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cap_ironman2008-12-10 11:13 pm
kijikun.livejournal.com) wrote in cap_ironman2008-12-10 11:13 pm
Entry tags:
All That Remains (16/21) (R|Steve/Tony)
Title: All That Remains (16/21)
Previous Parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 Part 9, Part 10, Part 11,
Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kijikun
Rating: R (NC-17 overall)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Betas:pandanoai
Warnings: Spoilers through "Fallen Son", references to an institutionalized childhood
Timeline: 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. .
A/N: As always, con-crit welcome. Fan art always welcome as well.
The fact that everything hadn't blown up in his face by the next morning did nothing to reassure Tony. If James told a single person that Steve Rogers --or something that looked like him-- was living in Tony's penthouse it wouldn't end well. No one would believe Steve was here willingly even if they believed Steve was really Steve. Carol had been more than willing to consider the worst and she was one of the few people that still really trusted him. So how the hell would those who hated his guts react?
But if Steve hadn't been there to confront Bucky --
Tony looked at the data pad in front of him blankly, paying more attention to the camera trained on Maria. She looked unaffected by her scare yesterday, but even Steve had seemed reluctant to let her out of his sight.
There were places Tony had to be but there was no way he was leaving Stark Tower today.
"Tony," Pepper sounded exasperated.
A glance up showed that she looked exasperated as well, a hand resting on her hip.
"You have a meeting in California -- in two hours. A rather important one I might add. And not answering your calls doesn't make them go away. They call me when they can't get a hold of you. Maria Hill is about to give birth to kittens if you don't talk to her soon," she told him.
"Cancel the meeting," Tony replied. "You'll need to memorize your new access codes to the penthouse. I've changed them all." He accessed the Shield alert system, checking for anything that would have Maria Hill screaming at him, but there was nothing pressing that couldn't be handled by her and Dugan.
Pepper pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment. "Most of the reps from China are already there Tony. You can't just cancel this, you know that. She'll be okay -- you know that."
"The meeting is canceled," he snapped, getting to his feet. "I am not leaving the Tower until every security flaw is fixed, until every possible back-way-in is eliminated, and until every access code and override code is changed and then changed again. And when that's done I'm checking it again. Because Maria could have been long gone by the time I got back here -- he could have taken her all because I didn't change one set of override codes!" He pushed his fingers through his hair. He was pacing back and forth.
"The point is that he didn't," Pepper tried to point out and Tony knew she was trying to calm him down.
But all he could think of was how the current Captain America -- how James Barnes—had been gone by the time he reached Maria. "The point, Pepper, is that if Steve hadn't been there he would have. And how the hell was I going to get her back? He's Captain America -- if I accused him of taking her it would have tarnished Steve's memory -- it would have turned Maria into the very thing I'm trying to keep her from becoming -- a pawn and a tool in a game she shouldn't have to be a part of!"
Pepper placed a hand on his back. "You didn't sleep at all, did you?"
Tony sagged under her touch and shook his head. "I couldn't."
She sighed softly. "You couldn't have known he'd try to take her. No one could have."
"I should have. I should have known someone would try to, at the very least. I shouldn’t have given the anti-reg side advantage over me. I should have remembered he's still Winter Soldier under all that red white and blue," Tony said softly. "I should have known Agent 13 would figure things out from just a picture. That she’d know who Maria was, and want her away from me."
James' fury and complete belief that he was damaging Maria somehow sickened Tony. Maybe that was how everyone saw his adoption of Maria, something sinister. "Maybe Maria would have been better off with someone else. He and Sharon have more right to her than I ever will."
"That's bullshit Tony, and you know it," Pepper snapped at him, moving so she could glare at him.
"It's not like we went public with our relationship." Tony didn't want to argue about this with Pepper, but Steve would probably not want to hear one word said against his little brother. He was afraid Steve just might agree that Maria would have been better off with anyone but Tony. "For most people, I'm the guy that betrayed and put Steve Rogers in jail."
"And most people wouldn't connect Maria to being anything but the little girl you saved from a very horrible place. Which you did. It doesn't matter what her parentage is." Pepper poked him in the chest.
Tony rubbed his forehead trying to stave off the headache that always came with having too many feeds open. There was an email from Jan flashing at him, reminding him that he had to deal with the Bugle photo shoot sooner rather than later. He couldn't let Peter down again, even if it did make him feel like a nervous wreck just thinking about Maria alone with someone that could try to take her. Even though he knew Peter Parker would be the last person to take a kid from someone just because he hated them.
"You have every right to be upset about what happened, but don't sulk down here in your office, driving yourself crazy over what could have happened." Pepper sighed, straightening the papers on his desk. "I'll cancel the meeting, make whatever excuses we need to -- but you need to go upstairs and talk to Steve. Spend the rest of the day with them. If nothing else it'll reassure Maria."
Tony managed a small smile for her. "Thank you, Pepper. Tell me again how I survived without you?"
"I'm not entirely sure you did. How many meetings did you attend just using your brain?"
***
Steve was more than surprised than anything to see Tony come into the kitchen as he made sandwiches for lunch. Jarvis had insisted on doing it at first, but with a little help from Maria by way of her asking the older man to color with her -- Steve got the job.
