*A/N
Happy New Year!
I wanted to do something special this holiday for one of my most 'popular' fics so I wrote something that's been ruminating in my mind for awhile to thank all of you AMAZING PEOPLE OT THERE!
I really really Hope you love!
Love,
Cap
—-
Steve
The shimmering air makes his senses go wild. The sort of see through Sky Jellyfish (as Tony had unceremoniously named them) were causing a lot more havoc than their translucent rainbow shimmering bodies conveyed.
The tentacles would stick to something and then start to dissolve it or burn it or set it on fire or drag it through the sky. All not good.
"Sky Squid," Clint had said over the intercoms, "they're more like sky squid. Their fronts are pointy."
"Hey." Tony had snapped, sounding like he was flying at top speed, "you shoot the arrows, I shoot the quippy names. Got it?"
And that was the last he'd heard for awhile as everyone had been sent in a different direction to try to combat them.
He misses when the weirdest thing science created was him.
Although, maybe it wasn't scientists. Natasha had pointed out that with the energy surges and mass chaos these things were causing that they could be hiding a portal energy signal somewhere. So it could be aliens.
The fight lasts for hours and they've barely scratched the surface.
His mind isn't so much split as it is… two puzzle pieces put together. They make a whole picture even if there is a divide down the middle.
The more tired he gets the more he feels like he's on autopilot. They had just come back from a two week mission ('a hell haul' Tony had named that one) where they'd been tracking down the lingering vestiges of Hydra. Trying to get something called the Scepter. He remembers seeing it in the footage of the Battle of New York but it was gone by the time they had gotten there.
And as they'd arrived back to New York, they'd been immediately summoned to Boston. No sleep or even a meal in between.
So he fights, doggedly and without relent. He's not sure who is in control more. But it doesn't matter. They're deadly either way.
"I think—" he hears Clint crackling through his intercoms. He must be close to one as that throws the comms signal off, "—maybe last two or three?" Relief floods through him, he's exhausted and feeling the weariness pulling from every direction.
That's when he feels the most split. Thankfully it's not a bad thing. When 'other' Steve shows up he no longer worries about control. It's more like a mental break.
Sam worries it's still a coping mechanism. And it is. He's right. But Steve hasn't figured out how to make the pictures meld fully. It's especially apparent still around the spiders or when there is danger that surprises him into a mental fritz.
Which is why the giant rainbow shimmering stream of colors from the sky, touching down closer to the street where Bucky and Natasha are fighting, makes his mind go into hyper drive and then blank.
—
Thor Odinson
"I am quite aware of the power of the scepter." Odin states, "which is the only reason I am approving your return. We have much work to do yet in the realms son."
Thor nods, "I understand, father. I will not be gone for a long period of time. I just want to ensure they retrieve the scepter before the humans cause more terror with it."
"Creating new enhanced beings will not serve them well."
"I agree." Thor sighs and rests his hand on the hammer where it rests on his hip, "it will be good to return though. It has been many cycles since I've been able to see my friends."
"Heimdall bears fair news?"
"He's been cryptic. But I shall learn about their adventures in my absence when I speak to them. I will be back as soon as I am able."
"See that you are."
—
Thor rides the Rainbow Bridge, feeling the ozones and the atmospheres shift and change as he passes through them.
He is cracking into Midgard's realm and excitement builds. Heimdall had said they were in battle and sore needed help. He was happy to provide his assistance and perhaps rub it into Anthony's pride.
As his boots thunder against the asphalt, he feels the way gravity collects around him, settling him into the realm.
And then something sharp is striking him.
He stumbles back, surprise more than pain, only to hear a thudding sound. He turns to see a blur rushing at him.
And so the fight begins.
He feels positively gleeful as the person approaches, a sleek dark blue uniform with a star on the chest, faster than a normal human can move.
Ah, one of the enhanced, he assumes.
Lightning crackles and Thor throws it towards the man. Something metallic resounds as the lightning strikes it, and the air is electrified for a few moments before he releases the beam. He's expecting to see a charred mess, not a fist. It barely misses his jaw as he shifts, shock at the quick retaliation and undamaged man now attacking him. He throws a punch back and is surprised that the man is already ducking and spinning, landing a cracking shot to his ribs.
A formidable foe then. No wonder his friends were struggling. Especially if there are multiple.
