New
York 2013
“When did we get the
signal?” Fury demanded as he strode through the SHIELD headquarters Agent Hill
hot on her heels.
“At 2100 last night
Sir, Agent’s locked in one the signal locating an unconscious man. They brought
him to be interrogated at the New Mexico field office.”
“And?”
“He, ummm…he escaped
sir.”
That stalled
the Director, “He what?”
She shifted on her
feet sighing heavily, “He escaped sir.”
The man in black
narrowed his good eye, “Is he a threat Agent Hill?”
She shrugged
helplessly, “We have no idea Sir. He was only in custody for an
hour.”
Fury could feel a
headache forming behind his eyes, “Assemble the team. Tell me we at least got
some video on this guy.”
She nodded, “Yes Sir,
we do.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I
can’t believe it worked,” the beloved voice
said. Sounding far too surprised for the brilliant man’s liking.
“What is that
supposed to mean? You still doubt me after all this time?”
“Nope,
never doubted you for a moment,” chuckling,
unperturbed by the disbelief Tony Stark downshifted the stolen SUV as they sped
down the long stretch of empty highway.
“I
think though, you were maybe a little heavy handed during your escape. You
could have just explained yourself.”
“No time, I need to
get to New York tomorrow by 15:42, make sure I get you out of harm’s way.”
“You
laid down a beating, Tony.”
“I didn't kill a
single one of them, just incapacitated them. Not my fault they’re poorly
trained.”
The dead man chuckled
hollowly before speaking again, “You think
they’re going to believe you?”
Snorting, the man
from the future leaned back in the SHIELD vehicle, “I don’t know. You think you
would believe me?”
“I
might, you think you will believe you?”
“Doubtful, but then
again stranger things have happened I suppose.” He flexed his gloved hand on
the steering wheel, checking to see if anyone was following them in the rear view
mirror.
He had figured the
power needed to thrust him back in time would draw the attention of a hyper
alert SHIELD so soon on the heels of Loki. If he hadn't been unconscious at
the time they never would have gotten to him.
As it was though it hadn't taken him long to bust out, and he really hadn't enjoyed beating the
Agents but he had a timeline to adhere to. He was working in seconds not
minutes.
“I
think I’ll believe you, I always believed in you Tony.”
The brunette smiled
sadly, glancing at the cloudy dead eyes staring at him in the mirror. Tony knew
he wasn’t there, not really, just a delusion he had never wanted rid of.
The words came from
his own desperate unconsciousness, “Let’s hope.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve was worried.
He watched concerned
as the dark headed man dozed, leaning heavily on one arm. They had hastily
gathered at SHIELD, answering the summons of Agent Hill. A supposed emergency,
yet here they sat cooling their heels.
Sighing, he glanced
around before once more settling his eyes on Tony. He’d all but dragged Tony
out of the lab in order to get him here. The genius had been working on
something with a one mindedness that bordered on obsession lately. No one, not
even Bruce knew what he was up to, but whatever it was it had consumed the
billionaire’s life.
Steve was worried it
had something to do with Pepper and him separating, she had been unable to bear
the worry of waiting and hoping he would come home.
“Avengers,” Fury
announced briskly entering the room. Already hitting buttons as the screen
descended, and pictures came up.
“Last night we picked
up a massive energy spike near New Mexico. Agent’s investigating discovered an
unconscious man taking him into custody. Unfortunately, he escaped soon after.
We do have some video,” he hit the play button then, Steve focusing on the
grainy, somewhat fuzzy security
images.
Two suited men
flanked a third as they lead him down the long hallway, hands cuffed behind his
back, dark hair obscuring his features. Without warning, the man snapped into
action. Hands free he grabbed each of the agents banging their heads together
without effort.
Shocked Steve could
do no more then watch in stunned silence as he stepped over their unconscious
forms. The unknown assailant paused to grab a rucksack off one before jogging
down the hall.
They could hear the
alarm sounding in the video, other agents appearing in an effort to apprehend
the escapee; none of them succeeded. Steve unable to help his amazement as the
man moved through them with a deadly finesses and
grace.
The angle of the
camera changed then and they could see him from the front. He was wearing a
uniform of some kind, all black, similar to Clint’s but the sleeves were long.
He passed by the camera closer this time but still too obscured to make a
positive id.
Seconds later he was
in the parking garage, then driving away in one of the SHIELD
vehicles.
The screen went black
and a stunned silence descended on the room. Fury turned the lights up.
“Is he a hostile?”
Clint finally asked, breaking the tension. His voice echoing their own worried
thoughts.
