𝚃𝚘𝚗𝚢 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝙳𝚎𝚏𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚂𝚚𝚞𝚊𝚍

ɪ'ʟʟ ʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜱʜɪᴇʟᴅ

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: The Rogues are coming back and Pepper and Rhodey are determined that they won't let the ex-Avengers hurt their friend again. Not this time.

ᴀʀᴄᴛɪᴄᴠᴜʟᴘɪx ɴᴏᴛᴇꜱ: This is my first Marvel fanfiction and very much not team Cap friendly. If you like Captain America, this won't be the fic for you. If you're a Tony Stark fan like me, then enjoy the salt.

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The Rogues were coming back. Shiny new pardons in hand and a belief that they won.

Rhodey hated it but they needed all the help they could get with Thor's warning of Thanos. Seeing the fear the name inspired in Loki had driven that point home.

So they were coming back to the country, back to the Avengers, back to the Compound.

Back to Tony.

He shared a glance with Pepper. They were part of the welcoming committee for the wayward members of the team. They only had one actual reason for being here though. Carol knew that and was pretending she didn't. As the leader of the Avengers, she had to at least give the group a chance.

But she cared about Tony too so she wouldn't stop them from what they were about to do.

Stephen, here to provide magical protection if it was needed, just looked bored like this entire thing was beneath him. Rhodey knew he was itching to confront the person who injured Tony that badly though. He'd seen Tony's medical records. He knew how badly Rogers had hurt him. The doctor was furious.

The Wakandan jet landed silently in front of them. Rhodey wondered if T'Challa knew how much damage he'd done to his relationship with the Council and the Avengers by hiding and providing sanctuary to the Rogues. He was a smart man, he had to realise the consequences.

Maybe the cold reception he'd received every time he had a meeting with the team had clued him in by now. They'd accept the Black Panther as a team member.

But they wouldn't trust him.

Rhodey barely stopped a sneer from curling his lips as the group stepped onto American soil for the first time in a year. A year he'd spent dealing with his paralysis, with Tony's physical and emotional recovery. Of dealing with the panic attacks and days his friend, his little brother, spent wondering if it was all his fault.

It took a new team to show him that he wasn't to blame. That he'd done his damn best. That he didn't owe the Rogues shit.

Rhodey wouldn't allow them to cause Tony any setbacks in his recovery.

T'Challa stepped out first followed by his ever-present Dora Milaje. He looked somber at least, maybe realizing that this meeting wouldn't be filled with sunshine and roses.

In contrast, behind him came Rogers with a wide smile on his face. The very picture of a triumphant hero returning home. Out of the corner of his eye Rhodey saw Pepper tightening her grip on her tablet enough that her knuckles went white. He shifted slightly closer, his braces whirring softly with the movement. They'd get their say. They just had to wait a little bit longer.

Following Rogers like the ever-obedient and loyal lapdog he'd become came Wilson. Rhodey was so very disappointed in the man. He'd liked him. They'd been friends before the Civil War. Before he spat in the faces of the countries they protected and said they couldn't be trusted to know what they wanted.

The Falcon looked relieved the moment he spotted Rhodey standing, guilt seeping in when he noticed the braces he wore. The braces Tony had designed and built, eaten up by guilt when he was the last person Rhodey would ever blame for his injury. Wilson's relieved expression faltered when Rhodey only stared back coldly.

Next came Romanoff. Out of all of them, Rhodey wanted to yell at her the most. She'd come into Tony's life through lies and deception. And he'd still forgiven her and let her in when he joined the team. Even after that bullshit 'Iron Man: Yes, Tony Stark: Not Recommended' report. He let her in and she still stabbed him in the back when he needed her.

Once a spy always a spy.

Barton trailed after her with the little witch stuck to his side like always. Rhodey knew that Stephen would be watching the Scarlet Witch very carefully and he couldn't care less about the spiteful little bitch. She'd learn how much she lost with her choice soon enough.

