Music is "Borealis" by Jo Blankenburg.

Picture is Jane Levy as Glory.

· ~ · ~ · ~ · ~ ·

"Take courage, my heart:
you have been through worse than this.
Be strong, saith my heart;
I am a soldier;
I have seen worse sights than this."

- Homer, The Odyssey 20:18

· ~ · ~ · ~ · ~ ·

Recommendation from the author: "Siren's Song" by RaeBlue.

Recommendation from the audience: "Marvel One-Shots" by Xoxo_Sadie21.

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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The Wakandan football or what American's call soccer, stadium: that's where Ororo and T'Challa had set up the Prison 42 inmates for the night. From suited superheros to strange looking Inhumans to aliens from other worlds, over 500 people sit, lay, and remain in a state of utter nervousness in the large dome.

When Pietro and I walk through the doors, the noise sounding like there's a game going on, we easily spot Wanda, Natasha, and the rest of the team lined up along the sides of the stadium, handing out papers to everyone they can reach, along with food, water, medications to those who need them, and anything else that they've been lacking in the time they were in Prison 42. Ororo speaks in a motherly, but booming voice, telling them not to be afraid, that they are safe, that all they want to know is what special needs each of the Wakandan guests need and what to call them. Unlike Tony, we don't ask for names, secret identities.

I scurry over to Wanda, who has her hands full collecting papers from the freed prisoners as they lift them up to her. "Wanda!" I shout. "Let me help you with that."

She shakes her head. "No, that is alright. I can handle this. Bucky wanted to talk to you, though. He said to tell you to find him."

"Where?"

"He's in the locker room, I believe."

With a nod to the Scarlet Witch, I run towards the small doorway on the side of the stadium, down a small flank of stairs, and into a large room filled with gear and lined with lockers. Bucky sits on one of the benches, his eyes observing my feet as I walk closer, his hands folded in front of him. His shoulders are drooped like he's been defeated already. "Bucky? Wanda said you wanted to see me?"

Bucky's discouraged face doesn't change. "They're taking Steve to the courthouse this evening. I heard it on the news a couple hours ago." His eyes lift to meet mine. "It's going to happen, isn't it? That thing you warned all of us about. It's going to happen, and we're half a world away." His fists clench, his jaw doing the same as rage fills every atom of him at the thought of losing his best and longest friend.

I come to sit beside him on the metal bench, laying my hand over his clenched fists, trying to loosen the tension. "I don't think it's going to happen."

"What makes you say that? It's not like that's what you've been warning us about since you got here."

"I had another vision."

That's when Bucky's eyes look up from my feet to my eyes, shock and a bit of anxiety replacing the rage. "What? You saw him get saved?"

I gnaw on my lower lip. "Not exactly."

I tell him everything I saw: Steve and Tony looking towards the sky, Magneto having an army of Ultron bots that have taken over Tony's suits, Asteroid M. All of it drains any hope from Bucky's face, and that's a sight I never wanted to be responsible for.

When I finish, he doesn't say anything. He stares at me blankly, his gaze falling again. "What do we do?"

"Whenever I have my visions, it's almost always in first person. I was watching Steve and Tony, and then Asteroid M. I think... I think I was there, and I have a gut feeling that this happens soon."

"And there's nothing we can do," Bucky says, matter-of-factly. "There's always nothing we can do. It's like the universe hates us all. It's like we're paying for all our sins in this awful fight." he sighs, running his shaky hands through his long, black locks. "I can't lead these people. I can't. I'm not Steve. I'm not a fearless leader. I fall on my face more than any of us." He chuckles once. "You're more of a leader than I am, Glory."

I shake my head, a smile coming to my face. "Trust me, Buck. You're one hell of a leader." My voice softens. "After Steve passed, in the comics, you took on his alias, his shield," I lay my hand on the red, white, and blue shield on his back, "with such a vice, such determination that the Avengers desperately needed then. You lead them just as well as Steve, and he was damn proud of you."

