The Corrupt and the Pure; Chapter 35: The Plan
[INFO]Title: The Corrupt and the Pure
Author: Del Rion (delrion.mail (at) gmail.com)
Fandom: The Avengers & Captain America (MCU)
Timeline: post-Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Genre: Drama, action, hurt/comfort
Rating: MA / FRAO
Characters: Steve Rogers (Captain America), Tony Stark (Iron Man). Also: Bruce Banner (Hulk), James “Bucky” Barnes (Winter Soldier), Clint Barton (Hawkeye), J.A.R.V.I.S., James “Rhodey” Rhodes (War Machine), Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), Thor, Sam Wilson (Falcon)
Pairing: Steve/Tony
Summary: When the Steve Rogers from an alternate universe appears in the middle of the Avengers Tower, two worlds are about to collide: one where Captain America became the tool of HYDRA and fell into a relationship with the hero Iron Man - and one where Tony and Steve are tentatively getting along. The latter are forced to reconsider their relationship when the Commander kidnaps Tony to replace his dead lover.
Complete.
Written for: A story commissioned by Susanne (ChickenHax @ AO3 / starkred @ Tumblr).
Warnings: Rape/non-con, major character death (alternate universe), graphic canonical violence, M/M sexual content, language.
~ ~ ~
Chapter 35: The Plan
Slowly, the team gathered on the second level of the common room which overlooked the arrival spot of the Commander. Clint had his left wrist in a thick wrap and a fresh white bandage covering half of his forehead; Sam was limping, and even Natasha couldn’t hide a hitch in her step. Rhodey had been protected by his armor and quick reflexes, surviving with only a few scrapes just like the rest of them.
Tony had checked his armor and decompressed for a moment before the meeting he knew was going to happen sooner rather than later. His conversation with Steve had opened some wounds he had thought he had stitched shut; it wasn’t traumatic so much as bothersome, and the more he circled the moral questions the topic raised, the more frustrated he felt.
There was no easy solution, no formula to follow. People were unpredictable and irrational, and that was why Tony was a man of science rather than a humanist; there was only so much he could manipulate when it came to other human beings. Machines, however, never failed to follow logic.
When everyone had arrived, including Bucky Barnes, there was a brief silence during which everyone was waiting for someone else to begin.
Knowing how radical Steve’s thoughts had been just an hour ago, Tony took it upon himself to open the floor for discussion: “We need to locate the Commander and contain him.” It brought nothing new to the table, but it was a start. Also, ‘contain’ was a very politically correct word to use when they didn’t have an exact goal in mind.
“The sooner the better,” Rhodey agreed. “The more bodies he leaves behind, the less eager the government will be to let us handle it on our own.”
“I don’t imagine we want to explain at length how an evil copy of Captain America showed up on our doorstep,” Clint agreed.
“They would put him in some lab and cut him up,” Bruce predicted, looking uneasy. His eyes searched the people around him. “We can’t let that happen,” he added.
“We won’t,” Tony reassured him.
“That’s a concern for another time,” Rhodey said, trying to soften their resolve.
“We need to be aware of that before it becomes topical,” Tony argued. “They can’t cut up Captain America to figure out the secrets of the original super-soldier serum, but should they be presented with an exact copy to spare…” He glanced at Steve, to make sure he was backing up him and Bruce, and it looked like he wasn’t thrilled by the notion of the Commander ending up as someone’s lab rat despite his willingness to kill the man.
“In the wrong hands, that could be disastrous, so it’s better to play it safe,” Steve agreed.
Rhodey nodded slowly, falling in line with the rest of them. He was perhaps thinking of unlocking the secrets within Steve Rogers’ body in order to cure diseases and create new super-soldiers for their country to deploy against their enemies, but Tony knew from experience that such an asset would end up in the wrong hands before long. Look at Bucky, for instance.
“We need a way to find the Commander if we want to catch him - and make sure the final confrontation takes place someplace where we control the area,” Natasha said, moving the conversation forward.
“If we allow him to dictate where we cross paths, it will play in his favor,” Steve countered.
“Let’s set him a trap, then,” Tony decided. “He’ll come to us, when and where we want him to, and we’ll have the advantage.”
“He’ll know it’s a trap from a mile away,” Steve noted.
“Then we’ll use bait he can’t resist,” Tony shrugged.
Steve’s eyes flew at Bucky, which was kind of adorable. Tony barely managed to not roll his eyes.
