What Happened in Siberia?
(Scott Lang’s House, San Francisco, California)
“Hope….”
“Scott.”
Scott felt his heart clenching in his chest as he stared at the woman standing on his front porch. Hope looked… well, she looked beautiful as always. Her hair was a little longer than when he first met her, but otherwise, she looked mostly the same: crisp cut business dress, minimal makeup, and severe, analytical eyes.
She looked amazing… and amazingly unreachable.
Scott cleared his throat. “You… you got out OK, then? Stark’s minions didn’t come after you?”
At the mention of Stark, Scott knew he fucked up somehow. Hope’s eyes, already sharper than usual, turned flinty and cold. “Mr. Stark’s “minions” adjusted the Accords so I can sign and save my father, myself, and your whole family from your fuck up,” Hope spat.
He recoiled as if she’d slapped him. “You… you signed?! Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Hope…. Did Stark force you to－”
This time, Hope really did slap him. “That man has done your whole family and yourself a massive favor, Lang. Learn to be grateful for once in your life!”
“W－What?”
“What the hell did you think you were doing, helping terrorists in my father’s suit?!”
“It’s Captain America!”
“SO FUCKING WHAT?!” Hope screamed angrily.
Scott stumbled backward, not entirely convinced Hope wouldn’t just deck him right there and then. “Hope, please, it was Captain America. The Captain America. When he ask for your help you don’t ask question, you just do it!”
Hope gaped at him like he just told her he believed that earth was flat. “I can’t believe this,” she whispered. “Do you even know what you were fighting for?”
“Freedom,” he answered automatically. “Stark wanted to control the Avengers. Make them government’s guard dog. I had to stop him.”
“Jesus Christ, Scott, it’s been months. Please don’t tell me you haven’t been watching the news?!”
He made a face at that. “Why would I watch them? They’re all paid by Stark, anyway.”
“Oh my god,” Hope moaned into her palm. “I should’ve known you’re the type to make up conspiracy theories like that.” She sighed heavily and eyed him tiredly. “Scott, those are all true. The Accords really did get amended. Superheroes all over the world really did band up together to make teams of enhanced people. And for god’s sake, Scott, the UN is not a goddamn government!”
Scott had to pause. It’s true, he really was the kind of guy that’s naturally suspicious of the people in power. It’s a well known fact, considering how he lashed out during that one interview back in prison.
But it’s Stark. Even Hank told him not to trust him.
Judging by Hope’s hardening gaze, he knew she could tell what he was thinking. “You, of all people, should’ve known that my dad is a petty old fool.”
“Hope! You can’t say things like that－”
“Oh, spare me your crap, Lang! If you cared about my dad, you wouldn’t have used his suit to become a fucking terrorist!”
“Wha－”
“The moment you revealed Pym’s technology, Scott Edward Harris Lang, you made us your accomplices. You don’t need to spare any breath defending my Dad’s honor, he hates you already.”
He felt his air knocked out of him. “Is that… is that why you signed the Accords? Did they force you to?”
Hope snarled at him, “Nobody forces me to do anything, Scott. I brokered a deal with Mr. Stark. My signature… for your lightened sentence and reduced media exposure.”
“Hope…” he whispered brokenly.
But Hope was relentless. “Do you know what would happen if we didn’t do that for you, Scott? Let me spell it out for you. You’ll be the only member of Captain America’s team that received actual trial, meaning the whole world would set it’s eyes on you. Now, three guesses on who else would’ve had their faces plastered on TV alongside yours?”
Cassie, Maggie, Paxton. Luis. Everyone.
Suddenly, all of his choices didn’t seem so righteous anymore. He would’ve keeled over if Hope didn’t brace him against the wall. “C－Cassie.”
Hope nodded, and for the first time, her eyes didn’t seem as harsh. “And Maggie. And Jim. And Those clowns you picked from god knows where. Make no mistake, Scott, if you’d been sent to prison again, then I’ll be the first to say that you deserve it. But Cassie? Maggie? Jim? They don’t deserve to pay for your mistakes.”
