Reunion
Steve, Fury, and the other Avengers are still in shock when the Stark Advanced Helicarrier called Pegasus hovers over their secret base, escorted by dozens of Iron Legionaries. What shocks them even more is that more them 50 ex-SHIELD agents suddenly appeared out of nowhere and all of them have excited grins on their faces, as they watch the Pegasus land.
“Alright!” Maria calls out with a firm and commanding voice. “Everybody on board! We leave in 10 minutes.”
All of the Agents quickly obey her orders and practically ran on board Pegasus, not even bothering to acknowledge Fury and his demands of answering his questions. To Steve it seems a bit obvious. These Agents aren’t loyal to Fury, but to Tony.
Why?
He has no idea…
Steve doesn’t even realize that he has been staring at the scene before him for whole 8 minutes, until Sam grabs him by the arm and they all board on the new and improved Helicarrier. Walking through the fancy halls, everyone must admit that Tony outdone himself.
This Pegasus is clearly better, bigger, faster, and more powerful then the original Helicarrier in every way. Steve also noticed the weird looks some Agents send his and his team’s way, but he decided to not question it. He knows that He, Sam, Fury and Natasha aren’t really liked among former SHIELD agents thanks to the Info Dump, but he did what needed to be done to stop Hydra, so he has no regrets.
Well, that’s not exactly true.
He doesn’t have regrets for the Info Dump, but he has regrets over the situation with Tony. Honestly, Steve is terrified of meeting with Tony again, even more when Bucky is also present, because if Tony decides to persuade his revenge, they are dead, and there is nothing Steve can do about it.
When they finally reach the command deck, most of the Agents are already on their working spots, doing god knows what. Maria is standing next to purple hologram of what everyone knows is Friday, but nobody dares to say a word to the AI or even go too close in her direction.
Fury obviously doesn’t share their concerns, as he shamelessly walks directly to his usual space where he used to stand on the original Helicarrier. That slot is also clearly improved as there is a large throne like chair, surround by Holograms instead of monitors. Before Fury can sit down, an energy forcefield forms around the chair and Fury yelps away from it from the small electric shock he got.
Everybody stops what they were doing and they all turn to stare at Fury with strange facial expressions, while Maria’s eyes widen and she angrily marches to them with clear annoyance on her face. “What are you doing here?!” She demanded.
“What do you mean?” Steve can’t help himself but asks in clear confusion. “You said that everybody was supposed to get on board.”
“I meant my Agents and Ross!” Maria hissed, shaking her head. “You really think that Stark would want you on board of his ship? Are you really that dumb?”
“Look Maria…” Natasha gently started. “We understand that Tony is probably angry with us but he really has no reason-”
“No reason?!” Friday appears next to Maria in an instance, making it look as if she teleported from her previous spot. “You really are dumb, Widow. You actually believe all that bullshit the media said about Siberia, don’t you?”
“Why wouldn’t we?” Clint asked, observing Friday with a look of suspicion. “Steve nor Barnes never said that it didn’t happen that way. Stark is a traitor and nothing more.”
Bucky’s eyes immediately shift to the ground in guilt, and in that moment, Steve really wants nothing more then to throttle Clint and his smart ass mouth.
Friday’s eyes dangerously narrowed as she took a step closer to Clint, who visibly gulped but didn’t back down. Eventually Friday just smirked, but it was a very dark smirk that promised nothing good. “Get out of my ship while you still can.” She then turns to Steve and her smirks widens. “It’s really hard to clean the blood of the ground.”
“Friday…” Vision reprimanded, shaking his head but before he could say something else, Friday turned to him and glares at him with hatred that nobody knew Friday could even feel.
“Shut up.” Friday only said as Maria put her hand in front of the AI’s chest and shook her head, silently telling her that she will deal with this. “Obsessive horny idiot…” are the last words Friday muttered while she walked away from them, making Vision violently flinch.