“As attractive as Barnes may be in his eyes, it’s not as good as the thing he’s really after,” he clarified his intentions.
This time Steve’s eyes landed on the real prize, locking with Tony’s. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Tony spread his arms. “Look, I’m not thrilled about it either, but we’ve got the one thing he wants more than anything.”
“He’ll know it’s a trap,” Rhodey agreed with Steve’s earlier statement.
“I’m counting on him wanting me more than he wants to be free,” Tony said, trying not to sound smug. “He’ll risk his freedom if he thinks he has a shot at getting his hands on me.”
“No,” Steve argued.
“He’ll come -”
“I know he will - I know I would - but that’s not what I mean,” Steve snapped. “We’re not doing this, dangling you in front of him and hoping he doesn’t outwit us.”
“That’s not your call to make,” Tony countered. “We need to catch him, and if we don’t lure him out, this game we’re playing will keep on going until someone slips up - and I don’t think it will be him.” The Commander had issues with patience, but he was smart. Steve Rogers was a master of strategy and creative thinking when it came to outsmarting the problem in front of him, and eventually the Commander would find a way to get to Tony when they weren’t ready.
As much as he disliked the idea of putting himself out there, Tony knew it was the only way to draw the Commander out of hiding in an environment they could control. They just had to tread the fine line where the Commander would think he had a chance at getting him so that they wouldn’t scare him away.
“We’re not doing it,” Steve kept arguing. “We’ll think of another way.”
“I hate to say it, Cap, but Stark’s got a point,” Sam spoke up. “We need to be one step ahead, prepared for anything, and that requires us to know all the elements; if the Commander chooses the battlefield, that will never happen. We need some bait, and we all know what he’s after.” He glanced at Tony, face grim. Going against Steve clearly wasn’t his first call, but the lack of protests from around the sitting area spoke volumes.
Steve looked around, trying to get someone to back him up. Bruce looked like he was on the fence, as was Rhodey, but Tony was confident both of them would choose right; Bruce didn’t want any more casualties and Rhodey knew how to strategize.
“If Tony’s willing to do it, I say we proceed,” Natasha said finally.
Steve shifted in his seat, back ramrod straight. He looked like a man who had been betrayed. His eyes found Tony’s again, something akin to desperation in his gaze. “Can I talk to you - alone?”
“Now?” Tony countered, pretending not to know why Steve wanted a word.
“Yes,” Steve said curtly and got up before Tony even agreed.
With a dramatic sigh, Tony got to his feet and followed Steve away from the group. They entered the kitchen through a swing door designed to allow for lots of foot traffic when catering at parties. It was far from soundproof, but Tony suspected privacy was less important to Steve than was getting his point across.
“You can’t do this,” Steve said without wasting any time.
“I can and I will,” Tony argued. “We don’t have anything else. Bucky might do in a pinch, but we would have to expose him a lot more than if we use me as bait.”
Steve tried to stare him down, jaw tense. “What if we fail?” he asked the burning question. “What if he takes you again?”
“He won’t,” Tony countered. “We’ll make sure of that.”
Steve shifted, appearing uncertain - then lashed out faster than Tony could blink, fingers of one hand curling around Tony’s throat and body slamming him back against the nearest wall, hard enough to rattle nearby fixtures. “He’s fast,” Steve hissed, body pressed tight against Tony’s, keeping his toes from touching the floor, leaving him helpless in his grip. “He’s strong and smart - and most importantly, he’s motivated.” Blue eyes bore holes into Tony’s, trying to force him to cave with pure willpower.
With his air supply all but cut off, forcing his hands up around Steve’s forearm in hopes of easing the pressure, his toes barely scraping the floor, Tony was helpless. His body remembered this part, flushing with intense warmth, preparing to retaliate if it went on for much longer.
Steve must have felt the heat where he was pinning Tony against the wall because Tony could actually feel his muscles jump an instant before he stepped back and let go of him, a flush creeping over his cheeks. Maybe it was anger - or maybe it was something else - but he seemed determined to keep driving his opinion home, not backing down.
Tony held back from coughing despite the scratch in his throat. There would be bruises on his neck from this, but if they were lucky, they wouldn’t appear until after the meeting was over. He tried not to lower his posture, to show weakness, but it was impossible to hide.
“He said it to me the first time we fought: I have nothing at stake,” Steve said, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice. “With Bucky, maybe…” He hesitated, and Tony groaned, finally managing to straighten himself and breathe deeply.
