Newsies x Avengers

Les Jacobs was only nine when his parents died. They were killed on a business trip to Sokovia.

Les was impacted, to say the least. He was no longer the same happy, energetic boy he had been when his parents had departed.

Now, five years later, Les wanted nothing more then to find Tony Stark and give him a good, hard, kick in the-

Keep it to a Les level!

Davey's voice echoed in his mind. Killed when he had stepped in the day the Delancy's pulled a knife on a boy, Davey was Les's last living relative. He was put into foster care.

Jack and Katherine were working through college: they didn't have time to take care of Les, nor did they have an "adequate home" or met the "required age."

So Les lived in a foster home. It wasn't horrible, compared to stories he'd heard from some of the other foster kids. He attended Midtown Tech. And when he found out they were going on a field trip to Stark Tower, one might say Les was less than pleased.

"Jane, you know why I don't want to go," Les said, slightly annoyed.

"I know," his foster mother responded. "But you have to."

And that was how Les found himself sitting in front of Tony Stark, glaring at the billionare as he stood on the stage as he answered questions.

The man grinned as someone asked about his engagement to Pepper. "Soon. Very, very soon."

He caught sight of Les, who was slumped in his seat with a scowl.

"You there, young man. Why the sour face?"

The boy's scowl only deepened. "My parents were killed in Sokovia five years ago. A building exploded. Makes sense I don't want to be here, with the people I blame."

With that, he stood and walked out.

*****

Les that on the rooftop later that night, his feet dangling over the edge.

Someone put a hand on his shoulder and sat down. "Hey, kid."
"Who're you?"
"They call me Bucky."

Les crossed his arms. "If Mr. Stark sent you, I don't care."

Bucky laughed. "Nah, kid. But, I dunno, maybe this'll help you not to be so angry."

He took a deep breath. "When I was mind controlled by Hydra, I... I killed Stark's parents. Even though I couldn't control it, Stark still blamed me. After a while, though... he forgave me."

Bucky turned to face Les. "Look, kid. Same thing here. Stark couldn't control Ultron. He didn't want anyone to get hurt. He still blames himself. Just like I still blame myself for all the bad things I did, even though I was brainwashed."

The man stood. "So. Do you have a message for him?"

Les sighed. "Tell him he's forgiven, though I doubt he'll care."

Bucky gave him a tight smile.

"Don't worry, kid. It means more than you think."

******

The day after the field trip, Les stood nervously on the lobby of Stark Industries. He wrote a letter to Mr. Stark, and intended on asking one of the secretaries to give it to him.

His luck turned, however, when Bucky caught sight of him and grinned. "Hey, kid!" He walked over from where he was talking to someone. Les was shocked when he realized it was Captain America.

"Did you come to apologize personally?" Bucky asked. Les shook his head. "No. I, uh, wrote a letter." He held up the envelope and offered it to Bucky. "Would you give it to him?"

Bucky shook his head. "Nope. Come on, kid. You can tell him in person. Follow me."

****
Les tapped his thigh anxiously as he and Bucky sat in Mr. Stark's office.

"Bucky, is this really nes-"
"Yes."

Then the door opened, and Tony Stark walked in, stopping when he saw Bucky and Les. "Um... Bucky, why is there a kid in my office?"

Bucky crossed his arms. "He has something to say to you."

Les went red. "Um, actually, I, uh, have a letter." He handed the billionare the envelope. "It's an apology letter. I was kind of a jerk."

Tony studied the envelope, then stuck his head out the door. "Peter? Can you show this boy around?"

*****

Mr. Stark,

I was a jerk yesterday at the field trip. And I wanted to apologize for that. Bucky talked with me, and I realize that it wasn't your fault. I've been angry for five years, but I'm not now. I guess I just was too angry to think clearly, because if I had been, I would've realized that what happened in Sokovia needs to stay in Sokovia. That I should honor my parents by doing what they taught me, and forgiving and forgetting. Once again, I'm sorry.

Sincerely,
Les Jacobs.

Tony looked up from the letter. "This kid is in foster care?"

Bucky nodded, and Tony smiled. "I have a plan."

F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s voice came over the intercom. "Mr. Stark has a plan. You have been warned."

Tony glared at Bucky, who merely grinned.

*****

Peter hit the elevator button. "And this is the top floor, where I live."
"You live with the Avengers?"
Peter shrugged. "Yeah."
"Are you related to Mr. Stark or something?"

Peter shook his head. "He knew it was hard for my aunt to provide for the both of us, so he offered us a place to live. She turned him down, but wanted me to live here. I see her at least three times a week, though."

Peter's phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket. "Mr. Stark wants to talk to you," he said.

*******

Les sat down across from Mr. Stark. "Kid, how'd you like a job?"

Les was slightly shocked. "Um, what?"
Mr. Stark laughed. "A job. As an intern. I've checked your grades, you're a smart kid. And you and Peter get along great. You two would be working on projects together, doing science, stuff like that. I already talked to him."

"Um, there's only one problem, Mr. Stark. I can't walk back and forth between here and home, and I can't drive."

"Easy fix. And I already talked to your foster mom, she's fine with it. So, what do you say?"

Les considered it for a moment. "Ok."

Mr. Stark clapped his hands. "Perfect!" He strode over to the door. "Come hither, young tadpole. Let's go find Peter."

*****

A month later, Les sat in the living room next to Peter and the Avengers, eating pizza. Nat glanced at him. "So, you have any siblings?"

Les paused, and set his pizza down. "I had a brother. He stepped in during a mugging and got himself stabbed. I know the guys who did it, too. But their uncle has such influence and pull, we couldn't get them charged."

He looked at the Avengers, who were fuming. Tony finally spoke up. "Who?"

****

Oscar and Morris made their way home after making one last mugging, when an Iron Man suit landed in their path. "Look, boys, we need to have a chat."

When the brothers attempted to run the other way, they ran straight into Natasha, who was cleaning under her nails with a knife. "Hasn't anyone taught you that it's not cool to hit a lady?"

*****

An hour later, Tony and Nat dragged the unconcious brothers into the police station. Tony walked to the front desk. "Throw those two in prison, and reopen the murder case of Davey Jacobs. They need to get what the deserve for costing that kid everything."