Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
AN1: Thank you so much for the incredible response to this story. I am completely blown away, thank you.
June 10th 2016. The Playground.
Early Morning.
(Melinda May, Tony Stark 43 years old, Hope Van Dyne 42 years old)
Less than a minute after Melinda got the SoS alert she hurries into Phil Coulson's office, where he is just sitting and staring out into nowhere.
"I need take a Quinjet." Melinda informs Phil, and the instant she speaks Phil turns to look at her.
"Have you found something about Daisy? About Hive?" Phil asks, looking at her in interest.
"No. This is something else." Melinda admits, "There's something I need to do and I need a Quinjet, a life depends on it." She reveals as she knows that Tony wouldn't have sent the alert unless he was in real danger or a maybe even badly hurt.
"Why? What's going on?" Phil asks, sounding worried.
"I don't have time to explain because if I do you're going to have a thousand questions that will take a while to answer." Melinda admits, her voice hurried, "I know that with everything we've got going on it's not the best time, but the base is as secure as we're going to get it. We've got no idea how to stop Hive, or save Daisy, and Mack destroyed his plans when he destroyed that Kree. Right now there is nothing I can do here, but I'll be back as soon as I can." Melinda explains to Phil.
"Take whatever you need." Phil says, having known Melinda well enough to know that whatever is going on must be big for her to act like this.
"Thank you." Melinda says before heading to the door.
"May." Phil says, stopping before she can leave, causing Melinda to turn around, "When you get back you're going to tell me everything."
"I know." Melinda responds before leaving.
Five minutes later Melinda has changed into her tactical flight suit and is in the weapons area grabbing ICERS, a pistol and extra magazines for both as she honestly doesn't know what to expect.
"Agent May, has something else happened?" Mack's voice asks.
"Nothing to do with Daisy if that's what you're asking." Melinda says as she grabs the last of the stuff she needs then turns around.
"Something else?" Mack asks.
"Yes. I've got to go." Melinda says before walking past Mack.
"Let me get my stuff, I'll go with you." Mack tells her.
"No. Stay here, heal. I'll be back soon." Melinda says, there being no room for questioning in her voice as she hurries, while trying to make it seem like that's not what she is doing, away from Mack, leaving him to wonder what is going on.
June 10th 2016. S.H.I.E.L.D Quinjet
Morning.
A couple of hours after Melinda left Mack in the corridor of the playground she is in a Quinjet on her way to the place where the coordinates say Tony is and she has just picked up Natasha.
"Okay, what happened?" Melinda asks, Natasha, breaking the silence they have been sitting in silken Melinda picked up Natasha.
"We've all been fighting about the new Sokovia Accords; I take it you've heard talk about them?" Natasha asks and Melinda nods, "I think that they could be a good idea, so does Tony. Steve doesn't and that resulted in a big fight. During the fight I realised that someone was going to get killed so I let Steve go, last time I talked to him Tony was, understandably, mad." Natasha explains, "Plus he's hurting after Rhodey getting hurt."
"How bad was Rhodey hurt?" Melinda asks worried.
"Broken his back." Natasha says and Melinda gasps at that, "Last time I saw Tony he told me that they're coming for me." Natasha reveals, "I really hurt him." She says, actually show real pain at that, something which Melinda knows isn't pretend.
"I…. I honestly don't know what to say to that." Melinda admits, "I've known Tony a long time and I know that when someone hurts him, he's not one to quickly forgive."
"I know that too. I don't even know if I deserve forgiveness. I just know I have to help him now." Natasha admits, "Whatever's going on." She adds and the two of them drift into silence once more.
A couple more hours have passed since Melinda and Natasha talked about Tony and even though the Quinjet is quicker than most jets they still have a while to go before getting to the coordinates.
"How much longer?" Natasha asks.
"An hour, maybe an hour and a half, I'm going as fast as I can." Melinda answers, and as she does she frowns as she notices something on one of the screens.
"Mel?" Natasha asks concerned.
