Setting: AU: Sunday, January 26, 2014: Manhattan, United States of America
As the government vehicle made its way down the crowded thoroughfare in the heart of New York City, Steve looked out of the tinted window, taking in the sights, the lights, the crowd. He hadn't been to Manhattan since the Battle of New York, almost two years ago. As Avengers Tower was revealed, dominating the skyline, Steve let out a soft, disgruntled sigh. He still thought the tower was ugly, even without Stark's name across it.
And this would be his home for the foreseeable future.
The car came to a smooth stop but the driver didn't shut down the vehicle. Instead, signaling a turn, the man glanced in the rearview mirror and said, in a reserved tone, "They've cleared me to release you inside, Sir. You're not allowed out of the building without prior approval."
It rankled to be so restricted, but Steve had long been disciplined. He didn't want to jeopardize Bucky's case - - or his own. He nodded and said, equally reserved, "yes, Sir." The security anklet, even after the four hour journey, still felt unfamiliar and bulky, a reminder that he, Steve Rogers, was accused of associating with a terrorist.
Steve looked back out the window as the car pulled into the underground parking facility. Obviously Tony had spent a good deal of money to repair the damage done by Loki and the Chitauri in May of '12 - - 2012. Steve shook his head as he remembered just how long he'd been asleep then pushed those thoughts from his mind as he looked around in dawning approval. The neat parking spaces, well lit garage bay, clear paint and sign markers, and well-staffed security center showed the billionaire definitely took care of his people, even if he was personally a dick.
At last the driver pulled the car to a halt beside a well-marked elevator. A man in a security uniform, vaguely familiar to Steve, stood there, smiling in welcome. The driver opened Steve's door, but the guard stepped forward to assist the Captain from the car.
"Captain America, welcome to Avengers Tower, Sir. I'm Happy Hogan, head of security for Mister Stark. We look forward to having you here." Happy nodded to Steve's D.C. driver and stood, smiling, by Steve as the third man got back into the car and drove away. Once alone, Happy turned to Steve once more.
"Mister Stark is in R'n'D with Doctor Banner right now, and Ms. Potts is away in meetings all day." Happy key-carded the elevator open and led Steve inside. "I'm afraid that leaves almost no one in the Avengers' section at the moment. But they should be around tonight or tomorrow, at the latest."
"Almost no one?" Steve latched onto the phrase, questioning, "so who is left?" He knew he was forbidden to associate with Natasha before the trial.
Blinking at Steve, seeming surprised the Captain didn't know, Happy answered, "Lucky. He never leaves."
"Lucky?" Steve asked, recalling Tony had mentioned the name, without explanation, as well. "Is he a staff member?" Steve recalled the A.I. in charge of most of Tony's affairs had the name JARVIS, but he couldn't place this Lucky man.
With a soft snort of amusement, Happy said, "staff? No. He's on house arrest, too. He's here serving his time, but I'm not really sure he sees it as a punishment. He seems far too pleased."
The elevator beeped and the doors slid open, revealing the penthouse suite the Avengers had been in for the arrest of Thor's brother, Loki, when the alien had attacked Manhattan using a Chitauri invasion force. Steve stepped from the elevator and asked, "what crime is he serving for?"
"Attempted fratricide, attempted genocide, mass destructive vandalism, and conspiring with an enemy force - - allegedly." The smooth baritone sounded faintly amused as the owner slowly turned from the floor to ceiling windowed wall. Dressed in black trousers and dark green sweater, shoulder-length black curls pulled back into a neat queue, and leaning on an ebony cane topped with a metallic wolf's head, the ice-green eyed man was far too familiar - - and far from welcome for the Captain.
"Loki," Steve hissed and slid into a fighting ready stance, wishing he had his shield.
Lifting a well-shaped eyebrow, the tall, lean brunet claimed, "yes; however, I barely recall you except by reputation." He held out his right hand. "Here I am called Lucky Friggsonn."
Steve did not take the other man's hand. Instead, he snarled, "you have a lot of nerve coming back here! How'd you get into this tower?"
"The balcony?" Loki replied with a smirk, gesturing with his hand to the large, curved balcony outside the very windows he'd been positioned in front of. "Actually," he cut off Steve's angry rejoinder, "my brother, Thor, vouched for me and arranged that I stay here to serve my exile. I'm to aid the Avengers during my time."
Shaking his head, still holding a defensive fighting stance, Steve snapped out, "why would Thor vouch for you? You killed thousands, tore apart Manhattan, invaded Earth!"
"Ah, but those are not my crimes," Loki continued to smile easily, though his eyes seemed haunted, almost lonely. "Nor am I being held for those crimes. If you recall, I was the astrophysicist from Norway who invaded this tower in search of that very criminal - - a man who had stolen my face and identity. I was taken to Asgard to regain my lost memories, and he was taken to serve his sentence."
Steve didn't trust Loki and remained wary, though he did recall something along the lines happening. "So, why aren't you back on Asgard? And," he frowned, "you did say genocide is among your charges."
"Attempted genocide - - of the Jötunn. I tried to destroy their entire Realm using the ice of the Bifrost. I did not invade Midgard - - Earth." Loki leaned heavily on his walking stick, easing his weight off his right hip and thigh. "I am awaiting trial for my crimes against Thor, the Jötunn, and your town in New Mexico." He shook his head and the smirk swept away. "But I was trapped here after the Convergence . . ."