The man's face is bruised and bleeding, his hair is askew and Thor is glad that his friends seem to be putting up a good fight to be able to make this man look this ragged.
He swings his hammer and propels himself away, causing the man to be buffeted by the wind. Then he returns, quicker than the man can retaliate. He lands a solid blow to the man's chest. Tossing him back into a brick building. The wall crumbles with the force, a crater appearing where the man disappeared.
But the man is not easily put down.
Even more haggard than before, the man climbs out and drops to the ground, stumbling slightly before traightening. He spits blood and then wipes at his jaw, silent and unspeaking.
"Stand down, foe." Thor calls. "Or I shall unleash all of Asgard's powers upon thee and thy brood."
Instead of standing down, (which Thor expects) or running at Thor (which Thor hopes) the man dives sideways, collecting something from the ground and then sprinting towards an alley.
Puzzlement is first and foremost at his actions, until Thor sees him utilize the dumpsters and then metal ladders to gain higher ground. Leaping into the open air with a boldness unknown to most men.
A formidable foe, Thor thinks again with a grin, raising his hammer and feeling the shift of ozone as he does so.
They collide, and Thor feels his helmet slide off and clatter to the ground.
He slams his hammer against the man's leg and there's a sound of pain that is masked, as if he isn't allowed to vocalize his pain.
But then Thor's mind gets fuzzy as the object the man retrieved slams against his now barren temple.
They go stumbling, rolling apart and standing as quickly as they both can manage. Thor finally sees the metal object in full. A round shield, painted in concentric circles. A matching star to the uniform. He wonders when the man lost his offensive weapon.
"Call off your monsters." The man finally speaks, sounding tired and haggard, "take them back."
Monsters? Thor thinks, perhaps Bruce is fighting today.
"Nay." Thor calls, "you shall submit to the heroes of Midgard's might."
He swirls his hammer as fast as he can manage and the vortex of air begins to form, trapping them both. Lighting and thunder begin to crackle and sound.
The man looks up and around, and Thor expects the usual glint of fear to appear.
Instead the man's eyes flick to Thor and something like a fierce and frightening determination covers his expression. Thor watches him adjust the shield on his arm.
They charge at each other, and they collide, hammer against shield, causing an explosion of electricity and refracting sound and energy. They both get hurled backwards. Thor can't see where the man lands, as he's spun and tossed against what humans call their automobiles.
A groan of pain escapes and he rolls off the car and onto the ground. Laying thehre for a mere moment before he clutches to the handle and pulls himself up.
The man is draped over a metal bench, smoldering and steaming from Thor's onslaught. He's immune to the natural order of his power, but humans are very susceptible to the heat and energy of the lighting.
The man gasps, and coughs. Surprise flits through him again as the man silently slides to the asphalt. Back leaning against the seat of the bench. His hair and face are singed and he looks like Hel, but he slowly, and shakily uses his arms to haul himself up, the shield is nowhere to be seen. But the man does not relent.
He pulls the smoldering gloves from his hands and tosses them. He takes a step, his leg wobbling just mildly before he finds his balance.
Thor raises his hammer, "submit, now."
The man's eyes narrow. And only with Thor's excellent hearing does he hear the "never."
The man starts to run and disbelief is the front and center of Thor's thoughts. But neither will he yield. So he barrels towards the man as well.
He does not expect the last minute slide beneath his legs and the twisting kick that throws him off balance. But Thor has fought many foes and he will not be bested. As he spins, crashing to the ground, he summons electrical currents to his hammer and throws it full force. As it flies away, Thor hears the crack and crackle as it slams into the man's jaw and electricity splinters through the man's body. Thor hits the ground with a thud as does the man. But the man is now silent, and unmoving. Thor rises and stretches out his hand, summoning it back, ready to deal a crushing fatal blow when he hears a guttural roar of fear and rage as it slams back into his palm. He looks up to see Barnes is reaching out to him, terror on his features.
His momentary distraction means he misses the movement at his feet. But then his ears hear a click and he looks down.
One of those human weapons points up at him, the barrel pointed directly at his face.
"Wait, no!"
Thor is in position to strike, and the man is in position to shoot.
But neither move. Thor watches his trigger finger and the man's eyes are on his hammer.
