Chapter Text
Tony Stark was waiting.
He sat in his office, leaning back in his chair. His fingers gently tapped on the top of his desk.
News footage played in the background, showing the streets of Brooklyn that had fallen victim to a terrorist attack. Tony hated that image. If he’d just been there sooner, maybe he could have stopped it.
But this wasn’t a time for regrets. Because this particular attack wasn’t about race or religion. No, this was personal.
The news footage changed, this time showing the Red Skull. The Avengers hadn’t known he was behind the bombing at the time, but he had begun live streaming his speech quickly after the event.
“Captain America,” his voice spoke through the screen, “Fought for your freedom. And where did that get you? Nowhere. You still war with each other, still harm one another, and where is he now? He abandoned you. Left you to fend for yourselves. It’s been fifteen years. I think we all know now that he’s not coming back. He cannot - will not - bring you peace and prosperity. But I can give you that.”
“F.R.I.D.A.Y., turn that off, will you?” Tony had already heard the speech. The Skull would go on to proclaim himself the world’s ideal leader, request the people of America to join Hydra... Basically exactly what Tony expected of the villain he’d once believed dead.
Bucky Barnes wanted to go after the Skull immediately. Tony had convinced the Avengers to wait. This situation was unfortunate, but it had potential. The moment Tony saw the Red Skull’s face, he had begun planning. Now his plan was in motion, he just had to wait.
“Boss,” F.R.I.D.A.Y. announced, “Mr. Parker and Mr. Leeds are on video call for you.”
“Excellent,” Tony smiled, “Bring them up.”
He grinned as the two boys - men, now, Tony still had to correct himself sometimes - appeared on the screen in front of him. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Spider-Man and the anonymous founder of CapWatch.”
Ned shifted his gaze to Peter, “You told him about that?”
“He already knew,” Peter replied.
“Someone set up a website dedicated to following Captain America as the police chased him around the globe. I was curious, so I did some digging. You should be proud of yourself, Ned. I happen to know that website was a big help to Steve back when he was on the run. And if we play our cards right, it could help us again. So, what’s the activity like?”
“The website’s gone crazy,” Ned explained. “I haven’t seen this much activity since Cap dropped off the map completely. There’s a bunch of different theories about where he is, if he’ll come back, someone even suggested that he is the Red Skull.”
Tony snorted, “That’s ridiculous. Is there any mention of a hero named Nomad?”
“Yeah, there’s an entire forum thread dedicated to proving that Nomad is Cap’s new persona.”
“Keep an eye on that, will you?” Tony requested. “If we delete it now it will be suspicious, but if someone finds proof, the Fed’s will be on him in no time.”
Peter’s eyes widened. “You mean Nomad actually is—“
“I cannot confirm or deny that, Peter,” Tony responded with a smile. “If the police find out who started this site, they might come asking questions.”
“Right,” Peter nodded.
“Peter said you had a job for me,” Ned began.
“I do,” Tony nodded. “I want you to tell your members that I’ve been in contact with you, and that I’m working to get Steve back in the country. I’ve created two online petitions to try and get the charges against him and Robin dropped. I’ve already sent you the links. Get them shared as much as you can.”
“Do you really think this will work?” Ned questioned.
“If it doesn’t work now, it’s probably never going to,” Tony replied. “So let’s make it work.”
“I’ll get right on it, sir,” Ned told him.
Tony nodded and shut off the feed.
“F.R.I.D.A.Y.,” Tony spoke, “I was thinking I might do some light reading while I wait for a representative from the government to arrive.”
“What would you like to read, boss?”
“The United States Constitution,” Tony replied. “Can you find me the part about pardoning criminals? I’d like to know exactly what the deal is.”
“I have loaded several files up on your StarkPad.”
“Thank you.”
Tony read for a few hours, having F.R.I.D.A.Y. update him on the progress of the petitions as he read. Until F.R.I.D.A.Y. finally announced, “Mr. Jones from the Office of the Pardon Attorney is here to see you.”
“Ah,” Tony grinned. “Excellent, send him in.”
“Mr. Stark,” the man greeted, “I’m—“
“Mr. Jones,” Tony finished with a smile. “Please, take a seat. I’ve been expecting you.”
“You have?”
