Civil Talk
He was a fugitive. Yet there he was, standing on the front door of the Avengers compound. He had decided it was finally time for him to come. Or so he hoped.
He would have rung the doorbell, but he was sure Friday had already informed Tony of his presence. He just had to wait. There was a chance he wasn’t welcome there anymore, but they had to acknowledge his presence at some point.
He didn’t realize someone was coming, lost in thought as he was. He almost jumped when the door opened.
“Hello, Steve.”
“Hi, Pepper.” She was definitely not who he expected to find.
“Please, come in” She gestured, and he entered.
“It’s great to see you. It’s been…”
“A while, yeah. It’s been a while.”
Pepper’s face was saying ‘neither of us wants to get into details’ and he couldn’t agree more.
“Tony will probably be here in a minute…he just needed to find the appropriate shoes to step out of his comfort zone.”
Steve couldn’t help but smile.
He heard footsteps approaching and soon saw Tony walking up the nearest set of stairs.
“I need to make some phone calls.” She then looked at the ceiling. There was no need to, but somehow they all ended up doing that when they talked to her. “Friday. I need my schedule and all the details you have on those on the ‘important people’ category.”
“Everything’s ready, Ms. Potts.”
Pepper smiled at Steve, then looked at Tony. “I’ll be in my office if you need me.”
None of them said anything, and the sound of Pepper’s heels on the glass steps filled the silence. Until Tony broke it.
“Loved your letter. It’s true what they say, they’re more personal than emails. It seems we do have a lot to learn from you elder people after all.”
Steve raised his eyebrow.
“The phone bit, though. You could have called. You know that way I would have your number anyway, right?”
“Yeah. I may have not picked up much from you while I was living under this roof but that I know.”
“You certainly didn’t learn to choose a proper cell phone. I mean-“
“I’m happy to see that Pepper’s back.” Tony’s eyes widened, as he stood in silence for about two seconds, which was more than usual.
“Me too. It seems I was able to redeem myself again. I still don’t know how I did it. How’s everyone?” He paused. “If I’m allowed to ask.”
“Everybody’s fine.” He swallowed. “Clint and Scott are having a rough time being far from their families…” They truly were, and they both had managed to visit them, but he sure wasn’t going to share that. “…but everyone’s alright.”
“I’m guessing Scott’s the big…the giant guy?”
Steve laughs. “He’s mostly the tiny guy, but yes.” He nodded. “That was him.”
“You know, it’s funny that you came today. I talked to T’Challa yesterday.” Tony started walking while gesturing for Steve to follow. “Recent events in Wakanda have made him reconsider the Accords. And, you know the guy, he’s royal, and convincing…some amendments may be in order. And with some I mean probably rewriting the whole thing. Now if you want to be part of this you all may need to face a trial.”
They’d gotten to the kitchen at this point. Steve opened his mouth to speak his mind.
“By the way, T’Challa mentioned how invaluable your metal armed friend’s help was during this past two weeks.” Tony rambled around the kitchen, and eventually picked up a pair of mugs. “So I think you shouldn’t worry about him. He’s like a national hero now…his feline majesty probably gave him a vibranium medal already.” He turned around to face Steve. “Coffee?”
Steve nodded. He hadn’t slept much in the last couple of days. He had been playing out his conversation with Tony in his head over and over again. And none of the scenarios included…well, none of this.
“I…I didn’t know he was even awake. He was supposed to -“
“Remain a popsicle until he was un-brainwashed. Yeah, I think that’s been taken care of.” Tony took the coffee pot and poured some on both mugs. “Physics, engineering, neuroscience… I wonder if there’s anything Wakandans don’t excel in.”
“But T’Challa didn’t -“
“Tell you?” Tony handed him one of the mugs. “Are you sure you gave him a phone, Cap? Maybe he doesn’t have one and he just -“
Steve rolled his eyes.
“I’m sorry.” Tony leaned on the worktop. Then took a sip of coffee. “I discovered being passive aggressive helps me deal with stuff.”
“Tony, I -“
“You know. It’s fine. I’m over it. I mean, not totally over it. But I’ve had a couple of months to think about it. And I know what is like being used. And kidnapped. And, held captive against your will.”
Steve stood in silence. Coffee mug untouched.
“Still. You may thank T’Challa. He’s a great guy. A really patient guy.” He took another sip of coffee. “He doesn’t seem like that at first, you know. But he can be super chill.”
Steve nodded repeatedly, still silent.