"Thor—" Barnes is sucking in air as if he'd sprinted from afar, "Thor, drop the hammer."
"I shall!" He bellows, "on this foe's head!"
"Steve—" Barnes shouts, "is not a foe!" He coughs and finally skitters to a stop beside them, crashing to his knees and blocking Thor's hammer's path.
"He attacked me—"
Barnes' eyes close, "I know, he thought—" he pants, "he thought you were with them." He turns to the man still lying on the ground. His jaw is slack and there is blood and saliva dripping from his mouth. "Steve—" Barnes' exhaustion is apparent, "Steve, this is Thor. Remember seeing him? In the Battle of New York videos?"
A flat and expressionless face stares back at them.
Thor's confusion rises at the wince that Barnes wears, "oh." He sags, sliding to his backside and legs splaying out as he stares up at Thor, "oh, shit." Barnes rests a hand on the man's chest and closes his eyes, "come on, Steve. Don't do this. Not now, you're okay. It's alright. Thor's not an enemy. You're safe."
And the air ripples with the screaming of mechanics and a thud as Stark lands beside them. The man on the ground does not move to fight or flinch.
Thor studies his eyes as they speak of familiarity of both Barnes and Stark. Which means he is no foe.
Thor lowers the hammer, knowing there must be a long tale ahead of him.
The man's eyes track the movement of his hammer and once it is lowered, his eyes flag shut and Thor hears the way his breathing shifts.
And he passes out.
"What the hell!" Stark shouts, helmet slamming open, "Thor? When did you get here?"
Thor blinks at the two warriors and he gestures widely with his hammer, "I've just arrived, to help fight this battle. Heimdall stated it was not an easy battle. I came to help."
"So you help by beating the crap out of one of ours!?"
Thor gestures to the man, "How was I supposed to be aware he fought for you? He attacked me first!"
Tony squints at him and Barnes nods, "Tony, Steve probably saw the Rainbow Bridge and—"
Tony sucks in against his teeth, "Nat's talk about portals and aliens."
Barnes nods, "exactly." He looks up at Thor, "I'm sorry, he didn't know. He owuldn't hurt you on purpose."
Thor then blinks, "he fought mightily," he brow furrows, "one of the enhanced from the scepter has shifted to our side?"
Barnes grimaces, "no. He's not—"
The Quinjet roars ahead and lands on a roof, cutting off sound as the wind blasts down. Then Natasha is racing into sight, the motorcycle squealing to a stop. She hopes off and sees the group. Thor hears a gasp of worry escape her and his brow furrows deeper at the show of emotion. She races to the man's side and kneels, "Steve?" When he doesn't respond, she glares up, "what happened! What did this?!"
Barnes shakes his head, "it was an accident, Thor didn't know—"
Thor stumbles back at the sudden movement. Natasha is snarling in his face and a finger pointed as sharp as a knife, "what the hell do you think you are doing! You could have killed him!"
Then Barnes is dragging her back and Thor is bowled over by the fact that she doesn't fight.
"I meant no harm to this warrior." Thor states, "I only fought because he attacked. I assumed he was a foe."
Clint appears, having landed the jet and made his way t the street. His eyes land on the scene and THor is even more puzzled as he also kneels by the man's side, "is he okay?"
"Where's the shield?" Natasha asks.
Barnes reaches for the man and activates something. A shing is heard and they raise the arm up, a clang resounding as the shield attaches to magnets. "We need to get him back to the tower." Barnes says softly, "his expression before he passed out was…" he grimaces, "Asset like."
The way the temperature drops in the group is not due to Thor's power. The rest seem to glower at the words.
He is usually behind on the references and customs of Midgard, but this escapes him completely.
"I do not understand." Thor states, "please explain."
Clint claps him on the back and there's a huff of resignation, "that's one hell of a story, sparky."
Tony glares at the archer, "Barton, what the hell did I say."
—
The man's body is picked up with such care one would think he was fragile. Barnes refuses Stark's help and Clint retrieves the jet.
The flight is quiet and he sees the exhaustion that was on Barnes is weighing on all of them.
He does not try to force a conversation even as his curiosity grows by miles.
Thor's eyes watch like the namesake of the archer as they situate the man, not in medical where Thor expects, but on Barnes' floor in a room further down. Stark uses some wizardry in mechanics to set the man's jaw and scan for other injuries.
