Stephen meets Steve
“Hey! Where’s Tony?”
Pepper frowned without turning when she heard the voice behind her. Too much sorrow had come to Tony because of the actions of this man. She sighed and turned slowly. Better to face the inevitable soon and try to shield her beloved idiot from the real idiots. At least with everything going wrong Tony had never had mean intentions or made false assumptions on the bad side. He rather had trusted too much, believed too strongly in his friends than not enough.
Rogers was alone. And he had the decency to look at least somewhat unhappy.
“Why should I tell you?” She asked. You left him, didn’t you? And you didn’t even have the guts to…”
“I deserve everything you might want to throw at me!” The other exclaimed. “Probably even more than you know!”
Pepper just snapped her mouth shut and crossed her arms, striking a very repulsing pose, her eyebrows crawling higher towards her neatly trimmed hairline.
“And again, you seem to know exactly what people think huh? You, the great star-spangled man, don’t need to listen, you don’t need to talk, you know so much better than anyone else. No change I see.”
Rogers had breathed harshly as if to interrupt her again but to his, anew honour got the not-so-subtle hint and didn’t interrupt her again.
“You are right of course, I deserved that. I tried to see things from Tony’s perspective, I tried to do what I thought he was supposed to do and I failed. I wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t Tony after all. I couldn’t do it, but I had to try!”
He looked down on his shoes, nice but completely common ones, and sighed again. “See, I need to put this right.”
Pepper shook her head in exasperation. Still, the other man understood nothing. If he wanted to ‘right’ this it would only be possible by actions. Nothing he could say or do would make a difference. But he was a goody-two-shoes through and through. All talk, no action. At least not if said action involved true unpretentiousness, accepting to wait and talk. Tony had been the same now and then, impulsive, brazen, daring to a degree it bordered on foolishness. But Tony had learned the bitter way and accepted responsibility for his flaws and mistakes. He’d done better. He’d never tried to explain and make people understand the way Rogers did. The way that suggested it hadn’t been a bad choice the moment it happened, but seemed so just in hindsight and no one could have done better.
Tony’s first sentence whenever he realized a mistake had been: I should have known. Roger's first sentence was: how could I have known? The answer was the same for both of them: You could have asked! But while Tony accepted his mistake and nowadays asked more, Rogers never accepted that there could be others better than him. Nobler than him. He could accept a sacrifice if it was a soldier lying down on the barbed wire to let others pass over his back safely. He never understood a silent sacrifice, a sacrifice born out of desperation and fear.
Rogers was pathologic heroic in his mindset. He never had enough regard for his own life in a way, always willing to throw himself away for others, never willing to even assume that sometimes it was necessary to let others take the lead or sacrificing themselves, so the leader could go on.
Tony was far too selfless himself sometimes. But with Tony, it was simply the wish to get things done fast when he had the feeling of looming doom. He also truly believed he wasn’t worth the sacrifice of others. With Rogers, it was the strict belief no one could do better than him.
Tony wished for redemption and did everything to help people and atone for his sometimes-imaginary sins, Rogers wanted to prove himself too, but there it was out of some idealistic believe in his own goodness and the wish to show the rest of the world so they could see and look in awe.
She got an inkling how she could show Rogers at least some of his limits. Tony already was on his way back from Kathmandu but Rogers didn’t need to know that. It would even be better to have the old Avenger off the compound when Tony came back to talk to king T’Challa about more variety in Peter Quill's studies of earth and people.
“Follow me. It’s your last chance, Rogers.” She almost smiled at Steve’s relieved expression. She marched straight towards the airfield where the Benatar had arrived mere minutes ago.
“Hey Rocket!” the raccoon looked up from the clamp he had just replaced. He’d said it had looked strained and he wanted to make sure the ship was in pristine condition but Pepper had the intense feeling the creature was insecure among all the scientists wandering around the compound trying far too obvious not to stare at the enhanced critter.
