Chapter Text
UNIT 4, RUBY CREST VILLAS
QUEZON CITY PHILIPPINES
Walking past her mother's small makeshift office, Sarah couldn't help but notice the subtle glow in her mother's aura.
“Someone’s in a good mood.” Sarah mutters as she walks down into the kitchen, more to herself really, but she should have known better than assume James wouldn’t hear.
“Huh? Who?”, James looks at her, puzzled, and she can’t help but snicker at how clueless her twin can be. Really. They might be minors, but come on, the signs were all there for anyone to see.
Mom was getting laid. In an alarmingly regular occurrence.
Sarah whooped in delight internally. She debated whether or not she should reveal this particular piece of information to her brother, but decided against it.
JJ was too much of a mommy's boy and a prude not to overreact to that little tidbit. He has always been adversarial, if not downright rude to every single guy who tried to even just look at their mother.
Not that they it’s their fault really. Their mom is gorgeous. And smart. And sexy.
Robert is going to be a really lucky guy. She can't wait until the two finally announces what she thinks is going on between them.
Watching James' shocked face is going to be priceless.
“Oh, did I say anything? I was just talking to myself again. Aloud.” She said quickly.
Of course James didn’t believe her. “Sure you were. Come on. Spill it.” James said, lightly punching her arm.
“It was nothing.”, she punched back. And quickly changed the topic to something she knew James would easily get distracted with.
“So how's your entry for the Stark Breakout going?”, she asked and watched as her twin’s expression switched from suspicion to excitement.
Sometimes she thinks her brother is one giant adorable puppy. Or an idiot.
“Great! Everything is really coming together.”, James enthusiastically replied. “I encountered a bit of a problem with the initial programming, but it was just a small kink I managed to work out.”
Yes. She was totally visualizing a tail wagging somewhere there behind him.
Definitely a dog. “So when are you telling mom?” she asked, handing him his morning coffee.
“Thanks.”, she hear him say and quickly thinks back a “You’re welcome.”
This telepathic bond they had between them was relatively new, but they were quickly getting the hang of it.
“When I win? Want it to be a surprise.”, he said, winking at her.
“Confident huh?”
“A little.”
Cheeky bastard. She opened the refrigerator to get eggs when she noticed how hard it was to close the door.
Upon closer inspection, she figured out what was wrong, and who did it. “And why is the fridge all bent on the side again?”
James smiles and rubs the back of his head. “Sooooooorry! I might have lost control and grabbed it too hard again.”
“Sheeesh. You have to be careful J.” she admonished as she carefully pushed the bent metal back in place. “Remember what mom said?”
“Yeah, yeah. It's just that its getting really hard lately. It's almost as if I was getting stronger and stronger lately.” He sullenly replied.
“Well that can just be normal.” She countered, “A side effect of growing up.”
“I don't know Sarah.” James said. “Sometimes, it's just too freaky of a family trait, don't you think?”
“We're not mutants JJ. Stop daydreaming.”, she warns him.
“Are you sure? Even with this?” James taunted her.
“Yes. Now get out of my head. We agreed remember?” Sarah responded.
They weren’t supposed to use this mode of communication. At least not until they figure out a way to inform their mom of this new freaky development.
“Fiiine.”
“Hey Sarah.”
She ignores him. James just can’t understand rules sometimes. Or won’t.
“Hey Sarah.” James calls out to her.
“Yes?”
“The headaches. Do you still have them?” James said, worry showing on his face.
“Uhuh.” Sarah nods. “Getting worse?”
“Yup. When's the last time you had one?”
Sarah thinks about it and replies “Yesterday, around before dinner.”
James eyebrows crunched together. “Me too. I think we should tell mom about that too. Along with the new ability.”
“It might be nothing Jj.” Sarah replied. “Just ordinary headaches.”
“We feel it at the same time don't we? I can feel you whenever it happens too. Were you doing your assignment in math when it happened?” he said, pointedly looking at her, as if daring her to deny it.
So she didn’t. “Yes. How did-?”
“I could see numbers and equations in my mind. It was all jumbled up, but very distinct.” James shrugged. “And you know, that buzz we hear, its getting stronger.”
Sarah could see the conflicting emotions pass through her twin's face. Fear. Curiosity. Defiance. Maybe he was right. They need to tell their mother. But she didn't want to burden her with this. Not yet.
