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cap_ironman2013-12-26 08:07 pm
cap_ironman_fe) wrote in cap_ironman2013-12-26 08:07 pm
Entry tags:
Secret Santa: 3 Rounds and a Sound - part 2/2
Happy Holidays: Memory Dragon
Title: 3 Rounds and a Sound
Rating: T
Universe: MCU
Warnings: (highlight) Apparent character death
From:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fandomfrolics
Link to Part 1
***
“Welcome.” Tony tugged at his tie and coughed slightly. “I…um…”
As he stared out over the members of the press, the words catching in his throat, he felt a wave of déjà vu strike him. Maybe this had happened before, in another life, in another dimension. But Tony didn’t think it was possible. It couldn’t be possible for him to lose Steve like this twice. No, the universe would most surely collapse.
“Do you think he’s drunk?” he heard a voice whisper somewhere behind him.
“No,” came the firm reply from Clint. “He wouldn’t do that.”
Tony blinked back to himself and took a deep breath. Short and to the point, just like Rhodey said.
“Late last night, Captain America was killed in a raid on an AIM base.” He ignored the gasps and mutters and pushed on because really, that was the only way this was going to happen. “He died as he lived - a hero. I know he touched many lives, not just in those he saved as an Avenger, but in all those he-- Men, women, young, old…there were so many inspired by his…his pure goodness. And so, to honor this, to honor him, we will be having an open memorial. Any and everyone who would like to attend may do so to say their last goodbyes.” He finally glanced up again. “I…I guess that’s it. Thank you for your time.”
The hands shot up and he fought down the years of conditioning that told him he to call on one. Instead he stepped away from the podium and started to make his way back to where Pepper and Rhodey were waiting.
But apparently not calling on them wasn’t going to deter the reporters today and the questions chased him all the way down the aisle.
“Can you tell us more about how it happened?”
“What could have been strong enough to take him down?”
“Did Captain America really take a hit for you?”
“Will there be a new person wielding the shield?”
“Is it true that you and Steve Rogers were engaged?”
“What were his last words?”
Every question, every use of the past tense was like a punch to the gut. He thought he could hear Natasha addressing the reporters behind him but he didn’t stop, didn’t even pause until he was through the doors and back in the main lobby.
“How do they know about that?” Tony muttered as they stepped into the elevator.
“We think security footage got out. It’s online--”
“No. That we’re engaged. Nobody knew that. Wait, there was footage? Who has it?”
“It’s on YouTube,” Pepper replied distractedly, following Tony and Rhodey into the penthouse. “You were engaged?”
Tony nodded. “JARVIS, pull up the footage please.”
“Tone, I don’t think you should--”
“Hold on, I want to know more about this engaged thing.”
“Pepper,” Rhodey hissed.
Tony ignored both of them and turned his attention to the video JARVIS was playing.
The footage was from one of the warehouse’s CCTVs. Apparently AIM had just taken over the built in security system and made a few minor upgrades here and there and had completely ignored the crappy resolution on the cameras. The feed could be described as grainy at best, and would occasionally cut out altogether. But still, there it was, captured forever in black and white.
Whoever had put it online had cut it right at the moment when Tony realized something was really wrong, when Clint wouldn’t meet his eye and Bruce was giving him that look.
“Play it again,” he demanded as soon as it was over.
“Tone--”
“What the hell was that?” Natasha snapped as she stepped out of the elevator. “How do they know about the engagement?”
“You knew?” Pepper asked incredulously. “Tony, when the hell did this happen?”
“Last week,” Natasha replied when Tony didn’t. Instead he turned away from the video and went to his bar to pull out a bottle of his favorite single-malt. He poured out a full glass and thumped the bottle back onto the bar, then squinted at Natasha.
“I guess he told you, then?”
She nodded, her jaw tight. “He wanted someone to know and--”
“And he knew you wouldn’t tell anyone.” Tony cut in. He took a sip of his drink, still watching Natasha over the glass.
She and Steve, they’d been close, as close as Natasha ever got to people. And the others…of course they’d all be feeling the loss too.
He tightened his grip around the glass, fighting down the sudden urge to fling it at the wall. It should have been him. Steve had sacrificed his life for what? For Tony Stark - obnoxious, aging, selfish, asshole? The world would have been so much better off if Steve had just let it be him.
“But why all the secrecy?” Pepper was asking.
“It doesn’t really matter now, does it?” Tony snapped, suddenly so fed up with everything. He threw back the rest of the drink and rounded the bar, snagging the bottle along the way. “JARVIS, download the footage to the hard drive.”
“Where are you going?” Pepper called after him.
Tony waved the bottle over his head in response.
“Let him go,” he heard Rhodey say as he walked through the doors and he was grateful. Because all he wanted right now was to be left alone, away from all the pain he’d, once again, managed to cause.
***
The day of the funeral dawned bright and sunny, which made Tony just want to stay hidden under the blankets even more. Yesterday’s memorial had felt like it was never going to end. It was not at all unexpected, to see so many people who’s lives Steve had touched. But god it was draining, in every possible way and he was so tired - tired of making speeches, tired of putting on a face, tired of constantly feeling like the rug was being pulled out from under him.
