The Ambush
When Tony woke up on his couch, he didn’t remember what happened last night. He remembered he started drinking, again, and he was in the balcony. He must have gotten drunk and fell asleep. He shouldn’t have. Let alone himself, he didn’t have the right to make his loved ones go through this again. Well, if he had any friends after his sudden betrayal. Betrayal? Did he think what he was doing was wrong? No. He was protecting them.
“Should I call Mr. Rogers, sir?” He heard Jarvis say.
“What? Why would you that?” He asked.
“He dropped by last night when you were in the balcony.” Tony muttered a ‘fuck’ and shook his head.
“Why?” He asked.
“He…made sure you didn’t hurt yourself. I would be sufficient for that, I think, sir.” Jarvis and his attitude.
“I wasn’t hurting myself.” Tony laughed. A painful one.
“You were about to fall off from the building, sir.” Tony stared to the balcony in shock. He was…that was the second time Steve saved him from himself. One time Tony drank too much that he didn’t realize his house was on fire. Steve had walked in and carried him outside and saved him. He covered his face with his hands and shook his head in disbelief.
“No,no,no…” He mumbled. He was a disaster, he was a fucking walking disaster and he didn’t deserve a friend like Steve. If he were Steve, he thought, he would have killed himself by now. Or at least, give up their friendship. It would be a lot easier if Steve just hated him. Why wouldn’t he hate him?
He let go of his thoughts, knowing he couldn’t break without completing his mission. Thıs was for the greater good and if he was going to be hated for this, be it. He would gladly take it if his friends and people are safe. And this was the wise option to take; superhumans would be educated and paid, what was wrong with that? Then he thought of Bill, guilt covering all other feelings. It was his fault, he knew. He reserved the cells of Thor when he died but he did not intend to use them like this. He gave Hill hell for this but what could he do? Bill was gone and the responsibility was Tony’s. Of course, he didn’t expect to finish this without anyone dying but it just hit him hard. He loved Bill, he donated millions in his honor but that didn’t mean anything. He was dead.
“Jarvis, call Agent Hill, we have to make arrangements.”
***
“We will follow the trunk sewer from here,” Luke Cage said as he put his finger on the map that lay on the table. Steve followed his finger, nodding.
“S.H.I.E.L.D. won’t be able to make it through there, they don’t have the enough equipment and they are too much in number, only a couple of them could follow us. But as for Iron Man, he could easily figure out our location with the help of Jarvis.” Cage added, checking Steve’s reaction at the mention of his best friend’s alias.
Steve doubted Tony would be there, he was so drunk last night, and he probably had a terrible headache. Steve sighed and folded the map.
He looked around the room, to his friends.
“Cage and Falcon will be leading to the right end of the sewer and I will be leading the left. Frank, as you know, you will go to the Baxter Building, the Fantastic Four’s home, Probably Richards will be there so you have to be careful and the building is highly guarded.” Steve said.
“Yeah, I am sure I will do fine. And Cap, please call me the Punisher while we are working together.” Steve rolled his eyes, he didn’t like working with this man, and he was a murderer. But this was no time to think these things. They needed every kind of support they could get.
“Get going, Punisher.” Steve demanded sarcastically. He stood up and turned towards the door.
“And Frank,” Cap called behind him. “Don’t dare to harm any of the Fantastic Four, or you are done for.” He said nodding towards the Punisher’s weapons. Frank sighed and exited the room.
“Let’s get going then.”
Captain America knew what to do. He knew it would hurt him so much, yes but he had to do it. He had to fight Tony tonight. This time, really fight him. He wasn’t sure he could do it but he just had to. He was leading his team into an ambush by pro-registration forces leaded by Tony and if he wanted the best for his team of Secret Avengers and for all the other superheroes, he was going to fight Tony tonight.
Steve went to his room and cried. If he was going to do it, he had to let the tears he’s been holding for months stream down his face. This was going to hurt him more than it hurts Tony.
***
“Iron Man, you will take Captain America down, right? I can count on you?” Agent Hill whispered as they stood in the centre of the New York City. They’ve been informed by Tigra that Secret Avengers would use the sewers to attack the pro-registrations forces without them knowing. Tigra was the mole they placed in the Secret Avengers. Tony felt guilty about this, of course. But that wasn’t important. Maybe when he understands they didn’t stand a chance against them tonight, he would surrender, he hoped. But come on, that was Captain America.
He heard footsteps and voices coming near. He told Jarvis to be ready. He didn’t want to do this again. He would do it though. He would do it because he was a jerk like that.
“Captain America and The Secret Avengers,” Agent Hill said.
“Surrender.”
Then without Tony could process what she had said, the two groups mixed with each other and started fighting, this time more savage and violent. He then saw Captain America coming towards him. He was coming so fast, Tony understood he was willing to fight this time.
He used his electro punch to disarm him of his shield but Steve didn’t let him.
“Chemical sprays!” he shouted to Jarvis as he saw Cap throwing his shield towards him, sprays hit him and he fell to the ground, his uniform was slit and Tony saw blood coming but he did not have time to think this through as Cap caught his shield again and threw it towards his armor, he was prepared so he didn’t fall.
What was he doing fighting with the man he loves? He should just let Steve kill him.
“Thanks.” Tony said as he threw the pulse beams to him.
“For—what?” Steve asked gritting his teeth and blocking the pulse beams.
“Jarvis told me.” He saw Steve get tense as they were fighting.
***
He forgot about Jarvis. How could he be so stupid? He fucking told Tony he loved him when he was asleep and Jarvis was listening. He told Tony. So why did he sound like he didn’t know?
“He told you what, exactly?” Steve asked as he blocked the blue rays coming towards his direction.
“That you came to my tower and saved me from falling.” He said. “Not that I would fall,” he added quickly. He was always like this; he would die before he admits he needs help, even from his best friend. Or former best friend. Why wasn’t he telling Steve he knew? He knew Steve loved him? Was he so disgusted with him that he didn’t want to accept it?
“What else did he told you?” he asked. Now they were done fighting. They were standing and talking in the middle of heroes and S.H.I.E.L.D. fighting.
“I didn’t tell him anything else, sir. That was all you’ve done.” He heard Jarvis say. What the hell? When did Jarvis start developing consciousness? He left out the part where he- that was strange but he was relieved. It would be just more fucked up if he knew. He nodded and walked towards Tony to do what he has been planning to do. Iron Man was just standing there; it would be easier to call him Iron Man in this moment. Cap reached out his hand towards him.
“Cap?” Tony sounded shocked but Cap knew he would take his hand. And he did.
“What was that for?” Tony asked. Then suddenly his armor started shutting down. Tony looked to his hand and there was a little device on the armor that transmitted some kind of signal to the other parts of the armor.
“Oh,no.” he muttered as his armor was completely shut down. “No, no, no.” he repeated but it would do no good. Now his armor was just dead weight, he couldn’t move. He was just standing in his armor, watching Steve.
Suddenly, Steve sucker-punched him and he rolled onto the ground. Steve knew that hurt, Tony yelled in pain before hitting the ground. He was lying on his back now, not able to do anything. He tried to move his arms, legs, head…but it was all useless. His armor was too heavy. Steve tried to stand steady; he couldn’t stand seeing Tony like that.
Before walking into the fight, Steve said he was sorry. He was more than sorry. He wanted to kill himself.