Clint Barton woke up in Bruce Banner's arms and went back to sleep with a smile on his face.
Tony was so engrossed in just talking with T'Challa that their morning meeting that he had expected to only last a half hour soon ballooned into a three hour meeting that he found he did not want to end.
The man had intellect to rival his own, ideas for vibranium that boggled his mind, and the subtle hints he seemed to enjoy pushing on Tony about his age made everything the man said that much more intriguing.
It was nearly two o'clock when the other man looked at the wall with wide eyes and laughed. "I believe I have missed two other meetings, my friend!"
Tony looked up, eyes wide and laughed. "I only missed one but hell, it was my only other one so now my whole day is free."
T'Challa grinned. "I am very happy to have met you, my friend. I believe we will be working quite closely in the future," he reached across the table and held out his hand which Tony took.
They shook hands and both stood.
"You should come to L.A. Much better than the shit weather they have here," Tony said as he opened the door.
Pepper was on the other side, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed. When he nearly slammed the door behind them she jumped, her face reddening as she extended her hand, "It was wonderful to meet you," she said with a dazzling smile.
T'Challa took her hand and brought it to his lips, looking up through his lashes at her.
"The pleasure was mine, miss," he whispered.
She blushed again, taking her hand back.
Tony rolled his eyes. "I mean it, though. You should come, I'm sure you and Steve could…catch up," he finished, mumbling the last bit and trying not to show his jealousy.
T'Challa smiled, pressing a hand to his shoulder. "The idea does intrigue me, but alas I must return home. My wife is with child and could any moment now give birth to our son."
Tony's eyes widened. "Oh, wow! Congratulations!"
T'Challa smiled. "Yes, thank you. But I will remember what you have said. We will speak again soon, Tony Stark."
They shook hands again and he departed, leaving Tony and Pepper alone.
As soon as he was gone long enough Pepper spoke. "I talked to Steve."
Tony didn't respond to the obvious try for an explanation so she continued.
"He said it was all a big mistake, that you were getting the wrong idea about him and Nick Fury," she explained, smiling.
Tony looked at her, his expression not quite angry but not very happy either.
"And that there was nothing going on, despite what you may think," she finished.
Tony swallowed and said, "I know. I'm just…a little…"
"Jealous?" she offered, grinning.
Tony's cheeks reddened and he looked away, "No. I just…"
"I'm sure. But he did let something slip that I'm plenty sure you'll love to hear. He and T'Challa have never had sex so you can get that out of your head, which I'm sure it is, but instead it was Nick Fury and T'Challa who were pretty hot and heavy back in the war days," she finished, grinning.
Tony paused, thinking, and then pulled her to him in a hug. He pulled back and kissed her cheek, whispering, "What would I do without you? Now I have to get T'Challa back here."
"He's married, Tony."
Tony grinned, grabbing her shoulders and saying happily, "I know! Isn't it great! The great and powerful Fury can't have him either! Today is the best day EVER!"
Pepper started to laugh and the two of them left the building with matching grins on their faces. When they got into the car Tony said, "To the airport!" and the driver tipped his hat.
She sighed, leaning back against the seat with a satisfied smile.
Mission accomplished.
Nick Fury surveyed the table of heroes around him, taking in their mixed expressions and wishing again he'd brought more women onto the team.
Thor was deliberately not looking at Luke Cage, who was staring at him with such a forlorn expression that Nick pitied the man. Clint and Bruce were sitting very closely next to each other, their hands under the table no doubt touching in some way. He could see the bruises on the archer's neck and was happy that his resident monster was happy. Steve was staring at the table, playing with his fingers and sighing every few minutes and Nick guessed it could only have to do with Tony.
There were more important things at hand than this soap opera so he announced, "Our next mission is very simple. We will be going after Moses Magnum. I have uploaded the coordinates to each of your personal computers and you will see the details laid out in front of you. This is the HIGHEST priority, people," he explained, looking around the table.
Luke was looking down at his computer, his brow furrowed. He looked up again, "Wait, you're having Thor go in alone first? Isn't that…"
Thor glared at him. "I can take care of my own self, Lucas. I do not need to be coddled," he looked at Nick approvingly, "This battle will be fought swiftly and justly. You have my approval, Nicholas."
Nick smirked. "I thought so. Any other questions."
Bruce frowned. "You don't want me to come?"
"I don't think your particular service will be required Doctor."
Bruce blushed. "Oh."
Nick watched Clint whisper close to his ear and Bruce's face broke out into a grin, leaning in to whisper back and making the archer blush deep scarlet.
"If that is all, we assemble in one hour," he said, walking away and out into the hall.
He sighed, closing his eyes. "Um, Director Fury?" came the query to his left and Nick groaned.
"Yes, Maria?"
