This Team Is Doomed

"Tony, don't let your imagination run wild. Every one of your deductions is wrong."

Having been accused of murdering Howard and his wife, Steve felt utterly terrible. He shook his head repeatedly and firmly denied it.

It wasn't that he didn't want to help Bucky, but this blame had been pinned down fifteen years ago. He wanted to help, but he was powerless to do so.

If he really did help...

Thinking of Russell's long, old face, Steve shuddered instinctively. This was awful. God knew what Russell would come up with to torment him.

Would he marry Carter off to Bucky, or marry Bucky off to him?

No, he wouldn't touch this blame even if it killed him.

"Captain, you said all my deductions were wrong?"

Tony laughed in exasperation. Steve's ugly expression was full of holes in his eyes. He ordered Jarvis to adjust the video's playback and pointed at Bucky as he demanded, "Answer me. Do you know this metal-armed man named Barnes?"

"I do!"

"Did you know he killed my father?"

"I did, but... things aren't what you think..."

Just as Steve nearly blurted out the truth, an image suddenly flashed through his mind: Russell spreading his hands as a tide of darkness swallowed Nick Fury and Tony. His face changed drastically, and he stiffly said, "Listen to me. Stop looking into this. Forget it. Pretend it never happened."

It wasn't that Steve had deliberately stopped halfway to leave them hanging. He was stuck in the pit himself. Bucky, Howard, and he had already been unable to climb out, yet Tony and Nick Fury insisted on jumping in on their own. He couldn't simply stand by and watch.

Russell's authority was overwhelming. He was powerful, shameless, and utterly without scruples. Defying him led nowhere good. Steve didn't