Chapter 53 – New Directions
Tony can feel a headache coming on by the time they break in the early afternoon; they moved to the briefing room and he'd gotten FRIDAY to get the others to join them when they were ready. Scott and Clint had just arrived so they'd agreed a break was in order and they would catch the other two up on what they'd agreed so far.
Thor and Valkyrie would travel to replace Mjolnir once Loki was healed enough to help transport them, the trickster would remain with them, the Space Stone still in his possession, to continue to heal and lead the remaining Asgardians; Bruce, Tony and Loki were all going to study the Mind Stone with Vision in an attempt to see if they could understand the stones better and how they might be combated, T'Challa had offered to send Shuri to help, and to open her lab to them. Strange is taking the time to set up a permanent portal between the facility and the Sanctum, and one between the Sanctum and Wakanda so they can move between the locations much quicker; he'd only agreed to do it if the Sanctum was the focal point as it was easier to ensure unwanted visitors stayed out.
'What the hell is he doing here?' Clint demands, grabbing a knife from the breakfast bar and pointing the tip towards Loki.
'Clint stand down and let us explain,' Steve says, putting his hands up.
'Sorry, Cap, but I'm not going to trust he's not up to his usual mind tricks,' the archer growls, Scott's looking between him and Loki like he's watching a tennis match.
'Clint just let us explain,' the blond tries again. Before he can add anything else there's a twick and Clint's lost the knife in his hand to Peter.
'I find people talk better without weapons involved,' he shrugs, walking past the adults to the fridge. 'Anyone want a Coke?'
Tony can hear Wade sniggering behind him and sends him a look. 'This is your influence.'
'You can't tell me you didn't enjoy the sass just then,' Wade grins, and Tony can't help the answering tug at the corner of his mouth.
'Clint come with me,' Natasha says, 'let me explain outside.' He looks ready to argue again, but she grabs his arm, twisting it behind his back in a lock, and all but shoves him outside.
'You sure it's not her influence?' Wade asks, looking impressed.
'Maybe a bit of both,' he admits, then introduces Scott to the people he doesn't know.
When Clint and Natasha re-enter Clint is looking much calmer, but he's still challenging Bucky for top place in the glaring competition; Loki, Tony notices, just takes it in his stride, almost accepting it. Clint does get fired up again when he realises exactly who Wade is. 'Oh no hang on, first Loki and now Deadpool. Have you all gone insane?'
'We're facing the biggest threat any of us could imagine, Barton,' Nick interrupts, 'we need to make friends where we can.'
'Still sore that I made you miss?' Wade jokes. 'Come on Hawkeye, we all have performance issues sometimes.' Tony tries to hold back his groan. Of course Wade had to choose that moment to open his mouth.
'Want to avoid this Wilson?' Clint growls, picking another knife from the block on the side. Before he can even lift his arm to throw it, the archer's flying side-ways to land in a heap by the windows. 'What the hell just happened?' he groans, then his eyes go wide as he sees his attacker.
'Try it again and I'll put you through the window,' Peter's arm are crossed over his chest. 'Now is anyone else going to try and kill someone or can we get back to working out how to save the universe?'
'You really need to stop teaching this kid,' Clint tells Natasha.
'I don't know he finally seems to have knocked some sense into you,' she retorts. 'Besides he went easy on you.'
'He nearly put me through the window!'
'You don't have any broken bones. He went easy on you,' Natasha's tone leaves no room for argument.
'Briefing room people,' Nick says, 'and anyone else threatens anyone I'm giving Peter full permission to kick your arse. You got that kid?'
'Yes Mr Fury sir.'
Thankfully no one tries to kill each other for the rest of the discussion; personally Tony thinks it's a combination of Fury's and Steve's infamous stares, and a couple of Natasha's pointed looks towards Peter that kept everyone in line. He's actually proud of the kid for having made people wary of him after taking out Clint.
They've come up with several strategies for when Thanos attacks, including sites to hold a battle should it come to that; though no one has breached the subject of what they should do if Thanos were to obtain all the Infinity Stones, and Tony doesn't really want to be the one to broach that subject.
'I suggest,' T'Challa speaks up as the discussion surround Thanos comes to a close, 'that we briefly discuss the proposed new Accords. Whilst we have everyone around the same table it seems a shame to waste the opportunity, besides if we can move them into completion before Thanos' arrival we may be fighting from a stronger position.'
'I agree,' Steve adds, 'even if we don't make a firm decision we should at least explore some options.'
'Can I at least get FRIDAY to order in pizza?' Tony asks. 'I'm starving.'
'Me too!' Peter adds. 'Can we get pepperoni?'
