#90 "That's not going to be a problem anymore" Stony?
Hmm...time for something darker than the other things I’ve been writing
TW for implied character death
“That’s not going to be a problem anymore.”
Tony is asleep on his lap, brown curls tickling Steve’s chin. He gently moves Tony’s head so that it’s tucked into his shoulder instead and no longer distracting him from the man kneeling in front of him.
“You want to tell me how an entire shipment just mysteriously goes missing?” he asks. He doesn’t really need to ask. He knows what happened. Tony had brought him the information hours ago. He’s not sure how his enemies decided that Tony was nothing more than a glorified whore when he’s smarter than most of them put together but he can’t deny that there’s a benefit to the underestimation.
So he already knows. But he’s curious to know what Rumlow says.
To his credit, Rumlow isn’t even shaking as he says, “I don’t know, boss. Boat showed up at the dock, just like we were told, but the crates weren’t on it.”
“Hmm,” Steve says thoughtfully. “The crates just...weren’t there. And you didn’t think to look for them?”
“Figured they fell off into the harbor.”
“Right. A whole shipment of black market weapons and they were all unsecured.”
Steve holds up a hand for him to shut up. “See, here’s what I think happened: I think those weapons were on the ship and you took them off and you sold them to Hydra. Sound about right?”
Rumlow gapes at him. “I would never-”
“How ‘bout we ask the other person who was there, hmm?” With one finger under his chin, he turns Tony’s face toward his. He kisses him slow, thoroughly until Rumlow is squirming in discomfort and Tony is purring his delight. “Wake up, baby doll. Need ya to tell me what happened to Rumlow’s shipment.”
Tony blinks slowly. He turns a distasteful glance on Rumlow and says, “Schmidt was there, waiting with him. He sold the shipment for three thousand dollars and a penny Schmidt found at the dock.”
“I’ve been watching you, Rumlow,” Steve says harshly. “For months. Shipments going missing, tradeoffs gone wrong, and all of them tie back to you. ‘Course I didn’t think it could be you. You’re a trusted lieutenant. It was Tony’s suggestion that it had to be someone I trusted and that’s when I remembered - you put a payment down on a house recently, didn’t ya? Paid a pretty hefty sum in cash too.”
Steve picks up the gun on his desk and calmly points it at him. Rumlow goes silent though his eyes are wide and desperate.
“Betcha didn’t think I would send Tony after you.” He bounces Tony a little on his knees, the brunet biting back a squeal as it jostles the plug in him. “That’s what you don’t seem to get about him: he’s a lot more than the painted doll you think he is - which is why he took video of the handoff.” He puts down the gun and picks up Tony’s phone, holding it out so Rumlow can see the footage. “That’s you, isn’t it? So not only are you a traitor but you’re lying to me about it.”
He sets the phone back down and shifts Tony so that he’s turned back into his shoulder. He doesn’t want Tony to see this. “But that’s not going to be a problem anymore. I want you to give Schmidt a message. Run along, crawl back to whatever hole Schmidt is hiding in, tell him that I’ll ferret out whatever rats he’s hiding in my organization.” He waves his hand at the door. “You’re free to go.”
Rumlow gasps out his thanks and stumbles toward the door.
Steve shoots a text to Bucky: Make sure Rumlow ends up on Schmidt’s doorstep. Then, Cancel my meetings for this afternoon. I’m busy.
He looks back up. Rumlow has almost made it to the door. He tucks Tony’s head into his neck and murmurs, “Don’t watch, baby doll.” He picks up the gun, cocks it, and aims in one smooth move.