Chapter 23
AN: Hope you like this chapter. This one is still pretty close to cannon, but that changes with the next one so I hope you like.
June 23rd 2016
Just like Natasha suspected things have gotten worse. Steve's attempt at finding Bucky has resulted in him, Sam, Bucky, and T'Challa who went after them, to all been arrested, and brought to the Joint Terrorist Taskforce headquarters in Belin where Natasha, Tony and Sharon are.
As Steve, Sam, and T'Challa get out of the car, and Bucky is taken away into in a very secure cube, they find Sharon standing with a man who none of them recognize.
"What's gonna happen to him?" Steve asks, clearly worried about his friend.
"Same thing that ought to happen to you. Psychological evaluation and extradition," the man, Everett Ross, says.
"This is Everett Ross, Deputy Task Force Commander," Sharon explains.
"What about our lawyer?" Steve asks curious.
"Lawyer. That's funny," Everett says. "See their weapons are placed in lockup. Oh, we'll write you a receipt," Everett says.
"I better not look out the window and see anybody flying around in that," Sam says, referring to his wings, as they head upstairs.
Once they are upstairs the group start to walk along a covered sky walk, and Natasha walks up to them.
"You'll be provided with an office instead of a cell. Now, do me a favour, stay in it?" Everett asks.
"I don't intend on going anywhere," T'Challa says as now that Barnes is close that's all he wanted.
"For the record, this is what making things worse looks like," Natasha informs Steve, as she walks with him.
"He's alive," Steve says, feeling that that is all that matters, causing Natasha to look at him as they continue to walk, until they get to Tony who is on his phone.
"No, Romania was not Accords-sanctioned. And, Colonel Rhodes is supervising cleanup," Tony explains.
"Try not to break anything else why we fix this," Natasha requests, as she walks over to Tony.
"Consequences? You be there'll be consequences. Obviously you can quote me on that cause I just said it. Anything else? Thank you Sir," Tony says, before hanging up.
"Consequences?" Steve asks.
"Secretary Ross wants you both prosecuted. Had to give him something," Tony explains, as he looks between Steve and Sam.
"I'm not getting that shield back, am I?" Steve asks, as Tony and Natasha start to walk away.
"technically it's the government's property," Natasha explains as she and Tony walk away. "Wings too," Natasha says, turning to look at Steve and Sam.
"That's cold," Sam comments.
"Warmer than jail," Tony admits, and he and Natasha continue to walk away, as they do Steve notices how close they are, just like how he noticed the way that conversation just went. "We need to figure out a way to fix this," Tony tells Natasha, in a quiet voice.
"I know, but the only way we're going to do that is to make the last day legit," Natasha explains. "Steve needs to sign for us to be able to do that," Natasha comments, as she knows there is no other option.
"I know," Tony says, with a sign. "I have an idea, I'm not just not sure it's going to work," Tony admits.
"Right now, I think we have to try everything," Natasha admits, as she reaches out and puts her hand on Tony's arm.
"Wish me luck," Tony says, putting his hand over Natasha's, then he heads to collect something before heading to the room where Steve is.
Walking into the room where Steve is Tony has removed his jacket and is holding the object that he collected, a presentation box.
"Hey, you wanna see something cool?" Tony asks. "I pulled something from Dad's archives. Felt timely," Tony says as he shows Steve two pens in a black presentation box. "FDR signed the Lend-Lease bull with these in 1941. Provided Allies when they needed it most," Tony explains.
"Some would say it brought our country closer to war," Steve says and Tony has to resist the urge to roll his eyes as he knows that won't get them anywhere.
"See? If not for these you wouldn't be here," Tony says as he sits down. "I'm trying to… what do you call it? This is an Olive Branch. Is that what you call it?" Tony asks.
"Is Pepper here? I didn't see her," Steve comments, purposely changing the subject.
"No, Pepper and I broke up last year," Tony reveals, to Steve's surprise.
"I'm sorry," Steve says sincerely, and Tony just shrugs.