'Hawaiian!' Wade pipes up from his spot next to the teen.
'Why would you want pineapple on pizza?' Peter asks.
'Because it's amazing.'
'No it's a travesty.'
'Boys!' Natasha interrupts with an eye roll. 'Not the discussion we need to be having.'
'Alright FRIDAY get us one of each flavour,' Tony says, 'and a couple of sides.'
'And cookies?' Peter gives him his puppy dog eyes.
Tony sighs. 'And a shit ton of cookies, FRI.'
'Already ordered, boss,' his AI replies, 'I also took the liberty of adding some drinks to the order as well. It should be here in forty five minutes, I'll let you know when they reach the gate.'
'Thanks, FRI.'
'These new Accords,' Wong starts, 'would you want a sorcerer from Kamar-Taj to sign?'
'Not as such,' Nick explains, 'the majority of the Accords will apply solely to official team members; others, such as yourselves and Scott, who only help during certain scenarios would only have certain sections apply. There would also be safeguards in place for your identities should you want them to be applied.'
'For example,' T'Challa interjects, 'we would have the name "Black Panther" on the roster, however it would not necessarily be myself that would be involved but anyone from Wakanda who we nominate as being most useful to the situation. Shuri may be the one if it is technological or scientific in nature; Nakia could be nominated in matters of espionage; myself or the General in terms of fighting ability. It would not necessarily always be me.'
'But the name would stay on the official mission reports to keep the identities secret, even from the majority of individuals working alongside the team,' Tony explains. 'The only ones who would really know any of this would be official team members, and certain individuals outside of the team, such as Nick or Hill.'
'It's protecting us but also making sure, if you need our skills, we can come and help,' Scott nods.
'Because HYDRA managed to infiltrate SHIELD? That's why these safeguards are in place?' Steve asks.
Nick nods. 'We'll also ensure not one single person has access to all the information within the organisation, hence the suggestion for a leadership team.'
'And you'd be happy not knowing everything?' Clint's voice betrays his doubt.
'While I'd prefer to have a handle on everything,' Nick admits, 'I appreciate the extra level of security this adds. Each member of the leadership team would oversee a different area of the organisation, obviously information will be shared as necessary-'
'But it stops one person being able to spill all the secrets, or if their security and clearance is compromised it's only one section of the organisation that is compromised with them,' Bucky finishes, with a nod. 'Perhaps not a perfect solution, but it is a solution at least.'
'I also suggested,' T'Challa picks up the lead again, 'that we approach different countries for permission to have bases established there, making it easier to perform missions out of those areas; they may be more willing to co-operate if we agree to employ local people in them as well, and funding research within the facility from local talent.'
'It also means not all of the information is stored in one place,' Nick adds, 'even though it could be accessed from every base, if one is compromised its ability to access information stored in the others is automatically shut down.'
'We could have certain bases specialising in research,' Bruce sounds a little excited at this proposition. 'And have them based in the countries where the leading experts are.'
'Each base would have to be able to run independently should the need arise,' Rhodes points out. 'Let's say the organisation is compromised like SHIELD was before, every base would then be shut down unable to access the others. Fail safes would have to be in place so they could continue running and be able to keep information out of enemy hands until the team were able to contact them.'
'This is all what we'd have to build up gradually and would vary on each site,' Nick agrees. 'Some bases could be combat centres, others research, and even others focussing mainly on intelligence and each one would need a slight variation on protocol should the worst happen.'
'Wakanda would be the first to make a facility available to you,' T'Challa assures them, 'I think we'd make a lot of leaps forward in technology along with the minds we could put together.'
'What if we needed help from you?' Strange asks, an eyebrow raised in challenge. 'As unlikely as that would be, at the moment everything seems very much geared towards the Avengers.'
'That would all be included in those parts of the Accords relevant to you I mentioned earlier,' Nick reassures him. 'Should you need help you will be able to contact the team and we can arrange for a part, or even the whole, of the Avengers to be with you to help. Any of the other resources at our disposal would also be available to you.'
'Provided it does not intend to cause harm,' T'Challa adds.
'It might be something to consider,' Wong says to Strange. 'With the Ancient One gone we still have no Sorcerer Supreme, and our numbers are still low after Kaecilius' attack; I am not sure what Mordo has planned either, but I do not think he's a friend of Kamar-Taj at present.'
'Trouble at home Dumbledore?' Tony asks.
'Nothing you need concern yourself with, Stark,' Strange's stare is hard. 'And you need not worry we will be able to help defend against Thanos.'
'This leadership team,' Clint asks, 'just who are you suggesting for it?'
