The Return/War
“ Breaking news, Russian authorities have confirmed that there is no sign for Tony Stark, a video has been leaked showing Steve Rogers, stranding him on Siberian territory, where the man is is unknown, as cámara footage cuts just after Rogers leaves.”
“As President of the Unites States, I officially revoke Steve Rogers from the tittle of Captain America.”
“Stark industries CEO Pepper Potts, confirms that they won’t surport the Avengers in any shape or form, with the exception of Thor and the Hulk, should they return.”
“The UN confirms the conditional pardon of the rogue Avengers, stating with Thor, Hulk, and Ironman gone, they have no other options, as the enhanced continue to hide, stating that the actions made by Steve Rogers make them afraid of repercutions if they signed their names.”
“Protesters all around the Avengers compound, protest about the upcoming arrival of the rogue Avengers, specially after Steve Rogers posted a video, thanking the people for seeing that he was right, the video was taken out of the internet 2 hours after it was posted, but the damage was done. The Avenges’ approval rating dropped a 40% after the video, and while protester are burning Captain America merch, they lay flowers with Ironman merch, all wondering, where is Tony Stark ?”
Rhodey shutted down the tv with a sigh. It was one mess after the other.
Tony was missing....his little bro was out there somewhere. And he had no idea where ?
Vision had gone to get him from Siberia, after the signal stopped showing on radar. But all he found was a broken suit, a shield of a man Rhodey now hates more than anyone, and that.....video.
It made Rhodey sick. To think Rogers could so something like that. That he kept that truth from Tony for two years...my god where they wrong about that man.
And now he gets to return. While there are restrictions, he won't be going to prison, like he dam should.
In a way, he gets it. Thor and Bruce were already gone, and now Tony is gone as well. It was just him and Vision. Rhodey had been healed from his injuries by King T'Challa and Princess Shuri, but that didn't make him stronger, just the same as before.
The accords counsel got scared. So they did what they did....
Even though Rhodey two new faces. The first, is Carol Danvers. An air force pilot that went missing for years, only to return from space. Courtesy of Phil Coulson (who was alive and apparently, fucked over by SHIELD) and Hope van Dyne, who wanted to make up for Lang's actions. Even if from what T'Challa said, Lang was already well aware that he messed up.
Rogers would not be the leader anymore. That will be Rhodey's job. But he knows the man will try to take control over him all the time. And honestly, Rhodey is not sure how patient is willing to be with Rogers.
They are gonna have to wait and see.
Still, the rage was nothing with the worry, sadness, and guilt that he felt because of Tony.
Where was he. Where had he gone that not even FRIDAY could find him. The only one that could know was Sharon, but she was off the grid as she got cleared for Ross' attempts to frame her. Trying to contact her was risky.
"Colonel Rhodes." Vision called.
"What is it Vis ?"
"The plane from Wakanda has just requested authorization. They are here."
Rhodey sighted. The time had come.
"Well. No point on delaying it then. Let's get right to it."
"Right..."
"Hm..how are you feeling Vis ?"
"I....I feel angry. That this is unfair. They get to come back while...while we don't even know where he is."
"I know. I share that feeling man. I really do. But there is nothing we can do about that. What we can do is make sure those assholes know their place, so when Tony returns, he won't have to put up with their bullshit anymore, and Rogers finally knows his place."
"Based on his behavior. I doubt Mr. Rogers will be even able to recognize that he acted wrongly."
"I know. Which is gonna make crushing his delusions of grandeur even more fun."
"Though I am concerned on how Mr. Parker will react."
Yeah, Peter...his been with them for sometime. Trying to find Tony.
Rhodey felt for the kid. He blamed himself for some reason, and nothing they did made him think differently.
Fucking Rogers.
Finally, after such a long time, Steve and his team were finally back home.
The wait had been very long, sometimes unbearable, but it finally happened.
Though he hoped it was under better circumstances.
He looked at his team and sighted at the clear division. Nat, Wanda, and himself on one side, while Sam, Clint, Scott, and Bucky on the other.
They were united at first, when Steve rescued them from Siberia. A perfect unit planning how to overtake the Accords.
Then the video was released....
Wakanda, 1 month ago.
"STEVE, COME HERE RIGHT NOW !"
Steve rushed to where Sam had called him.
"Sam, what's wrong.."
"THAT ! Is that is wrong." Sam pointed at the tv.
Confused, Steve went to see what they were seeing, and gasped.
It was...the footage of Siberia.
Steve hadn't told his team all of the truth. Only the basics. Zemo had tricked Tony and he attacked them, so Steve had to put him down. Nothing more. He didn't want to tell them or anyone the more private details. He thought that wouldn't do good for Tony, as it would make him look even more bad. But looks like the man will never learn.