Not when their mother is so happy and free.
She and James might be young, but they were capable. They can handle this.
“We wait it out.” she said, looking into her twin’s eyes, conveying the need for him to agree. “There's still a chance its nothing. Let's give it a month or two.”
James looks away first. “What if we're sick or something?”
“We'll get some tests then. But mom can't know yet. Not until we're sure its really something.” she insists.
James took a deep breath and placed his arms around me in a tight hug.
He felt warm and safe, and at least he's going along with my call.
They both turned their attention back to breakfast, James getting up to make some pancakes and Sarah setting up the table.
It was a while before she noticed the worn out thing her brother was wearing.
“Oh hey, what is that thing you're wearing?” she asked.
This? It’s a Captain America sweater, what else?, he said, a bit pre-occupied with the pancakes he was now dumping on a big plate.
“Where the hell did you buy that? Wait a minute, why would anyone buy something that looks so old and worn out?” she taunted.
“Hold it.” He held his hand up and burst into a wide grin. “I didn't buy it! I found it!”
“Where?” she asked.
“Mom's old stuff.” was the quick reply.
Sarah's eyes grew wide in shock. No one was ever allowed to ever touch that one old suitcase that mom keeps hidden in the back of the garage.
“Don't look at me like that!” James exclaimed.
“Mom's going to be so angry!” she shouted back.
“Come on! She doesn't even use that stuff. And I didn't snoop, i just saw this on top and grabbed it and closed it!”
“Tsk tsk tsk. Didn't snoop much huh?” she shook her head. “You better hide it before she sees it. I can hear her moving around and packing up. She'll be downstairs in a minute.”
“You think she'll be mad?”
“300% JJ.”
“Fine.”
James tugged the sweater off his body and half heartedly placed it in his backpack.
He was noticeably sulking, most probably feeling both guilty and deprived at the same time.
Her brother is such a child. He should know better than to get anything from mom's old stuff, but knowing how much he adores Captain America, he's probably hoping their mother won't be too angry.
Which was too unlikely. Sarah can remember the one time they were caught just looking at the suitcase. Their mother walked in just as they were trying to figure out the lock and to say that their mother had been angry would be an understatement. She took one glance at them before she visibly paled, and in a tight voice, ordered them to take their hands off the case and get out of the room. She would never forget the way she trembled or the fear reflected in her eyes.
They all never talked about that day, but it became an unspoken rule in the house.
As far as anyone was concerned, that case didn't exist.
Hell will break loose once her mom finds out. She has to find a way to convince James to return it.
She will have to be sneaky about it. God knows how stubborn James can get after all.
“Good morning guys!”, her mother greeted, looking fresh and happy as she walked down the staircase.
“Hey mom! Good morning?” Sarah replied, pouring out coffee into her mother’s cup.
Her mother broke into a wide smile.
“Yes, and it’s getting even better by the second!” her mom exclaimed, “Dr. Fernandez called, Macky's ready for pick up this afternoon!”
James visibly perked up at the news that their beloved beagle was coming home. The dog had been a gift from Robert for their graduation and had become an important part of the family. And when he had to stay in the vet for some weird dog flu, they had been a little bit scared the little bugger would never be seen again.
“Thank god for little blessings.” Her mother continued.
Their mother was just so happy lately and Sarah internally patted herself on the back for her smart calls.
They can’t ruin this. They would tell her everything, eventually. Just not now.
Sarah strengthened her resolve. “Can JJ and I pick him up?” she asked as she handed the coffee to her mom.
“Sure! Just make sure you two behave. No stressing good little Macky!”
“Moooom. We're always well behaved.” James interjected.
“Says the one who ran him down with that frisbee of yours.” Sarah remarked.
“I was teaching him cool dog tricks!” James exclaimed, a bit offended at the prospect of intentionally hurting the pet. He loved that dog.
Her mom chuckles and joins in “How about that horrible little dress up thing you did to him?”
James looked horrified. “It was not horrible! It was for art class! I needed a model!”
The banter continued for a while. At least until their mother glanced up at the wall clock.
“Children! Look at the time!”
Sarah glanced at the wall clock and froze up. She was running late!
Sarah looked down at her half finished pancake. “Permission to skip rest-of-my-breakfast mom!”
“Finish that last pancake and drink your juice first young lady. Breakfast is the-“
“-most important meal of the day.” Sarah finished. “ Yes mom, okay! I’m swallowing!”