Because there were moments - moments like just now, in the small gaps between waking and dreaming - when he would forget. They never lasted long, no more than a few seconds really. But for those few seconds, everything would feel normal again and it made it that much more painful when something would inevitably bring him crashing back to reality.
The morning flew by in chunks, with scant moments here and there slowed enough for him to remember - like Thor clasping him tightly, not saying a word; Pepper fussing with his tie and cufflinks and barely meeting his gaze; and the crowds of people peering from afar as he climbed out of the town car, resisting the urge to throw on his sunglasses.
They’d decided to keep the service small, which was part of the reason for the circus yesterday. Most of the traditions of a military funeral had been performed at the memorial. Rather unorthodox but Tony didn’t want the burial service turning into a show; Steve had performed for the people enough times already.
It was barely five minutes into the service when he first noticed them, the small crowd gathered nearby hoisting signs. The words were too small for him to read at this distance but he had a feeling he knew what they said anyway. A small fire ignited in his gut as he turned back to the casket, deciding to ignore them.
That was, until the group grew steadily nearer and began chanting, quiet at first but louder and louder until finally Tony gave them the attention he knew they were after.
‘God hates fags’ was the first sign he caught sight of, followed swiftly by ‘Thank God for DEAD SUPERHEROES’ and suddenly he was in his armor and standing right in front of the crowd of idiots.
“What the HELL do you think you’re doing?” he roared.
“Celebrating!” one of them spat. “We’re glad he’s dead, the faggot!”
“Good riddance to bad people!” another yelled.
Tony swiftly brought his arm up, palm out and aimed a repulsor right at the pathetic waste who’d spoken first. His hand was shaking too much to get off an accurate shot but it didn’t matter which one of them he hit, really. The repulsor began its familiar whine and--
“Tony!” Bruce had appeared out of nowhere and firmly planted himself between Tony’s hand and the crowd. Tony quickly depowered the repulsor and dropped his arm.
“Bruce, what the FUCK?!”
“Tony, stop, you can’t just--”
“Yes, I can! Did you fucking hear what they were saying?”
“I know but technically they have the right to--”
“They have the right to what? Celebrate Steve’s death?”
Back at the gravesite, Natasha was staring down at the half-buried casket, head cocked. “Hey Clint,” she murmured, poking him. “Do you hear that?”
Clint wrenched his gaze away from where Bruce was trying to talk Tony down from committing mass murder. Much-deserved mass murder but mass murder nonetheless. “Hear what?”
She pointed wordlessly down at the casket.
Clint’s eyebrows drew together but he tilted his own head to mirror hers and listened.
THUMP
Okay, he definitely heard that.
“What the fuck?” he yelped, leaping backwards. Natasha, meanwhile, dropped to her stomach and began scrabbling at the dirt scattered over the casket.
“Thor, give me a hand, would you?”
“What art--”
“There’s something going on in there. We need to--”
THUMP THUMP
Thor and Natasha exchanged a wide-eyed look and then he got to work. Within seconds, he’d cleared the inches of dirt over the casket.
Clint’s looked to the funeral home staff, who were watching in silent shock. “Can’t you just pull it back up or something?” he asked, gesturing at the contraption they’d used to lower the coffin into the ground.
One of them nervously shook his head. “It, um, only works one way.”
Before any of them could reply, a loud crash drew their attention back to the coffin, just in time for them to see a fist punch through the wood.
A pale, serum-enhanced fist.
“Uh…is that supposed to happen?”
Natasha just shot Clint a look.
Thor leaned over the grave and, with one pull, yanked off the top of the coffin. “Hello, fair Steven.”
Clint scrambled forward on his knees and looked down to see Steve blinking blearily up at them. “Hello, Thor,” he coughed out.
“No fucking way.”
***
The door flew open and hit the wall with a bang.
“You’re not keeping him from me any longer. You’ve done your tests. It’s him. I don’t fucking know how but it’s him, who the fuck else would it be? Now let me see him before I make some use of the cemetery plot I paid for.”
“Always a pleasure, Stark.”
“Cut the shit, Fury. Where the hell is he?”
Nick Fury heaved a deep sigh. He flicked his gaze to the two SHIELD agents standing against the wall. “Take Mr. Stark to Captain Rogers’ room.”
Satisfied, Tony spun on his heel to exit the way he came. “And Tony,” Fury added, giving Tony pause. “I’m very happy for you.”
Tony turned his head back and nodded slightly, then continued out of the room.
Steve’s room was just down the hall from where Tony had ambushed Fury (though it was hard to believe that the man hadn’t seen him coming from a mile away).
The SHIELD agents stopped just outside the door, one on each side like pillars. Tony paused with his hand on the door and took a deep breath before pushing it open.
“Steve,” he breathed.
Steve was sitting straight up in the bed, legs folded and looking the picture of perfect health. As he caught sight of Tony, his face broke into the most beautiful smile and suddenly Tony was rushing forward, his eyes blurry and his heart in his throat.
He all but leapt onto the bed and Steve caught him easily with a laugh, letting their combined weight push him onto his back.
“Wait, you’re not injured, right?” Tony said, trying to pull himself off Steve.
Steve tightened his grip in response. “No, stop squirming, I’m fine.”