"Convergence?" Steve interrupted, a bit confused though a bit hopeful as well. The idea that a man he'd seen attack New York, had fought and arrested, might not be the war criminal mirrored Bucky's own case. Vaguely Steve recalled the look-alike Thor had also taken back to Asgard when he'd removed Loki the invader. If Loki had a double, was it possible Bucky, too, had been set up by those in charge using a look-alike? It seemed to be a long shot, a vain hope, but it presented a hint of possibility. "Okay. I'm listening," Steve conceded.
He sensed Happy relax behind him, having been unaware of the guard's tension until then.
Loki nodded and gestured to a group of comfortable couches. "Shall we sit? I find my injury bothers me with prolonged standing as yet." The raven-haired man limped to the central couch, leaning heavily on his cane. As he sank down onto the cushion, he offered a sad smile to Steve and Happy. "Let me begin with my real crimes."
xxx
Setting: AU: Tuesday, February 25, 2014: Manhattan, United States of America
Steve sighed softly, running a hand through his blond hair and ruffling it up a bit in his stress, his eyes focused on the red spots dotting the fabric of his underwear. He rested a hand against his abdomen, trying to ease the painful cramping he felt. He didn't know why this kept happening to him. The serum should have corrected all these problems, right? It corrected everything else . . . why did these specific symptoms keep coming back?
Tony walked past Steve's room. In a month's time Steve had learned the walk of Tony versus Bruce versus Loki or Pepper. Tony had a sort of swagger to his step that he didn't try to mask; he also was quite fond of talking to JARVIS very loudly as he did so, not taking into consideration that others might be concentrating. "JARVIS, where's the old man? Lucky was looking for him."
"Captain Rogers is in his quarters, Mr. Stark," JARVIS' British accented A.I. voice intoned outside Steve's door, as if in warning to Steve of a coming invasion.
Quickly throwing the underwear into his hamper and pulling on a fresh pair with his sweats, Steve began rinsing his hands just as Tony entered the room. He reached for a towel, wincing as he did so, and started to dry his hands. "Tony, good morning."
Opening the door wider, Tony's eyes lit up. "Rogers! How was the night? You sleep okay? You gonna take the space geek off my hands for the day so I can think?" Tony seemed not to mind having the apparently no longer amnesiatic little brother of Thor living there, but he did get endlessly annoyed with having the alien trying to invade his science areas. Tony was forever curious and inspired, but he hated to be told he was wrong by a man he remembered kicking the crap out of . . . even if it was a different man entirely than the actual villain.
"I slept fine," Steve nodded, trying to subtly massage his cramps away though he knew from experience it most likely wouldn't work. "I'm not sure I'll be able to hold his interest for very long . . . . but I can try?" Steve mostly wanted to see Bucky. It had been a month and he hadn't been permitted to see his husband and check up on him. The weekly reports he received from Sharon Carter were enough to ease most of his worries since it seemed Bucky was getting medical help and was healing. Just the day before, Sharon had told Steve that Bucky was even starting to read up on modern mechanics.
"Cool. Don't owe you one," Tony called and hurried off, babbling to JARVIS in tech terms beyond Steve's knowledge.
Steve shook his head, still not completely used to Tony's antics. He slowly walked into his bedroom and pulled on a shirt before making his way out into the hall in search of Loki. Once he'd found the god, Steve called, "Tony said you were looking for me?" He still kept one hand on his abdomen.
Turning from the view across the city, Loki, dressed in casual black slacks and a green sweater, black hair pulled back in a shoulder length ponytail, studied Steve. He leaned on his walking stick, though the limp was becoming less pronounced since he'd returned from Asgard. "You look pale and Tony lied. I wasn't looking for anyone particular. Did he think you needed distracting?"
Letting out a sigh, Steve made his way over to the couch and eased down onto it, not feeling like going back to his room. "What are you doing?" Steve still wasn't used to Loki being part of the team, but since Loki's return he hadn't been malicious towards anyone.
"Trying to determine who it was that stole my face and reputation then killed my mother," Loki responded. He limped over to sit on a chair facing Steve, hands on the head of his walking stick. "You are unwell. Perhaps you could ask JARVIS for a medical scan? I assume he has the most recent upgraded technology your world can offer a man of Tony's wealth?"
"That's not a horrible idea actually," Steve agreed with a nod before looking over and asking, "have you ever been in love, Loki?" He didn't know why he broached such a subject with the other man, but Steve tried to distract himself from his pain and separation.
A small smile played over Loki's lips and he said, "I am mated." The term didn't mesh with any Steve would consider Earth terms for love. "And I miss her every day."
Blinking, Steve looked at Loki and asked, "you're mated? What does that mean?"
Rounding his ice-green eyes in surprise, Loki said, "I thought I'd used your modern terms. It means when a couple agrees to be a pair for life. It is something done by private vow and marking each other, or a public ceremony can be performed. Mine was private as the Allfather forbade it while I was under trial."
"Who . . . who are you mated to?" Steve asked softly, suddenly very interested in what Loki had to say.
Smiling, his face softening, Loki said, "she was a slave, illegally of course, and I rescued her rather publicly. Humiliated the Allfather in the process, I might add. She is mute and was kidnapped as a youth from Asgard." With a blink, Loki looked back at Steve and said, "her name is Sigyn. And you are thinking of your own mate? Your James Barnes?"
Bruce passed the pair by, but he only stopped to watch the unlikely conversants. When Loki glimpsed over and showed absolutely no fear of him, the man nodded and continued towards his own section of the tower, satisfied once again that the Loki talking to Steve was not the one Hulk had beaten to a pulp - - though this one, like the one who attacked New York, did show a discomfort around thunder and lightning.
"I don't know if we could be called that . . . though we did call each other husband," Steve sighed softly and licked his lips, feeling morose thinking about Bucky. "I love him so much." Shaking his head, Steve glanced over to Loki, "your Sigyn? What happened to her? Why isn't she here?"
