Alrighty y'all! I decided I like the idea of Peter freaking out when the Rogue's (namely Cap) come back. It became exclusively Cap instead of all the Rogues because I felt like Cap didn't truly understand Tony. If you don't like that then go kiss a tree. Sorry about my words. I'm in a mood, deal with it. Sorry for the abrasive attitude... I promise I'm not usually like this. Hope you enjoy the one-shot! Love y'all!
Mind: You should NOT write another story!
Me: Uuuugh! But I want toooooooo!
Mind: No! You already have three other stories going!
Me: I know... but I want to write another story... and it's such a good ideaaaa!
Mind: NO!
Me: What about just a one-shot?! *begs using puppy eyes*
Mind: ABSOLUTELY NOT! YOU HAVE TOO MUCH HOMEWORK AND NO TIME FOR EXTRA THINGS!
Me: ...fine... *pouts quietly in a corner* I won't write another story...
Mind: Good! *starts to turn away*
Me: *turns and stops my mind* Oh wait! I'm still me! *writes another story*
Mind: *sighs dramatically* here we go again...
Peter fiddled with the hem of his shirt as he stared at the clock on the wall. Chemistry was the last class of the day and it was dragging on forever. He was supposed to go see Tony afterwards but he hadn't heard anything from him or Happy. Tony hadn't contacted him a all today, and Peter was starting to get worried. It wasn't like Tony to not contact him on any day, much less one of their lab days. Peter tapped his foot impatiently, trying to stem his frustration and anxiety. When the bell finally rang, Peter was up and out if his seat before it even finished. He ran out of the school and looked around frantically, Happy was nowhere to be seen.
Hey Happy, where u at? Peter shot a quick text off to the security manager.
Within seconds, his phone buzzed against his leg. he grinned and grabbed it, his smile quickly fading as Happy's phone sent an automated text back. Code Rogue. Trouble on the Home front.
He had no clue what Code Rogue was, but he knew that whatever Happy classified as "trouble" couldn't be good. Panic lanced through him and he shot out of the drive-line waiting area. He ran to the nearest alleyway, webbed his backpack to the wall and threw his suit on. He flew through the city as fast as he could, flinging himself from building to building. Fear and worry for Tony built up inside him and he threw himself forward on his webs, as fast as he could. He landed quickly in front of the compound and turned the hard stop into a roll, coming to a complete stop at the private door to the garage. He put in his personal code and frowned when instead of opening the door FRIDAY spoke quietly to him, keeping him locked outside.
"I'm sorry, Peter," the AI apologized, "but Boss has locked down the entire compound. You need the main override code to get inside. This code is only known to Boss, Ms. Boss, and Col. Rho-"
"Alpha Code Eleven Six Echo Three Bravo Seven," Peter snapped out the memorized alpha override code, "now let me in, FRIDAY."
"Yes Peter," the teenager heard a metallic click as the doors opened and he slipped inside the garage. He frowned as his heightened senses caught snippets of a faraway conversation.
"...the accords...the changes... coming back..." Peter frowned at the unfamiliar voice. he knew he'd heard it somewhere before but he couldn't quite place it.
"...get out of my house..." the yelling came from Mr. Stark, and his words and tone were very clear. Angry, but very clear.
Peter's senses spiked uncontrollably as he crept closer, using the vents to get nearer to the conversation.
"Tony, listen," Peter peered through the vent into the living room and his lips formed a snarl as a tall, blonde man came into view. Captain America.
"No, Cap," Tony was on the other side of the room, his gauntlet on his hand, his expression and tone, angry and scared. Peter had seen Tony in a lot of different ways, but he'd never seen him so, legitimately scared, "you need to leave. Right now."
"Tony," Cap crossed the living room, dropping a hand onto Tony's shoulder, ignoring the man's flinch, "Fury said-"
"Get your hands off him," the viscerally protective scream burst from Peter unbidden as he leapt out of the vents, throwing himself at the super-soldier. He slammed into Captain America, throwing the man backwards and landing on his feet right in front of Tony. He had been angry before, but he'd never reached the point where he was actually seeing red.
