The last time that Bucky could recall being this anxious about the news was in 1939. He and Steve had been in their early 20s, fresh out of university. Hitler had just invaded Poland, and Bucky, his family and Steve sat glued to the radio that night, huddled on the couch. It was then that Steve and Bucky decided to serve. Bucky got in with no problems. Steve had a much longer road.
The whole team was crowded around the large screen, sitting pretty much on top of each other, despite the spaciousness of the room. Steve was to Bucky's immediate left, with Sam on the other side. Sharon and Wanda sat in the front row with Scott, the latter wearing an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face. Clint and Natasha were perched just behind them all, bringing up the rear of the group. The royals stood in the very front, framing the screen, both of their faces betraying nothing.
"Here it goes," Sam muttered under his breath.
"No matter what he says, we're in this together," Clint reminded them.
A silence spread out over the room. For over a year, they had lived a relatively blissful existence hidden in this palace. The real world was now pressing down on them like a fist.
"My fellow Americans," Stark was beginning to speak. He looked comfortable up on stage, his tone friendly, likeable. He had all of the charisma of his father. Tony looked at ease, handsome in his tailored Tom Ford suit.
"This issue of super heroes, of vigilantes," Stark paused, letting the words sink in, "goes beyond the borders of our country. We've all seen it. I've seen it firsthand: aliens from the space, gods from other dimensions, an entire city falling from the sky. I've been there. I've even been responsible for some of it." He paused again. "There needs to be accountability. There's no question about that. But who is it that's going to hold us accountable?"
"Where's he going with this?" Clint asked. Natasha shushed him.
"I tried to force the issue, rush into it. I think the Sokovia Accords have done a lot of good, but they've done a lot of damage too. Captain America, someone I think we can all agree is a hero, is a fugitive now, along with a team of people who were my friends. They believe they're doing the right thing, and I don't know if they're wrong. What I do know is we're not going to figure this out with us split up all over the world. We are all safer because the Avengers exist, and we will continue to serve the world. I'm hoping we can do it as a team, all of us. But that's up to the people we serve."
"He didn't mention me," Bucky whispered to Steve as Stark walked off of the stage. Reporters were shouting questions, but Tony ignored them all, striding off with purpose.
"Spoken like a politician," Clint was not overly enthused.
"He was vague, that is true," T'Challa agreed. The King glanced at his sister. The two seemed to have a silent conversation.
"Possibly optimistic though," Natasha mused.
"If he's telling the truth," Sam pointed out.
"You can never tell with Stark," Wanda said. "He says one thing, he does another."
"It's not up to Stark though," Sharon said. "He does not speak for the government."
"Doesn't he?" Clint asked. "He acts like he's calling the shots."
"Isn't that Stark's thing though? Posturing like he's in charge?" Scott spoke up.
"Tony has an ego, sure," Steve said, "but I think that came from his heart."
"Doesn't his heart run on batteries?" Scott scoffed. Clint laughed.
"You weren't with us in Siberia," Steve argued. "I think Tony might be humbled."
"That sounds like a long shot," Natasha said.
"What did happen?" Clint asked. "You never told us."
T'Challa looked over at Steve and Bucky and raised one eyebrow. The royal siblings, Sam and Sharon were all aware of what transpired in that cold, metallic place, but the rest of the team only knew that Bucky had lost an arm and Steve had lost a shield.
Bucky took a deep breath. "Stark found out I killed his parents," he said.
Sam looked surprised that Bucky said anything. Wanda looked completely shocked and Scott paled a bit. Natasha did not have any visible reaction. Bucky suspected that this was not new information to her.
"You what?" Clint asked, his eyebrows jumping.
"It was while I was still under," it felt like a flimsy excuse.
"Why was HYDRA targeting them?" Wanda asked quietly.
"Super soldier serum. Stark and his wife had it in the trunk of their car." The memories were rushing back now and turning his stomach. Bucky remembered the woman's screams, the way she stopped fighting in the end, the shocked look on Howard's face when he had seen Bucky.
"That's how the other Winter Soldiers existed?" Clint looked at Steve for confirmation.
"Zemo showed Stark the video." Steve explained. Wanda gasped in horror.
"Jeez…" Scott breathed. "I never thought I'd feel bad for Stark."
"He tried to kill Bucky," Steve continued. "We fought him."
"Do you think he would have killed you?" Natasha spoke up at last.
"In that moment, he would have done anything to get to Bucky." Steve sounded certain.
"He ripped off your arm?" Clint asked.
"He blew it off when I tried to rip the reactor out of his chest," Bucky answered in a monotone.