“Could you do me a favour and give Mr. Rogers here a lift when you go and look for Groot? He needs to see Tony and you know,” with that she gave the other one a very intense look and hoped he would understand, “how hard it is to come by Tony nowadays when he has so much on his plate. I thought Karmataj might be the perfect setting for an important talk between former comrades.”
For a moment she thought she might have overestimated Rocket after all. He twitched his ears and opened his snout in a way that showed clearly his irritation. He had after all just brought back the engineer a few minutes before and therefore knew exactly that he was no longer in Kathmandu. Pepper added a silent ‘please’ and urged him on with a desperate expression. Realization dawned on the small creature's face and Pepper marvelled again how expressive the furry face could be.
“So, you want me to play taxi again?” The raccoon snarled aggressively. “Hell, why not, better than being cooped up somewhere, I guess. Hop in Dolly!”
He turned to rub his paws on a smeary looking rag while kicking his tools seemingly reckless into the ship. Rogers looked at her in disbelieve that she really meant it. Before he could say anything Rocket interrupted again.
“Come on! Hurry up! I don’t have all day! And don’t even believe for a second I got the time to help you search for some human there! I’ll throw you off at the Master's feet and he might help you or not. See if I care!”
With that, he looked rather questioningly at Pepper who smiled and nodded amicably. “Of course! I also shall let you know that some people want to tech-talk with you when you come back. Dr Banner will be there too.”
And Tony of course but Rocked knew that very well. They were to set up a tech-squat with Princess Shuri and Hank Pym to plan the defence line for the earth. It had mulled the raccoon a lot that he was regarded as an invaluable asset for this setup. He had been chosen to represent extra-terrestrial life and he’d been very pleased to hear that.
The appointment wasn’t till six o’clock though, nothing less than 4 hours from now. No problem for the Benatar but again, Rogers didn’t need to know that.
With a pained expression on his face and a last look at Pepper's open smirk, the super-soldier boarded the spaceship.
She had to laugh hard when Rocket started abruptly. Steve could have barely had time to buckle in. She saw his somewhat green face when Rocket turned the ship full circle without any necessity. The glint in his eyes showed her he’d done it only as a favour for her.
The raccoon really was a smart creature for picking up her animosity so fast!
Rogers didn’t feel very confident when he sat next to the strange creature. Of course, he had been briefed about their new allies and their representatives. But it’s a whole world between being told about a genetically and technologically enhanced raccoon being one of the new experts on alien tech and being strapped to a chair right next to it flying a spaceship.
“I’ve been told you’re just as engineered as I am Dolly!” the raccoon remarked grumpily, “and how would you like to be referred to as ‘it’. I got a name, it is Rocket, and I am male if you really need to be told.”
Rogers paled realizing he had muttered that last sentence and despite the noise of the engine and the task on hand the cr…. Rocket had heard him.
“S-sorry.” he stuttered. Looking quite sheepishly at the other.
“Hah!” exclaimed the creature. “To bad my creators have been killed. You could have done with some intellectual enhancement yourself! Too sad. It seemed your engineers left that out.” The creature bared his teeth in a snarl. “Well at least they made you easy on the eyes, I bet you are quite a hit with the ladies huh? Not looking the misfit part that much surely had its perks to be sure. So, you had it all and still botched. Don’t panic though. There’s a nice, big apocalypse heading our way. Nothing better to redeem yourself than preventing a catastrophe. One day a criminal, next day a saviour! Worked for me!”
He looked at the bared canine fangs of the other and realized he might be out of his league if he tried his wits against that raccoon. He also realized that he might indeed have more in common with that thi…. raccoon than he liked to admit. Nothing of his powers was his own. He had not much to brag about. Even a lab animal might have more to show when it comes to life story and character development than him.
Oh, how he hated that feeling.
Luckily the ride was a very short one. He could do without being outsmarted by a lab rat.
