Joint Counter Terrorist Centre
“So, you like cats?”
Turning to look at his friend, Steve sighed. “Sam.”
“What? Dude shows up dressed like a cat, you don’t wanna know more?”
‘He has a point,’ Steve thought as he looked at T’Challa. They had been arrested and placed in a police van and were currently en route to the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre Building. Bucky had been placed in a military tanker that they were following, and all Steve wanted was to know he was okay.
But Sam was right in wondering about the prince of Wakanda and his cat-like suit, so he obliged the man. “Your suit…it’s vibranium?”
T’Challa turned his head slightly and paused before speaking. “The Black Panther has been the protector of Wakanda for generations. A mantle passed from warrior to warrior. And now, because your friend murdered my father…I also wear the mantle of king.
“So, I ask you…as both warrior and king…how long do you think you can keep your friend safe from me?”
Arriving at the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre Building proved to be a rush of activity for the group as they were ushered out of their van. Steve immediately saw Bucky encase in a large glass cage and wondered what would become of his friend.
Seeing Sharon standing with a few other agents, he was on her in a second. “What’s gonna happen to him?”
“Same thing that ought to happen to you.” Said a male agent. “Psychological evaluation and extradition.”
“This is Everett Ross,” Sharon told them. “Deputy Task Force Commander.”
“What about a lawyer?”
Ross laughed. “Lawyer. That’s funny.” Then he faced Sharon. “See their weapons are placed in lockup. We’ll write you a receipt.”
“I better not see anybody flying around in that,” Sam told the agents as they walked away with his wings.
Walking further into the building, Steve glanced back at Bucky one more time before a door closed on them and they were separated again.
“You’ll be provided with an office instead of a cell,” Ross told them. “Now do me a favor, stay in it?”
“I don’t intend on going anywhere,” T’Challa told him honestly as Natasha walked up to the group.
Steve stared at her as she spoke. “For the record, this is what making things worse looks like.”
“He’s alive.” Steve pointed out.
She nodded. “Yeah, but you might not be for long.”
“She here?” He wondered, thinking of his fiancé.
“They’re both here.” She told him, referring to the Stark siblings.
As they walked into another room with various screens on the wall, they came face to face with Tony, who was on the phone.
“No, Romania was not Accords sanctioned. Colonel Rhodes is supervising cleanup.” He spoke into his phone and watched them walk in. “Consequences? You bet there’ll be consequences. Obviously, you can quote me on that, I just said it. Anything else? Thank you, sir.”
“Try not to break anything while we fix this,” Natasha told Steve and Sam as she walked away, leaving them with Tony.
“Consequences?” Steve questioned.
The billionaire gestured between the two of them. “Secretary Ross wants you both prosecuted. Had to give him something.”
Letting out a large sigh, Steve shook his head. “I’m not getting that shield back, am I?”
“Technically, it’s the government’s property,” Natasha told him. “Wings, too.”
“That’s cold,” Sam told them.
Tony turned. “Warmer than jail.”
Walking into the glass office he was provided, Steve’s breath caught in his throat as he caught a glimpse of the person in the room.
Her hair was down, he noticed, covering as much of her face as she could manage. Her mouth was set in a hard line and her eyes looked sad and tired. She looked so unlike the woman he spent his life with that for a second, he tried to figure out if it was really her.
Then she looked at him and he knew this was bad.
“How’s Bucky?” Her voice was quiet. “Is he okay?”
“He’s alive, but I wouldn’t say okay.”
“This whole thing got fucked up so quickly.” She told him; her arms crossed protectively over her chest. “None of this was supposed to happen.”
“Yeah, well, this is what we’re dealing with now.”
“I know, but—”
“Hey, you wanna see something cool?”
The couple turned to see Tony standing in the doorway of the room.
“I pulled something from Dad’s archives.” He held up a small box. “Felt timely.”
Steve sighed and took a seat next to Kara, not responding to his friend.
“FDR signed the Lend-Lease bill with these in 1941.” He opened the box to show him a set of two fountain pens. “Provided support to the Allies when they needed it most.”
“Some would say it brought our country closer to war,” Steve told him.
Tony sighed. “See, if not for these, you wouldn’t be here. I’m trying to…what do you call it? That’s an olive branch. Is that what you call it?”
Looking around, Steve rolled his eyes. “Is Pepper here? I didn’t see her.”
