Chapter 1
When the dust settles around them, and Ultron is defeated, they regroup on the Helicarrier. Tony knows immediately that this is going to be a logistical nightmare, they have a large group of Sokovian civilians aboard an illegal floating American airship.
Not to mention the city that was destroyed during the battle, including nearly every building within it, and an unknown number of civilian deaths.
There was also the new android created during the battle to contend with, and the Hydra volunteer, and coconspirator of Ultron standing in front of him. He looks around the room then, taking in the group in front of him.
Wanda is sobbing quietly as Clint attempts to comfort her. Natasha is watching the pair of them, with an assessing gaze. Steve is standing between the pair and Tony, as if a guard dog, Sam just behind him. Thor is chatting with Vision, a smile on his face, untouched by the horrors of what happened. Rhode stands at his back and Bruce. Bruce, is missing.
“Where’s Bruce?” Tony asks, earning a glare from Clint when Wanda begins to cry harder. Steve looks around the room, as if only now noticing his absence.
“The Hulk got off before the city went down, right?” He asks, and there’s a pause where no one answers.
“Boss, one of the quinjets appears to be moving away, would you like me to make contact?” Friday asks.
“Yes please.” Tony requests, and the line connects. “Hello, who has stolen my jet today?”
“Tinman.” The hulks voice rumbles through the speaker. Tony steps away from the group, fully aware of their eyes on him.
“Hey big guy, where are you headed?” He ignores Natasha’s hand gesturing for him to pass over communication.
“Away.” Hulk declares, with all the finality of a grumpy toddler. Tony glances back at the group, takes in Clint with his arms wrapped around Wanda, glaring at Tony for daring to upset her.
“That’s understandable given everything, but you might want to hear this.” Tony says, leaving the channel open as he addresses the group. “I want all of you to know that this choice is yours to make, each of you.” He looks at Wanda, crying over her lost brother. Looks at Steve, and the stubborn set to his jaw. “I will not be on a team with Wanda Maximoff.”
“Tony!” Clint snaps, patting the woman on the back.
“Clint!” Tony parrots. “She hates my guts, and blames me for the death of her parents in the middle of a civil war. That’s not someone I want to work with.” Tony states firmly. Steve opens his mouth, some sort of defense prepared.
“As if I’d want to work with you.” Wanda says, shooting him a glare.
“I will also not be providing any funds or resources to Wanda or anyone working with her.” Tony explains, for a moment it’s so quite you could hear a pin drop. Then everyone talking over eachother.
“She just helped us save the world.”
“I hardly think that’s fair Tony.”
“Stark, have a little compassion.”
Tony waits for them to breathe. “She worked for Hydra,” That alone would be enough for me to refuse anyone working with her funding. “She also worked with Ultron, and harmed some of my staff. I don’t care what anyone thinks about it, she’s not getting a cent from me.”
“You created Ultron,” Steve says, gearing up for a speech. Tony just shrugs.
“Sure, I did, with the help of Bruce, and the staff, and a strange fear-based compulsion.” Tony says, not directly calling out Wanda. “And then, she helped it get the resources it needed to do damage.”
“Her brother died fighting that thing.” Clint says.
“And, I’m sorry, but none of that means I’m going to help fund a nazi terrorist. End of story.” Tony shrugs, “Again it’s up to all of you who you want to work with. Me, and all of my resources, or someone who helped in one battle, after working with two enemies.”
“Tony,” Natasha starts an attempt to convince him to consider the bigger picture, to put aside his ego. Tony isn’t listening, this is not something he’ll budge on.
“Yes Natasha, were you going to remind our lovely team here of the effects of operation paper clip?” He asks, and she goes still. “I mean I would think SHIELD would learn it’s lesson about allowing Nazi’s in their ranks.”
“I hardly think a single girl compares.” Natasha argues, only taking a moment to recover.
“I hardly think it’s the type of precedent we want to set.” He turns back to the call.
“Did you get all that big guy?” He asks, holding out a hand for the others to wait to speak.
“Hulk can work with Tinman.” The hulks voice is uncertain. “As long as no Red, no Spider.” Wanda scowls at him, her tears seeming to dry as the attention turns to Tony, cold anger taking their place.
“Nat, what did you do to Hulk?” Tony asks, up until recently she’d been one of Hulk’s friends. Steve steps in front of her, glaring at Tony for daring to question the Widow.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Steve asks, Tony doesn’t reply, just continues to meet Natasha’s eyes. Waiting.
"We wouldn’t have won without the Hulk.” She says, tone calm, but words defensive. “After Johannesburg Bruce didn’t want to let him out, I just gave him a little push.”
