"Phil?!" Pepper's high voice broke through the research haze surrounding Steve, making him stiffen before he realized nothing was wrong. He looked up to see Coulson and two woman entering the waiting room. Agent May, and the inhuman Coulson had unknowingly adopted into his team were easily identified after a moment. Both were dangerous in their own merits and Steve could see why they had accompanied him here. If this had been a trap, they would have got him out and Steve would have regretted ever trying anything with the Agent. Good thing this wasn't a trap then.
"Ms. Potts. My death was… misreported, but I'm afraid I suffered some memory loss though, and was tossed back into work so quickly that I didn't initially realize anything was wrong. By the time I did… I had a rather large workload and thought letting the lie continue would be easier. I was informed that Mr. Stark had been injured and was in surgery though, and whether it fits Fury's plans or not I had to be here." Phil murmured, his voice apologetic. Pepper looked like she was going to faint, before she gathered herself and look straight at Steve.
"I assume you were the one to contact him? Thank you. Phil may not remember it, but he and Tony were close for a time, before Phil went and got himself killed like the idiot he is." She said, her voice thin, before she shook her head. "You just keep helping. First by saving him from Rogers and getting him help, and now this. You said you lost Tony in you're world, but you didn't hesitate in saving ours, and while I can't thank you enough for keeping him alive and sane I can't help but wonder what's going to happen when you find a way home. You can't stay here obviously." She muttered, and as thankful as she sounded there was a hint of warning in her voice as she spoke of him going home, Steve raised an eyebrow as the rooms attention focused on him and gave them a small smile.
"I don't plan on even trying to leave this world until I'm sure Tony makes it passed what I lost my version to, so don't worry Ms. Potts. I'm not planning on up and leaving him without the support I'm giving him now, I know he needs as many people in his corner now more then ever." He said plainly, Rhodes snorted as Phil nodded in his direction before giving the red head a hug and coming over.
"He's going to be one of Tone's best assets Pepper, I'll even bet on it with you right now. Even just getting Coulson here will help, maybe even make those Idiots rethink going against most every government in the world just because Rogers wants to protect his buddy." Rhodes hummed, ignoring the Agent's movement. Steve tracked him until he came to a stop next to him, and then nodded to a chair. Phil's back up had stayed with Rhodes and Potts. The Agent offered him a hard look before sitting down, giving Steve the courtesy of not having to look up at him while they were speaking. The other man seemed to block out his two agents and Pepper and Rhodey as he focused on Steve.
"I think we need to have a talk about just what the hell happened in Siberia and why Tony Stark is in surgery. Roger's really did this? My sources say you're the real deal, confirmed not to be from this reality, universe whatever the hell you want to call it. How did that happen?" Phil asked, his tone neither kind nor understanding. This was a man looking for answers when someone he cared about was harmed, and by someone that should have had his back. Steve couldn't blame him for the way he was reacting Because if he had been called in to Tony being seriously hurt, he would be acting the same and he knew it. Rogers would be in for a world of hurt when Coulson got a hold of him.
"I was caught in one of the Fantastic Four's member's experiments. It was overloading and threatening to cause some serious damage from my understanding of Dr. Reed's explanation. I arrived in this world to see myself and Barnes attacking a prone Tony- and I stepped in before the next blow could be struck. With the damage he had already been on the receiving end of, it would have killed him. Barnes stood down once I blocked the strike, and seemed to come back to himself in short order- standing by me to protect Tony if need be. I was able to find out that my other self had known that Barnes was used to kill Tony's parent's and had withheld that information from him, but it had been revealed in that bunker. Tony didn't react well, and upon the perceived threat to Barnes Rogers reacted with extreme prejudice. Barnes was most likely defending himself initially and he might have experienced a PTSD related relapse into his other mindset at the attack. I was able to determine that Tony needed immediate medical evac and in the process proved to Tony that I wasn't a hallucination. Rogers seemed… unable to admit that he had hurt Tony as badly as he did, even to himself, and insisted he had only done it to protect Barnes." He reported, keeping emotion out of his voice. This was just like any other sit rep- it didn't matter how much they both cared for the man in surgery. Anger flashed through the Agent's eyes, and his hands curled into a fist.
"Goddamn it." Coulson bit out, in a bitter whisper, bringing up a hand and roughly rubbing at the bridge of his nose before his eyes connected with Steve's again.
"You'll never know how thankful I am for Reed's accident. If he had… If Rogers had killed Tony then I would be on my way to kill a national hero right now. There are many things Fury's mind games have made fuzzy… but I remember Tony. Remember seeing passed his masks and thinking 'This is someone worth protecting, worth bringing into my life as something more.' My partner didn't agree, so it never went any further then that though." Coulson murmured. Steve felt his eyebrows raise. Not at the information that the agent was hinting at, but at the fact that Barton had refused. There was a reason he had mentioned a dance card in relation to his and his Tony's dating life. In his world the other mans need for love and care after his life and experiences had been noticed, and indulged. This Tony was sorely lacking that it seemed. He was sure that would be fixed soon though.