"It's okay, it was right for us. We're better as friends" Tony admits. "A few years ago I trashed my suits and almost got rid of this because it was what Pepper wanted, but I didn't because this, Iron Man, is a part of who I am and she couldn't accept that," Tony explains touching his arch reactor as he says 'this'.
"Then how can you agree to the accords?" Steve asks as he doesn't understand
"Because they're needed. If they're not going to be this it's gonna be something worse," Tony explains. "Didn't you and Dad follow orders back in the day to protect everyone?" Tony asks, trying to get Steve to see the point, purposely not mentioning Peggy as he isn't sure he can mention her right now.
"And we also ignored orders when we had to," Steve says. "Howard once flew me behind enemy lines against orders," Steve reminds Tony.
"Oh, I know," Tony says, an annoyed tone of voice, as he stands up, cursing himself for not thinking of a better argument. "I've only heard that story, and many others, like a million times, you were Dad's favourite topic," Tony says, bitterness clear in his voice. "God, I hated you," Tony admits.
"I don't mean to make things difficult," Steve says.
"I know, because you're a very polite person," Tony says.
"If I see a situation pointed south… I can't ignore it. Sometimes I wish I could," Steve comments.
"No, you don't," Tony says, knowing that, and causing Steve to smile.
"No, I don't," Steve admits." Sometimes…" Steve starts to say.
"Sometimes I wanna punch you in your perfect teeth," Tony admits. "But I don't wanna see you gone. We need you, Cap. So far, nothing's happened that cant be undone, if you sign," Tony says. "We can make the last twenty-four hours legit. Barnes gets transferred to an American psych-centre, instead of a Wakandan prison," Tony explains, needing to get Steve to agree, and in response Steve frowns thoughtfully and picks up one of the fountain pens. As he picks up the ben he stands up and paces, then turns to Tony.
"I'm not saying it's impossible, but there would have to be safeguards," Steve explains.
"Sure, once we put out the PR fire, those documents can be amended," Tony says, as that has always been his intention. "I'd file a motion to have you and Wanda reinstated…" Tony starts to say.
"Wanda? What about Wanda?" Steve asks confused.
"She's fine," Tony assures him. "She's confined to the compound, currently, Vision's keeping her company," Tony explains, knowing that considering everything people were screaming for it is the best possible option.
"Oh god, Tony! Every time. Every time I think you see things the right way…." Steve starts to say angrily.
"What? It's a hundred acres with a lap pool. It's got a screening room. There's worse ways to protect people," Tony explains, trying to get Steve to see logic.
"Protection? Is that how you see this? this is protection? It's internment, Tony," Steve says angrily.
"She's not a US citizen," Tony reminds Steve.
"Oh, come on, Tony," Steve says angrily.
"And they don't grant visas to weapons of mass destruction," Tony says, continuing with what he was saying.
"She's a kid!" Steve objects despite the fact that Wanda is in her 20s.
"GIVE ME A BREAK!" Tony says angrily. "I'm doing what has to be done, to stave off something worse," Tony explains.
"You keep telling yourself that," Steve says disbelieving, with a faint nod as he puts the pen down. "Hate to break up the set," Steve says, before leaving.
After Steve leads Tony becomes frustrated, and upset, and puts his glasses on. Outside the room Natasha sees him and so she heads into the room, and she doesn't even have to ask to know what happened.
Hearing the door open Tony looks up and sees Natasha, and even though Tony is trying to hide it Natasha can tell how distressed he is.
"He won't sign, Nat," Tony says, as he stands up. "I can't protect them if they won't sign," Tony says, pain in his voice, as there are things he can do but he can't really protect Steve and the others if they won't sign. Without a word Natasha just walks over and hugs him, kissing his cheek as she does.
A little while later while Steve, Sam, and Sharon are in the room Tony and Steve talked in Natasha and Tony are standing together; all five of them watching Bucky being interrogated. Suddenly the power light goes out and everything switches to backup power.
"Not good," Natasha mutters.
"Great, come on, guys. Get me eyes on Barnes, go," Everett instructs.
"FRIDAY, get me the source of that outage," Tony says, tapping his glasses.
