Chapter 3
Being back at The Compound brings back unwanted memories, but Tony doesn’t want Rogers or any of them anywhere near his new home. So he has to live with it.
From the outside, The Compound looks abandoned and run downed facility, but from the inside… Tony may have forgotten turn off the cleaning droids.
There is still a large hole in the kitchen area, Tony didn’t bother having it fixed, since neither he or Vision planned to stay there.
Friday and Peter decide to make a quick visit to Happy and May and it gives time for Tony and Bruce to catch up.
They talk about Ultron, Sokovia, The Accords, Civil War, Siberia… Tony’s time with Hydra…
Bruce was unsurprisingly pissed when he found out that Steve almost killed Tony in Siberia and that Tony would’ve died if it wasn’t for The Extremis.
Then they had a good laugh about Ross being in Prison and Tony introduced Bruce to Jocasta. Bruce was intrigued by the youngest AI, he was surprised and amazed by what Tony managed to do in only 3 years.
Jocasta may very well one day be even more advanced then Ultron was.
Later, Carol, Tony’s new girl called and informed them that Fury volunteered to fetch up The Rogues and bring them to The Compound.
Bruce was little surprised when he found out about Tony’s new relationship. He thought that Tony and Pepper were always meant to be, even when he found Pepper… little, to much controlling.
But, Tony looks happier then before, so Bruce is glad for his best friend.
“You feeling okay?” Peter asks as he and Friday are walking up to The Compound.
“I don’t know… It feels weird, being here in physical form”
Peter frowns “That wasn’t what I was asking about”
“You mean, how I feel about The Rogues?
Peter nods “Yeah”
Friday stops in her movement “I… I don’t want to see them. I don’t want them here. The last time Rogers and Dad met he almost died...”
“That’s not going to happen again. Mr. Stark is strong enough to beat Cap’s ass with blindfold”
Friday chuckles “Yeah…”
She then smirks and Peter starts to worry. That’s not a good sign.
“So… what about you and that Black Cat?” She teases and Peter is glad that he still has his mask on.
“Nothing…” He mutters, hoping that Friday will drop it
“He is blushing Sis.” Karen’s cheerful voice says from his suit and Friday laughs
Traitor…
“Cat and Spidey sitting on a tree…” Friday starts to sing and Peter playfully punches her in a shoulder. He likes spending time with Friday, she became something like an older sister to him.
Even though, he is in reality older then her, since Friday is only 3 years old. It’s weird.
The night was… eventful.
Tony might have believed that he can do this, but he was wrong. He woke up in the middle of night after a nightmare that Maximoff gave him back at Sokovia and Rogers bashing his shield into him.
The stress from everything that happened in short amount of time finally settled in. He had panic attack and Friday had to stay with him during the night.
God bless her…
Tony keeps repeating that name, Thanos, in his mind. For some reason he knows it, he knew it even before Bruce said it for the first time. He just doesn’t understand how or why…
It’s almost afternoon and Tony, Bruce, Peter and Friday are tinkering with Tony’s Mark 50, just small adjustments, nothing more.
The neural connection, thanks to Extremis, was working perfectly, and now with a single thought, he could create blades, cannons, shields, bigger thrusters, and command the suit as if it was an extension of his body and mind.
He can’t wait for Bruce to see this beauty in action. He will be so jealous!
“Chief, there’s a proximity alert. It’s Fury. Requesting permission to land.” Jocasta’s voice comes speaking thru the speakers.
Tony sucks a breath. They are here… He is here… Tony quickly collects himself when he notices the worried looks coming his way.
“Permission granted.”
Ok, it’s time. Friday, c’mon. Peter, Mask on, all the time. I don’t need Cap annoying me about bringing a minor to fight him or something like that.” Tony said to Peter, whose mask came up to cover his face.
“Well, technically, I’ll be eighteen in one month, so...” Peter tried., but Tony just shakes his head
“He considers Wanda a kid and she is 26 years old.”
“Oh..”
“Yeah…”
Tony sighs “Well, time to go. Wish us luck.” He said while walking out of the room with Friday.
“You sure about this Boss?” Friday asked worriedly as they walked towards the main helipad.
He glanced up at his Baby Girl and smiled softly. She is wearing her Armor, minus the helmet if anything goes wrong.
Last night, she made at least hundred of promises, to shoot any of them, if they try anything. Tony didn’t even bothered to scold her, because if they truly try anything, he will be the first one to kill them.
No more Mr. Nice Guy.
They watched as The SHIELD Quinjet landed and Fury stepped out, leading the trash behind him.
Tony didn’t even bother to acknowledge them, he solely focused on Fury, who walked up eight to him.
“So, you were right… New York was only just the beginning.”
“Yes.” Tony answers simply, he tried to warn them, but nobody listened before.
“I need to go, SHIELD is mobilizing, we will be close by.”
Tony nods and Fury starts to walk back to the Quinjet. Before the ramp closes, he turns and looks Tony directly into the eyes.
“I believe in you. Good luck.”
The Quinjet takes off and Tony watches it quickly disappear in the skies. Maybe Carol wasn’t joking when she called him Fury’s “Golden Boy” when they met.
He is so lost in his thoughts that Friday had to gently nudge him to bring him back to reality.
Oh right..
Tony finally lets his eyes shift towards their… unfortunate guests and he must admit, they look awful.
Both Rogers and Wilson have beards, but Wilson’s looks little more styled while Rogers’s is just a mess. Romanoff is a blond now, supporting a short hairstyle. Maximoff is a redhead and… it kinda suits her.
Their clothes are torn and dirty, the life on the run is clearly hard for them.
But that’s not Tony’s problem.
“Tony…” Rogers tries, but Tony doesn’t let him.
He holds up his finger, silencing him. “No. I don’t want to hear it. So just shut up and follow us”
Tony doesn’t wait for them to answer, he just turns and quickly leads Friday, who was glaring at them the whole time, inside. The Rogues exchange worried and guilty looks, but eventually follow behind them…