He'd wanted a bit of time to think without Maria's steady flow of questions that he both hesitated to answer and hesitated to forbid her from asking. He agreed with Tony, her growing curiosity and assurance that she could ask why without fear was a good thing. But it was difficult to take her bouncing from questions about 'Captain America' -- and though Steve knew she meant Bucky it was still jarring -- to why Pepper got to spend all day with Tony and she didn't.
"Dare I ask how you managed to get lunch making duties from Jarvis?" Tony asked.
Steve smiled slightly. "Dare I ask why it’s the middle of the day and you’re seemingly home for lunch?"
Tony managed a chuckle, but Steve could tell that he was stressed. Stressed and tired. Steve had felt Tony jerk awake every time he'd fallen asleep the night before. He wasn't sure if Tony had been trying to stay awake or if the nightmares were back.
They'd both checked on Maria more times than was probably healthy.
"Pepper chased me off. Apparently I'm not allowed to brood and sulk in my own office anymore," Tony told him, walking over and sticking his finger in the peanut butter jar.
Steve rolled his eyes. "I'll make you a sandwich if you're hungry. And Pepper really told you to stop 'brooding and sulking'?"
"Maybe I just want peanut butter," Tony reasoned, stealing another scoop. "And no, not in those exact words."
"Use a spoon at least," Steve sighed. He had a far guess about what Tony had been doing and it probably wasn't paper work or anything to do with Shield, the Avengers, or Stark Industries. "How many times have you changed the access codes today?"
Tony rubbed his forehead. "A few -- " Steve gave him a sharp look and he sighed. " -- dozen times."
Steve put down the knife he was using and leaned against the counter, looking away from Tony. "If you want to blame someone blame me. He got the codes from Sharon."
"And you should have been completely justified trusting it with her," Tony snapped.
"No, I shouldn't have betrayed the trust you had in me by giving me that code." Steve snapped back then took a deep breath. If they got loud, it would bring in Maria and Jarvis. He really didn't want to deal with Jarvis' sharp looks for upsetting what was for all intents and purposes his son and granddaughter.
Tony leaned closer letting their arms brush. "It doesn't matter. The point is it won't happen again."
Steve felt his stomach drop and he curled his fingers against the counter edge. Tony couldn't mean --
"Your little brother will find himself out in the cold if he tries again. In more ways than one," Tony growled. Steve didn't like that tone or the contention and underlying threat in Tony's voice, as much as he was relieved that Tony hadn't meant he wouldn't trust Steve anymore.
"He won't try again, Tony," Steve assured him.
Tony snorted. "He won't get that close to succeeding again."
Steve closed his eyes to reign in his temper. "Even if Bucky would try again -- which he won't -- I'd stop him."
"Or you'd listen to him," Tony said softly.
Opening his eyes, Steve saw Tony leaning back against the counter, his hand covering his eyes. "Tony."
"He'll always be Bucky to you, no matter what else he's done, and he'll always come first," Tony mused sadly. "You'd listen to him, to what he said about me and you'd decide that Bucky couldn't be lying."
"Tony, no."
"And you'd take Maria and leave," Tony finished sounding defeated.
Steve moved and gripped both of Tony's arms, shaking him. "Tony, I would not take your daughter from you no matter what Bucky said. I'm not that blind to think Bucky is innocent still -- if he ever was."
Tony looked at him dully. "She's not my daughter."
"Yes, she is. Everyone that sees the way you are with her knows that. It doesn't matter who her parents are or where she came from -- you’re her father." Steve rested his forehead against Tony's. "I wouldn't take her from you."
Tony closed his eyes and didn't answer. His face was closed and unreadable.
Steve slid his hands up Tony's arms to his shoulders. "And I wouldn't pick or believe Bucky over you."
That made Tony open his eyes, disbelief shinning clear. "Don't lie to me."
"I want to spend my life with you. I love Bucky like a brother but --" Steve swallowed hard. "But I'm in love with you."
Tony's eyes went wide and he shook his head. "You -- how can --"
Steve cupped the back of Tony's neck. "Didn't you know that?"
"You never told me," Tony said sadly. "I know you cared and that we were friends -- you really love me?" He looked as if he was a five year old at Christmas finding that Santa had left him a puppy under the tree.
Steve smiled and kissed him gently. "I thought it was obvious."
Tony kissed him back in lieu of answering, and then broke away with a soft laugh. "As much as I'd like to keep kissing you and make you repeat those words so I can record them -- we'd better finish making lunch."
"What do you mean, we?"
***
"I really thought better of you Agent Carter."
The last person Sharon Carter really wanted to deal with after her fight with James, was Natasha Romanoff, otherwise known as the Black Widow. She was damn well sure there was something James wasn’t telling her about his attempt to rescue what she was certain was Steve's little girl. The appearance of Natasha just cemented it -- she refused to think about the fact that this was also James' former lover and that her visit could have anything to do with the two of them.
"Do I even want to know what this is about?" Sharon asked tiredly. There was a possibility Stark had sent her, but she assumed if he was going to make a move against her and James, he'd go after James first. He hadn't had a problem with hunting down Steve like a dog.
