Insignia: Vishanti War

It didn't have to be this way, Tony had thought. After a rough battle between the Avengers (or what's left of them) and the Vishanti, they were left with multiple wounds and bruised pride. All of them returned to the quinjet defeat consuming the usual light-hearted atmosphere.

The newer recruits, Kaelie and Peter had tried their best, but Steve had more or less scolded them. Being under Tony's wing, Peter had fought back but was torn down by the Captain instantly. Seeing this, Kaelie barked at Steve, calling him out for his own mistakes. The argument between the two went on for most of the flight, anger filling the air. Steve had finally crossed the thick line of disrespect, calling her an amateur who didn't know what she was doing.

"You think you know everything, Bryant. You being a smartass is the reason why Francis and the others got killed in the first place."

Right then, Tony had stepped in between them, shielding Kaelie's smaller frame from Steve's glaring view.

"That's enough, Cap.", He spat at the taller man. Never backing down from defending his own recruit. Huffing at the man, Steve stalked away from the two.

Tony sighed before turning to Kaelie, taking in the view before him. Her eyes, flashed into a deep purple, swelling up with tears. Maybe it was just Tony getting older, but he didn't want to bug her about it.

"Hey... Just breathe. He eggs on everybody. Steve's just an old man", Tony joked as he tried to lighten the mood. He gently placed his hand on the crook of her neck, his fingers soothingly massaged the back of her neck.

Luckily, Kaelie let out a chuckle as she looked down at her feet. Grabbing his wrist, she felt safer with him soothing her.

He wished that he would have stopped the argument sooner, hoping that that would change the impending war. Maybe, Kaelie wouldn't have gotten lost on the side she shouldn't have been fighting for.