In the office Sharon turns to Steve and Sam. "Sub level five, east wing," Sharon says, and once she does Steve and Sam go running, and having seen them T'Challa goes after them.
Over the next couple of minutes everyone tries to make sense of what is going on, but it isn't overly clear.
"Evac all civilians. Get me a perimeter around the building, and gunships in the air," Everett instructs, as Natasha and Tony hurry side by side, both realising they need to get Bucky.
"Please tell me you brought a suit," Natasha says to Tony, wanting that so that he can help her fight, but also because she knows a suit will protect her.
"Sure did. It's a lovely Tom Ford, three-piece, two button," Tony explains.
"Seriously?" Natasha asks, giving Tony an annoyed look.
"I'm an active duty non-combatant," Tony explains as Sharon runs up.
"Follow me," Sharon says as she runs past Natasha and Tony, and so the two of them exchange looks and go running.
Not long after Sharon ran past Natasha and Tony the three of them are downstairs, in various positions, waiting for Bucky who will have to come through this way to get free. Just like they suspected Bucky starts to make his way through the ground floor, attacking guards as he does.
"We're in position," Natasha says through the radio comms.
Hearing Natasha Tony taps a bracelet he has on his wrist which becomes his iron Man glove. Moving from where he has taken cover Tony zaps Bucky with a stub blast before Bucky can shoot a guard. Rushing at him Tony continue so fire at Bucky who ducks the blast then starts to trade blows with Tony, and he fires the gun, which Tony has his iron man glove over the barrel off, which thankfully blocks the bullet. Reacting on instinct Tony pulls the gun barrel loose and then Bucky smacks him backward, over a table.
As Tony goes down Sharon and Natasha both rush Bucky. They both land kicks and punches and then Bucky flips Sharon over, causing her to smash into the ground. As Sharon goes down Natasha leaps on Bucky, with her legs around his neck, and he slams her onto another table and grabs her throat.
"You could at least recognize me," Natasha says as Bucky chokes her, as they have met more than once.
Out of nowhere T'Chall comes and kicks Bucky of Natasha, and they start to fight. As They fight Tony runs up to Natasha.
"You okay?" Tony ask worried, as he helps Natasha onto her feet.
"Yeah, you?" Natasha asks with a cough.
"Yeah," Tony confirms.
"We need to find Barnes," Natasha says, but as they look around they realise Bucky and T'Challa have ended their fight and Bucky has escaped.
A little while later it has become clear that Bucky escaped with the help of Steve, and Sam, and so Natasha, and Tony are back in the conference room with Secretary Ross. Tony looking a little worse for wear.
"I don't suppose you have any idea where they are?" Ross asks.
"We will. GSG-9's got the borders covered. Recon's flying 24/7 they'll get a hunt. Well handle it," Tony says, referring to him and Natasha.
"You don't get it, Stark. It's not yours to handle. It's clear you can't be objective. I'm putting Special Ops on this," Ross explains.
"What happens when the shooting starts? What, do you kill Steve Rogers?" Natasha asks, feeling concerned about that.
"If we're provoked," Ross says. "Barnes would've been eliminated in Romania if it wasn't for Rogers. There are dead people who would be alive now. Feel free to check my math," Ross says, purposely challenging Tony.
"All due respect, you're not going to solve this with boys in bullets, Ross. You gotta let us bring them in," Tony argues as he knows it is the best solution.
"How would that end up any differently from last time?" Ross asks.
"Because this time, I won't be wearing loafers and a silk shirt. 72 hours, guaranteed," Tony explains.
"Thirty-six hours, Barnes, Rogers, Wilson," Ross says, before heading to the door.
"Thank you Sir," Tony says, once Ross leaves, and after Ross leaves Tony rubs his chest and slumps, exhaling. "My left arm is numb, is that normal?" Tony asks Natasha, as she walks over to him, and Natasha is feeling incredibly concerned.
"You alright?" Natasha asks, knowing that he could have heart complications, especially after a battle when he didn't use a suit, as she puts her hand on his shoulder.
"Always," Tony says, and Natasha gives him a disbelieving look as he has visible injuries not to mention the invisible ones. "Thirty-six hours, jeez," Tony says shocked.
