"So…" Stephen leant against the doorframe. As he spoke Tony and Rhodey looked at him from the couch. Uncertainty flashed on Tony's face as Stephen looked at him.
"Um…" Tony muttered, slightly awkward, a rare occurrence in any situation.
"You seem to be an unnaturally good fighter," commented Stephen. "I didn't know that about you." Tony bit his lip, at his words Rhodey, who had been lounging relaxed on the cushions, sat up slowly in a protective posture.
"Yes…" Tony answered Stephen didn't move. Rhodey glanced back and forth between them.
"Really Tony?" Rhodey asked, sighing slightly. Tony looked at him and Rhodey looked back with a look that clearly meant you haven't told him? "He clearly knows something's up."
Tony seemed to have a mental struggle for several seconds before sighing in supposed defeat.
"Stephen. Can you come here? I have to tell you something." Stephen hesitated for a second before moving to the couch to sit next to Rhodey and across from Tony. Tony opened his mouth several times, not speaking. Stephen raised his eyebrows expectantly.
"So you know Natasha?" Tony began, Stephen paused, this isn't how he expected the conversation to start. "Well, she was trained in this super secret spy place called the Red Room in Russia." Tony closed his eyes for a second, reopening them after taking a deep breath. "Most countries have their own versions of that. Italy had one, I can't remember what it was called. They were less… brutal there. Let people leave before initiation."
Stephen was barely breathing. This conversation definitely isn't going in the direction he predicted.
"My mother…" Tony grimaced looked pained. "Was Italian, as you know. When she was a girl, she trained at one of these places. Then, she left and married Howard. She didn't really do that stuff again." Tony had opened his eyes and now was doing a remarkable job avoiding Stephen's.
"But when I was a kid I got kidnapped a lot. Like a lot. I had been kidnapped over 10 times by the time I was 9. Howard didn't like paying ransom though. So I would be stuck kidnapped until Aunt Peggy got back from whatever shield mission she was one, or my mum found out." Tony grimaced slightly at the memories. "My mum was always super pissed at Howard about this. So he decided to take matters into her own hands."
"She taught me everything she knew. Every kind of martial art, all seven languages, how to kill and incapacitate people, how to use every weapon known to man, espionage, everything." Tony looked at Stephen then, worry in his eyes, Stephen's face was masked, no expressions obvious even with Tony's skill at reading people. "I've barely used any of the stuff she taught me except for Afghanistan and Iron Man stuff."
Stephen didn't say anything, still shocked by this new information. He isn't exactly sure how to react. He adored Tony but this new information was… new.
"Stephen?" Tony asked hesitantly. "I'm sorry. I should have told you." Stephen hummed, still unsure how to respond. "God I'm an idiot." Tony groaned.
"No. Tony. God no." Stephen finally said. "This just… isn't exactly what I expected to hear." Tony laughed bitterly.
"Yeah. I'm full of fun surprises aren't I?" Rhodey snorted at that, Stephen just smiled thinly.
"You need time to process don't you?" Rhodey said knowingly, "I was exactly the same when he told me."
"Take all the time you need. Just," Tony struggled for words, another rare occurrence. "Yeah." Stephen chuckled lightly.
"Yeah." He stood, body on autopilot. "I should go… process." He began to walk to the door, stopping by Tony. He rested a hand gently on his shoulder, squeezing it slightly.
"You know I love you right?" At Stephen's words, Tony looked slightly surprised. It was the first time the words had been given in a serious way. He smiled slightly.
"I love you too…" Tony put his hand to Stephen's on his shoulder, pulling it away and kissing it gently Stephen smiled at him before leaving the room.
After Stephen left Tony turned back to Rhodey who was smirking.
"What?"
"That was the cutest shit I've ever seen." Rhodey grinned at the man. "About time too. You have been swooning over him since you met and it's about time the words were exchanged."
"The words?" scoffed Tony. "What are you, five?"
"If I'm five then you are two." Rhodey grinned at Tony who rolled his eyes before he became serious.
"How do you think he's taking it?" Tony looked worried.
"Well enough. He definitely loves you too much that's for sure." Rhodey smiled slightly before growing even more serious. "Tones. What are you doing."
"What do you mean?"
"First you bring the Rogues back, Then you disappear every night, then you give Rogers his shield back, now you practically beat up Clint? Tones… What are you planning?"
