Chapter 1
Chapter One: The Siberian Revelation
The cold Siberian wind howled outside the bunker, a stark contrast to the heated tension within. Clint Barton, ever the reliable backup, moved stealthily through the dimly lit corridors, his senses on high alert. He had been Tony's shadow since the fallout, determined to protect him from any further harm.
As Clint approached the central chamber, he heard the faint sounds of labored breathing and the unmistakable hum of Tony's arc reactor. His heart raced as he quickened his pace, fearing the worst. Bursting into the room, he was met with a sight that made his blood run cold.
Tony Stark lay on the ground, his suit battered and his chestplate cracked. The telltale imprint of Captain America's shield was etched into the metal, a brutal reminder of the recent confrontation. Clint's eyes widened in horror as he realized the extent of Steve Rogers' betrayal.
"Tony!" Clint rushed to his friend's side, his hands trembling as he assessed the damage. "What the hell happened?"
Tony's eyes fluttered open, pain and exhaustion evident in his gaze. "Rogers... he tried to kill me," he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "He slammed his shield into my chest... thought he was doing the right thing."
Clint's jaw clenched in anger, his mind racing with thoughts of retribution. "That bastard," he muttered, his voice laced with venom. "He won't get away with this, Tony. I promise you that."
As Clint helped Tony to his feet, he couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal that gnawed at his core. The man they had once called a friend had crossed a line, and there was no turning back. The team would have to rally together to protect Tony from Steve's delusions, and Clint was determined to lead the charge.
"Sam told me to come alone and as a friend. Clint, if I die..." Tony's voice trailed off, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination.
Clint tightened his grip on Tony's arm, his resolve unwavering. "You're not going to die, Tony. Not on my watch. We'll get through this together."
"No, Clint, listen to me... please tell Izzy, my baby girl, I love her so much... tell her I'm sorry I tried to be..." Tony coughed up blood, his voice growing weaker. "A better father to her than Howard was to me... might as well tell you, birdbrain... I've had a major crush on you since New York..."
Clint's heart ached at Tony's words, a mixture of sorrow and unexpected warmth flooding his chest. "Tony, you don't have to say goodbye. We're getting out of here, and you're going to tell Izzy yourself. And as for the crush... we'll talk about that when you're better."
Tony closed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. Clint's panic surged as he scooped Tony into his arms, carrying him with urgency towards the waiting helicopter. The cold air bit at his skin, but he pushed forward, determined to save his friend.
Part Two Natasha POV
Natasha Romanoff's fingers flew over the controls as she prepared the medbay for Tony's arrival. Her heart pounded with a mixture of fear and determination. She had seen Tony in dire situations before, but this felt different. The betrayal by Steve Rogers had shaken the team to its core, and now they were fighting to save one of their own.
"Clint, I've got the medbay ready," Natasha's voice crackled over the radio. "Initiating Protocol Last Chance... Extremis. Just get him here, and we'll do the rest."
Clint's voice came through, strained but resolute. "We're on our way. Hang in there, Nat."
Natasha took a deep breath, her mind racing with thoughts of the Extremis protocol. It was a last-ditch effort, a risky procedure that could either save Tony's life or end it. But they had no other choice. Tony's injuries were severe, and time was running out.
As the helicopter approached, Natasha steeled herself for what was to come. She would do whatever it took to save Tony, even if it meant pushing the boundaries of science and medicine. The team needed him, and she wasn't about to let him go without a fight.
The helicopter touched down, and Clint emerged, carrying Tony's limp form. Natasha's heart clenched at the sight, but she pushed her emotions aside, focusing on the task at hand.
"Let's move, people!" Natasha barked, her voice commanding and unwavering. "We've got a life to save."
Part 3 The fight in the bunker
Clint paced the medbay, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. Tony was stable for now, but the sight of his friend lying unconscious on the medical table fueled Clint's fury. He couldn't shake the image of Steve's shield embedded in Tony's chestplate.
Natasha approached, a tablet in hand. "Clint, you need to see this," she said, her voice somber.
Clint took the tablet, his eyes narrowing as he watched the footage from the Siberian bunker. The video showed the brutal fight between Tony and Steve, culminating in the moment Steve slammed his shield into Tony's chest. Clint's hands trembled with rage as he relived the betrayal.
"That son of a..." Clint's voice trailed off, his anger boiling over. "He tried to kill him, Nat. He actually tried to kill him."
Natasha placed a hand on Clint's shoulder, her expression resolute. "We won't let him get away with this. We'll protect Tony, no matter what."
Clint nodded, his fury giving way to determination. "You're right. We'll make sure Steve pays for what he's done. And we'll keep Tony safe."
As Clint and Natasha prepared for the next steps, the team rallied around them, united in their mission to protect Tony and bring Steve to justice. The battle was far from over, but Clint was ready to fight with everything he had.
Part 4
Natasha's fingers flew over the controls as she continued to review the footage from the Siberian bunker. Her heart sank as she stumbled upon another video file, one that had been hidden deep within the system. With a sense of dread, she opened the file and watched in horror as the events unfolded.
The grainy footage showed a dark road, illuminated only by the headlights of a car. Natasha's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the vehicle—it was the Starks' car. The camera angle shifted, revealing the Winter Soldier lurking in the shadows, his expression cold and unfeeling.