Tony huffed and tilted his head up, ready to chastise Steve but his words were cut off by Steve’s lips on his and all of a sudden he couldn’t even remember what they were anyway.
“God, I missed you,” Tony murmured when they finally broke apart. He settled his head onto Steve’s pillow so that their faces were resting almost nose-to-nose. Steve’s hand was running up and down Tony’s side, a big warm reassuring presence. “The last few days were…” He swallowed hard, trying to force down the lump in his throat. “I just…it was…”
“Hey, hey,” Steve soothed, his hand moving up to rest on Tony’s cheek, thumb swiping at the corner of his eye.
Tony forced out a laugh and turned his head to look up at ceiling, breaking out of Steve’s hold. “Sorry. I’m an idiot.”
“I thought I was the idiot,” Steve replied wryly. “The big fucking idiot, to be exact.”
Tony’s eyes widened. “You- you could hear?” He scrambled up to a sitting position and gaped at Steve. “You were conscious the whole time?” Steve levered onto his elbows and nodded. “What the fuck happened to you?”
Steve shrugged. “No clue. One second I was staring at MODOK’s big ugly face, next I was trapped, no control of my body and you were…” He took a deep, shaky breath. “I wanted to touch you, to tell you I was fine and I couldn’t. I couldn’t do a damn thing but watch as you beat yourself up and you…” He dropped back flat onto his back and covered his face with one large hand. “I’m sorry, Tony,” he whispered through his fingers, his voice hoarse. “I’m so so sorry that I ever put you through that.”
Tony reached out and tugged Steve’s hand down. “It wasn’t…it’s not your fault.”
“It’s not yours either,” Steve shot back.
For once, the last thing Tony felt like doing was arguing, whether he agreed with Steve’s statement or not. Instead, he lay down again and curled into Steve, his head finding its familiar spot against Steve’s neck.
Steve exhaled deeply and pulled Tony in tighter.
“If whoever did this,” Tony started after a few quiet minutes, “if they did it just to torture us…” He swallowed hard. “They sure as hell did their job.”
Steve shifted beneath him and Tony could sense that he was readying for one of his big speeches. The door opened, however, before he could voice a word.
“It wasn’t just to torture you.”
“What the hell!” Tony yelped as Natasha came in. He gave up trying to sit up when he realized Steve had no intention of letting him go. It didn’t matter at this point anyway, his dignity was long gone. “Were you just listening in and waiting for the most dramatic moment to come in?”
“Yup,” Clint replied, following behind Natasha as Tony sputtered. Thor came after, dragging a man in AIM yellow with him.
“Tell them what you told us,” Thor said, shoving the man forward. Now Steve did let go and they both sat up, gaping at the others.
The man stared nervously down at them, mouth quivering until Thor poked him in the back, hard enough to send him lurching forward.
“The-the ray,” he stuttered. “The l-light that hit C-C-Captain America.” He swallowed hard. “It was-was me-meant for Tony St-Stark.”
Steve raised an eyebrow. “I figured as much, when I saw it heading straight for him.” Under the sheet, Tony felt Steve’s hand grasp for his and he latched on.
“The rest of it,” Thor boomed, arms folded tight across his chest.
The man nodded shakily. “It wasn’t-- Your serum. You weren’t meant to-to come back so soon. Stark-- he was sup-supposed to--”
“You wanted him to be buried alive,” Steve finished, his eyes widening. Tony felt his chest tighten at the image of Steve, completely aware and helpless as he was loaded into a coffin and lowered six feet into the ground. He tightened his grip around Steve’s hand.
“Why? Why would MODOK want--”
“Forget why. How did MODOK even do that? Steve was declared legally dead, which, by the way, is going to be a bitch to sort out. Pepper’s going to be so mad.”
“’Twas not MODOK.”
The man shook his head. “He-he got the power from someone else. I-I don’t know who.”
“Alright, that’s enough,” Natasha said. “We’ve got to get him back to holding before Fury gets the cameras back online.”
As they left, Steve turned to Thor, who was still watching them with a frown, one hand to his chin.
“You know who, don’t you?”
Thor nodded grimly. “And how. It is the why I am not sure of.” He unfolded his arms with a deep sigh. “I must take my leave once more. Farewell, brother.” He stepped forward and Steve let go of Tony’s hand to shake Thor’s, who did so with a clap on Steve’s back. “And to you, Anthony,” he continued, taking Tony’s hand. “I am most delighted for you to have your love back.”
Tony flushed but couldn’t help but smile at Thor’s genuine joy. “Me too, Thor.” He felt Steve’s hand land on his back and turned to meet his fond expression. “Me too.”
Thor gave them each one last wave and then was gone.
“So what now?” Steve asked.
Tony shot him a sly grin. “I think,” he replied, “we should make sure all of you is working.” He slid his hand into Steve’s lap and squeezed and Steve inhaled sharply. “But we should probably get out of here first. Unless of course, you’ve suddenly developed a exhibitionist kink through all this.”
“As fun as it would be to make Fury’s one good eye pop out of his head--”
“Oh man, forget that, after how I yelled at him? I think he may actually kill me if he found footage of me and Captain America getting nasty.”
Steve laughed and hooked his arm around Tony’s waist.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go home.”
