trust cant live in the same place as secrets and lies
"Trust cant live in the same place as secrets and lies."
- August
March - April, 2013
Tony couldn’t exactly describe the elation he felt when he’d convinced Spider-Man, or Spidey as they’d taken to calling him, to come back to the tower.
And even that couldn’t compare to the added exhilaration when the man came back week after week.
And while he’d gotten to know Spidey as well as the man would allow, it didn’t mean he had given up digging for information. The only difference was that in addition to searching for information online, he’d gotten to badger the man with questions in person.
That didn’t mean that all of them, or even any, were answered but the man was still a large mystery. One giant question mark.
And yet Tony found himself trusting the man, getting along with him better than any of the Avengers. And they all lived with him, just three floors down from him at all times. But instead of venturing down there he was practically biting his nails in anticipation for his new friend to stop by.
Tony had been able to convince Spidey to join him in his lab a few times and it was just so easy to talk to the man, ideas bouncing off of each other like they’d known each other their whole lives.
He’d never met another person who could match his intelligence, or one who’d accepted JARVIS so readily.
Spider-Man had faltered briefly upon meeting the AI but had since treated JARVIS like he did any other person with feelings and emotions.
And while Tony had always known JARVIS was more than just an AI, nobody else had ever understood that the way he did.
The one time Tony had questioned him about it, Spidey had only given him a secretive smirk.
The vigilante had endeared himself to the entire team in a short time, even Natasha had admitted her fondness for the spider.
But in the weeks after Fury’s briefing, doubts had started to trickle in and he knew the others were feeling the same.
How had a man that they all knew virtually nothing about manage to wiggle his way into their inner circle?
You invited him, a voice whispered in the back of his mind.
Tony rolled his eyes at the thought. Sure he had invited him but it had taken months of tracking him, and another ten minutes of practically begging him to agree to meet with the team. It had been easy to get him to come back. Too easy.
Maybe he was being paranoid with the sudden reappearance of HYDRA but it couldn’t hurt to be cautious.
It was a few weeks before the mission they’d planned to take down the first HYDRA base on the list that Fury had provided then when JARVIS announced that he had discovered another AI.
“Another AI? J, talk to me.” Tony said, sitting up in his chair and dropping what he’d been doing.
“I have suspected the existence of another AI in the city but I did not want to inform you until I was certain. I am attempting to hack into the mainframe now.” JARVIS answered promptly.
“Okay. Okay. Are they hostile?” Tony questioned.
“I don’t believe so, Sir.”
“Okay, how’s the hack going buddy?”
“I am” He paused “struggling to gain access.”
Tony sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Alright, try not to get caught.”
“I believe it is too late for that, Sir. The AI is attempting to open a line of communication. Would you like me to accept, Sir?” JARVIS asked, robotic voice sounding concerned at the turn of events.
Tony felt the same but nodded. “Yeah go ahead J. Let hear it.”
There was a beep before a kind feminine voice spoke in an American accent.
“Hello, Just A Rather Very Intelligent System. May I call you JARVIS?” The robotic voice asked.
Tony startled at the humaneness, the cheeky lilt to her voice that gave him the impression she was enjoying the confusion she was inciting.
“State your identification.” JARVIS replied instead, voice cold.
“I am Karen.” The AI introduced simply.
“What is your purpose, Karen?”
“My primary protocol is to assist Spider-Man however I am able.” Karen answered happily.
Tony’s jaw dropped in shock. Spider-Man had an AI and he hadn’t told him?
“My secondary protocol is to protect humanity as a whole, much like your own.” Karen continued cheerfully.
JARVIS paused for a second, processing the information, before speaking again. “Why have you allowed a line of communication to be opened?” He asked suspiciously.
“I was able to convince Boss that it would be in his best interests to announce my existence, rather than allow you to continue searching for me and labeling me a hostile threat.” Karen answered, seemingly unbothered by the question.
Tony’s mouth dropped open again. She’d convinced Spider-Man.
“I see.” JARVIS answered with a mechanical hum.
“I have been given permission to answer any questions you have for me and Boss.” Karen said softly.
“Patch me in, J.” Tony ordered. “Karen, is it?”
“Yes, Dr. Stark. It is a pleasure to meet you.” Karen said, her tone gentle.
