A Super Soldier for the Modern World

Chapter Nineteen

Steve Rogers sat up quickly in the bed. He was breathing hard. He'd had yet another nightmare. He was a grown man, why was he having nightmares still?

Steve rubbed his face then realized that his rough movements had woken Amanda up.

"I'm so sorry. You should go back to sleep," Steve told her.

"What's wrong?" she asked groggily. She sat up and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Nothing, nothing," he lied.

"Another nightmare from the war?" she asked.

"How do you know me this well?" Steve smiled at her in the dark.

Amanda kissed him on the cheek.

"Because I do," she replied.

Steve had been back in New York for 24 hours, give or take. He'd had to wait to find out that the vote had been postponed. He was frustrated and felt defeated and returned home with his tail between his legs.

But no matter how awful he felt, coming home to Amanda made him feel a million times better.

They had immediately ordered some take outs and locked themselves in the apartment.

However, dreams of the war were being muddled in his brain with dreams of a war starting over the Registration Acts.

"I don't know if…" Steve began slowly.

Amanda yawned. "Just tell me."

Steve turned to put the light on.

The light filled the room and they both blinked until their eyes adjusted.

"I keep dreaming of fighting Stark, but in Germany in the war."

"Oh," Amanda said. "Oh."

"Like, a take-on Iron Man fight," Steve told her. "And I don't think that's going to be a good idea."

Amanda giggled. "No, probably not."

"I feel like this is going to cause a huge division of folks, fighting against one another. And I'm at the center of it."

"You are not at the center of it," Amanda told him softly. "Steve, you're just the only one brave enough to go to the government and tell them that they can stuff their ridiculous Registration acts."

"I just…"

"Don't second guess yourself," Amanda said.

"You're right," he said. "You're always right," he smiled.

"No, I'm not. But what you're fighting for is right. Tony is all flash and parades and seeing how much money he can throw at something until the problem goes away. He's taking the path of least resistance, whether he realizes that or not. You've made yourself an example. You've stood up and declared you won't take the bull shit. And you won't be the only one to oppose this, I promise."

"Thank you, I do feel better," Steve said. "Let's go back to sleep," he told her.

Steve reached over and turned off the light. But neither of them fell asleep. Both of them laid with their eyes open, thinking of what was going to happen to their world in just a few days.

…

…

"Will you quit moping around?" Pepper asked.

Tony was slumped in his chair, staring dejectedly at the various monitors that Fury had installed before his mysterious departure.

"I can't."

"You can. You will."

"Why should I?" Tony said. "The one person closest to me, other than you of course, won't speak to me."

"You're doing what's best for the world, Tony. By getting the Registration Acts passed, super humans can come forward. We can form an alliance and this could finally bring world peace," Pepper explained.

"Or it could cause a war like we've never seen before," Tony said quietly.

"Well, you've already demonstrated your support for it, as well as SHIELD's. Fury already had Coulson's team exploring the world and finding more super humans. Xavier is looking for mutants…" Pepper trailed off.

"Is that your lengthy way to tell me to lie in the bed I've made?" Tony asked sarcastically.

"Yes."

"I don't like made beds," Tony said.

"I know you prefer your non-committal responses to things. I think that's what confused Amanda the most: that you actually sided with the government. And went against all of your teammates?"

"All?"

"All of the Avengers, except for yourself, are against the Registration Acts, Tony."

"Even Banner?"

"Especially Banner."

"Shit," Tony hissed. "What would you have done? In my place?"

"I wouldn't have bought that enormous bear for starters, but…" she said as she saw his face. "Tony, if you think you're doing what's right, then you cannot second guess what you've done."

"Do they like him better than me?" he pouted.

"No. They just like him differently. And who's to say you're right or he's right? You both have totally different values. You were raised in different times. Steve only knows that it was all easier when he was around the first time. Wars were fought with men, not superheroes. And there weren't aliens coming down from the sky. Times have changed and so we have to change with them."

"You aren't just saying that to humor me?"

"I don't ever say anything simply to humor you, Tony. I do love you, though. And maybe you should try to reach out to Amanda once more," Pepper said.

"She was mean to me last time," Tony said. "And so was Rogers…"

"Oh, no! She was mean to you?" Pepper asked sarcastically. "I don't know what you'll do…as a grown man."

"Now you're being mean," Tony said.

"Just call her. Today. Apologize. Tell her that you understand why she's upset with you, but explain that you made the best decision you could for the world."

"You're pretty convincing," Tony told her.

"I learned it from you. Now call her."

"And by the way, the whole team can't be in opposition. Thor's not here," Tony pointed out.

"Do you really think the Norse god of thunder is going to take kindly being forced to help our world? I suspect he wouldn't have stepped in if Loki hadn't been behind all of the troubles," Pepper pointed out as she walked to the office door. "Call her," she said as she exited the office.

"Shall I dial for you, sir?" JARVIS asked once the door was closed behind Pepper.

…

Amanda fidgeted uncomfortably in the seat at the table. Tony had been insistent that she meet him to talk and Steve had been equally insistent that she go do it. Amanda did not want to go, though.

Tony arrived five minutes later and sat directly opposite her in the back corner of the chosen restaurant.

"I didn't think you'd actually come," Tony told her.

"I can go then…" Amanda replied.

"No, no," he said, removing his sunglasses. "I just meant you're so angry with me, I thought you might have just said you were coming and then not show up. But I should know better; you always keep your word."

Amanda nodded.

"Do you want a drink or something to eat?"

"I'm fine, Tony. What am I doing here?" Amanda asked.

"I just…I wanted to apologize in person. I know I've caused a lot of disruption to both you and Rogers."

"Did you really just apologize?" Amanda asked, dumbfounded.

He nodded. "I did," he told her. "And I meant it. I can't change my mind about this, though, because an alliance of super humans to protect the world would be an amazing feat. These acts could do that. But I understand where you're coming from. And I'm sorry that I made you choose."

A tear rolled down Amanda's cheek.

"Come here, come here," he held out his arms. "I'm sorry, kid," he said into her hair as he hugged her.

Their moment, however, was interrupted by both of their cell phones ringing.

Both Amanda and Tony answered and held their separate conversations.

A minute later, they disconnected.

Amanda slowly sunk down into her seat opposite Tony once more, a shell-shocked look on her face.

"What?" Tony asked.

"You know," Amanda said. "The acts were passed."

"Yeah."

"And there's a warrant out for Steve's arrest, and he'll be arrested and put in jail, unless he signs in the next 48 hours."

Tony nodded and Amanda stood from the table. She gave him one last, sad look before dashing out of the restaurant.

…

To Be Continued…