Chapter 9
(3m)abny
Capt. Rogers stood at the entrance to the awards ceremony, reluctantly posing for the camera flashes. Some things hadn’t changed with time. The press was still the press, and he was still their prancing bear. At least he wasn’t wearing his Captain America costume; he’d always hated wearing it when he wasn’t fighting. Instead he wore a grey suit with a blue tie, a different kind of costume. He shifted awkwardly; it fit him too tightly. He hadn’t bothered to get a fitting; his bank account with accrued wages may have been restored to him, but that didn’t mean he needed to spend more than he had too. A department store getup did him just fine, even if he did feel like his shoulders were straining to split the dang monkey suit in half.
Rogers blinked at a particularly bright flash and the grinning man behind it. He had been born and raised in a time of frugality, and had trouble reconciling that with all the waste and expenditure he saw around him in this day and age, so much flash and bang for so little substance. It was one of the reasons that Tony Stark had rubbed him the wrong way. One of the many reasons... Steve freely admitted that he had his own share of the blame for their unfortunate first meeting, Loki’s staff’s evil influence aside. Still, he had hoped that he could eventually get along with the son of the man he had so respected and cared for.
He looked up as he finally got the cue to move on to the building in front of him, while walking along the green carpet he couldn’t help his thoughts returning once more to Tony Stark. All Steve seemed to do was misjudge the man in the iron mask. Ha, see Stark, he could make references too! He had been writing him and the rest of the team since the battle, and all of them had been replying to him over the past few months, except Stark or Thor, but the alien, he outright refused to call the man a god, had traveled to a different world and pigeons could only fly so far. He still thought Clint’s recent letter that asked if he used carrier pigeons to deliver his letters was hilarious, he used the regular postal service of course, he had no idea where Clint had gotten that ridiculous idea from, they did have the United States Postal Service in the 40’s after all. Tony Stark on the other hand just flat-out ignored all his posts. He didn’t know if the guy had even read a one of his letters, which had become increasingly desperate as time passed. He had even considered mentioning the fellow’s complete lack of response to the other Avengers, but figured that would be disrespectful. A leader shouldn’t talk about his personal issues with a team member to the other members like that. Oddly enough, according to Clint Barton and Dr. Bruce Banner’s letters, they were currently living with Stark in that ugly tower of his, and apparently enjoying his hospitality.
Steve just plain did not understand that fella at all. First Stark sacrificed himself to save Manhattan, then they had had that disastrous debrief on the Helicarrier, then he shakes his hand like all is well, ignores three months worth of his letters, and gives the members of the team a place to come home to. Maybe the man was plum unstable. Geniuses often were, weren’t they? Surely he had heard that somewhere? Rogers entered the seating room and stopped to shake a passing celebrity’s hand, actively not crushing it in his enhanced grip.
Making sure the American public accepted the Initiative had taken up a lot of his time and energy. It was important that they weren’t seen as vigilantes, or misfits, but as heroes. He was the face of the team and fielded any questions the media and politicians had about the Avengers’ and their intentions. He had to admit that it seemed to be going well so far. The public wanted to accept them. They’d seen footage of what had struck Manhattan and people were frightened. They wanted to grasp at the hope that the Earth was defended from all the things that went bump in the night. They wanted to believe in heroes, and Steve, all he wanted was to give them heroes worth believing in.
>>><<<
The next morning found Rogers running along his usual route when he saw a familiar figure leaning against the entryway to the Lincoln Memorial as he was passing. He jogged up the white marble steps to meet SHIELD Director Nick Fury. The Director looked him over expressionlessly, his arms folded casually across his chest. “Sir?” Steve asked.
“Captain. You’re looking well.” Fury acknowledged, as his one eye stared disconcertingly at him.
“Thank you, Sir. Might I ask what you’re doing here?” Steve asked semi politely.
“Sightseeing.” Fury said with an upturn of his lips, gesturing to the monument behind him with a nod of his head.
“You don’t seem like much of a tourist to me, if you don’t mind my saying.” Steve said skeptically.
“Neither do you, yet that seems to be all you’ve been up to these days.” Fury said, uncrossing his arms and walking inside the memorial. Steve joined him.
“I wouldn’t say that’s all I’ve been ‘up’ to, I’ve also been handling all the press and politics for the Initiative, as you had asked me to. Sir.” Steve reminded him.
“I did, but that jobs done.” Fury admitted. “Now I have more important tasks in mind for you.” Fury said.
“More important that managing how the public views the Avengers?” Steve demanded.
