do something." She says.

"Call Mom?" Peter suggests.

"It will take too long for them to get back." Lana responds, "We could get Vision to phase through." She suggests.

"Maybe." Peter says, not sure about how Vance will react to that, "FRIDAY, what is Vance doing right now?"

"Mr Vance is sitting in the corner of the library, on the floor." FRIDAY answers.

"Okay, we need a plan." Peter realises, looking at his sister in worry.

"Peter, Lana." A voice says and Peter and Lana turn to see Clint, Rhodey, Steve and Bucky.

"How is he?" Clint asks, clearly concerned.

"We don't know. He's not responding and has blocked the door." Lana explains.

"We're debating between calling Mom, or asking Vision to go through the wall." Peter admits.

"Before trying either of those things, do you mind if I try talking to him?" Bucky asks, causing Lana and Peter to exchange looks, and then look to Clint and Rhodey who both give nods.

"Sure, you can give it a try." Peter answers and he and Lana step away from the door, allowing Bucky to approach.

"What's he going to do?" Lana asks Clint and Rhodey in a quiet voice.

"You'll see, just give him a chance." Clint tells them, suspecting that Bucky may just be able to get through to Vance.

"Vance, it's James Barnes." Bucky says through the door, "Steve's okay, he's not hurt, and he doesn't blame you." Bucky says, suspecting that that is what Vance would be worried about, "I get it, wanting to shut yourself away." Bucky admits, meaning that complete, "I've done that, more than once. It's why I've been hiding in Wakanda the past five months."

"He's been out of cryo five months?" Steve asks Rhodey, sounding shocked.

"Yeah." Rhodey confirms.

"I just want to talk to you, because I understand. I know what it's like to be scared of your past, of what remembering it does to you. I know how it feels to be worried that you're just going to hurt everyone around you." Bucky says, "If you let me in I promise that I'll keep my distance. I just want to talk to you."

"Mr Vance said you can go in, Mr Barnes, only you." FRIDAY says about ten seconds later.

"I'll make sure your brother is okay. I'll do everything I can to help him, I promise." Bucky says to Peter and Lana before heading into the room, knowing that there isn't much he can do but from what he's observed the past few days and what he's seen in the past five months he knows that helping Vance is something he can do.

"Okay, what makes you think he can help?" Lana asks, turning to look at Steve, Rhodey and Clint once Bucky walks into the library.

"He just can, Lana. He'll get what Vance is going though." Clint assures Lana and Peter.

"You sure?" Peter asks.

"Positive." Clint and Rhodey say together.

"Okay." Peter and Lana say together, neither overly sure that they trust Bucky, but they trust Clint and Rhodey, so they're willing to give Bucky a chance.

For about five minutes Peter, Lana, Steve, Rhodey and Clint wait outside the library all hoping that Bucky is able to help Vance. For every minute that passes Lana and Peter both become more and more worried about their brother, and so when the door opens they are both very relieved to Vance, with Bucky, walk out, and Peter and Lana walk right over to her.

"Can we hug you?" Peter asks, as he and Lana walk up to their brother.

"Yeah." Vance answers and both of Vance's siblings hug him.

"Can you explain everything?" Vance asks his siblings in a whisper.

"If you want us to." Peter tells his brother.

"I do." Vance assures him as the three siblings break apart.

"Want to go back to the movie?" Lana asks her brother.

"No. I'm going to go back to my room. I still kind of want to be alone." Vance admits.

"You sure?" Peter asks concerned.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Vance says with a nod, "I'll see you later." He tells her siblings, "Thank you." He says, to Bucky, who just nods in response, and Vance heads to his room.

"We should get back, looks like we have a story to tell." Lana realises and Peter, Clint, Rhodey and Bucky nod and they all head back to the cinema room.


After leaving the library Peter, Lana, Rhodey, Steve, Clint and Bucky head back to where the others are watching movies.

"Where's Vance? He okay?" Cooper asks as the others walk in.

"He's gone back to his room, said that he needs some time alone." Peter explains, "He wasn't okay, but after talking to Mr Barnes I think he is now."

"Bucky, you can call me, Bucky, or James if you'd prefer." Bucky tells the young man.

"I will." Peter confirms.

"Why did he react like that?" Sam asks curious, "I've seen a lot of reactions after trauma in my time, but that was different." He admits.

