Broken || STEVE ROGERS [5]

10; Broken

2016 ― Berlin, Germany
"So is she a weapon of mass destruction too, Uncle Tony!?"

"Hey, you wanna see something cool?" Tony asked Katherine once Steve had left the room to find the kids. "I found something from Dad's archives. Felt timely." Tony said. Katherine silently sat down, waiting for him to continue. She was still upset with him, but only hearing him out now because it had to do with Howard.

"FDR signed the Lend-Lease bill with these in 1941. Provided support to the Allies when they needed it most." Tony said, setting down two pens in front of her. Pens that she recognized.

"Yet some would say it brought our country closer to war." Katherine said, looking up at him.

"Dammit, Katherine. I'm trying to. . what do you call it? That's an olive branch. Is that what you call it?" Tony asked, sitting down with her.

"I didn't know we were at war, T. ." She said, and then she started to look around. "Is Pepper here? I didn't see her. I was going to ask her to take Amaya and Christian back to the Avengers facility. They were only supposed to be at a funeral, not all of this." Katherine said.

"We're kinda. . well not kinda. .-" Katherine cut him off.

". .-Is she pregnant? Wait, why wouldn't either of you tell me?" Katherine said.

"No. Definitely not." Tony said, shaking his head. "We're taking a break. It's nobody's fault." He said, and Katherine frowned.

"I'm so sorry, T. I didn't know. . why didn't you tell me sooner?" She asked.

"A few years ago, I almost lost her, so I trashed all my suits." Tony said, and Katherine nodded her head.

"Yeah. . when we fought the Mandarin, I remember." She said.

"Then, we had to mop up HYDRA, and then Ultron. My fault. And then, and then, and then, I never stopped. Because the truth is, I don't want to stop. I don't want to lose her. I thought maybe the Accords could split the difference." Tony said, and then he stood up.

"Tony, I'm really sorry." She said to him.

"In her defense, I am a handful." He said, which made Katherine laugh.

"Trust me. . I know that from first hand experience." She said, and Tony smiled at her.

"Yet, Dad was a pain in the ass, but he and Mom always made it work. . and you were his friend for decades." Tony said.

"Yeah. . I was glad Howard got married. Steve and I both knew him when he was young and single. . and a player." Katherine said.

"Oh, really? He knew Steve, I never knew that. He only mentioned it, a thousand times." Tony said, as he put on his jacket and Katherine shook her head. "God, I hated him. I hated him for all the pain I saw you go through from missing him, because my dad spoke so highly of him, and I just wanted him to speak as highly of me, just once." Tony said.

"You know he never means to make things difficult." Katherine said speaking on her husband.

"I know, because he's a very polite person. Surprised he can put up with you." Tony teased, and she rolled her eyes.

"Look, Tony. . when it comes to battle, Steve and I are the same. If we see a situation going south, knowing there's something we can do to help, we can't just ignore it. Sometimes, I wish I could." Katherine said.

"Maybe you do, but Steve doesn't." Tony said.

"Fine. . I compartmentalize, but Steve, he doesn't." I said.

"I know, sometimes, I wanna punch your husband in his perfect teeth. But I don't want to see him gone. Or you either." Tony said, which made Katherine laugh.

"His teeth are pretty perfect, huh?" She said, smiling to herself.

"We need you both. So far, nothing's happened that can't be undone, if you both sign. We can make the last 24-hours legit. Barnes gets transferred to an American psych-center instead of a Wakandan prison." Tony said. Katherine sighed.

Katherine picked up one of the pens before getting out of her seat and walking to the other side of the room. She looked down at the pen she's seen Howard use so many times before, and then looked at Tony. "I'm not saying it's impossible. . but there would have to be safeguards." She said.

"Sure. Once we put out the PR fire, those documents can be amended. I'd file a motion to have you, Steve and Wanda reinstated. .-" Katherine cut him off.

". .-Wanda? What about Wanda?" She asked.

"She's fine. She's confined to the compound, currently. Vision's keeping her company." Tony said, and Katherine sighed while shaking her head.

"Goodness, Anthony, you've been doing this your whole life. Every time I think you see things the right way. .-" Tony cut her off.

". .-It's 100 acres, with a lap pool. It's got a screening room. There's worse ways to protect people." Tony said, and Katherine shook her head while laughing.

"Protection? Are you serious, T? Is that how you see this?" She asked him, and then she shook her head. "This isn't protection. It's internment, Anthony." She said.

"She's not a US citizen, and they don't grant visas to weapons of mass destruction." Tony said in a loud voice and Katherine rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on, Tony! She's a kid! And Amaya, my kid has the exact same powers of her, so is she a weapon of mass destruction too, Uncle Tony!?" Katherine yelled at the same time Tony yelled.

"Give me a break!" He said, and they both took a deep breath, before Tony spoke again. "Of course I don't think Amaya is a weapon of mass destruction. Kat, I'm doing what needs to be done, to stave off something worse." He said, and Katherine nodded her head.

"Yeah, T? You keep telling yourself that." She said, and then she set the pen back down on the table before walking out.

She was ready to explode.

―

Well, that was the first time you've ever seen Katherine and her godson argue. Man, I had so many emotions writing this.

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xoxo.