***
Steve shuffled into the kitchen late the next morning and Tony followed blearily after him, his hands tangled in the back of Steve’s shirt like a child trailing after his mother.
“Good morning,” Steve said as he passed Clint, Natasha, and Bruce, who were gathered around the island, munching on breakfast.
“Morning,” Bruce replied as Steve went straight for the coffee machine. He poured two cups and twisted around to hand one to Tony. “Sleep okay?”
Steve shrugged, hiding his face in his coffee. Beside him, Tony had already downed the entire cup and was now pouring a second.
“This is like an episode of The Walking Dead,” Clint said, staring at Steve.
Bruce shot him a strange look. “Have you ever actually seen that show?”
“Nah,” Clint replied. “I hate zombie things. More of a vampire guy.”
“Are you serious?” Tony said incredulously, now completely awake. “Zombies beat vampires any day. Actually, forget that, werewolves are where it’s at.”
“Werewolves are totally lame-sauce. What the hell do they do the other twenty-nine days of the month? Brood about their lameness?”
Steve shook his head and settled onto the stool next to Natasha as Tony and Clint began another one of their long arguments. God, he was tired. They’d definitely worn themselves out yesterday getting reacquainted so he should have been able to sleep easy, no problem, but both he and Tony had been plagued by terrible nightmares. Being locked helpless in his own skin for a few days and then buried alive had been one of the more harrowing experiences of his life and had stirred up memories of another time when he’d been trapped like that, bringing back dreams he’d thought were long gone. Even worse than his own horrid dreams of being frozen and forced to watch everyone he loved suffer were Tony’s tortured cries of his name snapping him back to consciousness. They’d probably managed an hour of sleep between them at most.
Natasha frowned down at his slumped posture. “Feeling alright?”
He glanced up at her, then looked over to where Clint and Tony were now arguing about pirates and ninjas, with Bruce filling in as official debate judge, and felt something loosen just a little in his chest.
Because this was nothing like last time. He hadn’t woken up in a brand new world, all alone to struggle with everything he’d been through. No, this time he had a whole team of people ready to be there for him. And one in particular who he knew would do anything to make his world alright.
Tony must have felt Steve’s gaze on him because he caught his eye and shot him a warm smile, before turning swiftly back to Clint to completely rebut everything he had just said.
“Yeah,” Steve said to Natasha and somehow it didn’t feel like a lie. Especially when, having heard enough of the merits of various supernatural beings to last him a lifetime, he reached out an arm and tugged Tony into his lap, cutting him off mid-argument.
“Hey,” he murmured to Tony.
“Hey, yourself,” Tony grinned back.
“Eeyuch.“ Somewhere out of the corner of his eye he saw Clint throw his hands up. “I concede. You win, I’m out.” He snagged a banana and leapt off his stool.
Tony shrugged and pulled Clint’s bowl of cereal towards him as Clint disappeared into the living room. “He knew he was never gonna win,” he said between crunches of Trix. “Vampires. Honestly.”
“What the hell is this about you being engaged?”
Tony froze with the spoon in his mouth as Pepper clacked towards them. He gulped down the bite of cereal and slowly pulled the spoon out from between his teeth.
“Oh hey, Pep--”
“Hi, Pepper,” Steve chimed in from over Tony’s shoulder.
“Steve!” she cried. She came over and planted a huge kiss on his cheek. “I’m so happy you’re alive.”
“Hey, hey.” Tony batted at her, not unlike a kitten. “That’s mine.”
“You.” Pepper poked a finger right in Tony’s face.
“Uh-oh,” Tony muttered softly. He slipped off Steve’s lap and held his hands up defensively.
“I can’t believe you were engaged for a week and didn’t tell me.”
“I was going to!” he said, backing away from her. “We were going to do like, an announcement thing, tell everyone, but things kept happening and--”
“You were going to do an announcement thing?”
“I…uh…look!” He gestured at Steve. “Steve’s alive! Let’s get some perspective here!”
Pepper turned to Steve and he gave an awkward little wave. “Once again, very happy to see you, Steve. Really.”
She turned back to Tony only to find he was scampering out of the room. “Tony,” she yelled after him. “Get back here! And what the hell did you do to the Westboro Baptist Church?”
Steve watched them go, then turned back to the counter. Clint’s cereal was still sitting there, staring up at him in all of its disgusting, sugar-loaded, technicolor glory. He glanced up at the other two, who were watching him with matching smirks. “Don’t tell me you missed all this.” Natasha said.
He grinned back and scooped a big bite of cereal into his mouth. “More than anything in the world.”
Author’s Notes:
Title comes from the Blind Pilot song of the same name.
Also contains vague allusions to Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America.
*Line taken directly from Tales of Suspense #94
Title: 3 Rounds and a Sound
Rating: T
Universe: MCU
Warnings: (highlight) Apparent character death
From:
fandomfrolicsLink to Part 1
“Welcome.” Tony tugged at his tie and coughed slightly. “I…um…”
As he stared out over the members of the press, the words catching in his throat, he felt a wave of déjà vu strike him. Maybe this had happened before, in another life, in another dimension. But Tony didn’t think it was possible. It couldn’t be possible for him to lose Steve like this twice. No, the universe would most surely collapse.