"Yeah, it was." Lana confirms, "And we're only going to explain because Vance gave us permission to." She reveals.

"Vance's biological father died when he was a baby. He was raised by his biological mother and step-father." Peter explains, "His mother died when he was six years old and after that he was raised just by his step-father."

"Vance's step-father was a horrible person." Lana reveals, "He abused Vance, daily, in so many ways." She explains, pain in her voice and those who don't know are shocked by that, "He was never allowed to leave the house. He often took refuge in his mother's library, where he read everything. That's why he ran there today." She explains.

"A little while before he turned fifteen, I was living here at this point, Vance ate some old tuna, because he was so hungry." Peter explains, his voice sounding pained, "That turned him inhuman."

"The next time Vance's step father came after him, he just wanted him to stop hurting him, and he reacted." Lana explains.

"He killed his stepfather didn't he?" Steve asks, as that would make sense.

"He didn't mean to." Peter says, becoming determine to make sure that everyone understands that Vance isn't dangerous, "FRIDAY, play the 911 call that Vance made after his step-father died." He requests.

"Are you sure, Mr Peter?" FRIDAY asks.

"Positive." Peter answers, and the call starts to play.

"911, what's your emergency?" a voice that no one recognizes says.

"Hello, I didn't mean to, I just wanted him to stop hurting me. I didn't mean to hurt him!" Vance's voice, clearly younger and distressed says.

"I need you to calm down and tell me exactly what you did, and where you are." The 911 operator says.

"I threw him across the room, with my mind, and he tried to come for me again, and I threw him back again and he broke the table and I tried to scare him by moving the glass, but then he moved and oh god, I hurt him, I didn't mean to! I don't think he's breathing, I just wanted him to stop."

"Thank you, FRIDAY."Peter says, causing the call to stop playing, "Like I said, I was here when Vance came, he was traumatised, still is."

"What can we do to make sure that we don't cause Vance to have a flashback?" Sam asks curious.

"Don't approach him quickly, or touch him without warning." Lana says, "Just give him time. Vance can become okay around most people if he is around them often, it just takes him time." She explains, and those who have only just meet Vance nod.


It has been a while since Peter and Lana explained all about Vance to everyone and since then Natasha and Tony have arrived home and after a conversation with their two oldest kids Natasha has gone to go see her son. Even though he wanted to check on Vance too Tony hasn't joined her as they both decided that it might be best not to overwhelm Vance.

Getting to her sons' room Natasha finds the door open a fraction, probably so that he could hear if anyone was approaching.

"Vance, it's me. Can I come in?" Natasha asks, not opening the door as she doesn't want to scare her son.

"Yeah." Vance's quiet voice responds and Natasha walks in.

"Do you want the door closed?" Natasha asks curious.

"Sure." Vance says from his place in the corner of his room where he is sitting on the ground, basically cured up, "Did you and Dad have a good time?" Vance asks curious.

"It was okay." Natasha says, as it was a lot of fun, but they had to leave when Tony started to experience health problems that would have, and did, become noticeable very quickly, "How are you doing?" Natasha asks as she sits next to her son.

"I don't know." Vance admits, "Bucky said I didn't, but did I hurt Steve?"

"No, you didn't." Natasha tells her son, "I've talked to him, he's completely okay, and truthfully he's worried about you." She admits, knowing it will help Vance to hear that.

"I thought things were getting better, but the second Steve touched me it was like I was back there, all those times he hurt me, and I lost it." Vance says, looking upset.

"If it's okay, I'm going to put my arm around you." Natasha tells her son, who gives a little nod, and once she sees the nod Natasha puts her arm around him, "Vance for most of your life you were a prisoner. You lived your life in terror and pain, and even though it's been four years since then it's normal for you to still be effected by what happened to you." She tells her son.

"Bucky said something similar." Vance reveals.

"Bucky is right, and It could be a good thing you two talked. He understands, better than most." Natasha tells her son, knowing that for a fact.

"I know." Vance says and mother and son drift into silence as they sit side by side, "I just want to stop being afraid."

"I know." Natasha responds, "I love you, so much." Natasha says, placing a kiss on her sons' head, and the two of them drift into silence as they sit side by side, Natasha wishing that there was more she could say, or do, to help her son.