"There's…." Melinda starts to say but before she can a voice though her headset cuts her off.
"Tiny, Saviour, Cuddly Bear. If that's you three let me in." the voice says.
"Opening back now, Bug." Melinda says before opening the ramp and seconds later a person in a suit flies.
"I tend to go by Wasp these days." Hope says as Melinda closes the ramp, "Nice jet, your boss knows you have it?" Hope asks curious as she takes off her helmet
"Know I have it, yes." Melinda answers, "Know what I'm using it for, of course not."
"Where have you been the last few days? Tony and I both tried calling." Natasha informs Hope.
"I know. I was behind closed doors explaining the incident that happened last year, while explaining what Pym Technologies is going to do next." She reveals, "I wasn't allowed any outside contact, but then when I got my SoS alert I excused myself to the bathroom and once I saw the alert, and checked my phone where I saw the dozen miss calls from Tony, the four from you, and the two from Rhodey, I left and got the suit." Hope explains as she sits down on one of the back seats, "What's happened to Tony?" she asks concerned.
"We're not exactly sure." Melinda admits.
"My bet is he found out something, went to deal with it and things went south." Natasha comments as she's been trying to figure out what happened since she got Tony's alert and that seems like the most likely option.
"Would make sense." Hope realises, "Where's Jim?" she asks and as she does Melinda and Natasha exchange looks, "What is it?" Hope asks worried.
"There was a fight, Avenger against Avenger, Rhodey's back was broken." Natasha explains, causing Hope to get a look of complete horror on her face.
"Tell me everything that happened." Hope requests, her voice stuttering, and Natasha starts to explain everything that has happened in the last few days.
June 10th 2016. Siberia Hydra Facility
Night.
A little after Hope joined the Quinjet Melinda lands the plan and she and Natasha both grab their weapons before the two of them and Hope head out of the plane.
"There was another plane here." Hope realises.
"Yeah." Melinda confirms, "What do you think this place is?" she asks, looking at Natasha.
"I'm not exactly sure, but I have a few ideas." Natasha admits, a feeling of dread growing in her stomach, and the three of them walk towards the only structure, once they are close enough Melinda, hope and Natasha see that the large bunker doors have been problem opens, "Weapons hot, just in case." She says and so Melinda pulls an ICER while Natasha pulls a gun.
"Hope, you being small right now might be a good thing." Melinda admits.
"Got it." Hope says before making herself small. Once she is small she flies up and stands on Natasha's shoulder.
"You quite alright there?" Natasha asks her tiny friend who is on her shoulder.
"Yep." Hope respond.
"And I'm the one who gets called Tiny." Melinda mutters, rolling her eyes as she and Natasha, with Hope on Natasha's shoulder, approach the bunker doors.
Proceeding with cation Melinda and Natasha both walk through the broken doors and once they do they find a lot of destruction, causing them to exchange looks. As they do Natasha signals to go one way and Melinda nods and follows her.
After a few tense minutes Melinda, Natasha, and Hope finally arrive at what looks like a way down, a way that won't exactly be the easiest way.
"Hope, do you think you could fly down? See if he's down there or what to expect?" Natasha asks interested.
"Sure." Hope says, flying off Natasha's shoulder.
"Stay small." Melinda tells her.
"Will do." Hope says before flying down as he flies down, being able to do it quite fast Hope keeps her eyes out for any sign of Tony or danger and after about a minute she gets to the body and as she does she looks around and sees a red suit.
"HE'S DOWN HERE." Hope yells as she makes herself big and hurries over. Getting to the red suit she finds Tony, looking barely conscious, "Tony, can you hear me?" Hope asks as she removes the face mask of her suit as she crouches down next to him.
"Hope?" Tony asks, looking up at her with unfocused eyes, and right away Hope can tell that he is taking shallow breaths, like he is struggling.
"Yeah, it's me. Nat and Mel are here too. We're going to help you." Hope says as she tries to get some idea of how hurt he is but with a clearly broken suit it's hard to tell.
