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Jarvis is Tony's child.
Javis had been there for Tony's for nearly 30 years.
Jarvis was his named after the man that was like his a father.
Jarvis was his son.
Jarvis was gone.
Tony was sitting in a nearby chair in his apartment ignoring Rogers speech about second chances. As he looked around he could see the shattered glass, broken bottles splashed with blood across his floor. He keeps losing people to the Avenger, to being Iron Man. First Pepper, Happy, Rhoady had made his disdain known, Bruce and now his son. Jarvis.
Tony supposed it was poetry. Howard's creation taking something he valued, him not being thoughtful enough to realise what was happening before it was too late. Poetry. He looked around at his "teammates" smiling with the woman that had messed with Hulk, sent him on a rampage in Johannesburg. He watched as Clint of all people hugged her as if she hadn't made an attempt on his life. Then his eyes landed on Vision.
Tony was done.
It was curious really, Vision was born the same way Ultron was, Vision was worthy enough to lift Thor's hammer. Vision whose voice sounded so much like Jarvis it hurts he wasn't credited of making. Steve decided that He Tony was incapable of making anything good. Ultron Yes. Vision No.
Tony was done.
A dry chuckle escaped him as he watched Vision hover around Maximoff. Well that proves he is definitely lot his creation, he may sound like Jarvis but Jarvis was smart. He understood danger, he understood when a threat was near him. Vision hasn't once looked his direction, almost as if he was being pointedly ignored.
Just as well.
Tony was tired. He has had enough, he could do more not burdened by the Avengers, he used to do so much more and be so much better before being associated with them. Especially now that Rogers thought it was a good idea to add a woman who volunteered to be experimented on by Hydra to the hero list. What a team they make, the Hydra agent, Merchant of Death, A Russian Assassin, A Petty thief, and Android being led by a man from from the 40's.
It could almost be a line up for a poorly made, insensitive comedy.
No matter how Tony looked at it Roger's reason for accepting Maximoff made no sense. His arguments were, she was motivated by loss, at his hands, she is child and knew no better. It was so stupid for someone praised to be the greatest strategist. Maybe it was that, a strategy. But for what or whom? Who does Cap know that's associated with Hydra? Tony ran a hand across his face, with the absence of Bruce unaddressed and the acceptance of the newest avenger. The lost of Jarvis. Tonight was about welcoming Maximoff and Vision by extension.
And Tony was done.
"Since Maximoff is a part of this team I will be resigning. Effectively immediately." Tony's voice carried across to his teammates who seemed surprised to see him in his own home.
The Audacity.
"Tony," Rogers started with his trademarked "I'm disappointed in you tone". As if he Tony wasn't an adult. This is a great time to resign. Pulling his phone from his pocket he sent out a tweet that will no doubt be trending for the next couple of months at least. "Resigning from the Avengers, I can do more good being Tony Stark.".
"Yes Rogers?." Tony asked his voice firm. Even though he was so broken.
"Now isn't the time for a tantrum Stark. Get your ego in check." Natasha added. Of course his ego. How predictable.
"Of course. Here's what is going to happen. You are going to all get 1 week to pack your belongings and find a new lodging. The day I fight at the side with an Hydra operative, is the day I forgive my father and it's the day I hand over my suit to SHIELD." Tony knew he how he sounded, the will to care long gone.
"She made a mistake Stark, she deserves a second chance in life, after what you did!" Tony had remained seated. He would have felt threatened had it not been for the gauntlet watch he was wearing.
"Which was what exactly Rogers, take over and follow in my father's footsteps? He allowed his eyes to lock with each of them.
"You will leave my home immediately." Tony relaxed into the seat, hand on his face eyes closed.
"This is our home you can't kick us us. It's the Avengers Tower!" Tony pressed a few buttons on his watch, hidden panels opened all over the room.
"This is my tower, I dare you to not be out in the next 2 hours." As he ended a turret fires a shot, missing Rogers shoes by less than an inch.
As they shuffled, out grumbling he finally took out his phone, a lot of missed called texts, twitter notifications. So he made another tweet. 'Tony Stark or my brand has never allied with Hydra. New beginnings.'
............
To say Tony's week following him leaving the Avengers, holding a press conference, doing interviews, going live on social media with the help of his Spiderling and Potato terror.
