Captain's Hart and Soul

Chapter 20 Worse

"You will be provided with an office instead of a cell." Ross told them as he led them down a glass walkway above the Spree river which linked the one office building to another across the river. The view would have been incredible, if not for the seriousness of the situation, and the many guards flanking them.

Ross added as they walked: "And do me a favour, stay in it."

Steve glanced up from Ross as he saw a familiar redhead walking towards them. Nat's face was a cold mask as she strode down the walkway towards the group, while T'Challa answered Ross flatly: "I'm not intending on going anywhere."

"For the record." Nat snapped as she joined Steve and did an about turn to walk beside him. "This is what making things worse looks like."

"He's alive." Steve answered shortly, not looking at her as he walked, and Nat snarled: "At what cost?"

That made Steve glance at her, but she just glared before she walked quicker, pulling ahead of the group as they reached a large security office.

Ross left them as Nat led the way in, and Steve could hear Tony's voice from inside as Tony insisted: "The remaining of us are now at court-section."

Steve saw Tony standing in the centre of the office, talking into his phone with his back to the door as he added: "And, Colonel Ross is supervising the clean up."

Nat snapped at Steve and Sam as the two men paused in the doorway and she walked on into the office: "Try not to break anything while we fix this."

Tony turned to face them, his face set in a heavy frown as he snapped into his phone: "Consequences? You bet there will be consequences."

Steve however had caught sight of familiar sharp hazel eyes. He fixed his attention on his wife and immediately realized why Nat and Tony were so furious with him, beyond obvious reasons. Arianna sat in a corner with her arms folded tightly across her chest, her face incredibly pale except for the dark circles underneath her eyes and she looked like she hadn't eaten for hours- at least.

In short, she looked ill, and Steve took a concerned step towards her, only to wince as Arianna's eyes narrowed at the movement, her lips pursing in anger. He stopped immediately, his own face unhappy as Nat sat beside her friend and whispered something into Arianna's ear as Tony continued to rage into his phone: "Obviously you can quote me on that because I just said it. Anything else? Thank you, sir."

Tony walked over to Steve, who moved his eyes to face the other man. He repeated: "Consequences?"

"Secretary Ross wants you both prosecuted." Tony answered, his eyes burning with suppressed anger as he turned away again, walking off towards Nat as the redhead got up again. "I have to give him something."

"I'm not getting that shield back, am I?" Steve asked sarcastically, and Nat snapped at him as she walked with Tony towards one of the smaller conference rooms to the side of the office: "Technically, it's the government's property. Wings too." She added.

"That's cold." Sam returned, and Tony called over his shoulder flatly: "Warmer than jail."

Sam glanced at Steve, but the Captain had his eyes fixed back on Arianna. She was still in her seat and her arms still crossed, but now she was outright glaring at her husband. Sam winced, and he quickly muttered: "I think I'll just... go sit in that office room."

He quickly headed towards one of the side offices, clearly not wanting to be in the middle of what was obviously going to end in a couple fight. Steve sighed as he glanced at his friend's retreating back before he looked back at Arianna. He sighed again but steeled himself and walked slowly over to his infuriated wife.