"Now Sam..." He started, he had to clean up this mess.
"NO, YOU SHUT UP AND LISTEN !" Sam said.
Steve was greatly shocked. He wasn't expecting this anger at him.
"Sam what.."
"YOU LIED TO US STEVE !" Sam yelled before calming down a bit. "You told us that Tony attacked you and Barnes for no reason. But what we saw there. Well, you failed to mention that part."
"Sam I..."
"What the hell did you think it was gonna happen. Tony saw his parents being killed by Barnes, who was right in front of him !"
"It wasn't Bucky !" Steve hated when he had to say that. He thought Sam understood.
"Do you think that mattered to him. No one would have cared at that exact moment of time Steve. They were his parents, and he has to learn like that."
"But he didn't." Clint then said. "He didn't attack Barnes immediately."
"Clint ?"
"How long did you know Steve ?" He asked. "How long did you know that Barnes killed his parents, AND DIDN'T FUCKING TELL HIM !"
"I...You saw how he reacted there. I had to protect Bucky !"
"Oh my god. It's always Barnes this and Barnes that with you isn't it ? I can't believe i left my family for you. I know for a fact that if you had told Tony before hand, then he would have reacted better. Maybe he would have blamed Barnes at first but he wold have understood."
"You don't know that !" Steve said desperately.
"He would." Clint said again. "I did an effort to befriend Tony you know. He never blamed me for the things Loki forced me to do, or Bruce when he Hulked out on South Africa. For a reason i am not saying right now." Steve was grateful Clint decided to leave a detail out, poor Wanda didn't need that. "So he would have understood."
"However, what he might have done is remove his funding, so you wouldn't have all the money in the world to search for Barnes." Sam said. "God all this time we used his money, his tech, to search for the man that killed his parents, and he had no idea ! Do you know how messed up that is."
Steve knew that might have not been his best move. But he had to do it ! He had to find Bucky ! Couldn't they see that ? Besides he already apologized to Tony on his letter.
"Stark is a monster !" Wanda said. "He only has blood money, the least he could do is allow Steve to use it !"
At least someone still supported him.
"Zip it Maximoff." Clint said. "So it's fine for you to blame someone that has nothing to do with your parents, but Tony can't be mad at the person that hid it from him. That hid the actual murder !"
Wanda looked shocked at Clint's outburst. He was always so soft with her...what happened ?
"That is enough." Natasha finally said. "Yes, Steve could have handled things better. But that's in the past. We need to focus on now."
"Are you serious ?" Scott said, he had been so quiet lately. "He lied to Stark, and lied to us on what happened. And you expect us to just forget it. What is wrong with you ?"
"I am saying we need to hunker down for what's coming. With Tony missing, many things are gonna come at us at once."
That got Steve's attention.
"What do you mean Tony is missing ?"
"He hasn't been seen since your fight in Siberia. Vanished without a trace."
"What !"
"Oh come on Steve. What were you expecting. You left him stranded there !" Sam said. "What happened to no man left behind ?"
"He was fine. He was talking !" Steve didn't understand this. Why was his team suddenly going against him.
"Do you know what adrenaline is ?" Scott asked, before shaking his head. "God I left Cassie and Hope for this. I can't..I just can't." With that, Scott left the room.
"To think I saw you as our leader." Clint said spitefully. "I should have never been involved on this shit. Fuck you Rogers." He too left.
Sam shook his head. "T'Challa came in earlier, absolutely furious. You lied to him as well Steve. I thought...I thought you were a better man than this. Guess Captain America is nothing more than a fake story." Sam left alongside the others at that. Leaving Steve alone with Natasha, Wanda, and Bucky.
Wanda looked shocked at Clint's treatment of her. Natasha looked pensative. They both had at least come to Steve's aid.
But Bucky...he shouldn't be dealing with this.
"Buck, are you ok ?"
"What...why did you lie Stevie ?"
"Bucky I..."
"You told them Stark attacked us just because Zemo manipulated him. You know there was more. Lying got us on that fight Steve, when are you going to learn ?"
"Bucky I....I did the right thing. I am a hero, and i had to save you."
"Hmph. Hero. Steve....that word once might have described you. But that's no longer the case." With that, Bucky left, leaving a stunned Steve behind.
Steve sighted. From that day, almost all of his team refused to have to do anything with him. Only Nat and Wanda talked to him.
He thought that the pardons would make them calm down, for them to see that Steve had been right on his stand. But they were still so angry.
But no matter. Steve could fix everything now.
First thing he has to find Tony. At first Steve thought he might have been licking his wounds, but it seems he was truly missing. Steve still had his doubts though.
