The Corrupt and the Pure; Chapter 10: The Search
[INFO]Title: The Corrupt and the Pure
Author: Del Rion (delrion.mail (at) gmail.com)
Fandom: The Avengers & Captain America (MCU)
Timeline: post-Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Genre: Drama, action, hurt/comfort
Rating: MA / FRAO
Characters: Steve Rogers (Captain America), Tony Stark (Iron Man). Also: Bruce Banner (Hulk), James “Bucky” Barnes (Winter Soldier), Clint Barton (Hawkeye), J.A.R.V.I.S., James “Rhodey” Rhodes (War Machine), Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), Thor, Sam Wilson (Falcon)
Pairing: Steve/Tony
Summary: When the Steve Rogers from an alternate universe appears in the middle of the Avengers Tower, two worlds are about to collide: one where Captain America became the tool of HYDRA and fell into a relationship with the hero Iron Man - and one where Tony and Steve are tentatively getting along. The latter are forced to reconsider their relationship when the Commander kidnaps Tony to replace his dead lover.
Complete.
Written for: A story commissioned by Susanne (ChickenHax @ AO3 / starkred @ Tumblr).
Warnings: Rape/non-con, major character death (alternate universe), graphic canonical violence, M/M sexual content, language.
~ ~ ~
Chapter 10: The Search
Avengers Tower,
Manhattan, New York City, NY
As the hours passed and there seemed to be no new developments in their search for the Commander and Tony Stark, Steve began to think they would accomplish more by simply walking the streets of Manhattan, looking for clues.
“Look, I don’t want to be the guy who doesn’t get it, but… is someone actually working on finding them - aside from Natasha?” Sam asked loudly just as Steve was entertaining the idea of heading out for the third time.
Natasha glanced up from the computer where she had been working, no doubt contacting people who might be able to help them. Aside from her, the rest of them had been reviewing the footage from before, trying to spot something that they’d missed the first time.
Something akin to the sound of a throat being cleared came from the hidden speakers. “In the last half an hour I have narrowed down our options and ruled out various methods of the Commander’s transport,” J.A.R.V.I.S. the AI stated. For a program, it sounded a lot like J.A.R.V.I.S. had just taken offense at the implication that none of them was tracking down his creator.
In the short time they had known each other, Steve had learned it was preferred to call J.A.R.V.I.S. ‘he’ rather than ‘it’. Considering how life-like the AI was, it didn’t seem odd or awkward, and if that’s how Tony approached the subject…
“You have some idea of how he left the Tower?” James Rhodes jumped at the news.
“Indeed. There is no indication the Commander left either on foot or by vehicular transport. I have gone through camera coverage on the streets, in the Tower and in the parking area beneath it, and it is highly unlikely he managed to slip past all the cameras undetected.”
“Is he still within the Tower?” Clint asked, shooting to his feet from where he had been lounging on a couch that had been set back on its feet and cleared of most of the debris.
“No,” J.A.R.V.I.S. replied. “I believe the Commander managed to enter the subway line beneath the Tower. There is no security coverage in the old, closed-down tunnels, and it seems a logical way to make his escape.”
“While carrying an unconscious man?” Rhodes challenged the theory.
“Someone of Tony’s size and build wouldn’t be a problem - unconscious or awake,” Steve informed them. He was aware of the looks he was getting, but instead stared at one of the operational screens that J.A.R.V.I.S. was using to track his progress. For the most part, he didn’t understand the symbols and markings that kept appearing, but he trusted someone like Bruce to be able to decipher it. “How do we proceed?” Steve asked. “We can send teams down there to search for signs, to get a direction. He can’t stay in the subway system forever.”
“Why not?” Bruce frowned.
“He appeared here, out of thin air. He doesn’t have provisions for either of them,” Steve listed. “Either they both have to leave the tunnels, or he’ll find a secure place to keep Stark until he has more options.”
“But there’s no knowing where he’ll pop up,” Rhodes grumbled. “J.A.R.V.I.S., put together a map of the subway tunnels that are not in use. Highlight connections to the operating lines and stations, exits, possible connections to the sewer system…”
“Processing data,” J.A.R.V.I.S. replied. “It will take a moment.”
“He can’t just appear at street-level with Tony Stark without someone noticing,” Natasha surmised. “Someone would notice - and take a picture. I assume you’re scanning for any pictures, video or messages concerning both Tony and Captain America, J.A.R.V.I.S.?”