"We're seriously understaffed," Natasha says, as she knows she and Tony, and Rhodey, are good, but this is a lot, and even if they have Vision help it could potentially not be enough and right now Vision can't leave Wanda.
"Oh yeah," Tony confirms.
"Any chance you know where Bruce is?" Natasha asks, as just because she doesn't know doesn't mean Tony doesn't.
"Nope," Tony admits. "And with Ross involved he probably wouldn't be on our side," Tony says.
"Yeah," Natasha admits. "I have an idea," Natasha admits.
"Me too. Where's yours?" Tony asks, being pretty sure that Natasha isn't going to like his idea.
"Downstairs. Where's yours?" Natasha asks curious and from the slight smile, and guilty look, on Tony's face, Natasha realises exactly who his idea is.
Realising that they need to have privacy for this conversation Natasha reaches out picks up Tony's wrist and uses his watch to make the room soundproof and prevent recording.
"No, no way," Natasha tells him, once she is sure everything is secure.
"We don't have many options, Nat," Tony points out.
"I know, but bringing Peter into this, that doesn't sit well with me," Natasha tells Tony. After what she did as a kid she knows how capable kids are, ad she knows what Peter can do, but she doesn't like the idea of Peter being involved in this.
"It doesn't sit well with me either, Nat, you know how much I want Peter to be safe, but it's the only solution I can think off," Tony admits, guilt in his voice. "You've seen what I've found out about what he can do, he can handle himself," Tony explains. "I'll tell him to web them up and keep his distance, maybe he can prevent it from being an actual fight; which is the best solution for everyone," Tony says, trying to think of the possibilities. "And if a fight does break out we make sure Rogers hears his voice, he wouldn't hurt a kid," Tony explains.
"That's true," Natasha admits.
"I don't like it, Nat, but it's the one solution I can think off," Tony admits, pain in his voice as he hates that he is going to do this.
"We make it clear to him that he is just webbing them up, and is to keep his distance," Natasha tells Tony. "And he gets the suit you've been making," Natasha explains.
"Yeah, there is no way I'm going to let him wear what he has been wearing," Tony comments. "Rogers is likely going to try to get Wanda, maybe others too, we won't be enough to stop them. Nat, I don't want to bring our son into this, but I don't see another option," Tony admits, pain in his voice as it is clear that he doesn't want to bring Peter into this.
"If he says no, don't push him," Natasha says. "It has to be his choice," Natasha says, and Tony nods. While neither Natasha or Tony like the idea of bringing their son into this fight they both realises that they are running out of options.
After a day at school Peter has arrived home, as he saw one of his Dad's cars parked outside Peter has run upstairs, and into the apartment.
"Dad?" Peter asks, looking excited to see his father, who is sitting on the couch with May.
"Hey Kid," Tony greats, smiling at him.
"Is Nat okay?" Peter asks worried as just because he heard from Natasha and she said he is okay doesn't mean she still is.
"She's okay, but I still need to talk to you," Tony explains to his son.
"Okay," Peter says concerned and the two of them head into Peter's room. "Dad?" What's going on?" Peter asks concerned.
"Well to start with, quick question of the rhetorical variety," Tony says, showing the video he showed Natasha weeks ago of Peter in the Spiderman costume. "That's you, right?" Tony asks his son.
"Uh, no, what do you mean?" Peter asks his father, pretending to be confused, but doing a very bad job at it.
"Don't even try lying Bud, I know it's you. Do you really think I don't know my son?" Tony tells him.
"It's me, I'm Spiderman," Peter reveals, as he realises he's been caught out. "Does Nat know?" Peter asks curious.
"Yeah," Tony confirms. "Why didn't you tell us?" Tony asks his son, as even though he and Natasha suspect the answer she wants to know Peter's reason.
"I didn't want you to worry about me," Peter admits. "It's the same reason I didn't tell Aunt May. I knew how much you would have worried about me, but Dad, I can protect myself. That video proves it," Peter explains.