“Yes, you’re here to discuss returning Steve Rogers to America, yes?”
“I have the documentation right here with me,” he placed an envelope on the desk.
Tony leant forward to open the file.
“Signed by the president himself. Steve Rogers has been cleared of all his crimes.”
“Well that’s nice,” Tony shoved the document back into the envelope. “Really, it’s a nice gesture. But I’m afraid he won’t accept this.”
The man stared at Tony. “I’m sorry?”
“Where do you think Cap’s been all these years? Hiding out in a cave?”
“I… I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Tony smiled and stood, walking towards his bookshelf. “Cap’s gone domestic. Wife, kids, the whole picket fence deal.” Tony picked a framed photograph off the bookshelf. It featured a bearded Steve holding a common household hammer above his head. He had lifted his daughter up with his left arm, and she clung to his side. She was dressed as the Black Widow, and aiming a toy gun towards her brother. The boy wore an Iron Man helmet, but was using a web shooter to fight off his father and sister.
It was an old photo, but it always brought a smile to Tony’s face.
He passed the frame to Mr. Jones. before sitting on the desk, facing the man. “You really think he’s going to leave that behind?”
Mr. Jones stared down at the photo. “You knew where Captain Rogers was this whole time?” he questioned.
“Not the whole time. I’ve known since he settled down.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“Well, Captain America may be an ass, but Steve Rogers is a friend. And that man right there? That’s all Steve. He left the shield here in the Compound, you know.”
“I could have you arrested for harbouring a fugitive.”
“You could,” Tony agreed. “But if you arrest me, you’re going to have to arrest the rest of the Avengers as well,” Tony grinned. “There’s another copy of that particular photo in the recreation room - we’re all quite fond of it. Do you really want to tell the public that there’s no one to fight Red Skull because the entire Avengers team has been arrested?”
Mr. Jones sighed and looked back at the picture. “Where’s the mother?”
“Behind the camera,” Tony replied.
His eyes flicked up to meet Tony’s. “I don’t suppose Captain Rogers happened to meet a nice young woman while on the run and settle down, did he?”
Tony smiled. “You know exactly who took that photo, Mr. Jones.”
He set the photo on Tony’s desk and leaned back. “And this is the part where you tell me that if we want Captain America back, we need to make arrangements for Robin as well.”
“You’re a smart man,” Tony stood to walk back behind his desk.
“We can’t pardon Robin for her crimes.”
Tony grinned. “You can’t pardon Steve for his crimes, either. I just read the documents, a requirement for a presidential pardon is good behaviour while in the prison system. Steve was never in a prison. In fact, isn’t one of the charges against him for resisting arrest?” Tony dropped into his desk chair. “Robin, on the other hand, was a model prisoner before she broke out. So theoretically, don’t you have more grounds to pardon her?”
Mr. Jones stared, no doubt attempting to formulate a response to Tony’s argument. Eventually he swallowed and leant forward, “Do you realise what you’re doing right now, Mr. Stark? This could be your one chance to get Captain America back on your team. If you don’t compromise here, you’ll be fighting Red Skull without him.”
Tony shrugged. “Okay. You can see yourself out.”
Mr. Jones raised his eyebrows.
Tony smiled. “You really think we need Steve to fight the Red Skull? There’s another super soldier upstairs right now that would absolutely love to get his hands on him. There’s other people we could call in as well. Thor, Captain Marvel, the Guardians of the Galaxy… The Avengers don’t need Steve for this. America does. So I suggest that America does the compromising.”
“I don’t have the power to do what you ask, Mr. Stark.”
“Then maybe you should talk to someone who does.”
The man across from Tony sighed and stood up, turning to leave.
“And Mr. Jones,” Tony called.
Jones turned around.
“Have you checked CapWatch today? I recommend you do. Might help sway the decision for your office.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
Tony sighed once Jones left and leant back on his chair, singing his legs up to rest his feet on his desk.
“Boss,” F.R.I.D.A.Y. spoke, “Are you sure that was the right decision?”
“Definitely,” Tony replied. “He’ll be back.”
Two hours later, Tony received a phone call.
“What would you say if we agreed to reduce Robin to a suspended sentence?” the man on the other end of the line asked.
“Mr. Jones,” Tony grinned, “I think we have a deal.”