Bucky smiles out of the corner of his mouth. "So much has changed for me in so little time. I still have dreams, you know, of what I did, but they don't haunt me like they used to. I still have migraines, from all the brain wiping. Sometimes they kill me. Between the team, Steve, Natasha, my new life... I feel like I might actually be able to do something good. First time in seventy years, but hey, better late than never."

"Ata boy," I cheer, smiling back at him.

"I have an idea," Bucky says after a few moments. "You're not gonna like it."

"Why do I have a feeling that Steve has said that to you more times than you can count?"

· ~ · ~ · ~ · ~ ·

{Third Person P.O.V.}

Steve Rogers slides out of the armoured car, instantly blinded by the flashes of cameras, deafened by the dozens of reporters, spat on by the protestors to the American hero. His hands are behind his back, Stark-grade Vibranium cuffs around his wrists. He is escorted up the stairs to the Washington Courthouse by half a dozen FBI Agents, all are armed and extremely dangerous. His head is hung low, his Captain America uniform replaced by a simple suit.

Captain America, arrested by Americans for betraying his own nation.

Once inside the courthouse, the heavy doors slam, causing the reporter's inquiring and the riot's shouting to be silenced. The large hallway to the courtroom is eerily quiet, only the lawyers and staff allowed inside, along with the witnesses and certain "honored" guests.

A man in his early thirties walks up to Steve, round glasses on his face and he walks with a cane. Only then does Steve raise his head. "Hello, Mr. Rogers. My name is Matt Murdock, and I will be your lawyer for this hearing."

Steve gives a small nod. "What did they have to pay you to do this?"

Mr. Murdock tilts his head. "Pardon?"

"To take this case. What did they pay you? It's career suicide."

Matt Murdock smiles out of the corner of his mouth. "Trust me, Mr. Rogers. My partner and I are fully capable of taking the heat."

"Partner?"

A shorter man with chin-length, dirty blond hair and a briefcase bag thrown over his shoulder comes over to Steve and Matt, a firm and nervous look on his face. "Matt, we gotta get in there. It's going to start soon."

"Foggy, this is Steven Rogers, our client?"

Foggy looks up to Steve, who stands a good half a foot over him. "Oh! Um... hi. Foggy Nelson, from Nelson & Murdock." He extends a hand, but looks down to see that Steve has his hands behind his back in cuffs. "Sorry. We have a case made for you. I wouldn't worry too much, Mr. Rogers. By the way, huge fan of your comics from the 40s."

Steve raises an eyebrow, smiling at Foggy, but his face turns back to what it was when he replies, "If they want me to go to prison, trust me. They'll figure out a way to get me there."

"Not with us on your side," Matt replies, and Foggy pats Steve's shoulder. "We'll get you out of this mess, but we have to ask: Is there any chance that any of your... friends will show up and crash the party?"

He shakes his head. "I told them to stay out of this. It's just us and the law today."

Matt nods. "Alright. Let's just go over a couple things before court is in session."

"I really hope you know what you're doing, going up against the best Tony Stark can buy."

Matt smirks. "We're not like other lawyers."

· ~ · ~ · ~ · ~ ·

The doors open, and Steve is lead by Matt and Foggy towards the front of the courtroom, all eyes glued to him. At the back, there are several witnesses to the case, and at the front sit the bodies of the people Steve least wishes to see today: Tony Stark, Carol Danvers, Reed Richards, and Maria Hill. Tony's eyes are red, from anger or crying, Steve isn't sure. Probably both. His eyes glare deep into Steve's, his once friend now his greatest enemy.

"All rise!" The courtroom stands at attention, and a middle-aged woman enters the room, taking her seat in the Judge's chair. "Court is now in session, the honorable Judge Barrineau presiding."

"Case number 616 of the year 2021. Nation of the United States of America verses Steven G. Rogers on counts of manslaughter, treason, espionage, terrorism, escape from federal custody, and running from authorities." She turns to Steve, Matt, and Foggy. "How do you plead?"

With a thick breath in, Matt stands. "Not guilty, your honor."

She nods. "Opening statements from the U.S. Mr. Esposito?"

