-Broadcast-
Tony listened in silence as Rhodes continued.
"Same with the Accords. I signed because it was the right thing to do. And yeah, this is disastrous. It's a disaster. But it doesn't change my mind. I don't regret standing by what I believe in."
Tony looked at him for a long moment, then extended his hand. Rhodes grasped it, and Tony pulled him up to his feet. "You okay?"
Just then, there was a knock on the glass door. Both men turned to see an elderly delivery man standing there with a package box in his hands.
The man squinted at Tony. "Are you Tony Stank?"
Rhodes's face lit up with the first genuine smile since the accident. "Yes, this is Tony Stank! You're in the right place! Thank you for that!"
Tony shot Rhodes an exasperated look and shook his head. "Unbelievable."
Rhodes leaned on the parallel bars, grinning. "Table for one, Mr. Stank? Right by the bathroom?"
Despite everything—the pain, the betrayal, the shattered team—Tony couldn't help it. He laughed.
Later, alone in his workshop, Tony sat at a table and opened the package. Inside was a letter, handwritten on simple paper. He unfolded it and began to read.
The handwriting was Steve's—unmistakable, steady, precise.
Tony,
I'm glad you're back at the compound. I don't like the idea of you rattling around a mansion by yourself. We all need family.
The Avengers are yours, maybe more than mine. I've been on my own since I was 18. I never really fit in anywhere—not even in the army. I think I've always believed in people, in individuals. And I'm happy to say that, for the most part, they haven't let me down.
In the Raft prison, Wanda sat in her cell with hollow eyes, her powers suppressed by the collar around her neck. Scott drummed his fingers on his bunk like it was a drum set, trying to keep his spirits up. Clint lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. Sam paced back and forth, wondering what had happened after they'd been taken.
In the control center, guards lay unconscious on the floor, scattered like broken toys.
The letter continued:
Which is why I can't let them down either. Locks can be replaced, but maybe they shouldn't be. I know I hurt you, Tony. I guess I thought by not telling you about your parents I was sparing you, but I can see now that I was sparing myself. And I'm sorry.
Hopefully one day you can understand.
Tony found a cell phone in the bottom of the box—an old flip phone, simple and sturdy.
I wish we agreed on the Accords. I really do. I know you're doing what you believe in, and that's all any of us can do. That's all any of us should do.
Friday's voice interrupted. "Incoming call. Secretary Ross. Priority channel."
"Yeah, put him through."
"Tony, we have a problem—"
"Uh, give me a second," Tony said, and immediately put the call on hold.
"No, don't—" Ross's voice cut off as Tony pressed the button.
In the Raft, Sam slowly turned his head. A smile spread across his face as he saw Steve Rogers walking down the corridor, his uniform replaced by civilian clothes, his expression calm and determined.
Tony's eyes returned to the final lines of the letter:
So no matter what, I promise you: if you need us—if you need me—I'll be there.
Tony slowly turned his head to look at the flip phone sitting on the table beside him.
-Real World-
"Sure enough! This phone was given to Tony by Captain! That's why he carries an old flip phone with him!" Star-Lord said, understanding dawning.
Rocket rolled his eyes. "Even an idiot could figure that out, Quill!"
Star-Lord shot him an annoyed look. Rocket's personality was really hard to like sometimes!
"But didn't you notice? When Tony took it out before, the phone was fully charged! What does this mean?" Natasha rested her chin on her hand and glanced at Tony.
Barton laughed. "Tony may talk tough, but he actually wants to reconcile with the captain all the time!"
Rhodes was still stuck on something else entirely. "Tony Stank," he said, testing the words. "That's going to stick with you forever, man."
Tony's eye twitched slightly. He inexplicably wanted to curse, but facing this ubiquitous old delivery man who appeared throughout time and space, he could only grit his teeth and accept the nickname!
Nick Fury looked at Tony seriously. "From now on, when we line up for the bathroom, Tony goes first. Table for one by the toilet."
"Hahahahaha! Just like me! I am famously huge!" Drax laughed loudly.
Tony rolled his eyes but couldn't think of anything to say to the literal-minded alien!
-Broadcast-
In Wakanda, Bucky sat on an examination table while a medical technician in black carefully bandaged his shoulder where the metal arm had been destroyed and removed.
After the medical staff departed, Steve entered the room. "You sure about this?"
Bucky let out a tired sigh. "I can't trust my own mind." He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "So until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head, I think going back under is the best thing. For everybody."
Steve nodded slowly. He hated the idea of Bucky going back into cryosleep, but he couldn't argue with the logic. As long as the trigger words remained in Bucky's head, he was a weapon waiting to be used.
Steve watched as technicians helped Bucky into a cryogenic chamber. His friend settled into position, and the glass door closed. Within moments, frost began forming on the inside of the chamber as Bucky's body temperature dropped. His eyes closed, and he drifted into hibernation.
Steve stood at the glass window, looking out over Wakanda's capital city. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple.
Footsteps approached from behind. T'Challa joined him at the window, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Thank you for this," Steve said quietly.
T'Challa's voice was calm, measured. "Your friend and my father, they were both victims. If I can help one of them find peace..."
"You know, if they find out he's here, they'll come for him," Steve said, his tone apologetic.
T'Challa's expression shifted, a hint of pride entering his eyes. He looked out the window at the sprawling city below.
"Let them try."
The camera followed his gaze, revealing the true scope of Wakanda for the first time. Advanced buildings rose toward the sky, their design blending traditional African architecture with technology far beyond anything the outside world possessed. And dominating the skyline was an enormous statue of a panther, its sleek form a symbol of Wakanda's power and heritage.
-Real World-
"Is this small African country so arrogant? They actually dared to hide Bucky? And even threatened to let Tony Stark come and try?"
Tony and the others believed that it was the best option for Bucky to continue sleeping before clearing the commands in his brain, so that he didn't have to worry about being used as a weapon again.
But T'Challa's help to Bucky and Captain America was beyond many people's expectations.
T'Chaka patted T'Challa's shoulder with great satisfaction. His son was able to maintain his sanity in the face of hatred and not be consumed by it! He was worthy of being his chosen successor!
T'Challa's choice also made him famous in Wakanda, and many tribes believed that he was a monarch who was both capable and kind-hearted