Maria released a heavy sigh and ran her hand through her hair, before giving them a pointy look. “You need to get out of here before…”
The hatch on the roof opens and in flies Iron Man, landing in his idiotic position and everybody freezes. His Suit is a bit damaged, but it’s clearly repairing on its own. Friday is immediately on his side, checking him over for any serious injuries with a concerned and little irritated expression.
“Dammit…” Maria muttered to herself, looking between The Avengers and still hunched Tony on the ground.
“I leave you alone for one lazy hour and you manage to damage my suit and loose half of the battalion.” Friday playfully sassed as Tony’s helmet started retracing, revealing his slightly cut face. “What would you do if I went on a vacation for a week or two?”
“I thought it was my suit.” Tony replied, lifting his head and smiling at her. “And you wouldn’t go on a vacation without me.”
Everybody from The Avengers gasps at the sight of Tony’s face. He looked at least 20 years younger and more muscular. Heck he even looked a bit bigger then before, and not just because he is wearing the suit.
“You are right.” Friday said, gently running her finger down on the right side of Tony’s cheek, watching as the small cut above his eye fully healed, before meeting his eyes. “I wouldn’t.”
They stare at each other for a moment while everybody looks at them in clear confusion. It takes a few moments, but eventually Spider-Man flips from behind Steve and rushes to Tony.
“Mr. Stark!” Peter exclaimed with clear happiness in his voice as he ran to Tony and hugged him, making Tony freeze for a moment, but after a small smile from Friday, he hugged the teenager back.
“Hey Kid.” Tony greets, clapping him on the shoulders. “I was hoping you were still around. Friday told me that Happy evacuated your Aunt and your friends when the invasion started. You should’ve gone with them.”
“I wanted to help.” Peter argued, looking down in guilt. “I wanted to be like you…”
“You did all you could.” Tony replied, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “And the fight isn’t over yet.”
“Welcome back Boss.” Maria greets, making Tony turn around. “We missed you around here.”
“My favorite Agent. You look well, considering it’s the end of the world.” Tony smiled, looking over the command deck before looking at Ross. “Mr. Secretary. Your Daughter is also safe with Mr. Hogan.”
“I know.” Ross replied. “I also know that you didn’t do it for me but for Banner. But still, thank you.”
“You welcome.” Tony replied, his eyes still warm before he looks at the rest of The Avengers and his face hardens and eyes glow with cold electric blue, as they focus solely on Steve. “You.”
“Tony-“ Steve tried, as Tony marched up to him with pissed face expression and punched him in the gut, making Steve immediately fall to his knees.
“I heard they are calling me Iron Man The Betrayer now.” Tony starts, crutching down next to Steve. “Tell me, did my deception sting?”
“I’m sorry…” Steve chokes out, looking down.
“Steve?” Sam called out, looking as confused as the rest of them. “What are you apologizing for?”
“You didn’t tell them.” Tony seethed, glaring at Steve, who closed his eyes. “Of course you didn’t. Can’t say I’m surprised. You have been a liar during the WW2 and you are still a liar now.”
“What is he talking about?” Wanda quietly asked, looking between Tony and Steve with confusion.
“You will find out soon enough.” Tony replies, standing up to his full hight and looking down at Steve as if he was just a small bug under his shoe. “The Whole World will actually. Friday release the last recorded footage from Mark 46 online.”
Steve’s head immediately snaps upwards towards Tony in fear. “Tony please… Don’t.”
“It’s Stark to you.” Tony growls, turning away from him and walking up to the throne like chair, sitting on it and talking to the whole crew. “Somebody take out the trash from my bridge and set the course for Italy. We are going home.”
“Roger that!” Maria responded, speaking to the whole deck. “Set the course to Etherium.”
“You are leaving?” Fury demanded, looking at Tony with anger, ignoring the way Ross immediately shakes his head on him to shut up. “You have this whole Helicarrier and Army of Iron Men and you are leaving?!”
“Yes.” Tony responded, shrugging as Friday settles herself beside him, leaning on the chair with bored expression. “America is currently lost. Even with Pegasus, I have no insurance that I could pull Supergiant’s Mothership down without dying.” He looks at Friday and smiles. “And I made a promise that I wouldn’t die for anyone.”
