The War Within | A Tony Stark Series

s: Grovernment Property

Monroe's POV

"Nat!"

I shoved my way past first responders and injured politicians. I joined Natasha on the flight to Vienna before I grew bored out of my mind stuck at the compound. I wasn't allowed to leave until the accords were settled, so I decided not to wait. I was supposed to keep a low profile until she had returned but after the explosion, I needed to know she was okay.

"I'm fine," she stood up from a bench. "I can't say the same for everyone else." Before I could get another word out, her phone buzzed. One look at the caller ID and she showed no hesitation to pick up. "Yeah?"

"Are you alright?"

After hearing who was on the other end, I focused on his voice. Nat kept eye contact with me as we heard the same sirens on the line that were currently wailing.

"Yeah, thanks. I got lucky," she looked around searching for Rogers. I used my selective hearing to find him in the crowd.

"I know how much Barnes means to you. I really do. Stay home, you'll only make this worse," Nat suggested.

"Are you saying you'll arrest me?"

"No," Nat shook her head but remembered that I was being kept under surveillance. Someone is always watching my every move and if they catch Steve out here without their permission... "Someone will. If you interfere that's how it works now."

"If he's this far gone, Nat, I should be the one to bring him in."

"Why?"

"Because I'm the one least likely to die trying."

"Shit," Nat muttered under her breath. Before the line was cut off, I grabbed the phone to get better sensory of his surroundings. Unfortunately, it was long before Steve hung up.

"I lost him," I stated defeatedly. I was able to hear him out with each response, but there were too many distractions to pinpoint his location. "What do we do now?" 

"We wait."

***

"You're joking, right? This is ridiculous," I argued with the secretary. He was implying I use all forces necessary to bring in Barnes. They figured the captain out and deemed him a criminal. 

"You declining your last chance to use the rights you have as-"

"As what? A vigilante? I'm not going full K9 on them. They don't deserve that," I tried walking past Ross, but his hand caught my arm rather harshly.

"All you have to do is intimidate the guy, he's never seen anything like you."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" 

Tony suddenly walked into the room with Rhodey along his side. Once Ross caught sight of the billionaire, I was released. 

"It means he'll be easier to catch."

I scoff and walk out, intentionally pushing past the two. While waiting for Ross to fill Rhodey in on the plan, a gust of wind washed over Tony's scent as his footsteps grew louder.

"Do you think we played this wrong?" I asked rhetorically as he found his way beside me. We didn't bother looking at each other. "Tony, I want to believe that what we're doing is right, but I need to know you're still in control," I finally turned. "Tell me you're in control."

"I'm in control," Tony let out respectfully. His tone was believable, but his eyes showed concern. He knows if I slip, there's a chance I could end up on their wanted list. But it's as if he's in denial. I nodded and gave a sad smile before placing a kiss on his cheek.