"You might be surprised on how thankful I know you are." He replied, a small smile on his face as he remembered the trio. Meeting them, knowing what they shared. It had been daunting for him. Especially once he had fallen for the genius as well, and instead of being angry they had worked out how to expand their relationship. Once Phil worked that out had been interesting, and something that he had never regretted being a part of. Steve felt a pang of loss as his thoughts turned to what had been left after Tony had sacrificed himself to bring half the universe back. If this worked out and he brought Tony home… well there would be more then just his heart on the line as they all got to know the genius again. And they would discover his quirks and personality so the other man knew he wasn't just being used as a replacement for what they had lost. Coulson looked at him closely, before nodding to himself.
"So what's your plan?" He asked bluntly. Steve smirked, before looking at him seriously.
"There's something big coming. I lost my Tony to it in my world. And I'm not going to let that happen to this Tony. He needs a team he can trust, and I happen to have one that will share my mindset of keeping him alive. I'm going to be bringing them here. Rogers and his merry band of twisted Ex-Avenger's can hide out all they want. We won't need them, and I won't be subjecting Tony to them in any way. They made their choices, that's on them. Tony is my priority." Steve promised. Coulson's lips twitched, as his eyes searched Steve's face.
"I believe you. You're who I imagined Captain America being growing up. Not the coward that almost killed his team mate with the shield the man's father made for him. Tony needs someone to have his back. I've failed, every damn person in his life has failed except maybe Rhodes." The Agent murmured sadly. And while Steve knew he should be assuring the other man that his perceived failure wasn't all on him- the Fury had a big part in it. He couldn't though. Because even Coulson had made his choice when Barton had turned down his request to bring Tony into their relationship. The agent was persuasive enough to be able to change any mans mind in his experience. But he hadn't.
"I've been doing my homework on this reality, so I know he needs more people covering his back- the insane version of myself and his team mates are liable to put a knife in it based on this mess. And… It gives me a chance to get to know this Tony for himself more then the glimpse I got while we were in the bunker. I already won't let anything else happen to the man if I can help it. It's not in me to see any version of Tony Stark hurt, and not try to prevent it or help with the aftermath." He admitted softly. Coulson's pinned him with a searching look, before something in them softened.
"I see. And you're sure your team will feel the same?" He questioned. Steve knew his smile was bittersweet as he nodded, his throat tightening. When he was able to get into contact with his reality… he knew he wouldn't have to ask. Or do anything to convince his teammates. As soon as they learned that this world's Tony was mistreated and virtually alone with Thanos coming they would be gearing up. He would be surprised if some of them didn't try and get the genius out of Dodge before the coming battle. This world would be losing a good man once everything was said and done, but it wasn't like they had appreciated him in the first place.
"Our Tony… his death affected each and every one of us in ways that can't be changed. This mess? It never happened because we trusted him, loved him and kept him in the loop. My team? They are going to want to get to know this Tony as much as I do, and no- it won't be to replace the man we lost but to keep a man we know is good from having to suffer anymore." He promised, his voice rough, and just a tad bit sharp. Coulson's lips quirked.
"Good." Was all he said, before they settled into a comfortable silence waiting on news of the genius' condition.
'It didn't take long for them to assume the worst of the man Steve and he had left laying on a cold bunker floor in a disabled suit. With someone that may or may not be telling to truth of where he had come from as his only help or company.' Bucky thought to himself in disgust. The other part of him- the one that was all brainwashing and strict commands with no connection to these people wanted to slit their throats more and more with every insult that past their lips. Steve hadn't had the courage to correct their assumptions that Stark had played them, and had gone to that bunker with no intention of helping either man. So while he was sitting here wondering if help even came, and if it had if they had been able save the man's life they were all wishing him dead because of the scraps bruising and in Bucky's case missing arm the two men had come back with. Because admitting that there had been a reason for the fight would look bad on Bucky and Steve himself the Punk had stayed quiet. And while Bucky didn't remember everything from when he was Rogers best friend, he knew that his Punk would have never done this. The cup he was holding shattered after one particular comment that the genius had never cared about anyone. That he had been an Avenger for the glory and the PR, and he deserved to be rotting in one of the cells they had escaped from or dead.
"Shut the hell up." He demanded, his voice a dark growl. As all eyes shot to him, Steve looked like he was going to protest- the other man having to know that he had enough of this bullshit and was going to set them right about the man they were wishing dead.