"Nat betrayed me, you didn't answer my calls? Why didn't you answer my calls?" Tony asks, pain in his voice.
"I couldn't. I'll tell you everything later." Hope admits, "What matters is getting you out of here. Do you think you can stand?" she asks.
"Not now." Tony admits as between how damaged the suit is and how close he is to being frozen he is pretty sure he wouldn't be able to.
"Okay, just hold on. Nat and Mel will be here soon and we'll figure this out." Hope assures him.
"HOPE." Melinda's voice yells.
"OVER HERE." Hope yells back and seconds later Melinda and Natasha come into view.
"Not good." Natasha mutters once she gets sight of Tony.
"Who did this to you Tony?" Melinda asks her friend as she catches sight of the arch reactor, knowing that if it was still in his chest that kind of damage would have killed him instantly.
"Rogers." Tony forces out, his voice full of anger, "Why'd you let them go?" he asks Natasha, his voice sounding upset.
"Most of us were puling our punches, but some of us weren't. If it kept going someone was going to get killed, and I couldn't handle that, so that's why I let them go." Natasha explains to Tony, "I am sorry for hurting you."
"I came here to do the right thing, I tried to…." Tony says, his voice sounding full of pain, as he struggles more to breathe, "Why didn't you tell me about my parents? Why'd I have to find out by watching that video?" he asks, causing Melinda and Hope to exchange confused looks.
"Wait, are you saying that Steve didn't tell you what happened to them right after DC?" Natasha asks, there being a level of anger in her voice, and Tony shakes her head, "I'm going to kill him! He told me that he'd tell you. I just thought you didn't want to talk about… damn him." Natasha says, sounding furious.
"You can plot your murder of Captain America later, right now we need to get Tony out of here." Melinda says, trying to get Natasha to focus before she does actually go and do something to murder Steve.
"Right, we do." Natasha says, pushing down the anger she is feeling towards Steve so that she can focus on what they have to do, "I'm not sure we should try and get the suit off you yet. I think it would be best to wait until you're somewhere warmer. Plus, we don't know what kind of injuries you have the suit could be protecting you." Natasha comments, though judging by how shallow Tony's breathing is she'd guess that he has some heart or lung damage.
"I've got to agree, but suits disabled. I can't move on my own right now." Tony tells her, knowing that he and Natasha have to have a talk, but that now's not the right time, "I won't be able to get up there on my own."
"You might not have to." Melinda says, looking thoughtful, "Hope can you fly back up to the Quinjet and grab a few things for me?"
"Sure." Hope answers, "What do you need?"
"Against the left-hand wall you'll find a stretcher, I need that, and behind the pilot's seat in a compartment there is a harness. I'll need that too." Melinda explains.
"Sure, I'll be right back." Hope says before heading off.
"That will help us move Tony, what's your plan to get Tony up the distance?" Natasha asks curious.
"Once we get him to the way up I'll climb up and grab a chain, connect it to mortised pulling mechanism near the ramp. It will pull him up while you and Hope are keeping him steady." Melinda explains.
"That will work." Natasha says with a nod, "That sound okay to you?" she asks Tony.
"Yeah." Tony says, "I need that shield, my father built that shield." Tony says, his voice full of pain.
"I'll make sure we'll bring it back." Melinda assures him and the three of them drift into silence as the wait for Hope to come back.
June 10th 2016. S.H.I.E.L.D Quinjet
Night.
Twenty-five minutes later Melinda, Hope, Natasha and Tony on the stretcher are on the Quinjet.
"I'll get us in the air." Melinda says as she heads towards the cockpit, "Do you want me to head to The Compound?" she asks, looking at Tony as she passes by his head.
"Yes." Tony confirms.
"Okay, I think we should get this suit off, see what kind of injuries we're dealing with." Hope comments.
"The manual release is broken. You're going to have to break it open." Tony explains, as that's part of the reason why he needed help, "Which won't be easy."
"Mel where are the tools in this thing?" Natasha asks, looking around the Quinjet.