"When I left Asgard to help Thor, I wound up here. I was blocked from returning to Asgard and very injured. I have not been allowed back since, as I am serving my sentence for crimes committed. Thor has assured me my mate is not being used harshly and that he, Thor, petitions daily for my return or Sigyn to be sent to me. Odin will not hear of it." Loki frowned, a flash of indignant anger in his eyes, but it left quickly. "If I continue to behave, I will see her again."
"It's almost worse," Steve commented softly, "knowing they are alive but not being able to be with them. To know that they are safe and taken care of." Steve looked down at his hand, which lay over his abdomen. He winced when another painful cramp rushed through him.
A puzzled look ran over Loki's features and he reached out a hand to lay over Steve's. "Were you wounded?"
Pulling his hand from under Loki's, the tall blond frowned. "No, it's just something that has happened to me since I was a kid," Steve gave a deep sigh, "I've been assured it's nothing serious."
"Yet it continues. Your healers know nothing?" Loki lifted his hand, his frown deepening. "I would have JARVIS test you and scan you. If nothing else, he can confirm what you already know. Perhaps he will find something missed." The trickster, though a trickster on his best behavior, got up and headed back to the window, looking as if he felt trapped in that tower. "It can ease your mind."
"You're right," Steve agreed and then stood up slowly with another wince. "It was good talking to you? I hope you're able to get your Sigyn back."
"I tried to kill my brother and his friends, though I admit I was not in the best of minds when I did so. I murdered the king of our enemies. And I tried to commit genocide of the entire planet of Jotunheim. I am serving a bitter sentence for such deeds now. I was very foolish before landing on Earth and learning from your people." Looking over, Loki added, with a rueful smirk, "I had no idea how much they could teach me."
"We always tend to surprise people," Steve laughed softly before turning back to walk towards his room, "good afternoon, Loki."
"And a good afternoon to you, Steve," Loki replied before once more looking out at the vast city, rebuilding from the Chitauri attack that Loki refused to claim as one of his crimes. That was a trial he had yet to face.
Steve slowly made his way back to his room, shutting the door behind him. "Jarvis? Can you do scans from in here?" Steve walked over to his bed and sat down on the edge of it.
"I can scan you, Captain, but I cannot perform other lab tests such as blood analysis or genetic testing. What would you like scanned, please?" JARVIS intoned in his pleasant manner, Tony's A.I. more personable than the inventor.
"Can you do a bio scan? See if there is any . . . growth inside of me?" Steve asked, wondering if the cancer he'd had back when he was younger might have returned.
"I can do this. It would be easier if you were in the medical bay where one of the humans could assist, if you prefer, Captain?" JARVIS offered.
Sighing softly, Steve ran a hand through his hair and asked, "who's in the medical bay right now?"
"Doctor Banner is currently in medical discussing biomedical research with Mr. Stark," came the ready answer.
Not exactly liking the idea of telling Tony his business but seeing no other choice, Steve sighed and said, "alright. I guess I'll go there, then." He got to his feet once more.
"Captain, your tone suggests you would prefer not to discuss matters with another being? Would you prefer a scan that is private?" JARVIS asked.
"Yes, I would prefer it but you just said it would be better to be scanned in the medical bay?" Steve commented with a deep frown.
"It would be better with human interaction but not impossible nor detrimental without, Captain. I will perform the scan. Please stand still until I am finished." JARVIS suddenly washed a soft glowing light over Steve in a circular fashion, resembling when it scanned objects for Tony in the lab.
Steve didn't move, letting JARVIS scan him.
Once finished, JARVIS said, "I shall analyze the results and compare them to that of an average male of your physical attributes. I do not have records of your baseline statistics. I am also not programmed with the exact nature of your biological enhancements, but I will do my best to estimate what the parameters are so I may provide as accurate a result as possible. This may take several hours, Captain."
"Thank you, JARVIS," Steve nodded and then moved back to his bed to lie down, hoping that might help with the pain.
"Might I advise heat or wet heat, Captain? It has been noted that several human body aches, such as strained muscles or menstrual cramping, can be soothed with such a treatment," JARVIS suggested.
Steve really didn't feel like getting up once more so just laid there and grunted in response to JARVIS' suggestion. He'd get the items next time he got up, whenever that may be. He pulled out his phone to check for any missed messages or calls, knowing Sharon wouldn't contact him since he'd just received her report on his husband the day before. Steve worried about not hearing from Natasha. He hadn't seen or heard anything from her since their arrest a month ago and Sharon had very little information to give about her.
As if waiting for his attention, Steve's phone suddenly buzzed with Clint's ringtone, signaling that the archer was on the other end, oddly enough. Clint didn't often call any of the Avengers; he let them call him.
Answering immediately, Steve put the device to his ear, "Clint? Is something wrong?"
"Hello, Steve. I just got clearance to contact you. I was told it shouldn't interfere with your case." Clint sounded friendly, relaxed even from wherever he was. Steve had no idea what assignment he and his partner might be doing since they'd stumbled on Bucky. "I understand you're on lock up like Nat? I've been given . . . stewardship of her until the trial."
"Stewardship? Seriously?" Steve couldn't help but roll his eyes, "General Ross is on a warpath, isn't he? Is she alright?"
With a chuckle, Clint said, "oh, yeah, she and my partner are playing games right now. She's got an anklet on so won't be traveling, and after our last capture, we've been put on indefinite hiatus for finding more Hydra." Clint said something indistinguishable to someone called TJ. When he got back on the line, he said, "The General is after Bucky, not Nat, so let her go under house arrest. I hear he did something similar to you?"
