My Uncle, The Avenger

Chapter 10: I Get A Revelation Of Sorts

Tony

After spending my entire evening in the lab, I crept out, making sure not to wake up anyone. When I reached the living room, I saw Peter, Percy, Pepper and Rhodey all lying on the couch together, TV quietly showing Star Wars. 

I turned off the TV and walked into the elevator. "Where to, sir?" FRIDAY asked me. 

"The Rogue's floor," I replied. "I need to check up on them." 

I wished I hadn't made the elevators so damn fast because I would've liked the time to think. When the doors opened, I walked out and opened the door to their room. 

There was an odd silence, and the darkened floor sent shivers down my spine. 

"What are you doing here, Tony?" 

I tried not to flinch as I heard Natasha's voice. "Fri, turn the lights on," I ordered. "Yes, boss," FRIDAY replied and the lights switched on. 

I looked at my former teammate. Her eyes had dark rings underneath and she had dyed her once red hair, blonde. That sure was new. "This was your fault," she spat, voice laced with malice and hate. 

"What?" I asked. "The hair colour?" 

Natasha balled her fists. "Shut it, Stark," she growled. "You...why couldn't you just move on?" 

I inhaled sharply. "Why couldn't I just move on?" I asked, my voice deadly quiet. "Oh, I dunno. Maybe because your oh, so, righteous 'Captain America' nearly killed me and left me in subzero temperatures!"

Natasha flinched at the sudden change of tone. "He...what?" Her voice was small, shaky... vulnerable. So, unlike Natasha.

"Yeah," I spat back. "So don't you go blaming me for giving you a living situation, instead of being on the run."

Natasha was about to speak but I cut her off. "You know, Ross wanted to put you guys in jail. Kill you guys, even. But I said no. I wasted all my goddamn time to get you guys pardoned so don't come back with all this bullsh*t." 

"How's Rhodes?" Natasha asked, eyes fixed on the ground, looking guilty. 

"Yeah, he's okay," I said bitterly. "For someone who was shot down from the sky, he's doing well." 

Natasha put a hand on mine but I pulled away. "Tony... Sam's beating himself up about all of this. I think if you let them talk... it would be better for all of us." She squeezed her eyes shut briefly before opening them so she could face him when she next spoke. "I'm so, so sorry, Tony." 

I felt his heart clench as he looked at his friend's broken form. "It's...it's alright, Nat. I...shouldn't have lost it in Siberia-" Natasha interrupted. "Siberia?" she asked. "You can ask, Cap," I said quickly. "I'm sorry too. You did what you thought was right. And, yeah, sure, if Sour Patch is up to it, maybe he and Sam could talk." 

"Sour patch?" Natasha questioned, a small smirk on her face. "Yeah," I said. I put a hand on her back and pulled her into a hug. Natasha obliged, resting her head on my chest. Maybe we could get back to being unbiological siblings. Maybe. 

---

"So, wanna talk to Sam?" 

"Wait, hold up," Rhodes said. "You talked to the rogues?" I wrinkled my nose. "When you say it like that it makes me sound like some grumpy, old hermit." 

Pepper raised an eyebrow, walking past with her StarkTablet. "Is he wrong, though?" 

I gasped in mock hurt, then barked a laugh. "But would you be open to seeing him?" I repeated. "Yeah," Rhodes said. "But...would he come up here or would we go down there?" 

"Up here," I said. "Nice," Rhodes said. "How about tomorrow?" I nodded. "Good idea." 

"Boss, Happy's waiting in the garage for Peter," FRIDAY informed me. "Thanks, Fri. Pete!" 

The teenager scurried out of his room. "Yes, dad?" he asked. I rolled my eyes. "Happy's waiting for you. Get ready to go to school." 

"I am ready," Peter said. "Bye, dad! Bye, mom! Bye Uncle Rhodey!"

All of us waved and the teenager walked into the elevator. 

"Did Peter already leave?" Bruce soon asked, walking out of the med-bay. "Yup," I said, as he sat down on the couch. "Where did you say Thor was again?" Rhodey asked. "He's having a holiday with Loki," the scientist answered. "I wonder how it's going." 

"I doubt very well," Pepper said. 

Percy suddenly ran out of his room, eyes wide. "You alright, kid?" Rhodes asked. "Y-yeah," Percy stammered. "I...I just need a walk."

"You better not be going back downstairs," I warned. "I'm-I'm not!" Percy exclaimed, looking very guilty. 

"You are," I snapped. "Sit!" Percy begrudgingly sat on the couch, glaring at the floor. "You can't win this fight with just you guys," he said. 

I frowned. "What do you me-" I stopped myself. "You want to incorporate the rogues?" 

Percy nodded, after rolling his eyes. "Duh." I was about to speak when Percy cut me off. "What I mean, is that..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Well, for someone that has a history in fighting, I know that we can only do this with more people-"

"Wait, do what?" Bruce interrupted, looking concerned. "Fight Tartarus," Percy answered. "Anyway! We can only do this with more people. Something my camp instructor told me was...'United we stand. Divided we fall'. We can only do this together. Why don't you guys get that?" 

"Hey, kid," I said. "There are some things which you are too young to understa-"

"Oh, please," Percy snapped, causing me to stop talking abruptly. "I have been used as a pawn for the gods ever since I was 12. I'd understand!" 

I wanted to say something but I couldn't. Everyone else in the room looked the same way. Resting my head on the couch, I ran Percy's words through my head: United we stand. Divided we fall. If only we had known that before the whole Civil War incident. So there it was. 

A revelation. Yay.