The Corrupt and the Pure; Chapter 36: The Warning
[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 36: The Warning
Their plans were made, and the team was - for the most part - getting some much-needed rest before they set things in motion.
Steve knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep even if he tried, so after making sure his gear was ready, he headed out to get something to eat. At some point after their meeting, the wreckage of the Quinjet had appeared back in the hangar below the common floor. Steve noticed it when he was heading for the kitchen and decided to check it out, knowing there was no way the aircraft was in flying condition after the fall.
Apparently he wasn’t the only one feeling restless: Tony was up, surveying the damage to the Quinjet, his suit and War Machine both standing by. Steve walked into the hangar area, being sure to make enough noise so as not to startle the other man. He looked around to see whether anyone else was around, but couldn’t see anyone. Not even Rhodes.
“Didn’t you just give everyone a big speech about the importance of rest?” Tony asked without turning.
Steve refused to feel guilty. “I did,” he agreed instead, walking over to stand beside Tony. “Is Rhodes around?”
“No,” Tony shook his head, then cocked it as he looked at the Quinjet. “He’s getting some shut-eye like any good little soldier should.”
Steve gave the War Machine armor another look. It looked active, eyes and chest piece glowing.
Tony followed his gaze. “I needed to get the Quinjet off the street so I borrowed Rhodey’s suit,” he volunteered. “I’m sure he won’t mind.”
Steve hummed in agreement.
Tony turned to look at him. “Chill, Cap. We’re just about as prepared as we can be. The plan is solid and we have several contingency options available if things should start going in the wrong direction.”
“All that might not be enough,” Steve reminded him. “We don’t know him that well, or the tools he has at his disposal. Our plan is largely based on what I would do.” The Commander had led a very different life, and Steve wasn’t entirely comfortable assuming they could set their trap based on what he could handle - especially when Tony would be acting as bait.
“Those odds will be against us no matter what we do,” Tony said. “I have confidence that we can wing it when need be.”
Steve frowned. Tony’s optimism was dangerous - and possibly false. There was no knowing whether he truly believed their chances to be as good as he said. Steve seriously doubted he was totally okay with his part in the plan, either.
“We can go over it again if you’d like,” Tony offered.
“No,” Steve shook his head and looked away from Tony, collecting his thoughts. He ended up gazing at the Quinjet which bore the marks of the Commander’s attack. Steve wasn’t certain he would have dared to brave a similar assault mid-air, which led him to wonder all over again whether they really were prepared for what the Commander had to offer.
Tony took a tiny step closer to him, leaving him standing side-by-side with Steve, observing the wreckage. “You know, even if all else fails, you can trust in one thing above all else.”
“What?” Steve asked, hoping it was something he could actually rest his faith on.
“I’m not going to let him take me again,” Tony stated. “I trust you guys to back me up on that one, but in the end, I’m used to carrying my own weight.”
Steve wanted to argue that it might not be a matter of choice. Tony must have sensed that because he turned around, looking at something behind them - the armors.
“I have a great team, but at the end of the day, there’s someone else I trust even more,” Tony told him, nodding towards the armors.
“Yourself?” Steve guessed.
“My tech,” Tony corrected. “More precisely, J.A.R.V.I.S.”
Tony’s armor shifted its head in the slightest hint of an acknowledging nod.
Steve wasn’t certain why he felt somewhat insulted by that - especially when he knew Tony had the right to think that way, and if it made him feel safer tomorrow, that was fine.
“You don’t agree, Captain?” J.A.R.V.I.S. questioned through the hidden speakers of the room. For some reason, Steve had expected the AI to use the armor to communicate, but he didn’t claim to understand the logic behind the AI’s actions.
“I don’t see how it matters either way,” Steve admitted.
Tony raised an eyebrow at him, an almost disapproving expression on his face. “You’re doubting my AI’s loyalty?”
“Of course not,” Steve denied.
Tony didn’t look like he believed him. “Look, I know he’s just a program to most people, but I know what he’s capable of doing in a pinch - and that’s saving my life. Just because he failed the first time the Commander made an appearance doesn’t mean he’ll let it happen again.”
Steve felt like pointing out that he could make a similar promise, and it was still possible it would backfire. Until they had the Commander under lock and key, all bets were off. That Tony was thinking of his tech as a security blanket of sorts wasn’t going to remove the actual danger.
“I’m glad you feel like J.A.R.V.I.S. can make a difference,” he finally said.
“You don’t think it will be enough,” the AI guessed.
“No.”
Tony pursed his lips. “We’ll see,” was his response.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Steve snapped, his frustration shining through again. “We might not get another chance. If we blow this and he escapes - or worse, kidnaps you again - there’s no knowing how this will end.”
