Chapter 16
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October 15th 2016. Avengers Compound.
Evening.
Waiting in the living area of the Avengers only area of the compound Tony and Rhodey, both dressed in tuxedos.
"So, what's going on tonight?" Peter asks curious.
"It's a charity, political fundraiser thing." Tony explains.
"Will it be interesting?" Peter asks curious.
"Not even a little bit." Rhodey answers, knowing that for a fact.
"Can I come?" Peter asks curious.
"If you really want to you can, but seriously, it will be ridiculously boring." Tony explains, "If I didn't have to go I wouldn't be there tonight."
"Why do you have to go?" Peter asks curious.
"The Avengers were invited and so considering everything we've got to put in an appearance." Rhodey explains.
"Even if it was a last minute invite." Tony adds.
"And we're going to be late." Rhodey reveals.
"Which means if you want to come you're going to have to quickly get dressed." Tony tells Peter.
"Considering how enthusiastic you two sound I think I'm going to give it a miss." Peter admits as it seemed like a cool idea, until Tony and Rhodey started to talk.
"Smart choice." Rhodey says approvingly.
"FRIDAY, tell Nat and Hope to hurry up. We've got to get going." Tony comments as even though he is usually late he isn't sure if it is a good idea for them to be late to their first formal outing as New Avengers.
"Yes, Boss." FRIDAY responds.
"Okay, Laura, Vision, Cooper, Lila and Nathaniel are going to be here. Try not to get in trouble." Tony tells Peter.
"I'll try not to." Peter says, trying to hide an amused look on his face, "When will you guys be back?" he asks curious.
"Not sure." Tony admits, "Probably late."
"Okay." Peter says with a nod, "Wow." He comments and both Rhodey and Tony turn to see Natasha and Hope, Hope is wearing a dark purple strapless dress with her hair down and curled, while Natasha is wearing a black dress with a boat neckline and her hair is up while both of their dresses are floor length, "You both look great."
"Thanks Peter."
"Thanks Kid."
Hope and Natasha say together.
"We should go." Rhodey realises.
"Yeah, we should." Natasha confirms and the four of them head towards the helipad as they are flying to the city and then taking a car.
"HAVE FUN." Peter calls after them, "Don't get in any fights." He adds, causing Natasha, Rhodey, Tony and Hope to exchange amused looks as they leave.
October 15th 2016. New York City.
Evening.
A little over an hour later Natasha, Tony, Rhodey and Hope walk into a ballroom where the charity fundraiser is being heled.
"Mingle, and try not to get into a fight or cause any trouble." Rhodey tells the others, looking between the others, his eyes lingering on Natasha and Tony for a second.
"Why are you looking at us?" Tony asks, sounding insulted.
"Because you two are the most likely to get into fights, you're the most likely to cause trouble." Hope says, "Everyone knows that." She explains.
"We'll be fine." Natasha says, resting the urge to roll her eyes, "I'll see you three later." She says before walking away, wanting to ask something Tony walks quicker and catches up with her.
"How many weapons you hiding below the dress?" Tony asks curious and Natasha just gives him a look.
"Right." Tony says amused.
"Miss Romanoff, Mr Stark." A voice says and Natasha and Tony turn to see the Mayor of New York.
"Mayor Blasio." Natasha and Tony great.
"It's a pleasure to see you both. Thank you for coming." The Mayor responds.
"It's our pleasure." Natasha says, "We knew how important tonight is, we wouldn't be anywhere else." She says with a smile Tony knows to be her political one.
"I'm very glad to hear that." The Mayor responds and Natasha and Tony both start to mingle with the other guests.
It has been well over an hour since Natasha, Tony, Hope and Rhodey arrived at the party and between the four of them they are sure that they have talked to every guest, and so far, there seems to have been no issues.
Doing what she prefers to do in these kinds of situations Natasha is standing at a table observing everything that is going on.