Natasha leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "I know you blame Tony for Steve's death Sharon, but kidnapping his kid is a little much."
"She isn't his child," Sharon snarled, pushing the memory of a gun in her hands and the look on Steve's face out of her head.
"Because that means anything," Natasha snorted.
Sharon tightened her hands into fists. "I don't know why Stark sent you here--"
"Tony didn't send me," Natasha sighed, waving her hand dismissively.
"What?" Sharon blinked in surprise. "Then why are you here?"
Natasha made an annoyed sound and rolled her eyes. "I can't imagine. Maybe because I want to keep James from doing something monumentality stupid?”
Sharon narrowed her gaze.
"Oh don't look at me like that. You know as well as I do how the media would play it. Captain America kidnapping Tony Stark's adopted daughter? You think Tony's loyalty to Steve's memory would keep him from doing just about anything to get Maria back?" Natasha pointed out casually. "No matter how justified you and James might think you are… no one else would see it that way."
Sharon lifted her chin. The media could go to hell for all she cared. "Well thank you for your concern," she said acidly. "I think James is more than aware of the risks."
"No he isn't. He's reckless and self destructive. He can be cold hearted and ruthless without even knowing it. He's never cared about the risks," Natasha pointed out, smiling slightly. "It was one of the things I loved about him. When he had his mind set… damn the consequences."
Sharon had to admit that Natasha was right and she hadn't tried to point out the risks to James either. "How did you know about any of this? I wouldn't think Stark would want it getting out."
"Pepper Potts called me," Natasha smiled as if inviting Sharon to share in a joke. Then she frowned at Sharon. "And believe it or not, I did love Tony once, and part of me still loves him. I don't like seeing him hurt, and taking that little girl from him would hurt him. Probably her as well. Did you ever think about that Sharon? Or were you too busy wanting a piece of Steve to think about how Maria would feel about being dragged away by a complete stranger?"
"It wasn't like that," Sharon hissed, crossing her arms.
"Then what? Tell me what sinister thing you thought Tony was going to do?" Natasha demanded.
"He has no right to have her after what he did!" Sharon’s voice rose.
Natasha threw her hands up. "He obeyed the law! He's not the one that shot Captain America down in front of a court house. You helped bring him in. Neither you nor Tony have any more right to that child than the other. Why do you deserve her more?"
Something inside of Sharon broke --because Stark hadn't pulled the trigger that killed Steve, she had -- and she crumbled back down on to the couch. "Because --- " she pulled in a shuttering breath. "then I could make up for it. I could do this one last thing for Steve and I won't always have his blood on my hands and --” She wasn't going to cry in front of Natasha. She was a former Shield agent; she wasn’t going to break down just because she'd killed --
Her eyes betrayed her emotions. Her face felt wet.
"Natasha, I think you should go," James’ voice was low and soft -- and oh god how long had he been listening to them?
"I didn't mean to upset her," Natasha’s voice was soft.
"I know. Just go, we'll talk later."
Sharon curled an arm around her stomach and bent in on herself in shame and misery.
"Sharon," James said, and she felt the couch shift as he sat next to her. "It wasn't you that pulled the trigger. You know that. The whole damn thing was Stark's fault."
Sharon closed her eyes. He always told her it wasn't her fault, but it was. She should have known she was under mind control; she should have been able to stop herself.
James wrapped his real arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. "The kid was terrified Sharon," he finally said after a long moment of silence. "Of me. Even if I thought Stark would leave the codes the same -- which we both know he won't -- I'm not trying for her again."
Sharon didn't speak, but she rested her head against James' shoulder. This thing between them was brittle at best but she took as much comfort from him as she could get.
"And you were right… there was something I didn't tell you," James said, tightening his arm around her slightly. "But I need you to trust me. I need to talk to Stark when things calm down and then I'll tell you. Okay?"
"I don't have much choice do I?" she sighed.
"Not really," James told her before he leaned down and kissed her.
***
"A photo shoot with Peter?" Steve asked quietly, stroking the back of Tony's neck.
Tony nodded, paying more attention to Maria lying on her stomach on the floor. She was drawing while they watched the Rocketeer. It was way past her bedtime but even Steve was letting it slide despite the fact that Maria was still up at midnight. "Jan suggested I ask Sue and Reed if Franklin can be around during it."
"Hmm, that's a good idea. She'll be happier with Franklin around, and Peter's been friends with the Fantastic Four longer than we've known him," Steve commented, most of his attention on the movie.
It had been a favorite for movie nights for years, especially after they'd discovered that Steve had known Cliff Secord. Tony had always wondered, given some of Steve's grumblings, if they'd been more than friends at certain points during the war… but he never pushed. It was just amusing to watch Steve make comments about the accuracy of the movie and complain that Secord had made most of this stuff up.
"That's what I was thinking," Tony told him, shifting closer so that he was near enough to rest his head on Steve's shoulder. Steve seemed more comfortable with public displays of affection that he had before -- well before… but that could mostly be because there weren't many people for that affection to be displayed too here.