"What the he-" Tony seemed startled, "Kid-"
Peter didn't turn his attention away from Cap, who was getting up off the floor, "stay away from him. He said, get out. So, get the hell out!"
***Line Break***
There had been several things that Tony expected from the Rogue's visit. Peter dropping out of the vents and attacking Cap was definitely not on the list. Tony came out of his sudden shock to see the kid land in a defensive stance in front of him. He hadn't ever heard the kid sound so incredibly angry. His entire tone dripped with fury and darkness, his expression was equally as terrifying. Peter's eyes were narrowed and dark, his mouth set in a grim line. His normally doe brown eyes had darkened to where you almost couldn't tell were the iris ended and the pupil began. His shoulders were tense and set in a fighting stance and his hands were clenched into fists. The kid was so angry that he hadn't even put his mask on to hide his identity.
Cap stood to his feet, staring in shock at the kid in front of Tony, "Stark, what the actual-"
"Don't talk to him," Peter yelled, stepping towards Steve threateningly, "get out of here. You don't belong here. Get out!"
Tony shook himself out of his stupor enough to reach for the kid, "Pete, easy kid-"
"No, Mr. Stark," Peter snapped, surprising Tony immensely, "he hurt you. He left you for dead. He doesn't get to touch you," he directed his attention back to Steve, "you don't deserve to be here. So, get out."
"Cap," Tony spoke up, "leave before things escalate."
Steve glanced over at him, managing to tear his eyes away from Peter for a moment, "But-"
"He said, get out," Peter launched himself forward, shoving Steve bodily out the door, slamming it behind the super-soldier.
Tony stood stock-still for a few moments, both shocked and touched at Peter's response to Steve's presence. Before he could say anything, Peter had rushed back over to him and had pulled him into a tight hug.
"Mr. Stark," his voice took a more worried, babbling tone, "are you okay? I texted Happy and I got an automated response and it said something about trouble so I came as fast as I could and then I heard what was going on so I crawled through the vents and then I saw him touch you and I just... I... and he-"
"Easy kid," Tony reciprocated the hug, gently rubbing circles on Peter's back, glad to have someone else's panic to take the focus off his own, "I'm okay. You're okay. Take a breath, Pete. I'm okay, kid."
Peter took a deep, calming breath, his entire body shuddering, "I didn't mean to interrupt. But he scared you and it made me mad."
Tony chuckled fondly, ignoring the fact that the kid was able to see right through his masks and notice how terrified he was, "well thanks kiddo. And don't worry about Cap. I'll handle him."
"What is he even doing here?" Peter demanded, pulling back slightly, "I thought he was a criminal. You know Governor Ross will have your head if he catches them here."
"They've been pardoned," Tony rolled his eyes, "naturally, this was the first place Ole Capsicle wanted to stop. Now, I need to talk to him so why don't you just go find Pepper or Bruce. You can even go into the lab without supervision."
Peter shook his head, "no way in hell, Tony."
For a microsecond, a shocked look expression crossed his face before he set his expression in stone, "excuse me?"
Peter almost looked chastised before he schooled his expression to match Tony's, "you know I respect you, Tony, and that I trust you," he paused, taking a deep breath, 'but I don't trust him," Tony was surprised at the amount of animosity leaking from Peter's voice as he spoke about Cap, "he hurt you, Tony, and I can't," he caught himself as his voice caught slightly. It was barely a hitch, but enough that Tony's attuned ears could catch it, "I won't lose you too. He's not coming within five feet of you or I will make him back up. You can't make me leave so don't even try it."
Tony honestly didn't know what to say. He could understand Peter's fears of Steve hurting him again, he had those fears himself. What he couldn't quite believe was how firm the kid was being. Tony had ever heard that tone directed at him by anyone but Pepper before. It warmed his heart at the fierce protection the kid felt for him. He was equally terrified that the kid was so protective that he would take on a super soldier just to keep the man at a five foot distance.
Deciding that he needed to put alerts inside the vents, Tony sighed, "alright, kid," he relented, knowing that he could do nothing to stop the kid from watching his back, "listen, buddy just stay back unless I say something and don't say anything unless it's directed at you."