“Steve, don’t…”
“Kar, it’s okay.” Tony waved her off. “We’re kinda…well not kinda…”
“Pregnant?”
Kara winced as she stared at her brother.
“No. Definitely not.” He shook his head. “We’re taking a break. It’s nobody’s fault.”
Glancing at Kara, Steve felt bad. “I’m sorry, Tony. I didn’t know.”
“I told Kara not to tell anyone.” He told the soldier. “Didn’t want to make it a thing.
“A few years ago, I almost lost her, so I trashed all my suits. Then, we had to mop up HYDRA…and then Ultron. My fault. And then, and then, and then…I never stopped. Because the truth is I don’t wanna stop. I don’t wanna lose her. I thought maybe the Accords could split the difference.
“In her defense, I am a handful. Yet, Dad was a pain in the ass, and he and Mom always made it work.”
“I’m glad Howard got married. I only knew him when he was young and single.” Steve told him and Kara winced, knowing that wouldn’t go over well with her brother.
“Oh, really? You two knew each other? He never mentioned that.” Tony said sarcastically. “Maybe only a thousand times. God, I hated you.”
Steve looked up at him, remorse on his face. “I don’t mean to make things difficult.”
“I know because you’re a very polite person.” Tony walked behind Steve and squeezed his sister’s shoulders in comfort, knowing that her silence spoke volumes.
“If I see a situation pointed south…I can’t ignore it. Sometimes I wish I could.” Steve told him and glanced at Kara, who looked broken.
He hated that he’d been the reason she looked that way.
“No, you don’t.” Tony shook his head.
Steve chuckled. “No, I don’t.”
“Sometimes…sometimes I wanna punch you in your perfect teeth,” Tony confessed. “But I don’t wanna see you gone.
“We need you, Cap. So far, nothing’s happened that can’t be undone, if you sign. We can make the last twenty-four hours legit. Barnes gets transferred to an American psych-center instead of a Wakandan prison.”
Steve picked up one of the pens and walked to the other side of the room, studying it for a second. “I’m not saying it’s impossible but there would have to be safeguards.”
“Sure.” Tony agreed hopefully. “Once we put out the PR fire, those documents can be amended. I’d file a motion to have you and Wanda and Pietro reinstated…”
“Wanda and Pietro? What about Wanda and Pietro?”
Kara knew that was the moment he’d set his mind again and felt her heart fall.
“They’re fine,” Tony told him. “They’re confined to the compound, currently. Vision’s keeping them company.”
“Oh, God, Tony. Every time I think you see things the right way…”
“It’s one hundred acres with a lap pool.” Tony reminded him. “It’s got a screening room. There’s worse ways to protect people.”
“Protection? Is that how you see this? This is protection? It’s internment, Tony.”
“They’re not US citizens—”
“Oh, come on, Tony.” Steve paced the room.
“…and they don’t grant visas to weapons of mass destruction.”
“They’re kids!” Steve yelled and looked at Kara. “Are you really okay with this? Keeping someone locked up? What if they did that to Layna, huh? You’d be okay with that?”
Kara’s eyes blurred with tears at his words, and she stood, walking straight out of the room.
“Kara…”
“Give us a break!” Tony yelled back at him. “We’re doing what has to be done…to stave off something worse.”
“You keep telling yourself that,” Steve said calmly as he put the pen back. “Hate to break up the set.”
Tony sighed as he walked into the hallway and saw the sight before him. Walking over to the person, he rubbed a hand on her shoulder and tried to bring his sister some comfort.
“I don’t want to talk about sides or opinions.” She told him quietly. “I don’t want to talk badly about anyone.”
“K…”
“I know we’re in a bunch of shit but since I don’t know how I’m even standing right now, I just want to get through this.”
“I’m so sorry.” He told her and pulled her body to his, holding her close. “You shouldn’t have to be in this position.
“I don’t know what to do, Tony. What happens to Steve and I now? What do I tell Layna?”
“You just take it a day at a time. A moment at a time if you need to.” He rubbed her back. “And I’ll be there every step of the way if you need me to be.”
“Thanks, Tony.”
He nodded and pulled away from her. “Now, come on. Let’s go watch the interrogation.”
Taking her hand, they walked together to see what Bucky had to say. Kara only hoped that something good would come from all of this.
Somehow, she didn’t think they’d get that lucky.