Framed

Farewell Winter

2016, HYDRA base, Siberia

Tony, Steve, and Bucky continued their intense battle within the confines of the silo, their movements swift and calculated. FRIDAY's voice broke through the chaos, offering a tactical suggestion to Tony. "You can't beat them hand to hand," she advised.

Tony, ever the strategist, immediately instructed FRIDAY to analyse their opponents' fight patterns. "Scanning!" FRIDAY responded dutifully as Iron Man's HUD flashed red with incoming data.

As Steve landed blow after blow, Tony seized his shield, determined to gain the upper hand. "Let's kick their asses," he declared, flinging the shield away before unleashing a barrage of energy, sending Steve and Bucky tumbling backwards.

Steve rose defiantly, his face bloodied but his resolve unwavering. "She's my sister," he pleaded, but Tony remained unmoved. "I don't care," he retorted, delivering a punishing blow to Steve before hurling him towards the gaps in the wall.

Struggling to his feet, Steve confronted Tony head-on, his fists raised in defiance. "I can do this all day," he declared, his voice resolute.

In a desperate attempt to gain the upper hand, Tony lashed out, but Marni intervened, her determination evident despite her injuries. Steve seized the opportunity, overpowering Tony and delivering a decisive blow to the suit's core.

Steve, who had been on top of Stark, now rolled off him, struggling to stand up. He forcefully removed the shield from the red and gold armour, then slowly approached Bucky and Marni, extending a helping hand. Marni gratefully accepted it, allowing Bucky to hold her tightly as he helped her to her feet. She wrapped her arm around Steve's shoulders, with Bucky supporting her on the other side, one hand on her chest and the other around her waist. Together, they bore the weight of Marni between them as they began to walk away.

As Stark struggled to sit up, he shouted, "Those shields don't belong to you!" Steve turned with the others as Stark continued, "You don't deserve them! My father made those shields!" Then, the two super soldiers dropped the shields, the sound of their impact echoing, and the trio walked away, leaving Stark behind.

______________________

2016, Avengers compound, Upstate New York

Back at the Avengers compound, Tony stood beside Rhodes as he tentatively navigated the parallel bars, his legs supported by advanced technology. "It's just the first pass," Tony reassured him, his voice tinged with concern. Rhodes nodded, his expression a mixture of determination and uncertainty. "Yeah."

Seeking feedback, Tony encouraged Rhodey to share his thoughts on the technology. "Give me some feedback. Anything you can think of. Shock absorption. Lateral movement. Cup holder?" he joked, attempting to lighten the mood.

Rhodes chuckled faintly before his legs gave out, and he fell onto his hands. "Let's go. I'll give you a hand," Tony offered, moving to assist him. But Rhodes insisted on managing on his own. "No, no, don't. Don't help me. Don't help me," he insisted, pushing himself up to sit beside Tony on the floor.

Reflecting on his years of service and the sacrifices made, Rhodes shared a poignant revelation with Tony. "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."

He continued, acknowledging the challenges posed by the Accords but reaffirming his commitment to their cause. "It's the same with these Accords. I signed because it was the right thing to do. And, yeah, this sucks. This is . . . this is a bad beat. But it hasn't changed my mind. I don't think," he concluded, offering a crooked smile as he took Tony's hand.