Peter nodded, "understood," Tony noted the way Peter relaxed slightly, "I'm sorry I barged in like that, Mr. Stark."
"Hey," Tony rested a hand on Peter's shoulder, "don't ever apologize for protecting others, okay? Don't you ever apologize for doing what you think is right."
Peter nodded, hesitating before wrapping his arms around Tony's torso and hugged the man tightly, "please be careful. I don't trust him."
Tony hugged him back, "I don't either buddy," he reassured the boy, "I'm not dropping my guard if you don't drop yours."
"Deal," Peter squeezed just a little harder before releasing the other man and stepping back.
"I'm gonna let him back inside now," Tony warned the teen, "try not to kick him out this time."
Peter had the good grace to look suitably chastised, but quickly school his expressions as Tony opened the door. Cap strode back inside, his expression clouded and angry. Peter tensed, but Tony noticed that he made no move towards the soldier.
"What the actual hell, Tony?" Steve demanded, "you have an enhanced living here with you?"
Tony held up a hand, "nope," he snapped, oddly enough feeling more confident having someone at his back while he confronted the super-soldier, "you don't get to ask about him. You only talk to me or about me or this situation. Not about him and I swear Rogers, if you ever mention him to anyone outside this room I will skin you alive. We clear?"
Steve gaped at the man, frowned, then nodded reluctantly, "fine," he snapped, "we're clear. Now, back to the whole reason I came here. The Accords have changed, Tony, and Fury wants us to all live in the tower together."
"I know the Accords changed, Steve," Tony sighed, having explained this multiple times, "I changed them."
Steve nodded, "and I thank you for that but-"
Tony groaned, rolling his eyes, "why is there always a 'but' with you, Steve," he ran a tired hand over his face, "it's plain and simple, Cap. I changed the Accords so you guys don't have to be on the run anymore but I do not want you in my house, around my family."
Steve rolled his eyes, "what you want, Tony, doesn't exactly matter when Fury gave an order."
Tony could feel Peter tense up behind him and gently dropped a hand to his side, gesturing for the teen to relax, "listen Cap, I don't give a rat's ass about what Fury wants. When he pays the bills, he can make the rules."
"That's not how that works, Tony, and you know it," Steve glared at him, "Fury is our boss. We have to obey what he tells us to do."
Steve stepped closer, prompting Tony to suddenly feel Peter's shoulder brush his as the teen moved closer. The kid had done what he'd promised though, he hadn't said a word. It was time to trust the kid a little, and allow him to deal with this. Tony was tired, he didn't want to deal with Cap. Peter seemed eager to give the Captain what for, and Tony didn't see any reason for him to deny the kid that pleasure. He knew he could always reign Peter in if need be, he was sick of Steve's crap and, for once, he was willing to let someone else take the lead. He was interested to see what the kid was made of in a tense situation that wasn't a fight.
Tony sighed and stepped back a little from the super-soldier, gesturing from Peter to the man, "you wanna take this one, Underoos?"
A glimmer of astonishment flashed across Peter's face, but the kid swiftly stepped up to the plate, "Listen, Mr. Rogers," he said, taking a deep breath and becoming acutely aware of Tony's hand on his back, "you need to leave. Mr. Stark has made it clear that you both are not wanted and are not needed here. He has told you repeatedly to get out and you haven't listened to him. At this point, that's called Criminal Trespass and it's illegal. Clearly, someone else needs to get it through your thick skull that no one wants you here right now. After what you did to Tony I'm not sure anyone will want you here ever. Not Tony, not Pepper, not Rhodey, and certainly not me. I would much rather you walk out of here on your own, but I will make you leave if I have to," he stepped in closer to where he was almost chest to chest with the soldier, "and you don't have any freight cans to trap me under this time."
A sudden flash of recognition flew through Steve's eyes, "you're Spiderman."
"We're not here to talk about me," Peter glared at the man, "you need to leave now."
Cap glanced over at Tony in disbelief, "you pulled a child into our battle. To fight the Avengers."
"The Rogues," Peter corrected, glaring harder at the man.
