Steve sat on the edge of the bed in his room and ran his fingers through his dirty blonde hair, he hadn't showered since he began the search for Tony which has been a whole week now. Stress built up in him and like a ticking time bomb he could go off at any moment, the memory of seeing Tony alive after so many years broke him, he thought he would never see the man again. He thought back to the day of Tony's 'funeral' and saw how calm the genius looked.
*FLASHBACK*
"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today under the New York sky to not mourn a loss, but reflect on the accomplishments Mister Tony Stark has achieved in his life here." Said Mayor Dewey, projecting his voice over the crowd over grief stricken civilians. The team was on the stage all with their heads down just staring at the cold wooden platform floor realising that Tony is now forever gone. Steve was the only one that was crying his eyes out, 'Oh Anthony I'm such a failure!, I just stood there and watched you be thrown and killed!' The memories of them fighting, always fighting calling each other names and insulting one another. Every single word he said to the billionaire he now regretted, he took Tony's presence for granted and now that he is gone Steve finally realised how much Tony meant to him.
"Now on this gloomy day." Continued the mayor. "Captain America here has a few words to share with us, Captain will you do the honours?"
Cap came back to reality and wiped away his tears and walked up to the podium. He cleared his throat and began to speak with the bravest tone of voice he could without sounding like he was going to break down.
"Tony was a brave man, smart, kind and though even at times he would be a jerk to us all it didn't matter, because Tony was our friend he gave us a home. Now to me Tony was one of the most kind-hearted people I have ever met! He took me a soldier out of time, a nobody in the new world, when everyone I knew and loved had died. He was there to save me from myself, from my darkest reaches of my mind, all my new friends especially Tony helped realise that I'm still Captain America!...." his voice began to tremble and become more painful, "Tony is the smartest man I have ever met, his kindness to all was amazing and he besides Peggy Carter was the only person I had ever lo..lo..lov..." Steve couldn't go one his knees gave in and his whole body fell to them, tears blurred his vision he couldn't believe it he Captain America was all of sudden turned into a emotional mess.
People stared in shock the bravest Avenger was breaking down right in front of his eyes, Natasha quickly went up the podium and continued Cap's speech. "In honour of Anthony Edward Stark the art community had made a memorial statue in his honour." Mayor Dewey pulled down the sheet revealing a black statue of Tony and next to him his Ironman suit. Steve looked at it and smiled.
'It's black...that was Tony's favourite colour...' the tears overwhelmed him again and he sobbed, Thor went to his side and helped him to his feet. "Thank you Thor but I'm fine" he said wearily through tears.
"No Steven. You are not okay, let us go back to the tower you will be okay." He replied with a reassuring voice. The rest of the team said their farewells and went back to the tower during the flight Steve tired himself out and fell asleep on Thor's shoulder and all he said was, "It's my fault...my fault...my fault." Those words haunted him and even during sleep he wasn't safe from the burden, when they got to the tower they decided to place Steve in Tony's room and for the first time in over two weeks after Tony's death Steve slept peacefully. His faced buried into Tony's blanket and curled into a ball, that night Steve slept like a baby but still silent tears ran.
*PRESENT TIME*
Steve still sat on the edge of his bed his fingers entangled in his still dirty blonde hair, every bad memory flooding in. 'Shut up Stark!, quit trying to be a hero Stark!' Every single insult sliced him deep engraving their own mark.
"Steve?" Said a voice. The blonde looked up and saw peering in his doorway was Clint ( Hawkeye) his expression was worrying, "Bruce wants you to come to the lab if that's okay?, but first." He said while walking over to Steve placing a hand on his shoulder, "go take a shower, you need it."
After that Clint left closing the door behind him, Steve sighed a long sigh and got up, he went through his wardrobe picked out a white T-shirt and blue jeans then slowly made his way to the bathroom. He undressed and looked in the mirror dark circles surrounded his eyes, face stained with tears, hair turning dark from not being washed and his whole body was beginning to lose muscle making him looking slightly chubby but he didn't care. He got in turned on the hot water and felt the painful burning sensation give him a strange sense of relief and serenity as if this feeling, was meant for him. Steve couldn't enough of the pain burning his skin it gave him happiness, he finally grabbed the shampoo and conditioner and washed his hair. Steve got out of the shower, dried himself off, got dressed and, walked down the hall and entered the lab.
"Hey Bruce, you wanted to see me?" He sighed.
"Yes, glad your here." smiled Bruce while walking around the lab. "During the week I had located the coordinates, it seems Tony is on A.I.M island but no sign of Ultron, on the other note the Ultron shut down virus is up and ready but there is one problem..."
"What is it?" Asked Steve becoming worried.
"The virus is a remote controlled one the only way I can shut the robot down is to make physical contact with him so I can directly connect it to the main mother board in his brain."
Steve thought for a bit and thought of an ideal plan, "what if I do it?"
"What!?" Yelled Bruce. "Are you insane!?, this is Ultron we are talking about not M.O.D.O.K! You can't just simply jump on him, connect it and expect boom he's gone! You need a plan and a back up plan, what if it doesn't work?"
"Then I'll rip him apart with my bare hands even if it kills me in the process...I just want Tony to be safe, he's my world."
"Steve is there something you're not telling me?"
The blonde blushed and turned away, "n..no I'm fine."
"Steve please you can trust me, you do trust me?"
"I do trust you Bruce, you're one of my best friends so I'll give it to you straight...I..I..I love Tony, I'm in love with Tony."
Bruce's face scrunched up in disgust but told Steve to leave in calmest way possible, "why not go do some training?"
"Um yeah, it would be nice to get back in shape." Steve left the room feeling lighter and a bit happier, he remained in a chubby like state for a while though since Fury said "no more missions for the next seven months!" He had no reason for exercise.
As days went on the team was ready especially Cap, the avenge jet was fully fueled ready to go the team hoped in and took off, passing over luminescent blue ocean it reminded Steve of the beautiful blue light in Tony's chest, and how every night Steve would walk past Tony's room to check up on him to see if he was okay and that blue light shining bright would always keep him reassured. The plane came to an abrupt halt when it hit the sand on the island's beach, it was quiet when they started exploring the area almost too quiet. No animals not even lizards where heard and the plants seem artificial, the beacon on the GPS scanner was the only thing guiding them through A.I.M's maze of an island every corner they turned could be a trap.
Hours went on and the beeping sound on the beacon became faster and faster, "are we close?" Asked Clint becoming slightly impatient.
''We are just a little further, learn to be patient!" Replied Bruce slightly annoyed. The scientist kept on walking ahead leading the team deeper and deeper into the forest, suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks. "We're here!"
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Brian here, ooh cliffhanger gotta hate to love them.
Anyway chapter will involve mostly fighting.
That is all now Brian out :P