Maria Hill, one of his subordinates who was quite skilled in the battlefield but never could quite get the other aspects of her job down, was looking at him in confusion.
"You have a call, sir. From a mister…TCharra? He had an accent so I…" she started and he didn't hear anything after that.
Nick paled and swallowed. "Send it to my office, please," he said hoarsely, coughing before quickly leaving her.
He sat at his desk, staring at the phone like it was a time bomb. A red light appeared and he took a deep breath before pressing it.
"Hello," he said, trying to keep his voice formal.
The voice on the other end was smooth as silk and it still sent shivers down Nick's spine.
"Hello Nicholas."
"T'Challa. It's…been a long time. To what do I own this pleasure?"
There was a pause. "I…beg asylum, my friend," came the whisper, the warrior's voice breaking on the last word.
Nick whispered, "What's happened? Tell me."
T'Challa's voice was thick with emotion and broke as he whispered, "My wife…they have taken her, Nicholas. She has been murdered. I…they will come for my son next and then me. I…"
Nick gripped the edge of his desk so tightly his knuckles were turning white. "A chopper will be there in minutes for you both. You will be safe with me, ashiki." (love)
T'Challa's breath hitched and he laughed, though his voice was thick with emotion. "I have not been called that in a very long time, my friend. I…I know you will keep us safe, Nicholas."
Nick let out a breath and said, "Where are you now?"
"In hiding at the base of the cave near the palace? You know the location quite well."
Nick tried not to let the memories stir up his body but was unable to stop himself from getting aroused remembering times with T'Challa in the cave. "I remember."
"Thank you, Nicholas," T'Challa whispered.
The phone went dead and Nick covered his face with hands, his body shaking. He called out, "Sharon, you get that?"
"Yes, sir. The helicopter is on its way."
He looked up. "How do you even know where we were talking about?"
Her voice was somewhat offended. "Sir, I know everything am I supposed to know about you. There are some things to which I have found out on my own and there is only one cave near the Wakanda palace that you could be referring. Though I could be wrong?"
She sent him a map that appeared on the large screen in front of him. "No, that's it. Thank you, Sharon."
Sharon sounded sympathetic. "No need, Director Fury. I will be preparing quarters for the king and his son immediately near your own. Unless I am incorrect in assuming you would want them close by?"
Nick glared at the empty room. "No, you are not. That is all."
The silence that followed made him hate himself more for his weakness if it was so obvious to even his assistant. He sighed, closing his eyes.
Then he opened them again.
The mission.
He had forgotten.
He pressed another button and called out, "Avengers, come to my office NOW."
They all appeared in minutes and he straightened, trying not to look so drained.
"There has been a change of plan. The mission will still go on as planned, but I will need Steve to stay behind."
Steve frowned. "Nick, what's wrong?"
Nick shook his head, indicating the room. Steve still looked worried and the others confused but no one asked any more questions. Of course, Steve didn't budge when he told them to leave.
"What's happened, Nick? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Nick laughed. "I do, do I?," he suddenly took off his patch, revealing his damaged eye, "Do you remember when I got this, Steve?"
Steve paused. "Nineteen forty one, wasn't it? The shrapnel you took when we were…" he trailed off, his eyes widening, "This is about T'Challa, isn't it? Something's happened to him."
Nick smiled. "You're a lot smarter than people give you credit for. Yes. T'Challa and his newborn son are coming here. His wife was murdered shortly after his son was born and now he is fearful for his life. The rebels are taking over Wakanda, it has been a rebellion brewing for years but with T'Challa's recent dealings selling vibranium to the US and other allies it's been…strained."
Steve's face was full of emotion when he whispered, "Tony was supposed to be meeting with T'Challa just this morning. I…"
Nick nodded, sighing. "I wanted you to stay behind for T'Challa's sake, it would…be better for him to have someone he knows here when he arrives."
Steve looked at him askance. "He knows you, Nick. Quite well."
Nick looked away. "I…don't plan on…"
"You're running again. Just what sent him away in the first place," Steve said, sighing, "Regardless, I'll be here for my friend even if you won't be."
He turned to leave and Nick said quietly, "I can't."
Steve looked over his shoulder, smiled sadly, and said, "I didn't know the word was in the great Nicholas Fury's vocabulary," before leaving Nick alone.
Nick sighed again, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes.
Just when he'd thought the emotional rollercoaster was over.
"Be careful what you wish for," he whispered to himself.
Tony Stark entered his home quietly and without preamble, setting down his bags and closing the door.
It was late and he knew his arrival had been noted by every computer and security device in the place so he called out, "Jarvis is Steve here?"
"Negative, sir. Mister Rogers left eleven point four hours ago and has not been in our vicinity since."
He sighed and said, "No messages?"