“Yes.” Fury stated simply.
“And what could I do that could possibly be more important?” Steve asked.
“What you’re used to doing, what you are still needed for, saving the American people.” Fury asserted.
“We may be at war, Sir, but it’s not a war I agree with.” Steve said judiciously, his back military straight, and arms at parade rest behind him.
“I’m not talking about playing solider for the war on terror son, I’m talking about a different game entirely.”
“What game?” Steve questioned.
“I have a covert operations team that I want you to head. I need you to be useful again and you’re going to need the experience of running a mission in this day and age if you’re going to be of any use in leading the Avengers.” Fury said.
“I did well enough during the invasion.” Steve said.
“We both know you could have done better, besides we may need your expertise again before long.” Fury said.
“Know something I don’t, Sir?” Steve asked, his blue eyes worried.
“There are more dangerous things in this century than you could conceive of.” Fury said.
“Worse than aliens invading from holes in the skies above Manhattan?” Steve asked sardonically.
“Worse even than that.” Fury said seriously, his eye staring directly into Steve’s own.
“What kind of covert operations are we talking about?” Steve asked. Fury glanced around at the other visitors to the memorial.
“The covert kind. Admit it Captain, you miss it, the action, the excitement, you want to get back in the saddle more than anything don’t you?” Fury asked, assured. Rogers’ eyes strayed to the monument before them, his mouth a thin line. “Well, think it over and then meet me at the Triskelion, I’ll be waiting.” Fury said before turning abruptly, his coat swishing around him as he left. Steve gazed at the past president before him and wrestled with his thoughts.
>>><<<
(3.2m)abny
“Can you yet again explain why is it that you brave warriors spar with these soft gloves upon your hands?” Thor asked as he watched the two combatants meet once more in the middle of the bouncing ring to exchange blows.
“Because it’s boxing Thor, not sparring.” Bruce explained tiredly as he threw a well-aimed punch toward Tony’s head, which Tony ducked back from swiftly. Thor rested his head on top of his folded arms on the ring’s white floor. His bright eyes tracked their movements avidly.
“I do not understand this difference. I also can’t imagine why the Ogre should bother to spar in his puny form…” Thor trailed off, confused, gesturing at Bruce with one hand. Banner flinched minutely at his words. Tony froze, before turning a cold glare at the God.
“Don’t call him that! Shrek’s got nothing on the Hulk’s awesomeness!” Thor opened his mouth about to ask what a Shrek was when Tony continued angrily. “And don’t get me started on Banner, he’s the least puny guy in this room! In fact he’s the most… unpuny guy, like ever!” Tony snarled while moving over to lean over Thor. Bruce smiled to himself, embarrassed. Tony turned around to smile at Bruce. Managing to convey that he meant every word. Thor raised a hand in the air pacifyingly.
“Peace Anthony. It was not my intention to fight with you.” He then faced Banner and bowed his head. “My apologies Dr. Banner for any insult, for none was intended, but are you two friends not fighting one another in order to train your bodies for battle?” Thor asked again, perplexed. Tony and Bruce both twitched at the word, friends. Then they looked back up at each other with similar expressions on their faces. Barton diverted Thor’s attention by breaking in.
“Its more of a sport, a kind of game, don’t you have sports on Asgard? Like I don’t know, Quidditch?” Clint asked from his position in the far corner of the room, sipping a bottle of cream soda as he watched his teammates throw punches at each other.
“I do not know about this Quidditch, but we do indeed have some frivolous competitions on my old home.” Thor said thoughtfully as he once again regarded the ring. Bruce and Tony had both energetically returned to the fight. Bruce managed to throw a quick combination of hits at Tony, one getting past his guard and connecting with his right shoulder. Bruce smiled apologetically, while Tony looked momentarily surprised and then gleeful. “Yet this still seems much like sparring to me friend Hawk, and with these soft paddings on their fists I fail to see how one would learn.” Thor continued as he shook his head stubbornly. “Even a child should be willing to be harmed in training, otherwise they would never be properly prepared for the dangers of true battle.” Thor asserted passionately. Tony looked heavenward for a moment as he backed away once more from Bruce and his concerted roundhouses, keeping his arms up in front of his face as he stayed on the defensive.
“I’m so fucking thankful I didn’t grow up on Asgard.” Tony said as Clint rolled his eyes. “It’s fun, Goldilocks, like Disney Land fun when you’re high on poptarts, and decidedly not training which is like the opposite of fun, like boardroom meetings, which are ick.” Tony proclaimed. Thor’s nose wrinkled adorably at the word poptarts.