"Yeah, it does," Tony admits. "Pete, we're always going to worry about you, Nat and I worry about each other, but it doesn't mean we don't think you are capable," Tony explains.
"How long have you known?" Peter asks curious.
"A few weeks," Tony answers. "We wanted you to come to us, tell us yourself," Tony admits.
"I thought you'd freak out, and I didn't want that," Peter admits. "Why are you telling me that you know now, Dad? With everything else going on it doesn't seem important," Peter comments.
"You're always important, but you're right. There is something going on," Tony admits. "Obviously your strength and durability have been enhanced," Tony says.
"Yeah, and I can stick to stuff, even completely upside down, and my senses have been dialled up to eleven," Peter explains to his father.
"That explains the goggles," Tony realises. "The webbing? Did you make it yourself?" Tony asks curious, as that's what he suspects.
"Yeah," Peter confirms. "Same with the suit," Peter admits.
"The webbing is impressive, but you're getting an upgraded version of the suit, systemic, top to bottom. 100-point restoration," Tony explains, and Peter is just shocked, so he nods. "Why did you start doing this, Pete?" Tony asks curious, as he sits on a seat, and Peter walks over and sits on his bed.
"When I got these powers six months ago I just had a bit of fun with them, but when you can do the things that I can, but you don't, and then the bad things happen, they happen because of you," Peter says, guilt in his voice, and realising what he is referring to Tony walks over to his son.
"Pete, what happened to Uncle Ben wasn't your fault," Tony tells him, as he sits down next to him.
"It feels like it is," Peter admits.
"It's not," Tony assures him, his voice stern, and Peter gives a hesitant nod.
"I need to use what I can do to make things better. Just like you and Nat do," Peter tells his father, who smile slightly.
"Nat and I planned to confront you eventually, but things have changed, so this isn't how I wanted to have this conversation," Tony admits. "Pete, we need your help," Tony explains to his son.
"Really?" Peter asks shocked. "This is about the Sokovia accords right, and the bombing?"
"Yeah," Tony confirms. "The Sokovia accords are necessary, but not perfect, though I do have plans to change them, make them better, now that I've signed. Captain Rogers doesn't agree, he believes he is right and is ignoring the will of one hundred and seventeen countries, which makes him dangerous," Tony explains to his son. "Nat and I have to bring him, and others, into custody, as a way to protect them, so that people who will try to kill them aren't sent after them," Tony explains. "Since the bombing in Vienna Rogers has done some beyond reckless things because what's going on involves his old friend James Barnes, who does need help. But, if Steve keeps doing what he is doing he is not going to get it, and more people are going to get hurt," Tony informs his son.
"What do you need me to do?" Peter asks his father.
"If you are willing I want you to come to Germany. Your job will be to web them up, and keep your distance," Tony explains to his son, stressing 'keep your distance'.
"I can do that," Peter says, with a nod.
"Nat knows you're coming, and Uncle Rhodey will know your voice, but no one else is to know it's you," Tony explains to his son. "Which means as strange as it will be for both us you will need to call me Tony, or Mr Stark," Tony explains.
"I can do that," Peter admits.
"And if Nat or I tell you to go, you go, and you listen to what we tell you to do, because we're going to do whatever we have to do to keep you as safe as possible," Tony tells Peter, who once more nods. "I hope not going to be, but this could be dangerous Pete. You need to know that," Tony explains.
"I figured, I'm okay with that, Dad," Peter assures him.
"Pete, if you don't want to you don't have to come, this…." Tony starts to say.
"I want to come," Peter tells his father, and after seeing no hesitation behind Peter's eyes, Tony nods.
"Okay. I'll take you to the tower, but then I need to get back, so you'll fly with Uncle Happy," Tony explains to his son.
"Okay," Peter confirms. "Even though you and Nat know I don't want Aunt May to know," Peter explains.
"I thought you might say that. I've got an idea," Tony explains as he set the groundwork to explain to May that with everything going on he thought it was best for Peter to go to the tower with Happy and Pepper for a few days.
"Cool," Peter says, sounding glad.
"Let's go, Kid," Tony says, and the two of them head out of the room, and then to the tower together.