"Then he and I fought, until I was forced to take the reactor out myself," Steve said. "I beat him, but he wanted his father's shield back. I left it for him."
"Holy shit," Wanda sighed.
"It wasn't my best moment," Steve admitted.
It was far from Bucky's worst experience, but he thought now wouldn't be the best time to bring that up. Shuri was looking at him again, not with pity, like Wanda, but with something almost like pride.
Sam spoke up, "It's a bad situation, but I think there's hope."
Sharon nodded. "Tony seems to be turning over a new leaf."
"Getting your ass kicked tends to make you rethink things," Clint pointed out.
"But we have no idea how he will react to Bucky," Steve said.
"We may find out sooner than anticipated," the princess said. The watch on her arm had begun to beep. T'Challa glanced curiously at it.
"Does Ziwadi have a message?" he asked.
"She is on her way," Shuri confirmed.
As though on a cue, the door slid open, admitting the lithe and beautiful bodyguard.
"There is a bogey on route to the palace," she said calmly to the king.
"Ten bucks says it's Stark," Natasha stood up nonchalantly.
"He must have used one of his holograms for the speech," Steve was in work mode at once.
"Please intercept Mr. Stark," T'Challa instructed Ziwadi. "We will meet him presently."
The woman nodded and moved quickly back out of the door.
"We're sure it's Tony?" Steve asked, sending Bucky a worried look.
"Unless someone else is dressing in scarlet and gold metal, I think it is a safe assumption," Shuri switched the screen to security footage. Sure enough, the Iron Man suit was coming quickly towards them.
Well, let's meet him," Clint stood up. "Should I get my bow?"
"No," Steve quickly cut him off. "No more fighting."
"And if he came to fight?" Clint asked.
"I would like to see him try to advance past the Dora Malaje," T'Challa scoffed.
"Even if he does, he must get past all of us first. I think that the Captain and Mr. Barnes already proved that hand to hand combat is possible." Shuri looked over at Bucky with a small smile.
Bucky did not feel so confident. If Stark came ready to fight, he was no doubt coming with a new bag of tech tricks. Bucky knew he would fight him to protect the rest of the team, but he wasn't eager to fight him again. He owed Stark a debt he could never repay.
Steve looked over at Bucky.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"Do I have a choice?" Bucky stood up.
"He has landed," Shuri announced.
"Have him wait," T'Challa said immediately. "Make sure he is comfortable. I will be with him shortly."
"Shouldn't we all go?" Wanda questioned.
"This is my nation, Miss, Maximoff," T'Challa informed her. "Should he wish to enter this country, he will deal with me first."
Bucky wanted to ask what T'Challa planned to say to Stark, but figured it wasn't his place.
"Shuri, let us prepare." The King turned to Steve, "please carry on as though you are unaware Stark is here, Captain. When the time is right, we will bring him to you."
Steve nodded, "I want him to face the whole team," he told T'Challa.
"Then he shall," the king nodded respectfully at them all. "Do not lose sight of the main goal. You are heroes, regardless of how one man feels about you. I know that he was a friend, and perhaps he will be one again. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best."
He left the team nodding in the theater.
"What will you say to Stark?" Scott asked Steve.
"We will all talk to him," Steve assured them. "We came here as a team, we operate as a team."
"And when he makes a play to get at Bucky?" Sam asked, concern palpable on his face.
"I can handle myself," Bucky said.
"Do you think he is here for revenge?" Wanda stood up.
"I hope not," Steve sounded tired.
"Could be with Stark," Natasha spoke up. "But I think he may be as sick of this whole thing as we are."
"Two years is a long time for a family spat," Sam pointed out.
"He threw us in prison," Clint said angrily.
"And he let you escape," Natasha reminded him.
"Let us?" Scott objected. "Steve broke in and got us out."
"You think they didn't call Stark in?" Natasha asked, her voice still level. "Or Vision? It wouldn't be too hard to narrow down where you guys could be."
"How?" Wanda asked curiously. "Last that Tony knew, T'Challa was hell-bent on murdering the Winter Soldier."
"He's the only one with the resources to hide you. Something happened in Siberia. I think it changed Tony."
"He seems like the same egotistical guy to me," Clint said, gesturing to the screen with the security footage running. Stark had landed in full Iron Man regalia. His helmet was back, and even though they could not hear him, it was clear that he was giving Ziwadi some trouble.
"Is it wrong to hope she kicks his ass?" Sam whispered to Bucky.
Bucky smiled despite himself. "I won't tell if you don't," he nudged his friend.
