Chapter 2
Obie's point of view
We had just arrived at JFK Airport and were about to head to the house on Long Island when a figure approached.
"Mr Stane, can we talk?"
"Of course Ms Romanoff… and please, call me Obie"
"If you'll call me Tasha"
"Would you like to come with us to Long Island?"
"Yes I would. I found out some things… and I need to confirm a couple of things before I tell the others what I found out".
"OK"
I loaded Natasha's suitcase into the boot of the car. I thought I heard it say "OW".
"I will explain everything once we get to Long Island…" was all Natasha would say
Pepper's point of view
Tony's godparents were coming. Jay had gone grocery shopping and was now fixing dinner for us. Even though it had been 20 or more years since Peggy and Howard had died, Tony still kept the house in working order. Obie and Maria used it when they came to stay in New York.
When Obie and Maria arrived, Jay served dinner. Tony picked at his.
"Tony… what's wrong?"
"Nothing… except… everything! Nothing is going right! I can't do anything right" Tony broke completely… overcome with anger, betrayal, and sorrow.
"What's going on?"
"Well… today has been quite a day! First, the team voted to kick Tony off because they blamed him for my injury. I don't. He's been helping me to recover, but the others are a bunch of mundane zombie sheep who don't see what's right in front of them. Tony has been pretty miserable about it all day. I can't say I blame him."
"They kicked me out of the team" Tony said grumpily "and as if that's not bad enough, Pepper and I… well, I don't know"
"Tony came and asked me if I wanted to continue, and I said yes, but I also told him that I'm still working through some things. He took that to mean yes… but actually… not so much. He went upstairs to his office, got the key and came up here…"
"Then I bought a bottle of scotch and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. I found a syringe from when I was having to test my blood regularly when I had the Arc Reactor."
"You were going to hurt yourself?"
"Yes!"
"You were prepared to throw away your life because you were so angry?"
"Yes"
Obie sighed.
"Tony, I will speak to the other team members…"
"OK"
"I should bring in my suitcase" said Nat. "I got some 'splainin' to do"
"OK"
Nat's point of view
I brought the suitcase containing Director Fury up to the house. I opened it.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just evaporate your brain. Or a reason why I shouldn't send Bruce into a code green and give you to the Hulk to play with?"
"I don't have one. What I have done, what I am going to do, is for the greater good."
"You are going to sit down. You will tell everyone the truth. You annoying little menace because if you don't, I'll aggravate Bruce, turn him green and give you to the Hulk to play with!"
"All right fine…"
After unceremoniously stuffing Fury back inside my suitcase, and handing him to Bruce. I grabbed my phone and called Clint.
"Clint, get the rest of the team together and get up to the Stark Mansion on Long Island. That's an order from your commanding officer".
"Fine. But if Tony thinks for one minute we're going to allow him back onto the team, he has another thought coming!"
"That is not up for discussion, I have found out some things that need to be shared. You are part of this family by adoption, so you will do exactly what Jay says because he's the oldest. Before you come up here though… you will completely forget everything you think that you know about the past 20 years."
"Why should I?"
"Clint, if you want us to stay together, you'll do what I say."
"That's manipulative."
"Listen, your attitude lately has been deplorable. You are acting like a self—aggrandizing spoiled baby. It stops… now, or I'm taking the kids and going home with my parents."
"Really Nat? You're going to threaten me like that?"
"It's not a threat. If I carry it out, this time we're not coming home."
"Yeah OK princess, whatever you say, you entitled spoiled ungrateful brat! We'll see how far you get without your soulmate."
"All right, stop it, you two."
"That's it Clint. We're done. It's over. There's no turning back this time. I'm taking Harry and Hermione and going back to Malibu with Mom and Dad… this ends here".
"Do what you like, but you're not taking the kids"
"Yes I am."
"Enough. You two will fix this, we will babysit and let you go and talk it out. Now what was it you wanted to tell us, Natasha?"
"Clint isn't willing to listen, so I can't tell you"
"Just hurry and spit it out already, would you?"
"Fine… I have very reliable proof that Howard and Peggy are still alive".
The expression on Tony's face changed, he gasped, choked, rounded on me and said in a low hiss…
"Natalia Alinova Romanova that better be true because if it's not…"
"Trust me, it is true. I will prove it to you."
I opened the suitcase and director Fury fell out onto the floor.
"Bruce… remember when I asked you to brew me some Veritaserum?"
"Yes"
"This is why. He was found creeping around the bay in Wakanda. Queen Shuri called me and asked for my help with finding out what this scumbag was up to, and she told me everything… Howard and Peggy are alive, they're in Wakanda. They're not supposed to be alive and no one knows except those who were there the night the 'accident' happened".
"Three drops, under the tongue… BrucieBear".