Steve shifted his arm around Tony's shoulders. "I told you Peter didn’t hate you."
Tony resisted rolling his eyes. "I got him his job and his secret identity back; I don't think it has anything to do with him liking me. And there are some things we shouldn't be talking about in front of little girls with big ears."
Maria didn't seem to be paying attention to them but it was hard to tell with her.
"Where is the shoot going to happen? Here?" Steve asked, rubbing his thumb against Tony's exposed collar bone.
"She'd be more comfortable here but that could be….difficult." Tony reasoned, leaning into Steve's touch. Then he looked over at the television. "You know I think we've seen this too many times since you haven't made one crack about Cliff Secord."
Steve rolled his eyes. "I do not always make cracks about Secord. Just sometimes."
Maria looked back at them. "You knew the Rocketeer?" she asked curiously. "I didn't know he was real. I thought this was a -- " She paused, obviously looking for words. " --a made up movie."
Tony laughed. He knew she'd never let it rest until she got any and all information out of Steve. "Well a lot of the movie is made up, but Cliff Secord was a real person. Right, Steve?"
"We can talk about it after the movie," Steve said pointedly. "Then I can tell you all about Secord -- within reason."
Maria frowned. "But -- "
"Look he's beating up mobsters," Steve exclaimed, obviously trying to distract her.
Tony grinned, as it seemed to be successful. "That's not always going to work you ---" he broke off with a gasp as a feed from Extremis exploded with information.
"Tony?" Steve sounded concerned and he could feel Steve's hands gripping his shoulders.
His mind was flooded with images and information, and though he knew Steve was there he couldn't focus his attention outwards to see him. There was too much -- he tried to access the cameras for the actual plant site but it was like trying to grab at raw wires --
"What's wrong with Tony?" Maria’s voice was high and sounded worried.
"Tony? What's wrong? What happened?" Steve shook him.
Maria touched his arm. "What's wrong with your eyes?" She asked quietly.
Tony closed his eyes and shook his head, shutting down the damaged feeds and connections. "Maria, I need you to go to your room." His voice shook.
Her hands curled around his arm.
"It's okay, I'll look after him.” Steve started. “We'll both come in and get you and finish the movie, okay?" He assured her.
Tony kept his eyes closed, trying to sort out what had happened -- the plant if not completely destroyed was -- god this was beyond bad.
He had to find out just what the damage was, but none of the news reports seemed to know for sure, and he had no camera feeds or undamaged connections in the plant now. How many people had still been there and --
*….not clear on what happened but we're getting reports of…*
"Tony?" Steve whispered, cupping Tony's face.
"The meeting," Tony told him, blinking to clear away images and video feeds. "I was supposed to be there today but I had Pepper cancel it --"
*…factory owned by Stark Industries….*
"Tony, you're not making sense. What happened?"
Tony forced himself to focus on Steve's face… the feel of his hands. He let Steve ground him to reality. Because he was sure the moment Steve let go of him, he'd have the armor on.
"One of my California factories, there was supposed to be a huge meeting there today and a party this evening. I had Pepper cancel it." He concentrated on keeping his voice steady as more data entered his mind.
*…with a force that seems to have completely obliterated part of the complex…*
Tony needed to be there. He needed to be trying to save his people.
Steve nodded. "Okay?"
"Someone just blew it up.” Tony pulled away from the warmth of Steve’s hands and got to his feet. “I need to get down there. I’ll call Pepper on the way – finish the movie with Maria I don’t want her –“
“Tony?” Maria’s voice came from the doorway of the living room. Her eyes were wide but it was hard to read any emotion into them from where he stood. “What happened? Are we under attack?”
Tony closed his eyes for a moment debating what to do. “Come here Maria.”
She crossed the room to him and he knelt down putting his hands on her shoulders. “We’re not under attack, but someone or something did a lot of damage to one of my factory complexes. Remember the one we visited in China?”
Maria nodded.
“It’s one sort of like that. I need to go there right now and find out what’s going on. You can stay up and finish the movie with Steve.” Tony tried to keep his voice even.
“I should go with you,” Maria told him.
*….rescue crews…*
It was the start of a familiar argument, and one he did not want to have right then. “I need you to stay here and protect Steve. Can you do that?”
She frowned slightly, but nodded. “Yes, Tony.”
“Good girl,” he kissed her forehead.
As he stood, Steve brushed his fingers against Tony’s.
“Be careful,” Steve mouthed before kissing Tony.
Tony nodded and headed for the elevator.
He was half way to California when the report came in that a truck had tried to ram its way through the security gate at a Stark Industries’ Chicago factory.
Everything was going to hell at once.
Next
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15,Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21
Previous Parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 Part 9, Part 10, Part 11,
Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15
Author:
kijikun Rating: R (NC-17 overall)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Betas:
pandanoaiWarnings: Spoilers through "Fallen Son", references to an institutionalized childhood
Timeline: 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. .
A/N: As always, con-crit welcome. Fan art always welcome as well.
The fact that everything hadn't blown up in his face by the next morning did nothing to reassure Tony. If James told a single person that Steve Rogers --or something that looked like him-- was living in Tony's penthouse it wouldn't end well. No one would believe Steve was here willingly even if they believed Steve was really Steve. Carol had been more than willing to consider the worst and she was one of the few people that still really trusted him. So how the hell would those who hated his guts react?