Tony didn't answer, massaging his now weaker left arm.
"Tony…" sighed Rhodey.
"I have a plan sugarplum."
"What is this plan? Revenge? Murder? Or just the usual madness?"
"Only on the ones stupid enough to stick with Rogers." Tony closed his eyes leaning his head back.
"Tony if you pretend to go to sleep I swear to god…" Rhodey groaned, Tony reluctantly sat back up.
"Why are you intent on not bringing them down?" Tony questioned, suspicion in his eyes.
"I'm not. Rogers can go to hell for all I care. I just don't want you to hurt yourself caught up in this vengeance shit."
"Don't worry Sweetie pie." Tony stood up, patting Rhodey's unamused head as he headed to his lab. "I know exactly what I'm doing."
-o-
"Is something wrong Steve?" Clint looked at him, slightly worried. "You look really tired." Steve rubbed his tired eyes. Not exactly hearing Clint. Wanda looked at Clint confused when Steve didn't reply. She tapped his shoulder. Steve didn't even jump as he looked at her.
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay?" Wanda repeated for Clint.
"Yeah. Just… having weird dreams lately." Steve leaned back in his chair tired.
"What kind of weird dreams make you this tired?" Clint scoffed.
"Just… I wake up, in the dream I mean, and Tony's in the room." Steve grimaced, about time he told them anyway.
"Okay, maybe I don't want to hear about these weird dreams." Clint looked disgusted.
"Oh shut it, that's not what he meant." Wanda rolled her eyes, hitting Clint lightly on his shoulder.
"So he's in my room and just talking." Steve shuddered slightly. "About how I hurt him."
"And?" Clint looked at him seeming troubled.
"I don't even know. But they've been going on since before we left Wakanda. The first time I woke up and his flip phone was in my room. The one I sent him." Steve pulled the phone in question out of his pocket, laying it on the table in front of them. Clint seemed to pale several skin tones.
"What on earth…" Wanda picked up the phone, expecting it.
"Clint? What's the matter?" Steve blinked, clearing his eyes and confirming Clint actually making that expression.
"Recently." Clint started in a hollow voice, "I've been finding pictures around the compound. Just in random places I normally am the only one to go to, like the vents and shit." He quietened.
"Photo's?" prompted Wanda.
"Of my family, the ones we have back at the barn. But in all of them, I've been cut or edited out. I keep on trying to call Laura but she only answered once which was basically just yelling." Clint gulped, grimacing. There was silence and Wanda looked at her hands oddly
"Since we got back…" Wanda sighed. "Normally, because of my powers, I can pick up bits of emotions and thoughts randomly. But recently I haven't been able to hear anything. Do you think it's connected?" Steve nodded slowly.
"Maybe…"
"So this is all Stark," Clint growled.
"That…" Wanda let out a stream of swears that were unintelligible to Steve who had been unable to get a stupid buzzing out of his ears.
Clint and Wanda continued to insult Tony while Steve didn't say anything. He was too distracted by his thoughts. Which, he now noticed were of nothing at all.
"Hey, Assholes." A woman entered the room. She had a pale face, dark hair and a leather jacket. "Which one of you is Barton?"
"Who's asking, and how the hell did you get in here?" Clint stood up, immediately defensive.
"I'll take that it's you then?" The woman didn't wait for an answer. She strode up to him, handing over a file, shooting an oddly venomous look at Wanda as she did so. "You've been served." She turned walking away. "Bye now."
"What?" Steve asked, clumsily getting to his feet. "Clint?" Clint wasn't answering. His face had gone a green resembling vomit as he stared at the papers in the folder.
"Clint? Are you okay?" Wanda asked worriedly. Clint didn't answer, collapsing back into the chair.
"Clint?"
"They're divorce papers," Clint spoke in the same hollow tone he had used earlier. "From Laura."
"Oh god, Clint." Steve blinked. "I'm so sorry."
"Not your fault." Clint's tone didn't change and there was silence for several seconds in which Wanda rubbed his shoulder comfortingly. They all looked up as they heard speaking in the next room. It was Tony and someone else. They couldn't tell who, but that voice was definitely Tony's.
"It's him," Clint growled, standing up and beginning to stalk to the next room.
"Clint?" Steve followed him cautiously. Wanda had a similar venom in her expression.
