Havoc and Retribution

Potent, Her Terror

Steve Rogers is pounding the pavement, wearing a groove deep into the sidewalk surrounding Oslow Park in Washington D.C.

It's a popular jogging area but he is actively putting the running elite of the capital city of America to shame. First there was the mommy vlogger who tried to keep up with him to get an interview. She gave up on her jog all together when he lapped her for the fourth time. Then came the Georgetown track and field team trying to match his pace as a challenge. They did well for a while, but were panting just as he finished his warmup and hit his sprint pace. There was the uber-fan who wanted an autograph that tripped ass over teakettle. Steve felt bad enough to help him back up but not bad enough to sign an autograph. Now it's a woman triathlete. She's giving him space, but changing her pace when he does to challenge herself. This one he doesn't mind so much because it reminds him of... he picks up his pace.

On his next lap, he spots someone watching him from the southwest end of the park. As he gets closer he spots the slick suit, sunglasses and nonchalant, playboy stance. As he comes in line with Tony Stark, he very pointedly turns his head and keeps going.

He hears Tony sigh before he sprints away.

He keeps an eye on Tony in his periphery as he continues. Six laps later, Tony picks a bench and sits down. Twenty laps after that, he slides his glasses down his nose as Rogers passes and blows a bubble from gum Steve didn't realize he was chewing. Ten laps after than, Tony is giving a full blown interview piece to the mommy vlogger, who has recovered spectacularly from Steve's rebuff. Sighing to himself, Steve slows down and stops in front of Stark.

The rejected mom completely brushes off Steve and Tony pats the bench next to him when she leaves. Rogers crosses his arms and remains standing. "You know," Tony drawls, "You really need to work on your form. You pronate something awful when you sprint."

"What do you want Stark?" Steve asks curtly.

"Right to it then?" Tony asks. "No small talk? No, how've you been Tony? How's Stark industries doing these days? Sell any Iron Man suits to any megalomaniacs lately?"

When Steve doesn't answer, Tony blows out a very dramatic breath through his lips. "Man you hold on to things tighter than a rich dame at an estate sale in the coat closet with the butler."

Steve makes a disgusted face. "That's mean-spirited."

"And there he is," Tony replies, gesturing towards Steve emphatically.

"I'm busy Tony, what do you want?" Steve practically growls.

"Busy working out?" Tony asks incredulously. "Talk about building in redundancy in a model super soldier."

"Tony," Steve unfolds his arms, ready to sprint away.

"Okay, okay," Tony relents. "Don't get your spanx in a twist." Steve's look has gone from annoyed to murderous so Stark drops his customary sarcasm. "We've received news about Jay."

Steve's face goes oddly blank. He turns and starts to walk away. Tony is surprised by his response, befuddled by how much animosity Steve still feels about being locked in a prison by Jay. He knows Jay did something to bring Captain America's guard down that day but Steve refused to say what when they released him.

"Steve," Tony says. The candor and regret in Tony's voice are at least enough to give Steve pause. "Thor just arrived from Asgard. Hel attacked the Bifrost and destroyed the Circlets of Sigyn."

Steve turn to him. "Hel is still alive? But I thought Jay defeated her. It's what we all thought."

"What we all assumed," Tony corrects. "And you know what they say about assumptions."