The War Within | A Tony Stark Series

c: A Fresh Start

Monroe's POV

"This is Raft Prison Control. You're clear for landing Mr. Stark."

One of the guards communicated through the chopper as the structure rose from underwater. The water cleared out, allowing the latch to open at the center. I hid behind Tony after landing to avoid getting cuffed. 

"So? You got the files?" Tony began playing his role to further convince the secretary of state he was still on the same side while still writing his wrongs. "Let's reroute the satellites, start facial scanning for this Zemo guy."

"You seriously think I'm gonna listen to you after that fiasco in Leipzig? You're lucky you're not in one of these cells." Looking over to me, a shit-eating grin formed on the cocky bastard. "But her, she can be taken in."

A couple of guards walked up to Tony and me, preparing to arrest me. I backed away without defense as Tony blocked their path. His arm coming out to protectively move me behind him.

"She signed." That's a lie. "She informed us about the location of Rogers." Another lie. It's the only way to make sure I don't get put behind one of these lunatic's prison cells. The guards stepped back at the nod from Ross. We followed him into secured hallways, making it to the security room. From here, I was able to spot Wanda strapped up as if in an asylum on one of the monitors. I quietly inhaled, thinking of every way to tear these men apart. Of course, never acting upon it. We were let into section L8 with Tony leading the way. I heard claps coming from one of the cages.

"The Futurist, gentlemen! The Futurist is here! He sees all. He knows what's best for you, whether you like it or not," Barton exclaims clearly mocking Stark. Walking over to his area, I placed my hand on the bars before the glass that separated us. Clint looked up, shocked to see my face on the other side.

'Play along...'

"Give me a break, Barton. I had no idea they'd put you here. Come on."

"Yeah, well, you knew they'd put us somewhere, Tony."

"Yeah, but not some super-max floating ocean pokey. This place is for maniacs. This place is for-"

"Criminals?" Barton stands and walks over to the glass and makes harsh eye contact with Stark. "Criminals, Tony. Think that's the word you're looking for. Right? That didn't use to mean me. Or Sam, or Wanda." Switching his gaze to me, he continues. "Or Jess... but I see you two have worked out your problems."

"Clint-" I tried.

"No, no. By all means, Jess. Enjoy your freedom knowing you're no better than the rest of us."

"I didn't mean-"

"Neither did Nat. Where is she now? Are you going to lock her up too?"

I knew he was asking with concern, clever wordplay. I acted as if I couldn't speak about the ongoing situation from embarrassment.

'Safe'

"That's what I thought. And now here we are."

"Because you broke the law," Tony justified. "I didn't make you. You read it, you broke it. You're all grown up, you got a wife and kids. I don't understand, why didn't you think about them before you chose the wrong side?" Tony moved on to the next couple holding cells until reaching Sam.

"Better watch your back with this guy," Clint banged on the cage, causing me to flinch. "There's a chance he's going to break it."

"How's Rhodes?" I heard Sam as I caught up. 

"They're flying him to Columbia Medical tomorrow so... fingers crossed," Tony responded genuinely. "What do you need? They feed you yet?"

"You're the good cop now?"

"I'm just the guy who needs to know where Steve went."

"Well, you better go get a bad cop... because you're gonna have to go Mark Fuhrman on my ass to get information out of me." Looking over at me, as everyone does, he grew curious. "Why don't you ask your girlfriend. She was with Steve longer than we were."

Luckily, Tony had played with the security controls and silenced the audio before blowing my cover. To gain Sam's trust, Tony discreetly presented the watch as Sam look around at the cameras.

"I'm still on your side. We both are," I explained to Sam.

"Then you should know where he's headed."

"No amount of trust for me will overpower what he's willing to do for Barnes. I agreed to go in blind so that he didn't hold the fear of me being compromised." I didn't want Steve thinking I'd run to Tony with everything, so I created a safe plate.

"Just look," Tony brings up the same photos of Zemo. "Because that... is the fellow who was supposed to interrogate Barnes. Clearly, I made a mistake. Sam, I was wrong."

"That's a first."

"Cap is definitely off the reservation, but he's about to need all the help he can get. We don't know each other very well, you don't have to-"

"It's alright," Sam gives in. "Look, I'll tell you. But you have to go alone. Just the two of you. And as a friend."

"Easy."

***

"Stark, did he give you anything on Rogers?"

"Nope. Told me to go to hell. I'm going back to the compound instead, but you can call me anytime," Tony retaliates.

"I'll put you on hold. He likes to watch the line blink," I smirked as we strapped in. Stark nodded with a smile I couldn't help join. The doors of the chopper slide shut as we take off. We waited for a couple of hundred feet before Tony unbuckled his sling from his arm. "So, how do you suppose you're taking me with you, Mr. Stark?"

"Well, honey. I hope you don't mind getting a little rain in your hair."

With his last words, he pushed a button that laid between the seats. The suit began forming, starting with his left hand extending to the rest of his body. The seat began lowering until there was no floor. Tony fell through the chopper as I jumped through the hole left behind. The metal arms of the suit wrapped around my waist, helping me out as the rain began to soak every inch of me.

"Glad I can trust a Stark to never let me fall."

"We can't have forever if you're not there with me."

I let my arms spread across as if I was soaring while the jets of his suit pushed as rapidly through the sky. The high winds encouraged the drops of water to splash on my face. It's all so...

Refreshing