But if Steve hadn't been there to confront Bucky --
Tony looked at the data pad in front of him blankly, paying more attention to the camera trained on Maria. She looked unaffected by her scare yesterday, but even Steve had seemed reluctant to let her out of his sight.
There were places Tony had to be but there was no way he was leaving Stark Tower today.
"Tony," Pepper sounded exasperated.
A glance up showed that she looked exasperated as well, a hand resting on her hip.
"You have a meeting in California -- in two hours. A rather important one I might add. And not answering your calls doesn't make them go away. They call me when they can't get a hold of you. Maria Hill is about to give birth to kittens if you don't talk to her soon," she told him.
"Cancel the meeting," Tony replied. "You'll need to memorize your new access codes to the penthouse. I've changed them all." He accessed the Shield alert system, checking for anything that would have Maria Hill screaming at him, but there was nothing pressing that couldn't be handled by her and Dugan.
Pepper pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment. "Most of the reps from China are already there Tony. You can't just cancel this, you know that. She'll be okay -- you know that."
"The meeting is canceled," he snapped, getting to his feet. "I am not leaving the Tower until every security flaw is fixed, until every possible back-way-in is eliminated, and until every access code and override code is changed and then changed again. And when that's done I'm checking it again. Because Maria could have been long gone by the time I got back here -- he could have taken her all because I didn't change one set of override codes!" He pushed his fingers through his hair. He was pacing back and forth.
"The point is that he didn't," Pepper tried to point out and Tony knew she was trying to calm him down.
But all he could think of was how the current Captain America -- how James Barnes—had been gone by the time he reached Maria. "The point, Pepper, is that if Steve hadn't been there he would have. And how the hell was I going to get her back? He's Captain America -- if I accused him of taking her it would have tarnished Steve's memory -- it would have turned Maria into the very thing I'm trying to keep her from becoming -- a pawn and a tool in a game she shouldn't have to be a part of!"
Pepper placed a hand on his back. "You didn't sleep at all, did you?"
Tony sagged under her touch and shook his head. "I couldn't."
She sighed softly. "You couldn't have known he'd try to take her. No one could have."
"I should have. I should have known someone would try to, at the very least. I shouldn’t have given the anti-reg side advantage over me. I should have remembered he's still Winter Soldier under all that red white and blue," Tony said softly. "I should have known Agent 13 would figure things out from just a picture. That she’d know who Maria was, and want her away from me."
James' fury and complete belief that he was damaging Maria somehow sickened Tony. Maybe that was how everyone saw his adoption of Maria, something sinister. "Maybe Maria would have been better off with someone else. He and Sharon have more right to her than I ever will."
"That's bullshit Tony, and you know it," Pepper snapped at him, moving so she could glare at him.
"It's not like we went public with our relationship." Tony didn't want to argue about this with Pepper, but Steve would probably not want to hear one word said against his little brother. He was afraid Steve just might agree that Maria would have been better off with anyone but Tony. "For most people, I'm the guy that betrayed and put Steve Rogers in jail."
"And most people wouldn't connect Maria to being anything but the little girl you saved from a very horrible place. Which you did. It doesn't matter what her parentage is." Pepper poked him in the chest.
Tony rubbed his forehead trying to stave off the headache that always came with having too many feeds open. There was an email from Jan flashing at him, reminding him that he had to deal with the Bugle photo shoot sooner rather than later. He couldn't let Peter down again, even if it did make him feel like a nervous wreck just thinking about Maria alone with someone that could try to take her. Even though he knew Peter Parker would be the last person to take a kid from someone just because he hated them.
"You have every right to be upset about what happened, but don't sulk down here in your office, driving yourself crazy over what could have happened." Pepper sighed, straightening the papers on his desk. "I'll cancel the meeting, make whatever excuses we need to -- but you need to go upstairs and talk to Steve. Spend the rest of the day with them. If nothing else it'll reassure Maria."
Tony managed a small smile for her. "Thank you, Pepper. Tell me again how I survived without you?"
"I'm not entirely sure you did. How many meetings did you attend just using your brain?"
Steve was more than surprised than anything to see Tony come into the kitchen as he made sandwiches for lunch. Jarvis had insisted on doing it at first, but with a little help from Maria by way of her asking the older man to color with her -- Steve got the job.
He'd wanted a bit of time to think without Maria's steady flow of questions that he both hesitated to answer and hesitated to forbid her from asking. He agreed with Tony, her growing curiosity and assurance that she could ask why without fear was a good thing. But it was difficult to take her bouncing from questions about 'Captain America' -- and though Steve knew she meant Bucky it was still jarring -- to why Pepper got to spend all day with Tony and she didn't.
"Dare I ask how you managed to get lunch making duties from Jarvis?" Tony asked.
Steve smiled slightly. "Dare I ask why it’s the middle of the day and you’re seemingly home for lunch?"