"Excuse me," Steve's attention snapped back towards Peter, right where the enhanced teen wanted it.
"You and your little group of runaway aren't called the Avengers, you're called the Rogues," Peter explained, his voice hard as if daring Cap to interrupt him, "you see, Captain, the title of Avenger is a title that's earned. It signifies that you're part of a team, part of something greater than yourself. The moment you turned your back on your team you lost all rights to that title. You were selfish, and rude. You chose to trust a mind controlled, Hydra trained super-solider over the team that had had your back on more missions than I can count. You turned your back on everything the Avengers stand for, so you no longer hold the right to call yourself an Avenger. Sadly, right now, none of the Rogues do."
"Now hold on kid," Steve protested, "I was the leader of the-"
"Was, being the key word there, Captain," Peter smirked, "and you never were. They let you take charge in battle, yes, but without Tony you would never have been able to fight half the things you've fought," Cap scoffed in disbelief, "oh, you don't believe me? Wasn't it Tony who distracted Loki long enough for Hulk to defeat him? And wasn't it Tony who saved countless lives after Ultron dropped their city out of the sky? And did Tony not save an entire city on his own after someone tried to blow up the Stark Expo? He didn't have your help then, and he's never had your admiration, has he?"
Steve gaped at the boy, "I..."
"I didn't think so," Peter snarled, "because, you see, while he saved everybody, he also took the blame for everything. He stepped in and dealt with the press, and the protesters, and the government. He stepped up and kept everyone who hated the Avengers away from his team. He also stepped down, and let everyone else on the team take the credit for the victories. Yet you didn't see everything he's done for you and for the team."
"We didn't need him," Steve protested, "we could have done all that without him."
Peter felt Tony tense behind him. The hurt was flowing off the man in waves, and Steve didn't even notice. Peter decided to drop the respectful, kid act and give Steve a real piece of his mind. He had lost all respect and adoration for this man years ago, and he didn't need to show any fake respect now.
"You didn't need him," Peter repeated, his voice now low and angry, no more civil 'Mr. Nice Guy' tone to it, "listen to me, Steve," he spat the name, "how exactly would you have kept a city in the sky long enough to clear all the civilians out without Tony? How would you have gotten to Loki's scepter in the Hydra base without Tony? And please line out exactly how you were planning to keep a missile from killing millions of people without Tony, because any decision that wasn't sending it back through the worm hole would have killed everyone in New York. And I really don't think you planned to save anyone at that Stark Expo years ago, but Tony did. You couldn't have done it all without him so don't you ever let your damn pride lead you to believe otherwise."
"He created Ultron," Steve argued, "he created the stupid thing so why-"
"Other people did too," Peter snapped, "Dr. Banner helped, so did Thor. It wasn't just Tony. But he took the brunt of the media attack so his friends wouldn't have to deal with it. Any other arguments, Steve, because I can shoot them all down, try me."
"We had our weapons-"
"That Tony made."
"We had defense plans-"
"That Tony came up with."
"We had training-"
"From a facility that Tony built."
"At least I didn't sign the Accords," Steve snapped, glaring daggers at Peter.
"You didn't have the political sway to change them either," Peter snapped, "did you know that after you left, Tony was able to change some of the rules in the Accords?"
Steve went to answer, but couldn't come up with the words. Peter smiled sadly at the man as something occurred to him, "you don't know do you?"
"Know what, kid?" Steve seemed on the edge of his patience.
"Tony isn't even supposed to fight with you," Peter snapped, ignoring the shock on Steve's face, "he was listed on the Avenger's initiative as an asset, not a member. He fought with you because he could," his anger flared at the disbelieving expression on the Captain's face, "you don't believe me."
Steve shook his head, "you don't know what you're talking about, kid."
Something in Peter snapped, draining all of his anger and leaving only a calm, collected fury that was somehow scarier than his anger, "FRIDAY," he snapped, "pull up the file for the Avenger's Initiative, please."
"Gladly," even the AI had a hint of anger in her voice, thanks to Tony's updates that allowed her to feel a bit, "I will help you prove the Captain wrong, Peter."