"Yeah, he thought I might be a terrorist working with Hydra," Steve rolled his eyes, "because I said I knew Bucky. Even though I went on record to tell them about my past, growing up with him. The General is twisting everything I say into something else. Tony helped hire some pretty good lawyers for Bucky, though. A team called Murdock and Nelson."
"They're good. Went up against some big time people. Only take people they believe really are innocent or being railroaded, despite not being paid a lot. Often do pro bono work if they need to. It's people like Tony that get them higher paying clients so they can stay in business. If he's footing the bill, and they've agreed to the case, they believe in Bucky, Steve. Take that to heart. They're from Hell's Kitchen." Clint sounded relieved and called out, "Murdock and Nelson. Yeah, the best."
He turned back to the phone. "Nat's allowed at the trial, Steve. Let the lawyers know, through Tony, to contact her as a key witness. She hinted that she's a very key witness to that day you were arrested." After a pause where he listened to someone speak, Clint chuckled and said, "and let Tony know to tell them that if they need some kind of proof a Winter Soldier can be rehabilitated, I can go on the stand, even bring my partner who has a perfect record from the moment we started rehabilitation . . . if the court allows it."
Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, Steve nodded and said, "thank you, Clint. And make sure to thank Nat for me?" He paused a moment and asked, "what's it like working with him? Winter Wolf?" Steve couldn't help but think of his Bucky. If this Winter Wolf, an ex-assassin from Hydra, could be rehabilitated, Bucky definitely could.
After a pause, Clint said, "he's damn good. Dedicated, too. He knew Bucky, Steve, from their training. He said Bucky was the one that trained him. It's how we were able to bring Bucky in without incident. He seemed to barely remember flashes of TJ, but he was pretty dazed and kept talking about you more than anything else."
Letting out a breath, Steve stared at the ceiling of his room, trying to find something that could distract him from his worries about Bucky. "I messed everything up by going in there . . . I . . ." Steve rubbed at his eyes, sounding so tired suddenly, "had I just kept a cool head, Bucky would probably be in rehabilitation instead of solitary confinement."
"Steve, can't change the past, man. Let's just concentrate on getting him out as soon as possible. Have they allowed you to video chat him or call him?" Clint's voice sounded calm, reassuring and caring, much like a parent might for a troubled child or teen.
"No, we're not allowed any contact whatsoever," Steve answered, wincing as he shifted on the bed.
"Okay, have you been in touch with the attorneys yet? They can bring you updates, make sure you know he's being treated well and who's taking care of him," Clint advised.
"I get updates from a friend close to the case," Steve replied, massaging his abdomen as he continued to talk to Clint over the phone; "she's been giving me weekly updates to let me know how he's doing."
"Weekly is something at least," Clint acknowledged. He asked, voice softer, "how is he, Steve? Really? How's he holding up? Is he getting any rehabilitation?"
"She says he's getting care and is looking a lot better since he is getting fed, and fed enough to sustain the serum," Steve reported, "she also said he picked out a book on modern mechanics to read. Bucky used to be very interested in anything with an engine, so I'm taking that as a very good sign."
A smile laced Clint's words. "Well, it sounds like they're treating him right if they're allowing him to educate himself, Steve. Hate to say it, but after seventy years as a weapon of mass destruction, maybe a little private time without people ordering him or confusing him . . . you know? It might help him sort his memories a bit before he actually dives into the world. Teej didn't have his mind wiped out, like Nat says Bucky must have. So, Bucky's will be a lot more delicate case. And once the trial's over, and we kick Ross's stupid ass back to New Mexico, we can help your Bucky properly."
"Thank you, Clint, really," Steve said, a small smile playing across his lips at the thought of getting Bucky back. After a moment, Steve asked, "Teej? Is that his name? Nat only ever called him Winter Wolf."
"Well, he says Bucky used to call him TJ before your guy named mine Winter Wolf. I don't know everything behind it yet, but I'm working on it. Apparently, TJ remembers Bucky from way back when he was little, too. Not sure yet how far back that is since TJ was one of the successful serum attempts by Russia." Clint sighed and called to someone on his side then went back to talking to Steve, "sorry, the vehicle we optimistically call a mower is pretending it's a digger instead. Gotta go. You going to be okay, Steve?"
"Yeah, I'll be alright, thanks again," Steve said, "and, tell Nat thank you."
Chuckling, Clint said, "she says you're welcome. You should see the look on her face since she knows she's not allowed to talk to you straight on. Doesn't look like an enticing black widow. More like the butt end of a tarantula. Ow!"
"You deserved that," a masculine voice carried over through the line, a chuckle lacing his words as he sounded quite pleased with what had happened. His voice sounded amazingly like Steve recalled Bucky's from before the war.
"You are as evil as she is heartless!" Clint shot back on a laugh. "They're ganging up on me, Steve! These crazy Russians are after me!"
Steve laughed and said, "well, I better let you all get to it. I'll call you with any updates, Clint."
"And I'll call you when I get permission again. Keep your head up, Cap. You know in the end, you'll win this one."
"Thanks, Clint," Steve said and then added, "have a good day." He then hung up and sighed, letting his eyes close. Maybe a nap would help with the pain.
xxx
Setting: AU: Tuesday, March 4, 2014: Manhattan, United States of America
Steve eased to his feet, stretching his arms over his head as he let out a yawn. He ran a hand over his abdomen and distantly thought that he was hungry again. He knew that with the serum he had to eat more, but he had literally just gotten a snack about an hour before. How could he possibly be hungry again? Shaking his head, Steve made his way to his door, intent on heading to the kitchen on his level to make something to eat.
