Chapter 77
The ride home from Wakanda was silent. Rhodey was resting, and Steve didn't look like he was up for talking. She was sitting with her friend, looking over at him every now and then, feeling grateful for the Wakandian Prince and everything he'd done to help Rhodey out.
"Toni," Rhodey said finally, sensing that something was up with her. "Just say what you want to say."
"I'm sorry," she told him, remorsefully. "You never would have gotten hurt if it weren't for me. If I didn't pull you into my mess. This is all my fault. I'm sorry."
"Toni. You weren't the one who shot me down from the sky. It wasn't on you," he sighed. "Look, I should have talked to you about this long ago, but I never knew how to start. I know the reason you worked so hard to make weapons for Stark Industries was because of me. I know you were worried when I joined the Air Force that something would happen to me, and that you felt personally responsible for keeping me safe. But it was never your responsibility to need to keep me safe. It was never on you to need to. I joined the Air Force to make the world a better place, and I knew that when I did that there was a chance something could happen to me. I was always aware that I could get hurt in one of those missions."
"That's different," she told him with a shake of her head, "I made your suit, Rhodey. I designed it personally. And when it lost power it was nothing more than an iron casket. I could have killed you. I could have been responsible for your death. How am I supposed to live with myself if something happened to you?"
"I wanted to be Iron Patriot," he said, and she glared at him til he amended, "War Machine. The minute you told me that you were Iron Woman, I wanted to be by your side, keeping you safe as we fought together. I was never going to let you throw yourself into this alive. But I always knew there was a risk."
"There wouldn't have been if I-" she started, and he cut her off.
"I went to MIT too," he reminded her. "And I'd never be able to rig up anything like the Iron suits. Every single one you've made is an engineering work of marvel. But even someone as brilliant as you cannot overcome something as natural as gravity. It wasn't your fault that I got hurt. It wasn't on you. I'm perfectly fine. And before you get started on what would happen if I didn't have some miracle Wakanda treatment, let me just tell you that it wouldn't have mattered to me."
"It wouldn't have mattered to you if you were paralyzed?" she scoffed, "Or worse, dead?"
"Obviously, I'd rather not be dead," Rhodey said drily, "And it wouldn't have been ideal if I was paralyzed but at the same time, I would have accepted it. And I know you, you wouldn't have stopped until you found some way for me to walk again. Even if you didn't, I would have accepted it. Because I was always ready for this to be my life. I was always aware that at any moment, I could lose the ability to walk. I never took that freedom for granted. This. Was. Not. On. You. Do you understand me, Baby Girl?"
"Fine," she said, not fully convinced that she believed herself, and he didn't look convinced either. But thankfully he let the subject drop, as she leaned into him.
The jet landed less than an hour later, and she slipped her hand in Steve's as he gave her a smile that didn't fully reach his eyes.
The minute the door opened, Peter flung himself at her, and let out a sound of surprise.
"Easy there, Pete," Steve said, as she wrapped her arms around her son.
"Sorry," Peter exclaimed, "I was just worried, you know? After everything that happened. I should have been there with you for the fight. I saw the clip of Uncle Rhodey go down, and Happy didn't know if he was okay. And then I might have heard Happy talking to Dad on the phone who said Mom was injured, and I was worried something happened to you."
"I'm fine," she told him, as she gave Steve a worried look, "Though you most certainly should not have been eavesdropping on Happy's phone calls."
"I didn't mean to," Peter said, sounding a bit sheepish. "But I wanted to know what was happening. And I didn't want to bother you cause I knew how busy you were."
"You can always call us," Steve told him gently, "No matter what's happening. You know that right?"
"I know," Peter assured them. "But after everything that happened with that Zemo guy, I knew you must have been busy. So what happened? You got the guy right?"
"We did," Steve confirmed, as he began ushering them inside. "Zemo is in custody now where he's awaiting his trial. We will most likely need to go back at some point to testify but for now, we're home. Zemo will get what's coming to him in due time."
"And Bucky?" Peter said, glancing behind him, before they entered the Tower, "Why isn't he with you? I thought you proved he was innocent of everything. Why didn't he come back then? Did they need him there for a few more days?"
"He wanted some time away from everything," Steve told him gently.
"More like he wanted to escape reality," Ava said from the couch. Toni glanced over at her cousin, who looked exhausted, like she'd stayed up all night.
Steve gave her a look, and Toni sighed.
"Ava, are you okay?" she asked her cousin, as she sat down beside her, and Steve kissed her on the head.
"I'm going to grab you something to eat. You haven't had anything in a while," Steve said, clearly wanting to give them space to talk. "Peter, why don't you join me?"