Tony was starting to feel better, he watched as SHIELD tried to spin Rogers allowing a Hydra agent on the team. They had finally won over the public until an anonymous leak to wikileaks showed videos and notes of the experiments and training Maximoff had undergone. The public was more furious. So was SHIELD, who was pissed off as it was growing harder to defend her actions and past, and so they had turned to him for help. Better gear, better equipment and a way to subdue her. Tony had laughed at Fury at the time and Rogers being the boy-scout he was reached out to the President to list his woes and roadblocks in hopes of getting "good work done".
Tony had weathered the call from the president like a pro his dad would have been proud, not even the president could get him to do something he didn't want to do. Ellis had tried to convince him what a good guy Rogers was that even though he reached out to him he was worried about his teammates, he didn't want any special treatment form anyone, just the best for his team. Though he rejected the president, that didn't deter Fury and his gang who had cited broken contracts which was why Tony was now sitting in a courtroom filled with news media journalists and agents on both sides.
Tony's lawyer Melody was cutthroat, she was tiny and pleasant. Her voice and her viciousness was a juxtaposition to her image. When they first met, she was bright eyed and thorough with her questions she asked for every detail, and his responses before smiling viciously.
With her hair in a topknot and her smile bright Melody approached Rogers who was sitting on the stand.
"Hi, Mr. Rogers. How are you feeling right now?" Melody asked. Her smile was kind and her posture open, Rogers didn't feel threatened which was good.
"I'm okay ma'am, sorry." Melody smiled and waved him off.
"I don't mind being called ma'am, so Tell me about your work Steve, do you like what you do?" Melody asked, and Steve was all too eager to oblige.
Tony watched as Steve relaxed more, to the point of leaning forward in his chair.
"All that sound pretty dangerous wouldn't you say?" Melody nodded leaning closer to Steve.
"Exactly which is why we need Stark. My team needs to protected at all costs. They need the best."
"And Tony Stark is the best?" Steve looked almost put upon to reply as he looked at Tony.
"Yes. He is." Melody nodded and looked at Tony too.
"Of course he is, his inventions are, long lasting."
"Exactly, I'm not asking for myself but my team, I don't want any special treatment, I just need to know that my team is protected." Melody grin looked almost shark like for a moment as she tapped her foot.
"What a self-less leader you are Steve, asking for your teammates not you, because you don't want special treatment. Very self-less as the leader of the Avengers. Earth's mightiest heroes." Steve nodded along with Melody.
As she approached Fury's lawyer, there a was a twinkling inner eyes and Tony could see the smug look on Natasha's face as journalist around began whispering to themselves. Starks lawyer was building up and making Rogers look good.
That was never a good thing.
"Mr. Rogers who do you report to, if you report to anyone?" Steve still watching Tony replied immediately.
"Agent Hill."
"Who does Agent Hill report to?"
"Director Fury."
"And Director Fury?" Steve frowned for a moment confused. Melody smiled warmly at him.
"Not sure."
"Okay, let's move on." Melody fiddled with her dark curls that had fallen loose as she liked at Steve.
"You're a full time Avenger aren't you Steve?"
"Yes ma'am."
"So you work more than 10hours with SHIELD."
"Yes we do. We are stopping bad guys around the clock." Steve chuckled at Melody.
"Terrorists and bad guys and now aliens. Right that is what You and SHEILD do, right?" Melody looked at him with empathy.
"Yes ma'am, that is why need Tony Stark to supply us with equipment."
"Of course. You guys are fighting terrorist and bad guys constantly, and now aliens, even though it's been close to two years, you guys fight aliens. And have been fighting bad guys since then because that is the selfless thing you do Rogers, you protect the little guys. You protect your teammates, their health is important and as a leader that is your job, to give them the best. You don't want special treatment for you." Steve eagerly nodded.
"Yes, ma'am".
"Has any of your teammates been gravely injured since the invasion of New York and you fighting terrorist Steve?" Melody asked.
"No, they thankfully have not. They are healthy."
"And that is your job right?"
"Objection your honor, she is wasting our time. We get it Cap is the good guy let's move on." Fury's Lawyer grinned and the journalists chuckled at his joke.
"Sustained, Ms. Warren. Please get to the point."
"I'm almost finished your honor. So Steve, as a leader the health our your team is important right, that is why you can proudly say, you've never had an injury?"