"Captain," JARVIS' voice intoned calmly. "I have the results of your preliminary scan from a week ago. Is this a good time to discuss them?"
Glancing up at the ceiling as if he could see the A.I., Steve nodded and stayed in the privacy of his room for the moment, "yeah, now's a good time, JARVIS."
"I have reviewed the scans, which were not done with the full capability of the medical examination rooms. The preliminary scans show a parasitic growth inside your abdomen. You also have a growth inside your rectum. However, without further medical scans, I cannot determine if these growths are of a malignant nature or are operable." The A.I.'s voice remained calm and almost dispassionate, but something in the tone also bespoke a bit of worry.
"A parasitic growth . . .?" Steve blinked in shock. He looked down at his abdomen and then frowned softly, "what other tests need to be done, JARVIS?" He knew if he had something growing inside of him . . . he needed it taken out, right away. Though Steve wondered how in the world he'd managed to contract a parasite? Or did JARVIS refer to cancer? Was the cancer back after all this time?
"A complete CAT scan should be the only thing needed, Captain, to determine if this is a benign or malignant tumor or parasitic organism," JARVIS replied.
"Alright," Steve nodded, "should I head to medical right away?" Tumor - - the cancer.
JARVIS seemed to think a moment, which usually meant someone else was talking to him. Finally, he said, "you will have to wait for your scan, Captain. Mr. Stark is running a series of reconfiguration and cleansing diagnostics on the equipment. I will alert you when we can proceed."
With a sigh, Steve nodded, "Yes, okay." He opened his door, deciding to try eating something, try not to worry about his diagnosis until JARVIS could continue the testing. After all, nothing more could be done at the moment and worrying would only make his cramping come back.
xxx
Setting: AU: Monday, April 7, 2014: Washington D.C., United States of America
In a small side room, sitting at a table in comfortable leather rolling chairs, Matt Murdock and Franklin Nelson, the defense attorneys, went over Steve's testimony he would make, piece by piece. They weren't feeding him answers but they were shooting questions at him in an attempt to fluster and confuse him, like the prosecution would do.
The trial had been going for two weeks, and they finally had arrived at Steve as a witness. His testimony would start in less than an hour and the lawyers had been working with him for several hours since they hadn't had any permissible contact with him before, except by phone. It was the most unusual trial either lawyer had ever attended.
Matt, blind and sitting in front of a braille machine, tilted his head to listen to his partner, called Foggy, and Steve talking. Finally, the thinner set man with dark brown hair and red-tinted glasses lifted a hand. "Enough, Foggy. I think he won't slip and change his story on the stand. He's telling the truth. Captain, how do you feel?"
"I feel fine," Steve answered honestly, taking and releasing a deep breath, "how's Bucky been doing? How is he holding up?"
"He's quite healthy now. Those viewing won't have any idea he was ever so sick or down. He's put on some weight, had his injuries fixed so he healed properly, and has been keeping himself busy studying anything we could get to him," Matt said, his tone conversational.
Foggy smiled and piped in, "he's talking about online education so he can get a degree from a good college."
Steve smiled at that, knowing that Bucky had always wanted to go to university. Bucky had been one of the smartest kids in his class, the valedictorian, after all. "That's great," Steve licked his plush lips and asked, "and . . . he'll be here, right?"
"It's required by law to have the prosecution allow the defendant to hear the accusations against him. He's here," Matt reassured Steve. "He asks about your health every time we met with him," the lawyer added.
Glancing to the clock in the room, Steve took and released another breath, "how much longer until we can go in?"
"Steve," Foggy said, a warning note in his voice, "you have to remain calm and impassive at the trial. No outbursts, despite how vicious the prosecution seems towards Bucky. That's their strategy, to shake things up and fluster the defendant."
"I understand," Steve said, wishing people would really stop talking to him like he was an idiot. Ever since he'd come out of the ice, most people talked to him like he was stupid.
"If you cause a scene, you can be thrown in jail for contempt and banned from the courtroom," Foggy continued.
"I think he understands," Matt said, giving Steve a small smile of shared commiseration over Foggy's worry.
"So, how much longer now?" Steve asked again since no one had answered the first time he'd asked the question.
"We don't have an exact time," Foggy frowned slightly. "But it should be within the next hour, depending on how the witness questioning before yours is going."
"Alright," Steve said with a sigh, sitting back to wait restlessly.
Matt spoke softly, "you are aware of the charges laid against Bucky, are you not, Steve?"
With a sigh, Steve moved his eyes to center on the blind man. "Treason. Terrorist activity."
After a moment, when Steve didn't add to the list, Matt cleared his throat, "and rape, Steve. He is accused of raping you."
Shock coursed through Steve and he shot to his feet, stunned and trying to protest. But, despite Foggy's prediction of more time, the door opened. "Court's in session. Come on," an intern said quickly. Both lawyers rose to their feet, Foggy shooting Steve an encouraging smile.
Steve stiffened and turned a hard look on the bailiff, following the two lawyers out of the small room. He took a steadying breath and let it out, rolling his shoulders back and lifting his chin, pulling his control once more around him. He looked every ounce Captain America - - very confident, taking sure strides.
As Steve walked in, he noticed spectators had packed the courtroom. The first several rows of observation chairs, or gallery, contained the Avengers and their allies. Since the sessions were in Washington, DC, even Peggy had shown, sitting between Sharon and Sam, looking frail but mentally lucid. She gave Steve a smile and saucy wink as he entered, showing she was indeed lucid at the moment.