As the car approached, the Winter Soldier sprang into action, brutally attacking the vehicle and its occupants. Natasha's eyes filled with tears as she watched Howard and Maria Stark's final moments, their lives cut short by the assassin's merciless hands.
Clint noticed Natasha's distress and hurried to her side. "What is it, Nat?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Natasha handed him the tablet, her voice trembling. "It's the Winter Soldier... he murdered Howard and Maria Stark."
Clint's eyes widened in shock as he watched the footage, his fury reaching a boiling point. "That bastard," he growled, his voice filled with venom. "Steve knew about this, didn't he? He knew and he still tried to protect him."
Natasha nodded, her expression grim. "We need to show this to Tony. He deserves to know the truth."
Clint's resolve hardened as he looked at the unconscious form of his friend. "We'll make sure he knows, Nat. And we'll make sure Steve pays for what he's done."
Natasha put her head in her hands, the weight of the revelation crashing down on her. She recalled the moment Steve had lied to Tony, the betrayal cutting deeper than any physical wound. In a fit of rage, she smashed the mirror in front of her, the shards reflecting her anguish and fury.
"We trusted him," Natasha whispered, her voice breaking. "How could he do this to Tony? To all of us?"
Clint placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll get through this, Nat. Together. And we'll make sure Tony knows he's not alone."
Part 5
The Truth Revealed
Tony's eyes were frozen in shock as he watched the footage on the tablet. "I know that road," he whispered, his voice trembling. "December 16th, 1991."
Zemo's smirk was cold and calculating. "Ahh... yes, the tragic night that you lost your parents. This is not personal, Dr. Stark. I felt you deserved the truth."
Tony's heart pounded in his chest as he watched in horror. The footage showed the Winter Soldier, Hydra's weapon, brutally bashing his father's head open. His mother, Maria, had her throat crushed by the man standing not a meter away. Barnes had escaped his new "handler" Rogers and decided to throw himself at Tony Starks mercy.
"I'm so sorry," Barnes said, his voice choked with emotion.
Tony's mind raced, the weight of the revelation crashing down on him. The betrayal, the lies, the pain—it was all too much to bear. He felt a mixture of rage and sorrow, his emotions swirling in a tempest of confusion.
Clint stepped forward, his expression resolute. "Tony, we're here for you. We'll get through this together."
Tony's eyes filled with tears as he looked at his friends, the people who had stood by him through thick and thin. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Thank you for being here."
Part 6 Night Terrors
Tony's sleep was restless, plagued by night terrors that left him drenched in sweat. The images of his parents' murder replayed in his mind, a never-ending loop of horror and pain. He tossed and turned, his subconscious unable to escape the torment.
In his dream, Tony found himself standing in the same dark road from the footage. The Winter Soldier loomed before him, his expression cold and unfeeling. Tony's heart raced as he confronted the man who had taken everything from him.
"Did you know?" Tony's voice trembled with anger and sorrow. "Did you know what you were doing?"
The Winter Soldier's face remained impassive, but Tony could see the flicker of regret in his eyes. "I was a weapon," he replied, his voice hollow. "I had no control."
Tony's rage boiled over, his fists clenched at his sides. "You took my parents from me. You destroyed my life."
The Winter Soldier stepped closer, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm sorry, Tony. I never wanted this."
Tony's vision blurred with tears as he struggled to process the conflicting emotions. The man before him was both his parents' murderer and a victim of Hydra's manipulation. The lines between enemy and ally blurred, leaving Tony in a state of turmoil.
As the dream continued, Tony's surroundings shifted, and he found himself face-to-face with Steve Rogers. The betrayal cut deep, and Tony's anger surged once more.
"Did you know?" Tony's voice was a mixture of fury and heartbreak. "Did you know what he did?"
Steve's expression was one of sorrow and regret. "I knew, Tony. And I'm sorry."
Tony's heart shattered as he confronted the man he had once called a friend. The weight of the truth was almost too much to bear, and he felt himself sinking into the darkness.
Steve's face twisted with a mix of determination and desperation. He raised his shield, aiming it at Tony's neck. "I have to stop you from destroying the world," Steve said softly, his voice a chilling contrast to his actions.
Tony woke up screaming, his body drenched in sweat and his heart pounding in his chest. The nightmare had felt all too real, and the fear lingered even as he tried to shake off the remnants of sleep.
Clint rushed to Tony's side, his expression filled with concern. "Tony, it's okay. You're safe. It was just a nightmare."
Tony's breathing was ragged as he tried to calm himself. "It felt so real, Clint. Steve... he tried to kill me."
Clint placed a reassuring hand on Tony's shoulder. "We're here for you, Tony. We'll protect you. Steve won't hurt you again."
Tony nodded, his mind still reeling from the nightmare. The road to recovery would be long and difficult, but with his friends by his side, he knew he could face whatever challenges lay ahead.
"Stay with me," Tony choked out, his voice filled with desperation.
Clint finally gave in to his own feelings of deep affection. He toed off his boots and combat pants, leaving his boxer shorts and tee on. He pulled Tony to him, running his fingers through Tony's hair and kissing his forehead. "Tones, try to sleep," Clint whispered softly.
Tony's breathing began to steady as he felt the warmth and comfort of Clint's embrace. For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope and safety. With Clint by his side, he knew he could face the nightmares and the challenges ahead.