Sigh. Typical mom.
113 MARIANA WEST SUBDIVISION
QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES
This was not how Natasha envisioned her search for Tony Stark to end up in.
A stale mate. A dead end. She led the team here, thinking she had a good and solid lead from Reed.
It was supposed to be a get-Stark-go-back kind of mission. Now they have to find Stark first. As in really search for him.
Bastard scientist tricked her. That odd smug little smile he was wearing when he handed over the files weren’t a sign of mental illness, as she had assumed.
It was a sign of his victory over her. He must have known that the data would reveal nothing of Tony Stark’s actual location.
The ache building in her temples was getting stronger by the second. She needed a drink badly.
She sneaked in quietly through the window of the bed she had claimed three days ago in the three-storey town house the team had been assigned as headquarters when they arrived.
The team would surely be angry and have a lot of questions. After all, she did suddenly disappear as soon as everyone settled down and haven’t been back until now.
But while they deserve an explanation, she can’t handle any interrogation right now. Not when she didn’t have most of the answers herself, and certainly not when Tony Stark is at the very center of this whole mess.
The whole team is too emotionally invested in their target to risk it. And if she’s having difficulty to wrap her head around her latest discovery and what it meant, she doesn’t know how it will affect the others, most of all Steve.
Shit. Steve.
Tony. Why is it always so difficult to handle everything related to this man? Why is everything all so complicated when it came to him?
Natasha pours herself some of the scotch she had specifically requested be placed in her mini-bar. Macallan 1939. 40 years old, eleven thousand bucks a piece. It had been one of Tony’s favourites. They were never close, but they have so much history together as teammates and co-workers, it was difficult not to have him rub off anything on you.
For Natasha, she thought he had very good taste in alcohol. Too bad he had trouble controlling his drinking.
“God Tony. What the fuck happened to you these past years? Where are you really?”, she thought as the drink burned down her throat.
She had to resolve this as fast as she can. They can’t risk spending more time than necessary, with agents dying every day as they faced this new threat, and the enemy now apparently taking an interest themselves in Stark…
They had to find him first.
And to do that she had to figure out who Alexandra Marie Brown is and how she fits into the puzzle.
She opens her laptop and looks at the picture on the screen. A woman in her early forties with black hair and brown eyes filled the screen. 45 years old. Single mom of two. A university professor and real estate agent. What connection did she have with Tony?
She heard a very light tap from behind her. In a split second she had whirled around, knife in hand, to face the smiling archer who undoubtedly had sneaked in her room through one of the vents.
“Clint.”
“Who’s the woman”, the archer asks, his eyes now staring intently at the screen.
“None of your concern. Just yet.”
Clint chuckles. “I disagree. I think the whole team would back me on that. Where have you been?”
“Around.” she shrugs and puts her knife down, and moves to close the laptop.
“You’re hiding something.”, Clint insists, “As usual.”
Persistent bastard.
“I’m not in the mood Hawkeye.” she icily replied, hoping the archer would get the hint and drop the topic.
“What’s with the hostility? Something not going along your expectations?”
“Get out.”, she flings a knife in his direction, and he dodges barely in time.
Clint shakes his head as he pulls the knife from the wall. “Steve’s not happy with you. No one is.”
“I know that.”, she replies, knowing there’s no winning this argument. Not when she’s at this dead end.
“So?”, Clint stares at her expectantly.
“I don’t know where Tony Stark is.”
Clint is visibly surprised. “Didn’t you make Reed tell you where he is?”
“I made him turn over files. Which had a location.”
“But it didn’t lead you to Tony.”
“No.”
A long silence filled the room as the weight of that word sank in.
Clint breaks it, saying, “It led you-us to this woman. Who is she?”
And what could she reply to that? The truth?
It must have shown on her face, the failure she was trying to not acknowledge.
“You don’t know.” He said in disbelief.
“No.”, she admits aloud.
“But you still brought us here.” Clint said, voice carrying a bit of agitation.
“I was fairly certain Stark would be somewhere near her.”, she defends herself.
Clint snorts. “You thought she was his what? Wife?”
“It was a possibility. Or he was masquerading himself as a woman.”, she replied.
Clint raised his eyebrows at that, opening his mouth in protest.
