War Torn || Civil War

Chapter Six: Falsehoods and Half-Truths

Music is "Fickle Game" by Amber Run.

Picture is the Winter Soldier, December 16, 1991.

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CHAPTER SIX: Falsehoods and Half-Truths

{December 16, 2015 -- Two Weeks Later}

N E W Y O R K

On the anniversary of Howard and Maria's passing, I lock myself in my Avengers room and get FRIDAY to help me hack into Natasha's files.

"You can't tell her anything we're doing," I tell the artificial intelligence. "She wants to keep this from the world, fine. But I have to see it."

It takes a few hours of back-channeling and password-decryption, but eventually I'm able to open the video file. What I see when the poor quality, black and white video begins to play makes me want to cry.

A car crash. Then a figure on a motorcycle appears. Howard is dragged from the vehicle by a metal hand. His face is crushed. Maria is choked.

The Winter Soldier shoots the camera.

I close my laptop in shock, closing my eyes as the tears fall. I knew that he killed them. I knew what happened. But to see it...it brings it all back. Howard. Maria. Seventeen-year-old Tony.

The Winter Soldier destroyed the Stark family.

Maybe Natasha's right. Maybe Tony shouldn't know about this. Not for my sake or Bucky's, but for his own. It's been twenty-four years since December 16, 1991. To tell him the truth now would flush all that healing down the drain.

I still feel sick to my stomach.

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{January 1, 2016 -- One Month After Lagos}

"Eleven Wakandans were among those killed during a confrontation between the Avengers and a group of mercenaries in Lagos, Nigeria last month. The traditionally reclusive Wakandans were on an outreach mission in Lagos when the attack occurred."

"Our people's blood is spilled on foreign soil, not only because of the actions of criminals but by the indifference of those pledged to stop them. Victory at the expense of the innocent is no victory at all."

"The Wakandan king went on to--"

I pick up the remote from the counter and turn the television off. Steve, who was sitting deep in thought while taking in what the news reporter and King T'Chaka had to say, now turns his attention towards me.

"It's absolute garbage, what they're saying about us," I sigh, leaning against the back of the sofa.

Steve looks up at me and sighs as well. "I know, but people did die, Em. It's a hard pill for most to swallow."

"Including and especially Wanda," I tell him, nodding towards the hallway where I can hear her room spewing the same false-truths that Steve was listening to.

"They are operating outside and above the international law," I hear a man reporter say. "Because that's the reality if we don't respond to acts like these."

"You should talk to her. She's taking it pretty hard."

Steve nods and stands, kissing me on the hairline as he exits. After a moment, I hear the television in Wanda's room cut off.

I flop down on the sofa, pulling my cell from my pocket. I scroll through the texts Rose sent me over the past few hours, since I was unable to read them due to Avenger's duties. She's sent me pictures of her new cat and talks about a new neighbor she's become friends with. I smile, glad to know that she's been all right the past couple years while I was asleep. Steve, Grant, and even Natasha visited her often, for that I am grateful.