Guns
Pepper turned around to look at the others.
“None of you knew? Not even you Rhodey?”
Said man shook his head. Pepper took a deep breath and started to talk.
“The cells on the Raft were never strong enough to hold anyone else then simply normal heroes. Then some idiot asked Tony what would happen if the Iron Man ever became evil. And Tony couldn’t let it go. So he contacted the Raft and built several cells there. Cells strong enough that he wouldn’t be able to get out even if he miraculously got his powers back one day. He built those cells because he didn’t trust himself. And then the Avengers happened and I thought he had forgotten about it all. But then, after Ultron, he came home one day and told me that he was going to go to the Raft. He said that he had done so much bad that he would never be able to functionate in the world ever again. And I couldn’t let that happen. So I had Friday lock him in the lab and called in Rhodey saying that Tony was acting strange. Rhodey came over and Tony stayed. And then you all started to fight and right before he went to that airport he told me that if anything goes wrong he will take the blame and Ross won’t have any other choice but to lock him up. Next thing I know Rhodey is paralyzed, part of the team is locked up and Tony is suddenly dying somewhere in Siberia. But all along those cells were meant for himself.”
She slumped back into her seat and Bruce put an arm around her. Everyone was shocked. Tony Stark had built a cell for himself. Tony Stark thought he was a threat. The first one to speak was Sam.
“So basically he thought he was a threat to the world?”
Pepper nodded. Wanda was shocked. Pepper had been nice to her only because Tony had asked her to? But why would Tony Stark want anyone to be nice to her? He had killed her parents. And Pietro. He had created Ultron and destroyed Sokovia. He had agreed to the Accords. Why would he care about Wanda? She looked over to Pepper. She had grown to like Pepper. She thought they had became close friends. Then suddenly Friday spoke up.
“I think this could be a good time to play the next one. Before someone starts a fight.”
Everyone nodded.
Tony was sitting on the bed in a nice looking room. There was a desk in one corner and a double bed in the other. A small couch was put against one of the walls and a shelf full of books was standing next to it. Metal parts and tools were everywhere. The boy looked around the same age as before but he was in much better shape. He had gained weight so that he looked like a healthy child his age should and the bruises had faded completely. He was wearing a red shirt and jeans and was currently trying to take a gun apart. When he didn’t manage he let both of his hands glow and was going to blow the weapon up when the door opened. Winter went in and looked over to the boy.
“You aren’t in the lab?”
“And you aren’t on a mission?”
For a second they just stared at each other and then the Asset smiled.
“Fair enough. Care to explain what you were doing with my gun?”
Suddenly Tony looked ashamed. He glanced at the weapon and then back at the Soldier.
“I… I was going to take it apart and clean it. But I couldn’t.”
Winter just nodded in understanding.
“So you decided to blow it up instead.”
Tony smiled at him and nodded. With a sigh Winter sat down and took the gun up.
“Now watch closely.”
He then took the gun apart while he explained what he was doing all the time. Then he put it back together and slid it over to the boy. It took Tony only one try to take the gun apart this time. He looked over to Winter and the man smiled.
“Good job Jamie.”
The boy beamed. Seeing that Winter glanced towards where his sniper rifle was standing against the wall. Tony followed his eyes and drew in a sharp breath. Winter looked back at him and asked:
“You wanna try that one?”
Tony nodded quickly. Winter motioned with his head towards the rifle and Tony understood. His eyes became blue once more and the rifle slowly levitated towards them. The man nodded and ruffled the boy’s hair when the rifle landed on the bed. He took it up and went through the same procedure with it as he did with the gun. Tony’s eyes never left his hands. When the rifle was in pieces Winter strated to name all the pieces and then looked up at the boy. Understanding, Tony repeated them all and then watched as Winter put the rifle back together. Even this time did it take only one try for Tony to get it right.
“You’re good at this.”
And once again Tony’s face lit up. He moved closer to Winter and then crawled into his lap.
“Are you going away again?”
The man shrugged.
“No idea. But I’ve noticed that ever since you moved in here they have been keeping me closer to the base than before.”
Tony nodded. After a few seconds of silence Winter sighed.
“What is it Jamie? There is clearly something bothering you.”
It took the boy around two whole minutes to finally ask:
“Will you teach me how to shoot?”
It seemed to take Winter by surprise. He looked at the boy’s face for a few seconds and then stood up and placed him on his hip. Tony made a sound that sounded close to a squeak and quickly grabbed Winter’s jacket. The man took up the gun and handed it to the boy who took it with one hand and hugged it. Then he grabbed a hold on the rifle with his other hand and shifted his grip of the metal arm so that Tony was sitting more comfortably.
“Shooting range next.”
Tony smiled from ear to ear and hugged the gun tighter. While they were going to the shooting range they were met with three different reactions. Some people simply nodded towards them, visibly afraid. Some completely ignored them and some said a quick “Hey James” before they hurried off to wherever they were going. And all the time Tony was smiling.
Natasha smiled over to Bucky.
“You really had a soft spot for him back then right?”
Bucky nodded. He had to admit that he had always liked Jamie. Even when he had been brainwashed. Jamie had somehow managed to turn the Winter Soldier into a better man. Until Hydra ripped them apart and told Winter that Jamie was dead. But now. Now he had the chance to reunite with his little kid. Even if said kid was a grown up man now.
“Were you really allowed to simply walk around the Hydra base like that?”
Bucky shook his head and looked over to Rhodey who had asked the question.
“Not before. But then again I didn’t really have any purpose with going around before that. If I was told to go somewhere I went there. Otherwise I stayed in my cell. But I think Pierce understood that he couldn’t keep Jamie in the room all the time and that Jamie would want me to walk around with him. So I got permission to move around the base whenever I wanted.”
“Wait a second.”
Clint put both hands up in the air and everyone turned towards him.
“Your cell? That room was in no way a cell.”
Natasha rolled her eyes.
“You missed the part where Pierce told Bucky to take Tony to Block A because his old “room” was not fitting for a child?”
Clint looked over to her and nodded.
“You know, I was too busy thinking about the fact that Tony was going to be used by Hydra.”
Meanwhile Bruce was watching Steve.
“Rogers?”
The Captain snapped out of his thoughts and looked over to Bruce.
“Those memories must’ve been altered by someone. There is no way Howard would ever…”
A few more lights exploded and the scared look at Steve’s face was the only thing that kept Bucky from attacking him again. Friday’s voice rang through the room loud and clear.
“If you don’t accept the truth about Howard Stark being an asshole I will personally kick you out of this tower and make sure Ross will find you Captain. You aren’t the only person in the world who’s had a rough childhood and I will NOT accept you talking like that about Boss. Am I making myself clear?”
Steve nodded and all the others, except for Pepper and Rhodey who had known Jarvis for a really long time, were stunned at the level of human emotion the AI displayed. Bucky grinned towards the ceiling and said softly:
“Thanks girl.”
Friday’s voice was much calmer when she answered:
“It’s okey Winter. But if the Captain will keep being an asshole I have nothing against you punching him again.”
“It will be my honour kid.”
Natasha looked from Bucky to the ceiling and then back to Bucky. When she spoke her words seemed to be chosen carefully.
“It’s easy to notice that you’ve known Tony better than anyone. He would love the way you interact with Friday.”
Instead of answering he waved his hand towards the screen and Friday played the next clip.