📍AVENGERS COMPOUND
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(Y/N) never would've thought she'd be allowed to take another step inside the compound again, especially after the Accords fiasco. She had let out a shaky breath as the building got closer and closer, staring up at it as if it was the first time she was seeing it. Since Tony had left the day prior, (Y/N) made it her personal mission to watch over Rhodey in his recovery, or at least be with him until she gets chased down with pitchforks by Ross.

Rhodey had been transferred to Columbia Medical for a complete diagnosis, and the doctors had declared a paralysis from the waist down. Knowing Tony and Rhodey's stubborn selfs, they wouldn't give up and find some sort of solution to make the latter's life return back to normal. And that's exactly what happened.

When Tony returned from god knows where, the first thing (Y/N) had noticed were the evident bruises on his face. She tried to pry answers from him, and the response she got was that things with Steve didn't go as well as he had planned. As much as (Y/N) wanted to know more about what had happened, Tony looked stiff as a board and closed off, as usual. She knew it'll take time for him to trust her enough again to tell her.

So, in the meantime, both of them used their free time to fuss over Rhodey, who had been starting his physical therapy. Tony — as she predicted — fabricated some sort of device attached to the legs that allowed Rhodey to stand on his own feet. He was having a hard time adjusting to it since it was figuratively new, but he counted on both (Y/N) and Tony to help him out. On the other hand, Vision, who was also staying in the compound, had offered to help as well but spent the entirety of his time mopping about Wanda's capture in the Raft.

"Give me some feedback, anything you think of," Tony told his friend as he offered his shoulder for Rhodey to lean on. The latter was walking in between two metal bars that helped him keep a straight line and hold on if needed. "Shock absorption, lateral movement. Cup holder?"

"You may wanna think about some AC down in — "

Rhodey didn't get to finish his sentence since he slipped on the ground, barely hitting his head if it wasn't for him reacting at the last minute. (Y/N) gasped in shock, kneeling down in front of him as she offered her hands to help him up. Tony was crouched down on his other side, offering some of his help too, watching how Rhodey was able to push his upper body up from the floor.

"Let's go. I'll give you a hand."

"No," Rhodey declined. "Don't help me."

He panted to catch his breath, grunting as he turned around with the full strength of his arms so he could sit properly, still on the ground. He lifted his head to stare at both (Y/N) and Tony, who were watching over him like an injured child. He let out a fake laugh, shaking his head to the side and staring forward deep in thought.

"138," he blurted out. "138 combat missions. That's how many I've flown, guys. Every one of them could've been my last, but I flew them. Because the fight needed to be fought. It's the same with these Accords. I signed because it was the right thing to do."

(Y/N) lowered her head in shame because of his words. She didn't know how to express how sorry she was about this happening, but what she did know is that she'd never run out of words to say.

"And yeah, this sucks. This is, uh. . .This is a bad beat," Rhodey continued, looking up at Tony. "But it hasn't changed my mind. I don't think."

He was able to offer a half smile. Tony, again, extended his hand for him to take. This time, Rhodey didn't argue against him and allowed him to pull him up. He grunted with the effort it took him, but caught his breath. (Y/N) stood up as well and rubbed his back in an attempt to soothe him and his rapid heartbeat.

"You good?" she questioned, and he nodded in response.

A repetitive knock on the gymnasium's window pulled their attention away from each other, and the three turned around to see who was making the noise. An elderly FedEx worker was enthusiastically knocking and waving on the door before he realized their attention was now on him. He was holding a medium delivery box in his bony hands, eager to deliver it.

"Are you Tony — " he paused to read the package. "Stank?"

(Y/N) couldn't stop the snort that came out of her mouth at the man's words. Rhodey had the same thought as her, since he removed his hand from Tony's shoulder to point toward the man, amusement behind his eyes.

"Yes, this is Tony Stank. You're in the right place," at his friend's antics, Tony was only able to shake his head. "Thank you for that!"

He turned to face (Y/N). "Never let me forget that, please."

"Oh, you can so count on it."

Rhodey winked at her as an appreciation gesture, letting out a chuckle before he turned back around in the direction of the path with the metal handles on the side. "'Table for one, Mr. Stank. Please, by the bathroom.'"

This time, Tony wasn't able to contain his own laughter. The sound of it made (Y/N) smile too, only if she only heard it for a small second. Not wanting to keep the FedEx worked out there for too long, Tony accepted the package, doubtful of who had sent it to him.