She didn’t let him start. “Reed made up an entire identity for her as Alexandra Brown. Some money, birth certificate, school records, social security number, etc.”, she taps a few tabs on her laptop’s screen, propting documents to fill the screen.
“Everything that was required to get Philippine Citizenship.”, she adds.
Clint stares at the documents. “But she’s a real woman alright wasn’t she.”
Natashe nods. “She has two kids, a house and a car under her name. All medical records I found authenticated her registered gender.”
“That’s where you were. You checked her out.” Clint said. “Maybe she’s his lover?”
“Genetically improbable. Kids are blonde. She’s not. And if it’s just a dormant gene, there was no sign of him anywhere to indicate that.”
Clint’s examining the documents now, thumbing through the screen. “Maybe they separated? Tony doesn’t have a good track record when it came to relationships.”
“That he didn’t.” Natasha agreed. “But there’s no way to be sure. We’d have to go and ask her ourselves.”
“That would be catastrophic.” Clint says, disbelief clear in his voice. “Hi! We’re secret agents slash superheroes from America! Can you possibly tell us what your relationship is to war criminal Anthony Edward Stark? If so, care to point to us where he is so we can drag his ass back to our currently endangered country?”
“Only other option is continued surveillance, and we don’t have the luxury of time.” Natasha said.
“We have to be sure about this Nat. The enemy is moving and they are moving in this direction.” Clint said, zooming the picture of the family Natasha had on file. “If we go approach that family and we’re wrong, we’d be placing them in danger.”
“We have to find Stark. That’s our priority. The faith of the world is in his hands.” Natasha replies, voice strong and full of conviction.
Clint sighs. “You heard about the attack this morning?”
“New York. 64 dead. 639 injured.”
“It had been a massacre. God. This all one big mess.” Clint sais, massaging his temples.
Then he asks the dreaded question. “How are we telling Steve about this?”
“He’s a grown man. He can handle this.”, she insists.
“Not when its about Tony.” Clint countered. And he was absolutely right. “This is going to be a shock to him.”
“He’s going to have to deal with it. Let him.”
“He’s going to be hurt. I think.”
“Steve knows how to take care of himself.”, she said. “He’s going to be alright. Besides, whatever they had is ancient history. It’s been eleven years.” But even as she said it, Natasha didn’t really believe that. Neither did Clint.
But he didn’t offer any objection. “Yeah. I hope so. So what’s the plan?”, he said, tearing his eyes away from the screen and settling his eyes back on her.
“I’ll brief everyone tomorrow of our actual plan.”, she said.
“Which is?”
“Direct approach. Meet her and ask.”, she said and smirked at him. “You had the whole script figured out a while ago, didn’t you?”
“This is crazy Nat! We’re about to barge into the lives of these people and expose them to danger. Unless this woman is actually Tony.”, Clint said.
“Who grew a vagina? And naturally gave birth to twins? Right.”, she said dismissively.
“Okay. That sounded crazy yes. Alright.” Clint held his head in his hands and sighed in frustration.
“Tony you motherfucker! Come out come out wherever you are.” He shouted.
“Someone’s excited.”, she teased.
Clint looks at her and reluctantly nods. “I miss him. Everyone does. Most just can’t acknowledge that they miss a war criminal.”, he admits, then looks at her wickedly. “In fact, you miss him.”
Natasha snorted.
“Don’t pretend to understand anything about me.”, she said and pointed to the door. “You know the way out.”
“You mentioned kids. Got pictures?” Clint tries to insist.
As if he had a chance. “Discussion over Clint. Get out.”
She casually cocked the gun she suddenly held in the right hand and stood up to walk to the restroom.
“Whooa. Okay. Walking out now.” he said slowly backing out into the direction of the door. “Show them tomorrow okay?”
Another loud cock of her gun, and she was entirely sure she was alone in her room again.
Clint can be such an asshole, but the pressure building in her head had subsided, so she couldn’t make herself mad at the archer. Clint had this way of getting in her head, making her calm down and think more clearly.
“Tony as a woman huh?” she smiled to herself as she stripped and slid into the warm tub.
That’s an idea. Funny and impossible, true. But in their line of work, she has seen everything and impossible is just a word.
She better prepare for that possibility then.
Just in case.
7-ELEVEN, TIMOG AVENUE
QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES
It was close to midnight when Steve entered the 7-Eleven store he found yesterday during his morning run around the neighbourhood.
