Masks

Tony insisted on cleaning and bandaging the few cuts Catrin had received, despite her protests that they weren't important. He wanted to speak with her privately(or at least pretend to it) before they returned to the Tower with a seemingly brainwashed and/or traumatized Omega in tow. He pulled her aside and had her sit on a convenient boulder while he gently washed bits of grit and blood off her cheek.

Cay was still too young for a heat, though in another year or so that would likely change. She would feel drawn to unmated Omegas or sometimes compatible Betas, but the ability to form a life-long, spousal bond only came with full adulthood, usually between twenty and twenty-four for Alphas.
She and the "Winter Soldier" were acting in sync, but neither of their scents held so much as a tinge of arousal or lust. Sometimes siblings or close friends might have a connection like that. He and Rhodey had done, in their college years, though these days it was lessened by age and distance.
That eased some of his worries. Not all by a long shot!

"You did the right thing bringing him with you, but this isn't going to be easy," he told her softly. "He's confused, unstable, and he's picked you to be his Alpha, Cay. For now, if not forever. "

"And you don't trust him."

"I don't know him. Neither do you...yet. Go carefully. " He blew out a breath. "I won't say he isn't welcome, but we need answers. See if you can get him to tell you his name, at least."

"Pa, I don't think he knows his name. " Catrin told Tony about the snatch of conversation she'd overheard at the lab. He hissed through his teeth. Nasty, even for HYDRA, and he hadn't realized their tech was that advanced.

"We'll try having JARVIS run facial recognition for him, then. After we're safely back home."

Catrin rejoined the Soldier, and they were shortly aboard the helicopter. He stuck to her side like a burr, all right. Bruce gave Tony a raised eyebrow, but didn't protest as he climbed into the pilot's seat.
Clark, Thor, and Diana unceremoniously stuffed their prisoners into a waiting van. They'd meet the family back at the Tower.

When Tony glanced back, the Russian(?) was curled up with his head on Catrin's shoulder. Both of them had dozed off, fatigue having caught up with them.

" ' It's never what people expect, when it's real'. " Bruce's voice was a whisper. "Friends or family. "

* * *
Dick stared at the monitor screen in disbelief. "...he's either stupid or an even bigger glutton for punishment than Bruce is," he muttered.

"Can't be both?" Pepper asked, as she gave the image of a glowering Steven Grant Rogers a look of absolute disgust. He was in the public lobby, trying to argue or sweet-talk his way past the receptionist.

"Where are his frat buddies?" Happy wondered. "JARVIS, any sign of them?"

"Nowhere visible in the area around the building. "

Pepper tapped a nail against the keyboard.

"Sir and Mr. Wayne are landing at the heliport, and they request Dr. Banner's or an EMT's presence. Discreetly."

"Are they all right? Is Catrin with them?"

"Sir and Bruce appear unhurt. Miss Stark-Wayne is with them...visuals suggest she has no serious injuries. There is a fourth person with them who is not looking well."

"Tell them I'm on my way, JARVIS, please," Banner requested. "Unless you think I should stay here?" to Pepper. "Or go talk to Steve?"

"No, please go on up, Bruce. I'll handle Mr. Rogers. I've very much wanted to have a few words with him. "

She smiled.

A shiver ran down Dick's spine at her expression.

Rogers was about to have a no-good, horrible, very bad day.

"Think we should sell tickets?" Happy whispered.

"Only if I get 12%," Pepper called cheerfully over her shoulder.

A battered grey van pulled up noisily to the curb. Steve spared it a brief glance before he continued trying to explain to the stubborn old woman at the front desk that he just needed to talk to Stark for a moment. Why was this so hard for everyone to understand?
Nat had stayed behind to distract Fury. Steve was sure she'd be able to keep the man from even noticing anything else for quite a while.

His arm itched. He felt unbalanced without his shield...just wrong. Well, that'd be fixed shortly too.

The sharp click of high heels alerted him to Pepper's walking toward him. "Hello, Pepper," he greeted her, trying to sound cordial.

"What do you think--" she broke off. "Scratch that. Clearly, no such activity was involved here. What is it you want, Rogers?"

"Five minutes of Tony's time. That's all," he said earnestly.

"You were told that you've been evicted from Stark Tower. I think you understand what that means."

"Yes, but--"

"So can you give me a good reason not to simply have you arrested for trespassing? Or any reason at all?" she pressed.

"Tony needs us," Steve replied smugly. "I heard about his little girl. And that Wayne character."

A hand fell on Pepper's shoulder.

Tony's voice was hard. " That 'Wayne character', as you call him, is my husband. As to my daughter, she is no concern of yours. Neither am I." He glared.

Steve choked, looking stricken. "Husband? But...that's..."

"The truth. " Tony checked his watch. "You've got three minutes left. After that, if Pepper doesn't have your ass hauled out of here, I will. Talk fast."

"Dammit, Tony--" Steve grabbed at his arm. "Would you just listen--"

Tony didn't hesitate before jerking free, raising both hands, and blasting Rogers in the face with the low-powered repulsors he worse.