"Here." Tony says, walking up to her holding to glasses of scotch, "I figured you could use it." He says, handing it to Natasha.
"Thanks." Natasha responds, taking the glass and taking a sip.
"So, what are you seeing?" Tony asks curious as he moves next to her, so close that their elbows are practically touching, though neither of them mind the violation of personal space.
"The normal stuff, lack of exits, people pretending to be things there not to get things they don't really need." Natasha comments, "Like I said, the normal stuff." She says taking a drink.
"Sounds about right. God I hate these things." Tony says, taking a drink.
"I know." Natasha responds, though as she does she realises something, "Well, that's not normal." She comments and Tony turns to look at where Natasha is looking to see Hope and Rhodey dancing together, though it's clear that Rhodey isn't completely comfortable but as it is a slow song he's managing.
"It is good though." Tony comments, smiling at his friends.
"Yeah, it is." Natasha confirms and the two of them drift into silence.
For a little while Natasha and Tony stand in silence, just watching everything, neither wanting to go and do more mingling though they have to.
Suddenly the lights flicker once and then Natasha looks up, and frowns.
"Nat?" Tony asks concerned, noticing the gesture.
"Get down." Natasha says, pulling Tony beneath the table, just as the sky roof breaks and four people abseil in all wearing tactical gear.
"Give us the mayor and no one will get hurt." The man in the front says and as he does.
"Two people each guarding each of the three exits." Natasha realises as she pulls a gun from beneath her dress.
"Got another one of those things?" Tony asks curious, and Natasha gives him a 'are you stupid' look and pulls another gun and hands it to Tony. Across the room Hope subtlety pulls two guns from under her dress and keeps one for herself while she hands the other to Rhodey.
Looking across at them Natasha catches Rhodey's eyes and they exchange looks and nods.
"Now." Natasha hisses at Tony and the two of them jump out from behind the table just as Hope and Rhodey move civilians out of the way and all four of them point their guns at the people who abseiled in.
"Really playing on kidnapping the Mayor in an event where Avengers are?" Tony asks, "Are you that stupid?" he asks and for a second the man who is clearly in charged looks scared and Natasha is pretty sure that they didn't know that she, Tony, Hope and Rhodey were going to be there, which likely means it wasn't overly thought out which may just make things easier for them.
"You haven't called a suit, which means there are none nearby, which means only one of you is a threat." The leader, says, making it clear that they are going to target Natasha.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Hope says as she and Rhodey walk closer to the people who crashed in while everyone else moves back, though they can't get out because of the guards on the door's.
"Look, you have a choice give up now or make things a lot more complicated for yourselves." Tony says and the four men start to open fire and Natasha, Tony, Hope and Rhodey manage to shoot them all, non-fatally, and as they do the people who were guarding the exits run.
"I'VE GOT THESE FOUR, YOU THREE GO AFTER THEM." Rhodey yells at Natasha, Tony and Hope and without another word the three of them each take an exit and run.
As they do Rhodey walks over to the four and kicks away all their weapons, something which he wouldn't have been able to do a few weeks earlier, but he's gotten better when it comes to using the invention Tony built.
"Move again and I shoot." Rhodey tells the four men.
As she runs down the corridor Hope gets the two men she is chasing in her sights and so she pauses for a second, and fires twice, shooting them both in the legs and causing them to fall forward.
As they do Hope hurries forward and the second she is close enough Hope kicks their weapons away from them, and as does she realises a second too late that one of them has a knife and he almost cuts her but Hope manages to kick it out of his hand and then she kicks him in the face, knocking him out, and then does the same to the other man.
Being worried that he has lost them Tony rounds a corner and the second he does he sees an arm swing out and knocks him to the ground. As he does Tony goes to fire the gun, but it gets knocked out of his hand.
Realising what he has to do Tony sweeps his legs out, like he did when he was training with Natasha, and manages to knock one down while trying to get to his feet, getting punched in the face once, both that doesn't stop him. Tony quickly gets to his feet.