There wasn’t much customers, just three teenagers huddled together on one of the small tables and two women paying for their purchases at the counter.
Everything’s all calm and quiet in this city. Too quiet for him, in his opinion. He’s too used to the never-ending hustle and bustle of New York and Washington.
But he liked his stay here so far. The Filipinos he has met were all very hospitable and accommodating. He can imagine visiting just to relax and get away from all the stress of his day to day life as the Commander.
He can’t imagine To-Stark settling down in this kind of place.
Shaking his head at the unpleasant weight settling at his chest, he made his way to the hotdogs on display and made five sandwiches.
He made his way to the counter to pay, and to his surprise found a blonde teenage girl standing in line. She looked American but her clothes and actions were distinctly that of a local, not a tourist. She was briskly talking on the phone and sounded very agitated. He rarely saw foreigners wandering around this time of the night, so he assumed she might be half-Filipino and half-American.
She was a very beautiful young girl.
He felt some anger at the thought that a parent would let their children out at this hour. Even if they did sneak out, a father should take every means necessary to ensure their children’s safety, like strictly monitoring their whereabouts. If this was his daughter, he’d make sure.
At least that’s what Steve would like to believe. He’s never had children so who was he to judge? He’ll probably never have children anyway. It was too much of a security risk and his job always comes first. After all, being Captain America, now Commander Rogers is so much more than just a man. He was a symbol, and he can’t let that be compromised.
Never again.
He and Sharon almost came close though. But after the miscarriage, Sharon had been too devastated to try again. Steve couldn’t bring himself to convince her otherwise. It had been his fault. Hydra had kidnapped and brutally beat Sharon just to get to Steve.
The child would have been eight years old this year.
The divorce came soon after the 1st death anniversary. Steve was too numb to care.
Everything he cares about always got ripped away from him.
He’s stopped hoping for a family ever since. That’s what the Avengers are for now. The only family he’ll ever have.
“Hey!” The girl standing in front of him exclaimed as a man purposely stood before her, cutting in line.
“Excuse me?” The girl clearly growing more and more agitated exclaimed. “There’s a line here!”
“So?” The man, who on closer inspection was really just a kid wearing grown up clothes, shrugs. “This is just one bottle of beer. Won’t take me long.”
“That’s not the point. Get in line, PLEASE!” the girl said, taking one step forward the other kid.
Unthreatened, the kid looks up at the girl’s head down to her foot, “Who’s going to make me? You? Hah!” And with that, he turns his back on her, clearly intending to ignore the blonde.
Anger visibly growing on her face, the girl moves to tug at the boy’s shoulder.
Steve knows he shouldn’t involve himself, but if he didn’t, this simple disagreement might end up in a fight he knows the girl won’t escape unscathed.
“Ahem.” He taps the boy on the shoulder, stopping the girl’s fingers in mid-air. “I think you better follow the lady young man.”
Not even caring to look at him, the gutsy kid replied. “Oh yeah? Why should I?”
Steve wasn’t deterred. He wrapped his hand gently on the shoulder and firmly tugged.
The kid turned around and looked up at his frowning face. He turned an interesting shade of white and scowled at the girl.
“Fine.” The kid’s jaw is tightly locked as he moves to go to the back of the line. “You’re lucky you have your bodyguard with you.”
“He’s not my bodyguard. Go get going to the back asshole.” This girl has so much fire in her, Steve notes. Quite stubborn too, basing on the way her eyes never looked away from the glares the boy was giving her.
“You know what , I changed my mind about buying this shit. You can have it!” The boy shouts and pushes the girl backwards.
But the girl had quick reflexes. She turns as she falls and avoids falling on her back.
The kid held the bottle tight and raised his arm, moving to strike the girl.
Steve moved quickly. Grabbing the outstretched arm, he twisted it around and held the boy back.
“Aaaaargh! My arm! Let go of me!” Squirming to get out of Steve’s tight grasp, the boy loses his hold on the bottle, which the girl catches before it smashed into pieces on the floor.
“You really shouldn’t be out trying to strike ladies, fella.” Steve tightens his hold as he makes eye contact with the girl. A gleam of satisfaction passes through blue eyes which was quickly replaced with a glimmer of worry.
She was actually worried Steve might hurt the boy.
Steve instantly felt a great amount of respect for whoever raised this young woman.
