commandersgr-blog

[commandersgr-blog]

"We are in lockdown condition", Steve groaned, through gritted teeth. The assault had come out of nowhere, so fas the team had no time to prepare for it.

A speedster? He could only think of a handful of these, all of which were either dead or in prison. A teleporter, maybe? Were those a thing? He couldn't think of a single one of them. Where was the S.H.I.E.L.D. database when he needed it?

To make matters worse, Agent Klein had disappeared. Wonderful.

That was not the moment to be nervous, however. He needed to keep a clear head - think straight - come up with a solution.

"Stark, reboot the system. I want all the doors locked, all the cameras on, all the rooms sealed. I want a list of all super-humans with super-speed or teleporting abilities. Let's see if your registration act was worth all the trouble." He turned to Agent 13, with a stern look. "Find Agent Klein, and all other agents. Bring them back here. We need to know how this security breach came to be."

A Sunny Day In The Void.

-

Tony was about to make a sharp reply about how being the daddy was a figure of speech and he wasn’t literally the father to the entire Avengers Academy. But then he thought better, it wouldn’t add anything to the conversation and anyway, that creepy laughing noise was interrupting him.

When it was done he realised his phone was gone, which wasn’t good. That was one of the ways that he activated the suit. Not the only way mind you, but one of them. His other methods of summoning his potentially life saving suit were much more cumbersome and inefficient, one of them was to literally put the suit on and hope for the best. But that wasn’t exactly an option right now. 

“What was that?” he exclaimed, both shocked and surprised. 

“Your weapons are gone, my phone is gone too, what the hell was that?” he demanded, spinning around and looking for the culprit. “I thought that this place was secure!” he exclaimed, “I thought you said we were in lock down conditions.” 

His mind was whirring, running at a thousand miles per hour. 

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"Don't worry about my self-control, Ms. Potts. I'm not the one that deals with chemicals and bombs and Hulkbusters - just a by-product of those who do", he smiled politely, before heading to the door. "I'm sorry I have wasted your time, but at least now we both understand where we stand. Thank you for the opportunity."

As he headed out, Steve stopped one last time. "And Pepper", he said, before closing the door on his way out. "Whatever the outcome, I hope the thirty silver pieces are worth it."

The Price of War // Steve&Pepper

-

Pepper had managed to remain straight-faced throughout Steve’s reply. He had points worthy of mentioning to Stark, and that was of course what she was here to do. She played Devil’s Advocate sometimes, she wanted people to think a different way. 

Especially if they were as emotional and passionate about this issue as Tony and Steve were. 

It was only when Steve stood and then tried to criticize her standing on the topic that Pepper’s eyes grew wide, and her hands squeezed tightly together. He was claiming she was still a supporter of Stark- claimed he could understand why? Steve would be the last person to understand where her views of neutrality came from.

Remembering to keep her cool despite the rising anger, Pepper stood from her seat and looked the Captain full-on.

“You don’t know why I keep myself out of this debate, Captain Rogers. Don’t pretend to understand my reasons. What I’ve told you today is exactly what I would tell Tony Stark, with points adjusted accordingly. I’m sorry you became so rattled with my ideas that you felt the need to attack my character. Perhaps you should brush up on self-control before you state your argument to the panel. Wouldn’t want you jumping to conclusions about them in the middle of the vote, now would we?” 

With a friendly smile, Pepper gestured towards the door. “You know the way out, I assume.” She returned to her seat, grabbing a few papers and skimming through them as she waited for Rogers. He would either impart one last comment, or take the hint and leave before they truly got into an argument. 

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Steve took in a deep breath, his lips crisped into what he tried to pass off as a smile; teeth grounded shut. "*Best-friend*? I would call that a reach", he scoffed. "Sam? Sure. Natasha? In a good day. But Tony?" he dismissed, with a head shake. "Maybe you're confusing him with the previous Stark."

Sure, yes, they had been through a lot together - but then again, he could say the same about several other people in the team. People who were definitely not putting their own personal interests and selfish reasons above the safety of thousands of people, in some desperate attempt at atoning for crimes that he'd commit; even if it meant committing more of them.

But it was clear to him that Pepper would not understand that. She was too involved... too blind-sided.

"What I see is that you are the one getting ahead of yourself, now. Yes, villains *may* have gathered intel on super-humans - that is a *possibility*. The government doing so was a *reality*. Project Insight was meant to wipe out millions of people, with the approval of the government, the senate - and that was even before a terrigen bomb was activated; imagine how many more would be targeted now. I'm not doubting the power of these people, I'm doubting their integrity. Sometimes you don't need to shoot blasts of your arms to cause massive destruction."

He left out a resigned sigh, standing up. Going there had been a waste of his - and her - time, there was no doubt in that. There was a reason, after all, why stubbornness was both a quality and a flaw of character.