Rocket just sneered when he saw the Sorcerer Supreme waiting for them at the training ground, the only place big enough to land the ship. Groot was nowhere to be seen, probably still rooting in the gardens. Last time he had looked after his friend his ‘I am Groot!’ had translated to utter satisfaction about proper food for once and the desire to enjoy the earth in the said garden till the next growth spurt. Rocked hoped desperately the teen allures would be over then.
In the background, the novices waited patiently to continue sparring on the ground as soon as he left again. Regarding the frost covering the edges of the buildings and stones, he had a hazard guess he knew whom they were training against and grinned at the thought of the big idiot at his side and the big surprise awaiting him. He almost wished he could find a reason to stay and watch.
“Looks like you’re lucky, someone there to get you,” Rocket muttered. Seems my friend is not ready yet and I have no time to babysit so out you hop Dolly!”
The Master had left his usual cloak hovering in the shadows of some pillars surrounding the place. Rocket grinned at the thought of what else might surprise the man at his side. He couldn’t wait to see if he could not snatch some back scratches from Pepper's perfectly manicured fingers but also some pieces of information about that guy and why he deserved to be delivered to the mercy of the sorcerer.
So as soon as the man had stepped off the Benatar Rocket started in a gush of wind that knocked the big guy forward.
Too bad he could not hear him cackle.
Rogers internally cringed about the ridiculous entrance he had. In front of him stood a tall and somewhat impressive figure clad in a strange blue garb totally unfazed by the sudden disappearance.
As soon as the ship had left some people gathered at the place and started sparring with each other. Steve wondered why Tony would stay at a place that looked like a mixture of a Sen-Temple and a karate-dojo but shrugged it off as an eccentricity. Maybe he thought they should mobilize even civilians. He doubted some martial artists would make much difference though but maybe it was a good idea to include people at least on the surface, letting them help some ways or the other even if they had to keep them out of the big fights in the end.
A voluminous Asian guy approached the tall man waiting patiently for him and reached in time with Rogers before the former could say anything the tall man turned and addressed the Asian guy.
“Wong would you please inform our guest that I’m ready to fulfil his request of battle without the advantages of the sling ring and see what we can do together to improve ourselves as soon as I am done with our newest arrival.”
The man addressed as Wong simply nodded. When he turned his eyes found Rogers and he smirked. “Maybe you should keep it on you just in case someone can’t withstand to interfere…” He muttered with a glint in his eye before leaving.
“Mr. Rogers, my name is Dr Stephen Strange and I am sorry to tell you that your journey has been in vain. Mr. Stark has already left. But if you wait for a while, I’ll see to it that you get fast transportation back to the compound. I’d send you now but I have an appointment to keep and Novices to train.”
Steve was furious. The other had ignored his outstretched hand and not even cared to take his hands to the front, they were still hidden behind his back. Even the courteous nod didn’t smooth this rudeness, he hadn’t let Steve greet him and hadn’t even greeted him respectfully.
What kind of relations did Tony establish nowadays and what should this accomplish? Clearly the other was full of himself and wanted to show off.
Against Captain America.
Steve smiled generously. “Sure. I’m very curious about this place and role you are playing in the preparations…” his voice got lost when he saw a man in black and green garb entering the training compound. It couldn’t be! That was….
“Loki!” Rogers exclaimed. He tried to step forward and engage the enemy. He had been briefed that the alien had shared information but he had thought it had happened under pressure and while being held in a secure place. Seeing the enemy walking casually around without any suitable oversight was too negligent even for Tony, he must have escaped. Before he could do anything Strange reacted much faster than Steve had expected. He stared down at a scarred and gnarled hand pressed against his torso. He felt a strange sensation running through his body, freezing him to the spot.
“Please refrain from molesting my guests.” The other stated calmly. “He is here to assess and train his newly accepted powers and harness them for his revenge on Thanos. He’s an asset in our dreading fight and has been an invaluable asset in helping us with some…. special and unforeseen problems. Now if you excuse me, I have a fight waiting for me.”