"Really Stark? Aren't you nothing without your suits?" The man who is punched him in the face ask.
"That's just what I want people to believe." Tony says, focusing on everything he's ever learnt training with Natasha, Rhodey and Melinda, and moving quickly Tony hits the man in the stomach just as the other man gets up and Tony swings around and hits him before he can react, but getting punched in the face by the other man as he does who gets his bearings.
Looking between the two men Tony becomes pretty sure that he may not be able to take both of them at the same time, so he has to do the smart thing.
"Come on, come at me." Tony tells the men and as they start to approach him Tony slides on his knees between them, and picks up the gun that was knocked out of his hand earlier, turns and shoots, managing to hit the one man in the side with his first bullet while the other in the chest with his second.
As they fall to the ground Tony gets up and walks over, hitting one after the other with the butt of the gun to knock them both out.
Being pretty sure that the men she is chasing was speaking to someone on coms Natasha isn't surprised to find six people when she rounds the corner rather than two.
"Black Widow, it will be a pleasure to kill you." One of the men says and Natasha just smirks, being pretty sure that she is going to enjoy this.
Letting the get cocky Natasha lets them approach her and then quickly fires, her gun, taking down three before the fourth knocks the gun out of her hand. Not letting that faze her for a second Natasha reaches out and grabs his hand, twisting it and flipping him onto his back and as he falls to the ground Natasha kicks down, knocking him out.
With the four of the men down Natasha allows them to take several steps closer before she jumps up kicks of one and wraps her legs around the other man's necks, strangling with her thighs, something which is slightly difficult in her long dress, and as he falls to the ground Natasha is able to take of her heal and throws it at the last remaining man dealing with him too.
Half an hour later most of the guests from the party have gone and the people who crashed have been dealt with why NYPD and Natasha, Tony, Hope and Rhodey have all given their statements to the police and are currently in the ball room, waiting, as the mayor wants to speak to them, Tony having ice against his jaw where a bruise is starting to form.
"I can't believe I was the only one hurt." Tony says sounding disappointed.
"It's nothing to be disappointed about, it was two against one and you didn't have your suit, you did good." Hope assures him.
"I guess." Tony answers, but before anyone can say anything the Mayor walks over.
"Mayor Blasio." Rhodey greats, "Are you alright sir?"
"Yes, thanks to the four of you." The Mayor says, "I owe you a debt, thank you."
"You don't have to thank us, Sir. We were doing our job." Tony answers.
"Thank you." The Mayor says, shaking each of their hands, "Good evening." He says before leaving.
"Let's go home." Hope says as the mayor walks away.
"Let's." Rhodey says and they all head out.
"You know; I think I've lost a tooth." Tony says to Natasha with a frown.
"Such a pity, you worried about losing your pretty boy status?" Natasha asks, a teasing tone in her voice.
"Wow Nat, I'm hurt here." Tony says, sounding insulted, "You could be kinder."
"If you were seriously hurt I would be. A lost tooth is nothing." Natasha informs him, not wanting to admit that she doesn't like to see Tony hurt, even though it is a relatively minor injury.
"Aww Nat, I knew you cared." Tony says, putting his arm around Natasha's shoulder.
"Don't make me hurt you more." Natasha threatens, and even though he is pretty sure that it's not a serious threat Tony still removes his arm and he and Natasha follow Rhodey and Hope to the town car.
October 18th 2016. South Korea.
Morning.
Together in a briefing room Natasha, Tony, Hope, Rhodey and Vision are sitting in a conference room having been briefed on something they need to do.
"We've got to do this, it's too dangerous not to." Hope comments.
"Hope you'll be going in alone, and disabling a missile. There are things that you can't shrink through." Rhodey tells Hope, the mission sounding way too similar to the mission that lead to Hope's mother becoming trapped.