'I suggested Nick is one,' Tony says before Nick can open his mouth, 'he's already got experience dealing with this kind of thing, and mistakes made in the past can hopefully be avoided again. He's got the spy connections and he's used to dealing with politicians; not to mention he seems to know where to find "enhanced individuals" before they even make themselves public.'
'He did found the Avengers,' Vision points out, 'and experience in things going wrong is often the best experience to have.'
'I'm not sure if that was supposed to be a compliment or not,' Nick raises an eyebrow.
'So if we were to go ahead with this new proposal,' Natasha says, 'and this is only an "if" for now, raise your hand if you are happy for Nick to be one of the three leadership team.' The majority of the table raise their hands, only Strange, Wong and Loki don't.
'You want us to vote?' Wong asks as everyone turns to look at them.
'No we want you to do a rain dance,' Tony rolls his eyes. 'You may be affected by this in the future, so yes we want you to vote.'
Wong shrugs and looks at Strange before raising his hand, the other sorcerer does the same, albeit a little grudgingly.
'What's your excuse Reindeer Games?'
'You aren't seriously expecting me to vote? Besides the majority has it,' Loki raises an eyebrow at him. 'And my objection comes more from the fact the man put me in a cell.'
'Moving on,' Natasha interrupts. 'Who were the suggestions for the other two? Steve was mentioned yesterday.'
'As combat leader yes,' Nick nods, 'you all follow him in the field as it is, he has proven track record, and is one of the best tacticians on the planet.'
'He's still a punk,' Bucky pipes up and grins as he dodges the ball of paper Steve throws at him.
'All those in favour?' Natasha asks. The table is unanimous.
'Don't I get a say in this?' Steve asks.
'Nope,' Tony grins at him. 'And we all know you're terrible at following orders in the field if you don't agree with them. This way we skip the arguments.'
'Alright children,' Nick stops them before they can start arguing. 'I suggested Tony was the third member of the team: we need someone who can head up research and is able to actually understand what the hell scientists are talking about and Tony has that experience from Stark Industries.'
'Nuh uh,' Steve says, clamping a hand over Tony's mouth. 'If I'm not allowed to have a say neither are you.'
He frowns and pushes the hand away. 'Mine is a valid point rather than me being overly modest,' he ignores Steve's eye roll and continues. 'Yes I can keep up with science and technology, but we're moving into a time where you need someone who can keep up with and understand magic and multiple universes as well and that's not something my brain is geared to manage. If anything Brucie may be a better candidate seeing as he now has experience with space travel and magic.'
'Yeah how about no?' Bruce says. 'I just want to be left alone to do what I do best and not upset Hulk any more than I already have.'
'What do you mean?' Natasha asks.
'Well Hulk and I have this thing going on,' the scientist admits.
'What do you mean you have a "thing" going on?' Rhodes asks.
'Banner and the Beast have had a slight disagreement and now the Hulk is not always appearing,' Loki explains.
'Hulk doesn't want to come out?' Steve looks at Bruce in surprise.
'He was being temperamental before,' Bruce admits, giving Loki a dark look, 'but ever since we fought Thanos on the ship he's completely refusing to come out.'
'Thanos was able to best him in combat,' Thor explains, 'and I believe it has rattled Hulk.' That statement is met with quiet dread. If Hulk isn't playing ball they're down their biggest metaphorical gun.
'That is something we need to work on later,' Nick interrupts again. 'For now let's take a vote on Tony's role.' When the vote is unanimous Tony opens his mouth to argue. 'No one is expecting you to be an expert in everything,' the one-eyed man tells him, 'get someone to help you with the magic and dimensional side of things who'll be sticking around.'
'Fine,' Tony tries his best not to smirk at how much he's going to inflame the situation, 'then Loki has to be the one to help me.'
Ok so he wasn't expecting quite so much yelling.
'You just had to go there didn't you?' Steve groans from next to him, not even attempting to get the room to calm down.
Thankfully, as far as Tony is concerned at any rate, they agree to leave the invasion and Accord related discussions in the briefing room and avoid talking about it when they leave to get the pizza that has finally arrived. Peter and Wade ran ahead earlier to go collect it, and Tony resists the urge to roll his eyes at the scowl Bucky sends the mercenary's way.
'You keep that up your face is going to get stuck like that,' he jokes as he passes the Winter Soldier.
'Very funny. You're seriously alright with this?'
'No, but I'm not going to risk pushing Peter away by making my feelings as clear as you are. Nat and I spoke to him and got his side of things. And let's be honest here Elsa: if he can take you out I'm sure he can take out Deadpool if needs be.'
'I'm not living that down for a while am I?'
'Nope,' Steve laughs from behind him.