"Back, right side, there's a compartment where the seats end." Melinda explains as she flies them into the air.
"Thank you." Natasha says, drawing out of the words as she heads to get them.
"Do you know where everything is without even trying?" Hope asks curious.
"Of course, I don't fly a plane without knowing all the details." Melinda admits.
"Huh." Hope comments, looking interested.
"You're several models behind with your jet." Tony informs Melinda.
"Yeah, well, when your agency isn't meant to exist, you don't get the best anymore." Melinda reveals, "But this still does its job." Melinda says before putting more power behind the thrusters.
"Okay, got it." Natasha says, having a Mouse Hole in her hand, being glad to have found this, as she once more squats down next to Tony, "I'm going to have to destroy the suit even more." She tells Tony.
"Doesn't matter, do what you have to do." Tony responds, not even caring, and hearing that Natasha carefully uses the Mouse Hole to cut along one side of Tony's suit, from waist up the torso then along both sides of the arm, before moving to the other side and then doing the same thing.
Once she has cut along both sides of Tony's suit Natasha cuts along the front just above Tony's waist before turning off the Mouse Hole and putting it on the floor. Once it is on the floor Natasha slowly lifts the chest piece up, pulling some of it out Tony's body as it had been imbedded in places, and as she does Hope can't help but gasp as through the ripped parts of Tony's undershirt you can see that Tony's torso is black and bruised, plus cuts, and there are the marks that are clearly from Steve's shield, which clearly explains the breathing issues Tony is having.
"You've clearly got some broken ribs, some deep cuts. I don't know what else." Natasha comments as she moves the piece of the iron man suit out of the way.
"Yeah, that explains the pain." Tony says as he forces himself to sit up, it looking to Hope and Natasha that he is having an even bigger difficulty with breathing.
"You might want to move slow." Hope tells him, looking at him in concern.
"I'm fine." Tony says, though he clearly isn't as he is clearly having even more difficulty breathing now that the suit is off him, "Want to free my legs." He says to Natasha.
"Sure, give me a second." Natasha says before once more picking up the mouse hole and using it to free Tony's legs from the suit too.
"Move slowly." Natasha tells Tony once he is free from the suit, but Tony just tries to stand up like normal which results in him almost falling, but luckily Natasha and Hope manage to catch him before he can fall to the ground and help him over to the seat, "That wasn't slowly." She tells him.
"Kind of was." Tony responds, causing Natasha to just roll her eyes.
"Are you hurting anywhere other than your chest right now?" Hope asks in concern.
"No." Tony answers, "What's our ETA?" He asks Melinda.
"Probably about five to six hours." Melinda answers.
"Good to know." Tony responds, "So, why didn't you answer my calls?" he asks Hope who explains all about why she couldn't answer him.
June 10th 2016. Avengers Compound
Night.
Seven hours after Natasha got Tony free of his Iron Man suit Melinda, Natasha, Hope and Tony are at the Avenger compound and Melinda, Natasha and Hope are finally allowed into the room where Tony has been treated by medical.
"What's the verdict?" Melinda asks as the three of them walk in and find Tony lying in a bed with oxygen cannula around his nose as he is wrapped in blankets.
"Several broken ribs, cuts, and pulmonary contusion, which is why I've got this thing on." Tony says, sounding annoyed by the nasal cannula.
"That's not good Tony." Hope says, looking worried as Melinda and Natasha both sit down on Tony's bed while she sits on a chair nearby.
"I'll be fine." Tony says, "Rhodey's being transferred back here tomorrow. I need to make sure everything's ready for him." He comments.
"You need to rest. I'll make sure everything's ready for Jim." Natasha tells him.
"You're sticking around?" Tony asks surprised, turning to look at her.
"If that's okay with you." Natasha says, the others in the room being able to hear a barely noticeable nervousness to her voice.
"it is." Tony says, looking Natasha right in the eye, "But we're going to talk later." He informs her.
"I figured."