"So what are we going to say when he comes in?" Sharon asked.
"I suggest we let him talk first," Sam said. "Let him get his argument out so we can knock it down."
"I've got plenty of things I want to say to Stark. Last time we saw each other, he had the nerve to bring up my family."
"What did he say?" Natasha's voice went suddenly sharp.
"That I should have thought about them before joining the wrong side," Clint gritted his teeth.
Wanda made an angry hissing sound. "He locked me in the headquarters for 'my own protection'," her eyes glowed scarlet.
"He accused me of hurting Rhodes," Sam said.
"All right, all right," Steve held up his palms, "Let's give him a chance to defend himself before we pull out the torches and pitchforks."
"I'm sharpening mine, just in case," Clint announced with good humor.
"Why don't you start talking first, Steve?" Natasha suggested.
"I second that," Sharon said.
"Works for me," Sam nodded. "We'll follow your lead." The others nodded their agreement.
They sat in relative silence after that, punctuated only by the occasional joke by Sam or Scott. Bucky was swirling his options over in his head. If Tony made a move for anyone on the team, he would take him out. If Tony made a move for him…that was more complicated. Two years ago he was prepared to have let him, but two years ago, he didn't see any hope ahead. He almost had his life together again, almost had control back over his own mind. Stark was far from the only person he owed a debt to. Would he let Stark's vengeance interrupt his possible repentance? He wanted time to discuss it with Steve and Sam, or two lay on the balcony of his room and discuss it with Shuri. Unfortunately, Ziwadi came in to tell them that they had 30 minutes.
Over and over the thoughts tumbled, even as a small argument broke out between Natasha and Wanda over the best course of action. It was getting quite heated until footsteps in the hall silenced the room completely.
"Captain," Ziwadi came through the door again, "Are you and your team prepared?"
"We're ready," Steve stood up, his face stoic.
"It's about time," Stark's voice sent chills down Bucky's spine as he came through the door. "You guys like to keep a man waiting."
Tony Stark entered the room without his suit, clad in a t-shirt advertising some band Bucky didn't know and jeans.
"Why so serious?" he asked the room with a grin. "Natasha, glad to see you found the rest of the crew," he glanced around. "Clint, Sam…what's your face," he waved at them all in turn as Scott scowled.
"Scott," he said to no one in particular, pouting.
"Wanda," Tony paused on the young woman. "Vision misses you."
Wanda's face betrayed nothing, but she swallowed hard.
"The big Boy Scout himself," Tony turned to Steve, "And his tin-man assistant."
Bucky frowned. He was pretty sure that Stark just compared him to a Wizard of Oz character.
"Tony," Steve greeted him politely, reaching out to shake his hand. Tony hesitated for a second, but then returned the gesture.
"So, what's been up?" Stark asked them all. "It's been a while."
"Tony…" Steve couldn't hide his exasperation.
"Oh? Am I going first?" Stark asked. "Fair enough. I want you guys back."
A silence spread over the room.
"All of us?" Steve asked.
"That remains to be seen," Stark's eyes fell on Bucky. Bucky held his gaze.
"Forgive us if we're not too eager to jump back under your command," Clint said.
"Or Secretary Ross's" Wanda added.
"Well the Secretary might be a problem," Stark took a seat next to Bucky. Bucky eyed him warily. "I got an anonymous message from our Jolly Green Giant that made some things clear to me."
Tony looked at Natasha, something unspoken passing between them.
"What's in it for us if we rejoin?" she asked.
"Forgiveness for one," Tony announced, "From the American government. Which you have to admit has to count for something."
"Do we have to sign the accords?" Sam asked.
"That remains to be seen. But the world has felt your absence in the last few years. There might be room for negotiation." Tony kicked his feet up.
"Why should we trust you?" Scott asked him.
"Again, who are you?" Tony sat up to look closer at Scott.
"He's part of the team now. My team," Steve told him.
"And how's your team doing out here by yourself?" Stark asked. "Not homesick yet?" he looked at Clint.
"We've got one of the richest kingdoms in the world behind us," Steve didn't back down.
"You still can't go home." Stark said, unconcerned. "Not without me."
"What are the conditions?" Steve asked him.
"One," Tony held up a finger. "You consider the accords. Just consider them."
"We might have done that two years ago if you had given us any time," Clint pointed out.
"So I jumped the gun," Tony shrugged.
"And we went to prison," Wanda threw out. "Rhodey got injured. Vision—" She cut off, overcome with some emotion.
"It's a cluster fuck, is what she's saying," Clint paraphrased.