“This isn’t legal! I’ll sue you! Let go!”
“I’ll let you go as soon as you promise you will walk out the door and never look back.” Steve firmly replied, moving both of them near the door.
“I’ll kill you! I swear to God I’ll-“
“This isn’t the time to threat anyone kid. The only thing you’re going to swear to is that you are leaving.” Steve said. “Quietly. Are we clear on that?”
The kid gulps and sweats profusely. Steve slowly tightens his hold on his arm until he screams out in pain.
“Arrrrrgh-okay! Okay!!! God stop it! Okay!”
“Good.” He looks at the girl again, who nods at him, clearly wishing to just let the boy go on his way.
Steve lets go and the kid glares at him then at the girl then runs out of the store.
Stupid punk. Steve’s eyes never left the back of the boy until he turned on a back alley.
Turning around back to the direction of the counter, he’s not surprised to see the girl helping pick up the sandwiches that fell to the floor when he got hold of the kid.
“I know karate.” The girl said as she handed them over. “I could have handled that kid on my own you know.”
“You shouldn’t have to.” Steve replied, now observing her nimble fingers as it tugged an errant hair back into place. He could see a few faint scars and visible scorns.
“But thanks anyway.” She said, now breaking into a wide smug grin
“You’re welcome.”
“At the very least, let me pay for your stuff as gratitude.” She begins to talk rapidly, apparently now a little nervous with talking to a stranger. “Oppps, don’t argue, you can’t win any argument against stubborn ladies like me. Say okay.”
No. He probably didn’t. “Okay.”
“Great!” She grabs the sandwiches and instructs the cashier to put it in a separate bag. Then she gives the bag to him and smiles.
She had a beautiful warm smile.
“Thanks again stranger!” She walks slowly to the door. “Would love to interview a foreign guy like you who’s suddenly in the neighbourhood being some kind of knight in shining armor, but my brother and I only sneaked out of the house, and if we don’t get home soon, my mom will find out and it won’t be pretty.”
Steve steps forward and said “You shouldn’t do that to your parents.”
“Parent.” She corrects while visibly scrunching her nose. “Yeah, I suppose, but my brother had some really, really important meet up with some of his friends for a contest we haven’t told my mom he’d be joining.” She smiles sheepishly, and Steve can see how much she loves her brother, to go against the wishes of a mother she clearly adored.
“That’s him.” She points at the three teenagers he saw when he walked in and saw a blonde boy nod at their direction. He seemed slightly taller than her but had the same face. He was wearing an old Captain America sweater and casual jeans. He turns back to his companions, looking like he was wrapping up their talk.
“So it’s complicated.” she concludes and stares right at him, as if daring him to tell her off again. He didn’t dare.
He wanted to ask where their dad was but it seemed too personal to ask a person you just met. And don’t know.
“Well, see you around stranger. Don’t worry we’re taking a cab, and as I said I know karate. We both do.” she said.
“Twin?” he clarifies.
“Yup. Bane of my existence.” She shakes her head in emphasis. “But I love him anyway.”
“I can see that.” And a comfortable silence passes over them.
Minutes pass by, but her twin apparently still has not finished talking with his friends.
Visibly irritated, the girl looks at her watch and scowls.
She looks up and remembers Steve standing beside her.
“Sooo yeah… We really have to go now. Thanks again.” She extends her hand to her which he takes. Her grip is both warm and firm.
“I’m Sarah by the way.”
“Steve.”
Sarah nods at him and walks out of the store. Her brother runs after her a few moments, but not without sparing him a smile and quick “Thanks Steve!”
He stood there for a while, thinking how nice it would be to have a daughter… or a son.
An impossible feat for someone like him really.
He was walking home when it struck him how familiar Sarah and her brother had felt.
Smiling to himself, he briskly walked back to their headquarters. He looked at the townhouse and felt relief. Black Widow’s bedroom light was on.
Natasha was back and they can finally get a move on in their mission. He only wished she had told them she was going to disappear as soon as they arrived.
He knows she might have had a good reason, but the waiting is killing him.
He just wants this done and over with.
The sooner they find Stark the better. They would deliver the war criminal to SHIELD, save the world and he can then go back to forgetting he ever existed.
He won’t let Stark affect him in any way. Not again.
He doesn’t care about him.
Just a war criminal.
Hunger forgotten, he walks in the house, earlier incident already fading in his mind.