"Thanks, Fri," Peter grinned at the AI, grabbing a nearby Starkpad and opening it to the page FRIDAY had downloaded, "look, Rogers," he snapped, "Tony is an asset, not a member. Anyone could put on the suit, but Tony knew only he could be Iron Man. That's why he fought with you. Yet, despite all that he's done for you, for the team, hell, all that he's done for the world, you have never given him the respect he deserves. You have treated him like a lesser person for no reason. Do you know who does that, Steve? Bullies. Bullies treat people like that. So, take your high and mighty, holier-than-thou attitude and march yourself out of this compound, You don't deserve to be here, and we don't want bullies here."
Silence reigned in the office, coupled with Steve's shock, Peter's fury, and Tony's combined feelings of hurt and pride. He didn't know that the kid knew so much, or cared quite so much about his situation. He knew Cap didn't care, he didn't really ever believe that Cap did anything but tolerate him. Now, maybe the man would have more respect for his choices and his life.
Steve, for his part was beyond surprised. He'd never really put these things together. He'd always looked at Tony through the lens that the dossier provided. Clearly, an incomplete dossier. A false dossier. A misconstrued dossier. He frowned at himself, wondering how he could have missed it all. He stared at Tony, observing the man with new eyes. There were worry lines on his forehead and bags under his eyes that Steve didn't remember from before. There was a glint of fear in the man's eyes that was familiar, but Steve had never noticed. There was a haunted expression that creased Tony's face; one that usually only marked the faces of veterans. People who'd seen things and been through things they wished they could forget. Some of those things done by Steve's hand. The super-soldier shuddered at the thought of facing the people who'd put him through hell in the army. Despite it all though, he recognized a hint of longing hidden in the depths of the mans eyes. Tony wanted to let them come back He wanted the team, the family to be together again, but they couldn't be together yet. There was too much there. Everything was too raw. Maybe someday... but not today.
Steve shifted his glance to the young man standing in front of Tony. Peter, was what Tony had called him. Steve recognized the fierce protectiveness in the boy's eyes and the slight tremble in his hands. The boy was terrified of having to fight Steve, but he was willing to do it for Tony. Steve found himself grateful that Tony had such a strong support system around him. Clearly the boy meant a lot to him, and Tony meant just as much to the kid. Steve could recognize the raw fear that the boy had come into the room with. The feeling that he would do anything it took to get Steve away from Tony. There was a similar haunted expression to the kid's face. And his eyes told Steve that he'd seen more than any teenager had any business seeing. There was a sense of comradery that Steve could sense between Tony and Peter. The way Tony had become bolder when Peter was behind him; and the way Peter came so easily to Tony's defense. The way Peter so easily deferred to Tony; and the way Tony so simply handed the conversation over to Peter when it was clear Steve wasn't really listening. It was such seamless partnership. Something Steve could admire and recognize.
His shoulders slumped as he admitted defeat. The Rogues, as they were apparently called now, wouldn't be moving back any time soon. It wasn't the end of the line, or the conversation, by any stretch of the imagination, but it could be over for the moment. Steve could accept that, and Fury would have to as well.
"I'll be leaving then," was all the Super-soldier could come up with, "I'll tell Fury that the Rogues will stay in our current location. We'll be fine," he sighed, knowing he should apologize... but how does one apologize for years of irreparable damage, "I'll be seeing you, Tony," he nodded in Peter's direction and turned to go.
Behind his back, Peter and Tony cast questioning glances at each other. Peter asking a silent question, seeing if Tony was okay with it. At Tony's nod of agreement, Peter stopped the Captain.
"How about dinner?" the teen asked, noting the surprise and hope in the Captain's face, laced with regret.
"Dinner?" the man repeated, confusedly.
Peter nodded slowly, "at a restaurant. Not here, and not at your home. Somewhere else. Neutral ground."
Steve slowly nodded, seeing the wisdom in the kid's suggestion, "Tony?" he asked, seeing the surprise and relief in the man's expression at his question of acceptance and agreement. Was it really okay?
Tony nodded, smiling weakly as a thought flitted across his mind, "have you ever tried shawarma?"