“Thank you for your honesty,” he said, voice rough from the recent abuse to his throat. Steve stiffened in response to it. “You’re not the only one who’ll have my back. Just because you’re not motivated enough doesn’t mean I can’t trust the others to try their best.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Steve snapped, taking half a step forward before catching himself. “He has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Yes, he’ll walk into a trap if he thinks he has a chance - and he’ll probably be right about those odds, no matter how we play our cards.”
Tony tried not to hesitate, but honestly, he didn’t want to be kidnapped a second time; there was no way it was going to be half as pleasant as the first time, and that hadn’t been a joyride either.
“Please,” Steve begged, which was something new.
“What other choice do we have that doesn’t put innocent lives in danger?” Tony asked, even though his voice betrayed his own fears. “Worst case scenario is that he’ll find something to use as leverage and get me to walk right back into his arms. We need to make our move before that happens.” Tentatively, he laid a hand on Steve’s arm, much in the same way the man had laid a hand on his earlier. “I trust you to want to take him down, whatever your motivation is. You’ll find a fire that matches his, and you’ll have the team to back you up.”
Steve looked down at where Tony’s hand was touching him, as if mesmerized by it. Truth be told, these were a few of the rare times they touched each other on purpose, and for once it wasn’t hostile in some way.
Tony had to admit he could get used to that.
“You failed to protect me once,” Tony reminded him again. “Your pride won’t allow you to fail a second time.”
Steve nodded, features grim with determination.
“Let’s get back to the others,” Tony said then, withdrawing his hand. “Those plans won’t make themselves.”
Steve didn’t look thrilled when they walked back to the others, but after a short period of silence, he threw himself into the planning process, dismissing options left and right and weeding out potential options until they began to zero in on a plan that was ‘Cap proof’.
Tony fell silent at some point, simply taking notes, stealing glances at Steve. Was it hard for him to try to put himself into the Commander’s shoes, placing him in a mind more twisted than his own, yet eerily similar? Was it unfair of them to ask this of him?
Steve looked back at him after Tony had spent several minute debating this train of thought, meeting his eyes.
Yes, it was hard, and probably making Steve feel rotten on the inside, but rarely did anyone have this good a source of information when laying out their plans. Dealing with the wrongness of it could wait until they had the Commander safely in custody.
to be continued…
Story info
Author: Del Rion (delrion.mail (at) gmail.com)
Fandom: The Avengers & Captain America (MCU)
Timeline: post-Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Genre: Drama, action, hurt/comfort
Rating: MA / FRAO
Characters: Steve Rogers (Captain America), Tony Stark (Iron Man). Also: Bruce Banner (Hulk), James “Bucky” Barnes (Winter Soldier), Clint Barton (Hawkeye), J.A.R.V.I.S., James “Rhodey” Rhodes (War Machine), Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), Thor, Sam Wilson (Falcon)
Pairing: Steve/Tony
Summary: When the Steve Rogers from an alternate universe appears in the middle of the Avengers Tower, two worlds are about to collide: one where Captain America became the tool of HYDRA and fell into a relationship with the hero Iron Man - and one where Tony and Steve are tentatively getting along. The latter are forced to reconsider their relationship when the Commander kidnaps Tony to replace his dead lover.
Complete.
Written for: A story commissioned by Susanne (ChickenHax @ AO3 / starkred @ Tumblr).
Warnings: Rape/non-con, major character death (alternate universe), graphic canonical violence, M/M sexual content, language.
~ ~ ~
Chapter 35: The Plan
Slowly, the team gathered on the second level of the common room which overlooked the arrival spot of the Commander. Clint had his left wrist in a thick wrap and a fresh white bandage covering half of his forehead; Sam was limping, and even Natasha couldn’t hide a hitch in her step. Rhodey had been protected by his armor and quick reflexes, surviving with only a few scrapes just like the rest of them.
Tony had checked his armor and decompressed for a moment before the meeting he knew was going to happen sooner rather than later. His conversation with Steve had opened some wounds he had thought he had stitched shut; it wasn’t traumatic so much as bothersome, and the more he circled the moral questions the topic raised, the more frustrated he felt.
There was no easy solution, no formula to follow. People were unpredictable and irrational, and that was why Tony was a man of science rather than a humanist; there was only so much he could manipulate when it came to other human beings. Machines, however, never failed to follow logic.
When everyone had arrived, including Bucky Barnes, there was a brief silence during which everyone was waiting for someone else to begin.
