34 – Accountability – June 24, 2015
"How is this making things better?" Tony said, slapping down a newspaper in front of Steve. The headlines read: Captain America and Miss America Accountable? Who will claim blame for the Los Angeles Tragedy?
"You said to visit the hospital."
"I said to make things better. This is not better." Tony paced in front of Steve, letting off nervous energy. "You should hear what they're saying about you staying in my mansion."
"I'm sorry but how is that my fault? I didn't ask for any of this to happen," Steve snapped. "You think I don't feel awful?" Aspen turned her head away from the conversation. She was still pale, wrapped up in a sweater though it was a warm day.
"Of course you feel awful. I do too. I feel like maybe if I had been there… The press is having a heyday over this though. I don't think I can fix this one," Tony said.
"The press? The PRESS?" Aspen stood now, cheeks red with fury. "I swear if you say the word 'press' one more god-damned time I'm going to punch you," she shouted at Tony. Tony took a step back, his face registering shock. Steve blinked in surprise but made no attempt to calm her. He knew a lost cause when he saw one. "People died and you're worried about our reputation? About what the press is saying about us? The press doesn't paint anyone in a good light!"
"I have met a few decent reporters," Tony said, clearing his throat. "Sometimes you just need to get them to warm up to you."
"Oh, I see. You sleep with the attractive ones and they write a nice story about you. Is that how it goes?" she accused.
"That is not fair and not the point I was trying to make," Tony said sharply.
"Why are you even here, Tony? You're not on the team anymore. This isn't your business."
"Aspen-" Steve started, surprised by her hostility toward Tony.
"He's trying to say we don't work without him," Aspen said. "He's trying to make you feel like you can't lead the Avengers. Like we're a failure as a team."
"I never said that!" Tony objected.
"You implied it. You're worried about image and how the public views the Avengers, but you're really worried about how they are going to view you too. You're the one who retired, who left us. Maybe they think our team can't function without Iron Man."
"What has gotten into you?" Tony asked, furrowing his brow. He looked genuinely confused.
"People were throwing stuff at us, Tony," she said. She seemed to deflate standing there. Tony took a hesitant step forward as if expecting her to strike out at him again but she seemed to have used up all her energy and anger. "I don't care what the press says, but the people…they had signs – protest signs. You said having a good public image matters, but what if we messed up one too many times? What if people hate us? I don't think I can deal with people I don't even know hating me."
"Nobody could ever hate you," Tony said. He drew Aspen into a hug, and though she stood stiffly she let him hug her. "You're our fiery little mascot. You keep us all together."
"I think there might have been a compliment wrapped up somewhere in there." She pulled away. "I'm sorry," she added. "I shouldn't have yelled at you or said those things."
"Did it feel good?" he asked, cocking his head to the side to survey her.
"Yeah, it did." She cracked a smile and Tony returned it.
"It's been proven that yelling at me is good for morale. It's why Capsicle and I shout at each other so much."
"Right." Steve was glad Aspen had calmed down. He picked up the newspaper and read the article. "It's not so bad," he said. "They're just looking for someone to pin the blame on."
"In some sick way, you're glad they're blaming you, aren't you?" Tony asked. "It alleviates that guilty conscience of yours."
"People died. That's on me."
Aspen didn't try to argue, and Steve knew she felt just as guilty as him. The last few days hadn't been easy, and Steve felt a headache pulsing in the base of his head. "Things are changing, aren't they?" he asked Tony.
Tony sighed, sitting down across from Steve. "Yeah," he said. "Not everyone is happy with our – your – little team of superheroes running around. The novelty has worn off. People are starting to question things. We should have seen it coming. We've gotten away with a lot over the years."
"But we've saved lives. We're not just running wild," Steve said.
"I know that better than anyone. They even know that but the threats are getting bigger, the death tolls higher. People are scared that the Avengers are making it worse somehow."
"The day that's true is the day we're not doing our jobs right."
"Well let's hope that day never comes."
Aspen curled up on the couch again, and Tony took a step toward the door. "It's going to blow over," he said. "Just keep your eyes open for this Crossbones and next time go in knowing what to expect." Her turned to look at Steve. "By the way, how is the wedding planning going? The tabloids got a picture of the ring, so that's trending."
Steve pushed back his annoyance at the paparazzi and their constant need to publish personal things about people. "We haven't really had much time to think about it," he said, glancing over at Aspen. "Our vacation got cut short and after what happened, well, it doesn't seem like it should be a top priority."
"Why don't you leave the planning to Pepper and me? We can take care of everything."
"Because then we'd have five hundred guests and a gold fountain instead of a chocolate one."
"Have you at least set a date?" Tony asked, sounding disparaging.
"Every time we talk about it something happens and we push it aside. It's not like we can ask the world to just stand still." Putting himself first wasn't important right now though he couldn't deny that the longer they put it off, the more impossible it felt.
"Steve, you have got to take one day to yourself. Pick a date and we will be ready for it. Your team can handle whatever crisis is thrown their way. You deserve your day. Both of you. Don't let this set you back anymore than it already has."
Steve nodded. "Thanks. Let me walk you out." They left Aspen there, Tony casting a worried glance back at her.
"Is she okay?" he asked Steve when they were out of earshot.
"I'm not sure," Steve told him. "When the press bombarded us outside the hospital she just kind of shut down. She's not used to that kind of attention and it didn't help that it wasn't good attention."
"I know she gets stressed around crowds of people."
"Yeah." Steve hadn't realized how much until he'd seen the fear on her face yesterday.
"Just don't think you can't be happy because of what happened. It wasn't your fault. I'm sorry if I came down hard on you. It's just…well, to be honest this world doesn't always deserve you. You're one of the good ones."
