The Rose and Dagger

Business before pleasure

Steve and Bucky rode in silence as their driver; a young man named Pietro, filled them in on the questioning of the goons who tried to take Rain, "Most of them knew nothing, but one guy did say Kingpin was looking to expand into some arms deals with a man calling himself Barron Z."
Steve's face went from pleased to pissed in 0.1. Bucky closed his eyes, "Son of a bitch."
Pietro understood why they'd react that way. His family had escaped a small eastern European country called Sokovia. The government was trying to better it's self, but what it was really doing was letting itself become a place where if you had money anything was legal. The man responsible was Barron Helmut Von Zemo.
Bucky looked out the window, "I don't care what we have to do Steve; I am not letting Rain go back."
Steve sat quiet. He'd had a mission in Sokovia while still in the army.
A tip was supposed to lead them to a huge weapons cache; it also lead them to what amounted to a human flesh market. Children barely old enough to walk all the way to the elderly were being prepared for sale into slavery.
The person in charge said it was run by Barron Z, but no charges stuck.
When Steve came back the first thing he did was make sure any of the women working in his family's clubs were over 21, wanted to be there and were being treated fairly. "Money is not worth human dignity."
Bucky followed suit in his clubs. The girls got nick named Rogers' roses and Barnes beauties by others.
Steve took a breath, "I want to send a message to Fisk, but we need to make sure that Rain stays safe and in away that he knows stepping on our turf will result in trouble he doesn't want."
Bucky nodded as Pietro let them off in front of Stark tower.
🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
Steve and Bucky sat in a conference room with other business men and women waiting on Tony Stark, "Tell me again why we show up on time?" Bucky complained.
Steve sighed and shook his head.
A moment later a sharply dressed man entered, "Excuse the delay... I was other wise tied up."
He gave a wink and began the meeting.
🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
Tony talked about the newest head way into the advance of the water purification system currently being tested in Flint Michigan for countries in Africa.
"Now, I am aware of some of you are unpleased with Stark Industries moving away from weapons, but frankly I don't give a damn."
There were murmurs around the table. Steve smirked as Tony sat back and kicked his feet back.
An older man raised an objection, "Tony... Your father-"
Tony stood, "My father had dreams beyond guns and bombs. Those are the dreams that we are going to begin investing in."
Tony chuckled, "Don't worry Charles. I promise you will still be richer than a small country."
Charles stuttered a stun reply.
Tony ended the meeting. "Hey Rogers can I tug your ear?"
Steve made his way over as Bucky hung back, "What's up Tony?"
Tony gave a false smile as the room cleared out.
"Heard a rumor that there was a slight incident at the library last night."
Steve raised an eyebrow, "Maybe..."
Tony sighed as it was soon just him Steve and Bucky, "Do I need to be prepared for an over night biological waste delivery?"
Steve shook his head, "No...but thanks for looking out for me."
Tony nodded, "Good. I'm throwing a party for Pepper's birthday in a few weeks you and Barnes should come."
Steve smiled, "Send an invite."
🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
As Steve and Bucky began to leave an unexpected voice stopped them, "Mr. Rogers Mr. Barnes how is Miss Creek?"
It was Peter Parker.
Bucky sighed, "I always forget the kid interns here."
Steve smiled, "Yeah. She's ok."
Peter grinned, "Oh good. She helped get me my internship here. I owe her!"
Bucky rolled his eyes. Steve chuckled, "I'll tell her we saw you."
Peter ran off after that.
Bucky shook his head, "That kid is too cheerful."
Steve laughed, "Come on. We should head home. I got a text from Nat saying they ran into some friends of Rain; Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson. Have Wanda; Pietro's sister run backgrounds on them, but Rain is now all settled."
Bucky made a note to have Wanda run the checks, "Do you think it would be cheesy to bring Rain some flowers?"
Steve turned around, "Cheesy? Yes... Let's stop by Gamora's she always has the best."
🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
Rain made lunch for herself Nat and Sam before putting her stuff in her room. She paused and let herself have a daydream of calling this home. It already felt more homey than her studio.
Shaking herself out of the daydream she wandered to the large multipurpose space and browsed the books and picked one out. She giggled when she realized it was a romance, "I wonder who reads these; Steve or Bucky."
Settling on the big sofa she curled up to read, but soon dozed off.
Sam walked and found her so he put a fleece throw over her.
In the kitchen he kissed the back of Nat's neck, "Rain fell asleep."
Nat faced him, "Steve and Bucky will be here soon."
Sam grinned wider, "I guess I better make this quick."
He leaned in kissing her deeply."