Fury looked
uncomfortable for the barest of moments, “We don’t know,” he grudgingly admitted.
Tony snorted, “He
made your Agents look like a joke.”
Bruce looked
thoughtful carefully considering, “He didn't kill anyone though, did he?”
Fury nodded, “No
casualties, couple of broken bones but nothing that won’t heal.”
Steve frowned then
thinking ahead, “Do we know where he’s headed?”
The Director shook
his head, “North, but we aren't sure where
exactly.”
“Doesn't seem like
you have much,” Tony said rubbing his face, dark eyes overly bright. Steve knew
that look, he was already thinking. Speeding ahead of them.
“We don’t, he could
be a friendly for all we know, but beware Avengers, something big maybe coming
down.” Dismissed, they all stood mumbling to one another as they exited the
conference room.
Steve making a point
to fall in step with the inventor, Tony looked pensive and thoughtful. “What do
you think Tony?” he asked softly, wondering if the brilliant man had some
insight.
The shorter man shook
his head, “I’m not sure…I had a weird feeling though, almost like I knew him.”
He mumbled his frown getting deeper.
Steve cocked his
head, “Really?”
“Yeah, crazy isn't it? Must be working too hard.”
Steve nodded
empathetically, “You have been, should eat something, take a rest.”
The dark haired man
grinned, “Brilliant idea Cap, let’s get some dinner.” Steve couldn't help the
warmth that flooded his chest, as he found himself eagerly agreeing. Trying to
hide his blush as he followed the other onto the elevator smiling as Tony began
rhyming off various restaurants.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I should tell him,
why don’t I tell him?”
“I don’t know Sir,”
JARVIS responded blandly. The owner of Stark Industries wishing he could give
the sassy AI a look.
“It wasn't a question
JARVIS,” there was no answer that time. Huffily Tony spun the newly designed prototype
of his armor, he had just finished overhauling the entire thing. Making it more
streamline, sleeker; he would be better, faster, and stronger.
Next time he’d be
faster.
During their last
mission Steve had gotten trapped in a burning building; Tony hadn’t been able
to get their fast enough. Luckily the stupidly heroic idiot had got himself
out. But it had been far to
close.
The whole incident
had shaken Tony Stark to his core. He’d been so close to losing the man who’d
become his best friend, his confidant…his reason.
He wasn’t sure when,
or how it had happened, he just knew Steve Rogers had firmly situated himself
in his abused heart and showed no sign of leaving. He was in love with Captain
America. He couldn’t lose him. So he had to make Iron Man better…himself better.
Despite his
conviction however, Tony still hadn’t been able to confess.
Worried he’d lose
what they had, more worried his feelings wouldn’t be returned. Every time he
thought he was close, he chickened out every time. Sighing, he scrubbed his
face tiredly, “I’m going to do it,” he mumbled to no one in particular.
Decision made, he stood quickly, feeling a rush of nervous energy.
“I’ll tell him,” jaw
set he headed to the lab doors mind already skimming ahead to the possible
outcomes of his profession.
So far in his own
head he didn’t notice until he collides with the very man he wanted to see.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve had been
standing outside the lab undecided.
He wanted to talk to
Tony, yet he hesitated uncertain. He wanted desperately to confess to him.
Reveal the secret he’d been keeping close to his heart for months now. Somehow,
somewhere along the way he’d fallen hard for the amazing engineer.
He’d been trying to
tell him for weeks now, but every time he’d chickened out just as he reached
the lab. So he’d stand in front of the door, worrying; just like now.
Until Tony collided
with him.
Surprised, Steve
automatically reached up to steady the man.
“Steve,” Tony huffed,
smiling, “Just the man I wanted to see.”
A blond brow ached,
“Oh?”
Nodding, the inventor
looked away awkwardly clearing his throat, “I, ummm…wanted to talk to you about
something.” Steve caught the tension in the air, knowing it was important, he
waited, barely breathing.
Dark eyes seemed to
dance around before finally capturing his gaze. “Steve, I wanted to tell -“ his
words were cut off by the blaring alarm.
They looked at one
another ruefully, “To be continued, Spangles.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The vehicle slid to a
halt on a small scenic off shot on the outskirts of the city.
The black clad figure
hurried out of the SUV, beginning to feel that all too familiar rush of
adrenaline kicking in.
Quickly he was
pulling out his rucksack, digging for the small black metal box. Fingers
closing around it, the man from the future tugged it out, dropping it on the
ground.
The innocuous looking
cube sprang to life, opening and unfolding as it attached to the man. The black
metal locking into place around him. The last of the plaiting moving up his
neck, as his face-plate closed over his face, eyes within the metal shield
lighting blue.