Tony managed a chuckle, but Steve could tell that he was stressed. Stressed and tired. Steve had felt Tony jerk awake every time he'd fallen asleep the night before. He wasn't sure if Tony had been trying to stay awake or if the nightmares were back.
They'd both checked on Maria more times than was probably healthy.
"Pepper chased me off. Apparently I'm not allowed to brood and sulk in my own office anymore," Tony told him, walking over and sticking his finger in the peanut butter jar.
Steve rolled his eyes. "I'll make you a sandwich if you're hungry. And Pepper really told you to stop 'brooding and sulking'?"
"Maybe I just want peanut butter," Tony reasoned, stealing another scoop. "And no, not in those exact words."
"Use a spoon at least," Steve sighed. He had a far guess about what Tony had been doing and it probably wasn't paper work or anything to do with Shield, the Avengers, or Stark Industries. "How many times have you changed the access codes today?"
Tony rubbed his forehead. "A few -- " Steve gave him a sharp look and he sighed. " -- dozen times."
Steve put down the knife he was using and leaned against the counter, looking away from Tony. "If you want to blame someone blame me. He got the codes from Sharon."
"And you should have been completely justified trusting it with her," Tony snapped.
"No, I shouldn't have betrayed the trust you had in me by giving me that code." Steve snapped back then took a deep breath. If they got loud, it would bring in Maria and Jarvis. He really didn't want to deal with Jarvis' sharp looks for upsetting what was for all intents and purposes his son and granddaughter.
Tony leaned closer letting their arms brush. "It doesn't matter. The point is it won't happen again."
Steve felt his stomach drop and he curled his fingers against the counter edge. Tony couldn't mean --
"Your little brother will find himself out in the cold if he tries again. In more ways than one," Tony growled. Steve didn't like that tone or the contention and underlying threat in Tony's voice, as much as he was relieved that Tony hadn't meant he wouldn't trust Steve anymore.
"He won't try again, Tony," Steve assured him.
Tony snorted. "He won't get that close to succeeding again."
Steve closed his eyes to reign in his temper. "Even if Bucky would try again -- which he won't -- I'd stop him."
"Or you'd listen to him," Tony said softly.
Opening his eyes, Steve saw Tony leaning back against the counter, his hand covering his eyes. "Tony."
"He'll always be Bucky to you, no matter what else he's done, and he'll always come first," Tony mused sadly. "You'd listen to him, to what he said about me and you'd decide that Bucky couldn't be lying."
"Tony, no."
"And you'd take Maria and leave," Tony finished sounding defeated.
Steve moved and gripped both of Tony's arms, shaking him. "Tony, I would not take your daughter from you no matter what Bucky said. I'm not that blind to think Bucky is innocent still -- if he ever was."
Tony looked at him dully. "She's not my daughter."
"Yes, she is. Everyone that sees the way you are with her knows that. It doesn't matter who her parents are or where she came from -- you’re her father." Steve rested his forehead against Tony's. "I wouldn't take her from you."
Tony closed his eyes and didn't answer. His face was closed and unreadable.
Steve slid his hands up Tony's arms to his shoulders. "And I wouldn't pick or believe Bucky over you."
That made Tony open his eyes, disbelief shinning clear. "Don't lie to me."
"I want to spend my life with you. I love Bucky like a brother but --" Steve swallowed hard. "But I'm in love with you."
Tony's eyes went wide and he shook his head. "You -- how can --"
Steve cupped the back of Tony's neck. "Didn't you know that?"
"You never told me," Tony said sadly. "I know you cared and that we were friends -- you really love me?" He looked as if he was a five year old at Christmas finding that Santa had left him a puppy under the tree.
Steve smiled and kissed him gently. "I thought it was obvious."
Tony kissed him back in lieu of answering, and then broke away with a soft laugh. "As much as I'd like to keep kissing you and make you repeat those words so I can record them -- we'd better finish making lunch."
"What do you mean, we?"
"I really thought better of you Agent Carter."
The last person Sharon Carter really wanted to deal with after her fight with James, was Natasha Romanoff, otherwise known as the Black Widow. She was damn well sure there was something James wasn’t telling her about his attempt to rescue what she was certain was Steve's little girl. The appearance of Natasha just cemented it -- she refused to think about the fact that this was also James' former lover and that her visit could have anything to do with the two of them.
"Do I even want to know what this is about?" Sharon asked tiredly. There was a possibility Stark had sent her, but she assumed if he was going to make a move against her and James, he'd go after James first. He hadn't had a problem with hunting down Steve like a dog.
Natasha leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "I know you blame Tony for Steve's death Sharon, but kidnapping his kid is a little much."
"She isn't his child," Sharon snarled, pushing the memory of a gun in her hands and the look on Steve's face out of her head.
"Because that means anything," Natasha snorted.
Sharon tightened her hands into fists. "I don't know why Stark sent you here--"
"Tony didn't send me," Natasha sighed, waving her hand dismissively.
"What?" Sharon blinked in surprise. "Then why are you here?"
Natasha made an annoyed sound and rolled her eyes. "I can't imagine. Maybe because I want to keep James from doing something monumentality stupid?”
Sharon narrowed her gaze.