"You're also probably going to get in some trouble for what you did at the airport." Tony tells her, being reasonably sure that he and T'Challa might be able to make it so that it's not too much trouble.
"I know, I signed the accords. I'll deal with whatever punishment they want to give me." Natasha assures Tony.
"Okay." Tony says with a nod, "Speaking of the Accords. There are some openings in the Avengers line up, you two interested?" he asks, looking between Melinda and Hope.
"Are you seriously asking us to be Avengers or is it the oxygen deprivation talking?" Hope asks Tony, not being entirely sure about whether he is serious.
"I'm seriously asking." Tony assures her, "I honestly can't think of anyone better than the two of you to join." He admits, telling the complete truth, "Of course you'll need to sign the accords, which I already plan on changing, so if there is anything you have major issue with I'm sure we can figure it out." He explains, "So what do you say? Do you want to be an Avenger?"
"Yeah, I think I do." Hope comments, "In the meetings I just had we talked about moving the company to the East Coast. So, it might take me a few weeks before I can be here more often, will that be okay?" she asks Tony.
"That will be fine." Tony responds, looking glad, "Welcome to The Avengers…. Wasp." He says, smiling at his friend.
"What about you, Mel? What do you think?" Natasha asks curious.
"I think that I really can't think about an offer like that at the moment." Melinda admits, "I have a potentially end of the world situation to help deal with, but when I that's over, if I'm still alive, I'll think about it." Melinda admits, not wanting to allow herself to think about that, not with what is going on with Daisy, who means so much to her, and Hive, who's such a big threat.
Hearing that Tony, Hope and Natasha exchange looks.
"I don't think she's kidding." Tony comments, looking at Melinda in surprise, trying to figure out if she is joking or not.
"I'm really not, I've got to go." Melinda says, standing up, "Tell Rhodey that I'm sorry that I couldn't be here to see him, but that I had to get back." She tells them, "I think I'm going to have to explain the truth to Phil, if that's okay." She says, looking between her friends.
"It is." Natasha assures her.
"Sure." Hope answers.
"If you have to." Tony says, looking a little more hesitant.
"Thanks." Melinda says gratefully, "I'll see you later." She tells them.
"Mel." Hope calls and Melinda turns back around, "If you need backup, call." She tells her.
"I will." Melinda responds before leaving, leaving Hope, Natasha and Tony alone.
For a little while Natasha, Tony and Hope sit in silence, not overly sure what to say.
"So, what do me and Nat need to do to get this place ready for Jim?" Hope asks, curious breaking the silence.
"A lot." Tony answers simply, "I thought up a whole list. Vision should be around here somewhere and if he's willing he'd be a good help."
"I'll ask." Natasha responds, "What's the list?" she asks and once she does Tony starts to list everything that needs to be done before Rhodey gets home to make things easier for him.
June 10th 2016. The Playground
Night.
As she took the jet back it doesn't take Melinda very long to get back to the Playground after leaving the Avengers Compound.
"May, you're back." Mack says, sounding relieved as Melinda walks into the common room.
"Yeah, I am. Coulson in his office?" Melinda asks curious.
"Yep." Mack responds and without another word Melinda just heads upstairs.
Getting to Phil's office Melinda once more walks in without knocking where she finds Phil staring out into space, looking like he did when she left.
"May." Phil says, looking relieved.
"I owe you an explanation, I'd like to give if." Melinda admits and once she sees Phil nod she walks over and sits down on the edge of his desk, "What I am about to tell you only five people know." She reveals and Phil looks interested at that, "Do you remember me telling you about boarding school?"
"Yeah, you got sent there when you were eight. You made two close friends who made the place not just bearable, but fun, you don't talk about them much." Phil says, wondering why Melinda would be starting there.
"Well, those two friends are Hope Van Dyne and Tony Stark." Melinda reveals.
"You've known Tony Stark since you were eight?" Phil asks surprised, as he wasn't expecting that.