“Poptarts! Where are these Migardian delicacies that you have promised to me, friend Anthony?” Thor demanded, wide-eyed with innocence.
“They are several jumbo boxes currently buried in Hawkeye’s cupboards-” Tony began. Hawkeye frowned.
“Hey! My cupboards, my poptarts!” Clint cried.
“-my easily distracted HeMan.” Tony continued unperturbed. “And for the last and final and absolutely the last time, my name’s Tony! Not Anthony, not Antonio, not Man of Iron, not T-I-double Ga-Er, not Jackie, cause that would be weird, but Tony! It’s not hard! It’s two syllables for Thor’s sake!” Tony yelled comically annoyed.
“My apologies once again friend Tony.” Thor said contritely. Stark glared at the God for good measure, before throwing an elbow out at Bruce who barely managed to dodge to the left in time. Tony used his footwork to press Banner around the ring
“Oy Brucie! Put some more oomph into it!” Tony breathed out, huffing.
“Yeah Brucie, what he said!” Clint called out mockingly. Tony’s head snapped around.
“Hey! I call foul, total and complete foul, only I get to call Bruce, Brucie!” Tony said.
“And I call foul on you teaching Banner to box, that is in no way boxing.” Clint said, his eyes narrowed. Bruce looked across to him.
“It isn’t?” He asked curiously. Tony rubbed the back of his neck with a glove.
“Ehhhh. It’s mostly boxing, kinda boxing, flair boxing for geniuses only, which is why the Big Guy and I can do it and you can’t Feathers.” Tony prevaricated, winking mischievously at Bruce as he called to Clint.
“It’s called mixed martial arts, and that kind of dirty boxing would get you banned from any ring.” Barton said, disapprovingly.
“Well my way of doing things is totally less boring.” Tony stated. Banner had paused their fighting to have some of his iced green tea and considered the contents contemplatively.
“Is it possible…” Bruce trailed off. Tony cocked his head.
“Is what possible Jolly Rancher?” Bruce straightened his shoulders.
“Have-Have you been teaching me all this on purpose?” Bruce asked lowly. Tony shrugged easily.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Bucklebear, why do these strange words leave your mouth?” Tony asked with a grin. Realization dawned in Bruce’s eyes.
“You have, haven’t you? You want me to learn to defend myself without needing the Hul- the Other Guy.” Bruce said.
“Look, I just wanted to have a boxing partner, no ulterior motives here, none at all.” Tony took out his Starkphone and swiped through the news feeds until an alert popped up. “Oh look a bank robbery in progress, and on a Thursday no less, won’t those dastardly evil villains ever learn?” Tony tisked loudly, shaking his head mockingly. Thor frowned before his eyes began gleaming with righteous anger.
“These criminals dare defile my most sacred day? Let us go and teach the cretins the error of their wicked ways!” Thor yelled, his hammer zooming in through a doorway and slamming into his hand. Barton clasped a hand to his forehead and dragged it down his face.
“Not again. I fucking hate Thursday’s.” Clint groaned. “Thank you so much for this Tony.” Clint said sarcastically as he got out his bow and quiver. Stark blissfully ignored the archer before clapping his hands once and running off to fetch his suit. Bruce climbed over the rope confidently and pulled off his gloves.
“Fine Tony, have it your way, but this isn’t over.” Bruce said calmly. Tony stopped and shrugged by the doorway, before saying back over his shoulder with a million watt smile.
“When is it ever?”
>>><<<
“Well the Other Guy is not going to be needed for a simple bank robbery is he?” Bruce’s voice sounded over the com. He rode on the back of a tricked out tron motorcycle with Hawkeye, which was totally street legal. Thor had almost arrived via spinning hammer and Tony was the first to appear on the scene. Luckily Tony had just completed a lightening proofed communicator for Thor as the god’s voice came on the line.
“Then why are you here Dr. Banner?” Thor asked, genuinely curious.
“Moral support.” Bruce replied simply. Tony laughed and then cut short as he caught sight of the criminals. Six teenagers ran from the First National Bank. Four large stuffed duffle bags floated behind them in a large, pink, see through bubble. The teens broke past the surrounding patrol cars and cops. One teen jumping higher than should have been possible over a parking meter and two cars, while another scattered blood from a cut on his arm, which turned into red bullets that streaked at the cars the police ducked behind. All six of the teens then headed for a tree-covered park across the street. Tony Stark radioed the others what he had just observed over his com as he flew unseen over the robber’s heads.