He couldn’t deny that. His daughter… his sweet daughter…. He almost jeopardized his Peanut. What kind of father was he?!
“And… and Stark…. Stark spared them?” he rasped after a while.
Hope’s eyes softened yet again with something that looked like her namesake. “The choice was either me and Dad exiling ourselves so they can argue for plausible deniability, or we have a third party, trusted by the Accords and law, to vouch for them… and by extension, you.”
Stark… Stark did that for me? For Cassie?
“Why…?”
Hope scoffed. “Why would he do that for your ungrateful ass? I don’t know. Maybe because he actually needed my help. Or maybe he was just doing his duty as a hero that actually cares about what happen to the people left in the aftermath.” She shrugged. “Or maybe, most likely, he knows how it feels like to life with the sin of a father, hanging over you, taunting you, tainting your future. Maybe it’s because he’s a father himself, and he knows the pain of having to live without his child.”
He didn’t know that about him. “He’s got a child?”
“Children, from what I’ve seen.”
Oh.
“Is he….”
“A good father? I’d say he’s a very dedicated one. The kind whose whole world is his children. The kind that I wish my own father could’ve been.”
‘The kind that I wish you could’ve been’ went unsaid, but he heard the accusation anyway. “I didn’t know that,” he said softly.
She eyed him speculatively. “Would you like to know?”
“Huh?”
“He’s about to give a press conference in an hour. It’s about one of his children, I think.”
Scott thought hard for a minute. Like, really hard. He didn’t trust Stark… but he trusted Hope. And Hope seemed to like the guy alright… which said a lot, considering that Hope only liked a handful of people.
‘The kind whose whole world is his children.’
Scott made his decision.
“Yes.”
(Stark Tower Conference Room, Manhattan, New York City)
“Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Hannah Keener, mother of Harley Keener - whose picture was leaked to the media yesterday by an unknown party. I’m here now to set a few things straight about the nature of my son’s relationship with Mr. Tony Stark.” Hannah nodded professionally to Tony, who had stayed silent and let her took charge, just like how Pepper told him to.
And Crowley, if he was being honest with himself, but it still grated on his nerve to think that a single, drug-addled fresh graduate in pain came to the same conclusion as his entire PR department in less than 5 minutes: Let the mother talk. Be honest, but don’t overshare. Don’t just threaten, act.
So he did, and Hannah performed wonderfully.
“I would like to ask all of you to not interrupt me or ask any question until I’m done. Mr. Stark and Ms. Potts have informed me that security will escort any offenders out of the room, so please refrain from doing so. My son got kidnapped by the now ex-Secretary of State Ross because of an unethical journalistic practice, so you must forgive me for having a short fuse against such people.” Hannah leveled her glare at some select reporters, no doubt the ones that had been flagged by Pepper to be problematic. “And no, I will not discuss that particular incident, Ross’ trial will be aired publicly and internationally. You will all wait for that to happen for further information.”
“Well then,” she continued, ignoring the burbling that filled the room when Harley’s kidnapping got mentioned, "let’s address the elephant in the room. My son, Harley, is not Mr. Stark’s biological child. I will be expecting news outlets and amateur blogs that had and has been reporting him as such to publicly apologize by the end of this day.”
Several dismayed voices clamored around the room, and Tony decided to put his foot down as soon as possible. “She just told you all to not interrupt. Shut up or get the hell out of here,” he intoned coldly.
The effect was immediate. The room fell silent almost instantly when they heard the voice nobody had heard ever since Afghanistan.
“Thank you,” Hannah said calmly. “Like I said, each and every party that has slandered my 12-years-old son’s name will be expected to publicly publish their apology before 12am tomorrow. Failure to comply will result in a very loud, very public lawsuit that we will win, so I suggest you all, especially those of you that personally wrote those disgusting gossips, to start making your draft.
“Now, as to what the exact nature of my son and Mr. Stark’s relationship is, I will be the first to tell you that it is none of your business. I assure you that the relationship is not sexual, because I did find some especially vile individuals that wrote it as such.And neither is it professional, either, because I can guarantee you that while my son would love to be involved in SI’s internship program, I will not allow him to join until he is at least 15 years old - the minimum age that SI required from their interns.