Knowing how radical Steve’s thoughts had been just an hour ago, Tony took it upon himself to open the floor for discussion: “We need to locate the Commander and contain him.” It brought nothing new to the table, but it was a start. Also, ‘contain’ was a very politically correct word to use when they didn’t have an exact goal in mind.
“The sooner the better,” Rhodey agreed. “The more bodies he leaves behind, the less eager the government will be to let us handle it on our own.”
“I don’t imagine we want to explain at length how an evil copy of Captain America showed up on our doorstep,” Clint agreed.
“They would put him in some lab and cut him up,” Bruce predicted, looking uneasy. His eyes searched the people around him. “We can’t let that happen,” he added.
“We won’t,” Tony reassured him.
“That’s a concern for another time,” Rhodey said, trying to soften their resolve.
“We need to be aware of that before it becomes topical,” Tony argued. “They can’t cut up Captain America to figure out the secrets of the original super-soldier serum, but should they be presented with an exact copy to spare…” He glanced at Steve, to make sure he was backing up him and Bruce, and it looked like he wasn’t thrilled by the notion of the Commander ending up as someone’s lab rat despite his willingness to kill the man.
“In the wrong hands, that could be disastrous, so it’s better to play it safe,” Steve agreed.
Rhodey nodded slowly, falling in line with the rest of them. He was perhaps thinking of unlocking the secrets within Steve Rogers’ body in order to cure diseases and create new super-soldiers for their country to deploy against their enemies, but Tony knew from experience that such an asset would end up in the wrong hands before long. Look at Bucky, for instance.
“We need a way to find the Commander if we want to catch him - and make sure the final confrontation takes place someplace where we control the area,” Natasha said, moving the conversation forward.
“If we allow him to dictate where we cross paths, it will play in his favor,” Steve countered.
“Let’s set him a trap, then,” Tony decided. “He’ll come to us, when and where we want him to, and we’ll have the advantage.”
“He’ll know it’s a trap from a mile away,” Steve noted.
“Then we’ll use bait he can’t resist,” Tony shrugged.
Steve’s eyes flew at Bucky, which was kind of adorable. Tony barely managed to not roll his eyes.
“As attractive as Barnes may be in his eyes, it’s not as good as the thing he’s really after,” he clarified his intentions.
This time Steve’s eyes landed on the real prize, locking with Tony’s. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
Tony spread his arms. “Look, I’m not thrilled about it either, but we’ve got the one thing he wants more than anything.”
“He’ll know it’s a trap,” Rhodey agreed with Steve’s earlier statement.
“I’m counting on him wanting me more than he wants to be free,” Tony said, trying not to sound smug. “He’ll risk his freedom if he thinks he has a shot at getting his hands on me.”
“No,” Steve argued.
“He’ll come -”
“I know he will - I know I would - but that’s not what I mean,” Steve snapped. “We’re not doing this, dangling you in front of him and hoping he doesn’t outwit us.”
“That’s not your call to make,” Tony countered. “We need to catch him, and if we don’t lure him out, this game we’re playing will keep on going until someone slips up - and I don’t think it will be him.” The Commander had issues with patience, but he was smart. Steve Rogers was a master of strategy and creative thinking when it came to outsmarting the problem in front of him, and eventually the Commander would find a way to get to Tony when they weren’t ready.
As much as he disliked the idea of putting himself out there, Tony knew it was the only way to draw the Commander out of hiding in an environment they could control. They just had to tread the fine line where the Commander would think he had a chance at getting him so that they wouldn’t scare him away.
“We’re not doing it,” Steve kept arguing. “We’ll think of another way.”
“I hate to say it, Cap, but Stark’s got a point,” Sam spoke up. “We need to be one step ahead, prepared for anything, and that requires us to know all the elements; if the Commander chooses the battlefield, that will never happen. We need some bait, and we all know what he’s after.” He glanced at Tony, face grim. Going against Steve clearly wasn’t his first call, but the lack of protests from around the sitting area spoke volumes.
Steve looked around, trying to get someone to back him up. Bruce looked like he was on the fence, as was Rhodey, but Tony was confident both of them would choose right; Bruce didn’t want any more casualties and Rhodey knew how to strategize.
“If Tony’s willing to do it, I say we proceed,” Natasha said finally.
Steve shifted in his seat, back ramrod straight. He looked like a man who had been betrayed. His eyes found Tony’s again, something akin to desperation in his gaze. “Can I talk to you - alone?”
“Now?” Tony countered, pretending not to know why Steve wanted a word.
