Romanda made each couple take a couch across from each other while she sat in an armchair to listen. She was not about to have her adopted sons fighting each other.
"Now," the queen-mother began, "one by one, explain to me your sides."
She looked at Tony, who said, "Steve can't date Ari. He kidnapped her."
Steve replied, "I was brainwashed, Tony. You can't hold that against me."
"And I love him," Arianna added. "Isn't that enough? The doctors even said I'm fine."
Bucky sighed and responded in exasperation, "I just want the lies and animosity to end."
"From what I saw," Steve growled at the brunette super soldier, "you'd rather take the easy route than fight for what's right. It's cowardly."
Bucky jumped up, angry. "What did you just say?"
Steve mimicked the one-armed man. "You heard me. You've become a spoiled rich asshole since-"
"That's enough!" Romanda said, her tone leaving no room for arguing.
Okoye moved to stand next to the queen-mother as she added, "Don't make me get the Dora Milaje."
Both men sat back down, glaring at each other. It was clear something had to be done to fix the tension in the air.
Arianna was the one to break the silence by asking, "Seriously, Tony, what's really your problem?"
The billionaire had to get her to see Steve was dangerous and blurted out, "He killed people, Arianna!"
"So did Bucky!"
Both super soldiers knew she wasn't trying to be malicious in her statement but Tony was another story. His words hurt both men, but to Bucky, it was a stab to the heart.
"Wow," he said, fighting the lump forming in his throat. "Let me ask you this, then." Tony stared at his husband, worried as Bucky's voice rose. "Can you really put the past behind you? Or are you lying to yourself?" Bucky couldn't hold back the pain, his voice cracking and a tear falling. "Was our entire marriage based on a lie?"
"What?" Tony asked, shocked as he tried to take Bucky's hand. "No, I just-"
The brunette super soldier snatched his hand, his metal arm, away. "Don't! Just-" He took a shaky breath and turned a pleading eye to Romanda. "I need some air."
Tony knew he fucked up. He put his hands over his mouth in both despair and to stop himself from saying something else that would hurt the man he loved.
YOU ARE READING
The Dark Captain
Fanfiction**BOOK 1 OF THE DARK CAPTAIN SERIES** Arianna Stark, cousin to the famous Tony Stark, was kidnapped by HYDRA. Who for? Their newest assassin, Captain Hydra, a.k.a STEVE ROGERS! Now she has to convince everyone around her that she loves him for who h...