“Indeed. I have also attempted to ping the remote locator micro implants within Mr. Stark’s body, but there has been no response.”
“Micro implants?” Sam repeated. “He has tracking devices in his body?”
“Well, he was once kidnapped by terrorists,” Clint shrugged.
“They’re not used for that,” Bruce corrected, “although I’m sure in this situation it makes little difference.” He stepped around the screen, fingers playing with his glasses. “Can you guess as to why you aren’t able to locate the implants?”
“I wish I knew, Doctor,” the AI replied, sounding almost concerned. “I shall keep trying, however.”
“Maybe he’s being held underground, or in some kind of a bunker?” Clint guessed.
“These micro implants were designed by Mr. Stark. An ordinary shielding would not be enough to dampen their signal,” J.A.R.V.I.S. retorted a bit stiffly.
“So they’re being disrupted, or have malfunctioned,” Bruce said.
“He did incapacitate Tony with that weird little disc of his,” Rhodes recounted. “Perhaps that could have shorted out the implants.”
“It is possible. Regrettably, my information on that is limited, seeing as the interference from the Tesseract affected many of the readings during the battle.”
“How long is the range on those things?” Natasha asked. “By now, if he were to move fast, the Commander could have found a transport out of the city.”
“Unless he’s managed to take Mr. Stark off the planet, range is not an issue,” J.A.R.V.I.S. told them.
“Really?” Clint asked, disbelieving.
“Really,” was all the AI said in return.
“We’ll find him,” Bruce murmured, not looking at any of his fellow Avengers so he must have been talking to J.A.R.V.I.S. “Just keep looking. Something will pop up. Tony’s resourceful, especially under pressure. He’ll let us know where he is.”
Steve hoped he was right. He knew better than to underestimate Tony Stark, but knowing who had taken him… If the Commander was familiar with Tony Stark from his world, as well as his tech and tricks, it posed a problem none of them was probably willing to think about. Steve tried to imagine what he would do if he were in the similar situation as the Commander, but he kept coming to the conclusion that where it mattered, the two of them were not the same man, and he could not blindly rely on his own instincts to get them through this.
If he tried, it might cost Tony his life.
to be continued…
Story info
Author: Del Rion (delrion.mail (at) gmail.com)
Fandom: The Avengers & Captain America (MCU)
Timeline: post-Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Genre: Drama, action, hurt/comfort
Rating: MA / FRAO
Characters: Steve Rogers (Captain America), Tony Stark (Iron Man). Also: Bruce Banner (Hulk), James “Bucky” Barnes (Winter Soldier), Clint Barton (Hawkeye), J.A.R.V.I.S., James “Rhodey” Rhodes (War Machine), Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), Thor, Sam Wilson (Falcon)
Pairing: Steve/Tony
Summary: When the Steve Rogers from an alternate universe appears in the middle of the Avengers Tower, two worlds are about to collide: one where Captain America became the tool of HYDRA and fell into a relationship with the hero Iron Man - and one where Tony and Steve are tentatively getting along. The latter are forced to reconsider their relationship when the Commander kidnaps Tony to replace his dead lover.
Complete.
Written for: A story commissioned by Susanne (ChickenHax @ AO3 / starkred @ Tumblr).
Warnings: Rape/non-con, major character death (alternate universe), graphic canonical violence, M/M sexual content, language.
~ ~ ~
Chapter 10: The Search
Avengers Tower,
Manhattan, New York City, NY
As the hours passed and there seemed to be no new developments in their search for the Commander and Tony Stark, Steve began to think they would accomplish more by simply walking the streets of Manhattan, looking for clues.
“Look, I don’t want to be the guy who doesn’t get it, but… is someone actually working on finding them - aside from Natasha?” Sam asked loudly just as Steve was entertaining the idea of heading out for the third time.
Natasha glanced up from the computer where she had been working, no doubt contacting people who might be able to help them. Aside from her, the rest of them had been reviewing the footage from before, trying to spot something that they’d missed the first time.
Something akin to the sound of a throat being cleared came from the hidden speakers. “In the last half an hour I have narrowed down our options and ruled out various methods of the Commander’s transport,” J.A.R.V.I.S. the AI stated. For a program, it sounded a lot like J.A.R.V.I.S. had just taken offense at the implication that none of them was tracking down his creator.