He stood back and watched with horror when the man approached the trickster and they walked towards the centre of the training grounds. There they took stand against each other. The former soldier took in the sight of the man called Strange, his twitching and shaking hands raised defensively.
“We need to train harder now,” Loki uttered casually, “you might have been able to trick me but so far the both of us are no match for Ebony Maw.”
Strange snorted. “I didn’t just trick you trickster! I beat you on your own turf! But I honour your request. Let's see what you can do while testing our new idea of defence.”
Steve watched full of disbelieve how the novices surrounded them, their lines strengthened by people he assumed might be masters of the arts for their different style of clothing. He didn’t fully register the hovering cloak though, keeping itself at the edge of the line surrounding the combatants. What was going on here? Who was Ebony Maw? And how on earth could those people believe they could accomplish anything even against Loki. obviously, the madman had tricked them into believing they were stronger than….
He gasped when the ring of people simultaneously clapped their hands just to continue doing some strange ritualistic gestures. Soon after they started the surrounding scenery seemed to shatter. It was as if reality had broken into pieces, the faces of the people getting blurred behind this curtain of broken and mirrored reality.
“Impressive,” the god of mischief nodded appreciatingly at the barrier. “Mirror dimension?”
“Yes, it is. Let's hope the agents get to the reality stone before Thanos though. It might not hold against the powers of the Infinity Stones,” Strange replied. “Ready now? Let's see how much power this barrier can take! Don’t hold back, it is a ball around us that should keep most of what we can do in check.”
“Well then, by all means, let's get started!” Loki grinned. His handsome features changed; strange lines painted themselves on his skin while his eyes glowed red in his suddenly blue coloured face. Steve gulped. There went his theory. It seemed the Asgardian had even gained a few tricks more. The air went freezing cold, he felt reminded of his time lost in the ice. He realized he was caught in the ring with them and he stepped back as far as he could.
Strange swirled his hands in an intricate pattern. All of a sudden fire extended from his hands and he attacked Loki furiously, moving way faster than the super-soldier had expected. Loki retaliated with a growl. The two clashed, the Sorcerer protecting himself with shields made of runes and light. Notwithstanding blasting the alien into the walls, sending ripples through them that made the strange splinters and shards twinkle and shift without doing harm to the people behind. Still, their expression looked strained. It seemed they had trouble keeping the raw energies in check. The magic battle raged until it almost seemed as if the Jothun gained advantage. Just when it looked as if a flash of frozen air would hit home and smother the sorcerer a red flash came between the raging combatants. The icy attack evaporated when it hit a floating cloak. It settled itself on the sorcerer's shoulders and made him raise up in the air.
Soon Steve lost track of the attacks becoming faster and faster. The opponents fighting so hard and fast it was barely believable to be true. In the end, the human showed exhaustion. Still, he managed to hold his ground far better than anybody should have been able too. In a last desperate attempt, he attacked his opponent with cruel darts of fire effectively sending him crashing against the barrier shattering it.
Both fighters got on their feet again in a whiff.
"That was...slightly better than last time." Steve saw with surprise the trickster was breathing heavily too.
"I must admit I underestimated your capacity of growth."
"Still not enough though." the sorcerer replied. "Give me the night to read up a bit more. Let's see what we can do tomorrow."
The blue colour faded from Loki's face while he studied the others face contemplating.
"No, I don't think so," he repeated calmly. He stepped into the others space stopping him from replying. "I need to rest. We need to rest! Earth needs time with you too. Let's repeat that in three days. Everyone can train in between as it fits. Experiment a little." Stephen calmed visibly.
"It's really hard to get used to your new sensible me sometimes," he joked, "you're almost a spoilsport now. This coming from you of all people..."
Loki just snickered. He turned and spared Steve a cold glance. Without saying a word, he turned and walked through the already scattering crowd of sorcerers and novices. Heading inside.