"Handing over a list with names, powers, and addresses of people with abilities may sound like a good a idea to keep an eye of them, if there was a way to guarantee that was all they'd ever do. If there was a way to guarantee that the government would not use them for experiments, or for military purposes - as they tried to do with Stark's armour. Or worse, if there was a way to guarantee that no overzealous preacher would wake up someday and decide that those people were an abomination, and that it would be better if they were swiftly and forcefully removed from society. Put somewhere where they wouldn't be a threat to anyone. Somewhere with tall walls and barbed wire. You know, as governments often try to do."

Steve could feel the back of his throat going dry, years of things he had thought very hard not to think about being regurgitated from the darkest corners of his mind. He had seen the things governments - democracy, tyrany, fascism, whatever you wanted to call it - could do. More often than not by the same folks put in there by people.

After all, Hitler had been elected. And so had George W. Bush.

"Yours is a good strategy, though. On paper, you remain neutral in the conflict, while low-key still supporting Stark's point-of-view - this way, whichever side comes up on top, you suffer no repercussions. A true business strategy."

The Price of War // Steve&Pepper

-

“Steve, I need you to stop.” Pepper held up her hand; a physical reminder of what she had just told him to do. He was getting out of hand, moving from one scenario to another. Pepper could see how worked up he was getting, and she knew that while Steve wouldn’t hurt her, an enraged super soldier wasn’t exactly the safest person to be around… especially when she was the one sitting across from him and asking the questions. 

He was caught up in ‘what-if’s, which was a normal place to return to in order to prove a point, it wasn’t smart for this situation. She was CEO of Stark Industries; if she got stuck in what-ifs for every decision she had to made, nothing would ever happen to the business and it would die in her hands. Thousands of jobs would be cut, stocks would crash, and those who depended on the funding Stark Industries sent them would be screwed beyond belief. 

“You got twenty steps ahead of yourself without remembering where you started, Steve. Tony is your best friend, you’ve saved one another’s asses more times than I can count. You shouldn’t be thinking of how to ruin his points, you should be seeing what he has to offer. There’s middle ground in this scenario, but you don’t want to see it.”

She was being bold in her statements, but shutting someone down was the only way she knew to break through their shell and make them see a new light. 

“As for the possible security threats to this council, consider for a moment SHIELD’s World Security Council. Or, for a more Americanized version, the Supreme Court. Nominations, voting, establishment. Do you doubt the power of the people you’re trying to protect? This is one option, Steve, but it may be a solution to part of your fears.”

Raising her eyebrows, Pepper met Steve’s look with the same steadfastness she was raised with. Her father taught her to stand her ground… it was evidently something Steve was also familiar with. “The villains may already be able to track everyone down, Steve. There’s no reason to suspect they aren’t doing this now. Codes, figureheads, pseudonyms, I don’t care. There are options. Do you see that?”

[commandersgr-blog]

There was the distinct feeling in the back of his head that something wasn't quite right.

The agents were scrambling to reboot the systems, trying to find out exactly what had brought down energy so quickly - and so swiftly. It could have been a normal system failure, but in a time when the equivalent of a highly intelligent computer virus with a body was walking around with the most powerful stones in the universe embedded to its body, precaution was the key to success.

Well, one of them anyway. Another definitely involved keeping his cool; which would not be exactly easy, as Tony came in not very long after the power went out.

Now, things with Stark were...well, complicated may be a word that would apply? In the last ten-ish years, they didn't have a whole lot of time to talk; what with the Civil War, Steve being arrested, Steve's best-friend trying to kill Tony, Tony being replaced by a Chitauri (or did that happen the other way around? Hard to remember). Then the Secret Invasion, him taking his place as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Tony's, err, self-exile to the Avengers Academy, then the ordeal with Thanos. Lots of things had happened, for sure. Hard to find a proper time to settle things down.

He would certainly not do that now, with the base under what they could only assume was an attack. "We don't know yet", he answered, which would've been a pretty weak response, had Agent 13 not come with an answer shortly after.

If only it was a good answer, not one that only served to raise more concern.

"This could be Ultron. Could be the Masters of Evil. Could be a stray cat possessed by a symbiote for all we know", he sighed. God, the 40s were so much easier. "Seal the base. Purge the system of any kind of virus or malware. Make sure all agents are accounted for, and in their right minds", he commanded, to both Sharon and Cameron, before turning to Stark. "Shouldn't you be in New Mexico at the moment?"

A Sunny Day In The Void.

It’s a busy day in the Triskelion. With teams on the field all over the world, Commander Rogers and the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have to monitor activity from across the planet - not exactly an easy thing to do, when it seems there is so much interference in the systems, despite it being a clear day outside.

“…Even with the camouflage shielding, so attacks will come in shortly, be prepared. We don’t know exactly wha–” the Director was saying, before the transmission was cut short. It was difficult to say if the failure was in the base or if Ultron had already attacked the Avengers.