"Oh don't look at me like that. You know as well as I do how the media would play it. Captain America kidnapping Tony Stark's adopted daughter? You think Tony's loyalty to Steve's memory would keep him from doing just about anything to get Maria back?" Natasha pointed out casually. "No matter how justified you and James might think you are… no one else would see it that way."
Sharon lifted her chin. The media could go to hell for all she cared. "Well thank you for your concern," she said acidly. "I think James is more than aware of the risks."
"No he isn't. He's reckless and self destructive. He can be cold hearted and ruthless without even knowing it. He's never cared about the risks," Natasha pointed out, smiling slightly. "It was one of the things I loved about him. When he had his mind set… damn the consequences."
Sharon had to admit that Natasha was right and she hadn't tried to point out the risks to James either. "How did you know about any of this? I wouldn't think Stark would want it getting out."
"Pepper Potts called me," Natasha smiled as if inviting Sharon to share in a joke. Then she frowned at Sharon. "And believe it or not, I did love Tony once, and part of me still loves him. I don't like seeing him hurt, and taking that little girl from him would hurt him. Probably her as well. Did you ever think about that Sharon? Or were you too busy wanting a piece of Steve to think about how Maria would feel about being dragged away by a complete stranger?"
"It wasn't like that," Sharon hissed, crossing her arms.
"Then what? Tell me what sinister thing you thought Tony was going to do?" Natasha demanded.
"He has no right to have her after what he did!" Sharon’s voice rose.
Natasha threw her hands up. "He obeyed the law! He's not the one that shot Captain America down in front of a court house. You helped bring him in. Neither you nor Tony have any more right to that child than the other. Why do you deserve her more?"
Something inside of Sharon broke --because Stark hadn't pulled the trigger that killed Steve, she had -- and she crumbled back down on to the couch. "Because --- " she pulled in a shuttering breath. "then I could make up for it. I could do this one last thing for Steve and I won't always have his blood on my hands and --” She wasn't going to cry in front of Natasha. She was a former Shield agent; she wasn’t going to break down just because she'd killed --
Her eyes betrayed her emotions. Her face felt wet.
"Natasha, I think you should go," James’ voice was low and soft -- and oh god how long had he been listening to them?
"I didn't mean to upset her," Natasha’s voice was soft.
"I know. Just go, we'll talk later."
Sharon curled an arm around her stomach and bent in on herself in shame and misery.
"Sharon," James said, and she felt the couch shift as he sat next to her. "It wasn't you that pulled the trigger. You know that. The whole damn thing was Stark's fault."
Sharon closed her eyes. He always told her it wasn't her fault, but it was. She should have known she was under mind control; she should have been able to stop herself.
James wrapped his real arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. "The kid was terrified Sharon," he finally said after a long moment of silence. "Of me. Even if I thought Stark would leave the codes the same -- which we both know he won't -- I'm not trying for her again."
Sharon didn't speak, but she rested her head against James' shoulder. This thing between them was brittle at best but she took as much comfort from him as she could get.
"And you were right… there was something I didn't tell you," James said, tightening his arm around her slightly. "But I need you to trust me. I need to talk to Stark when things calm down and then I'll tell you. Okay?"
"I don't have much choice do I?" she sighed.
"Not really," James told her before he leaned down and kissed her.
"A photo shoot with Peter?" Steve asked quietly, stroking the back of Tony's neck.
Tony nodded, paying more attention to Maria lying on her stomach on the floor. She was drawing while they watched the Rocketeer. It was way past her bedtime but even Steve was letting it slide despite the fact that Maria was still up at midnight. "Jan suggested I ask Sue and Reed if Franklin can be around during it."
"Hmm, that's a good idea. She'll be happier with Franklin around, and Peter's been friends with the Fantastic Four longer than we've known him," Steve commented, most of his attention on the movie.
It had been a favorite for movie nights for years, especially after they'd discovered that Steve had known Cliff Secord. Tony had always wondered, given some of Steve's grumblings, if they'd been more than friends at certain points during the war… but he never pushed. It was just amusing to watch Steve make comments about the accuracy of the movie and complain that Secord had made most of this stuff up.
"That's what I was thinking," Tony told him, shifting closer so that he was near enough to rest his head on Steve's shoulder. Steve seemed more comfortable with public displays of affection that he had before -- well before… but that could mostly be because there weren't many people for that affection to be displayed too here.
Steve shifted his arm around Tony's shoulders. "I told you Peter didn’t hate you."
Tony resisted rolling his eyes. "I got him his job and his secret identity back; I don't think it has anything to do with him liking me. And there are some things we shouldn't be talking about in front of little girls with big ears."
Maria didn't seem to be paying attention to them but it was hard to tell with her.
"Where is the shoot going to happen? Here?" Steve asked, rubbing his thumb against Tony's exposed collar bone.
"She'd be more comfortable here but that could be….difficult." Tony reasoned, leaning into Steve's touch. Then he looked over at the television. "You know I think we've seen this too many times since you haven't made one crack about Cliff Secord."
Steve rolled his eyes. "I do not always make cracks about Secord. Just sometimes."