'Come on Petey give me my ham and pineapple!' he hears the mercenary's voice floating along the corridor.
'It's not just yours, Wade,' the teen's exasperated reply comes not long after. 'We're sharing all of the flavours.'
'But you said pineapple on pizza is a travesty so I'm not sharing it with you.'
'I don't want it anywhere near me,' Peter retorts, 'now put the boxes down!'
'Not until you give me the Hawaiian. I'm holding your pepperoni hostage.'
'Wade give me the pizza.'
'Give me mine.'
'Sorry are we interrupting?' Wanda laughs as she walks in ahead of Tony.
'Wanda help me convince Peter that pineapple on pizza is heaven,' Wade turns to the young woman. 'He won't see sense and now he's holding my Hawaiian hostage.'
'You're holding my pepperoni hostage!' Peter protests, putting his pile of boxes down on the breakfast bar.
'I thought you said we were sharing them all?' Wade points out with a grin.
'You are one sentence away from me dangling you from the side of the building,' Peter grumbles, then his face lights up as the pepperoni pizza floats in front of his face. 'I love you Wanda!'
'I can't cope if they're going to be like this all the time,' Bucky grumbles, heading towards the piles of pizza and pulling out a slice.
'He's not the only one,' Sam agrees.
'Oh come on they're no worse than Steve and Tony used to be,' Natasha grins at the two of them as she passes.
'We weren't that bad were we?' Tony asks the soldier.
Before Steve can answer Rhodes raises an eyebrow at them. 'Really? I'm going to pretend you didn't ask that.'
'I take it we were,' Steve shrugs.
It isn't until three-quarters of the pizza have been destroyed that Tony manages to catch Wade in the kitchenette going for more drinks. 'Is this where you threaten me or something?' the mercenary asks, offering him a can of coke.
'Normally yes,' he replies, taking the offered can, 'but something tells me you've already had several death threats over the past twenty-four hours.'
'You a mind-reader now or something?'
'No I've just seen the looks Bucky's been giving you. Plus I know how much this team cares about Peter.'
'No kidding.'
'I would join them, but I've seen how happy he is with you around. So all I'm going to say is: don't screw this up, keep him happy and keep him safe and I might be able to come to terms with this.'
'You-wait, what?' Wade's eyes are wide.
'Look I'm not saying I'm happy about this in the slightest,' Tony reassures him, fixing him with one of the stares he's perfected on Peter, 'and it's going to take a while for me to even start heading that way.' He shrugs. 'Like I said you make him happy. You've got a lot of baggage and I'm concerned who might come after him from your mercenary background, but to be honest you can get that from his life as Spider-Man. And he can look after himself, I know that, but I'm still going to worry. If you promise to keep him safe, I'll give you a chance.'
'Nothing is happening to him if I can help it,' Wade growls, eyes going unfocussed as he grips a fork tightly in his hand. 'And if anyone thinks about hurting him I'll stab them so many times the four distinct hole marks will be unnoticeable after I'm done with them, and them apart until even you won't be able to work out how to put them back together.'
'Drastic, but sort of puts my mind at ease,' Tony admits, 'I'm not sure if I should be worried about that or not. Sure it says something about my mental state.'
Wade sighs. 'I lost Vanessa, if I lost Peter in the same way it'd…it'd break me.' At Tony's questioning eyebrow Wade briefly tells him the story of Vanessa, from leaving her to sign up to the Weapon-X programme, to finding her again and her death just as they decide to start a family.
'I'm sorry, Wade,' he says honestly.
'Yeah so am I, Tin Can. But nothing is happening to my Baby Boy while I can do something about it.' They both turn to look at the brown haired teen, currently laughing with Loki whilst Thor looks between them exasperated. 'I think he's purposefully making friends with people you'd rather he didn't.'
'Really? What gave you that idea?' Tony rolls his eyes. 'I'm not sure if he's trying to wind up Bucky more just for the hell of it, or whether it's just an added bonus to the people he's naturally drawn to.'
'Maybe it's a bit of both,' the mercenary laughs as he goes to join the trio. Tony watches as Peter all but lights up when he catches sight of the man and almost subconsciously leans into his side when he starts talking to Loki again. He also notices how Wade relaxes slightly after a few minutes of conversation, obviously coming to the conclusion that the gods are no threat to the teenager.
So maybe the merc wasn't that bad after all.
'You know sometimes I think you pick arguments just for the hell of it,' Steve grumbles as they enter their room, Tony pushes the door closed behind them and leans back against it, arms crossed over his chest.
'Sometimes yeah,' he admits, 'but you've got to admit it is funny seeing Fury nearly burst a blood vessel.'