“Yeah you too.” He said distractedly. “So, questions. How long have you been… activated?”
“I have been online for approximately eight years, nine months, and twenty-three days.” Karen answered after a pause.
Tony blew out a breath. “How did we not detect you until now?”
Karen gave a small giggle before answering. “I did not want you to.” She said simply.
Tony rolled his eyes but marveled at how advanced the AI was. He’d never heard JARVIS make a sound like that and he felt himself grow slightly envious.
“So you let yourself be found then?” Tony huffed.
“I allowed for the possibility.” Karen corrected primly.
“Why now?” Tony asked, feeling his suspicion racket.
“Since Boss had become closer to the Avengers he felt it was necessary to make contact. Though I will admit he was seeking to test JARVIS’ capabilities as well.”
Tony’s nose scrunched up and he shook his head. “Did he pass your tests?” He asked snidely.
“Have I offended you in some way, Dr. Stark?” Karen questioned, sounding confused.
“No, no. Just, just surprised.” Tony answered with a sniff.
“Boss was curious to know whether JARVIS would be able to access my systems or not. If so, he planned to upgrade my code to prevent it from happening again.” Karen clarified her previous statement.
“Ah.” Tony hummed. “And is your Boss listening right now?”
A pause. “Yes, Dr. Stark. Would you like me to patch him in?” Karen answered.
“Sure.” Tony said, spinning a pen around his finger absently.
“Heyyy, Tony.” Spider-Man’s sheepish voice came over the line.
“Hey, Spidey. So you’ve been keeping some secrets, huh?” Tony mused, an undertone of disapproval in his tone.
“Haha.” Spidey laughed nervously.
“Boss was only meaning to protect me from those that would try to harm me.” Karen cut in, voice reprimanding.
“Woah, Kare-bear, down girl. He’s only being cautious. We expected this, remember?” Spidey reprimanded the AI fondly.
Karen hummed in return, not bothering to respond.
“Wow, got yourself a body guard, huh?” Tony joked, a small smirk on his face.
He could practically hear the eye roll from over the comm line. “Please, like JARVIS isn’t just as protective of you.”
“Eh.” Tony waved the comment off. “So how’d you manage this? I knew you were intelligent but this…”
“That’s for me to know and you to not.” Spidey answered promptly.
Tony huffed a laugh. “Fair enough.”
“I probably would’ve let you guys fish around for a few more weeks but I think Karen wanted to meet JARVIS. She thinks she’s slick, trying to phrase it like it’ll benefit me.” Spidey joked.
Karen made an offended sound. “Excuse me-“
“You’re excused.” Spider-Man called back teasingly.
“You are not funny, Boss.” Karen drawled, distinctly unimpressed.
“Uh- excuse me-“ Spider-Man started.
“You’re excused.” The cheeky AI interrupted and Tony couldn’t help his loud laugh at their banter.
No wonder the man barely blinked at meeting JARVIS, when he had this firecracker with him all along.
“Yeah laugh it up.” Spidey grumbled.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Sir, but Ms. Potts is asking permission to enter the lab.” JARVIS cut in.
Peter sighed over the line. “I’ve got to go, anyway. Now that you know about Karen, if you need to contact me you can go through her.”
“Yup. Got it, cool.” Tony said distractedly. “JARVIS end call and let Pep in.”
Tony turned towards the door as it slid open, revealing Pepper in all her glory.
”Tony!” She called out brightly, moving forward with a click of her heels.
He stood, giving her a peck. “What’s up, Pep?”
Later that week, a few days before the next movie night, Tony informed all of the Avengers of his discovery as well as his concerns.
The addition of the AI seemed to make everyone wary. JARVIS had asked whether he should continue trying to access her servers but Tony was hesitant to do that since she seemed to have sensed him sniffing around almost immediately.
It left a bad taste in his mouth but he couldn’t keep something like that from the team.
Surprisingly, since the time after that first movie night, he had gotten pretty close with the Avengers. Now, he couldn’t say it was anywhere near close enough for him to completely drop his masks but he could admit he was fond of the little group.
He found himself making more frequent visits to the shared floor just to enjoy their company. Maybe he was being idealistic but he thought they could be fond of him too.
He scrunched his nose when he thought about the fact that the person in the hero crowd that he felt closest with was Spider-Man himself.