“And Pepper. I mean, she’s the queen of forgiving. It was about time I learned something from her.” Tony looked at Steve. “Now you better have learned a lot over these months as well or I will make a Captain America memento of yourself. And hang it on the wall. I’m sure it would be tacky but it’d grow on me.” His voice changed. He didn’t seem angry, but commanding. It reminded Steve of how Bucky used to tell him not to get into trouble. “Do not keep anything away from me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Tony. I’m -“
“Apologies accepted. Now come with me. You can bring the coffee. Even if you are not going to drink it. I may need it later. I’ve been busy all night.”
They walked to Tony’s workshop. As always, it was filled with a plethora of scrap pieces of equipment, with some actual working stuff here and there. And the suits. They covered one of the walls almost completely.
Steve accompanied Tony to one of the tables. There was a shiny metal arm resting on a metal structure seemingly made for that sole purpose.
“It’s quite updated. I didn’t know if I should include the red star. Was it his thing or was it a Hydra thing?”
It had only been a couple of months since Tony had broken Bucky’s arm. Since he had tried to hurt them. Since they had tried to hurt him. And now he had made something for him? For the man who killed his parents? Tony was right, Bucky had had his good share of suffering. He understood, and that was more than what Steve could have asked for. More than he expected, which was the reason why he hadn’t told him what Bucky had done in the first place. But, showing sympathy for him? He felt relief. But also guilt. And probably many other things, all at once.
“This. Tony, I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, I broke the older one, so this…I wouldn’t say it makes us even, but I kind of had to do it. It’s actually a cool project to work on.”
“You didn’t -“
“Look, I’ve been through hell. And yet I cannot begin to imagine what he went through. He may need more than a helping hand now that he’s back on the realm of the living.” Tony shook the metal arm prototype while saying so.
“I -“
“I know what you’re thinking. ‘Tony’s a good guy and I acted like a shithead.’ Well, Cap, you did. There’s no denying that. But so did I.”
Steve kept a straight face.
“And we did it for a reason. Now, believe me when I say your Bucky is safe. You can check with his majesty. All has been taken care of. So, from now on, you’ll have to do as I say. There’s no more you against the world.”
Tony stared at Steve, and Steve nodded once. He hadn’t agreed yet, but he was listening.
“We’re gonna get the best lawyer there is. You’re gonna go to trial. And we’re gonna win this. Then we’re gonna make sure the Accords protect everyone’s interests. You better read that document until you want to get into cryostasis again. You should defend your position accordingly if you want anything to be changed.” Tony deposited the arm on its display stand and turned to face him. “Are you with me?”
He nodded.
“Good.” Tony turned to the table and started picking up small components. “I have work to do. I’ll call you. I have your crappy cell phone.” He picked it up from the table. Then he left it on it again and started fusing something. “There’s something upstairs. You may want to pick that up before you leave. It’s above the piano.” Tony looked up for a moment. “Tell everyone I said ‘Hi.’.”
Steve left Tony’s workshop and started walking towards the entrance. Not far from it, there was a piano. It was strange. To his knowledge, Wanda was the only person who had lived there who had any musical skills. And she only stroke her guitar’s chords every now and then. The compound was big enough to miss some details, but he knew the musical instrument was definitely not there before.
There was it. Hanging from the nearest wall. It was his shield.
*****
“Do you really think this will solve our problems? Does Tony want the best for us or just for us to do what he thinks is right?”
Wanda had turned out to be the most distrustful of them all. And no one could blame her. After all, she had been confined to the Avengers compound first, and a cell in the middle of nowhere after that.
“He seemed candid, yeah. I checked with T’Challa and everything he said was true: Bucky’s awake and he and other countries’ representatives are willing to amend the Accords.”
Wanda stirred her cup of tea and left the teaspoon on its plate, starting to consider what she just heard.
“I won’t say I’m all about showing my face in court. Hell, I’d rather not. But if it is all it takes to start living whatever we call ‘normal life’ again.” Clint looked around the kitchen to make sure everyone was listening. “Then, I’m in.”
Natasha shrugged. “You already know what I think. I signed those Accords the first time. And I would face the court if I had to.” Tony was right, T’Challa was a good guy. If protecting Bucky hadn’t been enough, he also didn’t accuse Nat of violating the Accords by helping them. But she had agreed to come to the safe house as soon as Steve asked. “So, unless you’ve called me to make a point, or disagree with me…” She looked at Steve, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, I’m not for hiding forever.”
“None of us are, man.” Sam rested a hand on his shoulder. “We’ve fought for this country. You’ve saved the world a handful of times.”
“You have, as well.” Wanda had stopped staring at her cup. “And you didn’t put it in danger in the first place, so that’s a plus.”
Nat felt the need to intervene. “We’ve all saved people. And hurt people. All of us, Wanda.”
Sam shrugged. “Well, I say we let people decide how innocent or guilty we are.”
Scott laughed. Everyone stared at him, waiting for an explanation.
“We’re gonna need a hell of a lawyer.”