Fury glared at his phone. Agent Hill just called him to inform him that her and her partner lost the boy. "Send a lizard to do a man's job," he mumbled hotly. He stared at the file on the boy.
Peter Parker.
This boy would be the death of him. Not once had Nick Fury ever lost a target, but this child happen to be the first one. S.H.I.E.L.D had eyes on him up until a year ago when he went missing. Taken from his home by this Spiderman guy. A masked vigilante managed to sneak in and take a valuable target.
Slamming his fist down on the table in front of him. They needed to find this boy and fast. Who knows what he knows or what he can do. Staring once more at the file, he gave a sigh before grabbing it as the voice from earlier made its way to his head.
You've never messed up a mission?
"Damn," he grumbled.
Tony Stark sat staring absently at the TV in front of him. Some ridiculous show was playing only there to numb his mind. So it was natural that he didn't hear the footsteps coming up behind him. It wasn't until a figure stopped in front of him that he looked up. Standing before him was none other than Steve. His hair was styled in a disheveled manner, rather than the neat style he usually had.
"What are you doing up?" Steve asked.
Tony looked back at the TV and shrugged, not answering. The scientist heard the other man release a sigh before sitting down next to him.
"If your here to throw-" Tony started but was immediately cut off.
"I'm here to apologize."
Tony said nothing as he looked at the tv, while lifting a cup of scotch to his lips. Taking that as his cue to continue, Steve spoke softly. "I let my emotions get the best of me and I acted in a way that was not only unprofessional but completely uncalled for. So I do apologize for my actions towards you."
Tony remained quiet for a moment letting the air and the ball fall into him court. Steve waited patiently watching other man watch the tv.
"What about the Quinjet?"
Steve frowned for a moment trying to figure out what he was talking about before it hit him. He did smash his shield repeatedly into the jet. Licking his lips Steve replied, "Yes. I also apologize for that as well. I wasn't trying to damage it, I just needed to let go of some anger and it was the closest thing."
"We were surrounded by trees. You could have used one of those," Tony said as he took another sip.
"Yes. Again, I apologize."
Tony nodded his head before saying a simple word.
"Ok."
Another sip.
"Are we good?"
Another sip.
"Tony?"
Another sip.
"Stark?"
"Okay."
"Okay? Okay we're good?"
Tony drained the last of the scotch before looking at the hundred year old man.
"Okay."
Steve's eyebrows went in as he stared at the other man. "What does okay mean?"
Tony looked back at the tv as the commercial ended. "Shows back on."
Steve glanced at the tv with a frown before shaking his head. "Okay. Don't say I didn't try apologizing." Tony didn't answer. Steve shook his head once more as he stood and made his way to the gym.
Tony stared at the vacant spot before running a hand over his face. As if sensing his distress, his phone buzzed and the most beautiful face he has ever seen flashed on his screen. Picking it up, he pressed the green button allowing for that face to come to life.
"What are you doing up?" She asked with the raise of an eyebrow.
"Well hello to you too," he said flashing his trademark Stark grin.
"Hi."
"In my defense you called me."
"I was going to leave a message. One you can listen to in the morning."
Glancing at his watch, he smirked. "It's one, so technically it is morning."
Her face set into a frown. "Tony, have you gone to sleep yet?"
"How's the meetings going?" He asked purposely avoiding the question. When she didn't answer he released a sigh and ran a hand over his face. "Not tonight, Pepper."
"You just said it was morning," she pointed out. He leveled her with an unamused look but the moment she smiled his eyes just rolled. "How are things going? Has anyone died yet?"
"No. It's going as well as can be expected, I suppose. Fury benched us so we're kind of stuck together until further notice."
Her eyebrows disappeared into her bangs. "Fury benched you? Like all of you? I thought you guys just got back into the field."
"Yeah well not anymore," he grumbled.
"What happened?"
"The guy we were supposed to being in alive kinda died. So Fury canned us."
She frowned and watched him closely. "That doesn't make sense. That's happened before right? You guys weren't benched then."
"He said this was out trial run to see if we can work together as a team. Apparently we failed."
Pepper blew out a deep breath. "Well how did the man die in the first place?"
Tony grew quiet as he looked up at the tv. After a moment of silence, she called his name. "I was saving Steve's ass and blasted at a group of men who were coming up behind him. Apparently I'm supposed to look before I blast now," he said darkly.
Realization crossed her face as she watched different emotions cross his before he settled on an indifferent one. "Tony, it's not your fault. You were trying to help."
"Try telling them that."
"Tony it's not your fault and if that can't see that then that's on them."
"Yeah. When are you coming home. Beds empty with you."
Noticing the end of the conversation, she went along with it. "I should be able to come back the day after tomorrow."
Tony let out a groan of despair. "So long. Ugh. Okay so what did you want to tell me?"
"Just when I should be home."
Tony nodded as he looked back at the tv as a news feed flashed across the screen, catching his interest. "Hey Pep, I got to go. Love you."
He hung up before she could answer, his eyes glued to the screen.
Another news report was playing about the incident that happened earlier. The one with Spiderman and the child, only this time a shaky video played. He watched as the vigilante squatted down and allowed the girl to climb on his back. Once she was situated, he shot a few webs at the government officials before looking to the side.
He shot his web in the air and took flight, leaving only the screams of the child to accompany the video of the cops cursing.