“So mutants then?” Barton asked conversationally.
“Looks like.” Tony agreed.
“What are these so called mutants?” Thor asked arriving to hover beside the Iron Man armor.
“You’ll see soon enough.” Bruce sighed out.
“They’re like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” Barton explained as he and Banner arrived at the park.
“They seem to be fairly young.” Thor commented while looking down at them. Tony pointed out various locations.
“Just keep your eyes open. Hawkeye get high, and that’s not a pun, Thor you confront them in the north and intimidate the fuckers, oh and try to lay off the lightening until we know what we’re dealing with here, they’re just kids after all. I’ll cut them off from the west. And Bruce stay where you are unless we need you.” Tony ordered. The team went off in the various directions he had indicated.
“Don’t need me.” Bruce insisted as he waited beside the cycle on the curb.
“Don’t worry Bruce, it’ll be fine, we’ll wrap these kids up in no time.” Clint said confidently.
“And be home in time for celebratory Shawarma!” Tony added.
“Why is it always Shawarma with this guy?” Clint muttered to himself.
>>><<<
Less than half an hour later, the clearing in the middle of the park was shrouded in an impenetrable thick mist on a sunlit day. The mutant jumper was draped across a tree limb unconscious while the blood-using mutant was knocked out on the grass beneath him. Iron Man struggled face down on the ground, covered with tree roots and vines that were steadily pulling him into the earth. Thor smashed his hammer ineffectually against the inside of a shrinking pink bubble that he was trapped in, while Hawkeye was bodily wrapped in a long grey tongue and being pounded repeatedly against a tree, by a green colored spotty teen. “Get-” Hawkeye yelled between slams. “The damned-” Barton breathed out painfully. “Hulk!” Hawkeye’s com unit had fallen out of his ear after the first hit he had taken.
“Bruce, man, looks like we’re going to need you after all, like now.” Tony said urgently over his own com as JARVIS listed the flashing stats on the HUD. He could feel the wooden limbs tightening around him even through the armor as he thrashed, trying to pull away. The softer more malleable material of his newest suit began buckling under the intense pressure pressing in on him.
“You dare impede the mighty Thor!” Thor bellowed indignantly as he summoned lightening from the cloudless sky to strike his floating bubble from the outside, popping it and coincidentally burning off the surrounding mist for the moment.
“Uh, looks like help is on the way.” Bruce replied tentatively.
“What kind of-” Hawkeye asked while still receiving a pounding. “Ow.” Clint grated out. “-Help?”
“Hey, uh, Thor, buddy, mind setting us free here? If you’re not to busy that is?” Iron Man’s mechanical sarcastic voice sounded from his trapped suit. Thor fought recklessly against the bubble-wielding mutant, his face set in a rage-induced mask, deaf to all but the advisory in front of him. Barton was tossed aside by the Toad mutant to land bonelessly a few yards away. Tony was beginning to contemplate having JARVIS attempt to use the missiles on his back to blow his way out of the entangling limbs, when three more people entered the clearing where the blinding fog was once again appearing.
“Avenger’s huh? Pathetic.” Wolverine said as he looked over the hard-pressed heroes amidst the reaching tendrils of mist. Logan’s claws lengthened as he loped into the fray with mutants Storm and Cyclops following close behind him.
With the X-Men joining them, the heroes quickly put the rest of the young mutants out of action. The six would be thieves lay unconscious, tied together in the middle of the glade. The X-Men walked over to the recovering Avengers. Hawkeye leaned against a tree, his head tilted up as he pinched the bridge of his nose to stop the blood flow. Thor still looked around heatedly for more villains to oppose him. Tony unraveled a root from around his neck as he checked the stability of his armor and its flight capabilities. Cyclops strode over to him, his shades flashing.
“Mutants are our responsibility, not yours Stark.” Scott Summers rebuked as he shoved a finger hard at Iron Man’s chest. Stark brushed him off with a flick of his hand.
“A crime’s a crime, doesn’t matter who did the deed or who stopped the bad guy, cause if it did that would be racism wouldn’t it, are you a racist Mr. Cyclops?” Iron Man asked mock-innocently.
“That’s not the point and you know it, Stark!” Scott snarled. Storm breathed a put upon sigh, ready to intervene between the two when Clint spoke up suddenly.
“Fhen where were fhe X-Men thirfy minutes ago when fhe bank was being robbed?” Hawkeye stuttered out defensively through his broken nose.
“None of your business, Nosy.” Wolverine sneered. He suddenly moved over to join Cyclops by Iron Man’s armor and sniffed. “You smell…off.” Logan said. Iron Man snorted.