At the defense table, between the empty seats Matt and Foggy headed towards, sat Bucky, looking healthy and well groomed, his long hair cut into an old forties style military cut, the suit he wore tailored to fit. Tony must have done more than simply hire the lawyers for Steve's friend. Glancing over the room, Bucky maintained a calm, military bearing, but he did give Steve a wink as he straightened in his chair, expression remaining neutral. The similarity between Peggy and Bucky was not lost on Steve; he'd often thought during the war that the two were very similar.
Steve shoved down any instinct to go to his husband, to hug him and kiss him. He had to remain in control for this hearing. He had to do whatever he could to get Bucky out of this mess that Steve had helped create for him - - and he had to let the lawyers get Bucky out of the charge of raping him. 'No outbursts, no interruptions,' Steve reminded himself.
After swearing an oath to tell the truth, Steve sat down and waited for the questioning to begin. He let his eyes scan the full courtroom. The front two rows held Tony and Pepper, Sam, Rhodey, Sharon and Peggy, and several women among them Steve didn't know. He noticed that Clint didn't sit in the front with the other Avengers; he sat in the back next to a pair of men with ball caps pulled low over their eyes; one had to be Bruce, but Steve didn't know the other man. Loki had opted to stay at the tower in New York due to his all too recognizable face and world-wide infamy.
When Steve noticed Clint, the man gave him a calm nod and smile, relaxed. There was no sign of Natasha because she was a witness and being held in another room so Steve didn't accidentally taint her testimony.
Finally the prosecution lawyer, a man named Giles Gordan, strode forward and said, "thank you for your time. Please state your name, occupation, title, and presentation for the record."
"Captain Steve Rogers of the US Army," Steve replied smoothly, meeting the man's eyes, "and, I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean by presentation."
A whisper went through the gallery but they shut up very quickly. Gordan, still sounding polite and business like, nothing like Steve had been warned, met Steve's eyes and said, "Captain Rogers, when did you wind up in your forced ice coma, please? What year?"
"In nineteen forty-five, Sir," Steve replied, folding his hands in his lap though his shoulders remained straight.
Turning to the jury, not asking the defense to make the explanation, the prosecutor politely said, "the science of genetic presentation was in its infancy in the year Captain Rogers wound up in his coma. Since then, science has come a long way in understanding such designations. If the court," the lawyer turned to the judge, "will allow me to explain it to the Captain and jury?"
"Permission granted," the judge, a woman named Margaret Watson, agreed.
"Thank You," Gordan turned back to Steve. "A pair of scientists, leaders and pioneers in genetics, discovered that humans have certain generic inclinations due to biology. To make it simplified, they discovered four types of people: Alphas, Betas, Omegas, and Gammas. Alphas," he bowed very slightly to Steve, "are considered the more dominant and aggressive. Omegas are breeders and nurturing. Beta are everyone who doesn't have a strong leaning either way. And the Gammas are one of the other three but born infertile." He chuckled in a friendly manner. "Since the Genetics Equality Movement, we denote each witness's designation in order to ensure equal treatment."
"Now, we have no genetic record available for you, but your file states you were in a special unit of men later proven to each be an Alpha, typical for special forces. When you revived, were you told your presentation or . . ." the prosecutor looked at a paper and finished, "nature designation, Dr. Erskine, the geneticist, labeled it?"
"No, Sir, I was never told," Steve replied honestly with a shake of his head.
"The Colonel said you were Alpha after you got the serum," Bucky said in a calm, neutral tone.
Gordan whirled and glared at Bucky. "Please contain the defendant," he growled.
The judge nodded, "refrain from interruption. Mention things to your lawyer who will present them if applicable, Sergeant Barnes."
Bucky nodded once, folded his hands on the desk, metal handcuffs clinking as he moved, and looked stoically ahead.
Steve's eyes flickered to Bucky and then back to the lawyer, "I guess I'm Alpha, then?"
Accepting Steve's admission, the prosecutor said, "Please let the record show that the witness was not informed of his own genetic presentation but thinks it might be Alpha." Gordan turned to Steve. "Do you know the defendant, please?"
"Yes, Sir, I do. We grew up together," Steve replied easily, hoping that they were now going to get into things relevant to Bucky's case. He felt the lawyer put an easy hand on the back of his chair as he leaned slightly closer, Gordan's manner friendly and interested. There was no overwhelming scent beyond the man's soap and aftershave.
Bucky seemed to sit straighter in his chair at the defense table, light blue eyes narrowing as a frown thundered down over his pretty features.
"And what is the nature of your relationship with the defendant, please," the prosecutor asked casually. He leaned slightly closer, his hand going to touch Steve's shoulder.
Bucky called out, rather loudly, "don't touch him!" A protective muskiness wafted over on the fan-driven breeze, and Steve felt an answering clench in his entire body.
The judge called back, forcefully, "do not interrupt, Sergeant Barnes! You will refrain from further outbursts or you will be held in contempt! Counsel, refrain from touching the witness, please. Continue."
Nodding, the prosecutor straightened and walked away from Steve and the witness stand, heading towards his own table, at which sat the co-counsel for the prosecution. Glancing over a notebook, Gordan glanced up and said, "and what is the nature of your relationship with the defendant?"
Steve looked the man straight in the eyes and claimed, "we have been best friends since we were twelve, Sir. We served together in the Second World War in the combat unit Howlin' Commandos." He hesitated, debating whether it would be unlawful to hide their deeper relationship.
Before Steve could add to his response, Gordan nodded, as if having expected such an answer, and said, "And all of the Howlin' Commandos, you and the defendant included, were Alphas?"
"Objection," Foggy called out, "the witness couldn't know since he only just found out what presentation means."
"Sustained. Counsel, please rephrase." The judge looked over at the prosecutor who moved away from his table and back towards Steve.
