All That Remains (12/?) (PG-13)

[kijikun.livejournal.com]

Title: All That Remains (12/?)
Previous Parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6,Part 7,Part 8 Part 9, Part 10, Part 11
Author: kijikun
Betas: adafrog, pandanoai
Rating: PG-13 (NC-17 overall)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Warnings: Spoilers through "Fallen Son", references to an institutionalized childhood
Author's Notes: Marvel Time is always kind of flexible, so we're setting this somewhere in the first half of 2008. Secret Invasion does not exist in our universe. Nope, never happened. As always, con-crit welcome. Sorry for the late posting. Between nano, school, and BASCON this weekend I haven't had many spare moments.

And check out the lovely art by johanirae of Tony and Maria.



The flight to Oklahoma from New York was a short one; not as short as if Tony had been in his armor, but he didn't think going into this suited up was the best way to handle things. It was also partly why he was bringing Maria along with him. Her presence would neutralize any violence, or so he hoped.

And if he was being honest with himself, it was because he didn't want to leave her alone with Steve again. It was petty, and he knew that. After all, Steve had probably acted in what he thought best for the situation and it seemed to have turned out fine. So, Tony would just have to bite his tongue and not ask Steve what the hell had gone through his mind when he'd thought calling Maria solider was a good idea.

He still wasn't happy that he'd learned about it from Jarvis and the surveillance cameras, and not from Steve. To hell with promises, Maria was nine years old and Tony was the one responsible for her. Not Steve. Steve had been dead.

He glanced over at Maria who was paying no attention to him but intently reading one of the Harry Potter books Franklin had loaned her. Tony would have to get the full set for her if she enjoyed it.

Tony wondered briefly how this would have gone down if he hadn't had Maria. Rutgers had been pretty insistent upon him taking care of this personally. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, even though he knew it didn't help his headache, he remembered just how well that conversation had gone.

"Mr. Stark, so good of you to take my call," Rutgers' voice had oozed over the line, and Tony wondered again how no one had ever punched the gentleman from Arkansas in the face.

Tony had sighed, wishing he'd had a meeting - something - that could let him end this call now. But he was headed back to New York and the only thing he had planned was sleeping… possibly with Steve if he could drag the man back to bed. "Senator, what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if you'd decided how best to handle the developing situation in Oklahoma. This issue needs to be addressed as soon as possible, you understand. The SHRA must be upheld after all."

Tony had been very grateful that Rutgers couldn't hear his actual voice. He hoped the Oklahoma situation would go unnoticed outside of Shield for a while longer. "I'll send someone to look into it."

"No, Mr. Stark, we would like you to look into it personally, and see about registering or arresting the individual or individuals."

"Rutgers, I'm a very busy man. I can't go around registering everyone in person. There are plenty of very competent and loyal people I can send in." Tony told him shortly.

Rutgers laughed. "Tony, I happened to see that very lovely Times article and photo shoot of --what's her name again? Maria? Very pretty young girl. I've heard it's boosted your popularity level both in and out of the superhero community. Now it would be a shame if somehow you were considered, how can I say it, unfit to raise her. How would that look if she had to be placed with a new family or disappeared altogether?"

If Tony had been holding a phone instead of using Extremis he probably would have thrown the phone. Hard. "Leave her alone, Rutgers."

"Now, Tony, I'm just concerned for her welfare and yours. After all you do have a rather -- unstable -- history."

Tony could see Stark Tower now and he fought the urge to push himself faster just to check on Maria. She was safe. She was fine. "Fine, but I do this my way. You and your people will have to accept whatever resolution I work out. Understand me, Rutgers?"

"Glad we could have this little talk. I look forward to seeing you next time you're in Washington."

Tony closed his eyes for a moment and leaned his head back against the seat.

"Tony?"

Tony opened his eyes and looked over at Maria. "Yes, Maria?"

He could see her debate whether or not to continue. "Are you --" she stopped, seeming to search for a word. "-okay?" She looked slightly frustrated, as if she couldn't figure out how to ask what it was she really wanted to know.

He almost smiled; two weeks ago she never would have asked such a question. "I'm fine, Maria. Just tired."

Maria seemed to accept this. She cocked her head to the side, regarding Tony for a long moment. Tony often wished he knew what she was looking for when she looked at him like that. "Why are we going to Oklahoma?"

Tony didn't let himself break her gaze, though he wanted to. "To see an old friend."

***

Steve hated medical tests. He'd gotten used to them during training for the super solider program, but he'd never liked them.