Peter glanced at them but followed Steve out of the room and towards the kitchen.
"I'm fine," Ava said with a sigh.
"Are you?" Toni asked her with an arched brow, "Cause from where I'm sitting it doesn't quite look like you're fine."
"No," Ava said softly. "No, I'm not fine. But what do you want me to say, Toni? That I'm upset? Because I am. But I'm more upset about the fact that Bucky told me when he left that he knew I was never over Bruce. I know the two of us hadn't been serious but I still cared for him, you know? I still liked him, and I didn't want him to leave. But him leaving, it just reminds me-"
"It reminds you of when Bruce left," Toni finished.
"It does," Ava said softly, "I loved him, Toni. I imagined a life with him, and he left me. And when Bucky left, he gave me the same excuse. That it's to keep me safe. And I'm tired of it. I'm tired of all these guys thinking that I'm some damsel in distress. I may not be like you; I may not be a hero. But that doesn't mean I'm not capable of taking care of myself, you know? Mom taught me to fight. Dad and Harry trained me too when she was sick. Just because I prefer science over fighting doesn't mean that I couldn't defend myself if I needed to. And I'm tired of guys throwing me aside like I'm in danger because of them. I knew Bruce. He never would have hurt me. The Hulk never would have hurt me. They loved me. And I wasn't in danger from Bucky. You said yourself, even under the influence of the trigger words he still broke free of it in the end."
"He did," Toni told her, "But he almost didn't. Ava, he was very close to killing me. and I'm so grateful that he was able to break free, but that doesn't take away from the fact that if it took him even a second longer to have recovered from the trigger that I wouldn't be sitting here beside you now."
Ava trembled, glancing over at her, "He was that close?" she asked.
"I didn't want to tell you about this," Toni closed her eyes, as she let out a breath. "But yes. His fist was one second away from punching me in the face. He was very close to killing me. He caught himself in the end, but he's going to have to live with that. I have to live with that. I don't blame him for it, don't get me wrong. But that's not the kind of trauma someone can just get over. He's going to need time. I'm still going to help him, and you're welcome to help as well if you're comfortable with that. But no one will fault you if you want to take a step back."
"I want to help him still," Ava said, after a moment. "We may not be together, and we may never have been meant to have been together. But I still want the best for him, you know? I want him to be able to live a normal life without being in constant fear that something could happen to him."
"Okay," Toni said, giving him a nod. "Okay. But I want you to know that no matter what happens, Ava, that you can always talk to me, okay? That if you need to take a step back, I won't fault you. But I also want you to know that this isn't because of you. Bruce leaving wasn't because of you. I want to kick both of their asses for making you feel like it was, but you Ava Carter-Sousa, are one of the most capable women I know. Aunt Peggy is so proud of you. You don't need to fight to be a strong woman. You don't need to be putting on a suit to be a hero. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you by my side as my girl in the chair. As my lifelong lab partner."
"Thanks, Toni," Ava said, as she hugged her. "For everything. I know I don't say it often, but I looked up to you a lot growing up. You never took anyone's bullshit, and you always knew who you were. And even despite the fact that you were rich and famous, you always made me feel like I was one of the most important people in your life. And I love you."
"I love you too, Ava," Toni smiled at her cousin. "And to me, you were always family. I want you to know that. I didn't just call you my cousin because we grew up together. I may not actually be related to you or the others, but you were always my family. And I'd choose you and your brother over wealth any day. Some of my most memorable holidays were spent with your family."
Ava returned her smile, "I just want to find happiness, you know? Like Dad still looks at Mom like she's the most incredible person he's ever seen in his entire life, and I want that. I want someone to love me like that."
"You'll find it," Toni promised her. "Maybe it wasn't meant to be with Bucky, but you'll find it. Today may not be that day, but you'll find it in the future."
"You sound so sure of that," Ava said.
"It's cause I know you," Toni grinned, "And I know that any guy would be lucky to have you in his life. I heard Johnny Storm is single again."
"Never in a million years," Ava said, pulling a face, "Have you seen half the things he's said in interviews?"
"I have," Toni laughed. "Perhaps a nice scientist then?"
"We'll see," Ava sighed. "But for now, how about we see what your husband and son put together for lunch? I'm starving."
"Sounds like a plan," Toni said, as Ava helped her up. The two walked together towards the kitchen to see what Steve and Peter were making.
None of this was easy, but she hoped that it would at least get easier to deal with.
As June came to an end and the summer season began, Toni watched as their new world slowly started to settle in.