Maria looked back at them. "You knew the Rocketeer?" she asked curiously. "I didn't know he was real. I thought this was a -- " She paused, obviously looking for words. " --a made up movie."
Tony laughed. He knew she'd never let it rest until she got any and all information out of Steve. "Well a lot of the movie is made up, but Cliff Secord was a real person. Right, Steve?"
"We can talk about it after the movie," Steve said pointedly. "Then I can tell you all about Secord -- within reason."
Maria frowned. "But -- "
"Look he's beating up mobsters," Steve exclaimed, obviously trying to distract her.
Tony grinned, as it seemed to be successful. "That's not always going to work you ---" he broke off with a gasp as a feed from Extremis exploded with information.
"Tony?" Steve sounded concerned and he could feel Steve's hands gripping his shoulders.
His mind was flooded with images and information, and though he knew Steve was there he couldn't focus his attention outwards to see him. There was too much -- he tried to access the cameras for the actual plant site but it was like trying to grab at raw wires --
"What's wrong with Tony?" Maria’s voice was high and sounded worried.
"Tony? What's wrong? What happened?" Steve shook him.
Maria touched his arm. "What's wrong with your eyes?" She asked quietly.
Tony closed his eyes and shook his head, shutting down the damaged feeds and connections. "Maria, I need you to go to your room." His voice shook.
Her hands curled around his arm.
"It's okay, I'll look after him.” Steve started. “We'll both come in and get you and finish the movie, okay?" He assured her.
Tony kept his eyes closed, trying to sort out what had happened -- the plant if not completely destroyed was -- god this was beyond bad.
He had to find out just what the damage was, but none of the news reports seemed to know for sure, and he had no camera feeds or undamaged connections in the plant now. How many people had still been there and --
*….not clear on what happened but we're getting reports of…*
"Tony?" Steve whispered, cupping Tony's face.
"The meeting," Tony told him, blinking to clear away images and video feeds. "I was supposed to be there today but I had Pepper cancel it --"
*…factory owned by Stark Industries….*
"Tony, you're not making sense. What happened?"
Tony forced himself to focus on Steve's face… the feel of his hands. He let Steve ground him to reality. Because he was sure the moment Steve let go of him, he'd have the armor on.
"One of my California factories, there was supposed to be a huge meeting there today and a party this evening. I had Pepper cancel it." He concentrated on keeping his voice steady as more data entered his mind.
*…with a force that seems to have completely obliterated part of the complex…*
Tony needed to be there. He needed to be trying to save his people.
Steve nodded. "Okay?"
"Someone just blew it up.” Tony pulled away from the warmth of Steve’s hands and got to his feet. “I need to get down there. I’ll call Pepper on the way – finish the movie with Maria I don’t want her –“
“Tony?” Maria’s voice came from the doorway of the living room. Her eyes were wide but it was hard to read any emotion into them from where he stood. “What happened? Are we under attack?”
Tony closed his eyes for a moment debating what to do. “Come here Maria.”
She crossed the room to him and he knelt down putting his hands on her shoulders. “We’re not under attack, but someone or something did a lot of damage to one of my factory complexes. Remember the one we visited in China?”
Maria nodded.
“It’s one sort of like that. I need to go there right now and find out what’s going on. You can stay up and finish the movie with Steve.” Tony tried to keep his voice even.
“I should go with you,” Maria told him.
*….rescue crews…*
It was the start of a familiar argument, and one he did not want to have right then. “I need you to stay here and protect Steve. Can you do that?”
She frowned slightly, but nodded. “Yes, Tony.”
“Good girl,” he kissed her forehead.
As he stood, Steve brushed his fingers against Tony’s.
“Be careful,” Steve mouthed before kissing Tony.
Tony nodded and headed for the elevator.
He was half way to California when the report came in that a truck had tried to ram its way through the security gate at a Stark Industries’ Chicago factory.
Everything was going to hell at once.
Oooh cliff hanger!
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Btw I love Natasha and Pepper!
I'm waiting the next piece *_*!!!
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*brat who is avoiding doing her history final*
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I'm sorry I just love that movie to itty bitty pieces so personal bias makes that my favorite bit part *LOL*
Personal bias aside, I really love how you write Pepper. She is perfect, forceful but not bitchy or anything (a mistake I've seen Marvel writers make)and Tony's panic in his office was and Pepper forcing him to see reason, IMHO, one of the best written bits of this section.
And I love how the meeting wasn't a throw away mention after all. Nice tie together ^__^
Steve saying I love you . . awwwwwww.
I thought this was suppose to be a fluffy universe!
I like how Tony told Maria to protect Steve, that is so traditional, though gender reversed.
Re: I thought this was suppose to be a fluffy universe!
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Sorry, but that's what played through my head when I read the last line...
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And let me just say, I love what you've created in Maria. I generally fly from fic with kiddies in them, but Maria is truly interesting and not gooey at all.
In conclusion: poor Tony. He's in for it now. :)
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I love the Rocketeer! Awesome movie!
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And Steve finally said the words! *hugs them all* Yay!
Also, the end of this part was very much a (superhero) family moment. <3
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Btw here the link to the next part (http://community.livejournal.com/cap_ironman/245896.html).
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