"None, sir."
Tony walked over to the couch and turned on the TV, confused at what he saw.
A huge battle, fallen heroes, and amidst it all, a new face.
"T'Challa?" he asked, puzzled.
He turned off the TV and ran towards his lab. "Jarvis, let's suit me up!" he yelled.
Luke Cage sat at Thor's beside, holding the God's hand tightly and occasionally kissing it before squeezing again and again.
The battle against Moses Magnum had been an epic scene. Luke could barely process all that had happened but it started out quick and ended almost in slow motion, Magnum holding Thor in his arms and tossing the God aside like garbage and Luke himself attacking Moses in tears, driving a metal rod through the man's chest and killing him instantly.
The doctors didn't know exactly what had occurred between Magnum and Thor, but it seemed the man had called upon lightning the same time that Thor had and the counter balance between the two had caused something in the God's body that the doctors were baffled by.
Luke held Thor's hand tightly, his eyes never leaving Thor's face.
"I...seein' him holding you, tossing you like that, I just…I lost it. I…fuck. Wake up, Goldy, please," he kissed Thor's fingers, "He can't take anything else away from me as important as you."
There was a cough from behind him and Luke glared at the intrusion, and then at the man. Clint Barton was standing there awkwardly, looking worried. "No change?"
Luke let go of Thor's hand and stood. "No. It's been only two days though, so it's…," he looked at Thor again, "…not a lost cause yet."
Clint came around to the other side of the bed, staring down at Thor with a frown.
"I didn't think it would be as big a battle as it was. I…Bruce should have been there. This wouldn't have happened if Nick hadn't kept him back."
Luke nodded. "Probably. If G…he doesn't come out of this, I'll kill Fury myself."
Clint swallowed and whispered, "I'm sorry. I…when everything happened right before, I was so sure you and Thor would be…would fix things."
Luke looked at him, confused. "Fix things? He chose you, Robin Hood. Not me. And then you chose Doctor Monster and I…I don't even fucking understand what happened. He came to see me late, I…"
Clint shook his head. "No, no, that's not…when we went off I…he loves you, Luke, he as much as told me. I…he talked me into fighting for Bruce and I told him there was more to your arrangement than he thought. He…he was so happy I don't understand…"
Anguish was written all over Luke's face when he whispered, "I fucked it all up, didn't I?"
"What did you do?"
Luke laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Same thing I always do, Robin Hood. Act before I get the whole story, though I still doubt most of yours. I don't…fuck," he took Thor's hand and brought it to his lips, "I'm gonna go to bed, aiight? I just…I need to think."
Clint nodded and Luke left him alone with Thor. He sat at the God's side, holding his hand and whispering, "I hope I just did the right thing, Thor."
There was a cough and he smiled, looking over at Bruce who was glaring. "Hello Doctor Banner."
The other man looked disheveled and tired, walking over to him with a frown.
"Is it really necessary to hold his hand?"
Clint squeezed Thor's hand and said, "Jealous?"
Bruce's frown deepened. "No, I just…"
Clint laughed and let go of Thor's hand, taking Bruce's and kissing it. "Happy?"
Bruce smiled at him and then sighed at Thor. "I wish I could help, it's just…very strange. He heals from everything else in seconds, but not this? And you'd think his so called Gods would come down to help him or something."
Clint frowned at the blonde man in the bed. "I don't think they're happy with him right now, or at least from some of the things Thor has said about the choices they tried to make for him. Maybe they want him to…suffer."
The two men stared at the man in silence then, Clint leaned against Bruce as Bruce squeezed his fingers.
Tony Stark was starting to think God hated him.
What other explanation could there be? He'd met T'Challa, expected to be able to dangle the man in front of Nick Fury as an unattainable love and now the man had a dead wife and an adorable son that Fury seemed to be avoiding, though he knew that wouldn't last long.
And then there was Steve. He and T'Challa seemed to make up for lost time, constantly laughing and telling stories over Tony's head or just too old for him to even relate to and while he knew there was no romantic feelings on either man's part he almost wished there were, because he could fight for that but yelling at Steve for being a good friend seemed like a dick move that even he knew was wrong.
They were in the middle of one such story now about T'Challa's first mission with Steve and whatever the Howling Commandoes were, and Tony only half listened, wishing like hell he could just steal Steve away to his house where this shit couldn't get in between them.
"…and then Nick was so angry! I couldn't even tell you how we even got out of that!" Steve finished, laughing.
T'Challa hit him on the back, laughing though half-heartedly.
Since his arrival he'd only seemed to laugh or smile around Steve or his son, Enzi. Tony got along with the man very easily but not like Steve. He almost wanted to drag Nick Fury out of his office and force him to confront the man, but resisted the urge.
