Kill, or Not Kill?

"Today sure is lively. Even the old popsicle showed up!"

Tony looked surprised when he saw Captain America appear.

After several joint operations against Hydra, he had gotten to know Steve, the hero his father had once spoken of, fairly well.

An old-fashioned guy with a one-track mind, but definitely someone worthy of respect.

But this guy should have preferred punching a bag in his little home rather than coming over to barbecue and camp with them.

"And why did this guy come too?"

Then he spotted Winter Soldier Bucky behind Captain America, his head lowered with a guilty look on his face.

In Tony’s memory, Bucky was still Hydra’s top assassin. When they had destroyed the Hydra Base some time ago, he had caused them plenty of trouble. In the end, they had only managed to capture him after Thor summoned lightning and shocked him unconscious.

"Tony, I…"

Steve was rarely at a loss for words.

Just as he was about to explain, Li Chuan cut him off directly.

"Sit down and have some barbecue first. We can talk properly after the camping trip is over!"

If they revealed it now, the mood of the barbecue and camping trip would be completely ruined, and they might even start fighting.

This time, the main purpose was to bring Wanda out for some camping and barbecue so she could relax. Helping Captain America resolve the conflict between Tony and Bucky was only secondary. He had to keep his priorities straight.

As he spoke, he stuffed a handful of freshly grilled skewers into Steve’s hands.

Steve accepted the skewers and relaxed slightly. He was in a difficult position too, so it was better to delay things for a while.

Although Tony sensed that something was off, he did not connect it to himself. Besides, out of consideration for Li Chuan, he did not press the matter and simply changed the subject.

So everyone ate barbecue and drank beer, and for a time, the atmosphere was quite pleasant.

Thor told stories of his experiences over the past fifteen hundred years, introducing several other worlds he had visited besides Midgard.

Tony talked about the new suit he was close to finishing. In the future, no matter where on Earth he was, as long as he activated the controller, the suit could fly out from Stark Tower, find him, and let him put it on.

To lay the groundwork, Steve also briefly talked about Bucky’s past. He said that Bucky had once been a member of the Howling Commandos and his best friend, and that he had been controlled by Hydra.

Time passed until afternoon, when this barbecue camping trip was nearly over.

Li Chuan and Wanda waved their hands, using magic to clean up everything.

"Alright, this gathering is about to end. Steve, I think it’s about time you said it."

Seeing Li Chuan’s expression turn serious, everyone turned their eyes toward Steve.

Steve took a deep breath and pulled Bucky over to Tony.

"Tony, what I’m about to tell you may make you very angry, but I beg you to stay calm and listen to our explanation."

"Old popsicle, that doesn’t sound like your usual attitude. Whatever it is, just say it. I, Tony, am not a petty person."

Tony shrugged and laughed.

He did not think Steve would do anything that could make him especially angry. Besides, he considered himself quite magnanimous.

Seeing this, Steve slowly began.

"Tony, according to the intelligence we obtained from Hydra, your father, my friend Howard Stark, did not die in a car accident.

"Hydra had him assassinated in order to gain control of S.H.I.E.L.D., then disguised it as a car accident.

"The person sent to assassinate him was none other than Bucky, who was under Hydra’s control at the time."

As Steve spoke, Bucky, who had not said a word until now, lowered his head even further.

Tony’s expression immediately changed when he heard Steve’s words.

Although he often complained that his late father had been irresponsible, that he had not cared about or loved him when he was young, deep down, he loved Howard deeply.

When he heard that his father had not died in a car accident, but at the hands of the person standing before him, his heart was instantly filled with fury.

"Tony, I beg you to forgive Bucky. He only did that because Hydra controlled him. It was not his true intention."

Seeing Tony’s expression change, Steve hurriedly explained.

But Tony could not hear any of it now. He stood up, put on the Iron Man suit standing nearby, and aimed the repulsor cannon in his hand at Bucky.

"You deserve to die!"

Steve immediately grabbed his shield and moved in front of Bucky.

"No, Tony."

At that moment, Li Chuan, who had been standing there silently, moved. He raised his hand, not toward Tony, who was preparing to attack, but toward Steve beside him.

"Disarming Charm, Zombie Float!"

Two beams of magical light shot one after another at Steve, who was completely unguarded against Li Chuan. Steve’s shield was first knocked away by the Disarming Charm, and then his entire body floated into the air.

"Mr. Li Chuan, what are you doing?"

Steve flailed his arms in midair and looked at Li Chuan in disbelief.

Li Chuan had promised to help him persuade Tony and make Tony forgive Bucky. Shouldn’t he have restrained Tony now? Why was he the one being restrained?

Tony, who had been furious, was also stunned when he saw Steve floating in the air, unable to return to the ground because he had no point of leverage.

Thor, holding a cup of beer beside them, looked at Tony, then at the floating Steve, then at Li Chuan, and could not help scratching his head.

"With things like this, who am I supposed to help?"

Things had changed too quickly, and he still could not sort out what was happening.

Li Chuan waved his hand.

"Just stand there and keep drinking. I’ll handle it."

Thor nodded and sat back down.

Among Earth’s humans, aside from his girlfriend Jane, Li Chuan was the person he trusted most. Since Li Chuan said he would handle it, Thor would not interfere.

After answering Thor, Li Chuan ignored Steve’s disbelieving expression and turned to Tony.

"Tony, as your friend, I will definitely stand on your side. If you want to kill Bucky to avenge your father, I won’t stop you. I’ll even help you hold back Captain Rogers.

"I can even help you erase everyone else’s memories afterward.

"But precisely because I’m your friend, I have to tell you that Steve was not lying. Bucky did kill your father because Hydra controlled him.

"So whether you kill him or not, please think it through before making your decision. Don’t let impulse leave you with regrets."

Bucky did not run away. He silently walked up to Tony.

"Kill me. I have committed too many sins. My hands are stained with blood—your father’s blood, the blood of many innocent people, even the blood of my former friends and their descendants. Maybe death would finally set me free."

"Kill him, or not?"

Looking at Bucky’s bloodshot eyes, Tony gradually calmed down.