“What they are to each other, how they feel, and what they do on the weekend is not for you to snoop about. They have not done anything illegal in the course of their acquaintanceship, and as such we will not tolerate any defamation with false claims and scandalous theories. My son is a minor, and thus is protected by several different protection laws from such attempts.
“However, my son also told me privately to tell you all that, and I quote, ‘I’m not ashamed of the fact that I have Tony as a father figure.’ The same sentiment has been expressed by both his little sister and another young boy that my children have come to see as their older brother.
Wait, That wasn’t on the plan!
Was that what the Parkers and Keeners discussed before he got into their room? Was that why both Hailey and Peter were so quick on the draw with the”dad” thing?
Tony’s heart skipped a beat.
On one hand, he felt an immense, smug satisfaction from the kids’－his kids’ declaration. But on the other hand… Tony wasn’t particularly keen on having them putting any of his kids in the media’s unrelenting cross hairs, unlikely as it was, judging from the harsh, fierce look on Hannah’s face.
Evidently, however, his fear was not entirely unwarranted. He saw a reporter, one that had been stowing mulishly ever since Hannah’s declaration about public apology, looking disturbingly gleeful at Hannah’s words. Discreetly, Tony leveled his sunglasses on him, scanning his face to reveal his identity. John Jonah Jameson Jr.. Publisher (and occasional reporter, apparently) of Daily Bugle.
Hannah soldiered on, unperturbed by the stares of varying degree of inquisitiveness from the press before her. “I can tell you that those three had told me that their life has grown for the better ever since they met Tony. And us, meaning me and the other boy’s aunt, agreed that Mr. Stark’s presence allowed our children to not only develop better, more wholesome attitudes and mental health, but also improve and cultivate their individual talents and abilities.
“Now, to close my statement, I’d like to reiterate to you all the importance of leaving these children alone. Not only because we will take every legal action against you should you try, but also because it’s what a decent human being would and should do. I know that it’s your job to tell the public the truth, ugly or otherwise, but please restraint yourself from spreading baseless gossip and cheap clickbaits. The world has enough hate and lies to last a lifetime, and we can use a little more kosher news and meaningful stories instead of ugly, hateful massages. Thank you.”
Tony raised his hand and took over the stage before the questioning started. “Before you start asking us anything, I would like to lay a ground rule for you all. Disrespect my children, and you won’t deal with Tony Stark. No, who you’ll be facing in the courtroom is the Merchant of Death. So think very carefully before you open your mouth.”
The entire room was dead silent, partly from the fear of saying the wrong word and risk sending him on a warpath. But Tony also saw several guilty glances and resolute, approving stare among the crowd.
J4, however, did not get the memo. “J. Jonah Jameson, Daily Bugle. Mr. Stark, what kind of relationship do you have with Mrs. Keener and the other boy’s aunt?”
“We are good friends that co-parent the same children,” he answered succinctly, eyes already narrowing at the implication of the question.
“Well, Mr. Stark, considering your… well documented, wild sexual exploit, don’t you think it’s fair for us to view your unusual parenting strategy as you practicing polygamous relationship? Can you comment on that?”
Ho, boy. You want to do it like that? Alright, let’s play.
“Mr. Jameson, are you implying that I’m cheating on my girlfriend? That I’m keeping my children’s mother and aunt as some sort of glorified concubine?” he asked callously.
All the other reporters were either shifting in discomfort or staring at J4 in incredulity, but the man himself was either too dumb to recognize the threat, or too suicidal to care. “You can’t deny that it’s the impression that the people would get, Mr. Stark.”
Hannah pointed a glacial glare at Jameson’s direction, and the man discreetly gulped.
Suicidal, then.
“Tell him, Hannah.”
She smiled like a shark and started to speak slowly, as if she was talking with a misbehaving pre-K student, “I am not a homewrecker, Mr. Jameson. Nor am I some kind of trophy woman for billionaires to collect. I have a job with stable income, and I’ve been living independently ever since the day I move out of my parents’ home when I go to collage. I raised my children practically alone since day 1 because their father was a deadbeat that knows nothing of responsibility, let alone parenting.