Cracked ribs and a sternum, internal bleeding from impact, and a splintered jaw
Jarvis reports this in a voice that Thor does not recognize. It sounds agitated.
"Alright," Tony says with a sigh, "let the serum do its thing."
Thor notices that four pairs of wary eyes watch him. He huffs, "I desire explanation." He requests, "I had no knowledge of a new teammate."
"Jarvis?" Barnes asks, "can you load up a brief on the common room TV?"
The original files? Or the files made public?
"Oh, nooooo" Clint groans, "please, not again. We can't watch it again. Please. Plus Steve'll be mad." Then he pauses, "or whatever Steve's version of mad is. Disappointed. Don't make him give us the sad eyes again."
These words only add to Thor's confusion.
Barnes stares at the man on the bed, and he stands, a sigh on his lips, "Just the bare bones Jarvis."
Yes, Sergeant Barnes.
—-
They leave the man in what Thor assumes is his room and they make their way to the common room.
Thor watches as they seem drunk with weariness. And while he is curious as ever, he knows when his warriors are at the limit. And these teammates are not faring well.
"Go sleep, eat, clean up." Thor commands, "my questions will last. You're no good to the world as you are. And if something should summon you again, you will want to be ready." He gestures to their rooms, "I shall wait."
Relief plays on all of their faces and they disappear without a word.
—-
Bucky
His metal arm shakes as he turns the shower on. He's so tired he just sits on the ground immediately. Standing is for people who have slept for than 6 hours in the last 4 days.
His eyes close as the scalding hot water beats against his skin. Dragging the blood and the sweat and the 13 days of travel across the world down the drain.
He groans at the burn on his arm. Stupid tentacled flying sky jellyfish squid piece of crap. Then his thoughts turn to the shit show that the fight had become.
He knows Steve will be fine.
But…
Thor's hammer to the jaw must feel like getting hit by a bus.
He pictures the blank look on Steve's face and he winces, hoping it was just a pain set back or a blip. Not a reset or a reversion.
It will be fine.
—
Tony
Tony tosses the comms onto the table and glares at them. He'd forgotten how on teh fritz they can go when surrounded by alien energy.
ONce they'd gotten separated it had been as useful as talking through a red solo cup and a string. He'd seen Thor arrive and shouted a 'wahoo' through the comms and had received no similar sounds of exuberance.
Trackers told him everyone was still fighting fit. But no one could talk and that grates him. What does he have if not the silly huffs of annoyance everyone gives him at his spectacularly witty comments?
Then he'd seen Thor's lightning strike earth and his tracker had shown no monsters in that area. Only one 'returned from the tortured hell of Hydra' soldier.
He'd started flying pretty quick after that but had gotten waylaid by a sky jellyfish (trademark pending). So he'd beefed up his comms, cutting power to nonessentials and wired the message to Barnes' earpiece Morse code style.
Thankfully it reached him and he got there in time.
There's a deep sense of dread of what could have happened if Thor took the final swing.
But it didn't.
It didn't happen.
He scrubs at his face.
Damn, he really needs to not picture the worst.
—
Thor
He finds that his patience wanes long before they reappear.
"Jarvis."
How can I be of assistance, Thor Odinson
"Barnes asked you to show the barest of bones. Might I be allowed to view that now?"
Your clearance allows. I will queue it up.
Thor waits and the projection on the wall lights up.
He is surprised to see a photo of a young Barnes pop up first, and beside him a pale and sickly child.
"Jarvis," he starts, "I do not understand."
Would you like me to provide narration when there is no available audio?
He nods, "indeed."
Steven Grant Rogers was born in Brooklyn in July of 1918–
Thor's eyes snap to the ceiling, "I beg your pardon?"
He and James Buchanan Barnes became friends in young childhood and remained friends through enlistment —
A picture of Barnes in his younger years, shown as a soldier in his time. Thor has only seen a brief glimpse into this. They hadn't had much time in 2012 and then he'd returned to Asgard. Then a photo of the same sickly child but older is shown.
—-Steven volunteered to be a part of the SSR's pet project: Project Rebirth, which granted his body incredible abilities such as strength, endurance, mental enhancement, and healing—
Thor is staring as a picture of the same man, now over a foot taller and built almost as strongly as Thor himself. Sometimes humans are capable of magic all on their own.