A short, hispanic man stands up, buttoning his suit as he walks towards the jury, eyes looking at Steve with disdain. "Who here remembers 9/11?" He pauses, walking down the line of jurors. "Show of hands?" Most of the juror's raise their hands, all but two younger adults. Esposito continues, "I do. I was in law school, just about to take my bar exam. When I looked up at the television... I thought I was watching a movie. I thought that what I was seeing wasn't real. I never thought that someone like Bin Laden could integrate himself and his followers so much into our nation that he could take thousands of lives in one blow."

Esposito stands back, folding his hands. "Now, let me ask you two that didn't raise your hands: Do you remember New York?" The both nod. "Washington D.C.?" Another nod. "Sokovia? New York, again? And just last night, Prison 42?" They nod after each question. "Are you afraid? You would be crazy not to be."

Esposito turns to face Steve, still addressing the jury. "The difference between Steven G. Rogers and Bin Laden is a thinner line than many believe. Both are personally responsible for thousands of deaths, more in Mr. Rogers case. Both have terrorism, manslaughter, murder, treason, escape from federal custody, and running from the law under their belts. Both have collected a following, a cult, that believes in the very things they do. The Avengers.

"We thought they were here to protect us, but the more people they try to save, the more people die. The things they try to save us from are only there because they exist. And yet, we the people allow Mr. Rogers to parade around as some American hero from a long forgotten era. We allow him to wear our nation's name in his alias. Captain America."

Esposito laughs, turning back to the jury. "I will leave you with this: What will be the next target? London? Dare I mention Paris? Los Angeles? Bejing? Tokyo? Our own backyards? Captain America is no hero. He is a criminal, and will be treated as such under the law of the United States of America. I ask that you find him guilty of all charges. Let him be the example for the rest of the world of what happens when you take the law and give your own definition of what it means."

Before Esposito takes a seat, Matt is up and ready to give his opening statement. "Does anyone remember Hilter? Odd question, I know. Who doesn't remember Hitler?" Matt smiles at the jury. "Does anyone remember Roosevelt, the American leader who took on the Nazis? Tell me this: Did Hitler exist before or after Roosevelt? Any history buff will tell you that Hitler came to power in the thirties, but the war didn't start until '39.

"When did America enter the war? The answer would be 1941, right after Pearl Harbour was attacked, and hundreds died. I'm sure you have family who can remember finding out about that day on December 7th. I'm sure that they would tell you that Hitler was their very own Bin Laden."

Matt pauses, coming to stand still in front of the jury. "Where there is great evil, there is always great good. This world has had many threats in the past decade. Gods, aliens, artificial intelligence, HYDRA, mutants, I could go on. But what would have happened to our world if people like Steven Rogers hadn't stood up and said, 'No, this world is ours'?" Would Loki be ruling? Would Ultron have destroyed the planet? Would Killbane have the world infected with the Soul Gem? Would we all be slaves to HYDRA?"

Matt turns and points to Steve. "This man is a hero. I'm not just saying that as his lawyer, but as an admirer of his bravery and sacrifice. He has given his body, his mind, his life to keeping, not just American's, but the whole world safe. One thing that we have failed to remember is that the loss of life isn't the hero's fault, it's the villains. I know that loss of life weighs on a hero's shoulders like a ten ton weight, so I know that Steve lays awake at night remembering each face of the people he's failed."

Steve looks down, each of Matt's words being absolutely true. "We owe him not to blame him. If we want someone to blame, look to Loki and Ultron and Johann Schmit and the Chitari and Killbane. Our hero's aren't perfect, but without them we wouldn't be here right now." Matt pauses, turning towards the jury again. "I don't know about you, but I feel a lot safer knowing that there's people like Steve Rogers out there making sure that I'm safe. Maybe it's time we start treating him, and people like him, like we're thankful and not like they're the villains."

If Steve hadn't been so nervous, he might've congratulated Matt Murdock with a pat on the back, or a smile, or anything at all. But he's terrified. Hell of a lawyer, hell of an opening speech or not, he was still in the line of fire, and he's pretty sure Mr. Murdock knows it too. He doesn't say a word when he sits down next to Foggy to the right of the aisle.

