Steve cocked his head and looked back to the sleeping Tony. "It wasn't his fault?" He growled. "So I was just imaging him making the decision to cheat on me? That I just believed that he was being what... controlled? Forced to do it? Is that it?" He was angry, obviously, and the mere suggestion. Not because it wasn't possible but because he should have seen it... right?
"Yes." Rebekah answer plainly.
Steve blinked, definitely not expecting that answer. "Wait, what?"
Rebekah shrugged. "I had to do a little research but I manage to figure out what was really going on." She pulled out a small leather journal and handed it over. "Pandora got in contact with the Doctor and these two brothers that fight demons or something. I put all the pieces together and have come to the conclusion that Tony has been possessed by a marcuuni... At least that's the name of it on Pandora's planet."
Steve looked inside the journal and frowned when one of the loose papers jammed in there seemed to depict the markings on Tony's torso. "A demon possessed him? You're bullshitting me right? That's... Seriously!? No. I won't believe all this." But regardless of what he said, he continued looking through the journal.
"I know it seems... off but let me explain." Rebekah said, taking the journal and flipping to a particular page where the markings were drawn out in different patterns. "There are three kinds of Marcunni. The first kind leaves the marks that were on Tony. They target people who has seemingly perfect lives. Money. Power. Family. Fame. Intelligence. Personality. Tony had it all. The demon took Tony over and broke apart your marriage which in turn, broke apart the family, caused a huge stir with the media, it probably wouldn't let Tony eat or drink so he's unhealthy, hasn't been to work, and he lost all credibility for being a good person."
Steve stared at Tony in horror. "You expect me to believe that? That a demon will gain anything from destroying us?"
"Marcunni feed off misery. When's the last time anyone from your family has smiled?" Rebekah asked.
Steve opened his mouth to answer but stuttered. "I don't remember..." He whispered bitterly at the realization that frowning has become a tradition among the Avengers.
Hell, the broken soldier barely remembered how to smile.
It was Tony who had taught him to smile again... until it was Tony who was teaching him to cry again and reminding him how sweet sadness could be.