“Yes,” Steve said curtly and got up before Tony even agreed.
With a dramatic sigh, Tony got to his feet and followed Steve away from the group. They entered the kitchen through a swing door designed to allow for lots of foot traffic when catering at parties. It was far from soundproof, but Tony suspected privacy was less important to Steve than was getting his point across.
“You can’t do this,” Steve said without wasting any time.
“I can and I will,” Tony argued. “We don’t have anything else. Bucky might do in a pinch, but we would have to expose him a lot more than if we use me as bait.”
Steve tried to stare him down, jaw tense. “What if we fail?” he asked the burning question. “What if he takes you again?”
“He won’t,” Tony countered. “We’ll make sure of that.”
Steve shifted, appearing uncertain - then lashed out faster than Tony could blink, fingers of one hand curling around Tony’s throat and body slamming him back against the nearest wall, hard enough to rattle nearby fixtures. “He’s fast,” Steve hissed, body pressed tight against Tony’s, keeping his toes from touching the floor, leaving him helpless in his grip. “He’s strong and smart - and most importantly, he’s motivated.” Blue eyes bore holes into Tony’s, trying to force him to cave with pure willpower.
With his air supply all but cut off, forcing his hands up around Steve’s forearm in hopes of easing the pressure, his toes barely scraping the floor, Tony was helpless. His body remembered this part, flushing with intense warmth, preparing to retaliate if it went on for much longer.
Steve must have felt the heat where he was pinning Tony against the wall because Tony could actually feel his muscles jump an instant before he stepped back and let go of him, a flush creeping over his cheeks. Maybe it was anger - or maybe it was something else - but he seemed determined to keep driving his opinion home, not backing down.
Tony held back from coughing despite the scratch in his throat. There would be bruises on his neck from this, but if they were lucky, they wouldn’t appear until after the meeting was over. He tried not to lower his posture, to show weakness, but it was impossible to hide.
“He said it to me the first time we fought: I have nothing at stake,” Steve said, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice. “With Bucky, maybe…” He hesitated, and Tony groaned, finally managing to straighten himself and breathe deeply.
“Thank you for your honesty,” he said, voice rough from the recent abuse to his throat. Steve stiffened in response to it. “You’re not the only one who’ll have my back. Just because you’re not motivated enough doesn’t mean I can’t trust the others to try their best.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Steve snapped, taking half a step forward before catching himself. “He has nothing to lose and everything to gain. Yes, he’ll walk into a trap if he thinks he has a chance - and he’ll probably be right about those odds, no matter how we play our cards.”
Tony tried not to hesitate, but honestly, he didn’t want to be kidnapped a second time; there was no way it was going to be half as pleasant as the first time, and that hadn’t been a joyride either.
“Please,” Steve begged, which was something new.
“What other choice do we have that doesn’t put innocent lives in danger?” Tony asked, even though his voice betrayed his own fears. “Worst case scenario is that he’ll find something to use as leverage and get me to walk right back into his arms. We need to make our move before that happens.” Tentatively, he laid a hand on Steve’s arm, much in the same way the man had laid a hand on his earlier. “I trust you to want to take him down, whatever your motivation is. You’ll find a fire that matches his, and you’ll have the team to back you up.”
Steve looked down at where Tony’s hand was touching him, as if mesmerized by it. Truth be told, these were a few of the rare times they touched each other on purpose, and for once it wasn’t hostile in some way.
Tony had to admit he could get used to that.
“You failed to protect me once,” Tony reminded him again. “Your pride won’t allow you to fail a second time.”
Steve nodded, features grim with determination.
“Let’s get back to the others,” Tony said then, withdrawing his hand. “Those plans won’t make themselves.”
Steve didn’t look thrilled when they walked back to the others, but after a short period of silence, he threw himself into the planning process, dismissing options left and right and weeding out potential options until they began to zero in on a plan that was ‘Cap proof’.
Tony fell silent at some point, simply taking notes, stealing glances at Steve. Was it hard for him to try to put himself into the Commander’s shoes, placing him in a mind more twisted than his own, yet eerily similar? Was it unfair of them to ask this of him?
Steve looked back at him after Tony had spent several minute debating this train of thought, meeting his eyes.
Yes, it was hard, and probably making Steve feel rotten on the inside, but rarely did anyone have this good a source of information when laying out their plans. Dealing with the wrongness of it could wait until they had the Commander safely in custody.
to be continued…
Story info