"That sounded an awful lot like a compliment."
"Yeah, well, don't let it inflate your head. Your helmet won't fit." He opened the door to his Audi. "Just set a date," he said, growing serious again. "You both deserve it, and right now I think she really needs something else to think about."
He got into the car and started the engine. "I'm gonna fight Wilson for rights to best man," he said before driving away.
…
Aspen watched Tony drive away from the window feeling guilty for the way she'd spoken to him. She didn't know what had come over her. A combination of stress and guilt and annoyance, she supposed. Tony seemed like the perfect verbal punching bag at the time. Phoenix had come out of her room and was now in her lap. She stroked her absent-mindedly, seeking comfort in the low purr that emanated from the cat's body. Steve reentered the room looking weary. "I was awful to him," Aspen said quietly.
Steve glanced at her, and she could see that familiar worry, the little crease between his eyebrows. "Sometimes Tony brings out the worst in us until we realize he can sometimes be right. Anyway, I think he needs someone to bring him down a few notches sometimes. You're the only person I know besides Pepper who can get away with talking to him like that. Maybe Rhodey."
"He still sometimes treats me like a child and after how I behaved today, maybe I am still one."
"You've been under a lot of stress. That can bring out the worst in anyone." He sat down next to her, and Phoenix let out a little meow in greeting. He stroked the cat's chin. "I know we feel like it's selfish to focus on us at a time like this, but we should talk about the wedding."
"I wonder what the press would have to say about that," she said flatly.
"Hey." He took her hand. "This is our moment. It has nothing to do with them."
She finally turned to look at him. "Would you want to get married on the 4th of July?" she asked. "I don't want to steal away your birthday, but…well it seems right."
"I can't really think of a better way to spend my birthday," he said, lighting up.
That was two weeks away. Aspen felt suddenly nervous. She hadn't put too much thought into being married. She'd been living with Steve for a long time now. They knew each other so well that Aspen wasn't sure there was much more to learn. Well, maybe some things… She felt her cheeks heat as she thought of what would follow the wedding. She was suddenly very aware of his closeness.
"I love you," he said as if misinterpreting her embarrassment for hesitation. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you even if aliens fall out of the sky during the ceremony."
"That would be inconvenient." She gave him a smile, and his eyes warmed at the sight of it. She felt happier than she had since her birthday. "I love you too," she told him, leaning forward to kiss him. It was soft and lingering, and she wished they had more time for that sort of thing.
"Captain Rogers, Miss Tolvar I was wondering- Oh." Vision was standing there having just materialized through the wall. "So sorry."
Aspen started laughing. "It's okay, Vision," Steve said as the android turned to leave. "What was it you were wondering?"
"It's just, well I was wondering if you'd heard from Wanda. I haven't seen her today, and I'm not sure where she could be."
"She's not in her room?" Aspen asked, furrowing her brow.
"No, I checked. Mr. Wilson and Ms. Romanoff haven't seen her either."
"Can you sense her?" Steve asked Aspen. She concentrated and then shook her head.
"No. She's not on the property. Maybe she just went out for something? Are any of the cars gone?"
"No. I checked that myself, but all are accounted for. I wouldn't think it odd but we did have a training session scheduled for an hour ago and she wasn't here when you returned. She's not answering her phone. In fact, I found it sitting in her room."
Aspen's phone rang at that moment, cutting into their panic. Aspen pulled it out of her pocket. "It's an unknown number," she said.
"Put it on speaker," Steve suggested. Aspen nodded, sliding her finger to answer and setting it for speakerphone. She placed it on the table.
"Hello?"
There was static for a moment and then, "Hello child. I told you we would meet again."
"Who is this?"
"You don't remember?" He clicked his tongue. "I offered you a position in my court but you so ungraciously declined. You could have been the centerpiece of my collection."
Aspen froze. She was suddenly back in a palace with flags bearing a white lion with a star above its head and a waxing crescent moon to its left. The palace was cold and unforgiving. A girl with jet-black hair and eyes stood before a throne and on it–
"Prince Baran," she said. Steve shot her a surprised look. "I don't know how you got this number, but I haven't changed my mind. I have no desire to work for you or be part of your…collection."
Prince Baran was the ruler of Madripoor, the criminal hub in southern Asia where she, Steve, and Sam had once gone in search of the Zephyr Codes – commands that had the potential to turn Bucky back into the Winter Soldier. They hadn't found the codes but instead a girl with abilities similar to Aspen's. She was naturally gifted though, born with her powers. Specials, she called people like them. She could control minds and alter memories, create illusions and bring a person's fears to life. After taking control of Steve and Sam's minds and bringing them and Aspen to the palace, Aspen had learned of the Prince's job offer. If she worked for him, she could do whatever she liked with her powers, no morals, no laws. She'd said no, of course, and, after a test of strength and will between her and Zi, the gifted girl, Prince Baran had let Steve, Sam, and Aspen walk free. Aspen hadn't expected to ever hear from him again though he had told them they would meet in the future. Zi could apparently see into the future and had shared this vision with the prince. In fact, she had seen her very meeting with Aspen before it had happened.
"Though that still disappoints me, I found someone else to take your place," the prince said. "Zi said there would be three of you, but it turns out the other one died rather recently. Pity."
"What are you talking about?" Aspen had a sinking feeling in her gut.
"Well, if I couldn't have you, I thought I might take your little protégé. She's quite strong and rebellious like you. I am confident we can break her though. She's already fragile without her twin."
"Wanda," Aspen said, fear gripping her. "You have Wanda."
"Yes, my dear, and if you ever want to see her again, I suggest you get the first flight to Madripoor."