Steve matched the man's smile, remembering the team's first post mission meal, "I've heard there's a good place somewhere around New York."
Tony's shoulders slumped in relief as the men's mutual olive branches met in the middle and were accepted, "you know where it is," he reminded his former teammate, "one week from today. Tuesday, dinner, 7:00. Bring the team?" Tony slowly crossed the room and put his hand out, realizing that Steve was slowly seeing him in a new light, willing to form a bridge.
Steve hesitantly shook his former teammate's hand, "we'll be there." He knew it would take a while for Tony to trust him again, but he resolved to try harder to understand the man behind the mask. Maybe then they would be able to form some sort of partnership. It would be a long road, but it was one that Steve was willing to take.
Tony met his gaze and Steve could see a small war raging behind the man's deep brown eyes before he seemed to come to a decision, "bring Bucky," the man finally said.
Steve couldn't help the shock that filled his voice, "really?"
Tony smiled grimly, "he's a victim. I don't hold what happened against him. Bring Bucky."
Steve smiled and nodded, "as long as you bring Peter, Buck will be there."
Tony glanced back at the teen, who was watching the interactions carefully, "of course Peter will be there," finally sick of all the emotions and getting increasingly uncomfortable with baring his soul to Steve, he couldn't resist a bit of sarcasm, "besides, I think I'd have to chain him to the floor to keep him from stalking me anyways."
Steve grinned, now recognizing Tony's sarcastic comments as deflection and laughing a bit, "he is rather protective of you, isn't he?"
Tony pulled a face, "you have no idea," he laughed a little in response.
The two men fell into a slightly strained, civilly companionable silence before Steve took his leave, "I'll see you around, Tony."
"See you around, Steve," Tony replied, watching as the Super-Soldier slowly exited the building.
He felt Peter sidle up beside him and wrapped an arm around the boy, pulling him close. He relished the close contact from his son, enjoying the feeling of security that came with having Peter by his side.
"Chain me to the floor, huh?" Peter teased, wrapping his arms around Tony to help the man off his adrenaline high.
"You know I was right, Pete," Tony chuckled affectionately, breathing in the comforting scent of motor oil, high school, and cheap cologne that had become Peter's signature smell.
Peter nodded against Tony's chest, "I'm glad you're meeting up with them. Its not good for you to hold onto all that."
"It'll always be there, Peter, you know that," Tony admitted, sighing slightly as he wished desperately that it would go away.
"For a long time, yes," Peter agreed, "but not forever. I now you, Tony. And no matter how hard you try, you can never hold onto things for forever. You'll forgive them, just like you did with Sergeant Barnes. It'll just take Cap a little longer. He knows that, but you're on a good road now. He realizes he's messed up and looked at you the wrong way. You'll see, it'll all work out in the end."
Tony squeezed Peter tightly before relaxing his hold, "I hope you're right kiddo," he rested his chin on top of Peter's browny-blonde curls and stared at the door that Steve had just walked out of, "I really hope you're right."
***Line Break***
Steve pondered over the things he'd been told. He always knew deep down that there had to be something he was missing about Tony. Now he knew. he hadn't ever looked past the masks that the man put up. He hadn't ever tried to get past the walls of protection that Tony put around himself. He had almost ruined that chance.
Steve squared his shoulders, resolve growing in his heart. Tony had trusted him with a second chance. He wasn't going to waste it. He would get past the guards and the masks. Their team would be better than before, stronger than before, closer than before. Steve glanced back at the compound, smiling slightly. Tony gave him a second chance. He wasn't going to let him down again. Ever.
Alrighty y'all! This was my first stab at the Avenger's! The idea struck me and I decided to put it out there to gauge people's reactions and see what they thought! I hope nobody was offended by my portrayal of Cap, but that has always been how I saw him. He's always been a little too self-righteous and high horse-ish for my taste. I'm obviously very Team Iron Man! Hope y'all enjoyed it! Let me know what y'all think! Leave a review or an idea for another one-shot or story! Don't forget to review the story or PM me with ideas and thoughts! I'm always looking to improve my writing so critiques and/or constructive criticisms are also very welcome! Love y'all!
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