(Y/N) wanted to see what was inside too, but was interrupted as she followed after Tony to his office by an unexpected phone call. When she pulled out her cellphone to check the caller's ID, she almost let out an audible groan by knowing who it was. Who knew what lengths she'd have to go through to get this annoying man out of her back.

She knew he'd get desperate if she didn't answer, so she plastered a fake smile even though he couldn't see it and a fake enthusiastic tone. "Secretary Ross! What a surprise."

"You can cut the act, Vaughn," Secretary Ross's irritating voice rang on her ear. "Your time is up."

"Whatever do you mean?" (Y/N) faked offense, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "You'll have to give me more time. You're sounding a bit desperate."

"I'm desperate?" Secretary Ross asked with an incredulous tone. "You're the one doing a terrible attempt in saving yourself from being locked up with the rest of your criminal friends."

(Y/N) scoffed at his words before answering. "Eh, I could say I'm doing a great job at it."

"Vaughn," his voice was stern. "Tell me where Rogers is or I'll come and arrest you now."

"Fine," she defended herself, almost raising her hands up in defense as if he was in the same room as her. "He's in — "

She placed a hand over her mouth and made a fake static noise, placing the phone near her mouth so the noise was much more audible. She purposely stuttered over her words as if to pretend how a real phone call sounded when it was cut by static. She would kill to see Secretary Ross's face at the moment.

"I can't hear you, sir!" she didn't allow him to answer. "I'll have to call you later. Don't call me. I'll call you. Okay?"

With that, she hung up, letting out a laugh in the process. (Y/N) rolled her shoulders to release tension in them, and continued on her short journey to Tony's office. Inside, she found him hunched over in his chair reading a letter that was inside the FedEx package.

"Everything all right?" she asked first, nervous of what his answer might be.

He looked up at the sound of her voice since he had been too engrossed in reading the letter to hear her come in. "Yeah. It's. . .it's Steve."

"What?" (Y/N) frowned at the mention of him. "What — What does it say?"

"Nothing important, really," he dismissed. "Says to give him a call if I need him, which is absurd. Why would I need him after he lied to my face for years?"

At his words, (Y/N) frowned. Tony was able to detect her confusion without having to see her expression. He shook his head and let out a deflated sigh, almost as if he was tired of the topic.

"It's complicated," he explained with a shrug. "God, everything is so complicated now."

"I know," she took a step closer to his desk, leaning onto the table where the package was sitting in. From the corner of her eye, she could see a flip phone on the side.

In an attempt to calm his ticking hands, (Y/N) placed a comforting palm over his. She was able to see how he relaxed under her touch, which was what she intended.

"Which is why I'm gonna stay," she continued her reassuring words. "So we can be complicated together."

That seemed to ease some of Tony's worry lines on his forehead. He allowed her warm hands to consume the coldness from his, staying in silence for a few seconds. He didn't know what to say. Not sure whether to thank her for staying, question her reasons for her decision, or just straight up kiss her.

"Priority call from Secretary Ross," FRIDAY's voice interrupted the moment. "There's been a breach at the Raft prison."

The couple exchanged a look, knowing fully well who was orchestrating this breach. Nonetheless, they didn't have to say a word to share a common thought.

"Yeah, put him through," Tony replied to FRIDAY, and when (Y/N) was about to question his decision, he raised a hand to make her halt.

FRIDAY dispatched the call onto the phone in his desk, and all Tony had to do was press a button for Ross's voice to be on speaker.

"Tony, we have a problem."

Tony moved a finger near the hang-up button. "Uh, please hold."

"No, don't."

Secretary Ross's words were cut through in mid-sentence, and (Y/N) knew for a fact that smoke was probably coming out of his ears. She laughed at Tony's antics and clapped once for him, to which he responded with a laugh of his own.

"You know he's going to be mad as hell, right?" (Y/N) told him, crossing her arms over her chest. "He's threatening to arrest me."

"Let him try, honey," Tony shrugged those worries off as if it was casual. "He's not getting rid of me any time soon."

aaah! we're done with civil war !! finally, this took forever lol. hold your horses, we're not jumping into the beginning of the end just yet.

i wanted to add filler scenes in this act, including tony's scenes in homecoming. especially one in particular ;)

-see you soon, bex