“Do you think he’s drunk?” he heard a voice whisper somewhere behind him.
“No,” came the firm reply from Clint. “He wouldn’t do that.”
Tony blinked back to himself and took a deep breath. Short and to the point, just like Rhodey said.
“Late last night, Captain America was killed in a raid on an AIM base.” He ignored the gasps and mutters and pushed on because really, that was the only way this was going to happen. “He died as he lived - a hero. I know he touched many lives, not just in those he saved as an Avenger, but in all those he-- Men, women, young, old…there were so many inspired by his…his pure goodness. And so, to honor this, to honor him, we will be having an open memorial. Any and everyone who would like to attend may do so to say their last goodbyes.” He finally glanced up again. “I…I guess that’s it. Thank you for your time.”
The hands shot up and he fought down the years of conditioning that told him he to call on one. Instead he stepped away from the podium and started to make his way back to where Pepper and Rhodey were waiting.
But apparently not calling on them wasn’t going to deter the reporters today and the questions chased him all the way down the aisle.
“Can you tell us more about how it happened?”
“What could have been strong enough to take him down?”
“Did Captain America really take a hit for you?”
“Will there be a new person wielding the shield?”
“Is it true that you and Steve Rogers were engaged?”
“What were his last words?”
Every question, every use of the past tense was like a punch to the gut. He thought he could hear Natasha addressing the reporters behind him but he didn’t stop, didn’t even pause until he was through the doors and back in the main lobby.
“How do they know about that?” Tony muttered as they stepped into the elevator.
“We think security footage got out. It’s online--”
“No. That we’re engaged. Nobody knew that. Wait, there was footage? Who has it?”
“It’s on YouTube,” Pepper replied distractedly, following Tony and Rhodey into the penthouse. “You were engaged?”
Tony nodded. “JARVIS, pull up the footage please.”
“Tone, I don’t think you should--”
“Hold on, I want to know more about this engaged thing.”
“Pepper,” Rhodey hissed.
Tony ignored both of them and turned his attention to the video JARVIS was playing.
The footage was from one of the warehouse’s CCTVs. Apparently AIM had just taken over the built in security system and made a few minor upgrades here and there and had completely ignored the crappy resolution on the cameras. The feed could be described as grainy at best, and would occasionally cut out altogether. But still, there it was, captured forever in black and white.
Whoever had put it online had cut it right at the moment when Tony realized something was really wrong, when Clint wouldn’t meet his eye and Bruce was giving him that look.
“Play it again,” he demanded as soon as it was over.
“Tone--”
“What the hell was that?” Natasha snapped as she stepped out of the elevator. “How do they know about the engagement?”
“You knew?” Pepper asked incredulously. “Tony, when the hell did this happen?”
“Last week,” Natasha replied when Tony didn’t. Instead he turned away from the video and went to his bar to pull out a bottle of his favorite single-malt. He poured out a full glass and thumped the bottle back onto the bar, then squinted at Natasha.
“I guess he told you, then?”
She nodded, her jaw tight. “He wanted someone to know and--”
“And he knew you wouldn’t tell anyone.” Tony cut in. He took a sip of his drink, still watching Natasha over the glass.
She and Steve, they’d been close, as close as Natasha ever got to people. And the others…of course they’d all be feeling the loss too.
He tightened his grip around the glass, fighting down the sudden urge to fling it at the wall. It should have been him. Steve had sacrificed his life for what? For Tony Stark - obnoxious, aging, selfish, asshole? The world would have been so much better off if Steve had just let it be him.
“But why all the secrecy?” Pepper was asking.
“It doesn’t really matter now, does it?” Tony snapped, suddenly so fed up with everything. He threw back the rest of the drink and rounded the bar, snagging the bottle along the way. “JARVIS, download the footage to the hard drive.”
“Where are you going?” Pepper called after him.
Tony waved the bottle over his head in response.
“Let him go,” he heard Rhodey say as he walked through the doors and he was grateful. Because all he wanted right now was to be left alone, away from all the pain he’d, once again, managed to cause.
The day of the funeral dawned bright and sunny, which made Tony just want to stay hidden under the blankets even more. Yesterday’s memorial had felt like it was never going to end. It was not at all unexpected, to see so many people who’s lives Steve had touched. But god it was draining, in every possible way and he was so tired - tired of making speeches, tired of putting on a face, tired of constantly feeling like the rug was being pulled out from under him.
Because there were moments - moments like just now, in the small gaps between waking and dreaming - when he would forget. They never lasted long, no more than a few seconds really. But for those few seconds, everything would feel normal again and it made it that much more painful when something would inevitably bring him crashing back to reality.
The morning flew by in chunks, with scant moments here and there slowed enough for him to remember - like Thor clasping him tightly, not saying a word; Pepper fussing with his tie and cufflinks and barely meeting his gaze; and the crowds of people peering from afar as he climbed out of the town car, resisting the urge to throw on his sunglasses.
They’d decided to keep the service small, which was part of the reason for the circus yesterday. Most of the traditions of a military funeral had been performed at the memorial. Rather unorthodox but Tony didn’t want the burial service turning into a show; Steve had performed for the people enough times already.