"No arguing there," Tony leaned forward, his hands clasped together in front of him. "I haven't been having a great time. Have you?" he asked. Sensing an opening, he pressed his point. "Clint, your family and yours, Scott—"
"Ah ha!" Scott announced triumphantly. Tony rolled his eyes.
"My point is, you want to go home, right? So let's figure it out."
The team all exchanged a lingering look.
"Fine," Steve said at long last.
"Ok," Tony clapped. "We have some details to iron out, obviously. First, I want to talk to this one." He pointed a thumb at Bucky.
"Ok," Bucky agreed readily. He was sick of all of this dancing around.
"Without your babysitter," Tony clarified.
"He's my best friend, but he doesn't need to be there," an insult against Steve, no matter how childish, would not be tolerated.
"Bucky…" Steve cautioned.
"It's long overdue," Bucky stood up, acutely aware of how much bigger he was than Tony without the Iron Man armor. He was not above intimidation techniques.
"Then let's do this," Stark leaned back in his chair.
Bucky nodded at Steve. Slowly the room cleared out, as though its occupants were reluctant to leave such a good show.
"I've been looking for you for a while now," Tony began once the door shut.
"I've been here," there was no point in hiding it.
"Obviously," Tony sat up, "Here you are."
"Then you may as well do what you came to do," Bucky stared down next to him.
Tony looked up at him, his face completely hardened.
"You killed my parents," he said.
"I did. I killed a lot of people. I tried to stop myself every time, but it never worked. If I thought saying I was sorry would be enough, I would. But it won't."
"You're right. It won't," Stark stood up. Bucky did his best not to assume the defensive. Stark had earned a free shot.
"I did some research, while I was looking for you," Stark strolled to the screen, his eyes on the security footage of Wakanda. "Fabulous technology," he pointed up, "You should see the cameras. But I guess to you, all technology is pretty fabulous."
Bucky watched him silently. Stark continued. "This research, it took a while to decode, but I figured if that bonehead Zemo could do it…" Stark sighed. "I saw HYDRAs files on you. What they did. Torture?" Stark turned around to look at Bucky.
Bucky nodded. "Years of it."
"It seems like you took a while to crack. Your first kill wasn't until the 50s. That's a pretty impressive time to holdout."
"I could have done better," the shame of it swept in.
"I also did some research on the super soldier serum. My dad, you knew my dad?" Tony paused, "he helped make it."
Bucky swallowed thickly. "I didn't know I had any in me. HYDRA—"
"Took you as a prisoner of war. Yeah, I know." Tony walked back towards him. "You've been through a lot." He looked at Bucky's arm.
Bucky stared at him, sure this was some kind of trick.
"страстное желание," Stark said suddenly in perfect Russian. Bucky tilted his head slightly, but did not move.
""ржавые," Stark continued, louder this time. Bucky took a deep breath, but his head remained clear.
"Семнадцать," Stark approached, listing off the words in rapid succession. He continued until he was right in Bucky's face, practically screaming the words. Bucky still did not move.
Stark paused after the last word, waiting no doubt for Bucky to comply.
"Are you done?" he asked.
"You've really got a hold on it," Stark backed up a few feet. He did not take his eyes off Bucky's face.
"Looks like it," Bucky said.
"Huh…" Tony mussed. "That throws a wrench in my plan. I was going to prove how dangerous you were."
"I'm still dangerous," Bucky admitted. "I can just control it now."
Stark nodded and sat down, looking deep in thought. Bucky felt another wave of guilt. He walked towards him and sat down right next to him.
"For what it's worth, I'm very sorry," he said quietly. "I think about them all the time. Besides Steve…your dad was the only one I knew personally. I tried to stop myself. I tried." Bucky's voice broke off.
Tony sat quietly besides him. "I guess we've all done shit we aren't proud of," he said at last.
"Me more than others," Bucky admitted.
Tony looked up at him, his lashes wet. Bucky pretended not to notice.
"We should get the rest of the team back in here," Tony said, standing up, suddenly all business. "We've got some long discussions ahead."
He headed towards the door. Right as he reached for the knob, he turned back and gave Bucky a small nod. Then, as suddenly as he had arrived, Stark stepped out, leaving Bucky alone. He longed for a nap, or just some quiet time with one of his friends, or preferably Shuri, but the day was not over. He exhaled deeply, stood up and followed Stark into the hallway.
A/N: Another chapter down! Thank you again for your continued support, and to those of you who review, bravo! You're a tremendous help to me and I appreciate your feedback. Please let me know what you think!