"Normally this is the moment where, in the Preliminary Hearing, we ask you to present enough evidence to have Mr. Rogers indited of his crimes," Judge Barrineau says, folding her hands over a stack of files on her stand, "but considering the magnitude of these crimes, and how well they were witnessed to the world, we will be skipping that part, as I see it to be reideration of what we already know." She turns to Esposito. "Mr. Esposito-"

As Judge Barrineau is speaking, the door to the rear of the audience blasts open, a very nervous-looking secretary running down the aisle towards the Judge. "Pardon, Judge Barrineau, but we have a situation," he says, pushing hair from his forehead.

Judge Barrineau waves her finger towards him. "Approach the bench."

The secretary rushes up to the bench, talking quietly to the Judge. Her face goes from mild annoyance to terror, her eyes flickering up to the doorway. Then her face turns from terror to confusion, and Steve sees her lips make the word, "What?" After a minute more of talking, she nods, and sends the secretary along his way. "Ladies and gentlemen, forgive the interruption, but we have a... surprising guest to the courthouse this evening."

Steve, and the rest of the courtroom for that matter, turns around to await the people entering. The feeling that he knows exactly who it's going to be fills him with fear, fear for himself, but more fear for his friends.

Before he can think anymore, a familiar red-head walks through the doors of the courtroom, met with gasps, glares, and gossip. Steve had never seen her in dress pants and a blazer before, for her usual attire is much more laid back. Her hair is pin-straight for once, her makeup soft and natural. If he didn't know better, he would've thought that she was Natasha Romanoff's little sister or clone. In her left hand, she holds a file; in her right, a passport and folded document. Her eyes shift around the room before landing on Steve, and they soften from their hardened stare to a friendly, I've-missed-you gaze. If it weren't for the half dozen guards around him, he would've jumped up and ran to hug her.

Gloria Northern, Avenger, hero, and possibly the best friend Steve Rogers ever had, besides Bucky, of course.

"Sorry to crash the party," she announces, walking down the aisle towards the Judge.

"You're awfully brave to show up here, Mr. Northern, considering I'm about to have you arrested."

Glory shakes her head, a chuckle escaping her lips. "Not gonna happen, Judge Barrineau. See, I figured if you're going to go up against people who think they're on the law's side, alright. So be it. I'll fight the law with the law." She holds up her passport. "I was born in the U.S., but recently, I've moved around the world. Recent as in... today. No, like literally half an hour ago. I'm now a citizen of Wakanda, and since you have no diplomatic relations with them at all, you have no right to arrest me on foreign soil." She points a finger to the secretary turning to go back outside the courtroom. "And don't even think about getting Interpol on the line. Wakanda has no agreement with them, either." She walks to the Judge, handing her her passport and the folded document. "That should be enough proof. It's signed by her majesty Queen Ororo Munroe herself, and I really advise not pissing her off."

Judge Barrineau looks it over, her hesitation showing on her face. "Why did you come here today, Ms. Northern? To shove in our faces that you can't be touched? Give me an hour and I'll have you arrested for all Rogers' crimes and more. Don't test me."

"I don't intend to, your Honor." Glory holds up a file, looking at Tony and his posse. "This is a thumb drive of all that you need to know of the Battle of New York, the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., the forgotten files of the S.S.R. in World War II, The Battle of Sokovia, and the Second Black Plague. I submit it as evidence to the defense." She turns to Matt Murdock and hands him the file. "It should prove, not only our innocence, but the fact that we were not to blame for those atrocities. Those to blame were the villains."

"Anything else?" Judge Barrineau says, sighing, clearly annoyed.

"Yes. I submit myself as a witness to the defense."

· ~ · ~ · ~ · ~ ·

{Glory's P.O.V.}

After I announced that I was offering to be a witness, Matt Murdock (holy realms, Matt freaking Murdock) opted for a break in court proceedings. He said that in light of the new evidence and the new witness, he needed time to properly go over the new information. Judge Barrineau was hesitant, and not happy about it, but she eventually gave way to his request, awarding us an extra day.