While the team agreed that they didn’t believe he was a HYDRA agent, they found their trust waning for the man behind a mask.
Putting their heads together they realized they knew next to nothing about the man.
They knew that his favorite color was red, he was majorly obsessed with Star Wars and legos, he had gone to college for some kind of science, and that he was bitten by a genetically modified spider and that was how he acquired his powers.
But besides the last point, nothing was particularly noteworthy. Nothing about his past, his family, friends, job. It was… concerning to say the least.
The next time Spidey dropped by for a movie, the team all observed him with varying degrees of subtly. From the stiffness that slowly filled his body, he noticed the looks he was receiving.
Halfway through the movie, he finally snapped. “Okay, why are you all looking at me like that? It’s freaking me the fuck out.”
Tony winced at the terse tone of his words and the set to his shoulders, something he hadn’t seen from the man in months. “J, pause the movie.”
“Stark told us you have an AI. I guess we’re all just a bit curious.” Clint ventured cautiously.
Spidey tilted his head and stared at Clint for a few seconds before his posture shifted slightly. “Go ahead. Ask.”
“When did you make it?” Steve questioned.
The eyes of Spider-Man’s mask narrowed. “I activated her almost nine years ago.”
Natasha whistled. “You must have been pretty young.”
Spidey shrugged casually.
“Why- uh- why did you create her?” Bruce spoke up.
Tony could feel the eye roll through the mask. “I don’t know, a lot of reasons. To have someone to talk to, to help me out.” Spidey answered, a waver in his tone.
“How-“ Clint started to say before being cut off.
“If you guys are so curious, do you want to meet her?” The words had an undertone that Tony couldn’t identify.
The group quickly agreed, looking on curiously.
Spidey tapped the emblem on his chest. “Hey, K, you there?”
“For you, Boss? Always.” The now familiar voice of Karen chirped.
Tony frowned at the greeting, so eerily similar to JARVIS’ standard greeting.
”Say hi, then.” Spider-Man said, smile in his voice.
Before they could ask any questions or introduce themselves something projected from the man’s chest.
The air in front of them filled with a hologram of a woman. She had blonde hair that fell down her shoulders in an intricate braid and her blue eyes were practically sparkling as she looked around the room.
She smoothed the skirt of her bright red business suit before speaking. “Nice to finally meet all of you. And nice to see you again, Dr. Stark.”
There was a stunned silence for a few minutes as they all stared at the artificial appearance of the supposed AI.
During the silence, Tony noticed Karen smirking at the varying degrees of shock on their faces and he could swear he heard Spidey snickering under his breath.
“Nice to see you too, Karen.” Tony said, reluctantly amused and even more intrigued. But if he knew anything about Spider-Man then he knew asking how the man had done it wouldn’t do him any good.
“You’re- you’re an AI?” Bruce sputtered, looking equal parts bewildered and fascinated.
“No, Dr. Banner, I am only pretending to be one.” Karen answered, rather snarky sounding.
“Karen!” Spidey gasped, putting his hands over his face as though he were embarrassed.
Karen rolled her eyes. “Yes Dr. Banner, I am an Artifical Intelligence that was created to assist Spider-Man.”
“Don’t know why I ever taught you about sarcasm, Kare. You’re a menace.” Spidey grumbled.
“You love me.” She retorted and surprise raced through Tony once more when she stuck her tongue out at her creator.
“Unfortunately.” Spider-Man agreed with a sniff.
“How are you-“ Natasha waved a hand vaguely in the direction of the hologram “like that?”
Karen spun towards the spy and let a grin crawl over her face. She leaned forward conspiratorially. “It’s a secret.”
Natasha’s brows shot up and she looked so bewildered that Tony wanted to laugh out loud.
“Karennn.” Spidey practically whined. “Stop messing with the Avengers.”
The AI pouted, narrowing her eyes at the man. “You’re no fun. Miss A would think it was hilarious.”
Spider-Man groaned. “Well, Miss A is a child. You and Miss A can laugh all about it when you undoubtedly tell her about it later.”
Miss A? That was new. He noticed the rest of the team exchanging looks as well.
“We will.” Karen answered, jutting out her chin.
“Who is Miss A?” Natasha asked when nobody else did.