With a thoughtful nod, Gordan stepped closer to the witness stand, eyes directly on Steve. "Out of all of the Howlin' Commandos, did any of them, yourself included, show an inclination towards aggressive or dominant behavior?"
Unsure where that line of questioning would go, wondering if it was the prosecutor's way of trying to set Bucky up as a forceful rapist, Steve looked the man directly in the eyes and said, "at times any one of us was forceful and dominant, if the mission called for it. Other times, any of us would be supportive and nurturing, humorous and goofy, or any other number of personality traits. Soldiers have the same range of emotions and personalities as anyone else, Sir."
Nodding, Gordan seemed amiable as he stopped in front of Steve's witness stand. "So, even a designated Alpha, in certain conditions, could act like another presentation?" He prompted.
"I don't know how presentation affects behavior, Sir, just that my men were more than some scientific data on a roster," Steve met the lawyer's eyes, his face retaining a respectful neutrality.
"Ah," the prosecutor let out a soft chuckle, smiling in a friendly fashion. He nodded, "so, they were capable of both attacking the enemy and, say, supportive nurturing of their own group?"
"Yes, sir," Steve readily agreed, though he kept his tone as calm as his expression. "We did what we had to do to complete our missions but we tried not to take the mission with us afterwards. I suspect like most soldiers, Sir." He wasn't sure how the prosecutor was going to use this line of questioning, but Steve's quick mind latched onto a way to show PTSD, which Bucky had been suffering from since his first imprisonment. Steve made a mental note to tell Murdock and Nelson about that status so they could work with it to Bucky's defense.
The prosecutor seemed to be thinking along similar lines because he said, "sometimes soldiers take the war with them after the fighting is done. In effect, they are still fighting the war even years later."
Narrowing his eyes at the other man, Steve didn't say anything. He hadn't been asked a direct question and so refused to feed this man anything. He had no idea if Giles Gordan had finally decided to try to discredit Steve as a witness, as he'd been warned would happen.
"When was the last time you encountered the defendant in person, Captain Rogers?" Gordon suddenly asked, surprising Steve at the turn of the questioning.
"In person?" Steve asked, less to clarify and more to buy time to consider the ramifications. He didn't pause, though, adding, "January twenty-six of this year, Sir." Meeting the lawyer's eyes, Steve tacked on "Sunday." He felt a surge of surprise at the answering chuckle from Tony in the viewing stands, but Steve ignored the sound.
Nodding, Gordon asked, in a pleasant tone, "and where did this meeting, in person, take place, Captain?"
"I didn't ask the exact address, Sir." Steve frowned very slightly. "He was being held in detention in Washington DC."
Apparently unbothered by the lack of information, the prosecutor nodded and said, "and were you informed why the defendant was in detention?"
Steve drew in a breath, straightening and meeting Gordan's eyes, knowing that his response could and most likely would be used against Bucky. "He was suspected of terroristic attacks and, I believe, was being held for questioning and investigation of the alleged crimes."
Gordon frowned a bit and narrowed his eyes at Steve, studying him. He seemed to weigh his next question before asking, "and when you were granted permission to talk to him, how long were you permitted?"
Steve looked the man straight in the eyes and prayed he wasn't damning Bucky. "I wasn't granted permission. He was left alone while the staff took care of an emergency. I took advantage of the opportunity to see my best and oldest friend. I went into the room without prior permission. I don't know how long I was alone with him."
"And," Gordon smiled, stepping closer, "was he under guard?"
Drawing a soft breath, steadying himself, Steve answered, "he was not under guard when I went into the room he was in, no, Sir."
"Prior to the emergency you stated took staff away from the room he was in, was he under guard, Captain?" Gordon frowned softly, a small hint of insolence in his manner.
"Not any visible guard, Sir. He was with two medical personnel. There was a person monitoring via CCTV from another room, and General Ross came into the observation room just before the emergency took all four personnel as well as others from down the hall." Steve didn't look away. "Other than Sergeant Barnes and I, the only other person present during my meeting with the defendant was Ms. Romanov, who had entered the observation room when I did. Any other monitoring or personnel was not apparent."
That seemed to give the prosecutor pause and he frowned softly as he watched Steve, silent for the moment. Steve knew instantly what had just happened. Gordon had been trying to set Bucky up as a dangerous prisoner which Steve had finagled his way into seeing before allegedly being attacked and raped by said prisoner. But, with the absence of ready guards and all staff willing to leave the defendant alone, the dangerous prisoner appeared less like a threat and more like a man in for questioning or medical aid. Steve had blown a small hole in the prosecution's picture.
"The prosecution has video and audio evidence of the encounter between Captain Rogers and Sergeant Barnes, your honor," Gordon turned suddenly towards the judge.
A light flush slammed over Steve's face and neck but he kept his eyes straight ahead. The judge would want to see the video, but would she insist on the entire court witnessing that encounter . . . an encounter which should have been very private? Steve didn't say anything to the prosecution or judge concerning the evidence suggested, not rising to Gordan's bait.
"We would like to submit said evidence to the court," Gordon continued. His co-counsel offered up a thumbdrive which the bailiff retrieved for the judge. "On said evidence, you will witness the staff leaving the room the defendant was detained in, the Captain entering, followed by the rape of the witness at the hands of the defendant."
Shock rolled over the court, evidenced by shocked gasps and urgent murmurs. Despite no direct question, Steve clearly stated, "I was not raped." He felt the prosecutor lay a hand on his shoulder.
"Captain . . ."