“I’m not worried about him escaping or not showing up,” Tony replied. “He’ll come for me eventually when he sees an opening. That’s why he’s here in the first place, and he doesn’t have anything else to do - except perhaps kill Barnes, but seeing as we have him with us, there’s no doubt where he’ll strike eventually.”
“So, that leaves only the issue we’re all concerned about,” Steve said. “That he’ll outsmart us and grab you from under our noses.”
“We can play this guessing game for a long time,” Tony noted. “It won’t change the facts. We just need to react faster than he does.”
Reaction time had never been Iron Man’s strong suit, what with the clunky metal armor, but Steve opted not to say that out loud. “I just don’t want you to get too careless and forget what he’s capable of.”
“I won’t,” Tony promised. “I’m the last person you should be worried about when it comes to that.”
Steve supposed he was right, but it didn’t make him worry any less. The Commander would go to ground if he got his hands on Tony again, and if it started to look like he wasn’t going to succeed in reclaiming the man, there was no knowing how far he was willing to go.
He couldn’t actually relate to that because he had never felt like that towards another person, but he remembered the pain of hearing Bucky’s unit had been killed or captured; there had been very few things he hadn’t been willing to do to get him back.
The Commander had lived a very different life, but from what Steve had seen, it hadn’t softened his resolve - quite the opposite.
If Tony was the light at the end of his tunnel, his only reason for being…
Steve looked at his teammate, with whom he didn’t get along nearly as well as he would have liked, and wondered what that even felt like. Being so drawn to another, traveling to another realm of existence to be reunited with them - with Tony Stark, of all people.
“Unless there’s something concrete you can think of, stop worrying,” Tony ordered, mistaking his long look for something else.
Steve sighed. “Just promise me you won’t take any unnecessary risks. Like you said, he’ll try to get to you again, so there’s no reason to tempt fate tomorrow.”
“What happened to catching him in order to avoid collateral damage?”
“We have little proof he’s dangerous to outsiders when he’s not with you.”
“Now you’re just finding excuses to make us reconsider the plan all over again,” Tony accused him softly. “He’ll kill someone eventually, and each and every one of those victims will be on our conscience because we didn’t stop him in time.”
Steve knew he was right. Their plan was as good as it was going to get with their limited knowledge. All they needed was a bit of luck and a determination to come home victorious by whatever means necessary.
He just hoped it didn’t mean losses on their side.
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 36: The Warning
Their plans were made, and the team was - for the most part - getting some much-needed rest before they set things in motion.
Steve knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep even if he tried, so after making sure his gear was ready, he headed out to get something to eat. At some point after their meeting, the wreckage of the Quinjet had appeared back in the hangar below the common floor. Steve noticed it when he was heading for the kitchen and decided to check it out, knowing there was no way the aircraft was in flying condition after the fall.
Apparently he wasn’t the only one feeling restless: Tony was up, surveying the damage to the Quinjet, his suit and War Machine both standing by. Steve walked into the hangar area, being sure to make enough noise so as not to startle the other man. He looked around to see whether anyone else was around, but couldn’t see anyone. Not even Rhodes.
“Didn’t you just give everyone a big speech about the importance of rest?” Tony asked without turning.
Steve refused to feel guilty. “I did,” he agreed instead, walking over to stand beside Tony. “Is Rhodes around?”
“No,” Tony shook his head, then cocked it as he looked at the Quinjet. “He’s getting some shut-eye like any good little soldier should.”
Steve gave the War Machine armor another look. It looked active, eyes and chest piece glowing.
Tony followed his gaze. “I needed to get the Quinjet off the street so I borrowed Rhodey’s suit,” he volunteered. “I’m sure he won’t mind.”
Steve hummed in agreement.
Tony turned to look at him. “Chill, Cap. We’re just about as prepared as we can be. The plan is solid and we have several contingency options available if things should start going in the wrong direction.”
“All that might not be enough,” Steve reminded him. “We don’t know him that well, or the tools he has at his disposal. Our plan is largely based on what I would do.” The Commander had led a very different life, and Steve wasn’t entirely comfortable assuming they could set their trap based on what he could handle - especially when Tony would be acting as bait.
“Those odds will be against us no matter what we do,” Tony said. “I have confidence that we can wing it when need be.”
Steve frowned. Tony’s optimism was dangerous - and possibly false. There was no knowing whether he truly believed their chances to be as good as he said. Steve seriously doubted he was totally okay with his part in the plan, either.
“We can go over it again if you’d like,” Tony offered.
“No,” Steve shook his head and looked away from Tony, collecting his thoughts. He ended up gazing at the Quinjet which bore the marks of the Commander’s attack. Steve wasn’t certain he would have dared to brave a similar assault mid-air, which led him to wonder all over again whether they really were prepared for what the Commander had to offer.