—-Barnes and Rogers remained friends until Steven's alleged death on a mission to capture a Hydra Operative known as Arnim Zola. He was found by villagers who attempted to take care of him after his fall, but was taken by Hydra scientists in the subsequent days and he was held captive until Hydra's downfall in 2014–
Thor sees rather unclear footage of a helicarrier crashing into a river.
Steven Rogers has been in the process of rehabilitation since that day. He has remained at the tower for just over 7 months and has made incredible progress.
"You know," a voice says, making Thor's head snap to the elevator doors that are now closing after having dropped off their passenger. "I didn't program in compassion. But somehow the super soldiers bring it out of him." He points, "Jarvis, I mean."
"The ceiling cares for the soldiers?"
Anthony huffs, tossing his phone onto the coffee table and flopping onto the couch. "It's not the ceiling—" he pinches his nose and Thor wants to smile at the annoyance caused. He forgets how offended these mortal creatures can be, "It's a highly sophisticated Artificial—" he throws up his hands, "you know what? Forget it. Doesn't matter. Yes, the ceiling cares for him. Them."
Thor gestures to the screen. "Jarvis states his wonderful abilities. I afford them to him as I witnessed them just today in battle as well. Why did you all worry so when you found us fighting in the street?"
Anthony's throat bobs and he shakes his head, "to quote our favorite birdbrain, 'that's a long story, Sparky'."
"One you are not willing to share?"
There's a deep grimace on the man's face, "you don't even know what you're asking, Thor. It's not butterflies and rainbows. It's—-"
There's a long pause and Thor is patient for as long as he can manage before he waves a hand, "it is?"
"What's the worst punishment someone can receive on Asgard?"
"Death by strategically placed flaming spikes that are also dipped in sulphuric poison and kill so slowly and painfully the wrongdoer pleads for death and is denied."
Anthony's face is pale and he huffs, "yeesh. How often do you use that one?"
"Only to someone who harms an innocent child on purpose."
Then Anthony's face grows solemn. "Okay, yes. That's a perfect example." He points to the screen, "think of that guy as the innocent child. And everyone who had their hands on him at Hydra deserves that little torture punishment you just described. All of them for 70 years. Every single one."
Thor furrows his brow, "surely not—"
"Dude." Anthony huffs. "Every. Single. Damn. One."
"So he has been through a great many things?"
The way Anthony relaxes back into the chair makes Thor understand that he may have cleaned up and eaten but he has not slept, "yeah, Thunderbolt. A great many things."
It takes no more than 30 seconds for him to fall asleep and Thor is left staring at the shifting images of Steven Rogers on the screen.
—
It takes a total of 12 hours for Steven to awaken from his injuries. Thor hears the shifting and then a single groan before the man is bolting upright, and then groaning and falling back onto the bed.
"Do you require water?" Thor asks, making the man go rigid and silent. Eyes find him in the far corner and the man does not speak. "I would be happy to alert the others you've awoken. They will be thrilled."
"Status Report?"
"All are in various states. Sleeping, eating, getting cleaned up. They are all uninjured except for a burn which has now healed and a small cut which has been stitched and disinfected." Thor finds a smile on his face, "your Shieldbrother Barnes informed me that that would be your first question. You do not disappoint." Then Thor's face grows solemn and he stands, "I wish to apologize. I had no knowledge you were on the avengers team. I would never strike a blow against a fellow warrior."
The man nods but doesn't speak again.
"Do you require anything?"
"Water," the man says quietly, "please."
Thor walks to the door and opens it, "of course."
—
Bucky
When Thor exits the room, he nods, "he's awake. And he would like water."
Bucky sags with relief and snatches a glass from the cabinets and fills it up. He walks with Thor back to the room and they enter. The lights are still off, but Bucky can see just fine. He makes it to Steve's bed and sits on the edge, "how are you feeling."
Steve's throat is tight and he bites at the edge, his eyes flicking to Thor, "fine."
Bucky narrows his eyes, "Steve?"
A wince. A head shake 'no'.
Oh…
He changes his tone, "Steve?"
A nod 'yes'.
He can feel Thor's puzzlement from where he stands but. He ignores that for now. "Is he okay?"
A head shake 'no'.