"Well yes, but we could do more work, deal more damage to our enemies with Tony's help." Pursing her lips she accepted his response.
"Steve, how did you become Captain America one last time. Indulge me your honor." Steve smiled shyly and told the regaling story about being a sickly boy from Brooklyn, standing up to bullies, trying to enlist multiple times and finally being picked for a super secret experiment, from not being special to being important to the war.
"What a story. You don't want special treatment. Do you know the chain of command in the military Steve?" Melody asked her voice lower than before.
"No ma'am I do not."
"No worries I'll tell you it goes , Heads of Agency's, Chief of Staff, Sec Def, Vice then finally Potus. Hill answers to Fury right?"
"Yes she does."
"Do you know Potus' number Steve?"
"Yes I do."
"Of course, you are not a civilian." Melody smiled at him and he squirmed. Too much teeth.
"Hey you, FBI agent," melody pointed at the guard standing next to the door leading to the judges chamber.
"He's a surprise witness, do you fight terrorist?"
"Yes Ms."
"Do you fight bad guys?"
"Yes Ms."
"Regular bad guys and international ones?"
"Yes Ms. Warren".
"Did you fight when the Aliens invaded New York?"
"Yes Ms. Warren."
"Where you injured?"
"No ma'am"
"Do you wear anything for Tony Stark?"
"Yes ma'am the agency get our protective gear from him."
"When?"
"10 years ago I believe"
"Do you still use it?" Melody was looking positively sinister with each answer. Journalists were scrambling, few looking confused and the rest enlightened. Finally understanding her process.
"Yes we do, Mr. Stark guaranteed us a shelf life of 30+ years."
"Do you think you could do "more damage to the enemies" if Mr. Stark provide you with other items?"
"Yes ma'am."
"What exactly could these items be?"
"Weapons Ms. Warren" Melody looked at Steve when she asked, she watched him squirm in his seat he face stunned in betrayal. That's odd.
"Why don't you ask Tony Stark for weapons?"
"He had stopped creating weapons, and started protecting us instead."
"Why not go to him personally?" Melody looked at Fury's lawyer who was gritting his teeth as if to dare to agent to not utter his next words.
"He's a civilian." The agent said, Melody could see the moment her toad faced opposition crumbled.
"Yes he is a civilian."
"Are you the leader of a team Agent?"
"Yes ma'am I am."
"How important is the health, and particularly mental health of your teammates? Especially ones with documented PTSD?"
"Well, we allow them to sit out missions and remove them from any harm or anything that might trigger them. We get them help and I as a leader ensure that they are entirely okay, and if they aren't then the team is sidelines for team missions until that member is healthy and okay."
"Wonderful, wonderful. Do you have Potus' number?" Melody rocked back on her heels.
"No ma'am."
"Do you know the hierarchy of the agency's agent?" Melody asked with a warm smile.
"Yes ma'am. It is my duty."
"Last question, do you think you are special?"
"No ma'am just doing my duty."
"Thank you, Tony Stark is a civilian, Mr. Rogers, and you thought you would bully him into to making your weapons to do more damage, weapons you do not need because has you have regales us earlier with tales of your origin and how you helped the war you can withstand and do more damage than that FBI agent who wears Stark Armor from 10 years ago!"
"That's not fair!"
"No what isn't fair is you Mr. Rogers you say you don't want special treatment yet you call the President of the United States of America to do you a favour. But you don't want special treatment, right? You want the President to trample on the civil liberties of its citizen. Yet you say "You don't want special treatment" right? So you want the court to allow you and a agency you don't know much about to force, a civilian who no longer create weapons; to make weapons for you. You want Tony Stark a man with severe PTSD from months of torture to make you and your uninjured teammates wearing no doubt gear newer than 10 years to make you more because you are Captain America and while your strength and prowess comes made you into this powerful durable person, more durable than the Agents who don't have custom gear." Melody was enjoying watching Rogers face crumble.
"You who was made into something special can do special things aren't expecting special treatment. You are ignorant Rogers, you are self entitled, and somehow unaware. You are a bad leader and any environment you create would be at the detriment of the health of my client. You and your agency are ready have trampled on my clients rights enough. It ends here."
Tiny could feel his face breaking out in a smile, his shoulders felt lighter.
Tony was done.
Finally.
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