Revelation
Tony landed in front of the hospital with a large crack in the ground under him. He knew that something would happen when Rhodey told him that he would take Romanoff to see Barnes, yet Tony didn’t voice his concerns and now Rhodey is in hospital in critical condition and The Winter Soldier is apparently in the dust.
“Mr. Stark.” A nurse greets with a small, polite, sad smile, immediately noticing him thanks to his Silver and Black sleek armor. “Colonel Rhodes is at the third floor. He should already be out of the surgery.”
“Thanks.” Tony thanked and immediately rushed to the elevator, letting his suit retract to it’s “half form” where all the silver plating retracts, leaving him only in his black skin tight under suit.
From what Tony heard, Barnes apparently went into his terminator mode and escaped his cell. Many CIA Agents tried to stop him, but he easily defeated all of them. Sharon, Natasha and Rhodey tried also to stop him, but Sharon ended up flying through a small cafeteria, Natasha was almost choked to death, and Rhodey got shot.
“Sir…” Vision hesitantly greeted, waiting for him in front of the Elevator. “I’m afraid it’s not good...”
“Give me the details Viz.” Tony said, feeling slightly irritated by the Android. Way to state the obvious Wonder Boy…
“In quick conclusion, Colonel Rhodes seems to have suffered a complete spinal cord injury, leaving him an L4, L5 paraplegic.” Vision answered, looking sadly on the ground. “He is paralyzed from waist to down...”
“No.” Tony simply said in determination, walking past the puzzled Android and entering the room where Rhodey is sleeping in with Sharon sitting beside him with a bandaged head.
“Tony.” Sharon greeted, giving him a smile which he didn’t return.
“Sharon.” Tony acknowledged her, not taking his eyes of Rhodey, while letting his left gauntlet to fully form on his hand, revealing an orange vail in his palm. “Friday? I need to be sure it will work.”
“What are you doing?” Sharon questioned, narrowing her eyes on him.
“I did the calculations, Boss.” Friday responded in confident tone, as they both ignore Sharon and her question. “It will take some time but Extremis 4.0 will pull Colonel Rhodes back on his feet.”
“What about the side effects?” Tony asked, looking at the small vail in his hand.
“Same as yours except the fire abilities.” Friday answered. “Enhanced strength, agility, stamina and slightly altered physic and younger appearance.”
“Well, I guess it’s decided then.” Tony muttered, letting an injector form on his other hand and injecting Rhodey with the new version of Extremis. “He will he thrilled to have his hair back, and besides, I kinda missed Rhodey’s young baby face he had till he was 35.”
“What did you do?” Sharon asked, looking at Rhodey with wide eyes as orange veins start spreading across his body.
“I saved him.” Tony answered, also observing the orange veins.
“By using an experimental super serum on him?!” Sharon pressed on, now glaring at Tony.
“It’s already tested.” Tony said, letting his eyes glow orange, making Sharon’s eyes widen as he rolls his eyes. “Why did you think I look so damn good? Plastic surgery? All of this is Extremis.”
“I honestly didn’t think too much about it. I had different things on my mind…” Sharon replied, looking as if she was remembering the events that transparent after Peggy’s funeral, before she gives him a sharp look. “Why did you do it? You hated Captain America your whole life. I don’t think you would ever want to be anything close to him.”
“I’m not.” Tony said with a smirk. “I’m Stronger. Faster. Smarter. I am better then him in every way.” His smirk then falls from his face and serious expressions took it’s place. “What really happened on that base Sharon?”
“It’s classified.” Sharon immediately dismissed, looking away from him.
“I believe I can answer that question.” A voice said from the entrance to the room, making both of their heads snap towards it.
“Your majesty.” Sharon greeted, bowing her head slightly down. “How is Natasha doing?”
“Ms. Romanoff’s back is one big bruise, along with one ugly bruise on her neck, but she will live.” T’Challa answered, sadly shaking his head before offering his hand to Tony, who was till now observing him with a suspicion clear on his face.
“Your Majesty.” Tony acknowledged, politely shaking his hand. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“Nobody did.” Sharon adds, looking slightly irritated. “He was hiding in shadows wearing a Cat like suit, and leaped out only seconds before The Winter Soldier could kill Rhodey.”
T’Challa looked slightly offended by Sharon, but eventually just rolled his eyes and let the command slide, while Tony’s suspicion look vanished and exchanged for grateful one.
“Thank you your Majesty.” Tony thanked the new King, giving him a small smile before looking back at Rhodey. “I don’t even want to think about the possibility of him dying...”
“I’m just sorry that I wasn’t able to apprehend Barnes when I had the chance.” T’Challa signed, shaking his head. “If Captain Rogers didn’t interfere I’m sure I could’ve stoped Barnes from escaping.”