It was barely five minutes into the service when he first noticed them, the small crowd gathered nearby hoisting signs. The words were too small for him to read at this distance but he had a feeling he knew what they said anyway. A small fire ignited in his gut as he turned back to the casket, deciding to ignore them.
That was, until the group grew steadily nearer and began chanting, quiet at first but louder and louder until finally Tony gave them the attention he knew they were after.
‘God hates fags’ was the first sign he caught sight of, followed swiftly by ‘Thank God for DEAD SUPERHEROES’ and suddenly he was in his armor and standing right in front of the crowd of idiots.
“What the HELL do you think you’re doing?” he roared.
“Celebrating!” one of them spat. “We’re glad he’s dead, the faggot!”
“Good riddance to bad people!” another yelled.
Tony swiftly brought his arm up, palm out and aimed a repulsor right at the pathetic waste who’d spoken first. His hand was shaking too much to get off an accurate shot but it didn’t matter which one of them he hit, really. The repulsor began its familiar whine and--
“Tony!” Bruce had appeared out of nowhere and firmly planted himself between Tony’s hand and the crowd. Tony quickly depowered the repulsor and dropped his arm.
“Bruce, what the FUCK?!”
“Tony, stop, you can’t just--”
“Yes, I can! Did you fucking hear what they were saying?”
“I know but technically they have the right to--”
“They have the right to what? Celebrate Steve’s death?”
Back at the gravesite, Natasha was staring down at the half-buried casket, head cocked. “Hey Clint,” she murmured, poking him. “Do you hear that?”
Clint wrenched his gaze away from where Bruce was trying to talk Tony down from committing mass murder. Much-deserved mass murder but mass murder nonetheless. “Hear what?”
She pointed wordlessly down at the casket.
Clint’s eyebrows drew together but he tilted his own head to mirror hers and listened.
THUMP
Okay, he definitely heard that.
“What the fuck?” he yelped, leaping backwards. Natasha, meanwhile, dropped to her stomach and began scrabbling at the dirt scattered over the casket.
“Thor, give me a hand, would you?”
“What art--”
“There’s something going on in there. We need to--”
THUMP THUMP
Thor and Natasha exchanged a wide-eyed look and then he got to work. Within seconds, he’d cleared the inches of dirt over the casket.
Clint’s looked to the funeral home staff, who were watching in silent shock. “Can’t you just pull it back up or something?” he asked, gesturing at the contraption they’d used to lower the coffin into the ground.
One of them nervously shook his head. “It, um, only works one way.”
Before any of them could reply, a loud crash drew their attention back to the coffin, just in time for them to see a fist punch through the wood.
A pale, serum-enhanced fist.
“Uh…is that supposed to happen?”
Natasha just shot Clint a look.
Thor leaned over the grave and, with one pull, yanked off the top of the coffin. “Hello, fair Steven.”
Clint scrambled forward on his knees and looked down to see Steve blinking blearily up at them. “Hello, Thor,” he coughed out.
“No fucking way.”
The door flew open and hit the wall with a bang.
“You’re not keeping him from me any longer. You’ve done your tests. It’s him. I don’t fucking know how but it’s him, who the fuck else would it be? Now let me see him before I make some use of the cemetery plot I paid for.”
“Always a pleasure, Stark.”
“Cut the shit, Fury. Where the hell is he?”
Nick Fury heaved a deep sigh. He flicked his gaze to the two SHIELD agents standing against the wall. “Take Mr. Stark to Captain Rogers’ room.”
Satisfied, Tony spun on his heel to exit the way he came. “And Tony,” Fury added, giving Tony pause. “I’m very happy for you.”
Tony turned his head back and nodded slightly, then continued out of the room.
Steve’s room was just down the hall from where Tony had ambushed Fury (though it was hard to believe that the man hadn’t seen him coming from a mile away).
The SHIELD agents stopped just outside the door, one on each side like pillars. Tony paused with his hand on the door and took a deep breath before pushing it open.
“Steve,” he breathed.
Steve was sitting straight up in the bed, legs folded and looking the picture of perfect health. As he caught sight of Tony, his face broke into the most beautiful smile and suddenly Tony was rushing forward, his eyes blurry and his heart in his throat.
He all but leapt onto the bed and Steve caught him easily with a laugh, letting their combined weight push him onto his back.
“Wait, you’re not injured, right?” Tony said, trying to pull himself off Steve.
Steve tightened his grip in response. “No, stop squirming, I’m fine.”
Tony huffed and tilted his head up, ready to chastise Steve but his words were cut off by Steve’s lips on his and all of a sudden he couldn’t even remember what they were anyway.
“God, I missed you,” Tony murmured when they finally broke apart. He settled his head onto Steve’s pillow so that their faces were resting almost nose-to-nose. Steve’s hand was running up and down Tony’s side, a big warm reassuring presence. “The last few days were…” He swallowed hard, trying to force down the lump in his throat. “I just…it was…”
“Hey, hey,” Steve soothed, his hand moving up to rest on Tony’s cheek, thumb swiping at the corner of his eye.
Tony forced out a laugh and turned his head to look up at ceiling, breaking out of Steve’s hold. “Sorry. I’m an idiot.”
“I thought I was the idiot,” Steve replied wryly. “The big fucking idiot, to be exact.”