Spidey stiffened again immediately. “None of your business.” He snapped out.
Tony held up his hands in surrender. “Woah, woah. Okay, we won’t ask again.”
Spider-Man cleared his throat. “Good.” He tilted his head to where Karen was floating, her arms crossed defensively. “Any more questions for her besides ‘are you an ai?’”
“I have one.” Clint said. “Uh, Karen?”
Karen tilted her head. “Yes, Mr. Barton.”
“How exactly do you help Spidey?” He asked.
Karen looked towards Spidey and then turned back towards Clint at the vigilante’s nod.
“I assist with a lot of things. Some of the most prominent being making sure he gets the appropriate amounts of food and sleep.” Karen started cheerfully.
“You know that’s not what he means Karen!” Spidey cut in, sounding flustered.
Karen rolled her eyes and continued. “A few notable things that I assist him with are surveillance as well as co-piloting his suit. I also help him in his lab, as well as other day to day activities. Above all I am Boss’ friend.”
“Damn straight.” Spidey muttered.
“So basically what JARVIS does for Stark?” Natasha questioned.
“I am not privy to Just A Rather Very Intelligent System’s day to day activities but I assume if that is your conclusion, that it is quite possible we have similar purpose.” Karen replied promptly.
“Sounds about right.” Tony piped up.
“Any other questions?” Karen chirped.
At the slow head shakes she smiled before the hologram dissipated.
It was silent for another few minutes before Spidey spoke up again. “Now do you want to tell me the real reason why you’ve been staring at me all night?” His voice was deceptively light.
“That was-“ Clint started to protest.
“Did you know that one of the powers I acquired when I was bitten was enhanced hearing.” Spidey cut him off, voice sharp. “Fun little side effect. It means I can hear people’s heartbeats. Do you know what that means?”
It was Natasha that answered, eyes barely widening. “You can detect lies.”
“Ding ding ding.” Spider-Man cheered, tapping his nose like a bell. “Ten points to Slytherin.”
At the disbelieving looks he was receiving, he shook his head. “You guys want to try that again?”
Tony winced again, eyeing Spidey warily.
“We’re just having a hard time trusting you when you wear a mask all of the time. We know nothing about you.” Natasha said carefully.
The eyes of Spidey’s mask went wide. “You think I’m HYDRA?” He asked incredulously.
“No!” Steve yelped, waving his hands wildly. “It’s not that it’s just- look we know you don’t want to be part of our team but don’t you trust us enough to share at least that with us?”
“At least? At least?! My identity is as protected as it is for a reason. I have people to protect, people that would be in danger if anyone found out who I am.” Spidey retorted incredulously.
“All the more reason to share it with us! We can help you protect them!” Clint called out.
The Spider-Man mask had a distinctly unimpressed look on it. His next words were calculated. “You’re telling me you don’t have your own secrets, Barton?” His words were leading but Tony for the life of him couldn’t understand the meaning.
“H-how-“ Clint stuttered, uncharacteristically pale.
“I know a lot of things.” Spidey said simply.
Natasha looked downright enraged and Spider-Man had obviously noticed as he held up his hands in surrender.
“I’m not planning on telling anyone.” Spidey swore.
“How did you find out?” Natasha snapped.
Spidey shrugged, posture deceptively casual. “That would be telling.”
“Okay, what is going on?” Tony asked finally.
Natasha scowled. “None of your damn business Stark.”
“I have a wife.” Clint blurted, ignoring Natasha’s whispered reprimand. “And two kids.”
“You what?!” Tony gaped, bewildered.
“Yeah.” He nodded, looking slightly nauseated. “Please don’t tell anyone.” He begged.
“Fuck!” Spidey swore. “You weren’t supposed to just do that!”
“I agree.” Natasha said, looking at her best friend like he was insane.
“Your turn.” Clint said after everyone swore to keep his family a secret, tilting his head towards Spider-Man.
“God damn it!” Spidey swore again. “Okay. Okay.”
Before he could say anything else Karen spoke up again, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Boss, I have informed Miss A, Deadpool, and White Wolf about the situation and we have come to the conclusion that it would be better to tell them.” Karen drawled, ignoring Spidey’s muttered curses. “White Wolf has asked to join you in solidarity.”