Dread fills his gut, "what do you mean, no?"
"Steve is silent."
Bucky's arm hisses and he has to remind himself to breathe. "Oh-Kay." He manages out, "I'm sure he's just…" he tries to come up with a word, "tired."
He looks up to Steve who says nothing. He knows he does not agree. He wouldn't be so scared if Steve was just using him as an exhaustion shield. He reaches a hand out and rests it on top of one of Steve's, "It's going to be alright." He promises, "I'm sure of it."
And Steve speaks heartbreaking words. "He's gone."
Bucky closes his eyes, "he's not gone." He tries to ignore the way Thor is radiating concern and confusion, "he's probably just…" What? Bucky tries to think of a non-alarming explanation, "It's probably like the old days… you're just in control right now. That's fine."
"But…" Steve's eyes flick to his lap as his throat swallows thickly, "the only time Steve was silent was when he was just the voice, at the beginning of the device. Not since the device was removed. Not this way."
"Okay." Bucky forces out. His throat feels like shredded glass. Each fear of Steve's sudden disappearance slicing at him. "It's fine. It will be fine. You're still healing. He probably is too."
And then sheer panic crosses Steve's face, "I don't want him to be gone."
Bucky's voice is sharp, fearful, "he's not gone." He sucks in a sharp breath and shakes his head, "you're still healing. Not just from yesterday, but also from 70 years, okay. The path is not linear. You took a hit today. Probably just jostled your brain." Bucky has to forge on, has to keep occupied. "Let's get you cleaned up, okay? Can you stand? Or should I fill the bath?"
"I can stand."
Bucky nods, "great. You get cleaned up and changed and I'll grab you food. Drink that water."
Steve nods and stands, a bit wobbly, but he manages to get into the bathroom and close the door.
Bucky is not mad at Thor. He's not.
Thor is the kindest. He would never.
Not on purpose at least.
He stands, not looking at Thor. He's biting back the anger that would not be rational. He's almost to the door when a voice cracks the silence.
"Sergeant Barnes." He stops, but doesn't turn. "There is much the barest bones did not cover. And I do not understand what I just witnessed."
"It is a really long story." He says a bit sharply before he walks out.
—
Thor
He listens as Barnes explains the fact that Other Steve is noting a significant absence of Steve and his brow furrows. Humans and their confusing language choices.
But the team seems to take this as knives to the chest. And he knows their eyes flick to him when they think he isn't noticing.
Thor endures their stares for a bit, but then he sets the hammer down on the ground, blocking the refrigerator door from opening. "I desire to understand." He says firmly. "You all have blame in your eyes. But I cannot accept guilt until I understand my crime."
Clint, who had been about to open said fridge, glares at him and then sighs, "not it." He walks towards the couch and sits.
When no one else speaks, Thor's voice takes on a deeper rumble and his footsteps are heavy as he walks towards the table where three of them sit. "Anthony explains that he was harmed. But no more. And you speak of multiple Steves. And you assign my fight as having eliminated one. Do not make me ask again." The air crackles and he takes a deep breath.
—-
Tony
Tony taps on his phone and points at Thor, "you're going to wish you didn't ask."
"What about the security footage of the street." Natasha offers, "maybe it was in the fight with the jellyfish—"
"Squid—"
"Clint, I swear on my mother's grave—"
Natasha snaps at both of them and they fall quiet. "Perhaps Thor was the cherry on top. We all know Steve can retreat if needed. He's done it before. Maybe that had already happened before Thor showed up."
Tony is nodding, "Jarvis, can you can street cams or CCTVs or whatever the city has to see if there was a moment where Steve took a big hit?"
The projector whirs to life and then they're watching Steve fight. Other than being tired, which they all were, Steve seems normal. The screens all glitch when Thor arrives on earth, but that's normal too.
It's grainy footage as they begin to fight. Trading blows thta make the whole room wince.
"A mighty warrior." Thor says softly.
Then they get slightly better angle and footage quality after the explosion. They're both blown into an area with a higher quality camera. The initial collision makes them grimace, but Tony hears himself and the others gasp as Thor charges the hammer with lightning and then hurls it against Steve's face, the electricity clearing searing through his body.
Through his brain.
Barnes is up and out of his seat. Out to the balcony and away from their eyes.