Doctors made him nervous, a holdover from childhood memories of illness and his parents' fights about where the money would come from to take him to the doctor. It was probably remarkable that he could still remember his mother arguing that she would get a job to help cover the bills.

Steve trusted Hank, and he'd been through tests like this before, but he just wanted this over. He wanted to know for sure that he was Steve Rogers, not a skrull or an LMD; he wanted to be sure he wasn't going to hurt Tony -- again -- or Maria.

They were in one of the labs at Stark Industries. Tony had arranged it so that the floor was cleared. Only he, Jan, Hank, and Carol could access the lab. Steve wasn't sure why Carol was on that short list, but she seemed to be Tony's second in command these days. Tony insisted that Carol was the leader of the 'Mighty Avengers', but Steve knew Tony too well. The man was a control freak even if he didn't mean to be.

"So where's the kiddo?" Hank asked.

Hank's question pulled Steve from his thoughts. "With Tony," Steve told him, not really wanting to talk about it. It hurt a bit that Tony suddenly didn't trust him with Maria anymore. Okay, that was unfair. Even if Tony knew about Maria's tantrum, Tony taking Maria with him had more to do with the fact that Tony wanted to spend time with his daughter than not wanting her to spend time with Steve. At least Steve hoped. He and Tony hadn't exactly talked about it.

"Isn't he out of town?" Hank asked absently, his attention on the computers as they ran the tests.

"He is, in Oklahoma of all places." Steve said after a moment's hesitation. Tony hadn't talk about the trip as if it were secret. "Maria didn't react very well to Tony going out of town without her last time."

"So now he's going to try to take her everywhere, brilliant." Carol sighed from the doorway.

Steve turned his head to look at her. "Hello, Carol."

Carol gave him a small smile, regarding him carefully. She probably still didn't believe Steve was the real thing. "Where did Tony drag her off to? A board meeting in California?"

"He didn't exactly drag her. Maria was thrilled to go with him," Steve told him, not sure why he was defending Tony to Carol. "She adores Tony."

Her face softened. "I know. I was teasing, Steve. I'm actually glad he's not here at the moment, I was hoping to talk to you alone." She leaned against the wall behind her. "You should know what Tony was like after…before Maria."

"And you want to talk now?" Steve asked, raising an eyebrow.

Carol shrugged. "Seemed as good a time as any. Tony's not around to obsessively not watch the cameras, and you’re a captive audience." She grinned at him. "Where are Tony and Maria today anyways?"

"Oklahoma," Hank put in. "Hopefully no one is singing there."

Carol's jaw dropped. "Tony took her with him to Oklahoma? Is he insane? Why not just take her into a war zone. That stupid cocky son of a bitch!"

Steve eyes widened slightly at her reaction. "Carol, what is in Oklahoma?" Steve demanded. He couldn't imagine Tony putting Maria in any sort of harm.

"A God who probably hates Tony," Carol replied.

***

Tony could see Asgard floating ahead of them and slowed the rental car. Maria was sketching in the backseat, and hadn't that been fun convincing Maria that no, Tony did not need her in the passenger seat and that her safety was more important, therefore she would be sitting in the back.

Maria glanced up and he could see her eyes widen as she saw the city. "Ever see a floating city before, Maria?"

Maria shook her head. "Tony? How is it staying up?"

Tony laughed. "Given who's involved, I'd say magic. Don't try to figure it out; you'll give yourself a headache, genius. God knows I always did when it came to these things."

"Magic? Like in my book?"

Tony shook his head as he pulled off to the side of the road. He wanted to do the rest of the approach by foot, leaving Maria in the car just in case. "Not quite. I doubt he has a magic wand. A hammer maybe."

"A hammer?"

"You'll see. That is if he's up to a visit. I suspect if you ask him he'll tell you about it." Tony rolled down the windows and turned off the car. "Maria, I want you to stay in the car."

"No!" Maria protested. "I mean, Tony, I should go with you. You'll need me."

Tony got out of the car and leaned Maria’s open window. "No," he told her firmly. "You will stay here, Maria. That is not a request. I will come back to the car and get you after I've made sure we're welcome." He wasn't sure what was going to be said, but Maria didn't need to hear it.

"Tony." Maria scrambled out of her seatbelt and grabbed his hand. "Please let me come with you." Tony had never seen her eyes so wide.

He reached through the window and stroked her hair affectionately. "I'll be back soon, genius, I promise. But I need you to stay here for right now. Can you do that for me for me, Maria?"

Maria nodded slowly. "I can do that," she told him.

