Timeless

12

Still in the midst of the fight, F.R.I.D.A.Y. said, "You can't beat him hand to hand."

"Analyze his fight pattern," Tony ordered.

"Scanning!" Iron Man's HUD flashed red as Steve landed blow after blow. "Countermeasures ready."

Tony grabbed Captain America's shield. "Let's kick his ass." He flung the shield away then zapped Steve backwards, head over heels. Steve rose and Tony blocked his punches then zapped him to his knees, right in front of Bucky and Mattie, the latter of whom was lying on her back.

"She's my friend," Steve said.

"So was I." He punched Steve then threw him back towards the gaps in the wall. "Stay down. Final warning."

Steve struggled to his feet, his face bloody and his gaze weary. He raised his fists and stared Iron Man down before saying, "I could do this all day."

Bucky glanced at Steve worriedly and back to Mattie. While he was concerned about both, he deemed considered Mattie in worse shape.

Iron Man raised his left palm, ready to fire. Mattie grabbed his legs and Tony spun, kicking her in the face. The momentum from Iron Man's kick also caused Bucky's face to get kicked. Steve grabbed Iron Man and lifted him over his head, then threw him down, punched him and bashed his mask off with his shield before striking down hard on the suit's core. Tony looked horrified and glowered fearfully at Steve who panted for breath. Both had blood spattered across their faces. Steve looked back at Tony then shut his eyes and slumped down. The shield remained upright, stuck straight up in the center of the Iron Man Suit. When Steve struggled up again, he took hold of the shield, gripping the edge and pulled it free. He stepped away from Tony who rolled painfully onto his side. Mattie lay bloodied, but conscious. Bucky knelt next to her, eyeing her with concern.

Steve reached out and pulled Mattie to her feet, while Bucky stood, holding her up as Tony looked on.

"That shield doesn't belong to you," Tony said and Steve turned his back. "You don't deserve it. My father made that shield!"

Steve stopped, raised his chin, then dropped the shield and walked away with Bucky who swept Mattie in his arms.

Tony spit on the ground and sat up a moment before slumping down.

BERLIN UN BUNKER - SECURE CHAMBER

Zemo was contained in a prison pod, his ankles cuffed to his seat.

Everett Ross entered the chamber and said, "Meals at eight and five. Toilet privileges twice a day. Raise your voice, zap. Touch the glass, zap. You step out of line, you deal with me. Please, step out of line. Hmm?" Zemo just stared. "So how does it feel? To spend all that time, all that effort... and, to see it fail so spectacularly?"

Zemo looked up to meet Ross' gaze and replied, "Did it?"

AVENGERS HQ

Tony was with Rhodey as he tentatively walked beside parallel bars with tech on his legs.

"It's just the first pass," Tony said.

"Yeah," Rhodey replied.

"Give me some feedback. Anything you can think of. Shock absorption. Lateral movement. Cup holder?"

"You may wanna think about some AC down in..." He fell onto his hands.

"Let's go. I'll give you a hand."

"No, no, don't. Don't help me. Don't help me." He rose to his hands and knees and turned to sit on the floor beside Tony. "138. 138 combat missions. That's how many I've flown, Tony. Every one of them could've been my last, but I flew 'em. Because the fight needed to be fought. It's the same with these Accords. I signed because it was the right thing to do. And, yeah, this sucks. This is, uh... This is a bad beat. But it hasn't change my mind. I don't think." He gave a crooked smile and took Tony's hand.

"You okay?"

"Oh yeah."

FedEx Driver Stan Lee knocked on the window with a package in his hand and asked, "Are you Tony "Stank"?"

Rhodey pointed down at Tony. "Yes, this is -- this is Tony "Stank". You're in the right place. Thank you for that! I'm never dropping that, by the way. Table for one, Mr. "Stank". Please, by the bathroom."

---

Tony alone, opened the package and found an envelope and a phone inside.

Steve had written a letter to Stark. "Tony, I'm glad you're back at the compound. I don't like the idea of you rattling around a mansion by yourself. We all need family. The Avengers are yours, maybe more so than mine. I've been on my own since I was 18. I never really fit in anywhere, even in the Army. My faith's in people, I guess. Individuals. And I'm happy to say that, for the most part, they haven't let me. Which is why I can't let them down either. Locks can be replaced, but maybe they shouldn't. I know I hurt you, Tony. I guess I thought by not telling you about your parents I was sparing you, but I can see now that I was really sparing myself, and I'm sorry. Hopefully one day you can understand. I wish we agreed on the Accords, I really do." Tony flipped the box upside down and a flip phone fell out. Tony stared at the phone. "I know you're doing what you believe in, and that's all any of us can do. That's all any of us should..."

F.R.I.D.A.Y. said, "Priority call from Secretary Ross. There's been a breach at the Raft prison."

"Yeah, put him through," Tony replied.

"Tony, we have a problem," Secretary Ross told him.

"Ah, please hold."

"No. Don't..." He was put on the blinking hold light.

Steve's letter to Stark finished. "So, no matter what. I promise you, if you need us, if you need me, I'll be there."

RAFT PRISON

Sam turned and smiled as a figure walked towards him; Steve. The Super Soldier returned his smile.

WAKANDA, MEDICAL FACILITY

"You sure about this?" Steve and Bucky asked.

"I can't trust my own mind," Mattie replied. "So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head I think going back under is the best thing... for everybody." She turned to Bucky. "Take care of Alpine for me. And Bucky? I love you."

Bucky nodded. "I will, doll. Alpine and I'll be here when you wake. I love you too, Mattie."

Mattie went into cryo and closed her eyes. Steve and Bucky stared at her with a sullen expression. Alpine meowed from Bucky's jacket and he stroked the cat's head softly.

---

Steve and Bucky stood staring through a window. T'Challa walked towards them.

"Thank you for this," Steve and Bucky said.

"Your friend and my father, they were both victims," T'Challa reasoned. "If I can help one of them find peace..."

"You know, If they find out she's here... they'll come for her," Steve warned.

"Let them try."

Bucky glanced at Steve. "I won't dare let them hurt her. Not ever again."

Steve nodded. "I know, Buck. Take care of her."

"Always do."

QUEENS - PETER'S ROOM

May spoke to him from somewhere in the apartment. "So. Who was it? Who hit you?"

"Some guy," Peter replied. "So itchy, man. God." He fiddled with a wrist band.

"What's "some guy's" name?"

"Uh, Steve."

"Steve? From 12-C? With the overbite?"

"No, no, no. You don't know him, he's from Brooklyn." Peter's wrist band emitted a red beam which he hid when his aunt came into the room. "Ouch."

"Well... I hope you got a few good licks in."

"Yeah, I got quite a few in, actually. His friend was huge. Like huge." May gave him ice in a towel. "That's way better. Thank you."

"Okay, tough guy." She smiled broadly then left the room.

"Love you, May. Hey, can you shut the door?" He shined the red beam onto his bedroom ceiling and grinned, looking up at a glowing image of Spider-Man's mask.