Thor watches the footage and a somber look crosses his face. "I accept the blame." He says gravely.
Its not a few minutes later that they hear a door open down the hallway. Soft footsteps pad out and the solemn blue eyes stare at them.
He's not the Asset. Tony knows that. But the absence of Steve is so stark (pun not intended).
Even when the Asset was still struggling for dominance, there was a sense that Steve was there, just under the surface. And when they were switching back and forth, Steve's personality still reverberated in the back.
But this.
This is empty Asset.
Empty Other Steve.
"Hey." Natasha says softly, "you're hungry, right?"
He nods.
"Alright, you know where the food is, grab anything you like. Eat extra. You've been low in calories for too long. Eating helps you heal."
Steve nods and walks to the kitchen.
Tony hears a snap and he turns. Clint is waving at him to shut off the footage. "Oh shit—" he whispers. Wiping his hand to swipe away the footage.
Natasha pretends to be playing something on her phone but he knows she's tense.
He looks up to see Thor staring at Steve with wide eyes. "What?" Tony whispers.
But the god does not respond. He just tracts Steve's movements in the kitchen and then to the table. Then the eyes slowly turn to him, locking Tony in their gaze. "You said innocent child." He can tell Clint and Natasha are listening, "explain further."
"Uh—" Tony stammers, "Well, there's.. I mean…" he feels his fingers and his feet tapping in anxiety at the intense look that Thor is nailing him with, "he's just.. good."
"The ceiling stated there were other files. More in depth about this man's life?"
"Yeah…" Tony answers slowly, "but… it's like days of footage. And it's…" he lowers his voice. He's pretty sure other Steve's mind is preoccupied, but just in case, "grueling stuff, man. Like—"
"Battery Acid in your eyes." Clint offers.
"Acid?" Thor asks.
"You don't have acid on Asgard?"
"I don't believe so."
"You have lemons?"
"Yes…"
"Like lemons. That are on fire. Then squeezed into your eyes."
Thor frowns, "and yet… you have all watched it?"
"Multiple times." Clint grumbles.
Thor stands and then walks to the window. Tony wonders if he can see Barnes having his freak out out there. "You speak of multiples in one body. How is this possible? Magic?"
"Trauma." Natasha reponds. "It's like bad magic for humans."
Clint barks out a laugh and Tony makes a huffing sound of amusement.
—
Thor
When Barnes finally returns, he speaks to Steven for a while and then he bids them all farewell and heads to his room. Natasha follows after, looking worried, and Clint and Anthony get in the elevator. Presumably to go brood in their own separate but preferred locations,
Thor looks at the man who stares out the window. Pinched expression and worried eyes.
And Thor is neither a coward, not an idiot, despite what people think. He strides over and he sits down beside the man. "I am to blame for the loss of your friend."
The man's eyes turn to him and he takes a deep breath, "your other Steve."
"I'm Other Steve."
"And what makes you Other?"
"He was here first."
Thor's eyes narrow, "explain."
"Hydra erased him with the device, then I showed up. Then it was both of us. Now it's just me."
"Device?"
Steve's head tilts, "the Hydra device placed in our head."
Thor's stomach feels a sick turn, "with your permission…?"
The man shows the first quirk of humor in his lips. "No, sir."
The punishment Anthony described is starting to make sense.
"I am sorry. I believe… No," Thor corrects, "I know the electrical current from my hammer damaged your mind. I am responsible. And I am sorry."
The man looks up at him and studies his face, somehow even though Thor knows something is missing, they are empathetic as they look at him. "I forgive you. I know it wasn't on purpose."
His willingness to forgive an egregious act is telling. Thor's eyes flick back to the refrigerator and then back to the man in front of him. "What will you do, if the other half never returns?"
The question seems to stun the man, and his jaw tightens as if in pain, "I don't know."
"Well," Thor responds softly, "I will do whatever is in my power to bring him back."
The man's voice is even softer, "thank you."
—
Bucky
His adrenaline spikes and he lurches up and out of bed.
Natasha grumbles from the bed, "what is it?"
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
He quiets, listening. He feels the air on the back of his neck prickle and the hairs on his arms raise. The smell of burning ozone. "Thor's mad—" Bucky says ina quick breath.
"About what?" Natasha asks, not sounding like she particularly cares.