Tony’s eyes widened. “You- you could hear?” He scrambled up to a sitting position and gaped at Steve. “You were conscious the whole time?” Steve levered onto his elbows and nodded. “What the fuck happened to you?”
Steve shrugged. “No clue. One second I was staring at MODOK’s big ugly face, next I was trapped, no control of my body and you were…” He took a deep, shaky breath. “I wanted to touch you, to tell you I was fine and I couldn’t. I couldn’t do a damn thing but watch as you beat yourself up and you…” He dropped back flat onto his back and covered his face with one large hand. “I’m sorry, Tony,” he whispered through his fingers, his voice hoarse. “I’m so so sorry that I ever put you through that.”
Tony reached out and tugged Steve’s hand down. “It wasn’t…it’s not your fault.”
“It’s not yours either,” Steve shot back.
For once, the last thing Tony felt like doing was arguing, whether he agreed with Steve’s statement or not. Instead, he lay down again and curled into Steve, his head finding its familiar spot against Steve’s neck.
Steve exhaled deeply and pulled Tony in tighter.
“If whoever did this,” Tony started after a few quiet minutes, “if they did it just to torture us…” He swallowed hard. “They sure as hell did their job.”
Steve shifted beneath him and Tony could sense that he was readying for one of his big speeches. The door opened, however, before he could voice a word.
“It wasn’t just to torture you.”
“What the hell!” Tony yelped as Natasha came in. He gave up trying to sit up when he realized Steve had no intention of letting him go. It didn’t matter at this point anyway, his dignity was long gone. “Were you just listening in and waiting for the most dramatic moment to come in?”
“Yup,” Clint replied, following behind Natasha as Tony sputtered. Thor came after, dragging a man in AIM yellow with him.
“Tell them what you told us,” Thor said, shoving the man forward. Now Steve did let go and they both sat up, gaping at the others.
The man stared nervously down at them, mouth quivering until Thor poked him in the back, hard enough to send him lurching forward.
“The-the ray,” he stuttered. “The l-light that hit C-C-Captain America.” He swallowed hard. “It was-was me-meant for Tony St-Stark.”
Steve raised an eyebrow. “I figured as much, when I saw it heading straight for him.” Under the sheet, Tony felt Steve’s hand grasp for his and he latched on.
“The rest of it,” Thor boomed, arms folded tight across his chest.
The man nodded shakily. “It wasn’t-- Your serum. You weren’t meant to-to come back so soon. Stark-- he was sup-supposed to--”
“You wanted him to be buried alive,” Steve finished, his eyes widening. Tony felt his chest tighten at the image of Steve, completely aware and helpless as he was loaded into a coffin and lowered six feet into the ground. He tightened his grip around Steve’s hand.
“Why? Why would MODOK want--”
“Forget why. How did MODOK even do that? Steve was declared legally dead, which, by the way, is going to be a bitch to sort out. Pepper’s going to be so mad.”
“’Twas not MODOK.”
The man shook his head. “He-he got the power from someone else. I-I don’t know who.”
“Alright, that’s enough,” Natasha said. “We’ve got to get him back to holding before Fury gets the cameras back online.”
As they left, Steve turned to Thor, who was still watching them with a frown, one hand to his chin.
“You know who, don’t you?”
Thor nodded grimly. “And how. It is the why I am not sure of.” He unfolded his arms with a deep sigh. “I must take my leave once more. Farewell, brother.” He stepped forward and Steve let go of Tony’s hand to shake Thor’s, who did so with a clap on Steve’s back. “And to you, Anthony,” he continued, taking Tony’s hand. “I am most delighted for you to have your love back.”
Tony flushed but couldn’t help but smile at Thor’s genuine joy. “Me too, Thor.” He felt Steve’s hand land on his back and turned to meet his fond expression. “Me too.”
Thor gave them each one last wave and then was gone.
“So what now?” Steve asked.
Tony shot him a sly grin. “I think,” he replied, “we should make sure all of you is working.” He slid his hand into Steve’s lap and squeezed and Steve inhaled sharply. “But we should probably get out of here first. Unless of course, you’ve suddenly developed a exhibitionist kink through all this.”
“As fun as it would be to make Fury’s one good eye pop out of his head--”
“Oh man, forget that, after how I yelled at him? I think he may actually kill me if he found footage of me and Captain America getting nasty.”
Steve laughed and hooked his arm around Tony’s waist.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go home.”
Steve shuffled into the kitchen late the next morning and Tony followed blearily after him, his hands tangled in the back of Steve’s shirt like a child trailing after his mother.
“Good morning,” Steve said as he passed Clint, Natasha, and Bruce, who were gathered around the island, munching on breakfast.
“Morning,” Bruce replied as Steve went straight for the coffee machine. He poured two cups and twisted around to hand one to Tony. “Sleep okay?”
Steve shrugged, hiding his face in his coffee. Beside him, Tony had already downed the entire cup and was now pouring a second.
“This is like an episode of The Walking Dead,” Clint said, staring at Steve.
Bruce shot him a strange look. “Have you ever actually seen that show?”
“Nah,” Clint replied. “I hate zombie things. More of a vampire guy.”
“Are you serious?” Tony said incredulously, now completely awake. “Zombies beat vampires any day. Actually, forget that, werewolves are where it’s at.”