“Wait… Go back.” Tony said with narrowed eyes. “What was that about Rogers?”
“You didn’t know The Captain was also present at the scene?” T’Challa questioned while Tony shook his head. “I managed to overpower Barnes but Captain Rogers appeared out of nowhere knocking me away and allowing Barnes to escape. They are both, along with The Falcon, who was also present, wanted by the CIA. The orders are shoot on sight if necessary.”
****
Wanda signed as she leaned her back into the couch and flickered the TV channels with bored expression on her face. She wanted to go visit Rhodey in the hospital but after her chat with Vision, she changed her mind, despite still wanting to see the injured Colonel.
The Vision might be a being of pure logic but he is also naive like a young child and like every children, he also likes to gossip without sometimes realizing what he is really saying…
Well, he did try to quickly change the subject after he realized he slipped something he probably should’ve, but a quick “look” from Wanda made him spill the beans and quickly tell her what Tony told him and Happy at the Party about her.
While she already suspected why Tony suddenly started to act so distanced from her, hearing it from someone was a bit different and not entirely pleasant.
It hurt.
It would be so satisfying a year ago, knowing that she managed to hurt the feelings of the Tony Stark, but now it only hurts. It hurts because she feels the same way about him...
A large crack snapped her out of her thoughts and she immediately jumped to her feet, calling upon her magic and transferring it into her palms, looking around her with a sharp look.
“Who is there?!” Wanda demands, shifting her red glowing eyes around the room. She feels someone behind her and uses her magic to pin her unknown assailant to the wall, mentally cursing when she sees who it is.
“I guess we should’ve knocked.” Clint Barton chuckled, struggling to touch the ground with his feet, while Scott Lang groaned next to him, trying to do the same.
“What are you doing here?” Wanda asked with raised eyebrow, while she also releases the two men from her hold and looked directly at Clint. “I thought you were retired.”
“I am.” Clint nodded, rolling his eyes. “Cap called me to collect this guy.” Clint motioned to Scott, who awkwardly waved at Wanda. “And meet us in here. Apparently there is a group of Winter Soldiers and some psycho Doctor wants to release them.”
Wanda blinked. “I’m sorry… What?”
Clint shruged. “We are supposed to wait for Cap, Wilson and Barnes here. Then we will all go and stop the Psycho Doctor and save the day.”
“We?“ Wanda questioned with an raised eyebrow.
“Yeah.” Clint nodded, motioning to him, her and Scott, who is looking around them as if he was in Disney Land instead of Avengers Compound. “You, Me, Lang, Cap, Wilson and Barnes.”
“Barnes.” Wanda repeated, looking at Clint as if he was a complete idiot. “You want to bring a Winter Soldier to fight against more Winter Soldiers?”
“That actually sounds pretty stupid.” Scott admitted, looking thoughtful.
“Look… I admit it, it does sound pretty stupid, but Steve said that Barnes was brainwashed and now is fine.” Clint countered, waving the obvious threat off.
“This can go wrong in so many ways…” Wanda muttered, taking a deep breath. “Why didn’t Steve contact Natasha, Vision or T-Stark? They have legal authority to go on missions like this. Unlike us.”
“Steve said they are compromised.” Clint answered, shaking his head, while Scott looks confused. “The Accords wouldn’t let them help.”
“That’s not-“ Wanda went to explain, but in that moment, Steve, Sam, and Barnes enter the Compound and walked directly towards them.
Normally, Wanda doesn’t hear any other people’s thoughts if she really doesn’t want to, but she didn’t let her guard down since Clint and Scott entered the building, so she immediately picked up the uneasy feeing from Steve, who was feeling really uncomfortable, and it was because of something concerning both Barnes and Tony.
Determined to find an answer, Wanda focused on his mind and silently took a peek inside, while the others start a discussion about the apparently upcoming mission.
Howard and Maria Stark.
The Winter Soldier killed them.
Steve, Sam and Natasha knew for 2 years…
Wanda’s eyes widen at the information as everything suddenly click into the place. That’s why Rogers was so determined to keep running around the world unchecked and to keep Tony away from the team.
“Are you okay?” Scott softly and awkwardly her, as nobody else besides him notices her sudden reaction.
“I’m fine.” Wanda answered, more harshly then she intended, before talking to the whole group. “I need to use the restroom. Give me a moment.”
****
Tony released a heavy, tired sigh, as his phone stated to ring for the fourth time in a row. Honestly, what could potentially be so important that someone is literally spamming his private phone right now..
“This is a life model decoy of Tony Stark please leave a message-“ Tony started with annoyed tone, not even bothering to read the name of the caller.
“Tony.” Wanda’s strained voice came from the phone, making him immediately stand up.