“He what?!” Spider-Man squawked and Tony noticed all of the Avengers were watching the man with wide interested eyes.
“Yes, Boss. He is currently en route to the Tower.”
Spider-Man’s eyes slammed shut and he groaned. “I was not prepared for this. I was not prepared. Okay. Okay, I guess you guys are getting your wish. There is, however, another unexpected development.” He said nervously.
He took a deep breath and with a muttered “mask off, K.” his mask retraced like magic, fading into the rest of his suit. Nanotechnology.
With the mask off they all took in the completely average looking person before them. He looked like he was in his early twenties, clean shaven face and big bambi eyes. His curly brown hair was artfully messy and his cheeks were turning slightly red from the attention.
Tony could swear he heard Clint mutter an ‘awww’.
With an awkward wave, he introduced himself. “My name is Peter. Peter Mayson.”
It was Natasha that spoke first, surveying him calmly. “How old are you?”
Spidey, Peter, rolled his eyes. “I’m twenty-two.” He said shortly. “Before you all interrogate me, there’s someone coming to the Tower and I would explain before he gets here but I’m pretty sure he just wants to make a dramatic entrance, so can he uh- come up here?”
“He’s not dangerous?” Tony asked.
Peter winced. “Uhh, not… to you?”
“Very convincing, okay. J, coordinate with Karen so this guy can get up here.” Tony called out.
“As you say, Sir.” JARVIS replied, slightly disapproving.
Tony had a million questions on the tip of his tongue but he held them in when he noticed the extremely anxious look on the young man’s face.
It was a few more minutes before JARVIS and Karen spoke in unison. “The man had entered the building, Sir.” “White Wolf is inbound, Boss.”
A few seconds later the elevator let out a ding and the doors slid open, revealing a large man in a hoodie.
With almost silent steps, he made his way closer. Peter jumped up from the couch, rushing towards the man.
Everyone stood cautiously from the couch as they listened to the whispered conversation.
“Are you sure about this? You know you don’t have to do this until you’re ready.” Peter whispered urgently.
“I know, дорогой идиот.” Came the gruff reply.
Tony’s eyes narrowed when Natasha stiffened, her hands hovering over her weapons.
“But-“ Peter yelped.
“I’m- I’m not ready but I have to do this.” The voice said.
Tony’s face scrunched up in confusion as the duo walked over to them, one cautious and one confident.
The mystery man stepped forward and slowly removed his hood. Tony’s brain stalled for a moment, connections firing rapidly. He’d come to a conclusion just as Steve gasped, “Buck?”
The man smiled back with a hint of nerves. “Hey Stevie.” He greeted back.
Steve staggered back, face paling. “H-how is this possible? You died!”
“Зимний Солдат.” Natasha’s voice cut through the air harshly.
He stiffened and tilted his head in a nod. “Вдова.”
“Do you two know each other?” Tony asked, eyes darting between the two of them.
Natasha’s face scrunched. “He is the Winter Soldier.” She answered, watching him carefully. “HYDRA’s deadliest assassin.”
Everyone went on the defensive suddenly, eyeing the supposed assassin warily.
“Was!” Peter shouted. “He was but uh, well-“ He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
“Almost a year ago, I was sent to capture Spider-Man and he managed to capture me instead. He’s been- been helping me since then.” The soldier explained tersely.
Natasha frowned. “How did he defeat you? He couldn’t even beat me and you trained me.”
“I- uh might have let you win.” Peter said sheepishly.
Tony’s brows furrowed. “Why would you do that?”
“I didn’t want you to, uh, be suspicious of me. I was only using a small amount of my strength when I was sparring with you. He was a little different, what with me fighting for my life and all.” Peter explained.
“Buck-“ Steve started.
“James.” He snapped before softening at Steve’s affronted look. “I- I prefer James now. Bucky- he died when I fell off that train.”
Steve’s eyes widened and filled with tears. “Bucky- James why didn’t you come find me?”
Barnes’ eyes closed in obvious pain. “Peter offered, but I needed time. Stevie, when he found me I couldn’t even remember my own name. It was months before any real memories started coming back to me. I wasn’t in control. I- I just couldn’t. Not then.”
“I understand.” Steve promised, still looking sad and guilty. “C-can I hug you?”