"He almost beat you!" Steve accused the sorcerer, "and you let him just walk around and banter with him! What he's done…"
"Had been done for different reasons and circumstances than you know so back off!" Stephen interrupted harshly. "You should have cared about a proper debriefing beforehand! What are you doing here? Why did you come?"
Steve huffed. "That's none of your business. I need to talk to Tony. This is insufferable! I owe you nothing. I don't answer to you. I don't know what you're planning here but this is crazy! Who do you think you are and what did you do to qualify for planning such attacks! You could ruin us all!"
The sorcerer looked at him with an unreadable expression.
"And what did you do to qualify as a judge of actions you don't understand? What did you do during your time back?" he stated calmly. "How come you think I have to answer to you?"
Steve had enough of this. He'd just walked away if he'd any means of getting back on his own.
"Why don't we do it the easy way then," he growled, "let me have a go and assess you myself."
The other raised an eyebrow at that and sighed.
"I really don't get it how anybody could stand you," he growled. "But if you insist get it on!"
Steve looked at him incredulously. The man didn't even take a stance. He just stood there looking at him with a mocking expression. He saw an outlet for all that frustration building up in him for days and just lunged at the man.
It happened faster than he'd thought possible. The other had made no move he could have seen but the next second he was running through a wall. Stone and dust crumbling around him when he turned and tried again. This time an almost lazy gesture opened a portal and before he could react it swallowed him and the next moment Strange stood all alone in the training grounds.
Loki leisurely walked closer, looking at the spot where Captain America had vanished.
"He's falling?" he inquired cautiously.
"No, I thought he could use a cooldown. He's swimming."
Loki's mouth twitched in amusement. "Where?"
The sorcerer chuckled darkly. "Well, somewhere in the arctic sea. I could get him back and I will. Sometime today. But I can't tell you the coordinates by heart…"
"You're going softer on earthlings then." the other mused.
Strange looked back at the trickster. "I wouldn't think having to swim around in icy cold water is better than just falling. Nothing happened to you."
"I see. Loki stated calmly, "you've never fallen from a bifœst into a void I guess?"
"No just died about 7.7 billion times in a loop. Give or take one or two million." Strange retorted.
"Oh, that's interesting. Care to share?"
Strange looked at Loki ready for a rebuff. Then he thought better of it.
"Maybe. Someone ordered a break. We could have one together, trying a little chitchat and see what comes up. Care for some tea?"
The Jotun looked perplexed. He honestly had not believed for a second the other would ever be willing to spend more time with him than necessary. He didn't even know if he himself wanted that. Still, he followed when the Master turned his back and lead the way.
Steve had no idea where he was and in which direction to go on. Still, he swam towards a shore he didn't even know was there. He was driven by sheer hope for hours now. His superior stamina and strength weren't depleted at all but the loneliness and vast stretch of ocean surrounding him were tugging on his nerves. No chance to get distracted. After a while, he realized this was an exercise in futility. He would need days to reach anywhere. The only chance to get back was the man who brought him here.
He turned onto his back and let the waves rock his body gently.
He sighed. He had realized his own foolishness a while ago. He was no longer the hero. All his actions had led to this end, not because he was a bad person, but because he had the overinflated ego, he had accused Tony to have. Nothing he had ever done had been done without support. But that hadn't been for a lack of trying to do so. Had he gone rough earlier in his life there might have been a disaster. The moment he started on his own there was a disaster. He had gone lost because of it.
Again, and again, he had judged people only for their strength. Even himself.
That was why he had wanted to get into the army so badly. He still was fighting for not being a wimp. The insults and berating’s of his generation in his mind.
Nagging and nagging and nagging.
On and on and on.
All people had judged him not for himself but for his appearance, his weaknesses and his flaws. No one had ever acknowledged his strength.
And when he had grown above his flaws, he had taken on those of the people around him who were belittling him.