In the short time they had known each other, Steve had learned it was preferred to call J.A.R.V.I.S. ‘he’ rather than ‘it’. Considering how life-like the AI was, it didn’t seem odd or awkward, and if that’s how Tony approached the subject…
“You have some idea of how he left the Tower?” James Rhodes jumped at the news.
“Indeed. There is no indication the Commander left either on foot or by vehicular transport. I have gone through camera coverage on the streets, in the Tower and in the parking area beneath it, and it is highly unlikely he managed to slip past all the cameras undetected.”
“Is he still within the Tower?” Clint asked, shooting to his feet from where he had been lounging on a couch that had been set back on its feet and cleared of most of the debris.
“No,” J.A.R.V.I.S. replied. “I believe the Commander managed to enter the subway line beneath the Tower. There is no security coverage in the old, closed-down tunnels, and it seems a logical way to make his escape.”
“While carrying an unconscious man?” Rhodes challenged the theory.
“Someone of Tony’s size and build wouldn’t be a problem - unconscious or awake,” Steve informed them. He was aware of the looks he was getting, but instead stared at one of the operational screens that J.A.R.V.I.S. was using to track his progress. For the most part, he didn’t understand the symbols and markings that kept appearing, but he trusted someone like Bruce to be able to decipher it. “How do we proceed?” Steve asked. “We can send teams down there to search for signs, to get a direction. He can’t stay in the subway system forever.”
“Why not?” Bruce frowned.
“He appeared here, out of thin air. He doesn’t have provisions for either of them,” Steve listed. “Either they both have to leave the tunnels, or he’ll find a secure place to keep Stark until he has more options.”
“But there’s no knowing where he’ll pop up,” Rhodes grumbled. “J.A.R.V.I.S., put together a map of the subway tunnels that are not in use. Highlight connections to the operating lines and stations, exits, possible connections to the sewer system…”
“Processing data,” J.A.R.V.I.S. replied. “It will take a moment.”
“He can’t just appear at street-level with Tony Stark without someone noticing,” Natasha surmised. “Someone would notice - and take a picture. I assume you’re scanning for any pictures, video or messages concerning both Tony and Captain America, J.A.R.V.I.S.?”
“Indeed. I have also attempted to ping the remote locator micro implants within Mr. Stark’s body, but there has been no response.”
“Micro implants?” Sam repeated. “He has tracking devices in his body?”
“Well, he was once kidnapped by terrorists,” Clint shrugged.
“They’re not used for that,” Bruce corrected, “although I’m sure in this situation it makes little difference.” He stepped around the screen, fingers playing with his glasses. “Can you guess as to why you aren’t able to locate the implants?”
“I wish I knew, Doctor,” the AI replied, sounding almost concerned. “I shall keep trying, however.”
“Maybe he’s being held underground, or in some kind of a bunker?” Clint guessed.
“These micro implants were designed by Mr. Stark. An ordinary shielding would not be enough to dampen their signal,” J.A.R.V.I.S. retorted a bit stiffly.
“So they’re being disrupted, or have malfunctioned,” Bruce said.
“He did incapacitate Tony with that weird little disc of his,” Rhodes recounted. “Perhaps that could have shorted out the implants.”
“It is possible. Regrettably, my information on that is limited, seeing as the interference from the Tesseract affected many of the readings during the battle.”
“How long is the range on those things?” Natasha asked. “By now, if he were to move fast, the Commander could have found a transport out of the city.”
“Unless he’s managed to take Mr. Stark off the planet, range is not an issue,” J.A.R.V.I.S. told them.
“Really?” Clint asked, disbelieving.
“Really,” was all the AI said in return.
“We’ll find him,” Bruce murmured, not looking at any of his fellow Avengers so he must have been talking to J.A.R.V.I.S. “Just keep looking. Something will pop up. Tony’s resourceful, especially under pressure. He’ll let us know where he is.”
Steve hoped he was right. He knew better than to underestimate Tony Stark, but knowing who had taken him… If the Commander was familiar with Tony Stark from his world, as well as his tech and tricks, it posed a problem none of them was probably willing to think about. Steve tried to imagine what he would do if he were in the similar situation as the Commander, but he kept coming to the conclusion that where it mattered, the two of them were not the same man, and he could not blindly rely on his own instincts to get them through this.
If he tried, it might cost Tony his life.
to be continued…
Story info