The answer came shortly afterwards, when for a couple of seconds - though it certainly felt like an hour - the energy was cut, and the entire base went dark.

“Rebooting the systems, sir,” Agent Klein announced.

“Investigate what is the cause of this”, the Commander announced, putting the entire base in high-alert. “Be prepared for any breaching.”

[commandersgr-blog]

"Ideally", Steve said, his lips curling back. "We save the plane and the millions. That's why we have super-serums and flying suits and magic hammers. So we can do beyond others’ limitations. I think it would be hard to do so when we are constantly wondering if our families were put in the plane as a bait."

He realised the analogy was getting a bit muddy as it was. Steve never particularly enjoyed metaphors to being with; somehow it always ended up losing its original meaning half-way through. "What I means is, who do you think would sign the accords, the heroes... or the guys the heroes fight? Do you really believe someone like Nitro would've gladly submitted himself to this, before he blew up himself and half of Stamford?"

With a sigh, he averted her gaze, turning to the wall. Her office was tidy, organised, symmetrical - much like herself, he assumed. Steve could see why she would try to stand on neutral ground; but for him, when someone remained neutral on something, it just meant they were giving more power to the oppressive side.

And in this conflict, there was only one oppressive side.

"If the regulation was to pass", he said, quickly turning back to her. "Who would be in control of it? S.H.I.E.L.D.? The government? The World Council? Until a couple of years back, half of these guys were HYDRA, some may still well be. They tried to wipe out millions of people, good people. Innocent people. And they didn't even use super-humans for that."

Well, that wasn't entirely true. There was one super-human... but Steve didn't want to think about him at that moment.

"And even if the organisation isn't corrupt, nothing will stop the bad guys from getting a hand on this information. You saw what happened when the - the Masters of Evil, the Cabal, I don't know what they call themselves - got a hold of the failsafe program. The damage they did. And that was just less than ten people! Most of it just the Hulkbuster! What do you think would happen if they had an entire database to pick and chose from?"

The Price of War // Steve&Pepper

-

“Steve.” Pepper sighed, tapping her fingertips against her arm as she tried to think of the best way to phrase her thoughts. “I understand what you’re saying, and how you feel about this. Having abilities takes time to grow comfortable with, and to accept into your life. It’s not something you want to have published, or to be alienated for.” 

She paused, moving her hands onto her desk to lay atop one another. “Tony wouldn’t disagree with us on that point, I’m sure. He may question the time needed to come out about the powers, but that’s because he never does anything slow. Tony lives in a perpetual state of motion. But that’s beside the point. He also wants to ensure that if someone uses their abilities for the wrong reasons, they are held responsible.”

Sighing, Potts dropped her gaze to the man’s shield. “A line must be drawn between comfort and danger, Steve. We all know this, but where the line is drawn is still hazy. That’s why you two are fighting; you’re both too busy arguing for one extreme or another. You’re not considering a middle ground. This isn’t a debate for yes or no, this is a question of safety for the greatest number of people. Do you shoot down the plane to save millions, or do you save your family on the plane?” 

Pepper lifted her gaze again, offering the man an apologetic frown. “This isn’t just between you and Tony, Steve. Don’t think that just by him changing his mind you’ve won the war.”

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Steve took the seat before hers, without bothering to take the shield behind his back. It felt like a painful stab against his back, but perhaps not quite as painful as the one Tony had provided him with.

He certainly wished he could be as casual about this experience as Pepper appeared to be - although, to be entirely honest, Steve couldn’t tell whether her being so relaxed was a good or a bad sign.

At least she was being very direct about the whole thing.

“Yes, I’d like you to talk to him”, he said, with a deep breathe. “Perhaps... make him come to his senses. This is not about my point of view or his, Pepper. This is about doing what is right, and Tony... isn’t.”

He leaned in, closer to the table. “You and I may not need it, but there is a reason why so many of us hide behind a secret identity. People have lives they need to protect, loved ones that are safer while they... stay in the closet, so to speak. I’d think that you, of all people, would understand the risk it is to be involved with someone in our line of business. Isn’t that why you have your own flying suit?”

The Price of War // Steve&Pepper

-

Nodding after Steve’s comment, Pepper was careful to lock her door before taking off her stilettos and crossing back to her desk with Steve following. There was no reason for them to be bothered, and Potts had given strict instructions to her secretary to avoid such a commotion. This was going to be a serious discussion, and despite the fact they were friends, she knew there would undoubtedly be something said to strike a nerve.

“I wish this would only pertain to the weather and some desire about the park clean-up, Steve. Trust me, I’d be up and dancing on the desk if that was the case. But we both know this is about the registration act.” She sank into her chair and crossed her legs, piling up her hair up into a ponytail as she watched the man adjust to his surroundings. There was a reason Pepper was acting so casual; she wanted him to relax with her. It made the discussion seem much less do-or-die.