Tony pressed a kiss to his fingers then touched his fingers to her forehead. "I'll be back soon," he repeated.

He was aware of Maria watching him as he started across the field towards the floating city of Asgard. He didn't make it far before the son of Odin landed in front of him.

"Hello, Thor." Tony greeted him. "We need to talk."

Thor was silent with his hand on his hammer, his eyes watching Tony.

Tony held his hands out as if to show he was unarmed, but Thor knew him well enough to know his armor could be easily called. "Before I start the formalities, I just wanted to say that I'm glad to see you alive. Your presence has been sorely missed."

Thor's face was impassive.

"Not even a hello?" Tony hadn't expected one, but it would have been nice. "We used to be friends…for a long time."

Thor still didn't speak.

"Fine. I'll just get to the formalities then. Things have…changed since you've been gone. Things are…" Tony sighed. Maybe this would have been easier in his armor. "You either work with the government or you’re against it, there isn't room for middle ground anymore. I wish there was but this is the way it is now. I'm sure we can work something out to make everyone happy. I just need you to say you aren't going to side against the government. So, what do you say?"

Tony knew he'd said the wrong thing as the air began to crackle. Clouds seemed to come out of nowhere blocking out the sun.

"Yes, things have changed. You have given hunt to those we once fought beside. Killed or imprisoned those who opposed you."

Lighting struck near Tony.

"Surely this would be offense enough, but you went further. You took my genetic code without my permission and knowledge, and used it to create an abomination."

Tony flinched, not only at Thor's words - he couldn't deny them since they were true - but at the lightning that struck even closer.

"And you told the world it was me. You defiled my body, betrayed my trust and violated everything that I am! Is THIS how you define friendship? Is it?"

Tony took a step back and Thor moved closer, brandishing the hammer, lighting crackling around them both. A third blast knocked Tony from his feet.

"IS IT?"

"Thor, I'm sorry for what was done, but you don't know the whole story here. I didn't come here to force you to register…"

"Tony!" Maria’s voice sounded horrifyingly close.

Tony’s head whipped around away from the enraged god, towards Maria who was suddenly right there.

Maria came to a stop standing over Tony with fists clenched. Her teeth were bared at Thor as if she could stand between his wrath and Tony. She didn’t know that Thor wouldn't have brought that hammer down. "You aren't going to harm Tony." He could hear her young voice straining as she yelled, could hear the fear in it.

The lighting died as if it had never been.

"Won't let you hurt him," Maria repeated sounding like she was sobbing, her shoulders jerking.

Tony scrambled up and gathered her into his arms. She clung to him, tears running down her face. "Shh, it's okay, it's okay. He wasn't going to hurt me." He held her tighter and stroked her hair. "My brave little genius." Even with Extremis pouring in data, and a call from Carol that he probably should answer, all Tony could think of was how she could have died.

"Tony."

Tony looked up from Maria at Thor. The god was watching him closely, his hammer sheathed at his back again.

"I believe you said we needed to talk," Thor said. "I think we should do so inside, at which time you can introduce me to your very courageous little protector."

He mentally muted Carol's call - which could wait since it most likely involved her yelling at him -and considered Thor's offer. Maria was still shaking slightly, though she'd calmed down quite a bit.

Tony wiped away some of Maria's tears. "What do you think?" he asked her softly.

Maria looked back at Thor, her eyes accusing. "He might attack you again."

Thor looked almost guilty which surprised Tony. "I will not. I give you my word, little one; I will not harm you or Tony while you are both in Asgard."

"What happened was a…misunderstanding, Maria. Thor wouldn't have struck me, and he had every right to be angry at me," Tony told her. Thor seemed calmer now, and Tony could see he'd gone about things the wrong way. He should have been apologizing for what he and Reed had done before all else.

Tony was almost certain that Maria was about to refuse, when Maria nodded after studying Thor for a long moment. Whatever she saw must have satisfied her. "You were an Avenger. There's a picture in the penthouse." Tony wasn't sure if she was stating why she was accepting Thor's word or simply stating a fact. He wondered briefly if Jarvis, Jan, or Steve had told her any stories about those days, or if she simply recognized the god from Steve's sketch on the living room wall.

Tony watched as Maria peered up at the city. He could almost see her curiosity eating her up. "Thor, sir? Can I ask you a question?" she finally asked Thor.

"You may," Thor said looking slightly amused. Which Tony thought was a vast improvement on looking like he would like very much to beat the shit out of Tony.

"How does the city stay floating like that?"

Next
Acknowledgment: Much of the Tony and Thor dialog was adapted from Thor #3 by JMS.