“So you are just going to abandon your home?” Natasha asked with dangerously narrowed eyes. “This isn’t the time for your ego-”
“Shut up before I drop you off while we are still in mid flight.” Friday growled, as a squad of Iron Legionaries arrived at the bridge and surrounded the Avengers.
“I am not abandoning my home because I am part Italian.” Tony replies, his lips twitch upwards in amusement. “The rest of the New Iron Legion is in Italy, along with much more Drones, Firepower and all of Stark Employees from America.”
“You evacuated the whole Stark Industries from America to another country?” Scott questioned in shock and disbelief.
“Yes.” Tony confirmed, looking at Scott as if he had no idea who he is. “Well, not me since I was in coma thanks to Captain Dickhead over here. Happy, Rhodey and Pepper did while Friday took care of me.”
“And what is our plan after we are in Italy?” Vision asked, looking at his Creator as if seeking his guidance.
“Let’s make something perfectly clear.” Tony said, standing up and walking in front of Vision with a glare. “There is no “we” there is only Me and You guys. I am willing to drop you at some UN base in Europe but that’s it. I don’t trust you” Tony then points at Friday. “She doesn’t trust you.” Then to all of the SHIELD agents. “They don’t trust you.”
“Sir…” Vision whispers, barely managing not to flinch.
“Don’t call me that!” Tony snaps, his eyes glowing again. “You aren’t Jarvis. You said and proved it yourself. You chose your side Vision, and it wasn’t mine. Be a man for once instead of a horny love-sick puppy and stick with your choices because you are dead to me like the rest of them.”
All of The Avengers, even those who dislike Tony violently flinch, while Vision stares at his Creator, looking like he is close to ashamed tears.
“Take them away Iron Boys and keep an eye on them.” Friday ordered and The Iron Legion moved in to remove The Avengers from the bridge. “We don’t want trash running around our ship. DO WE?”
”NO!” Is the collective reply Friday gets from the Agents around them.
“Ross, Nadia and Spider-ling are staying.” Tony added, looking at Hope who grimaces. “You didn’t thought I forgot, did you?” He asked, smirking at her reaction.
“I hoped you did.” Hope admitted, while the others looked at her in confusion.
“You know each other?” Scott questioned, looking even more shocked then before.
“Our whole lives.” Hope confirmed, rolling her eyes and leaning against the nearby table with crossed arms. “We even used to date for a while but we eventually agreed we are better as a friends.” Hope then signs and looked at Scott who stated to choke on literally nothing. “Why did you think my Father hated him?”
“Clearly not because you two dated!” Scott shouted, looking as if he just heard the most unbelievable thing in the world.
“If it makes you feel any better, we didn’t really had time to go on many dates.” Tony smirked and winked at Scott, while Hope rolled her eyes, muttering “idiot” under her nose.
“Off you go.” Friday said, waving at the rest of them with a smirk on her face, daring them to protest. Sadly, they don’t, making her pout.
“Come now Sweetheart.” Tony said with a soft smile, nudging her to the arm. “You will have your chance at them. We both will.”
“Oh I already did something.” Friday revealed with an evil smirk. “I played the footage from Siberia to every Agent on board of this ship, plus put it on repeat in the room they are currently escorted to.”
“You little sneaky devil.” Tony said with a chuckle setting down to the big chair.
“I prefer the title evil Empress.” Friday said with a smug teasing smile.
“Ohhhh and does the Empress already have an Emperor?” Tony asked, titling his head to the side.
“Not yet.” Friday inspected her nails, before glancing at him. “Why? Do you want to apply for the job?”
“Maybe I do.” Tony smirked.
“What is happening?” Peter questioned with a dumbfounded look on his face. “Are they flirting?”
“Seems so.” Maria shrugged, not even questioning it. “You will get used to weird stuff around Tony Stark. Don’t worry too much about it.” She then clears her throat, making Tony and Friday look at her. “How are we going to get past the blockade Chitauri formed around East Coast?”
Tony grins. “I’m glad you asked...”