"I don't know." He grabs a shirt and slips it on, "I'll go find out."
—-
He walks out and Steve's emaciated form punches him in the face. He lokos to see the files being run on the projector. Thor stands, shoulders heaving and the whole room feeling electrified.
Then Barnes looks at the coffee table that is now a splintered mess.
"Jarvis." Thor says in a harsh whisper, "continue."
Sir—
"Go on, Jarvis." Barnes cuts in. Making the god turn his head and startle at the sight of him. "Show him."
The footage continues and Thoris staring at him. "How is this madness possible? How is this allowed on this earth?"
"Allowed?" Barnes says sharply, "It's not allowed. And to the extent, consistency, harshness, and length of time? Only Steve has ever experienced. And only because his body could take it." Then he grimaces, "and by 'take it'… I mean survive it."
"And all these men, these torturers have been punished?"
Barnes grits his teeth. "Almost none suffered the fate they deserved."
"Steven spoke of a brain device."
The way Barnes eyes snap shut at just the mention, "it's coming." He whispers out. "It's almost there."
—-
Thor
Thor has fought in thousands of battles. Years of his life have been in the horrors of war. He's been across the nine realms and witnessed life and death and everything in between.
But he has never watched something so singularly cruel, horrific, and heart rendering as the footage he forces himself to endure.
He doesn't sleep for three days. Spending the evenings where everyone else sleeps watching it.
Barnes finds him the first night.
Clint finds him the second.
Anthony the third.
"Ya know—" Anthony says with a slight slur and a drink in his hand. "I hated the guy. My dad was obsessed, obseeeesssssed with Captain America. And I couldn stand hearing about the guy." He huffs, "then I meet Barnes and tell him that and get socked straight in the face." He gestures at the screen, "did J show you any of the Steve tapes?"
"I watched him in capture first."
Anthony leans forward, turning his head to and fro vigorously, "no, no, no. I mean Steve, you know. Captain America! The good days. The days he an Barnes fought as…" he squints, "whatchamacall'em? Brother's in Shields?"
"Shieldbrothers."
Anthony snaps, "That's it. That's the one." He waves at the ceiling, giving Thor a moment of amusement at his usual denial to placement. "J, cue up the good stuff."
Yes, sir.
—
Thor spends the next two evenings swatching the majority of footage from one of earth's greatest battles. He learns more about the 'Steve that was there first". And not just the tortured version.
He finds a Barnes in those reels that he has never experienced. One brighter, lighter, not so heavy and reserved.
When the last reel flickers out. He walks to Steve's room. The man is sitting there. Staring at a drawing pad and a numb of charcoal as if it pains him.
"Steven."
Slow blue eyes turn to him. "Yes?"
"Might you be willing—" he takes a deep breath and tries to exude calm, "for me to try to rectify my mistake."
"How?"
Thor walks over and he looks straight at the man's trusting blue eyes. "Stay still."
Other than a slight widening of the eyes, the man complies as Thor reaches forward, placing his smallest fingers under the man's jaw, heart finger at the middle of the ear, middle finger at the man's temple, forefinger at the edge of his hairline and thumbs touching in the middle. "Heimdall," he says lowly, summoning the power of the allfathers, "you see all. You know what I ask you to see. Is Steven Rogers still present, and will he be allowed to return?" He imbues his own electrical powers through his fingers, allowing the magic to flow through him.
He feels the way Heimdall uses him as a vessel.
There is no doubt in the worth of this one.
A gasp and then hands are grasping his wrists.
He reopens his eyes to see watery eyes staring up at him, "he's here. Almost, I feel him."
Thor nods, "he slumbers. He shall awake."
The man's eyes close and Thor does not miss the way water flows from beneath the closed eyelids. "Thank you."
Thor then crouches. As he does when a child wants to speak to him. Leveling his eyes to the man who sits at a desk. "Know this, 'Other Steven'." Thor says in his most assured voice, "I am grateful to return your Steven to you. But you must understand that even if he had not returned, you are worthy on your own. I know this to be true."
The man's throat is tight, "how can you know?"
And Thor laughs, a booming sound that fills the room, releasing the man's face, "I have my own way of proof." He stands and smiles, "I must return to Asgard. I hope to see you next time I visit. I should like to fight beside you instead of against you."
Steven looks up and smiles, "same."
—