Instead, he focused on Barton. At one point, Tony and Barton had been close. They'd pranked each other and laughed over bad jokes together. Ultron changed that. It changed a lot of things but Rhodey would always remember how hurt Tony was by his accusations and blame on top of his grief over losing JARVIS.

The man had fairly jumped at the chance to fight at Captain America's side, the deal sweetened since they were facing off against Tony. Well, his 'triumphant return' would go sour the moment he got to meet Laura again. His wife was livid.

They'd have to see if Laura decided to file the divorce papers she'd already had drawn up.

The last two people off the plane were a little more difficult to figure out. Lang dived headfirst into a situation he had no information on since it was Captain America who called. Hope said he was an idiot and Rhodey was inclined to agree. His irrational 'Stark hate' that he'd picked up from Hank Pym would have to go before Rhodey even considered looking at him as anything but a loyal Rogers follower. Not to mention that ridiculously dangerous stunt he'd pulled with Tony's suit that could have easily killed the genius.

Then there was Barnes. Rhodey knew the man had been through hell. He was a POW and had been brainwashed for decades.

He was still a frequent fixture of Tony's nightmares though, going for the arc reactor and making the genius bolt awake screaming while his friends tried to calm him down.

Tony rarely slept alone now. If Pepper wasn't there, then Rhodey was, reminding him that he was safe and that the Rogues were far away.

One of those wasn't true now but Pepper and Rhodey would be damned if they let the same be true of the other.

The group stopped in front of them, T'Challa nodding in greeting. The Rogues were eyeing Carol and Stephen with suspicion.

"Rhodey, Pepper," Rogers greeted them with a smile while T'Challa spoke with Carol. Stephen was still watching Maximoff.

"That's Miss. Potts to you Mr. Rogers," Pepper's sharp tone cut him off. "And Colonel Rhodes."

Rhodey only stared stonily at the man. The audacity to call them by such familiar names, names Tony had given them.

Rogers seemed startled at the clear hostility and then his patented 'I'm Captain America and you've disappointed me' look came into play.

It rolled right off Pepper who was staring at him with eyes sharp as glass.

"We are not friends Mr. Rogers." Her professional, cold attitude clearly left them all a bit off-kilter. Barnes hunched his shoulders, like he was trying to make himself smaller.

Romanoff pulled up a warm smile. "Come now Pepper-"

Pepper cut her off. "I'm quite certain you are not hard of hearing Miss. Romanoff," the spy's eyes widened slightly at the same tone being used on her.

There was some uncomfortable shifting for a moment. Pepper had always been polite and kind with the Avengers before. She may not have liked them but she faked it well enough.

She let it drag out for a moment, letting them sweat. Rhodey almost smiled. This was why she was such a good CEO in a male-dominated career.

Pepper Potts took no one's shit.

"The only reason I am here is to clear up some legal issues," Pepper finally said when Rogers had started squirming a little under her gaze. 'I have no other reason to be here as I don't care about you' hung unspoken in the air.

Romanoff's brow furrowed slightly and Barton glared along with Maximoff. Wilson and Lang looked confused at the hostility while T'Challa ignored the conversation and continued talking with Carol. He knew how terrifying Pepper could be. He'd already burned any chance of Wakanda partnering with SI after his choices.

Something Princess Shuri was incensed about as she was apparently a bit of a Tony Stark fan, having followed his work for years.

"What... legal issues?" Rogers asked hesitantly. Unsure over where this was going.

Pepper stepped forward, sharp heels clicking on the tarmac. She opened the folder resting on her tablet and pulled out one of the bundles of papers.

"These are the papers detailing the cancellation of the credit cards given to you by Mr. Stark." She continued talking over the eruption of outraged protests. "These are the lawsuits regarding the theft of SI property. Those weapons still belong to SI and you took them illegally on the run with you. Either return them or I will take you to court."