“What can I do for you?” Tony asked, biting his lips and moving towards the window to look outside. “I’m kinda busy-”
“I know...” Wanda interrupted, sounding as gentle as possible and clearly in a hurry. “Look I don’t have much time… Clint just arrived at the Compound with some awkward new guy, saying that Steve called them for a mission to stop a Psychotic Fake Doctor from reawakening more Winter Soldiers.”
“There is more then a one?!” Tony yelled, making T’Challa and Sharon look at him weirdly, so he gave them a small smile and turning back, talking more quietly now. “There is more then one of those Winter Fuckers?
“Apparently yes.” Wanda confirmed. “Steve, Sam and Barnes also just arrived. They are making a plan with Clint and that guy-”
“Wait.” Tony interrupted, his lips forming into a tight line. “Barnes is at the Compound?!”
“Yes, but Tony…” Wanda’s voice is soft, gentle and comforting, something that send alarms ringing in Tony’s head. “There is something else you need to know. Something that Steve has been trying to hide from you for 2 years and will probably change your whole life...”
“Doubtful.” Tony muttered and dramatically rolled his eyes. “Nothing that concerns Steve Rogers can possibly affect my-“
“The Winter Soldier killed your parents.” Wanda revealed, speaking over him.
“What?” Tony quietly gasps, his whole face going pale. “No! They died in a car crash. My old man got drunk and killed-“
“That’s what Hydra wanted you to believe.” Wanda said with apologetic and soft voice. “It was Barnes-“
CRACK.
Tony crushes his phone with his bare hand and let’s it fall to the ground. Everything makes sense now. This is why Steve pushed him away from The Avengers and never asked for his help with his “secret” missions. This is why Steve tried to create his own team within the team…
Barnes killed his Parents…
Howard didn’t killer her…
Tony’s orange glowing eyes snap to Sharon in an instance, as he lunches himself at her and pins her to the wall with a heated glare. “Did you know? Did you know that Barnes killed my Parents?!”
Looking like a deer caught in the brightest of headlights, Sharon’s whole body visibly tenses and her face, and aggravated heartbeat says it all.
She knew.
“You did know…” Tony whispered, his eyes dangerously narrowing. “You were collecting information about Barnes for Rogers, Wilson and Romanoff for over a year.” Suddenly something else clicks in his head. “You are the one who told Rogers Barnes’s location.”
“I didn’t-”
“Don’t even try to lie to me!” Tony hisses, tightening his grip around her. “I can hear your heartbeat you Bitch, and if you lie to me again, I will rip your heart out. Do you understand?!”
“Yes…” Sharon swallow, her eyes full of fear. “I knew and I did tell him about the base…”
T’Challa, who was about to interfere, stops dead in his tracks, looking at the pair for a few moments before coming to the conclusion that this simply isn’t his fight, but his opinion of Sharon Carter and the three mentioned Avengers downgrades and he is honestly disgusted by their actions towards Stark and his family.
Tony’s eyes glow like a burning orange star that’s second away from exploding and for a moment, T’Challa thinks he is going to simply kill Sharon, but then Tony releases her, making her instinctively reach for her throat.
“Friday. Call Everett Ross.” Tony orders, his glowing eyes not leaving Sharon, who now stares at him with pleading look. “Tell him about the Rat he had in his Organization that fed Rogers classified intel. Then call Vision back here so he can watch over Rhodey while I’m gone.”
”Understood.” Friday immediately replied with a hint of sadness in her voice, and Tony is seriously grateful that she didn’t say anything else…
“Tony please…” Sharon begged, reaching for his shoulder, but before she can reach him, Tony grabs her wrist and breaks it, making her hunch forward in pain.
“Be grateful that I’m leaving you alive.” Tony said before knocking her out cold. “The others won’t be so lucky.”
“Mr. Stark.” T’Challa steps before Tony, blocking the exit and holding his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry for your loss-“
“I don’t want your pity.” Tony growls, interrupting him as his Armor starts to fully reform around his body. “Say what you want or get out of my way.”
“I would like to accompany you on this mission.” T’Challa said, honestly surprising Tony, because he didn’t expect that. “While I know that Barnes didn’t kill my Father, I understand your pain and I believe we could maturely help each other out.”
“Look, I don’t want to insult you-“ Tony started but immediately shut up when T’Challa tapped on his necklace and a cool black vibranium suit covered his body. “I’m convinced. But if you betray me-“
“I won’t.” T’Challa immediately reassured, shaking his masked head. “You have my word as The Pri- King of Wakanda and The Black Panther. Together we will get justice for both of our families.”
Tony nods and they both walk out of the room, completely oblivious that a certain Red Head was listening in this whole time…