"Yes, and he knew about S.H.I.E.L.D long before you told him, by the way." Melinda explains, feeling the need to, "He also knows you're alive and wants to have dinner when you've got time." Melinda reveals and Phil just looks surprise at her, "When we were away at school Tony, Hope and I became a family, and then when we were fourteen we were kidnapped."
"You were kidnapped at fourteen?" Phil ask surprised, not even being able to imagine how they would have handled something like that at that age.
"Yes. For two days we were heled until a red-haired girl, who looked to be the same age us, heled us got free, and fought the guards herself. She said we could call her Natasha, and we promised to never forget her." Melinda explains to Phil, who gets an odd look on his face.
"Are you talking about who I think you're talking about?" Phil asks, his eyes widening in shock.
"Yes." Melinda confirms with a nod, "After we were kidnapped our parents told us not to be friends anymore, but we didn't listen, we just pretended to, and as we got older we realised that it was just safer if no one knew how close we are, so we couldn't be used against each other." Melinda explains.
"You said that five people knew the truth, who's the fifth?" Phil asks curious.
"Rhodey." Melinda answers.
"So Andrew didn't know?" Phil asks curious.
"No." Melinda answers, "I left today because I got an alert through something Tony created a long time ago which said that Tony was in trouble. Nat, Hope and I found him a broken suit, starting to get hyperthermia, in a Hydra facility in Siberia." Melinda explains, "Your hero jammed his shield into Tony's chest." Melinda says, her voice bitter.
"Steve wouldn't!" Phil objects, thinking that that is something that would never happen.
"He did." Melinda tells him, anger in his voice, "Tony's back at the compound. He's in pretty bad shape but he should be okay, no thanks to Rogers." Melinda reveals, before talking a deep breath, partly to calm herself down, "He offered me a place in the Avengers."
"What did you say?" Phil asks, wondering whether he is going to lose his partner.
"That I've got a potentially end of the world situation to deal with, and that I'll think about it later." Melinda explains, "Truthfully I can't even allow myself to consider it until Daisy's home and Hive has been stopped."
"Okay." Phil says with a nod, planning on letting him think about the consequence of that later, "Do you want a drink?" he asks and Melinda nods and so Phil pours them both a large drink of scotch and they drift into silence.
June 10th 2016. Avengers Compound
Night.
It has been a few hours since Melinda left the Avengers Compound and it's becoming quite late, so late that Hope is sleeping in one of the spare rooms.
As she figures that he'll still be awake Natasha is heading to the medical area where Tony is so that the two of them can have the talk that they need to have.
When she walks through the door of the medical area Natasha sees that Tony's eyes are closed and so she figures that he is actually asleep, meaning their conversation will have to wait. So, she turns and heads out.
"I'm awake." Tony's voice says and Natasha turns back around to see Tony's wide awake.
"I thought you would be." Natasha admits, "I was actually surprised to see your eyes closed." She reveals as she walks over and sits down on the edge of Tony's bed.
"I heard from Ross. You've got a disciplinary hearing tomorrow." Tony reveals.
"I knew that was coming." Natasha admits.
"It will take place in the conference room here, and as default team leader I'll have to be there." Tony explains.
"Good, I'm glad." Natasha responds, actually meaning that.
"Are you?" Tony asks, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Yeah, I am." Natasha responds, "I agree with you about the Accords Tone, I just wanted the fighting to stop before one of us was killed, or hurt like Rhodey." Natasha explains, pain in her voice, "He wasn't going to stop fighting against us, and we were fighting him because you and me knew what Ross was going to do. It was going to end bloody and I couldn't allow that." Natasha explains, "That's the only reason I let them go."
"I get the why Nat, and maybe I was a little harsh at the hospital, but it still hurt." Tony tells her, there being betrayal in her eyes, not as much as there was earlier, but it's still there, and still hurts to see, not that Natasha would admit that.
"I know, and I'm sorry, not just for what I did, but what I said." Natasha says, completely meaning that, "Do you think we can be okay?" Natasha asks, really asking whether he can trust her again.
"I want to be, but it might take a while." Tony admits.