“When Tony came into our life 3 years ago, I was apprehensive. How could I not, with the reputation people like you gave him over the years? But he broke Harley out of the shell that his bitterness over his father had created - something that not even I could do. And he practically raised my daughter as the only male figure that she ever know, considering that her father left her when she was just a few days old.
“I care for this man, yes. But my admiration over him extended only so far: a co-parent, a friend, and an occasional hero. Yes, our family’s configuration is unconventional. But Parents with platonic relationship with each other is really not that rare. Fathers and mothers across this country lose their parental rights after a particularly nasty breakup, and never get it back, even after they reconcile with their family later in life. Don’t insult those people and us for not falling under your repulsively narrow category of what an ideal family should look like.”
Tony recorded the whole speech, along with J4’s increasingly sour face, using his colored shades. That’s what families do, right? Document milestones and moments?
Again, the crowd of usually rowdy reporters hushed up. Tony was almost disappointed at how quick they all shriveled up. Did they get lenient in the absence of SI’s more ruthless PR maneuvers?
Finally however, someone raised her hand gallantly.
Christine Everhart.
The woman was uncharacteristically silent during the conference, Tony didn’t even notice her attendance. Inwardly, he prepared for the worst. She had come a long way since her days with Vanity Fair, but her sharp tongue still remained.
Curiously, however, she didn’t even look at him. The reporter focused her attention on Hannah, her face unexpectedly appreciative and spirited. “Christine Everhart, WHiH. First of all, Mrs. Keener, I would like to applaud you for standing up for single mothers everywhere. And on the behalf of my own mother, who raised me alone as a single mother, I’d like to say thank you for your courage and wish good luck for you and your children.”
Oh. Well, would you look at that.
“My first question is for both of you to answer. Mrs. Keener, you have shown your resilience and competence as a single parent, and you also commended Mr. Stark for the same quality. But I would like to ask, how do you both deal with the power imbalance that your co-parenting bring? Mrs. Keener, you have all the parental rights over your children: custody, guardianship, all the works, while Mr. Stark legally has none. On the other hand, Mr. Stark, you undoubtedly hold the edge against Mrs. Keener in financial and political powers. How do you balance such asymmetry? What advice do you have for parents worldwide in a similar condition as you?”
Tony almost wept with joy at the intelligent question - and with frustration at his own inability to see that problem himself until someone else pointed it out for him. He glanced at Hannah, who nodded at him. The message was clear: ‘tell her the truth.’
“Thank you for your kind words, Ms. Everhart. I must admit, I wasn’t expecting this question. Mr. Stark and I have never discussed this matter explicitly before, so I will instead tell you about our actual experiences during our 3 years of friendship.
“While it’s true that I hold all the legal rights for the guardianship of my children, you forget a very integral part of that equation: the children themselves. Harley and his sister adore Tony, Ms. Everhart, and the man himself is good for them. What kind of mother would I be if I purposefully shy them away from such a good influence?”
Hannah looked pointedly at Tony, and he took the cue. “My decision of never bringing up any motion of shared custody with Mrs. Keener was because I wasn’t even sure the children wanted that from me. In my defense, the other boy that Mrs. Keener talked about told me earlier today: ‘I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me you love me.’ And yes, he is that sappy.
“If in the future the kids told us they want to make it official, black on white kind of affair, would I reconsider? Yes, of course. But until then, I think we’re good with the current arrangement.”
Christine seemed happy with the answer as she nodded and gestured at him to answer the next question. Which was a little bit more difficult than the first, if he was being honest with himself.
But really, was it ever easy to address a problem that has roots in not only classism, but also sexism and gender inequality?
“As for my part in the power imbalance…. Well, like Mrs. Keener said before; she’s a strong, independent woman who did not need my help to survive. But I assume you’re asking about the possibility of me using my wealth and resources against her deliberately? Well, that’s where you come in, Christine. Abuse of power is happening everywhere, everyday. Be it in a homes, in workplaces, in schools, hell, even in the White House. The strong have the ability to trample on the weak, and historically, they do tend to abuse this ability.