"Get your hands off my husband!" Bucky surged to his feet as he pretty much roared at Giles Gordan. Security and Bailiff tackled the angry defendant, bringing him to the ground, ready to use even more force; Foggy jumped out of the way, pulling Matt back as well. But, despite his angry declaration, Bucky let the officers take him down, not fighting back.
The loud statement did more than add a charge to Bucky's list, though. It drew people to their feet amid chaotic murmurs and gasps.
Judge Watson surged to her feet and loudly banged her gavel, calling out in a controlling tone, "order! The gallery will sit and shut up or they will be banned from this court! Officers take the defendant to a private room to cool down! Prosecution, you will refrain from touching any witness or you will be held in contempt! The court will take a recess of ten minutes. Counsel, approach the bench." The last had come out in a calmer manner as the chaos quieted quickly at her demands. The judge turned to Steve and said, "are you okay, Captain?"
Steve blinked, shocked and worried for Bucky, but in control. He met the judge's eyes and stated, "yes, ma'am. I'm fine. Thank you."
She nodded and said, "go back to the waiting room, Captain. You remain under oath. You will be retrieved when the recess is over."
A court assistant stood close to Steve but respectful of his personal space. Steve stood and followed the woman from the room, hoping Bucky, being escorted away through a separate door by several officers, would be okay. The pair didn't even get a chance to exchange looks, Bucky cuffed and surrounded as he was. Before the assistant could leave Steve in the waiting room, he asked, "what happens now?"
She turned and offered a soft, worried smile. "The prosecution will receive some form of discipline for provoking the defendant. The defendant may or may not receive some sort of punishment for being in contempt, but with the circumstances, the judge might choose to be lenient. The reporters and viewers might also be removed for the rest of the trial if the judge feels they are too disruptive."
Meeting her eyes, Steve asked, still calmly, "that evidence concerning my last encounter with the defendant? Will the judge have that played for everyone?"
"Oh, heaven's I hope not!" the woman replied without thought then blushed. "If it contains anything of a graphic nature, it can be limited to the jury or even just the judge. Most likely, the judge will view it and decide if the evidence needs to be presented to the jury or not. No one in the rest of the court, the viewers - - none of them will get to see it."
Steve nodded. "Will I be seeing it since it involves me?" He felt uncomfortable at the idea of others watching his and Bucky's sexual encounter.
With a frown, the assistant sighed and said, "I don't know. You may want to speak to one of the lawyers. You're a defense witness?"
Nodding, Steve confirmed, "yes, ma'am."
Before she could continue the conversation, the door opened and Matt made his way inside. He didn't seem bothered by the court assistant standing beside Steve, if he even noticed her there. "Captain? I'd like permission to petition the court for genetic testing on you. This would also involve a physical, and documenting of any marks found. Dental impressions as well. It could take a week or more to get the results, but I think I might be able to get the rape charges thrown out."
Without thinking, the assistant huffed, "why would a rape victim want the charges thrown out?"
"I wasn't raped," Steve insisted then turned to Matt and agreed, "whatever it takes, Mr. Murdock. I'll submit to whatever tests you think are needed."
With a nod, Matt said, "stay here with the court staff member, Captain. You'll be sent for when you are needed. If you aren't needed, Foggy or I will come back to explain the situation to you." He made his steady way from the room once more.
Steve looked at the woman beside him and softly said, again, "I wasn't raped."
Her eyes widened and she whispered, as if afraid she'd be overheard breaking court rules, "are you really mates, like the defendant said? I've never heard of two Alphas being mates."
"Mates . . ." Steve began but the door opened and this time Tony walked in, startling the pair.
"Hey, Capcicle, surprise of the century . . ." He turned to the court assistant and smiled in a suave manner. "Court's adjourned for the day. We're to come back once the tests are in. I'm escorting him home."
She nodded and left without question.
Tony turned to Steve and shook his head. "Husband? That's a new one. The reporters are eating it up that there's any possibility Captain America might be in some secret gay marriage with a terrorist." He studied Steve, an odd smile on his face. "Well, they're allowing two separate testing groups to work with you and Bucky. JARVIS is one of the leading ranked genetic testers, so the court has accepted him. The prosecution gets to choose a tester as well. You'll be photographed and scanned everywhere, dental impressions, DNA testing, and a presentation test - - the works. This'll be fun."
"Fun? Most of that would be in my military records. Dr. Erskine had to do a full run of tests for the serum." Steve met Tony's eyes, ignoring how overly happy the brash inventor felt over getting to poke and prod the super soldier.
"Don't worry," Matt's voice came from the doorway as he opened the barrier. "The court granted permission to pull your complete medical and military file as well as Bucky's. We need it to prove Bucky's claim and get the rape charge thrown out."
Flushing brightly, Steve cleared his throat and said, "there's no documentation of a wedding because there wasn't one."
Matt titled his head slightly as Tony snorted inelegantly. The inventor explained, "look, husband in a civil or religious service isn't what the court wants to find out, Cap. They want to know if you are bonded with Buckers. You know - - mates."
Steve whipped his head around and asked, "mates?"
"Not here," Matt interrupted. "Go back to the tower and get the testing Captain. I'll come over tonight and explain everything. Right now, I need to make sure Bucky isn't being mistreated by some misguided people who think he's lying about Captain America. This entire situation is going to blow up in the press and we need to do some damage control."
As he opened his mouth to reply, Steve stopped, cut off by Tony, "yeah, lotta people still don't accept Alpha to Alpha or Omega to Omega bonds. The Presentation Equality groups are going to be praying you both are legitimately mated." He guided Steve, without touching him, from the room and towards the waiting car. "This is candy to them as much as to the scandalmongers."
"Terrific," Steve growled softly. "I'm on the yellow sheets."