'We are not having you and Peter and Loki in this facility for more than forty eight hours at a time.'
'Now you're just spoiling my fun. We wouldn't get up to that much trouble; and it might solve Brucie's problem with the Hulk not wanting to come out.'
'I'm going to pretend you didn't say that last bit,' Steve gives him a warning look. 'Now are you coming to bed or am I going to have to drag you there?'
'My, my, Captain America I never would have thought it,' Tony teases him, 'I expected to be wined and dined before such a proposition, now I just feel cheated and cheap.'
'You. Are. Impossible,' Steve groans, but comes back over to him, framing his face in his large hands and pressing a kiss to his lips.
'At least you know how to keep me quiet,' he grins as the soldier pulls away.
'Not for long enough apparently,' there's a small answering smile on the soldier's lips as he leans back down.
'I can think of some other ways you could keep me quiet. Or at least preoccupied,' he says, raising a suggestive eyebrow.
'Tony you're still healing, we shouldn't be-'
'Steven Grant Rogers I swear to God if you say you are not going to fuck me through that mattress because I'm still recovering I am going to-'
'Do you have to be so crude?' he interrupts him with a frown.
'Fine,' Tony rolls his eyes. 'If you don't make sweet love to me until neither of us can walk straight I'm going to kick you out of the bedroom for a month.' At Steve's raised eyebrow he adds. 'Ok a week. I wouldn't last a month. I'd last a week.'
Steve laughs. 'Well now I can't have that can I?' Then his expression turns unsure. 'Tony are you sure-'
He cuts him off by pressing a kiss to his lips. 'Steve, we could have the mother of all armies arrive on our doorstep tomorrow. No more waiting around and putting off what we want, alright? I'm ready for this, I'm pretty sure you're ready for this. We can go as slow or as fast as we want, but I want you and I'm not going to wait until the world ends to do something about it.'
'You're absolutely sure?'
Tony lets his hands travel up Steve's arms to link around his neck, pulling his head down so he can rest his forehead against Steve's. 'I've never been too sure about most things in my life, but when it comes to you? I don't doubt a single thing. And that kind of scares me if I'm honest.'
'Well then,' Steve's voice is quiet and the kiss he presses to his lips is soft. Then he catches Tony unawares by lifting him up and pinning him against the wall with his body, Tony wrapping his legs around his waist to keep himself in place.
'Well, well, who knew Captain America could be so demanding?' he teases, voice breathless as Steve starts placing kisses against his throat, the blond's hands going under his shirt to lift it over his head and throw it to the floor.
'Tony I swear you keep this up and I might be tempted to gag you,' he groans.
'Ooo kinky,' he laughs, 'might I suggest you find some other use for my mouth then, my dear Captain?' He can't deny the heat that spreads through his body at Steve's sharp intake of breath, and before he can register the fact they're moving he's on his back on the bed and Steve is leaning over him. 'Nuh uh,' he says, flipping Steve onto his back.
'Tony, what-'
'You just lay back for a minute, babe,' Tony says, letting the soldier sit up enough for him to pull the shirt off of him, throwing it behind him to land on the floor. 'I need to start learning what drives you crazy.'
A/N: Hi everyone. So I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I tried to break up some of the more serious (and possibly more boring!) talk about the new Accords with some more interesting interactions. Tony and Wade finally having a chat about Peter for one!
So I am going to say I was about halfway through writing the smut scene with Steve and Tony, and then it just didn't feel right having it in this story. I don't know why it just didn't seem to fit. Sorry I know some of you have probably been waiting to get around to it. Maybe there'll be some in future instalments of the series, but not yet. To be fair I feel that smut, like torture, scenes are better when they're left more to your imagination. I'm sure you can fill in the blanks with something much more satisfying than if I just gave it to you!
Do let me know what you think. Thank you so much to everyone who has left reviews! I will make sure I get round to finishing all my replies this weekend. Sorry my weeks are just super full at the moment so weekends are about the only chance I get to respond.
Only two more chapters to go before we reach the end of the first instalment. I hope you're still enjoying the journey and are intending to continue through the series!
L x
As always here's your sneak peek:
'Tony are you alright?' Peter frowns as he watches the inventor walk to the kitchenette. 'You're walking funny.'
Steve tries not to blush as he follows Tony to the kitchenette and takes two mugs out of the cupboard; he can feel Bucky's grin blazing into his back as he goes.
'I'm fine, Pete,' the inventor replies.
'Really? Because you really don't look like you are. You haven't been over-working yourself have you? Because the doctors said you haven't recovered enough yet and you don't want to-'
'Please find his off button,' Steve mutters to him.