“But we now live in an era where even lies get spread around faster chicken pox. Through the media, the weak gain the power to fight back, and regain what they are due.
“Don’t confuse our earlier threat for anti-media sentiment, Ms. Everhart, we are all for free speech and freedom of expression. What we do not like is the exploitation of children, our children, for the sake of a trending news and hashtag. But if I somehow, someway, do go off the ledge and act in a way that merit the public censure, then by all means, go right ahead.”
“So you are asking us to be your conscience, Mr. Stark?” Christine asked neutrally.
“I’m asking you to watch me hold myself accountable.”
Christine smirked with an honest approval, and just a little bit of victorious delight. “Speaking of accountability, Mr. Stark, let’s talk about Sokovia Accords.”
Motherfucker.
“We all know by now about how the Accords were brought forth as a response to the increasingly erratic and destructive exploits of the Avengers. We also know that out of the original members, you alone stood behind the idea of accountability and responsibility, regardless of the divided opinion of the public for that decision. We know now that in the span of a few months, you have bolstered said Accords, making it fairer and more acceptable for enhanced people all over the world, and we all see the good result.”
Christine paused, likely for the dramatic suspense, and leaned forward. “What we don’t know, Mr. Stark, is something that happened in between. What happened after the scuffle in German’s Leipzig Airport? Where did you go days after that? What happened that suddenly Steven Rogers, and Steven Rogers only, received condemnation from US Army?”
This woman, I swear. Can’t believe I almost not dislike her.
“Mr. Stark, What happened in Siberia?”
Damn it, Everhart.
(Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago)
“...My son, Harley is not Mr. Stark’s biological child. I will be expecting news outlets and amateur blogs that had and has been reporting him as such to publicly apologize by the end of this day,” Said the woman on the TV… Hannah Keener, was it?
To be honest, Steve wasn’t entirely buying the whole rehearsal that Tony was doing. It was clear from the woman’s childish demand for the reporters to apologize for doing their job that Tony orchestrated the whole thing. Maybe even bought the woman’s service. Too bad he had to watch this alone… Sam wasn’t interested in seeing Tony’s face, and Nat was still resting from her latest mission.
“She just told you all to not interrupt. Shut up or get the hell out of here,” Tony said, and his cold tone validated Steve’s suspicion. Tony just wanted to rub his influence over those reporters - probably to stroke his ego like Nat’s been saying.
“Thank you,” Said the woman in a mock-calmness. “Like I said, each and every party that has slandered my 12-years-old son’s name will be expected to publicly publish their apology before 12am tomorrow. Failure to comply will result in a very loud, very public lawsuit that we will win, so I suggest you all, especially those of you that personally wrote those disgusting gossips, to start making your draft.” Steve shook his head at Tony’s childishness. Those reporters were just doing their job! If he didn’t want to be bothered, he shouldn’t have done anything suspicious like sneaking around with a child!
The woman kept on prattling about tedious things on the TV, and Steve was aghast at how the poor child must’ve been shunned because of Tony’s influence. He should’ve told Steve about this Harley kid so he could protect him from Tony’s bad reputation! Another case of Tony keeping secret from him.
He shook his head when the woman “quoted” her child saying that he considered Tony as his father-figure. That man could barely function correctly without the rest of his team keeping him in line! Such a man could not possibly be a good authority figure. No, if anything, Tony should’ve trusted this kid to him. If Tony really cared about Harley, he should’ve seen that Steve was more capable than him in guiding a young man such as Harley.
And that wasn’t even mentioning the other 2 kids… why didn’t she mention their names? Honestly… was this Tony keeping even more secret?
“I can tell you that those three had told me that their life has grown for the better ever since they met Tony. And us, meaning me and the other boy’s aunt, agreed that Mr. Stark’s presence allowed our children to not only develop better, more wholesome attitudes and mental health, but also improve and cultivate their individual talents and abilities.” Said the woman Tony paid to do the monologue on stage.