After the court was released, Steve was escorted back to the cell where he had been staying, right under Stark Tower. It figures that he would've been kept there, right in the belly of the beast. His cell isn't much of a cell, though. It's like a mini hotel room. I guess even Tony knows that some friends you just don't treat like they're nothing, no matter your disagreements. "What the hell are you doing?" Steve says, wrapping his arms around me before I can even get through security. "I told you not to come for me!"

"And I promised not to with my fingers crossed." I bury my face into the crook of his neck as he nearly lifts me off the ground in the embrace. "You're in a lot of trouble, Steve. I couldn't just sit by and do nothing."

"You've been an Avenger for way too long," he chuckles, setting me back down, glancing over my head as Matt and Foggy get checked in past the heavy security outside his room, being given passes by Harold "Happy" Hogan himself. The guy has a thing for security badges.

"Knock twice when you want back out," Happy says, looking at me with a funny stare. "Ms. Northern, Tony has asked if you'd see him after you're done here."

"Tell him I'll think about it."

Happy nods, and leaves the four of us alone, going back to Tony to deliver my message.

Matt sighs, taking a seat at the small table in the makeshift kitchen. "Well, where the hell do we start?"

"Hi, my name is Glory, and I'm in a hell of a situation. Speaking of hell, you're the lawyers out of Hell's kitchen, right?"

Matt nods, and Foggy answers, "Yeah, you've heard of us?"

I shrug, a smile on my face. "I'm a fan of your work."

Steve tugs on my arm, pulling me to sit down on the bed beside him. "You went after the Negative Zone? It blew up? What the hell happened? Is anyone hurt?"

"As far as we know, there was only two casualties," I mumble, thoughts going to Clarke and Rhodey. "Jessica was hurt pretty badly, and I was knocked out, but everyone else is alright. We got everyone out. I can't tell you where because I'm ninety-nine percent certain that Tony has the room bugged."

"He does," Matt interjects. "Just trust me, he does."

Stupid Daredevil and his superhearing.

"You got everyone out? All of them?" Steve asks with his eyebrows raised. "You broke the law, Glory. You did exactly what they feared you would."

"Wasn't it you who took down all of S.H.I.E.L.D. slash HYDRA? Wasn't it you who told me that when the government takes away your human rights that it was the citizens job to rebel? I'm just putting your advice into action." I cross my arms. "A friend reminded me recently that we have a duty to our people, whether that be Americans or the enhanced to humanity in general. He told me, right before he died, that you would do the right thing, no matter what the other's say."

"He was right. I feel like I'm losing myself to this war, Glory." Steve runs his hand through his hair, anxiously. "I'm losing the will to fight like I used to."

I don't know what to say, so I just continue with what I was going to say with a clear of my throat. "There's something I have to tell you. It's one of the reasons I came here in the first place."

"What is it?"

"I had another vision, and this is probably the fifth time I've told this story, but here it goes." And once again, I retell my vision, but Steve needs to hear it more than anyone. He's one of the people who was there with me in it. He needs to be aware that something bad is going to happen in just a handful of hours.

"Can I get one good day? One. That's all I'm asking."

"Tell me about it." I get up from the bed and start to pace the room. "Bucky doesn't know what to do. It took all our brain power just to get me here." I smirk. "We need some help, Steve. No pressure."

"How often have your visions become a reality?"

"Pretty much every single time."

"'Pretty much' isn't a number."

"Um... hey, can we get back to work on your case?" Foggy asks, a confused and annoyed look on his face. "It's not like you're on trial for murder or anything."

"Foggy's right," Matt interjects. "Whatever this is, it can wait."

"No, it really can't," I reply. "You don't know what's coming."

"I do. If we don't get Mr. Rogers here a solid case, he's going away for a very long time... or worse."

"Do you want to help us or what?" Foggy snaps, running a tired hand over his face. "Did you even mean it that you were going to testify?"

I nod. "I did. I will. I need to go see what Tony wants first. Look over the files I gave you. I'll be back soon."

Steve grabs my arm as the lawyers pull out the drive and Foggy uploads it to his computer. "Bam. We're in business!"