Thaddeus Ross had been denounced by the US Government for his role in the events surrounding the Sokovian Accords hearing, and had his title stripped. There was to be a public hearing to discuss his actions by a United Nations council, however from the rumours she was hearing, it wasn't set to be until later this month.
Things had been quiet, and while she knew Steve wasn't all that pleased still by the decision Bucky had made, however every time she'd tried talking to her husband about it, he'd put on a brave face and told her that he was alright with it, and that he understood his friend's actions.
She didn't push him, not wanting to force him to talk about something he clearly wasn't comfortable with. But she did wish that he would tell her the truth about how he was feeling.
She glanced over at Peter, who eagerly was eating his cereal in preparation for their guest.
"When's he going to be here?" Peter asked, practically bouncing in his seat.
"FRIDAY said their eta was in ten minutes," Toni said to him, "Finish your cereal first, Peter. You know you need to keep up a certain caloric amount because of your powers."
He grinned as he shovelled the cereal in his mouth, "I know, I know, I'm just excited for Harley and Abby to visit!"
"They'll be here all summer," Toni rolled her eyes. She knew how hard Mrs Keener worked, and even though Harley was more than old enough to watch over his sister, she'd offered to let them stay with her for the summer, which would effectively give Harley an internship credit for his high school. Abby may have been too young and too uninterested in the same things her brother was, but she didn't want to separate the two siblings. And Abby was a good kid, so she didn't mind having them visit.
"Yeah but Harley's been showing me specs for a robot that he's been working on," Peter said eagerly, "He wants my input because the calibration is slightly off to the point where it's affecting it's performance and I can't wait to get my hands all over it."
She laughed, "Of course," she said, "What about your school friends? Are you planning on inviting any of them over to visit this summer?"
"I can invite Ned over?" Peter said, looking a bit surprised.
"Of course you can," she smiled at him, "This is your home too. Of course I want to meet whoever you invite, but Ned seemed like a good kid from the few times I've talked to him. Why don't you talk to him and see when he's free and we can set something up?"
"Thank you," he beamed.
"Miss," FRIDAY said, "Mr and Miss Keener have arrived with Mr Hogan."
"Thank you, FRIDAY," she nodded, as she picked up Peter's finished bowl and placed it in the sink, as she taped the tap to fill up the bowl with water to soak the dish. She shut it off seconds later, as she turned to a practically bouncing Peter.
"Can we go up?" Peter asked excitedly, wanting to go to the roof to see the two of them.
"Yes, Peter," she laughed, "We can go up to the roof." He grinned, and all but ran to the elevator.
They arrived on the roof a few moments later, as she saw Harley and Abby exit the quinjet.
"Hi Old Lady," Harley gave her a grin, and she scowled.
"Still got a mouth on you I see," she said.
"I don't think you're old," Peter said, and she ruffled his hair.
"This is why you're my favourite," she said, and Harley had a discernable look for a minute before it left his face.
"I see how it is," Harley sighed, "Happy turn this jet around. May as well go home now if Peter's gonna be sucking up this entire trip."
"What am I, a taxi?" Happy glared at him, "You can find your own way home if you want to leave so bad."
"What my brother means, is thank you for having us Toni," Abby said, as she came down to give her a hug.
"Any time, Abby," she grinned, "Now why don't we head on inside and you all tell me what you've been up to?"
"I've been drawing," Abby said slightly shyly, "I was hoping I could spend my summer working on my art. I'm not that good yet but it's a lot of fun."
"Don't sell yourself short," Harley rolled his eyes, "You should see her work, Toni, she's incredible."
"I have a lot of room for improvement," Abby said, but Harley shrugged like he didn't quite believe her.
"Let me show you your rooms!" Peter said excitedly as he all but lead Abby inside to show her the rooms he'd picked out for them to stay in.
Toni followed behind them, matching speed with Harley.
"So you gonna tell me what's on your mind, or are you going to make me guess?" she asked him.
He didn't say anything, but just glanced at her. He sighed then, "Are you sure you actually want us here this summer?"
"Why wouldn't I?" she frowned.
"I mean, Peter's your son now. And you have Steve. Clearly you're one big family. I've seen the pictures in the press. Why would you want us here?" he asked, sounding a bit insecure.
"Steve is my husband," she told him lightly, "That wouldn't change my relationship with you one bit, as he cares about you as well. But I have a feeling this is more about my adoption of Peter, am I right?"
He didn't respond.
"So I'm right then," she said. "Harley, you know as well as I do why I adopted Peter. I care about both of you the same amount, but Peter had no one. You, on the other hand, have a mother who loves you very much and is still around."
"But now you're a happy family," he said, a bit unsure, "Do you even have room for us?"
