Black Star: HYDRA War

丅𝔀𝓔︎𝓷𝐓︎ⓨ︎-丅𝔥я︎𝓔︎𝓔︎

NO. Absolutely not," Tony says.

    "I didn't even ask anything!" you shout indignantly.

"You didn't need to. I know what you're going to ask, and the answer is no."

You fall silent, trying to think of a way to convince him to agree.

The moment Tony got back to the tower, you told him all the information you've gathered over the past few days. So far, he's been listening uncharacteristically quietly as you've talked for what could be an hour at this point. But the second you brought up Siberia, he cut you off.

"But Steve specifically said he wanted me to get him to Siberia."

"No, kid, he didn't. He just needs anyone who knows how to fly the Quinjet."

"Except not anyone will be able to stop him from doing some stupid shit. He's operating on pretty much emotions alone at this point, Dad. Last time he did that, he nosedived a plane into the Pacific."

"He'll have Barnes to talk sense into him."

"What happens if he gets brainwashed again?"

"What if you're there, and he gets brainwashed? No amount of sense you can talk into Steve will stop Barnes from trying to kill you, again."

"I'll wear my suit and bring the Shooting Star. AVIS will be there. You'll be there."

"Why are you so determined to help Barnes?"

You weren't able to tell Bucky the full truth. But Tony... he'll know exactly what you're talking about, without you having to explain or give context. You take a deep breath, attempting to marshall your thoughts before putting them out there into the world.

"He just... he's been so hurt by the world. For things out of his control, mostly. He can't do anything to stop it, but the people who can do something don't, because helping would cause problems for them, and it's not happening to them, anyway, so why go through all that trouble? Why defend him in court, or clear his criminal record, or hold HYDRA accountable? It's only going to drag you into a mess and give you a bad reputation like his. And it's not that they just don't know, because they do. They've seen his files, read about his history. They could intervene, but they don't, because they value some invisible thing that belongs to them more than somebody else's safety."

Tony watches you carefully. "Oh. So it's not about him."

"Well, it is, but I guess there's a selfish side to it, too."

"It's not selfish at all."

"I'm helping him because I wish somebody had worked up the courage to help me back then." You bite your lip as nearly 7 years' worth of awful memories swirl in your mind.

"But it's like you said, isn't it?" Tony says gently. "Helping him would cause trouble for you. And you don't know him outside of being Steve's friend, so why help him at all? I'm sure the way she treated you is motivating you, I'm not going to argue with that. But I'd bet that you genuinely just care about him. Steve, too, of course."

"So... does that mean I can come?" you ask carefully.

He laughs, shaking his head. "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"

"Only one way to find out!" you say brightly.

He sighs, but it doesn't erase the smile from his face. "Okay, fine. You can go, but I'm going too."

"Family road trip! With a couple of old men also!"

Tony rolls his eyes. "Well, we've done weirder things."