"This is stopping what will likely become a world nuclear war. I've got to do it." Hope argues, "We've already looked into it, we can't hack in from outside, someone has to manually, and I can. This shouldn't even be a question." Hope comments.
"Just be careful, don't go sub-atomic." Tony tells his friend.
"I'll try not to." Hope answers, "I better go, Vision you're giving me a lift, right?" she asks.
"Yes." Vision answers and he and Hope head out of the room.
"This is too dangerous." Rhodey says worried as Hope and Vision leave.
"Jim, Hope is good, she can handle this." Natasha says, not at all surprised that Rhodey is so worried.
"Janet was good to." Rhodey says and he, Natasha and Tony drift into silence, Tony and Natasha exchanging looks and trying to figure out what to say to Rhodey.
About an hour later Hope and Vision are above where they have to be.
"We are above the drop zone." Vision informs Hope, who is tiny and riding on his back.
"Okay, this is where I let go." Hope says, "See you when this is over." Hope says before flying off Vision.
"Hope can you hear us?" Tony asks through the coms.
"Yep." Hope says.
"Be careful. We might not be able to get to you in time if things go south." Natasha tells her through the coms.
"I know."
"CRAP." Tony suddenly says.
"Tone?" Hope asks.
"The missals just been fired; you're going to have to be quick about this." Tony reveals.
"Direct me, I'll fly as fast as possible." Hope instructs and Tony starts to give her instructions and she follows the best she can, "Okay I see it." Hope says a couple of minutes later and she fires her grappling hook to attach herself to the bomb.
"Hope you're going to have to be quick." Natasha says, it's getting close to the target and we all know what will happen if it hits.
"Yeah, we do." Hope says as she starts to inspect things, "Okay, things are more difficult than I was expecting."
"What does that mean?" Rhodey asks concerned.
"I'm going to have to go radio silence, there's something I have to do." Hope reveals.
"HOPE." Rhodey yells, but the coms line dies, "Damn it." He says worried.
"She's not going to do what I think she's going to do, right?" Tony asks worried, looking at Natasha, hoping that she has the answer.
"I hope not." Natasha says, though she can't help but be concerned as she knows that if it meant stopping what is about to happen Hope would go sub-atomic.
"We've got to do something; we've got to go after her." Rhodey tells Tony and Natasha, a look of complete distress appearing on his face.
"Not yet. Let's give her a couple of minutes, see if she's pulled this off." Tony says.
"But…." Rhodey starts to object.
"Look, I know you're worried Jim, but we can't just interfere, not when Hope might be pulling this off." Natasha informs him, "We wait." She says.
"Fine, we wait." Rhodey says, though he doesn't look happy and the three of them drift into silence and just wait, hoping for word from Hope.
As they watch, waiting to hear from their friend Natasha and Tony exchange looks, and look worried at Rhodey, neither of them being overly sure what to say as they are both worrying about Hope too.
"This is Wasp." Hope's voice says after five tense minutes.
"Hope, are you okay?" Rhodey asks, sounding terrified.
"Yeah. I'm good." Hope responds, "And the bombs been disabled." She reveals.
"So I'm seeing." Tony says with a grin, as he looks at the monitor, "Good job Wasp." He says proudly, "Vision, think you can pick up our friend?"
"Of course." Vision responds.
"See you soon, Hope." Natasha tells her friend.
"See you soon." Hope responds and Rhodey, Natasha and Tony let out sighs of relief.
For the next hour Tony, Rhodey and Natasha sit together and wait, or they sit together and wait while Tony de-brief's with the united nations panel via video call.
As soon as the door opens Rhodey stands up and walks, as fast as he can, to the people who are walking into the room.
"Jim…." Hope starts to say, but before she can say more Rhodey is kissing her.
"It's about damn time." Tony comments, looking amused.
"Really is." Natasha confirms, exchanging his amused look with Tony.
"Wow, Rhodes, you really know how to take a girl's breath away." Hope says with a smile as she and Rhodey break apart.