"Glory," Steve utters before I can knock on the door.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

My gaze softens as I look up to him and I pull him in for a hug. "I'm just glad you're safe. When we couldn't find you at Prison 42, I thought..."

"I know."

· ~ · ~ · ~ · ~ ·

I'm escorted by a armed unit up to the lobby room of Stark Tower, Tony's personal relaxation area. I'd been there many times before, sat on this very sofa I sit now. The very first time I met Tony was here in this room.

The guards leave as Tony enters the room. He stands away from me, eyes fixed on the bar behind me as the guards scurry out, shutting the door behind them. "I'm surprised you trust me this much," I say, breaking the silence, "to let the detail go."

"They aren't far, so no funny business." Tony sighs, smiling at the bar. "What was it that I offered you when you first came here?"

I smile at the fond memory. "A 1903 Chardonnay, Pepper's favorite."

He nods, recalling it as well. "Ahhh, yes. I remember now. Good times, good times." He goes over to the wine stack, and after a moment of looking over the labels, he pulls one from the shelf. "Here she is."

He pops the cap, pouring two glasses. When he offers a glass to me, sitting beside me on the other side of the sofa, I wonder what he wants. We haven't done this in... well, months. "Tony," I begin, setting my glass down, "why am I here?"

"I'm still figuring out what I wanted to say. I didn't think you'd actually come." Tony chuckles quietly. "I lost my best friend today, Glory. I lost him, I'm burying him tomorrow, and I'm sharing wine with the woman responsible."

"You know that was an accident, Tony," I say in my most sincere voice. "I never would have hurt Rhodey on purpose. You have to know that."

Tony nods without replying to my comment. "You wanted to protect your best friend so much that you hurt mine? Tell me how that's fair, Glory."

"Tell me how running for my life for the past six months is fair, then we'll talk about fairness." I stand, pacing the floor to walk to the giant window that shows the view of New York. "I came to do one thing, and one thing only. I came to deliver a warning. I came to tell you that I had a vision and in it I saw you and Steve and I looking at the sky as Magneto came with Ultron. I told you about Genosha, but I didn't tell you about Asteroid M, his moving and flying airbase. He's coming in just a few hours, Tony."

Tony sets his wine glass down and folds his hands in front of him, looking at them with his thinking face.

"And there's something else."

He looks up. "What?"

"Ultron didn't have his usual bots. He had your Iron-Man suit collection."

His eyes light up with fear. "How many?"

"From what I could tell? All of them."

Tony stands, his hands shaking a little. "Come with me."

Confused, I do as he says, walking behind him as we head towards his private elevator. He presses the level for his workshop, where he stores all the Iron-Man suits, and the elevator descends with ease. "There's something the press hasn't gotten a hold of yet, but from what you just told me, there's no way it can be a coincidence."

"What do you mean?"

The doors open to the workshop, or what's left of it. Debris is thrown everywhere, electronics and tools crashed into glass and walls. It looks like a wreck. "While I took the Destroyer suit out for a test run in the Negative Zone when you broke in, Magneto came for my suits. He took them all." He motions his hand towards the vault door in the floor, where he keeps all the suits. The door is torn off, the vault empty. "All I have now is Destroyer."

My hand covers my mouth. "It's happening, Tony. It's happening soon."

"You said both Steve and I were there with you?"

I nod. "We were outside. Maybe in New York, but it could be here in D.C. I had forgotten that there's a Stark Tower in D.C. now." I pause. "I shouldn't tell you this, but we found Lorna Dane in the prison. We have her now. When I get back to her, I'm going to get her to tell me everything she knows. I had to fly here to get to Steve."

"Tony!" a familiar, feminine voice shouts, coming out of the elevator. "Tony, where the hell are you?"

"In the workshop, Peps!"

Pepper Potts comes out of the hallway, rushing towards us. She seems happy to see me. "Glory, God, it's been too long. I wish I could've seen you again under better circumstances." She turns to Tony. "Turn on the TV. Right now."

Tony does as she says, and on every news channel there is a picture of a flying city in the sky right over Baltimore, Maryland.

Asteroid M. Magneto. The Brotherhood of Mutants. Ultron.

They're here.

END CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO.