I hope you enjoy this part. Let me know what you think!
~TH~
Day 11
Tony
"Bruce, is this what I think it is?" he whispered, staring at the screen. He knew when he set up JARVIS to hack and decrypt Hydra's files that they would bring back some unpleasant memories. He didn't expect it to affect him so much.
The doctor nodded. "What did you say it was called? The Truth Room?"
Tony's stomach twisted at the very mention of the name. "Uh, yeah. The Truth Room. Why are you showing this to me?"
Bruce gave him a sympathetic look. "I think there's something you need to hear."
They both watched as a man was dragged into the room and placed in a chair. Stark felt his chest tighten. "Cap," he whispered.
Steve didn't try to fight, he just allowed himself to be cuffed to the chair. He was shivering uncontrollably, and Tony could barely stand to watch. Then Mori Rubrem appeared, holding a small knife in his hand.
"Ah, hello Captain. I believe we should simply get down to business." Then Rubrem brought the knife down, implanting it in Cap's shoulder. Steve let out a muffled cry.
Stark clenched his hand, fighting off the panic that was welling up within him.
"Ah, regaining composure are we? Don't think I didn't notice your submission. Or the fact that you were shivering in a room that is over eighty degrees Fahrenheit." The knife was removed quickly, and, judging from Steve's reaction, quite painfully.
Tony hated this. He hated watching it happen. It had been bad enough seeing the aftermath.
"Hydra's not going to come at you with a pocket knife," Rubrem said pushing the blade into Steve's other shoulder.
Where was this conversation going? What did this have to do with anything?
"Howard?" Steve whispered.
"Howard?" Tony echoed, looking at Bruce.
The doctor had turned away, not looking at the screen. "Just listen,"
"Ah, so you remember! All the better for me." Mori pulled out the knife and dropped it onto a small tray. "You know Captain, I just hate keeping secrets. So I'm going to let you in on one now." the man leaned forward so he was whispering in Steve's ear. Tony had no idea how the feed still picked it up. "He was working for us the whole time."
"He was..." Tony felt like someone had punched him in the gut. "Howard was... My father was Hydra?"
Bruce didn't answer.
"Yes, Captain I'm referring to Howard Stark." The German who haunted the billionaire's nightmares picked up the blade and began cleaning off the blood. "It was quite helpful having someone on the inside. Someone to let us know what was going on." He leaned forward again, "Someone to tell us when you were to board a certain train. Someone to ensure the capture of one James Barnes."
"What!?" Stark shouted. "My father was many things, but he would never have given someone over to Hydra!"
Tony watched as Mori began cutting away the skin on Cap's upper arm."We're still trying to find out if it's true about Tony."
"About, about me?" He stammered, "He couldn't possibly think-"
"We're getting closer though. He is awfully suspicious, but that doesn't mean he's not secretly working for us. You know what they say, 'like father, like son.'"
Bruce turned off the video. Tony's mind was reeling. He thought back to that night in the cell. The way Steve had been almost afraid of him. Then it had gotten worse. With each day Steve's hate towards him had grown.
"They told him I was Hydra," he whispered.
Bruce sighed, "Yeah."
"That's- that's why-" he broke off. That's why he hated me, came to his mind. He swallowed the lump forming in his throat. "Is it all there? Everything?"
The doctor nodded, "The camera cut off after you left the last time, right before we rescued you. That's another thing, they knew we were coming. That's why they killed him."
"What?"
Bruce's answer was to pull up another video that seemed to take place in some kind of a control room.
Rubrem seemed to be having a video conference with someone. The screen was out of view of the camera, but the voice could still be heard.
"We need to speed things up." The unseen voice said.
Mori looked nervous as he answered, "But sir, we aren't quite ready to proceed with-"
"I don't care!" the voice shouted, then it came back, almost sickeningly sweet. "The Avengers are on their way. We won't get another chance at this. You know what to do."
Rubrem nodded, "Yes sir. Hail Hydra."
"Hail Hydra."
The German walked away and the screen went dark.
"They knew you were coming, so they killed him."
"But, why did they leave me? They could have just as easily killed me."
Bruce shook his head, "I don't know. None of this makes sense. I don't know why they would do this to both of you. I don't know why Steve would listen to their lies or why they killed him but left you alone. I don't know. I can't figure out any of this. But Tony, it wasn't your fault. They would have killed him whether you gave them the project or not. It wasn't your fault."
"Yeah," he forced the words. "It wasn't my fault."
But why couldn't he believe it?
~A~
Steve
His fist collided with the punching bag. It felt good. So good. He felt better than he had in a long time. At least, he thought he did. The last couple of weeks were confusing. He remembered bits and pieces of conversation.
But there was one thing he did remember.
Tony hated him.
So he wanted Tony dead.
The door opened and his two friends walked in. "Dr Zuger," He said, turning. Then addressing the other man, "Sir."
"Ah, hello Steven," Zuger smiled. "I hope you are feeling better."
Steve smiled back, "I'm feeling much better, thank you."
"I'm glad to hear it," the other man said. "I have a mission for you."
"A mission, sir?"
"Yes," the man gave a single nod, "a mission that will allow you to take your revenge on the Avengers."
Steve smiled darkly, "Mесть."
The two visitors exchanged a look of pleasure.
"Yes, Steven, revenge," Leon said approvingly. "We want you to take out the Avengers, all of them."
"All of them." Steve frowned slightly, that didn't feel right.
Zuger stepped forward, placing his hand on Steve's shoulder, "Yes, all of them. Remember what they did to you and everything they made you do. Remember how Tony hated you and tried to kill you. By doing this, you will be protecting yourself, and us. You will be getting месть."
"Mесть," he whispered back. "Okay, I'll do it."
"Very good," said the other man, "rest up today. You will have your revenge, tomorrow."
месть. Captain America would have his revenge.
~TH~
So, now Tony knows what Steve was told in the Truth Room. He also knows it wasn't his fault. Maybe one day he'll actually believe it.
And Steve is going to try to kill off the Avengers! Will he succeed? And who is this Sir guy who keeps showing up?
Let me know what you thought of this chapter. Any suggestions for upcoming chapters are always appreciated.
God bless,
Jamie