"I so afraid you had gone sub atomic, so afraid that I'd never seen you again and I realised that as afraid as I am about something ruining our friendship I'm more afraid of you never knowing how I feel." Rhodey reveals, "I love you Hope, I'm in love with you and I have been for a very long time."
"I love you too, Jim." Hope says being kissing Rhodey once more, and as they two of them kiss Natasha and Tony once more exchange amused looks.
"Huh, who knew, after all these years all it took was a life or death situation." Tony says, sounding a little amused.
"We really should have figured." Natasha confirms.
"Is it a good idea for members of the team to be in a romantic relationship?" Vision asks with a frown.
"Considering how long those two have been dancing around each other I'm pretty sure that things are going to be better now that they are together." Tony informs Vision.
"If you're sure." Vision responds, sounding doubtful, as the group drift into silence.
October 22nd 2016. Avengers Compound.
Late Afternoon.
As all the adults are in a video call with T'Challa planning the kings visit for the final meeting of the Accords, Peter, Cooper, Lila and Nathaniel are in the Avengers only court yard spending time together.
"Peter, use your web things." Lila tells the older boy.
"Lila…." Peter starts to say.
"Please Peter, please." Lila says, giving him her best begging look.
"Okay, I can do that." Peter says, caving to the look.
"You are such a push over." Cooper says, with a teasing grin.
"Like you haven't caved when Lila give you that look." Peter tells his friend, giving him a knowing look.
"Good point." Cooper admits.
"Cooper, Peter." Lila says, drawing the words out, sounding annoyed.
"Coming Lila." Cooper and Peter say together and the two of them hurry over to the young girl so that they can have fun.
It has been half an hour since Lila asked Peter to use her webs to play with her and ever since Lila, Cooper and Peter have been playing with Peter's webs while they watch Nathaniel.
"Peter, Cooper, Lila, Nathaniel, dinner's ready." Laura's voice says.
"Coming Mom." Cooper and Lila say.
"Coming Laura." Peter says and as Cooper goes to pick up his little brother Lila walks over to Peter and wraps her arms around him, "What's this for?" Peter asks, feeling a little amazed.
"I like seeing you happy." Lila tells him, "You've been sad, I like you happy." Lila reveals.
"Thanks Lila." Peter says, definitely feeling amazed, realising that while he may have lost his Aunt May he hasn't lost his entire family, in fact he's gained one.
"You're welcome." Lila says, letting go of Peter and once she does the two of them, Cooper and Nathaniel head inside for dinner.
October 24th 2016. United Nations Headquarters.
Morning.
Having all travelled to the city when Peter headed in to school Natasha, Tony, Hope, Rhodey, Vision and T'Challa are waiting to be let into the panel room for what should be the final meeting about altering the accords.
"So, this could be it, we could finally be getting a version of the accords we can live with." Tony realises.
"All signs indicate that." Natasha comments.
"I may not be a big fan of politics, but this is a very good thing." T'Challa comments.
"Got to agree there." Rhodey confirms as the door to the panel room opens.
"Please, come in." A representative says and the group head in and take their normal seats in the front row.
It takes five minutes but finally everyone else in the panel room have entered and taken their seats around the room.
Once everyone is sitting down the head of the panel stands and walks over to the podium.
"Welcome all." The person says, "Today marks a historical day." He says, "This panel is pleased to announce that the latest version of the Sokovian Accords that was submitted by the Avengers and King T'Challa have been approved with no other alterations." The panel head says, but the second he does Tony, Natasha, Rhodey, T'Challa, Hope and Vision exchange glad looks, all feeling glad as this is what they have been working towards for months.
"Now we have some formalities that we need to observe, but in the matter of hours the New Sokovian Accords will be official. Let's get started." The panel head says and as he does The Avengers, and King T'Challa feel like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders.
October 24th 2016. Avengers Compound.
Afternoon.