“Werewolves are totally lame-sauce. What the hell do they do the other twenty-nine days of the month? Brood about their lameness?”
Steve shook his head and settled onto the stool next to Natasha as Tony and Clint began another one of their long arguments. God, he was tired. They’d definitely worn themselves out yesterday getting reacquainted so he should have been able to sleep easy, no problem, but both he and Tony had been plagued by terrible nightmares. Being locked helpless in his own skin for a few days and then buried alive had been one of the more harrowing experiences of his life and had stirred up memories of another time when he’d been trapped like that, bringing back dreams he’d thought were long gone. Even worse than his own horrid dreams of being frozen and forced to watch everyone he loved suffer were Tony’s tortured cries of his name snapping him back to consciousness. They’d probably managed an hour of sleep between them at most.
Natasha frowned down at his slumped posture. “Feeling alright?”
He glanced up at her, then looked over to where Clint and Tony were now arguing about pirates and ninjas, with Bruce filling in as official debate judge, and felt something loosen just a little in his chest.
Because this was nothing like last time. He hadn’t woken up in a brand new world, all alone to struggle with everything he’d been through. No, this time he had a whole team of people ready to be there for him. And one in particular who he knew would do anything to make his world alright.
Tony must have felt Steve’s gaze on him because he caught his eye and shot him a warm smile, before turning swiftly back to Clint to completely rebut everything he had just said.
“Yeah,” Steve said to Natasha and somehow it didn’t feel like a lie. Especially when, having heard enough of the merits of various supernatural beings to last him a lifetime, he reached out an arm and tugged Tony into his lap, cutting him off mid-argument.
“Hey,” he murmured to Tony.
“Hey, yourself,” Tony grinned back.
“Eeyuch.“ Somewhere out of the corner of his eye he saw Clint throw his hands up. “I concede. You win, I’m out.” He snagged a banana and leapt off his stool.
Tony shrugged and pulled Clint’s bowl of cereal towards him as Clint disappeared into the living room. “He knew he was never gonna win,” he said between crunches of Trix. “Vampires. Honestly.”
“What the hell is this about you being engaged?”
Tony froze with the spoon in his mouth as Pepper clacked towards them. He gulped down the bite of cereal and slowly pulled the spoon out from between his teeth.
“Oh hey, Pep--”
“Hi, Pepper,” Steve chimed in from over Tony’s shoulder.
“Steve!” she cried. She came over and planted a huge kiss on his cheek. “I’m so happy you’re alive.”
“Hey, hey.” Tony batted at her, not unlike a kitten. “That’s mine.”
“You.” Pepper poked a finger right in Tony’s face.
“Uh-oh,” Tony muttered softly. He slipped off Steve’s lap and held his hands up defensively.
“I can’t believe you were engaged for a week and didn’t tell me.”
“I was going to!” he said, backing away from her. “We were going to do like, an announcement thing, tell everyone, but things kept happening and--”
“You were going to do an announcement thing?”
“I…uh…look!” He gestured at Steve. “Steve’s alive! Let’s get some perspective here!”
Pepper turned to Steve and he gave an awkward little wave. “Once again, very happy to see you, Steve. Really.”
She turned back to Tony only to find he was scampering out of the room. “Tony,” she yelled after him. “Get back here! And what the hell did you do to the Westboro Baptist Church?”
Steve watched them go, then turned back to the counter. Clint’s cereal was still sitting there, staring up at him in all of its disgusting, sugar-loaded, technicolor glory. He glanced up at the other two, who were watching him with matching smirks. “Don’t tell me you missed all this.” Natasha said.
He grinned back and scooped a big bite of cereal into his mouth. “More than anything in the world.”
Author’s Notes:
Title comes from the Blind Pilot song of the same name.
Also contains vague allusions to Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America.
*Line taken directly from Tales of Suspense #94
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But this! Thank you so much, dear author. This is more than I ever dreamed of for this prompt. I loved all of it. The Tony angst, the cuddling, and Tony trailing after Steve the next morning. A cuddly Tony is really the best kind of Tony. And I did just about melt when Steve pulled him into his lap, and all the times he was just like, nope. Not letting Tony go. Tony curling up with Juliet-corpsified Steve was heartbreaking. And Tony having to redirect everyone away from Cap. He needed lots of hugs. It's a good thing Steve came back and was willing to give them. I liked the fact that you went with a Juliet-fake death thing. It made for lots more Tony feels. It must have been horrible for Steve too.
Though I think my favorite is that Tony has a usual spot curled up against Steve with his head against Steve's neck. Because that's an adorable mental image right there. Also, all the times Tony just sort of clutched at Steve's shirt or armor. Also, you have my eternal love for the inclusion of Rhodey. Because the world needs more Rhodey in fic.
I am quite curious as to who leaked the info and where Thor's suspicions lay, but I do love this fic! Thank you again so much for writing it for me! I adore it!
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Rhodey does that to you too? Jeeze, I thought it was just me he did that to. Good to know he barges into other people's fic as well. XD
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That being said, this was an incredibly emotional story, and so wonderfully written.
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Thank you for this wonderful comment!
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The cuddling!
I just really enjoyed it.
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