And there was the proof of Tony’s deception. No life has been bettered by Tony’s singular influence.
The woman closed her rehearsal by threatening the press. Again. Truly, Tony’s insolence knew no bounds.
Just as soon as she stopped talking, Tony made a ruckus like the show pony that he was. “Before you start asking us anything, I would like to lay a ground rule for you all. Disrespect my children, and you won’t deal with Tony Stark. No, who you’ll be facing in the courtroom is the Merchant of Death. So think very carefully before you open your mouth.”
Steve was galled by Tony’s words. His children? Tony… Tony never vocally claimed such a close kinship with anyone… not even the team. Who were these kids that Tony deemed them worthier than his friends? Family? And “Merchant of Death?” Did Tony just threatened the press over these faux-children of his?
At least this Jameson fellow showed some backbone by mentioning the only possible explanation of Tony’s over-protectiveness over these unknown kids. After all, Tony was a renowned playboy with no morality left whatsoever. It wouldn’t be too far off for him to keep some women and use their children to justify his depravity.
Of course, Tony had to cowardly hide behind the woman’s outrage. Although, Steve had to admit that the woman seemed honestly offended by poor Jameson’s logical deduction. But Steve didn’t think it merited her calling him repulsive. Even Steve came to the same conclusion… it was their fault for having such a complicated relationship in the first place!
And then, after they both bully the press over such a common misconception, silencing them just because one of them misspoke, another brave soul raised her hand. This one Steve recognized as one of those that protest about anything and everything Avengers. Although, with Tony essentially selling his dignity to the government, Steve wasn’t so sure she wouldn’t be biased towards his former teammate.
“Christine Everhart, WHiH. First of all, Mrs. Keener, I would like to applaud you for standing up for single mothers everywhere. And on the behalf of my own mother, who raised me alone as a single mother, I’d like to say thank you for your courage and wish good luck for you and your children,” she said. Steve was disgusted. That Hannah woman had just reacted so exaggeratedly over such a simple mistake, and Everhart was applauding her?! Even more, she thanked her on the behalf of single mothers? Like Steve’s own Mama?!
Was she implying that anyone that agreed with Jameson was disrespecting single mothers?? The gall of that Everhart woman was horrifyingly disgusting.
And then she babbled on and on about “power imbalance” or other such crap. Honestly, people in the future were so sensitive. Back in his days, women dealt with it bravely and uprightly. Not complain about it all day like they did now.
And that woman indulged in the display: saying such utter lies about children’s wishes and whatnot. Evidently her children was unfit to make their own decision. They saw Tony, of all people, as a role model!
And then said man quoted his other “son” saying stuff about not needing actual adoption. Really, now he was just trampling on laws! He kept on blithering about power abuse, while he was abusing his power over all those reporters and his own teammates… how hypocritical could one man be?
But then….
“Mr. Stark, What happened in Siberia?”
Steve’s blood ran cold.
It’s OK, he reassured himself. Tony wouldn’t sell his family out like that.
But he found himself calling for his teammates still. Tony just proved again and again how petty he was willing to be… Steve needed his team’s presence there with him, just in case.
They all went into the room just in time to see Tony taking a deep breath and removed the ridiculous shade from his eyes.
“What happened after the “scuffle”, Ms. Everhart, was me noticing the disjoint in Sargent Barnes’ alleged bombing case. I’m sure all of you know this by now, so I’ll skip the details that were already public knowledge. What you didn’t know was I had to promise Mr. Wilson to ‘come alone and as a friend’ to gain the coordinate to an abandoned HYDRA bunker in Siberia.”
No. No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. Tony shouldn’t have stooped this low!
“As to what happened there, and why were we there in the first place… I’ll just give you the visual. I advice minor audiences and the squeamish to turn off their devices now and just watch for the censored version later. It’s rather disturbing.”
VISUAL?! Tony was recording them?? How could he?! And now he’s about to let the world know such a private thing??
Tony flicked his phone on the TV, and suddenly Steve couldn’t feel his body as the video played on and on and on.