"What did you just say? Because I must have misheard you" Barton, one of the worst offenders when it came to down talking the man who had been left behind by the super soldier's, a broken shell of who had come to help, hissed, sounding offended by what he had ordered.
"I said shut the hell up. You assholes call yourselves heroes but the real hero? Steve and I left him in a disabled suit that had taken enough damage to crush it's chest inward. We left him behind to get away from authorities, and a prayer that some kind of medical help got to him before he died from his injuries. We still don't know if that happened and I'm not going to listen to idiots who he called his friends talk about how he's the worst person in the world." He spat out, silencing the room. Barton paled at his response, looking to Steve with panic unfolding in his eyes.
"Would you care to explain that statement? Because I was told that no one in Siberia was injured enough to receive medical attention when I inquired." This time the question hadn't come from one of the 'Heroes' that were on the run. T'Challa was standing in the door of the lounge, and he looked pissed off. Well he had the right to be, Steve had told him Stark was just cooling off after all.
"Bucky, Please don't, it's done. It's over.." Steve begged him not to say anything more, desperation clear in his voice. The Winter Soldier snorted, sparing him a disgusted look. What had happened in that Bunker, and after had proved to him that he wasn't on the right side of things. Steve and his little group were not the victims of a power mad billionaire and that was a hard pill to swallow. If the other version of Steve hadn't told him to go, he would have stayed there and taken his lumps. But he was in too deep and he knew it, so when the other Stevie had given him the go ahead he had left and he had regretted doing so ever moment since.
"Steve Lied to you when you asked about injuries sir. It seems the punk developed a habit of lying in fact. Stark came to Siberia to help us, he made sure Ross couldn't trace him even. And it was a trap, but not for Steve and I. The other projects had been terminated, but Zemo did have something to show us- one last nail in the Avenger's coffins so to speak since his goal was to break you all apart. He had video of me killing Stark's Parents while I was Hydra's little pet. And Steve had known it was me, hadn't bothered to tell Stark while he was using the man's money to find me either. That's why the fight happened. Stark didn't take well to seeing his ma and pa murdered and got a hit in- which he deserved considering my part in his parents death. I reacted by going for his weak point- the light in his chest, so he got rid of the arm that was reaching- the arm he had just seen strangle his Ma. Steve joined in, and he wasn't holding back like Stark was. Once Stark was down he took a number of direct hits from Steve's shield to his light. I was caught up in the fight until someone else intervened. Just appeared out of nowhere and stopped Steve from dealing a fatal blow. Things calmed down real quick after that until the new guy determined Stark needed an emergency medical transport. Signaling for that made it dangerous to stick around- since there was no way in hell the guys who want me dead wouldn't take the chance to make it happen and Steve wasn't going to chance that. Then we went off with you, and left Stark with the unknown to wait for help." He replied, his mouth feeling dry. He didn't really talk that much, but he couldn't let these ingrates keep badmouthing a guy who hadn't done anything to hurt them. T'Challa scowled as the others looked shocked by what he had to say, disgust filtered over most of their faces as it sank in. Minus Wanda of course.
The Witch took a perverse sort of pleasure in both saying cruel things about Stark, and in hearing that anything bad could or would happen to him. He didn't trust her one bit- ex hydra or not, she had known what she had been getting into and she had tested her powers on people to get the control she had. There was nothing to be redeemed about the Witch, and he couldn't understand why in god's name Steve even had her on the team. He would have just ended her life, and the threat she presented as soon as he had gotten the chance if he had been around back when she had defected to the winning side to save her own ass. Her hatred of Stark wasn't something that was just going to end either, and the man must have gone through hell having to provide for her needs and whims.
"Oh God." Barton muttered, looking pale and like he would be either passing out or throwing up soon, his hands were clenched in a fist as he looked at Steve. Captain America wasn't looking at anyone, instead his head was down, and his arms stiff at his side.
"I will try to reach out to see if I can find anything out about Dr. Stark's condition. Who was this unknown?" T'Challa asked, his voice as tense as his body as he came to the grim understanding of just what had happened and his own part in leaving a man that had been injured behind. Bucky grinned at him darkly, kind of looking forward to letting everyone know that somewhere there was a Steve that was on the right side of this mess. A Steve that was actually a damn hero, and not some coward that was taking advantage of a countries refuge to escape his actions.
"Another version of Steve. One that actually acted like the punk I remember vaguely. He claimed to have been involved in an accident of some sort in his world before he was dumped in what he called hell. He knew where the emergency transponder in Stark's suit was and that was all Steve needed to leave him with the guy." He replied, his voice full of sarcasm and disapproval towards the man sitting stone still in the room with him. Barton stood up from where he had been lounging and complaining about Stark just minutes before, walking towards T'Challa with determination written on his face, it mingled with the panic in an unpleasant way- twisting the man's features.