Tony took a tiny step closer to him, leaving him standing side-by-side with Steve, observing the wreckage. “You know, even if all else fails, you can trust in one thing above all else.”
“What?” Steve asked, hoping it was something he could actually rest his faith on.
“I’m not going to let him take me again,” Tony stated. “I trust you guys to back me up on that one, but in the end, I’m used to carrying my own weight.”
Steve wanted to argue that it might not be a matter of choice. Tony must have sensed that because he turned around, looking at something behind them - the armors.
“I have a great team, but at the end of the day, there’s someone else I trust even more,” Tony told him, nodding towards the armors.
“Yourself?” Steve guessed.
“My tech,” Tony corrected. “More precisely, J.A.R.V.I.S.”
Tony’s armor shifted its head in the slightest hint of an acknowledging nod.
Steve wasn’t certain why he felt somewhat insulted by that - especially when he knew Tony had the right to think that way, and if it made him feel safer tomorrow, that was fine.
“You don’t agree, Captain?” J.A.R.V.I.S. questioned through the hidden speakers of the room. For some reason, Steve had expected the AI to use the armor to communicate, but he didn’t claim to understand the logic behind the AI’s actions.
“I don’t see how it matters either way,” Steve admitted.
Tony raised an eyebrow at him, an almost disapproving expression on his face. “You’re doubting my AI’s loyalty?”
“Of course not,” Steve denied.
Tony didn’t look like he believed him. “Look, I know he’s just a program to most people, but I know what he’s capable of doing in a pinch - and that’s saving my life. Just because he failed the first time the Commander made an appearance doesn’t mean he’ll let it happen again.”
Steve felt like pointing out that he could make a similar promise, and it was still possible it would backfire. Until they had the Commander under lock and key, all bets were off. That Tony was thinking of his tech as a security blanket of sorts wasn’t going to remove the actual danger.
“I’m glad you feel like J.A.R.V.I.S. can make a difference,” he finally said.
“You don’t think it will be enough,” the AI guessed.
“No.”
Tony pursed his lips. “We’ll see,” was his response.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Steve snapped, his frustration shining through again. “We might not get another chance. If we blow this and he escapes - or worse, kidnaps you again - there’s no knowing how this will end.”
“I’m not worried about him escaping or not showing up,” Tony replied. “He’ll come for me eventually when he sees an opening. That’s why he’s here in the first place, and he doesn’t have anything else to do - except perhaps kill Barnes, but seeing as we have him with us, there’s no doubt where he’ll strike eventually.”
“So, that leaves only the issue we’re all concerned about,” Steve said. “That he’ll outsmart us and grab you from under our noses.”
“We can play this guessing game for a long time,” Tony noted. “It won’t change the facts. We just need to react faster than he does.”
Reaction time had never been Iron Man’s strong suit, what with the clunky metal armor, but Steve opted not to say that out loud. “I just don’t want you to get too careless and forget what he’s capable of.”
“I won’t,” Tony promised. “I’m the last person you should be worried about when it comes to that.”
Steve supposed he was right, but it didn’t make him worry any less. The Commander would go to ground if he got his hands on Tony again, and if it started to look like he wasn’t going to succeed in reclaiming the man, there was no knowing how far he was willing to go.
He couldn’t actually relate to that because he had never felt like that towards another person, but he remembered the pain of hearing Bucky’s unit had been killed or captured; there had been very few things he hadn’t been willing to do to get him back.
The Commander had lived a very different life, but from what Steve had seen, it hadn’t softened his resolve - quite the opposite.
If Tony was the light at the end of his tunnel, his only reason for being…
Steve looked at his teammate, with whom he didn’t get along nearly as well as he would have liked, and wondered what that even felt like. Being so drawn to another, traveling to another realm of existence to be reunited with them - with Tony Stark, of all people.
“Unless there’s something concrete you can think of, stop worrying,” Tony ordered, mistaking his long look for something else.
Steve sighed. “Just promise me you won’t take any unnecessary risks. Like you said, he’ll try to get to you again, so there’s no reason to tempt fate tomorrow.”
“What happened to catching him in order to avoid collateral damage?”
“We have little proof he’s dangerous to outsiders when he’s not with you.”
“Now you’re just finding excuses to make us reconsider the plan all over again,” Tony accused him softly. “He’ll kill someone eventually, and each and every one of those victims will be on our conscience because we didn’t stop him in time.”
Steve knew he was right. Their plan was as good as it was going to get with their limited knowledge. All they needed was a bit of luck and a determination to come home victorious by whatever means necessary.
He just hoped it didn’t mean losses on their side.
to be continued…
Story info