“Tony and I haven’t talked in a while, you can imagine why. I seem to be the only neutral party in this entire dispute, much to both of your chagrins.” Pepper lifted her chin at the comment, understanding just what she was about to step into. “I’m going to assume you want me to try and talk to him? Make him see your reasoning? To which I reply, what is it, exactly?”

[commandersgr-blog]

samsteve + these are actual quotes from the comics i swear

[commandersgr-blog]

The fwens help cap do some donkey calf raises. WERK IT TEAM!!! 

On a very related note, here’s my favorite photo of AHNOLD doing this exercise.

[commandersgr-blog]

“Thank you, Buck… but I can get by on my own.” “The thing is, you don’t have to. I’m with you till the end of the line, pal.” - Best friends since childhood, Bucky Barnes and Steven Rogers were inseparable on both schoolyard and battlefield.

[commandersgr-blog]

“I wish it was in better circunstances”, Steve agreed, stepping into her office with caution. It wasn’t that he was worried Tony would be waiting behind the door holding a sledgehammer - though, at that point, it wouldn’t exactly be something to be put past him - but more on finding out she had already made up her mind; and that her decision was not a favourable one.

Pepper was one of the only two people in the world that Stark seemed to be able to listen to - three, if you count the disembodied AI voice, which Steve chose not to, because it was very often creepy and unsettling. And that is saying a lot coming from him, given his worst enemy was a guy whose face had been melted and turned into a red skull.

“I’m sorry it has come to this, and I’m sorry you have to be involved in this way”, he said, folding his arms tightly against his chest. “But if there is someone that can come through to Tony, it’s you. Has he contacted you in any way?”

The Price of War // Steve&Pepper

-

Pepper had purposely chosen no sides in the conflict between her former boss and the star spangled captain. It was unfair for her to have to choose a side, and it didn’t even matter, anyways. The men would duke it out as usual, disregard her stern ‘no’, and leave her frustrated with a mess to pick up after. The story was already written. 

Yet when Steve had called and requested a chance to talk, she had accepted. He was still a friend, and while she understood how the meeting would end, she wanted to make sure both knew what the stakes were. Tony would have been an easy man to catch; letting Steve come to her was sheer coincidence. 

Pepper heard the memo from her assistant, standing from her desk and smoothing her skirt before stepping over and opening the door to the man herself. “Captain Rogers,” she offered him a small grin, holding the door open wider to invite him in, “nice to see you again.“

[commandersgr-blog]

The Price of War // Steve&Pepper

Going to war is never easy, Steven had learned that lesson very early in life; going to war with someone you care about…

That’s just downright heart-breaking.

Steve had thought the hardest thing he’d have to do in his - extended - life would be to look in the eyes of someone he loved and not find a sliver of recognition; but now there he was, in the brick of war he did not want to fight, having to round up an army of unwilling participants, for a conflict nobody wanted to partake on.

Not that there wasn’t a way for all of this to come to a hault - in fact, there was still a voice of reason. One whose ears he hoped would still be willing to listen to what he had to say.

“Yes. I have a meeting scheduled with Ms. Potts”, he said, adjusting his shield behind him, to a somewhat uneased secretary. “If Mr. Stark hasn’t gotten to her yet, that is.”

[commandersgr-blog]

( Flashback )

Steve had once heard people saying that death was easy; living was the true big challenge.

Now he didn't think so. At that moment, he thought the prospect of dying one terrifying.

It was coming fast, it was horrifying, and above it all, it was really, really cold.

The line with the headquarters had just gone down, Peggy's voice still lingering in his ears - but she was far, far away now, further from his reach at every second. He, Steve, was doing what he could to navigate the ship torwards the Arctic, sparing the lives of all those people in New York.

Ever so heroic, he could almost hear Bucky sneering in his ears.

Bucky who, too, was gone, snatched away from him by Death's tight grip - the same cold fingers that would soon come to wrap themselves around his throat. Merciless, uncaring and unforgiving.

As he plunged the plane into the ice, he thought of Peggy, and all the could-have-beens; he thought of Howard, his favourite mad scientist; of the Howling Commandos, his team, his friends; of his father and his mother; he thought of the future, and the world he was leaving behind, after the end of a war that was sure to prevent other wars; he took comfort in knowing that at least he had helped in bringing times of peace to the world.

That was quite a legacy to leave behind.

The plane dove into the Arctic, with him trapped in the wreckage. Steve managed to crawl out, but it didn't take long until his body gave up. Lying in the ice, the world blinked in and out of perspective, getting paler and paler - like a fading memory.

Steve closed his eyes one last time, a last thought crossing his mind; at least now he'd be back with Bucky.

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