“Uh…I’m past my sell by date.” Tony said moving back from Wolverine while trying to wipe some of the blood from his encounter with the blood-using mutant off of him. Thor, finally calmed from his berserker rage, moved next to Storm and bowed.
“Your talent’s compliment mine own, my lady.” Thor said. Storm smiled slightly.
“Thank you. Please leave the rest of the cleanup to us, and thank you for your assistance while we were otherwise occupied.” She said reasonably.
“You’re welcome, and for what it’s worth, thanks for saving our collective asses.” Tony said, swallowing his pride.
“You’ll be sending fhem to fhe Big House fhen?” Clint asked painfully, gesturing toward the unconscious mutants.
“They’re just kids.” Cyclops said.
“Powerful kids who hurt people.” Clint retorted.
“But still kids, bub. We take care of our own.” Logan said, his eyes flashing dangerously.
“Yeaaah, well, that’s our cue, we’ll be off, see you around and all.” Tony said waving his arm and defusing the tension. The teams nodded stiffly to each other and went their separate ways, the Avengers leaving the teens in the X-Men’s capable hands. Iron Man helped Hawkeye as they stumbled from the clearing. They met Bruce at the edge of the park, waiting awkwardly by the cycle.
“Fhat…was awful.” Clint choked out.
“Yeah, yeah it was.” Tony agreed.
“I do not like going up against these mutants, but I think we would have had an easier time if the Captain had been with us.” Thor said, his ancient eyes weighing Stark. Tony avoided his gaze, saying nothing as they both flew off to the tower, Clint and Banner silently riding home on the cycle.
“Fhanks for nofhing Banner.” Clint said, his eyes trying to glare holes in Bruce’s back after they had all arrived at the entrance.
“The Other Guy wouldn’t have been much use against kids, unless you wanted them and the entire park torn into bloody pieces.” Bruce insisted, leaving the cycle in Stark’s personal valet’s hands as they all entered together.
“I think you underestimate your other half green giant. I have seen much nobility in your other self. You shouldn’t deny it so.” Thor said. Bruce looked aside uncomfortably. Tony kept remarkably silent.
>>><<<
“I’ll be in fhe med bay” Clint said after they had finally arrived at Avenger Tower, before heading to the 80th floor to fix himself up. “Fucking Fhursdays.” He muttered to himself angrily as he staggered out of the elevator. The other two worn Superheroes plus a guilt-ridden Dr. Banner arrived on the common Avenger floor to have some dinner, which had become their usual routine. The elevator slid open and revealed two pretty women standing in the hallway before them.
“My lady Jane, you came!” Thor yelled happily surprised, before running to sweep the taller woman into his arms. Jane Foster’s voice came out slightly muffled against the God’s massive chest.
“I couldn’t resist an invitation to the fabled Avenger tower-” Jane began.
“Besides London was getting boring.” A young woman cut in. “Ah man, you’re Tony Stark!” She finished ecstatically.
“I know.” Tony said, turning on the charm. The woman appeared to be almost jumping up and down from excitement.
“I know you know, of course you know. I can’t believe I’m finally meeting you!” She gushed. Jane Foster stepped forward, embarrassed.
“This is Darcy Lewis my erstwhile protégé.” Jane said.
“Ms. Lewis.” Tony said politely while holding out a hand for her to shake.
“Please call me Darcy, your work on nanonucleartechnology is unparalleled awesomeness, and I’m a huge fan of the way you built a tin can out of a box of scraps and now fight super villains.” Tony was speechless for once as he shook the young woman’s hand. Bruce Banner burst out laughing.
“Hey don’t laugh.” Tony said indignantly.
“I-” Bruce held his stomach as he almost cried as he laughed. “I just can’t help it, doesn’t she sound familiar?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Bruciebear.” Tony said straight-faced. Overall, today had been a sterling day for Banner’s win pile. He’d almost gotten Banner to call Hulk by his actual name, improved Bruce’s self-defense and self-confidence, while also getting the guy more used to physical contact. But best of all, even after having that disastrous encounter in the park, Bruce was still able to laugh like that, and that…that was priceless. It was too bad that Tony himself was a complete and utter failure. Nothing had changed on that score. He’d almost gotten the team killed, and they hadn’t even been facing an immense alien invasion, it had only been a couple of kid mutants. They really needed Captain America, and they needed him yesterday. Because he wasn’t sure how long he could hold this team together on his own, and their time was only getting shorter.