Chapter 1
The Avengers.
You've heard it once. You've heard it a thousand times.
There came a day unlike any other... well in this case that line really hit the nail on the head. This truly was a day unlike any other. Why? Because today, Steve Rogers was outside of Tony Starks workshop waiting to gain entrance. Not that he really needed it. The man was America's Super cop. It just doesn't have the same ring, Tony thought to himself as he granted him access.
He walked in with authority, glancing around like a state inspector looking for faulty wiring.
Speaking of faulty wiring, Tony's brain was short circuiting.
Steve Rogers did not simply pop by his workshop. Not anymore. Not after everything that happened.
"Steve."
"Tony."
Silence stretched between them, only fueling Tony's anxiety. He felt Steve studying him, and given his current state, that was a very unwelcome thing. He'd been working like a dog all day- who are we kidding- all week, and he was tired, so tired he knew it must be visibly so, and his attire of baggy old sweatpants and a ratty tank top weren't helping.
Tony had pictured this moment, the moment when Steve and he would inevitably be alone together in a room again... this was certainly not how he had imaged it.
Of course Steve looked great. Steve always looked great. Not a hair out of place on his patriotic head... though that same head was vehemently against his precious country not to long ago.
Sure forgive America and blame it all on me why don't ya. It will always be me. I'll always be the villain in your story. Fine. I can live with it. I always do.
"Are you even listening?" Steve was looking at Tony with a face he couldn't quite place. Constipation?
"Huh?"
Steve sighed. "I've been tasked by the president to put together a team" Tony eyebrows raised. "I am putting the Avengers back together and I want you on it." And then shot up into the sky.
"I- what?" Tony looked around as if he were missing something, because clearly he must be. Cameras, for instance. "You're joking."
"I'm not."
"... Steve you- I don't have to be on the team."
"Of course you don't have to. But it's the Avengers. I thought you'd want to."
"You thought I'd want to? You Steve Rogers, were tasked with putting together a fresh roaster of the Avengers, and you thought us on the same team would be a good idea? No- Steve that- it won't work, we don't agree on just about anything anymore."
Steve hands went to his hips in that defensive scolding grandad way that used to bring a smile to Tonys face. "That's not entirely true."
"See! We don't even agree about that." Tony said throwing his hands in the air, before sighing a pinching the bridge of his nose. "I can do something else."
"I want you on this team. Besides, it's your house." he said gesturing to the building.
It had been hauntingly empty since the last Avengers team disbanded. It would be nice to have people around again... but preferably ones that don't hate Tony's guts. The civil war had divided the super hero community, but no two hero's more than Captain America and Iron Man. And while everyone else had seemed to be able to let bygones be, these two men had only just managed to get back to a level of indifferent peace.
It didn't make sense to Tony. Why was it the worst between him and Steve? They were not the only good friends on opposing sides, heck, Reed and Sue managed to be on opposing sides and even they made up! Tony was okay with all the other avengers, even Clint... and man could he hold a grudge. Steve was okay with everyone else who opposed him, even Carol who was right there with him the whole way!
... who was he kidding. Deep down he knew why Steve wouldn't forgive him, couldn't even, and that's because Steve knew what Tony knew. That it was all his fault. Steve hated him for the war as much as Tony hated himself.
"We'll kill each other."
"No. We'll be fine. I'm not running the team."
"You're not?"
"I have an entire country to worry about."
Been there. Done that.
"Who is going to run the team?"
"Best person for the job."
"Me?"
"No...Ha. No. Maria Hill."
"...I'm okay with that."