Then after they talk and Tony accepts the truth in Steve's words and that he had been right, then everything could be easily solved. No more accords, no more public hating. The Avengers would be the family they were before.
He got off the ramp, and saw Rhodes, Vision, two woman, and the Spider Kid.
“Rhodes.”
“Colonel, Mr. Rogers, address me with my tittle, we are Colonel Rhodes, Captain Danvers, and Ms. Van Dyne, you will call us with our tittles.”
“Then please call me Captain.”
“No, the president personally revoked your tittle some days ago, as of now, you are not Captain America.”
“What, that can’t be true.”
“Show him FRIDAY.”
So FRIDAY showed Steve the message, how could the president do this.
No matter, Tony will fix it.
“Let’s make something very clear, things are not going back to the way they where, you are not the leader, I am, you can’t go to any mission you see fit, you will have authorization, you will pay for your own food, Pepper ended all the funds that Tony had for you, non of the credit cards he gave you will work, so you better work your asses of.”
What, so Tony wasn’t gonna fund them, and Steve wasn’t the leader anymore, no, Steve has to find Tony and make him fix it.”
“Then I'll talk to Tony.”
All of Rhodes’ side, as well as, Sam, Clint and Scott looked at him.
“What ?”
“We need to talk, he has to fix....”
Spider-Man then punched him on the face, Steve fell because of the strength of the punch.
“What???”
“HOW DARE YOU SPEAK LIKE THAT TO MR.STARK, WHEN IT WAS YOU THAT MADE HIM GO MISSING.”
Steve held his cheek. That kid was so strong...
“Vision, take him away.”
Vision left with Spider-Man, he ignored Wanda’s calls.
“Rhodes, haven't you found Tony already ? what happened ?”
“I don’t know Rogers, when you leave somebody in Siberia alone, things might go wrong.”
What, no, Tony was fine.
“I told him that.” Clint added.
“So not everyone is happy with you on your team heh Rogers.”
“Hell we aren’t, that lying bastard separated Scott and I from our families.”
“Clint, I will talk to Laura.....”
“I will shoot you if you get close to her Rogers, don’t come to my house ever in your life.”
With that Clint went away to his room, Sam, Scott followed him. Bucky looked at Steve, before shaking his head and left as well.
“You know the rules, break them, your out.”
Rhodes went away after that.
Steve couldn’t believe this was the return he got.
No matter, he will find Tony, and make him fix this.
Things will return to normal soon, Steve will make sure of it.
Meanwhile on the middle of the ocean.
Giant sea horses entered an area where a group of great whites was waiting.
The first group has green armor, while the other has white.
The leader took of his helmet, King Orm.
At his side, the advisor Vulko spoke.
"He understands the significance of this meeting. He'll hear you out."
Orm nodded and swam towards the other King.
"King Orm."
"King Nerus."
"You picked a place to close to the surface for my liking."
"Don't you recognize the council of the kings ? This is where the royals used to met. Atlantis, Xebel, Fisherman, Brine. Deserters and Trench had not yet fallen, Lost Nation had yet vanished. And now look at us. Bound by ridiculous rules, while the threat above us grows undeniable !"
"Violence has always claimed the surface. Didn't you hear do the their super hero Civil War ? They are gonna destroy themselves."
"Not before they destroy us first. Remember the Wakandians ? Amazonians ? Or what about Asgard ?"
"Asgard has been a close ally of Atlantis for centuries. And we have a peace treaty with Wakanda. They leave the world alone."
"It doesn't take the fact that we have hidden for long enough. The time has come for Atlantis to rise up again."
"Hmm."
"We honor you King Nerus." Vulko said. "By becoming the first to join King Orm's alliance."
"As if you have any choice Vulko. The Deserters are all dead, no one knows what happened to the Lost Nation, and the Trench are nothing but animals. The Brine will never join you and the Fisherman are cowards. Without me and my army to convince them, your plans are still born. But I know what you want. You want to be, Ocean Master."
"That's just a title."
"I'm no fool King Orm. As Ocean Master you'll have the biggest military force on the planet at your command."
"I am the natural choice to lead it."
"Then why isn't Atlan's precious guardian with you. It's said he just protects the true king of the seas. Besides, what about the other one ? The Atlantan, that walks among the surface. One of royal blood. Iron Man."
"He has never been on Atlantis. I have respect for him for his deeds as Iron Man, but that doesn't take away that..."
BAM !
Suddenly, both Kings were sent away by an explosion.
"SURFACE DREAWLERS !"
Orm quickly grabbed his trident and attacked the coming submarine. With one hit, he had the propeller destroyed, and the sub went down.
Nerus came to him.
"I am not trying to start this war. The war has already began."
"Then it's time we send them a message that they'll hear."