Letters from Steve
Tony sighed as he stood inside the compound, staring at the big letter A that emblazoned the side of the building. The team may have been broken but there were still some of them left, he realized, as he went to find Rhodey. Besides, now that he was moving back in, he would make sure that everything ran smoothly again.
Helping Rhodey as he adjusted to his new robotic prothesis, Tony gave words of encouragement. “It’s just a first pass.”
“Yeah.” Rhodey agreed, struggling to walk.
“Give me some feedback.” Tony told him. “Anything you can think of. Shock absorption, lateral movement…cup holder?”
“You may wanna think about some AC down in…” Rhodey started to talk but fell to the floor and shook off Tony’s attempt to help him. “No, no. Don’t help me.”
“Okay.”
“Talk to me about something.” He grunted out as Tony watched him struggle. “How’s Kara doing?”
Tony shrugged. “Amazingly she’s showing no signs of any adverse effects from this whole thing. She’s going on like it’s business as usual, so she seems fine.”
Rhodey rolled over so that he was sitting on his butt and looked at the man. “So, she’s definitely not okay, then.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking too.” Tony shook his head. “This is going to get worse before it gets better, I think.”
“Well, they were engaged. That’s not an easy thing to come back from.”
“I know, I just wish this hadn’t happened to her. Or you.” Tony said, guilt filling his voice.
Seeing that he was retreating into his own brain, Rhodey changed the subject. “One hundred and thirty-eight. One hundred and thirty-eight combat missions. That’s how many I’ve flown, Tony. Every one of them could’ve been my last, but I flew them…because the fight needed to be fought.
“It’s the same with these Accords. I signed because it was the right thing to do. And yeah, this sucks. This is, uh…this is a bad beat. But it hasn’t changed my mind. I don’t think.”
Tony listened to him speak before letting his hand fall out for his friend to take. Rhodey grabbed it and they maneuvered him back into a standing position as a knock was heard on the glass window.
Turning the saw a man in a FedEx uniform looking at them. “Are you…Tony Stank?”
Now Rhodey was laughing. “Yes, this is Tony Stank! You’re in the right place. Thank you for that!” He turned to continue practicing as he laughed harder. “Never dropping that, by the way. Table for one, Mr. Stank. Please, by the bathroom.”
Tearing open the FedEx box, Tony found three letters and a phone inside. After giving Kara and Layna their letters and sitting down at the table, he opened the one with his name on it and began to read.
“Tony,
I’m glad you’re back at the compound. I don’t like the idea of you rattling around a mansion by yourself. We all need family, and I’m sure you and Kara need each other a lot right now.
The Avengers are yours. Maybe more so than mine. I’ve been on my own since I was eighteen. I never really fit in anywhere, even in the Army. My faith’s in people, I guess. Individuals…and I’m happy to say that for the most part, they haven’t let me down.
Which is why I can’t let them down either.
Locks can be replaced, but maybe they shouldn’t. I know I hurt you, Tony. I hurt Kara, too. I guess I thought by not telling you guys about your parents…I was sparing you, but I can see now that I was really sparing myself. And I’m sorry. Hopefully one day you can understand.
I wish we agreed on the Accords. I really do. I know you’re doing what you believe in, and that’s all any of us can do…that’s all any of us should. So, no matter what, I promise you…if you need us, if you need me, I’ll be there.”
Tony stared at the phone as FRIDAY’s voice filled the room. “Priority call from Secretary Ross. There’s been a breach at the Raft prison.”
Smirking, Tony turned towards his phone. “Yeah, put him through.”
“Tony, we have a problem…”
“Uh, please hold!”
“No, don’t!”
Pressing the hold button, Tony sighed and sat back in his chair, his thoughts circling the now-rogue Avengers.
Kara bit her lip as she clutched the envelope in her hand. She recognized Steve’s handwriting and knew it was probably an apology letter, but she wasn’t sure she was ready yet to hear his excuses. Then she collapsed on her bed and sighed before opening it.
“Kara,
There are no words to describe how badly I handled this whole thing and how sorry I am that I hurt you and Layna. I want to say that I would take it all back if I could but we both know that wouldn’t be the truth. Things never should have gone as far as they did and for that I am sorry.
I understand that I have lost your trust. I saw it in your eyes as you stared at me in Siberia. It’s a look that I will never forget as long as I live. But I need you to know that I will always love you, no matter what. You are my everything. You are my reason for living each day. Nothing will ever change that.
I don’t know what you want to do about Layna. I understand if you want to rescind my adoption of her; I would certainly deserve it as I have been a terrible father throughout this mess. But just know that even if you do that, she will always be my daughter…my little girl. Nothing in the world could change my love for her and being her father has been the best parts of my life. I never thought I’d get to have children and you gave that to me, so thank you. Please raise her well (I know you will) and remind her about me, even if it hurts to do so. I don’t want her to forget me now that I’m gone.
I don’t think I will ever be able to make this up to you all. There are so many things I want to say but all I can think about is how much I hope we will get a second chance one day. Maybe, somehow, we’ll find each other again in this crazy, messed up world.
I love you, Kara. I am so sorry for everything.
Steve
P.S. I hope you keep the ring. I understand if you don’t want to, but it is yours and will always be yours.”
Kara reread the letter three times before the words became blurred by the tears in her eyes. Hugging it to her chest, she let a sob rip from her throat as two strong arms engulfed her and started to rock her back and forth.
“Shh…” Tony told her. “It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay.”