Fighting for You 🔞

Twenty-Eight

Lexi sat, waiting as Stark went through everything. She didn't want to interrupt him, but was there for support. She watched his face, his body language, reading him. She saw the moment he understood. He did need time, and she'd make sure he'd have however much he wanted.

'It wasn't his fault, was it?'... She heard Stark say with a sad sigh. She watched as he flicked though another file, reading it all.

'No, it wasn't. Stark you know me well enough, that if I thought for a second, that Barnes was in any control over what happened, I would've put him down..'... She kept watching him from where she sat, on the edge of his desk, as he walked around his holo display, watching the footage she had, and reading the files.

'I don't know how anyone could still be alive after all that. What they did..'.. He shook his head... 'I don't know. Its just wrong..'

'If it wasn't for the serum in his veins, I think his body would've given out a long time ago..'... She said.

'Does he remember everything they did?'... He looks over at her.

'I don't think he does, no. And I will tell him, show him if that's what he wants. But I know that some of this..'.. She gestures to the files... 'All of it really, it'll break him. For now, I just want to free him of the soldier, then help him through it all. If he knew or remembered, I don't want to think of what would happen..'

'You want to keep it from him, for now?..'... He asks, watching her.

'I don't want to, but have to. To protect himself. Knowing all of this, could flip a switch in him. He could try to hurt himself or worse..'.. She hopped off the table, coming to stand in front of him... 'I know I have no right to ask Stark, but for now, can we keep this between us, until he's free?..'

Tony thought it over. After what he could see and read, Barnes really wasn't in control of the soldier. He had been through hell, and how the guy was still alive, he didn't know. Reading through some of the things they had done to Barnes, what they forced him to do, made Tony sick to his stomach.

'I won't say anything Adams, I promise..'.. He took a deep breath... 'So how do we help him?'... Tony saw her eyes fill with tears. That shocked him more than what was in the files. Never, in all the years he had known her, had he ever seen her emotional.

Lexi hugged him tight, fighting not to cry... 'Thanks Stark. I promise, we'll get justice for your parents..'... She stepped back, sniffling... 'We'll take them all down. Every last one of them..'

Tony smiled at her... 'I don't doubt it. I'm sorry, for how I reacted..'

'Don't you ever apologise for that Stark. Never. You have every right to be angry. I know Barnes is here and it's easier to blame him, but it's them that deserve your anger, and hate. Barnes will be a good asset to the team. He may have a lot of information about them, and how they operate, where they could be. I know you still need time, and things between you both will be hard, but I'm here, we all are, to help you..'... She nodded at him.

'He must be a good guy, he changed you. You're a lot nicer..'.. He nudged her... 'If this is how you are, screw him every chance you get..'

Lexi burst out laughing and rolled her eyes... 'Aw Stark, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were jealous..'

'Nope, you're too much hassle for me. Pepper is my woman..'.. He walked over to his desk, opening a draw and pulled out two glasses, and a bottle of scotch.

'If you don't marry her Stark, I'll happily sway her to the other team..'.. Lexi winked at him, moving to sit on his desk again.

'I don't doubt it. You got some charm..'... He handed her a glass, and sat in his chair... 'Ok, I'll talk with him at dinner. I think it would be better to have everyone there. Keep things calmer..'

Lexi smiled at him, and took a sip... 'I'm on both your sides, remember that. If it feels like it's too much for you, just give me the word, and I'll take him back to our room..'

'So, Pepper told me you want her training, and Happy. Why?'.. He sat back in his chair, putting his feet up.

'Well, after the whole Mandarin incident, she needs to be able to defend herself, as does Hogan. Barton and Romanoff with train with them. Should anything happen in future, you'll all feel better, knowing that they have some training to take care of themselves..'... She looked back at the holo, seeing another video play. She took a deep breath, feeling heartache over what the video was about.

'Jarvis, close down the files please..'.. She watched it flick off, and turned back to Stark... 'I've also told the team, I want their training schedules and food requirements, so I want yours too. I'll take care of everyone's wellbeing while I'm here. I told Fury I'm off missions unless it's world ending shit, so that goes for you as well'

Tony chuckled, she did that before, when she had been here in the past. Making sure to take care of them all. He knew she had a heart, and cared about them all... 'I'll get on it. You're not going to make me train with you, right?'

Lexi scoffed at him... 'Oh you will. I want to see how you've been doing since last time we went one on one..'

Tony groaned at her... 'Why? I swear you're going to kill me. You're a better fighter than Romanoff, and none of us can beat her..'

Lexi chuckled, finishing her drink... 'Tell you what, if you can beat me, I'll tell you where I got the suit from..'

Tony perked up, dropping his feet to the floor... 'There a time limit on that?'

'Nope. Doesn't matter how long it takes, you put me to the floor, and I'll tell you, deal?..'... She reached a hand out to him and he shook it, grinning at her. He then realised what she just did.

'Fuck!..'.. He sat back, shaking his head... 'You baited me into training, didn't you?'

Lexi laughed and stood up, heading to the door... 'Damn right I did. I know how you operate Stark. Dinner at 6, don't forget. If I have to come get you, I'll make you train with me for 2 hours straight..'.. She turned back to him... 'At 5am'

Tony watached her wink at him, and then headed to the elevator. She really was good at what she did. He sighed, thinking over everything from the files. If he had gone through even a fraction of what Barnes did, he knew he wouldn't have been able to fight it. Barnes wasn't responsible for his parents death, it was Hydra. He knew that now.

It would still sting, seeing Barnes every day, but he would remind himself, that it wasn't him. Adams was right, Barnes and the soldier, were two different people. Finishing his glass, he got up, and and went to the middle of the floor.

'Jarvis, look alive. We got a new toy to play with..'... As he spoke, the suit came around him, and he chuckled. He couldn't wait to add in his touches to it.

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