"So, how'd it go?" Laura asks as Tony, Natasha, Rhodey, Hope, Vision, T'Challa and Peter, who was picked up after school, walk back into living area of the compound.
"The second altered version we submitted was approved." Tony reveals.
"Really?" Laura asks, looking glad.
"Really." The others confirm.
"So that means….." Laura starts to say, trailing off as she doesn't want to say what she is thinking in case she is wrong.
"I can really start to work on Clint's pardon." Tony confirms, "If things go the way I plan he should be home by the end of the year." Tony reveals and Laura hugs him.
"Thank you, thank you so much." Laura says, hugging him.
"You don't have to thank me. I told you, I'm going to find a way to bring him home to you." Tony promises her as they break apart.
"Tony, may we talk in private." T'Challa requests as Tony and Laura break apart.
"Of course Kitten, let's go to my office." Tony says, and that's exactly what they do.
A couple of minutes later Tony and T'Challa walk into Tony's office.
"Does this need to be complete private?" Tony asks T'Challa.
"It might be best." T'Challa answers.
"FRIDAY, complete privacy settings." Tony requests.
"Of course Boss." FRIDAY responds and all the windows in the room become tinted, so that no one can see in, the doors and windows lock, and not even FRIDAY can hear or see what is going on in the room, and Tony and T'Challa sit down.
"You finally going to tell me that Rogers and his team are in Wakanda?" Tony asks curious.
"I should have realised that you knew." T'Challa comments, "I took them in because I owed it to Barnes, I know how he hurt you, but…." He starts to says, but Tony cuts him off.
"I know." Tony tells him, "When I first found watched that video, found out that Rogers kept it from me, I was furious, I wasn't thinking straight, but in the past few months I've looked into the Winter Solider and as hard as it is to admit it I know that he wasn't responsible for my parent's death. If Rogers told me sooner, without me seeing that damn video, then, in time, I would have come to that conclusion then too." He tells T'Challa, "How's Barnes doing with everything?" Tony asks as even though he'll always feel some anger towards Barnes he knows he isn't responsible for killing his parents.
"He's back in Cryo, and will be until I can find a way to remove the triggers." T'Challa admits.
"I might have something to help with that, but I could use your input." Tony reveals.
"Of course." T'Challa answers, "I want to talk to you about the others."
"I really don't." Tony admits, "I may not be angry at Barnes, but I am at Rogers, he knew. He was my friend and… what did you want to talk about?" Tony asks, changing the subject as he really doesn't want to talk about his current feelings about Captain Steve Rogers.
"Now that the Accords are finalised in a way we approve of I want Rogers team to sign them, or leave my country." T'Challa reveals, "I was fine with sheltering them from the old accords, but not our new ones." He admits.
"I know this might be too much to ask, and I would understand if you don't agree, but I need you to let them stay for a little longer, even if they don't agree to The Accords." Tony admits, worrying that he is asking too much.
"Why?" T'Challa asks, wondering why Tony would ask something like that.
"Because when I get Barton, and even Lang, their pardons so that they can return home to their children, I need to know where to find them." Tony explains, "And I don't want them to have caused any trouble that will jeopardise that, and under your care I know they won't."
"When do you think you'll have the pardon's by?" T'Challa asks, not giving away anything.
"No later than the end of the year." Tony answers.
"Okay, I will allow them to stay in my country until you find a way for Barton and Lang to home to their children." T'Challa explains.
"Thank you, T'Challa." Tony says, his voice sounding grateful.
"But after that, if they do not agree to sign our version of The Accords I cannot allow them to stay in my country, though I will continue to shelter and protect, Barnes." T'Challa responds.
"Okay." Tony says with a nod and the two of them drift into silence.
"So, this idea to help Barnes?" T'Challa asks, breaking the silence after a few minutes.
"Yeah, it might need some tweaking but it should work." Tony says and he starts to explain to T'Challa the theory he has and the device he has that may just put the theory into practice.