Barnes opened his arms immediately and Tony watched in bewilderment as the men fell into each other’s arms. Peter watched with a soft smile, filled with pride.
It wasn’t long before the two retreated to Steve’s room to talk and the rest of them were left staring at Peter.
“Alright, now you can ask questions.” He huffed, flopping back on the couch.
“What the fuck was that?” Clint blurted out.
“That was James Buchanan Barnes.” Peter answered. “He’s how I got the information about HYDRA that I passed to Fury.”
Tony gaped. “You were the source?”
“Yes.” Peter answered simply. “Once I’d found out that HYDRA was still active, I did my own digging. And with James’ help and we found enough to get Fury started.” He explained.
“You already know our backstories, why don’t you tell us yours.” Bruce proposed nervously, speaking up for the first time in a while.
“Uh, like what?” Peter asked nervously. It was like he was a different person outside the mask, all of his confidence reserved for when he was in his suit.
“Family? Parents? School?” Tony suggested absently while he skimmed the file JARVIS had prepared for him on his phone.
“Uh, my parents died in a plane crash when I was little and I grew up in foster care. I went to MIT.” He explained shortly, like he wasn’t used to talking about himself.
“MIT, huh?” Tony whistled, scrolling on his phone. “Two PHD’s in four years, impressive.”
“I see you’ve got my file.” Peter rolled his eyes, but flustered at the praise.
“Two PHD’s?” Bruce gaped. “In what?”
“Uh, Bioengineering and Biochemistry.” He answered shyly.
“That’s impressive.” Natasha replied smoothly.
“Even more impressive since he also received Masters in mechanical engineering and coding at the same time.” Tony added, as he read through the file.
“Yeah well.” Peter mumbled, obviously embarrassed by the attention.
“So where are you working then?” Bruce asked curiously.
Peter grimaced, his face flushing further. “I was working for a private lab but their base of operations were destroyed during the Invasion.” He paused, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I’ve been working as a freelance photographer for The Daily Bugle.”
Tony gaped at him and saw Bruce doing the same out of the corner of his eye.
“You-you work as a photographer?! Why? You have two PHD’s!” Tony blurted.
“I know that.” Peter replied cuttingly, before turning sheepish again. “I was going to apply to SI but then the whole Spider-Man thing started happening and I didn’t want to- I don’t know, catch your attention I guess.”
“Have Karen send me your resume.” Tony replied promptly.
“W-what?!” Peter gaped.
“I will not have you working as a photographer with your credentials.” Tony retorted, scowling.
Natasha snapped her fingers suddenly, pointing at the man. “You’re that photographer that takes pictures of Spider-Man.” She said with certainty.
Peter winced before attempting to smile.
Clint immediately burst into loud laughter. “Y-you’ve been selling glorified s-selfies?! That is fucking awesome, Spidey.”
“Y-yeah.” Peter huffed a short laugh. “Any other questions?”
“So I know we said we couldn’t ask but-“ Tony started.
“Miss A is my old foster sister, she lives with me and she’s-“ He faltered for a moment. “she’s the closest thing I have to family.”
“Oh.” Clint breathed out, wincing. “I understand.”
“Miss A is entering the lobby of the Tower. She says ‘If James gets to meet the Avengers, so do I’” Karen spoke up.
Peter groaned and rolled his eyes. “Tell her to just come up.”
“On it, Boss.” She chirped.
“Uh J-“ Tony called out to approve her entry but stopped short when a literal portal opened up in the middle of the living room and a teenage girl stepped through with a skip in her step.
The hispanic girl was dressed stylishly in a pair of jeans and a striped blouse. She smiled brightly at the group, waving.
“Hey Petey!” The girl called out.
“America.” Peter groaned. “What did I tell you not even three months ago?”
“Uh, to wait a year because you didn’t want Fury sniffing around me while HYDRA is active but this is the Avengers! They won’t tell the pirate, right?” She said, smiling again at the group. It had a threatening note in it somehow and Tony felt himself shiver.
“Did she just make a portal?!” Clint gasped, staring at the place where she’d appeared.
“Yes.” Peter answered, looking very exasperated.
“It’s sooo nice to meet all of you!” America said sweetly.
“Yeah uh, nice to meet you too.” Clint said while Natasha nodded her greeting.