“Off cliff.” Hulk adds. Sam gives her a wary look, but there isn’t an ounce of regret in her eyes.
“You risked Bruce’s life, because you wanted the Hulk in a fight?” Tony can’t believe her, can’t believe Steve is positioned in front of her like a defense. Sam looks at her, slightly uncomfortable, but there’s no outrage in it.
“What else was I supposed to do?” She asks, no trace of guilt in her eyes.
“Cool, I don’t care what you decide to do, because I will not be working with you.” He decides, and she stills. Wanda blinks up at her, holding out a hand.
“Tony we’re a team, we can work this out.” Steve argues.
“We are working this out. Hulk wants to be on my team. Natasha has proven herself a potential threat to those she works with, and untrustworthy, and Wanda has never been my teammate.” He turns to Sam. “It’s your choice, who’s team do you want to be on?” Sam spares a wary glance for Natasha and Wanda.
“Where Steve goes, I go.” He states, as if it’s that simple. Tony turns to Clint.
“It hardly matters considering I’m retiring, but I wouldn’t pick you,” Clint sneers, and behind his back Wanda smirks. Tony can’t find himself to care.
“Fair, Hulk, just to confirm, you and Bruce are on the same page?” Tony asks.
“Yes, Team Tinman, Bruce come back.” Hulk declares.
“Great, we’ll meet you guys just north of the city.” Tony says, turning to Wanda and Natasha. “As states neither of you are welcome, Steve what are you choosing for Sam and yourself?” He can’t help the dig at Sam.
“You don’t get to make decisions like this Tony, Wanda is on my team. Natasha is on my team.”
“Then none of you are on mine.” He glances back at Sam. “Feel free to reconsider.” Sam, looks just as stubborn as Steve though. “Rhodey, Honeybear, what are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that as a member of the United States Military, I could never work with a terrorist.” Rhodey says, bumping his shoulder against Tony’s with a soft clink. Sam doesn’t flinch, but it’s a near thing. Tony looks at Thor.
“And you did assault me earlier this week.” Tony says, in all of the commotion it hadn’t been addressed. “Lifting a human being by their neck is potentially fatal, and regardless of how angry you get, you shouldn’t be physically attacking anyone who isn’t attacking you.” Tony states, “Now, knowing that, you can still choose my team, as long as it doesn’t happen again.”
“I take your words under advisement shield brother, and I apologize for the wrong I have done you.” Thor inclines his head. “I need to return to Asgard, I will discuss this with my council.” Tony can’t help but think that’s a good choice on the gods’ part, and shows more restraint than Thor usually does.
All eyes turn to Vision.
“I’m afraid, I don’t know what to say.” Vision admits, looking around the room. “I am still very new to this world, and I find myself unsure.” He’s incredibly young.
“Of course, you’re welcome to visit as much as you need while you figure it out.” Tony can’t help but miss JARVIS when he hears Vision speak, but he doesn’t want to push what’s left of JARVIS away. “I want this to be completely, and perfectly clear.” He addresses Steve, Natasha, Sam, Clint, and Wanda. “You are no longer welcome on any property owned by myself or Stark Industries. You will not be given access to any tech repairs, upgrades, or replacements. I will allow you to keep the Widow Bites, and the bow and arrow because SHIELD paid for a copy of them, and Sam’s wings are property of the US government.”
“We get it.” Natasha says, although she’s clearly unhappy about it. “Your ego means you won’t help us.”
“Your ego means you expect handouts by nature of your amazing existence.” Rhodey snipes back, sarcasm dripping from his words.
Tony can’t help but smile at that as he continues. “You don’t get access to my money, you don’t get access to my jets, you don’t get access to me. Is that clear?” Clint rolls his eyes.
“Crystal.” Steve growls. “We don’t need any of that stuff Tony, we’re heroes without it.”
“Great, have a nice life.” He waves jauntily at the group as he goes to leave. Steve moves in front of the door.
“Where are you going?” Steve asks, and Tony blinks at him.
“To help clean up the city Ultron just destroyed, see if there are any survivors.” Tony states, Steve frowns.
“We got everyone out. Look, you can take it all back right now Tony,” Steve says. “You can still come back from this.” Tony glances at him, and then looks at Wanda.
“You know, it’s not me I’m worried about Steve.” Tony admits. “I really hope you all know what you’re doing, because I don’t know if any of you can come back from this.” He shakes his head, and pushes past Steve, Rhodey right behind him.
There are people to save.
“Friday, release the footage we have of Wanda working with Hydra, Ultron, and attacking my staff to both the UN and the US government please.” He asks, as he steps off the Helicarrier and heads down to the city.
“On it boss.” She says.
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