"I think we are leaving Tony out of our stories, my friend," T'Challa said suddenly, breaking Tony out of his reverie.
He blinked, shaking his head. "Nah, I'm fine."
Steve frowned. "I'm sorry, Tony, I didn't…I…sorry."
Tony forced a smile. "I'm good," he waved his hand at them, "Continue."
T'Challa smiled, clapping Tony on the back and making him wince. "I will leave the two lovers to themselves, I have taken up too much of your time and do not wish to leave my Enzi with the nurse for very long, I will take my leave."
When he was gone Tony stared out at the garden they'd been sitting in, sighing. Steve didn't move to get any closer to him and he realized they'd never talked about the fight he'd started on the phone before coming home.
Everything had happened so fast, and he'd forgotten.
"Tony, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you out, I just…" Steve started, but he cut him off.
Tony shook his head, smiling, "I get it, Steve. I do. You're a fish out of water, here, and obviously T'Challa is another of your many two hundred year old friends and I'm just…a normal human. Not as interesting," he sighed dramatically, throwing back his head on the chair, "I'll just sit here quietly until you need me for sex purposes."
Steve laughed, coming over to him and putting his hand under Tony's chin as he stared down at him. "I'll let you know," he whispered, kissing him.
Tony sighed into the kiss, melting into the touch. After having gone months without it during the whole Clint incident just one taste and he was a glutton, grabbing the back of Steve's head and pulling him closer.
They kissed each other hungrily, making out shamelessly, Steve standing behind him and when they pulled apart Tony let out a long sigh, licking his lips and smiling.
"I forgive you."
Steve hit him playfully. "I didn't do anything, but I accept your forgiveness."
They stared at each other for a minute before Steve ran his fingers through Tony's hair, whispering, "You're not mad at me anymore?"
Tony shook his head. "I wasn't…it was more…I'm just as insanely jealous as you are, obviously, and knowing all the history you have with Nick, and now with T'Challa…"
Steve pressed his face into Tony's and kissed him again, whispering, "They aren't you, you know that, right? I can have friends who know more about me than you do, but they won't know me like you do. Or understand me."
Tony blinked, surprised. "Oh."
Steve laughed and kissed Tony's cheek before standing straight up, holding out his hand.
"C'mon. Let's go get to know each other better."
Tony wiggled his eyebrows. "I think there's a double meaning to that, but it's been such a long week I'll have to just go to my sex place, since most talks lead to there anyway."
Steve pulled on his arm as he stood and they kissed again, both moaning a bit into the touch, and went inside holding hands.
T'Challa stared down at his son as he slept, leaning over the crib and sighing.
It had been two days since his miraculous escape from Wakanda from the rebels, leaving his wife's body behind knowing it would be desecrated and burned, but knowing Ororo would want his son's safety above all.
Tears formed his eyes thinking of his lovely Ororo, his best friend, and did not know how he would continue without her.
He picked up his son's small hand, grateful that the SHIELD doctors had given him a clean bill of health and allowed Enzi to be in T'Challa's room. His son was so small but looked so like his mother, his white hair striking against his brown skin. He knew Enzi would have some mutation due to his and Ororo's, and thought of the future enemies his child would defend his homeland from.
The thought made him smile and he let the child's hand down, standing and stretching.
The last few days had been tiring to say the least and he climbed into bed, ready to sleep when his thoughts turned to Nicholas.
The name alone made him angry, but he tried to push the man's visage away from his mind to avail. He had come to his former lover seeking asylum and comfort only to receive cold indifference and safe harbor, feeling like his presence was an intrusion on the other man's life.
The very idea made his chest ache and he rolled over onto his back, opening his eyes and staring up at the ceiling.
T'Challa had begged Nicholas to come with him, to rule with him, and had been refused, completely rejected, and he had gone off alone only to find Ororo again after so many years and the two had ruled together, loved each other more as friends and companions than lovers.
His heart ached with the thought of Nicholas, wondering if he was in the arms of another, loving another only as T'Challa felt was his place in the other man's life.
Obviously Nicholas Fury felt differently, despite his use of ashiki when they'd spoken after so many years apart. The tender term had made T'Challa's heart ache for Nicholas and when he'd been received with such indifference he chalked it up to a sentimental mistake.
Maybe this had all been a mistake.
He sighed, closing his eyes again.
A cry from Enzi broke through his thoughts and he sighed, climbing out of bed.
T'Challa picked up his son, walking to where the bottles the nurse had premade were and stuck one in the warmer as he walked around his room. When it was done he fed his son sitting in the rocking chair they had also provided, rocking back and forth, thinking.
He took one look around the room and smiled.
Nicholas had done all of this for them, of that he was sure. But was it the work of a friend or of a long lost lover? That was what he intended to figure out.