"I want to be there when you check in on him. Stark… Tony. He was important to someone close to me. I need to know that I didn't fail him by following Rogers like I did Laura and the kids." The archer pleaded, sounding nothing like the man Bucky had come to know. Instead of anger there was concern and pain in his voice, and by the look Natasha sent him he wasn't the only one noticing the change. T'Challa looked unimpressed, before shaking his head and glaring at the room as a whole.
"All of you will be staying in this wing. I made many mistakes myself- first going after Barnes without knowing for sure that he had been the one to kill my father, and then in providing you haven. Dr. Stark's work on the Accords have kept them from becoming something truly horrific. He has had to work with corrupt people in power to circumnavigate their authority and hold on the Accords. If Rogers has managed to kill him, then a great deal of damage has been done to that progress. But this alarming news wasn't my original reasons for visiting. Wanda Maximoff, the magic users who monitor my palace grounds have observed a large amount of your magic at work tonight. As such your ability to use them have been limited, given the chaotic and negative nature that was observed. These restrictions will not be removed for as long as you are in Wakanda. I'm not in the business of allowing harmful elements free reign to my people, or those under my protection." He intoned. Wanda suddenly didn't look so smug. She screeched, standing up and for a moment her hands glowed red, before the power snapped back into her body causing her to pass out. Clint Stared at her as her body hit the floor with a thump, but didn't make his way to her. Just 20 minutes ago he would have ran to her and shouted at T'Challa for harming her, but now? She had made an aggressive move towards a king who was doing his job and he couldn't find it in him to care if she had gotten herself hurt. It was strange, considering the urges he had been experiencing to protect her from the world. .
"I need to know Tony is okay." Clint insisted, turning to look at T'Challa. The King snorted.
"I will update you all when I know of his condition. Lets pray that help did indeed arrive and he feels generous once he is healed. Mr. Rogers' lie puts me in the precarious place of having abandoned an injured man to the colds of Siberia with no confirmed help coming to his aid and that is a grievous slight that I cannot forgive myself for." The King murmured, before leaving. Bucky didn't stop the fist that snapped Steve's head up on impact but he was betting the Archer wished he had as he shook his fist in pain. All the he did was shake his head as Steve recovered and looked at the group balefully, then at Bucky- his eyes sad, and maybe just a little disappointed in him.
"I had to protect Bucky. You didn't see Stark… he was going to kill him, and it wasn't Bucky's fault. He didn't choose to kill Howard and his wife." Steve spoke finally, his voice broken and begging for the team to understand that he had just been protecting his friend. Clint snorted, glaring at him.
"I've seen what Tony's suits are capable of. If he wanted either of you dead, you wouldn't be here. Before your precious Bucky let us in on what really happened I thought you two had lucked out. That he was just being a vengeful dick and that he had gotten off sending you off hurt. That pissed me off because I lost sight of the man someone dear to me fell for, I bought into all of this anti-Tony hype, knowing damn well that my friend wouldn't have looked twice at him if he was really like that. And God knows I took that hype to extreme in my rants, though strangely enough I'm not angry now. Just disgusted. You made the wrong call Cap, we all did. Let's just hope you didn't make it so we can't fix what we tore apart and threw away." The Archer spat at him, before leaving the lounge- heading to his room no doubt. Bucky felt his lips twitch at that. Maybe Barton wasn't so bad after all.
"You understand, don't you Bucky? You know what I was only doing what I had to do to protect you?" Steve's sad voice broke him from his thoughts. He raised an eyebrow at the man who had done his best to burn down the world in his name and shook his head negatively in response.
"I really don't. You were team mates. He thought you were friends, even said so himself when you had him laying prone on the ground. But you screwed Stark over six ways to Sunday, and that's not just talking about what happened in Siberia. You must have never really liked the man, because you knew that Hydra used me to kill his parent's and you never said a word to him. That's not the action of a friend. At the time you didn't even know if I could come back from that and even now we still don't know for sure even though I'm not outright trying to kill you all- I have triggers that can be used to control me that need to be removed, they can erase the progress I have made if they get control of me again. You used him while he had something to give you, but once you got your goal? That man became disposable as you proved in Siberia, and that's not the Stevie of my few memories. So no I don't understand why the hell you've waged a war like this. Seems to me a man like Stark? One that would come to back up two men who he was in the middle of a disagreement with while having no back up to protect his own ass? He wouldn't have let me disappear into some shady organizations grasps without a fight. So all this nonsense about protecting me? It's lies you're telling yourself to justify what an ass you've been." He replied bluntly, before leaving the room himself to wait on news on Stark. He didn't want to spend the time they would be waiting with Steve or the others though. Not after the last 48 hours.