All except Bucky. His best friend. The one and only person who had been on his side and who trusted him, believed in him, had always accepted him just the way he was.
And then he had betrayed even him, well at least his memory. The one person who had shown him real appreciation, real respect, would never have approved of what he’d done.
Would never have gone behind his back and betrayed him like he betrayed Tony.
Bucky also never had shown bitterness when he had realized that Steve had outgrown him. Had still kept his back. Still trusted him and himself.
Maybe it was time to accept his flaws and accept that he was not perfect.
Fuck the maybe.
He definitely needed to tone down. To listen for a change.
He watched the sunset and wondered how long he had been left out here. He mused if the sorcerer would ever get him back.
Just that moment a portal opened just left of him, a mere inch above the water. The lazy little waves lapping at its sparking edge. He calmly looked up into Tony’s closed off face.
“There you are.” The voice of the engineer was harsh and void of emotion.
Steve turned and grabbed the edge of the portal tentatively. When the other stepped back he hefted himself out of the icy cold water. It hadn’t hurt him like it would have someone without his enhancements but it hadn’t been very comfortable either so he felt a little stiff. He had no idea how much of that stiffness was nothing but awkwardness against Tony though.
The portal snapped shut as soon as he had stepped through and he twitched.
The look on the sorcerer's face was ridiculously innocent but Steve didn’t manage to be offended. He deserved this.
He looked down. He wasn’t able to look in the smaller man's eyes. He wasn’t even able to look at him at all. He had stormed forward full of intent to make things right and a cold bath was what he had needed to see reason. He couldn’t make anything right. He had been wrong and nothing was left he could do to make it right.
His chances were gone.
All he could hope to do was making better decisions in the future.
He was determined to start right now.
“I’m sorry Tony but I have to ask if you find it in your heart, even if I don’t deserve it, would you please be willing to talk to me someday? At your convenience?” He murmured roughly in direction of the other.
The other man grew stiff. “It is my convenience right now. Get it over with. I do not wish to be followed around all the time till I listen so I’ll listen now.”
Steve looked at him and sighed.
“You were right and I was wrong. I don’t deserve your forgiveness and I won’t ask for it. I won’t try to reason because there is nothing that could legitimate what I have done to you. I deeply regret to have destroyed us, destroyed our trust. This is on me. For all its worth I am sorry. I’ll try to do better in the future and I won’t bother you anymore. And yes, I agree with you if you feel that this changes nothing because it really doesn’t.”
Tony looked at him as if he had hit him. Then he turned around to the sorcerer.
“Have you left him alone with Loki at any time?” He asked astonished.
“How do you get this idea? I wanted to keep the Karmataj intact, thank you very much.” quipped the other.
“Well, this could only come from this guy if the trickster brainwashed him! Or you've left him to Mantis! That's it, isn't it?” The man deadpanned and Steve huffed a laugh.
“I haven't met anybody named Mantis. At least not that I know of. It's just me finally realizing some uncomfortable truths. Could someone please get me back to the compound?” he dared to ask, “I’ve learned today that I have some reading to do.”
Without words, the Master of the mystic arts twirled his hand and opened a portal. A quick glance proved it led indeed back to the compound.
“Thank you, Sir,” Steve uttered respectfully before stepping through the portal without further hesitation.
When the portal closed the two men left behind stared at each other in disbelieve.
Stark opened his mouth but before he could say anything the sorcerer lifted his shaking hands and spurted out:
“Just a swim! Just a couple of hours in cold water, we didn’t do anything! Really!”
Tony closed and opened his mouth a few times. Then he tilted his head in confusion.
“Well, since we’re obviously experiencing miracles, why don’t we go in and see if Loki is still up for the drink, he asked from me an eon ago. After what just happened here, I definitely need one and this is as good a time as any to bring Loki in on the newest planning.”
Steven laughed and followed his friend. It was a time of miracles indeed.