"That's fair." Natasha says with a nod, "But I want you to know that I have your back Tony, even if you don't believe that right now." She informs him.
"I want to believe that." Tony admits as he avoids looking at Natasha, "Which is why I'd like you to be second in command of the Avengers, at least until Rhodey's back, if he ever is." Tony says a look of pain on his face.
"Sure, I can do that, if you want me to." Natasha says, not even needing to think about it.
"I do." Tony responds and the two of them drift into comfortable silence.
"What happened in Siberia, Tony?" Natasha ask gently, breaking the silence after a little while, and hearing the question Tony gives a humourless laugh.
"Everything got screwed up." Tony answers.
"Explain." Natasha requests as she moves so that she is sitting cross legged on his bed.
"Barnes was framed for the bombing, and the person we thought was his doctor really wasn't, so I talked to Wilson, who by the way is being heled at the Raft which is getting added to the reason I'm going to get Ross fired from having anything to do with the Accords, and…." Tony starts to explain.
"Wait, go back. Wilson is in the Raft?" Natasha asks shocked, "Are the others?"
"Yes." Tony says with a nod, "I'm going to try to get them out of there, at least get them transferred to somewhere else, but I'm pretty sure that Rogers is going to be planning something to get them out sooner."
"Really would be." Natasha confirms, knowing that without a doubt, "Are you going to warn Ross?"
"Of course not, that will go against the whole 'I'm going to get him fired thing' I've got going on." Tony tells her.
"I think it might be best that you don't tell me anymore of that plan until it's over." Natasha tells him.
"Smart idea." Tony says with a nod, "Where was I?"
"You found out Barnes was framed and went to Wilson." Natasha reminds him.
"Right, so I went to the facility to help. Rogers and I talked, we came to a truce." Tony says, and Natasha's not overly sure how a truce caused Tony to be in the state she found him in, but she figures he'll explains so she doesn't say anything, "We found out that it was all a part of this man, Zemo's plan because his family died in Sokovia. He showed us a video, from December 16th 1991." Tony explains, his voice catching a little at the end.
"The day your parents were killed." Natasha realises, "You had to watch what happened to them?" she asks and Tony nods, "Damn it Tony, you shouldn't have had to watch that."
"He broke Mom's neck, Dad recognized him... He killed my Mom." Tony says, his voice breaking as tears come to his eyes.
Even though she knows things between them currently aren't okay Natasha still leans in and pulls her friend into hug and for a second she expects Tony to push her away, but instead he leans into the hug and wraps his arms around her.
"She didn't deserve that Nat." Tony says, his voice muffled in Natasha's shoulder.
"No, she didn't." Natasha says, having learnt enough of the years to know that Tony was very, very close to his mother, and for a little while Natasha just holds Tony, pushing down her own discomfort because she knows it's what her friend needs right now.
"I lost it when I found out Rogers knew." Tony says as he pushes back away "We fought, I destroyed Barnes metal arm, and well you saw what they did to me."
"Yeah, you're can barely breathe thanks to what that damn shield did." Natasha says, there being anger in her voice as she can imagine how Tony would have reacted after watching that video, but she has also seen the damage done to Tony and knows that with Steve's strength and speed there would have had to have been a way for him to stop Tony from killing Bucky without hurting him so much.
"Yeah, the damn shield my dear old Dad built, ironic isn't it?" Tony asks, his voice void of all humour.
"That's not exactly the world I'd use." Natasha says with a frown.
"I think I can guess the words you'd use." Tony says, a small bit of amusement in his voice.
"After all these years I'd expect nothing else." Natasha says with a small smirk, "I should go, I think we both need some rest. I've got a feeling that we're going to have a lot of long days ahead of us."
"Really are." Tony says as Natasha stands up.
"Night Tony."
"Night Nat." Tony responds as Natasha walks to the door, "Nat." he says, causing her to turn around.
"Thanks for coming for me when you got the alert."
"Always." Natasha responds with a half warm smile before walking out of the room.