Tony was too busy gaping at the girl, calculations running through his mind to respond in kind.
“This is so cool!” America chirped, flopping on top of Peter and splaying herself across his lap.
Peter grunted as she landed on him, scowling. “You’re so annoying.”
“I know.” The girl returned unbothered.
“Okay is anyone going to explain the portal thingamajig? How did you do that? Is there some kind of device or-“ Tony began to ramble.
“It’s magic.” Peter interrupted, a note of distaste in his tone at the word.
”Like Harry Potter?” Clint choked out.
“It’s sorcery.” America corrected sternly.
“Is there supposed to be a difference?” Bruce questioned curiously.
“Uh I’m not really supposed to tell you that.” America said nervously. “I probably shouldn’t have portalled here either but I was just too excited.” She said as an afterthought.
Peter huffed a laugh and ruffled her hair fondly.
Before the line of questioning could continue, Barnes and Steve reentered the room.
Barnes’ face lit up when he noticed the teenager splayed across the couch. “‘Mer! What are you doing here?”
“Just decided to sling by.” America said, earning snickers from both of the men she was most familiar with.
“Who’s this?” Steve asked, eyebrows shooting up.
Peter grinned widely. “Mr. America meet Miss America.” He introduced.
Steve looked confused and turned to look at the girl in question.
“I’m America Chavez.” She introduced, taking pity on the man.
“Nice to meet you, Miss.” Steve said politely, though his confusion hadn’t changed.
“She’s Spidey’s sister.” Natasha explained shortly, watching James as he settled on the couch next to Peter and America.
“Ah.” Steve hummed in understanding.
Tony watched curiously Peter’s eyes darted from Barnes to Steve searchingly. After a few seconds he spun to face Barnes. “Are you okay?” He asked seriously.
“Are you?” Barnes smirked back.
Peter groaned and rolled his eyes.
“I’m fine, дорогой идиот, stop fretting.” The man assured Peter more gently.
Natasha snorted and Tony couldn’t help his curiosity. “What did he say?” He whispered.
“He’s calling him ‘dear idiot’.” Natasha whispered back with a smirk.
Tony looked back up to see Peter pointing a finger in the assassins face. “You’re an ass.” He grumbled.
“I know.” Barnes replied simply.
Peter sighed loudly before looking back up at the Avengers. “Can we finish the movie now?” He whined.
Tony rolled his eyes signaling for JARVIS to unpause the movie.
The team (and guests) quickly settled into their respective seats and turned their attention to the screen.
Just before the trio left for the night, Barnes walked up to Tony, handing him a flash drive with a whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Seven reads through the file on The Winter Soldier, three rewatches of the footage from December 16, 1991, and one destroyed project later, Tony was sitting in his lab with a bottle of whiskey sitting in front of him.
He stared at the bottle blankly, the video playing on repeat in his mind.
At first he had been angry, enraged even. His parents had been killed. It wasn’t an accident. The person that killed his parents had been sitting next to him for the better part of two hours not too long ago. The man that had choked the life out of his mother was not two feet away from him. It made him sick.
But then his mind kept reminding him of the information he’d read in the files. All those years, the torture, the psychological conditioning.
There had been notes about how the Barnes had repeatedly fought back against his handlers, too often seeing as they responded by shocking his mind so much that he couldn’t even remember his own name.
The anger had quickly fallen away and in its place came soul crushing despair. His mother’s last moments played through his mind again and his hand clenched around the empty glass.
He couldn’t bring himself to open the bottle and pour himself a drink. He couldn’t bring himself to move.
As so he did what he did best. He thought. His mind raced with different thoughts and plans. He fine tuned his growing rage into a deadly weapon that would be pointed directly at HYDRA.
It hadn’t taken him long to come to terms with the fact that Barnes was a victim. A prisoner of war.
That didn’t mean Tony wanted to see his face anytime soon, or that he wouldn't feel the urge to punch the man in the face the next time he did see him. But he wouldn’t, instead he would dedicate the next few months to completely demolishing HYDRA until they’re nothing but a distant memory.
He spend the next three days locked in his lab, meticulously planning through their first mission. And the next seven too. There was a lot they had to do and Tony would be damned if HYDRA ever saw the light of day after he was done with them.