"You." Clint snarled as he entered the room. Tony looked up at them, a neutral expression masking his face. Peter glanced between them all nervously. Tony took a step towards them, which Steve vaguely noted was also in front of Peter.
"Me?" Tony asked simply.
"You are such an asshole." Clint hissed. "What did you say to Laura?"
"Nothing that should spark this reaction," Tony replied.
"She divorced me! What did you say!"
"Oh so it's me again is it?" Tony took a step closer to him. "Not because you quit retirement to become a wanted fugitive? Not because you abandoned your family or anything. But because of me."
"You always do shit like this." Clint retorted. "All these photos left around, and the flip phone, and whatever the fuck you did to Wanda!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Tony answered, his voice holding the same coldness as did each night, making Steve shudder.
"Don't lie as well Stark." Wanda sneered. "You did something to me and said something to Vision!"
"You always bring people into your shit." Clint ranted. "Us, the government, T'challa, Pepper, and now this child here." Clint gestured to an offended looking Peter. Tony took another step closer, so he and Clint were barely a foot apart.
"I thought I told you not to mention Peter." Tony breathed, eyes flashing. "I thought I told you that if you give me this bullshit, that I would destroy you…"
Clint spat in his face.
The reaction was instantaneous. White streaks flew from Peter's hands, slamming Clint hard into the wall. He growled, grabbing a knife out of his pocket to cut it off. Which quickly clattered on the floor as he was immobilized by another streak.
"Mr Stark? Are you okay?" Peter questioned, wandering over. He was thrown backwards by a cloud of red, Peter swung into balance before hitting the floor, but Tony, now even more furious than before, turned his vengeful gaze on Wanda. She raised her hands again, preparing to attack, Tony tapped the glowing Arc on his chest, snapping his arms in Wanda's direction. Liquid metal flew out of the blue light, they wrapped around Wanda's arms and hands, rendering her immobile and unable to use any magic.
"Stark…" She snarled simply.
"Tony come on." Steve wearily raised his arms, ready for another battle.
"No, I gave you a chance, you wasted it." Tony snapped at him. "This could have gone a thousand ways but you just had to be an idiot." A holographic screen appeared in front of Tony. He made several swiping motions until a series of clips and files appeared above him.
"Let's see what America thinks of their little patriot after they see these," As he spoke Tony made a swiping motion, showing each file.
"Siberia, a transcript of our discussion about how you didn't have to go and fuck the accords up, that little mission report video." Tony's teeth clashed at that. "Avengers first meeting on the helicarrier, all the Shield stuff about how you leaked information, killing hundreds of people and their families, a list of all your misdeeds against your precious country and their honour. But it doesn't end there." Tony laughed bitterly,
"Wanda's terrorist attacks, footage I got my hands on about how she complied with HYDRA, Clint's assassinations, his breaks in Accord protocol. Oh and FRIDAY dear?"
"Yes Boss?"
"Add this conversation to the lot, Peter blurred out, people would love to know about your use of powers on fellow Avengers, how you went against even more protocol because you were a tad pissed. Now FRIDAY, send that to every newspaper and station in NY anonymously."
"Done."
"Thanks, sweetie. Now I guess I'll leave you guys here to get collected by the police. You will be away for a long time. Clint might get off easy, but you two?" Tony laughed bitterly. "You're going away for life most likely. And this time, I don't care what they use to keep your powers in check. And I certainly won't put the council on hold if I get wind of you escaping."
"Tony…" Steve gaped.
"Bye now. Hope to never see you again." Tony gave them a mocking wave before leading Peter to the door, the man was there waiting again, the one who had the red cloak.
"Fuck you Stark," yelled Clint after them. Tony ignored them.
"Well…" Stephen murmured into Tony's ear. "That was…"
"Satisfying?" supplied Peter.
"I was going to go with something more flirtatious but that works too." Stephen shrugged, still smiling. Tony grinned back.
"Did you like my plan?" Tony whispered.
"Very much so." Stephen kissed Tony softly. "Very effective." Tony hummed in agreement a giddy smile on his mouth.
"Plan's are my speciality."
-o-x-o-
Seeing the Rogues jailed is never going to get old XD Hope you enjoyed this fic
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If you send me a prompt then it probably won't be written until I finish the first part of When we are Broken we will not win but feel free to anyway :)
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