"If there's one thing I learned early on in life, family isn't just who you're related to, biologically or legally. It's who you let into your life and who you love. And Harley, even if we're not family by blood or on paper, we're still family. Okay? Any time you want to visit, you're more than welcome to. The room we have set up for you is your room. For this visit, for any future visits. It's yours," she told him, and he looked up at her.
He looked like he was starting to believe her slowly, and she patted him on the back. "Come on, Peter is excited for you to be here and I know that you're just as excited to be here as well. And more than that, I have someone I'd like you to meet."
"It's not some boring old person is it?" Harley asked her with a grin.
"No, she's not an older person," Toni rolled her eyes, as they caught up with Peter and Abby. Why don't you settle in, and say around 3 pm I'll introduce you all?"
"Sounds like a plan," Harley said, as Peter excitedly led Harley towards the room he'd set up for them.
She shook her head, as she went to the common room, wanting to give the three of them some time to catch up.
Exactly at three pm, Harley, Peter, and Abby came into the lab, all in various states of enthused.
"So who is it that you want us to meet?" Abby said, as she led the way.
"You'll see," she said mysteriously, as Harley rolled his eyes playfully and Peter looked like he was going to burst. "FRIDAY, please place the call."
Their video appeared on the holographic screen in front of her, as the call dialled.
"Hello Toni," T'Challa said warmly, "And you must be her children."
"Is that the Prince of Wakanda?" Peter whispered to her loudly. "You wanted us to meet the Prince of Wakanda?"
"No, she wanted you to meet me," Shuri said, as she came on screen, "My brother is just an unfortunate addition. I'm Shuri, this dork's little sister."
"No way," Harley let out an impressed breath.
"I thought the four of you would like to meet," Toni grinned at them, glad that her surprise had indeed worked out. "Princess Shuri here is a rather brilliant scientist herself, and well, more science bros are never a bad thing."
"What's the coolest thing you've ever designed?" Harley asked her immediately.
She gestured around the lab, "Please, I designed all of this. But probably the coolest is still something I'm working on. Nanotechnology. An entire suit that comes out of an object."
"Impressive," Peter said, "If you achieve that, well then the applications could be endless!"
"What's it like where you live?" Abby asked, in awe as Shuri took them on a virtual tour of her lab. She then filled the screen with images of Wakanda, and Toni had the say that the pictures didn't remotely do it justice. Not when she'd seen the real thing and knew how beautiful it had been in real life.
"Pretty sweet," Harley said.
"Now tell me about some of your projects, white boy," Shuri said, and Harley laughed.
"I'm currently working on a potato gun," Harley said, and she groaned, "No it's not the same basic one we had when I was a kid. Trust me. This one, well this one can do some damage. It's got an automated reload and can fire up to a hundred potatoes a minute."
"Think about all the mashed potatoes you're wasting," Peter said sadly, and Harley shoved him playfully.
"What if I told you that if you incorporated vibranium into it, it would strengthen the structure and you could increase the firing speed to two hundred?" Shuri said.
"Holy shit," Harley whispered.
"Language," she said as all four of them shot her a look. Oh Curie, Steve was starting to rub off on her wasn't he.
Harley plugged in a USB and brought up the specs, as Shuri began rearranging the model on her end to better the weapon.
"Wait what if you swap out the firing pin," Peter said, "Instead of constant pressure, it you click to start then stop and in between it just keeps firing."
"Why do I feel like this is going to come back and bite me in the ass," T'Challa said, as he glanced over at her.
"I too am feeling a bit of worry about introducing them," Toni said with a sigh as she watched them design the gun. Secretly, she was proud of all of their ability to bond over science. But that didn't mean she needed to let them know. Not when she was certain the potato gun in question would most likely be used to wreak havoc on her tower at some point in the immediate future."
"Miss," FRIDAY said, "I think there is something you need to see."
She nodded at them all to continue, and she pulled out a StarkPad as she walked a few yards away.
"The Museum of Great Britain was just broken into," FRIDAY said, as an image appeared on her screen. "One Ulysses Klaue was spotted at the scene, alongside a couple we don't have an ID for."
She frowned, "What was stolen?"
"A relic said to be from an Ancient Afrian tribe. Made completely of vibranium," FRIDAY told her. She glanced back at T'Challa and Shuri.
"Find out everything you can on the couple with him," she instructed. "If Klaue wants vibranium, it cannot be good."
"Will do," FRIDAY said, and she set down the tablet as she went back to watching her children science.
Even Ava, who didn't quite care for the science was contributing design ideas.
A bright smile filled her face as all thoughts of the war criminal left her mind. There was nowhere else she'd rather be.