Slowly he turned to
look at dead eyes smiling softly at him, “Good
luck, love.”
Nodding once, he
leapt upwards flying with incredible speed towards the city under attack.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Steve, you need to
get out of there, you’re out of time!” the frantic yell cut across the com, as
the man in red and gold armor sped towards the red, white, and blue figure
holding back the oncoming machine.
“I got this! I can
get you more time,” he grunted back, shield slicing the air again and again.
Iron Man pushed
harder, “No time, get out!” JARVIS was in his ear, telling him what he already
knew; he was rapidly losing power.
“All power to
thrusts, shut up JARVIS I know the math,” he also knew the odds, but he was
hoping for a little divine providence.
“Please Steve, get
out,” Tony begged plaintively, the plea far too soft to be heard.
“I can ge-” the blond
was cut off, by a sudden explosion.
Tony screamed
over the link, “STEVE!” static the only response.
Steve coughed weakly,
shaking his head in an effort to clear his vision. His ears were ringing and
his chest was bruised and aching but nothing that wouldn’t heal. Slowly,
disoriented he sat upright looking around at the wreckage.
“Are you ok?” a voice
asked nearby. It was an unfamiliar one; Steve blinked, looking at a man clad
all in metal. It was Iron Man; only it wasn’t Iron Man. Not the red and gold he
was so familiar with but this one was black and silver. Shocked, Steve tried to
get his mouth to work.
Suddenly there were
metal hands on his chest touching gently, as if checking for something. “Who
are you?” he finally managed to croak, staring into the expressionless mask.
The hands pulled away, as the unknown Iron Man titled his head to the side.
“I’ll explain later,”
the voice said gruff, gravelly, but vaguely
recognizable.
Without another word
he was straightening, turning to face the still lumbering mechanical beast.
Steve watching amazed as he took three steps before leaping onto the thing.
“Steve!” he could
hear the yelling on the comm now; the familiar red and gold landing nearby in a
stumbling run.
Tony’s knees wanted
to collapse from under him when he Steve staggering to his feet. The blond
looking a little bedraggled and dirty, but hale and hearty.
“Steve?” Iron Man was
before him touching him, affirming he was ok.
“I’m fine, Tony,” he
assured the other, smiling at the man in the metal suit.
The others where
joining them then, “Steve, you ok?” Clint asked as he and Natasha approached.
Hulk roared his concern.
“I’m fine guys, I was
saved,” that had them all pausing.
“Saved?” Tony asked
curiously. Nodding Steve pointed to the large mechanical creature roaring and
thrashing as if in extreme
pain.
As they watched it
shuddered several more times before lying still. Something flew upwards then,
away from the pile of junk. All watching in tense anticipation as the figure
flew back towards them landing some distance away.
Tony Stark blinked in
shock; it was his Iron Man…only it wasn’t. The design was somehow slimmer,
sleeker, the coloring black and silver. He raised his hands bracing for
battle, noting Clint leveling his bow, Tasha raising her hands, and the Hulk
shifting.
The only one who
remained still was Steve.
It was a standoff.
Only the fake Iron Man made no move to attack; instead he reached up tapping
his chest. Dumbfounded, the Avengers watched as the armor folded back revealing
a man. He was clad completely in black, long shaggy dark hair obscuring his
features.
They all recognized
him in an instant; it was the man from the
video.
Tony slowly lowered
his arms watching amazed as the armor finished folding down to a small cube the
size of a cell phone. The man bending unconcerned to pick it up, tucking it
away in his pocket.
The others were
slowly lowering weapons, warily watching the unknown man approach. Hands
stuffed in his pockets, his head turned this way and that as if he had never
seen the city before.
Steve slung his
shield stepping forward to meet
him.
The other got three
more steps before all hell broke loose.
The jets circled,
SHIELD Agents dropping from the sky weapons leveled Yelling at the man in
black to drop to the ground, hands
raised.
Steve was horrified,
“Wait, don’t,” he tried to stop them but the man was calmly following the
orders, letting himself be cuffed and chained.
Tony reached out
gently, taking the Cap’s arm, “Hold on Steve, I think he wants to be taken.”
The blond looked at him, dumbfounded.
“He has a point Steve,
we saw the video, and what he just did. If he didn’t want to I don’t think he’d
still be here.” Clint confirmed slinging his bow a contemplative look on his
face. Captain America sighed, relenting with a grudging nod.
Tony watched them lead
the man away, that nagging familiarity tickling at his mind once more, “I think
we better get to SHIELD.”
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