"Is Tony really being this petty-"

"Did I mention Mr. Stark Mr. Barton? Those weapons are patented SI property. As CEO of Stark Industries, I have every legal right to demand them back. That includes the Widow Bites, the bow and arrows, the body suits, the Falcon Wings, and the various knives and guns Mr. Barton, Miss. Romanoff and Mr. Wilson took."

"Pe-Miss. Potts," Rogers hurriedly corrected himself at her look. "We need our weapons to fight."

"That isn't my problem Mr. Rogers," she replied calmly, leaving him gaping at her for a moment. "Moving on," she continued. "This is a restraining order barring you, Miss. Maximoff and Mr. Barnes from interacting with Mr. Stark. The courts granted it after seeing the ferocity of Miss. Maximoff's attack in the airport and the video from Siberia."

Rhodey took note of how Rogers went pale at the mention of the video. He wondered if the good Captain was still in the habit of keeping secrets from his teammates as Wilson and Lang looked confused. Barnes on the other hand, flinched.

"You can't do this!" Maximoff yelled in outrage, red magic lighting up her hands.

"I would suggest you stop Miss. Maximoff," Stephen cut into the conversation. "Your pardons clearly stated that any magical attack not in clear self-defense or on an Accord's sanctioned mission would result in the pardon being revoked and your powers being bound. As Sorcerer Supreme that is my duty and Vision has already explained the details of your abilities. I assure you that I am capable of removing your magic if need be."

She stepped back in shock at the revelation of Vision helping him.

"Don't threaten her!" Barton yelled.

"I did nothing of the sort. I reminded her of the consequences of breaking the rules of the pardon you have all only recently signed." He raised an eyebrow. "I assume you read it before signing."

Their silence was all the answer he needed.

"Unbelievable," he scoffed. "You had better read them before you do something that gets you sent straight to jail."

"If only we were that lucky," Rhodey muttered darkly making Stephen's lips quirk up in a faint smirk while the Rouges stared at him in shock.

"Rho-Colonel Rhodes," Rogers started.

"Be very careful right now Rogers," Rhodey warned softly. "I had to watch Tony flat line on a surgery table three times because of what you and your best buddy over there did to him."

Barnes' head shot up to stare at him in shock while Rogers paled even further.

"I saw what you did to him. I watched that video a hundred times just about. So let me pop the delusional little bubble you're living in. You weren't brought back because you were forgiven and the world thinks you're right. The world hates you. No one actually wants you back. But there is a threat, the same threat Tony has been warning you about since the New York invasion, and that is the only reason you're back. Most of us believe you should be in a prison for what you did. All of you. You spat on the wishes of the rest of the world, of over a hundred countries. You decided you knew better than all of them. You know who does that? Dictators, not heroes. So no, you're not here because you're wanted. You're here to do your damn job. And once the fight is over, your contributions will be taken into account and the UN will decide if you did enough to not be thrown in prison for the shit you pulled. For the lives you took in your crusade to keep all the power in your hands and to save your precious Barnes. Because we all know this wasn't really about the Accords. This was always about Barnes." Rhodey got into Roger's space. "But I'm warning you now. If you lay one damn finger on Tony again, if you try and hurt him in any way, if you try and force him to do what you want, then I'll show you what War Machine can really do. Because newsflash Rogers, Tony was lashing out in Siberia because of your actions, your lies. But he wasn't trying to kill you. If you step out of line though? Then I'll show you what one of his suits can do when there's intent to kill."

He glared at the man for a moment longer before stepping back and sweeping his gaze over the others, pausing on Barton.

"That, was a threat Barton. And I don't make idle ones. Stay the fuck away from Tony. We won't let you get close this time."

They'd be Tony's shield against these so-called heroes. They knew the truth about them now. They couldn't be trusted with their friend's fragile heart. They wouldn't make that mistake again.

And if they thought it was just Rhodey and Pepper? Boy were they in for one hell of a surprise.